Slow-Bellies these names and tearms did Christ the Apostles and Prophets use unto such as are some of the Ministry of this Nation and not with Revilings and Reproachings but with the Spirit of Authority from God that reproves the Wickedness of Prophets Teachers and People And tell me Have not some of you sued men at Law and cast them into Prison in this City because they would not give you Money and Tythes and Hire though such as have not heard you nor receiv'd you as Ministers nor received any thing from you and such as you did never any Work for have you sought Wages from and caused them to be imprisoned that would not give you And tell me in good earnest Can any less be said of such who thus walk but that they are insatiable Hirelings and as bad as Beal's Priests and even Cheaters and greedy dumb Dogs let the Witness in your own Consciences answer and you shall have a Reply Now I come to your third Particular which are other Causes and Symptoms of God's Wrath hanging over your heads the frequent disappointment from time to time of all Hopes of coming to any settlement in Government in the Nation occasioned by strange Confusions which is a clear Evidence that God hath in Displeasure darkened our Eyes and hid Counsel from us say you Answ. It is very true that from time to time of late dayes the Lord hath disappointed the purposes of men even concerning settling of Government and there have been almost strange Confusions in Changes But to what can this be attributed Have not your sins been as great a Cause of it as any others And have not you and your Generation been the Counsellors in all these Matters Were not some of you or your Brethren in Oliver's dayes and in Richard's dayes and in the Army's dayes and in the Parliaments dayes and are not you and your Brethren busie at this day in ordering a Settlement in Government in this Nation But the Lord hath hitherto disappointed you and them that you have counselled and he hath broken you into Confusion and Distraction and turned back even the proceedings of Rulers and Teachers and the spirit of deep Sleep and of Slumber is poured upon you all and the Vision of these things is as a sealed Book unto you even because of God's displeasure against you And in that you say Your Eyes are darkened and Counsel is hid from you In that you say true though to your own shame And what trust can be put in such Watchmen What Confidence can be placed by your people in you whenas you acknowledge that your Eyes are darkened and Counsel is hid from you The Scriptures mentioned by you do prove there was darkness upon the Land but Isaiah doth not say nor David that Counsel was hid from them or that their Eyes were darkened neither did ever the Apostles say so but witnessed That the Lord was their Light and in him their Eyes were opened and Counsel was revealed to them Secondly you say This sadly presages of Unchurching the Nation or the Departing of the Glory of God from you Answ. By Unchurching the Nation I suppose you mean making the Church no Church which if this can be done then the Gates of Hell may prevail against the Church contrary to the words of Christ who said The Gates of Hâ—â— should not prevail But I must tell you The Nation of England as to the general part of it hath been long and yet is unchurched that is ungathered by the Eternal Spirit into the true Fellowship in the Body of Christ for the Night of Apostacy and Darkness hath been over the World since the Apostles dayes and over this Nation in particular and your Churches have been no true Churches nor the people under your Ministry truly joyned and united in true Church-Order and under true Church-Government though I do not say but that there are Thousands of sincere People that love the Lord yet remaining among you And the Day of the Lord is appearing which will confound the Whore the false Church which hath been set up in this Nation and through the World and Assemblies which have had the Name of the Churches of Christ will be found to be otherwise in the Judgment of the Lord and all the false Ordinances Practices and Ministers must be thrown down that the Glory of the Lord may again appear Further You seem to charge your selves With leaving your first Love and former Zeal for the Truth and worship of God but the present Coldness and Indifferency in the things of God together with your Barrenness and unanswerable walking to the Gospel of Christ c. say you Answ. Though to your own shame yet do I believe this is truly acknowledged that you have lost your first Love and Zeal which once was in you in the dayes when you were persecuted under the Bishops you were full of Love and Zeal for the Truth and Worship of God according as it was made manifest and then you were sufferers your selves but now you are Causers of others to suffer and there is indeed much Coldness and Dryness and Barrenness amongst you and your People I do truly desire you may repent you thereof that if so be the Lord may heal you and your Walking indeed is Unanswerable to the Gospel of Christ to wit Your taking of Tythes and so much by the year for Preaching and suing people at the Law that will not give you Wages though you do no Work for them these with many other things which you practice is an unanswerable Walking to the Gospel of Christ and seeing you have confessed your sins in some measure Repent and sin no more that your Iniquities may be blotted out Again You complain of the prevalency of Atheism and doting upon Error Endless separations Common Ignorance Unbelief Prophaneness the Prejudice against wholsom Doctrine and all Order of Discipline in the Church and many other Confusions are upon us c. say you Answ. Alas so it is but where is the Blame Oh you Watch-men should not you have better preserved your Flocks should not you have fed them with Living Food should not you have been Examples of Righteousness and Truth unto them and should not you have nourished them with Knowledge and Understanding But because the Shepherds have been lazy and idle and fed themselves and not their Flocks but the Shepherds have rul'd over their Flocks with Force and Cruelty and their Ministry and Preaching hath been a very Burden and Oppression upon the People and therefore it is that their Flocks are divided into many Sects and Separations and great Confusions are in your Assemblies and among you even the sin of the people in some measure will be charged upon you their Teachers whose Flocks are run into Errors and Atheisms and despise wholesome Doctrine and are out of true Order and Church-Discipline even in the Traditions of Men Therefore oh that you Ministers would consider and
The Seed of the Woman is but one in all generations and the Seed of the Serpent is but one which ever was is ruling and reigning in the Children of Disobedience who are disobedient to the Light of God within them and betwixt these two Seeds is Enmity the one against the other each Seed is known by its fruit the old bottle pours out old Wine the new bottle new Wine therefore all people sink down to within and call in all your wandring thoughts imaginations and affections and desires and see which seed is head in you and see what your desires and affections goes out after for where your hearts are there is your treasure see what you do possess of God in your Souls and what you are made witnesses of for he that believeth hath the witness in himself and Faith is the Victory over the world he that can receive it let him Dear people I have freely Declared to you the Truth and from the love of God shed abroad in my heart to your Souls and for the Seed sake in you which lieth in death captivated under your Wisdom and Reason have I spoken the Word of the Lord which if you own it and abide in it shall be the savor of Life and in eternal joy shall you witness me to be true in what I have Declared but if you harden your hearts and kick against the Truth and against what I have Declared shall be the savor of death unto Death and in eternal torment and misery shall ye witness me in what I say for to that which should exercise the Conscience do I speak in every one of you and to that in you have I cleared my Conscience and have freed my Spirit this is the day of your Visitation the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it Remember that you have been shewed the Deceits which you live in and have been warned of the misery and desolation that shall come upon you except you lay these things to heart and turn to the Lord. Farewel By him who is dispised and had in derision among you who is not greater then his Lord and therefore is contented to be called a Blasphemer and a Seducer as he whom I serve was by them of your Generation E. B. TO all you my Country people of every degree who are Inhabitants in Underbarrow have I cleared my Conscience and have freely Declared to you the Word of the Lord and have laid open the Deceits of your Deceitful Ministry and Ministry and have directed you to that in every one of you which leads unto God and which is the way to the Father which is the true Light which hath enlightned every one that comes into the World which light all who loves and follows walk not in darkness but walks up to God out of the Fall from under the Curse into the Being but all who hates this Light and follows the imagination of their own brains and of the divination of their Hirelings and Pharisees this Light shall be their condemnation because they walk not in it even this Light which is come into the World in every man even the witness in the Conscience which is placed by God shall for ever witness against you and against all your false worships and Hirelings and shall bear testimony to what I have in this little Volume declared to be true when the Book of Conscience shall be laid open for to every mans Conscience am I made manifest in what I have to you declared as concerning your Hireling whom God hath never sent but is in the way of the false Prophets and Pharisees for he that abides not in the Doctrine of Christ hath not God 2 Iohn 1. 9. but is an Antichrist and of the Devil And as concerning the Light within you that Light will bear witness to it self that every one of you to whom I speak hath this Light which shews you sin your lying swearing pride and wicked wayes covetousness and wantonness to be sin this is the true Light which is as ever was foolishness and a stumbling block to the wise ones This is the Light which your Pharisee denies to have lightned every one and this Light shall for ever witness me to be true and shall witness this poor people among you who are despised and contemned by you and scornfully called Quakers to be the servants of God whom I do own as my Brethren in the sufferings of Jesus who are my joy in the Lord. Now all people every where to you all a word from the Lord though I have spoken in this small Volume as moved by the Lord of Heaven and Earth to the Inhabitants of Underbarrow as declaring against their false Teacher and false Worships which they uphold now freely and plainly do I declare against all thy Teachers O England who are one in the same generation with him in the Seat of Christ and of his Apostles professing themselves to be sent of God but walking contrary to his commands in the same footsteps which the Scribes and Pharisees walked in which were persecutors of the Son of God and which he cried wo against they who said and did not as all these thy Teachers do who are called of men Masters as they were and have the chiefest places in the Assemblies as they had and prayed standing as these thy professed Ministers do Now the same Light which ever was which is Jesus Christ is now born and made manifest which is witnessed among the Saints in which Light I see all thy Teachers O England to be drunk with the Wine of her that hath deceived the Nations who sits upon a scarlet coloured Beast and is arrayed in purple and scarlet colour and decked with gold and precious stones and hath the golden cup in her hand full of abominations whose name is written in her forehead Mystery Babylon the great the Mother of Harlots and abomination of the Earth And in this Light to I declare against them all which are in the generation of the false Prophets of Israel which seeks for their gain from their Quarter and which steals the word from their neighbor and have taken the words of the Prophets of Christ and of his Apostles and selleth the divination of their own brain upon the Scriptures which the holy men speak forth freely to the poor blind people and teacheth for the Fleece and if ye stop not into their mouths they prepare War against you and which are called of men Master which Christ forbids Against all these freely as from the Lord I do Declare to be no Ministers of Jesus Christ but are Seducers and blind Guides and are Antichrists and leads the poor blind people in the wayes of death and destruction for they are no Ministers of Christ that abides not in the Doctrine of Christ these have run but have not been sent by God and therefore is not your Souls profited by them but are in the dark heathenish nature as by
then come and so they did deceive many as these do deceive many in the same way as them that went before them And so let it not be a thing incredible to the people of these Nations that many of these Teachers which are called Ministers are Deceivers generally bâ—â— if there be any one that â—ears God among them or loves Truth and Sincerity it will be made manifest and such I spare and they shall be spared in the day 〈◊〉 the Lord but yet I say generally and the main part of them even they 〈◊〉 bring forth these fruits before mentioned which the false Prophets brought forth are not the Ministers of Christ but Deceivers the Scripture their own professed Rule doth prove them so for it must needs be that they must be the same men that they were whose spirit they walk by and whose fruits they bring forth and this cannot be avoided they are the same trees that brings forth the same fruits and let no man blame me for saying such are Deceivers that preach for hire and divine for money and goes for giâ—ts and rewards and that are called oâ— men Master and have the chief place in the Assemblies and are covetous and high-minded and seeks for their gain from their Quarter with those things which I have mentioned which are the same things which the false Prophets acted in Ages past I am not now to be blamed for saying These are Deceivers who are acting such things now in this Age as they acted then that were Deceivers but if you blame any begin with Isaiah and Micah and Ezekiel and Christ and his Apostles and the rest of the holy men of God for they are my examples in this who did declare against them that brought forth such works as these do that I have declared against and I have done the Teachers of this Age no wrong for judging them by their own Line and laying them to their own professed Rule therefore do not rage at me nor do not be offended aâ— this for I have but compared them with the Ministers of Christ and with the Ministers of Antichrist and shewed wherein they do agree to the one and disagree to the other and all People may see and the Light in all Consciences may judge of what I have said so that as I said at the first I may again say What think you Was there ever such a Generation of Teachers I now answer Yea There was in the dayes of the true Prophets and in the dayes of the Apostles there were such as these are which were Deceivers and in the times of Christ there were such a Generation as these are who acted the same things by the same spirit as these do at this day Let them reply to this that will my Question is sober and my Answer is just and right and I have dealt faithfully and you may read the Scriptures that I have quoted for your own satisfaction for though they falsly say the Scripture is their Rule and accuse us falsly that we deny the Scripture yet the Scripture shall be Judge between us in this matter and what I have done is not in envy to any mans person neither in upbraiding them in their wickedness but I do it rather to shew them all their iniquities that they may repent and this I have done in perfect love to all people for the Day is come that hath brought hidden things to Light and Deceit and Hypocrisie which hath lain hid is now fully made manifest as at Noon-day But again secondly I answer In some respects I do believe there was never such a Generation of Teachers as these are for we do not read in all the Scriptures concerning the false Prophets that they were so extreamly covetous and greedy of gain as these are or that ever they took such desperate wicked unlawful courses to get their maintenance and compel people to pay them as these Teachers do a very shame to rehearse it and to their shame I do rehearse it many a poor man in this Nation hath been sued by them at the LAW and put in PRISON by their means and had their Goods spoiled in a woful manner for to maintain them and to uphold them yea some hundreds of poor people in this Nation have been dealt cruelly by and unjustly with because for Conscience sake they have denied to maintain them to pay them Tythes and such like this may be proved that for five Shillings unjustly claimed by them they have taken Goods by Distraint to the value of five times so much as Cumberland and Westmerland can witness and many at this very day lie in Holes and Prisons by the means of the Priests who tear the People as Wolves do the Sheep it s even woful to be considered what havock is made of some mens persons and some mens GOODS and all to maintain the Teachers The like never was in any Generation as it is brought forth in this Generation in this particular And again their exceeding covetousness and greediness of Lucre doth appear in that they claim Wages of People and do compel People to pay them Wages after this manner as I have said for which people they do no work neither do these people receive any work done by them with whom they thus deal What thing can be more unjust under Heaven that they should compel people by a Law to pay them and thus punish them if they will not who set them not on work and for whom they do no work neither do the people like their work or love it but know it to be deceitful and yet are compelled by a Law to pay them they have such a way to get money that no Trades-man hath the like of it besides themselves for they cause People and compel people to buy their Wares and they compel people to pay for their Commodity which have none of it nor love it and this is more unjust then may be spoken Are they like Ministers of Christ Or do they follow their example in these practises What do you judge All people bring in your Verdict or are they not like Deceivers herein even exceeding all that ever went before It is true They which preach the Gospel should live on the Gospel this Argument we do own but let these men be tryed and see if by their preaching their Gospel they have gained so much love in people as to maintain them without the Law and without compelling of Maintenance Lively-hood from them by a Law let but the Law cease to compel Tythes and other things from people to maintain them see whether their Gospel will maintain them or not let but the Magistrates hold up their hands from causing people to pay them Tythes by their orders writs and I 'le undertake as I do believe they must either beg or work or a worse thing for a lively-hood or else perish so little love is there in their own People towards them nor have
and their work of God and their end alone his glory such we own to be Ministers of Christ and doth not revile or deny as he falsly saith such a Church and such Ministers of Christ but this we do and without offence to God too we do deny and bear our witness against such a people who professeth themselves to a Church and yet are in the pride in the wickedness and in the evil of this World and not redeemed clensed and seperated from the works and iniquities thereof such we do reprove for their Hypocrisie even â—…ll them that owns a title to a Church because they were sprinkled when they were Infants and hath not another ground and such who professeth themselves Ministers of Christ who hath not received their Ministry by the Gift of the Holy Ghost neither are led by the Spirit of Christ but are such as Christ â—nd the Apostles declared against such we cannot own to be Ministers of Jesus Christ but doth reprove them and deny them even such who Preacheth for Hire and hath Gifts and Rewards for Preaching and set-places for so much a â—ear these we disown and yet doth not offend God herein And this in honesty 〈◊〉 do shew to all people what that professed Church and professed Ministry is which we do deny and what that Church and Ministry is which we do set up to â—e preferred which is a right Ministry and a right Church And thus his reasonless reason is overturned and confounded and is found to be no sufficient reason wherefore a man should not be a Quaker 2. His second reason is No wise man can be a Quaker saith he because their Religion is an uncertain thing and so is not the Religion that must save us c. I answer This again is utterly false and no man that hath Gods wisdom would speak it for our Religion which we profess is a certain thing and we have openly declared it once and again and this is it To believe in Christ and to receive Christ and to be lead by the Spirit of Christ and taught in all things to love God with all the Heart and a mans neighbour as himself and through the Power of Christ dwelling in man to do all good and to be kept from all evil This in very short is our Religion and it is a very certain and established Religion and this Religion we all agree in And this in short is the substance of our faith Even Christ in us believed on and received by us This is the Truth and his lyes is judged and if he say this is an uncertain Religion let him give it under his hand and subscribe to it and he shall have a further Reply 3. His third Reason is No man of Reason should be a Quaker considering that amongst those scraps of their Religion which is made known there is so much notorious falsâ—â—d and ungodliness saith he Ans. Let all Christian people mark this his Reason they are even lyes heaped one upon another What secret Slanders are these behind our Backs who never would clear himself of what is truly charged against him in answer to his Catechism his words are turned by as utter lyes for that which we profess and practice for Religion which we have made known by word and writing is uprightness godliness sincerity and truth and neither notorious falshood not ungodliness as he wickedly saith And why did not he make it appear what this notorious falshood and ungodliness had been that had been more honest then to cast his charges and prove nothing And whereas he saith The very persâ—â— of Christ Iesus many of them do blaspheme c. this is utterly false for Jesus Christ have we owned and believed in onely and for his sake we do and suffer haâ—â— things 4. His fourth Reason is saith he Because their false pernicious Doctrines tâ—… practical Religion doth much consist in most notorious wicked injustice and uncharitableness c. Ans. Here is lye upon lye uttered and wickedness joyned to wickedness and drunk up as an Oxe drinks up water and no conscience made thereof by Richard Baxter it had been just to have mentioned these pernicious Doctrines their practical Religion injustice and uncharitableness and not to have slandered in the dark but we are delivered by the Lord from all pernicious Doctrines and notorious wickedness whatsoever and we find this false Reproacher guilty himself and his people of what he accuseth the Innocent And so his words are true unto himself and upon his own head I turn them 5. His fifth Reason is The worst of all saith he is That they behave themselves like malignant Enemies to the very Church and Gospel and Servants of Iesus Christ c. Ans. This man speaks as if he had sold himself wholly to lye but my answer to his first Reason is sufficient to answer this also and doth say That the Câ—…se and the Church and the Gospel and Servants of Iesus Christ we do fully and freely 〈◊〉 and are daily exercised therein as the very Servants of Iesus and are Friends thereof iâ— our hearts and doth not behave our selves in any way as Enemies thereunto God will judge every lying tongue and shall condemn our false Accusers guilty of that which they charge the guiltless to reprove and bear witness against the wilâ—… wicked and rude conversations and against such as have gotten the Saints words and by art frame an hours discourse thereupon for so much a Sermon or so much a year to deny such to be a Church of Christ and Ministers of Christ this we do and doth not behave our selves like Enemies to the Church or Gospel or Ministers and Servants of Christ as our Adversary wickedly saith 6. His sixth Reason saith he That part of the Quakers peculiar Religion which consists not in error and malignant impudency is made up very much of it of childish and unreasonable foppery c. Ans. As I have said No part of our Religion consists in error and malignant impudency and as for that which he calls childish and unreasonable foppery we stand not to mans judgement for it is a small thing with us for to be judged of any man for we do acknowledge that we are become fools for Christs sake and herein we have cause to glory though he upbraid us with it and it was such as he who called Paul a Babler and that his Doctrine was madness as he saith ours is foppery and let him know that which is foolishness with man is wisdom with God and we know God will confound the wisest of men by that which they may judge to be foolish and unreasonable and foppery for to such who are lost our Gospel is hid where the god of this World hath blinded their Eye as it is plain he hath done this our Adversaries and that is the reason wherefore he hath sent forth such lying Scribbles from his study of wicked inventions and let him make the best
no end and people shall be brought into that and they shall go forth no more for who come to this Time is no longer and the Kingdom and Government is delivered to the Father and he is become all in all And all that ever come to know these things must first come to the Light of the Lamb in them with which every man is lightned that cometh into the World And all that ever know these things must first be brought to the Principle of God in them which they have transgressed against And all that own the Light of Christ and walk in it shall come to know these things which to know and be in them is eternal Life Therefore all ye Christians come to the Light which Christ hath lightned you withal and that will let you see the Government of Satan and of sin and death which has been ruling in you and the Light will teach you to war against it till it be subdued the Light will discover unto you that nature in which the kingdom of Satan bears rule it will let you see the Devil who is the Prince of darkness who is the Adversary of God who is out of the Truth and he has drawn all people out of the Truth but if you love the Light of Christ in you it will teach you to war against him and against all that that is out of the Truth for all that is of Satans Kingdom that is out of the Truth and must be destroy'd by the coming of the Kingdom of Christ whose coming is in the Light which Christ hath enlightned every man withal who comes to destroy the Devil and his kingdom and all his works So to the Light must all minds be turned which will reveal the kingdom of the Man of Sin and consume it The Appearance of Christ is Light and Christ is the Light of Israel which is as a Fire to consume all fruitless Trees which cumber the ground which the Lord will consume by the brightness of his coming And now is the Man of Sin reveal'd even in the hearts of Christians so call'd and he hath long shew'd himself to be God but now the Lord will bring him down For Antichrist has rul'd for many Ages and the Lord of Life has been crucified in spiritual Sodom but Sodom shall be consumed by Fire and the Lord will avenge himself of all his Enemies and all People and Nations shal know that there is a God who executes Justice and true Judgment who is a God near at hand to reward his People with Everlasting Life and to give unto his Enemies Judgment and Condemnation Written by a Friend to the Creation a Servant of the Lord E. B. A DECLARATION To all the WORLD Of our Faith And what we believe who are called QUAKERS And this is written that all People upon Earth may know by whom and how we are saved and hope for Eternal Life and what we believe concerning God Christ and the Spirit and of the things that are Eternal appertaining to all Mankind to know and believe Concerning God Christ and the Spirit thus we believe FIRST That there is only one true God who is a Spirit and his Presence filleth Heaven and Earth and he is Eternal and Everlasting the Creator and Preserver of all things that Heaven and Earth and all things therein by him were framed and brought forth and all things â—…in unto this day by his Power and whatsoever he willeth in Heaven and Earth he â—â—ings to pass by his Word and Power And we believe That this God only is and ought to be feared loved obeyed and worshipned by all Creatures and no other thing besides 〈◊〉 in Heaven and Earth Aâ—… we believe That his Worship and Obedience and Fear and Love is to be given in Spirit even in what his own Spirit moveth and leadeth his People unto And we believe His true Worship required and accepted of him 〈◊〉 not by the Tradition of men in outward Observances or Set-dayes oâ— Places but he is worshipped only in Spirit â—…d Trâ—th without respect of Time â—…ces or things and that none can worship â—â—m in Righteousness but his â—…n who are born of his Spirit and are led and guided thereby And we believe That this God hath given his Son Christ Jâ—… 〈◊〉 â—â—e World a free Gift unto the whole World and that every 〈◊〉 that coâ—…eth into the World is lighted by him that every man miâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sayed And we believe That he is given into the World and no Nation 〈◊〉 or Pâ—ople excepted but unto all Mankind is he given of God and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 them and every man through the World that believeth in him and receiveth Christ who is the Wisdom and Power of the Father shall be saved with eternal ' Salvation and every one that believeth not in him shall be damned and shall possess everlasting Misery And we believe That Salvation Iustification and Sanctification are only in him and wrought by him and no other for there is no other Name given under Heaven but hâ—m alone by which Salvation is And we believe All that receive him and believe in him are reconâ—…d to God and are made alive to God to live to him in all things anâ— do receive the Forgiveness of Sins and are set free from all Unrighteousness and from the Body of Sin and Death and have the Witness of the Spirit in them and the Spirit of the Father they have received and it witnesseth in them of the Father and of the Son and of the things that belong unto their Peace and it is the Earnest of the Inheritance and the Seal of the Promise of Eternal Life and by it are the deep things of God revealed to Mankind and by it the Father and the Son dwells in the Saints and by it have they Fellowship one with mother and the Father Son and Spirit are one And this we faithfully believe Again concerning Christ we believe That he is one with the Father and was with him before the World was and what the Father worketh 〈◊〉 is by the Son for he is the Arm of God's Salvâ—…ion and the very Power and Wisdom of the Creator and was is and is to come without Beginning or End And we believe That all the Prophets gave Testimony of him and that he was made manifest in Iudea and Ierusalem and did the Work of the Father and was persecuted of the Iews and was crucified by his Enemies and that he was buried and rose again according to the Scriptures And we believe He is now ascended on High and exalted at the Right-hand of the Father for evermore and that he is glorified with the same Glory that the had before the World was and that even the same that came down froâ—… Heaven is ascended up to Heaven and the same that descended is he that ascended And we believe Even that he that was dead is alive and lives for evermore and that he cometh and shall come
again to judge the whole World wiâ—â— Righteousness and all people with Equity and shall give to every man according to his deeds at the Day of Judgment when all shall arise to Condemnation 〈◊〉 Iustification he that hath done good shall receive Life and he that hath done evil everlasting Condemnation And we believe He is to be waited for in Spirit to be known after the Spirit as he was before the World was and that is the Knowledge unto eternal Life which all that believe in him do receive and he subdues Death and destroyes him that hath the power of it and restoreth from Death to Life and quickeneth by his spirit all that the Father hath given him and we believe such he justifieth and sanctifieth and such are taught of him but he condemns all that believe not but continue in unbelief and are not taught or him And this we faithfully believe And we believe That unto all people upon the face of the whole Earth is a Time and Day of Visitation given that they may return and be saved by Christ Jesus who is givn of the Father to call the worst of men to Repentance and the most ungodly of Sinners are convinced by him of their ungodly deeds that they might believe and be converted and saved And we believe Herein is the Love of God manifested to all Mankind and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are shut out by him before they were born into the World but unto all men is a Vâ—…ation given and they that do perish it is because they do not believe in Christ and destruction is of a mans self but Salvation is of God through believing in his Son who takes away sin and reneweth into his own Image that they may become Heirs with him And we believe that there is a Crown of Eternal Glory and an Inheritance of Eternal Life to be injoyed for evermore by all that believe and are chosen of God and that there is an everlasting Misery and Destruction to be possessed by all that believe not but continue in the state of Reprobation and are not changed from the wayes of Sin and Death but walk after the wayes of their own Hearts Lusts fulfilling the will of the Flesh in the Evil of this World and follow not Christ the Light of the World that they may be saved And we believe upon all such the Wrath of God abideth and that they have no part in the Inheritance of God And we believe That it is only he that is born again of the Spirit and that walks after the Spirit who is changed from Death to Life and who is redeemed out of the World and all its wayes such only must inherit the Kingdom of God and they only have right thereunto and none besides even they that are washed and cleansed from all Unrighteousness by the Blood of Jesus by which their sins are remitted For his Blood cleanseth from all Unrighteousness and Sin yea all such that walk and abide in the Light which Christ Jesus hath lightened the World withal And we believe That the Saints upon Earth may receive forgiveness of sins and may be perfectly freed from the Body of sin and death and in Christ may be perfect and without sin and may have Victory over all Temptations by Faith in Christ Jesus And we believe Every Saint that is called of God ought to press after Perfection and to overcome the Devil and all his Temptations upon Earth and we believe they that faithfully wait for it shall obtain it and shall be presented without sin in the Image of the Father and such walk not after the Flesh but after the Spirit and are in Covenant with God and their Sins are blotted out and remembred no more for they cease to commit Sin being born of the Seed of God And we believe The Gospel of Christ is the Power of God unto Salvation and that it ought to be preached freely unto all people and Christ to be held forth unto all Mankind by the Ministry sent of him And we believe this Ministry is received by the Gift of the Holy Ghost and all they that receive it are lawfully call'd to the Ministry and they may preach the Gospel of Christ freely as they have receiv'd it freely And this Ministry is not of Man but of God and is made powerful to the converting of Sinners and to the bringing of people to God and to the Knowledge of his Wayes And we do not believe That any man is a Minister of Christ without the Gift of the Holy Ghost or that the Gospel can be receiv'd by natural Learning or Education And we believe Such as preach for Hire and have Hire for preaching are not the lawful called Ministers of the Gospel of Christ such as are Proud and High-minded and Covetous Men who do not profit the people at all such as have run and never were sent of Christ who calleth by his Spirit into the Work of the Ministry and as every one hath received the Gift of that his Spirit so he may administer to others Concerning Rulers and Governour we believe That there ought to be Rulers and Governours in every Nation City Country and Town and they ought to be such men as fear God and hate every evil way who will judge for God and not for man and will judge righteously equally and justly and will give true and sound Judgment unto all men without Bribery or Respect of Persons not regarding the Rich above the Poor but being a Praise unto all that do well and a Terror to all Evil-doers whatsoever having knowledge in the pure Law of God and themselves continnally exercised therein And we believe That every Law of man ought to be grounded upon the Law of God pure Reason and Equity being the Foundation thereof that God's Witness in every man may answer to it and the Law ought to be known unto all people before Trangression be charged or punished in any man And we believe that every Transgression ought to be punished according to its nature and that the Punishment exceed not the greatness of the Transgression neither ought any Transgressor to â—…ape unpunished neither ought any upon false Suspition or Iealousies to be caused to suffer without the Testimony of true men or the Confession of the Party And we believe that the Executors of the Law ought to be Just Men and not given to Pride Drunkenness or any other Evil whatsoever and ought to be chosen every year or otherwise by the Consent of the people and that no man be stopped of his free choyce except justly taxed And we believe that all Governours and Rulers ought to be accountable to the people and to the next proceeding Rulers for all their Actions which may be enquir'd into upon occasion and that the chiefest of the Rulers be subject under the Law and punishable by it if they be Transgressors as well as the poorest of the People And thâ—â— true Judgment and Justice will be
brought forth in the Earth and all that do well will have Praise and live in Rest and Peace and all Evil-doers whatsoever may stand in awe and be afraid of God and just Men and the Execution of Iust Laws Concerning Religion we believe That it is only the Spirit of the Lord that makes men truly Religious and that no man ought to be compell'd to or from any Exercise or Practice in Religion by any outward Law or Power but every man ought to be left free as the Lord shall perswade his own mind in doing or leaving undone this or the other Practice in Religion and every man of what Profession in Religion soever ought to be protected in Peace provided himself be a man of Peace not seeking the wrong of any mans Person or Estate And we believe That to oppose false Opinions and unsound Doctrines and Principles seeking to convince them that oppose themselves by Exhortation or sharp Reproof by word or writing ought nor to be counted a Breach of the Peace or to strive about the things of the Kingdom of God by men of contrary Minds or Judgments this ought not to be punishable by the Magistrates and their Laws for we believe the outward Laws and Powers of the Earth are only to preserve mens Persons and Estates and not to preserve men in Opinions neither ought the Law of the Nation to be laid upon mens Consciences to bind them to or from such a Judgment or Practice in Religion And we believe that Christ is and ought only to be Lord and Exerciser of mens Consciences and his Spirit only must lead into all Truth And we believe That Obedience and Subjection in the Lord belongs to Superiors and that Subjects ought to obey in the Lord those that have Rule over them and that Children ought to obey their Parents and Wives their Husbands and Servants their Masters in all things which are according to God which stands in the exercise of a pure Conscience towards God But where Rulers Parents or Masters or any other command or require subjection in any thing which is contrary to God or not according to him to such causes all people are free and ought to obey God rather then man and we believe That herein God will justifie them being guided and led by his Spirit in all that which is Good and out of all that which is Evil. Again We believe concerning Election and Reprobation That there is a state of Election and a state of Reprobation a state chosen of God and a state rejected of God and that all Man-kind are in one of these states all that are elected are elected in Christ and all that are out of him are in the state Reprobate bringing forth fruits of Death and Darkness being Children of Wrath and Disobedience in the alienation and separation from God in the Transgression unreconcil'd to God the Enmity ruling in the Heart being in the Fall and not restor'd to God again but ignorant of his Power and of his Wisdom having the Understanding darkened that they cannot see nor perceive the things that are Eternal and in this condition his best Works are Sin and whatsoever he doth he cannot be accepted of God for he is dead to God and alive to all evil bâ—inging forth all his works out of that Ground which is cursed This is the condition of all Mankind upon the face of the Earth in the first Adâ—… and this is the state of Reprobation and all that abide herein are rejected of God and â—…ll never inherit eternal Life but go inâ—â— Perdition yet have all such a Day of Visitation that they may return out of the state of Reprâ—…tion 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…ledge and desâ—…sing the Love of God â—â—ey conâ—… iâ—â—he 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Wrath of Gâ—…d abides upon them â—…t they tâ—…t 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Wrath for they believe in the Light and becâ—…â—…ldren of the Light and are renewed in Mind and Hâ—… and receiâ—… the Love of the Father and become planted into Christ the second Adâ—… 〈◊〉 are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 him to bring forth Fruit â—nto the Father and â—ll their Fruit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—â—om 〈◊〉 grâ—…d which is â—…ssed for they are led by the Spirit of thâ— Faâ—…r and â—…ch are in the state of Election who are â—ade Heâ—rs with Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Eveâ—… Inheritance that never fades away And this we faithfully believe That â—…cy is not shewed to the Reprobate nor Judgment to them that are chosen of God And this is to go abroad in the World that all pâ—…ple mâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and whâ—◠〈◊〉 have receiv'd of God and they that believe this and walkâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Father shall be saved but they that belieâ—e 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 be condemned because they do not believe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 be â—…tten 〈◊〉 in â—…rt this is given forth by one that hath believed and received the Knowledge of thâ—se things from God A Friend unto all People E. B. Some of the PRINCIPLES OF THE QUAKERS Scornfully so called by men VINDICATED And proved Sound and True and according to the SCRIPTURES In Opposition to the False Charges and Lying Reports given forth against the Truth in two Printed Books put forth by one Philip Taverner a supposed Minister of the Gospel in Middlesex near Uxbridge And hereby Truth is Manifested and Discovered and the Controversie determined by the Judgment of Truth between Philip Taverner aforesaid the Accuser and Edward Burroughs Defendant of the Truth who contends for the Faith of the Gospel and for the Word of God in the Heart against all such Gainsayers as have the Form of Godliness but deny the Power and many such are in this Age. WHereas P. Taverner one of Truth 's Opposers whether throâ—… Ignorance or Subtilty I now determine not hath again appear'd against me and the Truth in Print as in Vindication of himself and his former Work who about four Moneths ago gave a false Relation of a Dispute but instead of mending the matter he hath made his own cause the more vile as may appear to such who take a perfect view of the Proceedings from the beginning to the end thereof Now the intent of this my Reply is to clear the Truth further and to take off his false Aspersions which he hath cast upon my innocent words in my former Book in answer to his first And as for the rest of his Book which hath no relation to mine nor to the Dispute I shall pass it by The Title of my first Book was Something of Truth Made Manifest c. To which sayst thou A plausible Title to cover a Railing and Bitter spirit under that it may walk in the World less suspected c. Reply My words are truth for in 〈◊〉 â—â—ok Truth was made â—â—â—ifest to â—…y in relation to the former Dispute to the Satisfaction of many and as 〈◊〉 â—…ing anâ—â—â—â—â—erness of spirit I do deny only I am zealoâ—â— for the
manifest though you deny them in some particulars some of you yet you can cry against that in some of them and yet uphold the same thing I may lawfully instance that some of your Brethren some in this Nation and some in Ireland take or have lately taken Tythes for Preaching and have Yearly Stipends and so much by the Year out of the States Treasure for Preaching One Hundred Pound Two Hundred Pound and Three Hundred Pound a piece by the year which indeed doth shew that you are not intending to destroy their oppressing and abominable practices but the rather that you would turn them out of great Places and Benefices and turn your selves in Oh Deceit and Wickedness which I am forced to lay open upon this Occasion of your own just Provocation hereunto And as for their preserving you and you them against such as do oppose you they may easily joyn with you in this if they could hope in your Faithfulness for some of you and your Members have shewed as much Enmity have been open Persecutors even as they and their Members have been and your Members have been sending the People of God to Prison and persecuting them even as the common Priests of the Nation and you appear to be guided by the same spirit in many things and if they be Antichristian in their wayes and practices its sure that you are not of Christ because you are like unto them in Nature And in that you say You would have none tollerated in their Religion that deny the Scriptures to be the Word of God but you would tollerate Episcopacy Presbytery or a â—â—inted Form c. say you To which I say I know that spirit that you are of if it had its full authority would tollerate none but your selves for your spirit in nature differs not from the spirit of the Church of Rome And what are you now for tollerating Episcopacy who were once your selves in your Zeal for God when your sincerity was not darkned nor your hearts so much corrupted through Places of Honour and through such things as now they are Instruments to the pulling down of Episcopacy and will you now tollerate it again and help to set it up and build what you have destroyed as if you recanted of what you had done but plainly shewing that you are not of the same Spirit that once you were of but have lost Sincerity and can embrace Idolatry for once ye were the men that did oppose it and did violently help to pull it down but now you are for tolleration Oh! unconstant men this is to you not herein discovering my Judgement in the case and if Episcopacy why may not Popery be tollerated seeing they are one and the self same in ground and nature and not much different in appearance and you may agree to tollerate a stinted Form in others because your selves are in a stinted Form also for what is yours else but a form crying up your water and bread and wine and differing from the World onely in these outward things when as the City and Nation knows you are men as covetous as worldly minded as ambitious as self-seeking of honour and places as any others in the Nation and your Religion appears to be a stinted Form as much as others Alas poor men you have discovered your hearts in your Declaration and according to the corruption thereof I cannot but answer you and there are some that deny the Scriptures to be the Word of God and say they are the Words of God and a Declaration and a Treatise of what the Saints believed and enjoyed and Christ is the Word of God that may in time to come be tollerated in their Religion in this Nation though you have renounced them but while they are owned and regarded of the Lord they respect not your love nor hatred who are mortal men and your breath in your nostrils and must fall and perish as the dung in all your beauty and your profession of Religion before the coming of the Son of God And in your Post-script you say you have under you hands sent forth your Declaration in behalf of your selves and others of your Iudgement but I must tell you I do believe there are some even of those called Anabaptists which will reject your work and to them my answer is not for I spare them but to you fearful Hypocrites in a time of danger that have in this juncture of time renounced us without ground or reason in the Sight of God but for your 〈◊〉 as if you would gain the favour of the Nation and City by denial of â—â—s and looking upon your selves to be reproached because of us when as you are a Company of unworthy men even unworthy of our reproaches and to escape them have denied us as seeming to clear your selves but you are deceived in this matter and it shall turn to work against you in the Nation and in the City for we have a more surer witness in their Consciences even in the Consciences of all people that we are of God then you have for take but away your outward water and Bread and Wine and some few outward Practices and what do you differ from the worst sort of men in the Nation for doth not Pride and Hypocrisie and Self-Love and Covetousness and the love of this World abound amongst you as much as amongst any others the Witness in Peoples Consciences knows it which shall be a Witness for us and against you You may indeed have gained League with the worst sort of men in the Nation but you have not gained the sincerity in people and while we have that on our side to witness for us take you the rude multitude for we are not discouraged at all concerning this thing but the rather do glory in the Lord though we be denied of all for though men forsake us yet the Lord careth for us and your own doing shall return upon your own heads and thus much is sufficient to the substance of your Declaration and if I receive any reply I shall expect it under the hands of you all that I may further search and discover you unto your selves and to the Nation And whereas there is a Manuscript goes abroad consisting of five particulars which is said that it was delivered in to the Committee of Safety as Advice and Counsel to them but who the Authors of it are is something uncertain but certain it is that some of the called Independant Ministers and Pastors were the chief Promoters of it and in the Copy which was delivered to my hands it is said These five Particulars were the result of a little Synod made up of Presbyterians Independants and Anabaptists but whether it is so or no I leave that and would say something to some of the Particulars and even to the Committee of Safety and Officers of the Army and all others of the Nation for their better information then the same Paper describeth to
to the Living God lest they Perish in the Day of Vengeance which is near at hand And this is a Message of Reconciliation to all People every where in general but more particularly to the Inhabitants of Ireland and to all sorts of People therein even to the Rich and to the Poor to the Professor and to the Prophane that every one may be stir'd up to seek the Lord by Repentance With certain Propositions of FAITH laid down which every one must believe or else they cannot be saved And certain Objections answered relating to the present dayes With the Way of a Happy and Blessed Government Discovered in the Kingdoms of this World c. OH Ireland The Day of God's Visitation of Love and tender Mercy hath been upon thee to try thee and to prove thee and the Lord would have gathered thy People into Covenant and Fellowship with himself to live in Love Unity and Peace and the Lord would have made thy Inhabitants Blessed but they would not but many have refused the Day of his Love and they have neglected his Loving-kidness and have chosen their own wayes of Iniquity and Unrighteousness rather then the Way of Truth and Peace Though the Lord hath often smitten and caused his Judgments to be known in the Land and suffered great Destruction in dayes past even Plague Sword and Famine were sore upon thee have thy Inhabitants forgotten the Dealings of the Lord towards thee Are his Judgments and Mercies clean gone out of Remembrance which the Lord shewed in thee not many years since And because of thy Iniquities and Transgressions which were grown very great against God he was angry with thee and provoked against thee and did give up thy Inhabitants to Hardness of Heart and Cruelty of Mind one against another so that they were given up to destroy and cut off one another and Thousands of them fell through the Malice and Wickedness of each others Hearts and Hands and cruel Murders Robberies Treacheries and a very great Destruction was committed amongst thy People and this was because Iniquity at that day was full Pride and Oppression Drunkenness and Whoredom Double-dealing and Treachery and all manner of Unrighteousness was grown to the height and therefore did the Lord suffer a very great Rebuke in the Land and by Sword Plague and Famine did he plead with thy Inhabitants for some years together even that he might humble thee and correct thee and that thy People might turn unto him and forsake their Iniquities Oh! why hast thou forgotten the Dealings of the Lord running into the same Abominations For since the Lord stayed his Judgments Iniquity is increased even as before Though the Lord hath given thee Rest and Peace for divers years and healed thee of thy Sorrows and Miseries and replenished thee with People and thou hast had Peace and Fulness for a good season but yet thou hast not made a right use of these Mercies as thou oughtest to have done Though the Lord hath shewed Love and Favour towards thee in delivering of thee from thy former Troubles and Miseries yet thou hast turned to thy own huâ—t â—is Blessings into a Curse through thy abuse of them And now through Reâ—… and Peace and Fulness thy Inhabitants are corrupted and become abominably sinful and they have loaden themselves with Transgressions and heâ—ped up Wrath against the Day of Wrath even Wrathful Matter for the Wâ—ath of God and former Judgments and Mercies seem to be both forgotten many having abused them to their hurt though the Lord intended them for their good and thy Inhabitants are as before many of them hardened in Iniquity rather then turned from it and they are turned into their old Paths and drink of the same Cup of Abominations and Pride and Oppression and all Unrighteousness in every part of it is grown as high as ever it was in thee Oh! how doth Wickedness abound Drunkenness Wantonness Vain-Pleasures Envy Wrath Contention Heart-Burning Covetousness and Earthly-mindedness Double-dealing False-heartedness Idolatry and Hypocrisie and all Fruits of the Flesh how do they abound in thee even as high as ever before as though thou hadst never felt Judgement because of thy sins and as though thou hadst never tasted of Mercy that thou shouldst live a better life but both Judgment and Mercy by-past are neglected and the Remembrance of them worn out and thou hast said in thy heart We love this world its Pleasures and Vanities and after our wayes will we go Oh Nation and Kingdom this is thy Condition and thy present State Thou drinkest up Iniquity as an Ox drinketh Water and thou addest sin to sin as if all thou couldst do were too little and like as if thou wert appointed for no other end but to commit sin and thou hatest Reproof and despisest Correction and him that reproveth thee thou countest thy Enemy for the whole Pleasure of many of thy people is in sinning against God and thus thou thinkest to serve him with thy sins and requitest the Lord evil for his good towards thee and his Judgments and Mercies have no place in thy Heart though yet thou hast been warned for these divers years that thy People should turn from their Iniquities and serve the Living God Repentance and Forsaking of Sin hath been preached thorough thee and Warning hath been given of the Judgments of God that are to come but hereof hast thou taken no notice as thou oughtest to have done but thy Inhabitants have despised the Lord's Servants and persecuted them and thou hast held in Derision and under great Afflictions the People of the Lord and persecuted them for good Conscience sake And this is the fulfilling of Wickedness in thee and the heighâ— of thy Inhabitants Transgressions in that they have persecuted such who have warn'd them and despised the Lord's Reproof and would not hearken to the Advice of his People but do alwayes reject the Message of God's Light which reproveth people in their own Consciences because of Sin that they should turn from iâ— and be saved this Message hath been proclaimed thorough the Land even for some years together wherein the Lord hath visited thee with his Love that he might gather thy People and condemn their Iniquities and save their Souls but thy People have rejected this Message and would not be turned from their Idolatrous Wayes and Worships nor from the Hypocrisie of their wayes that they might be healed But thy people have forsaken the Living God and rebelled against the Light and the Way of Peace they have refused and turned their Backs towards the Lord and not their Faces and after Covetousness and the Love of this World they have gone though there hath been a great Profession of Worship and Religion in thee much Preaching and Praying Sabboth-keeping and professed Church-Fellowship Ministry and Ordinances and a Sect here of one sort and there another that have cryed Lord Lord and have made a shew of Worships and Duties towards him
it hath been in my Heart divers times to declare the Substance of these things unto you but at last I have chosen to write my Mind to present to you concerning the Matters very needful for you to be informed in and it is for your sakes as well as theirs that I have done it that you may not run on to act any thing against them upon Suspitions and Accusations of others without hearing our Defence and therefore it is for the avoiding and stopping of Persecution in the Land for this Cause have I taken in hand Submissively and not Presumptiously to state this Plea before you and I must leave it to your Considerations and cannot impose my Faith upon you to believe as I believe but having laid the Truth before you I shall leave it to the Lord to work Faith and Love and Iustice Mercy and all good things in your Hearts that you may bring them forth in the Exercise of them in the World London the 10th day of the second Moneth 1661. I am a Lover of Justice and Mercy Truth and Righteousness E. B. A Just and Righteous PLEA presented unto the KING of England and his COUNCIL c. CHAP. 1. The Case Stated and Pleaded concerning Swearing at all and particularly concerning the Oath of Allegiance 1. WE do acknowledge our selves to be free-born People of this Kingdom of England the Land of our Nativity and we do assert That we have just and lawful Right and Title as such to possess and enjoy our Lives Liberties and Estates both by the Laws of God and Man having never unto this day since we were a People forfeited our Birth-right as men by any Rebellion Sedition Contempt or otherwise but have alwayes been and are a People exercised in the Law of our God by walking justly towards all men and doing to others as we would be done unto and have been and are a Peaceable People under every Government and Authority that hath been over us since the Lord raised us up And I do hereby declare That we now are and shall be Faithful Innocent and Peaceable in our several Stations and Conditions under this present Government of King Charles the second whom we acknowledge supream Magistrate and Governour over this Kingdom and for Conscience sake we are obedient and submissive to him as such in all his Commands either by doing and performing of what he justly requireth or by patient suffering under whatsoever is inflicted upon us in the Matters for which we cannot be obedient for Conscience sake when any thing is required of us different from the just Law of God And to this Subjection to the King and his Government we are bound by the Law of Righteousness and such hath ever been our Principle and Practice and is unto this day even to be Quiet and Peaceable and Patient under every Authority that is set over us and not in Unrighteousness to Plot or Contrive or Rebel against any Government or Governours nor to seek our own Deliverance from Injustice and Oppression in such a way And we are perswaded to seek the Preservation of the King's Person and Authority by all just and lawful Means and not to Rebel against him with carnal Weapons and so far as his Government is in Justice Mercy and Righteousness we declare true and Faithful Subjection and Obedience thereunto and wherein it is otherwise we shall be subject by patient suffering what is unequally imposed upon us and yet not Rebel in any Turbulent way of Conspiracies and Insurrections For our Principles are not for War but for Peace with all men so much as in us lie neither may we render Evil for Evil to any but are to be subject to the King and his Government Actively or Passively upon the Conditions aforementioned And we renounce all Forreign Authority Power and Jurisdiction of the Pope or any else from having any Supremacy whatsoever over the King oâ— any the good Subjects of England And this we Declare Acknowledge and Testifie in the Fear and Presence of God to whom we and all Mankind must give an Account and that without secret Equivocation or any deceitful mental Reservation 2. But as for all Oaths and Swearing we utterly deny for Conscience sake towards God because Christ Jesus hath commanded Not to Swear at all Mat. 5. And the Apostle saith Above all things my Brethren Swear not Jam. 5. And it was the Principle and Practice of divers holy Martyrs even some of the Protestant Church since the Apostles dayes in all Ages Not to Swear at all in any Case so for Conscience sake and according to the Example of Saints in former Ages we do refuse to Swear in this Case of Allegiance to the King and in all other Cases whatsoever and we cannot Swear at all Though the Truth and Verity of all Things in all Cases so far as known to us and as Occasion requireth we can acknowledge and testifie with Yea and Nay as in the Fear and Presence of God and with true Intent and Meaning to discover the Truth as is needful to be known And in this manner we acknowledge just Allegiance to the King and his Government that we shall live Peaceably and not Plot nor Rebel against him according to the Law of God and a safe Conscience but without any Oath or Swearing at all for we may not break the Command of Christ nor walk contrary to the Example of the Apostles and Saints by Swearing though we suffer the Loss of all because thereof And it is our known Principle and Practice ever since we were a People that in no Case whatsoever though of great Dependancy oft times to our selves both in respect of Advantage to us and also in avoiding of Sufferings we have not taken any Oath nor Sworn at all whereby it is manifest that our refusing chiefly to take the Oath of Allegiance is not because it is that Oath but because it is an Oath and for Conscience sake we cannot Swear at all 3. And thus the state of our present Case about this Oath of Allegiance is different from some others from all such who can swear and take Oaths in other Cases to whom taking of an Oath in it self is not matter of Conscience but as for us we make Conscience of an Oath in it self and that upon just Ground as we are able to demonstrate and therefore our Refusal of this Oath of Allegiance gives no Ground at all of Doubt or Suspition concerning us as if we would not live peaceably and quietly under this Government or as if we would Rebel against or Plot to destroy the King's Person or Authority and so deny to take this Oath as if we would leave our selves clear to proceed in such wayes this Judgment cannot justly be given of us because we deny to Swear at all in all Cases which if it were not so but that we could Swear in other Cases and not in this then we might justly be the more suspected
That there should arise false Christs and false Prophets and should shew Signs and Wonders if it were possible to deceive the very Elect Mat. 24. 24 which doth signifie that the Antichrists and false Prophets should come into the World after his Prophecy which are already come since that time They should pretend to be Christs and should shew Signs and should deceive many with the Profession of Christ and Signs of Godliness and they should have upon them and be covered with Sheep's-Clothing that is with the Saints words and practices in outward appearance but inwardly that is in their own proper Nature Fruits and Works should be ravening Wolves that is Destroyers of the Flock Mat. 7. 15. and the Antichrists which Iohn speaks 1 Iohn 2. 19. they were such as went from the Saints that were in the Power of Godliness they went out of the true Church and carried with them the Form of Righteousness and Truth and the Profession of Christianity but without the Power and had lost it and were departed from the Spirit of Christ and the Spirit of Antichrist had possessed them and now led them and ruled them and they were Antichrists to wit against him and contrary to him And these were the false Prophets and Deceivers that went out into the World and deceived it and led many aside into Error and many followed their pernitious and hurtful wayes as Peter saith 2 Pet. 2. 2 3. And Paul speaks of such as had the Form of Godliness but denyed the Power and in Words professed God but in Works denyed him Such were the Antichrists and Deceivers in the Apostles dayes and such they are this day in the World whereby it is manifest that Antichrist often appears in the World as a Saint as a Righteous one and the many Antichrists they have gotten the Form and Appearance of Church Ministry Worship and Ordinances and thus they appear deceiving the World and them that dwell therein with the Appearance and Vain-shew of Faith Worship and Religion without the Power of Godliness for unto that Antichrist is an Enemy even a Destroyer a Persecutor and Gainsayer of Christ and his Works and the Power of Godliness and true Faith brought forth by the Spirit of Christ though to deceive the World he can transform himself into and appear as an Angel of Light 6. Again So Deceivable and Mysterious is and hath the Appearance and Working of Antichrist been in the World that he hath not alwayes dwelt in one kind of Form and Profession of Religion and Righteousness but he hath dwelt in many Appearances and removed out of one false Form into another according to his Oportunity and Advantage whereby he could deceive and sometimes dwelling in one Form with pretence of Zeal and performance of Duty to God he hath envyed Persecuted and destroyed many others in other Wayes of Profession more Zealous Upright and Sincere to God than themselves have been in the other Form and by the colour of Zeal and Performance of Duty hath Antichrist clothed himself in his Envies Persecutions and Murders of others as if he did not persecute nor impose upon the Conscience of any nor exercise that Rigour or Justice as he hath named his Proceedings though never so Cruel and Unjust towards any upon any terms or account of Wrath Bitterness Envy or Cruelty but Zeal Duty and Love to Religion and to entinguish Heresie c. This hath been the Pretence and Cloak of Antichrist in his cruel and hard Dealing with many men that have differed in Principle and Practice of Religion he hath often shewed himself in his present Form of Godliness so zealous and dutiful for the truth of his Way though never so Idolatrous against all that have opposed it and gainsayed his Form and Vain Shew that he hath killed slain and exercised Cruelty towards all that have been contrary or different-minded and though this hath been brought forth by Antichrist as he is the Devil in himself and in down-right Envy Malice Persecution and Wickedness yet it hath been acted and effected under the Cloak of Zeal Duty and Sincerity and out of Pretence of Love to Christ and his Church and out of Pretence of Hatred against the contrary Thus hath Antichrist though the Devil that Wicked One as he is in himself in his own Nature Kind and proper Sphear appeared in the World as a Zealous Church-Member as a Saint as a Promoter of Righteousness and a Destroyer of the contrary With these false Covers hath Antichrist been cloathed and hidden from men and appeared to be in his Works and Transactions as a Good Man as a Lover of God and Hater of Iniquity while in the mean time he hath been deceiving Men and destroying the Innocent and leading the World to perpetual Misery and Destruction 7. Again So Deceivable hath the spirit of Antichrist been in the World that he hath alwayes put the Name of Christ and the Name of his Church and the Pretence of Duty to God and the Name of Gospel Doctrine Ordinances Ministry and Worship upon whatsoever False Way Feigned Worship and Deceitful Profession that he hath gone about to set up and promote in the World among men I say Upon the Worst and most Idolatrous Wayes of Superstition and the most false Feigned Formal Worship that ever hath been in the World Antichrist hath put the Name of Christ his Church and Worship upon them and Imposed and forced the Belief and Practice of much false Worship false Doctrine and formal Wayes under the Name and Title of the true Christ his Doctrine and Worship and upon Pains and Penalties hath enjoyned and commanded the Belief and Practice of such things not as if they were of Antichrist Superstitious Evil False or Feigned but as if they were of Christ altogether and must be believed and practiced as by his Name and under his Authority Thus hath been the working of the Mystery of Iniquity of that Man of Sin the Antichrist all the Evil Wayes he hath conceived and brought forth in the World all the Idolatrous Worship and false Faith and Doctrine and all the Cruelties Murders and Unjust Dealing to the very destroying of the Saints and all the Unrighteousness and Deceivableness exercised by Antichrist in the World hath put all this on the Name of Christ and pretended Christ for it as if it were indeed and in Truth of him and from him when indeed and in Truth it hath been contrary to the true Christ and tended to kill and destroy him Thus hath Antichrist the Devil been cloaked with false Covers and deceitful Pretences in his working among men that wicked spirit hath falsly called the greatest of Pride and Ambition Decency and true Honour Covetousness and Deceitful Dealing hath he stiled Good Husbandry and Prudent-Walking and the most Cruel and Unjust Iudgment the Oppression of the Poor and the Grinding of the Face of the Innocent hath that spirit falsly titled Equal Proceedings Iustice and according to Law