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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
nation_n	earth_n	know_v	praise_v	1,725	5	9.4972	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A35020	The general history of the Quakers containing the lives, tenents, sufferings, tryals, speeches and letters of the most eminent Quakers, both men and women : from the first rise of that sect down to this present time / being written originally in Latin by Gerard Croese ; to which is added a letter writ by George Keith ...	Croese, Gerardus, 1642-1710.; Keith, George, 1639?-1716.	1696 (1696)	Wing C6965; ESTC R31312	344,579	528

the certain ruine of his Soul and to the latter a risk of losing his Life but my Fighting is to abstain from all these Quarrels Wars and Arms nay not only to abstain from them but to conquer and subjugate those Passions and Lusts from whence they arise I am a Soldier waging War and fighting but so as to provide for the Peace and Safety of my self of you and all Men both here in this Humane Society and also with God Which Practice would to God both ye and all the World would study to imitate Wherefore I desire of you that ye give me no more trouble of this Nature and that ye be aware of running your selves into a worse condition than ye are in already lest by indulging your selves this liberty of sinning against God the Emperor of the World his wrath be kindled against you and when the time for Vengeance shall come and the Door of Mercy shut up ye perish for ever This Discourse was so far from putting a stop to the fury of his Adversaries that it spurr'd on their fierceness and cruelty the more which they express'd not in Imprisoning him as before but in casting him into a nasty stinking Dungeon digged under Ground where Thieves and Malefactors were kept But after other six Months he got out from thence also And this Affliction did not in the least scare him from prosecuting his Design but he still became bolder and brisker Propagating his Doctrine not only in the Counties of Nottingham Darby and Leicester which were the Theatre and Stage where this great Engine did first appear but through all York-shire Lancaster and the vast Tract of Lands called Westmorland in all which places he unweariedly preached his Doctrine and Discipline being followed by vast numbers of the People This is certain that none of all the Quakers ever preached or discoursed so often and unto so many different Hearers as George Fox and he himself never made so many Discourses as in these places and at this time But because he could not be present every where to speak Face to Face he now began to write Letters to several Societies and likewise to particular Men Instructing and Admonishing them in what he imagined most necessary to be known and practised And to this day are to be seen in many peoples hands whole bundles of Letters wrote by him to the same Persons Though he did not express any great strength of Discourse or Reasoning in these his Letters for that he both wrote such Characters as were not easie to be read and also in so rude and simple a Style sometimes most difficult and intricate that it is a wonder any Man so much exercised in speaking and discoursing should have been the Author of them The first Letter he wrote was in the Year Fifty to his Friends which I shall here insert It was wrote Originally in English and is translated from the Original into Latin which done from the Latin into English again for the Original is not in our hands runs thus The Lord is King over all the Earth wherefore all ye Nations praise and magnifie your King in true Obedience purity of Holiness and Sincerity O! consider in true Obedience how ye should know the Lord with Vnderstanding mark and consider in silence in submission of Mind and ye shall hear the Lord speaking to you in your Minds His Voice is sweet and pleasant His Sheep hear his voice and will give ear to no other And when they hear his voice they rejoyce and obey and also sing for joy O! their hearts are filled with Eternal Triumphs They sing forth and praise the Eternal God in Zion Their Joy shall none take from them Glory be to the Lord for ever G. F. In this same Fiftieth Year Elizabeth Hooton born and living in Nottingham a Woman pretty far advanced in Years was the first of her Sex among the Quakers who attempted to imitate Men and Preach which she now in this Year commenced After her Example many of her Sex had the confidence to undertake the same Office This Woman afterwards went with George Fox into New-England where she wholly devoted her self to this Work and after having suffered many Affronts from that People went into Jamaica and there finished her Life But I return again to Fox While he thus continued so forward and zealous for Preaching his Doctrines his condition was very various strange Events and Accidents falling out of which I think it convenient to give you a short Account It happened in Yorkshire in a Town towards the East Part of it called Beverlar that he went into the Church being mightily mov'd in Spirit where he first kept himself silent till the Minister had finish'd his Sermon then before all the People he thunder'd out his extemporary and reviling Harangues and presently convey'd himself away thus he escaped safe and unpunish'd Some few days after that at Crantsick as the Minister had just read the Text of his ensuing Discourse being a Man of considerable Worth and Fame he fell upon him with a Discourse the only purport of which was to express his contempt of the Dignity Order and Religion of this worthy Divine Which Action might have brought him into extream danger for every body almost accounted it a signal of so great Impudence and Insolence that they thought no Vengeance too great nor no Resentment too high for so villainous and injurious a Crime yet he escap'd unpunish'd But I come to give you a larger Account of a certain Sermon of his Being in Leicester his Native Country he had occasion to Travel in that Country with some of his Friends He spyes from afar a certain Town not knowing which it was but having asked of his Friends comes to understand that it was Lichfield Thither he presently resolves to go and pronounce Curses against all the Citizens high or low or of whatever degree for they were all equally unknown to him While I call to remembrance the Ancient Annals of the British Affairs it comes into my Mind that at this very Town in the time of Dioclesian the Emperour there was a great many Christian Martyrs miserably afflicted and tortured with all manner of exquisite Torments And then in the Reign of Henry the Sixth King of England there was a Battel fought betwixt the King and the Earl of Salisbury near to this place in which great numbers of Men were slain on both sides and the King's Army almost totally routed So that on both these occasions this Ground was covered with the Blood of so many Men. And besides in Fox's own time while that Fatal Civil War was raging in England betwixt the King and the People in the same Fields and this very same Town there was a great deal of Humane Blood shed all which Fox was not ignorant of Thither I say did he presently direct his course and because he did not know the right Road for he had now parted from his Friends being impatient

progress of time encreas'd their small Fortunes to a considerable bulk so that their former Persecution and the Exchange of their Habitations prov'd advantagious to them Besides there were not wanting some among them who besides their domestick Affairs took care also of the General interest of the Sect even in that Country and by introducing New Meetings and constituting a New Society there became the chief Pillars and Ornaments of their whole Church tho formerly they had been in no repute amongst their own People either for Riches or other Endowments so that their Friends and Associates did not stand to say publickly of them that they were toss'd and harrass'd by many tribulations and at length brought to that Country by the Divine Counsel that they might be oblig'd to Acknowledge that Divine Assistance which enabled them to compass such great undertakings the same thing happening unto them that we observe in Trees and Plants the which the more they are shaken with the Winds the deeper and faster Root they take and when prun'd bring forth Fruits better and in greater plenty or when bare at the Roots or digg'd up and Transplanted to other ground Fructify better and produce a more plentiful Harvest A pious and laudable Action to put such favourable Constructions upon adverse events and to enlarge and magnify what prosperously befalls ' em The Quakers at this time complain'd hugely of the cruel and inveterate malice of the Ecclesiasticks and Ministers against them who should have been meek even to their Enemies following in this the Example of their Lord and Master while on Earth who was meek and tender to his greatest Enemies Their mouths were also fill'd with the cruelty of the Bishops who are the chiefest managers of all publick concerns and the principal Members of the Parliament the supreme Judicatory of the Nation whose Authority is of so great weight and influence in the Nation that they were the Authors of all the s●vere Laws and Rigid constitutions made against them that they propos'd nothing concerning the restraining and suppressing of Sectaries and consequently Quakers that was not forthwith listen'd to by the Noble Men and Statesmen of the Kingdom Their complaint therefore was that Justice was done them no where that they could not obtain liberty so much as to display the injuries that were done them that this persecution was Universal and every where insomuch that every Town or whatever place was frequented by People ring'd with the persecution and affliction of the Quakers And because they are of this principle that Resistance is to be offer'd to none nay not so much as to ward off force by force that whatever fortune befell them they should not only acquiesce in it but receive it with all chearfulness and willingness of mind while it was for Conscience sake that whatever evils they were oppress'd with they should undergo them with the greatest Constancy Patience and Fortitude of mind and body they complain'd that upon this account the world was the more jealous and suspicious of them that their wrath and malice was incited the more against them that they lay open to the snares and devices of all Men such as could not be avoided by simple and open hearted Men and to the greatest Perils and Dangers that any Mortals could undergo not otherwise than if every thing alledg'd against them had been prov'd or if their patient enduring the Punishments inflicted had been their crime and this their constancy in suffering accounted by some stubbernness and contumacy had call'd for a greater weight of punishment to be inflicted In opposition to which when such like complaints came to the ears of the Church-men they endeavour'd to purge themselves thus that seeing the Quakers did so obstinately forsake and separate from the publick Religion Churches and Sermons and neglected despis'd and endeavour'd by all means to render ineffectual the Laws and Constitutions of the Church and stoped oppos'd and diminish'd as much as in them lay their revenues incomes and advantages so that they design'd and contriv'd to ruine them and theirs if they could there was therefore no remedy left for curbing and checking their corrupted minds irregular Actions and unaccountble boldness but the method they had chosen for that effect and the punishments they met with were no less than they deserv'd that as for them they had done nothing but what was their duty and became them in the conscientious discharge of their function which was not to be their Enemys as they said but to correct punish and reform sinners But the Quakers chiefly found fault with this that they always cited them before the Ecclesiastick and Spiritual Courts which after this year became very frequent this touch'd them so sensibly that they could not conceal the grief and anguish of their mind nor moderate their tongues from expressing the same This Ecclesiastical Court was after this manner The Quakers being most obstinate and tenatious to all the Articles of their Religion and very nice and insulting in the minutest Tenets of another did by their obstinacy and trouble mightily incourage the Ministers of the Churches and which of all things here on Earth is most sensible occasion'd the diminution of their revenues They were then cited to appear and if they either made any great Resistance or refus'd to give surety or to appear before the Court they were excluded from Communion with the Church as being the Excrements and Off-scourings of the world This we commonly call Excommunication Which Excommunication was approv'd and confirm'd by every Bishop in his Bishoprick and also by the Bishop of the Diocess where it was done after which any Accusers or Actors had full power and liberty to prosecute them as lewd and wicked people separated from the Mother the Holy Church Then being delated to the Magistrates and by their command apprehended and cast into Prison were to lye there till they had suffer'd all the penalty and pay'd the last farthing tho in the mean time none of them had began to pay the first penny This Action is call'd by Lawyers de Excommunicato capiendo The crimes they were accus'd of that made them liable to this Thunderbolt of Excommunication were these That they did not frequent the publick Churches nor observ'd the set holydays in attending Sermons and publick Prayers that in holy days they and their families did not abstain from profane wocking that they withheld their Children from baptism and would not give surety for them when they excluded 'em from the Number of Christians That they did not receive the other Sacrament that they were not married by their Parish Ministers nor any others of the Church that they were not joyn'd together in the bond of Matrimony according to Law but liv'd together like lewd and debauch'd persons making their Wives whores and their Children bastards and illegitimate This depriv'd the Ministers of the Advantages they otherwise had by the fees and allowances paid them on such

light of Christ doth shine we as yet continue to admonish and warn you to take heed to that light while you may For my part I have liv'd unto Christ and do die for Christ taking him now for my Life and My all Then Stevenson follow'd speaking such like words Be it known unto you we suffer not now for any Evil by us Committed but only for doing of these good de●ds which our Conscience always taught us to be our Duty And as your Consciences in the day that 's to came shall toss and terrify you with perpetual Anguish so we being this day releas'd from all care shall rest free from Anxiety and trouble and instead of that frail and fading Life shall have unceasing and perfect happiness with God With these words he ended These two Men being dead their naked bodies were thrown into a Ditch and cover'd up by the way side where they ended their Life And now Mary goes up the Ladder with her hands bound her Coats ty'd down and face cover'd in present readiness to wellcome her end being already forestall'd with apprehensions of Death But the Judges among themselves had granted Mary a pardon being humbly petition'd by a Son of hers This was only design'd to terrify and affright her but being taken down and greatly in suspense looking up to understand what the matter did mean at last before she went down from the Ladder with a deep sigh she broke out in these words that there was no delay in her to go with her Brethren and receive that certain fruit of her Labours and reward of all her Dangers and Evils as the glorious Trophies of her Courage and Constancy that she might also imbalm her Religion with her blood if the Rulers wou'd not annull that wicked Law When taken away from the Ladder she was first shut up in the place whence she came and two days after carry'd out of the Town When this was done it can't easily be told how the Quakers minds and mouths were Irritated both here and in other places So that every where their doleful Mournings and Exclamations were heard that now these Mens thoughts and Designs did shew themselves leaving no further room for doubt who were these pure and upright in Life who at all times did so cry out that there was no living without Religion and no Religion without Godliness and neither cou'd be without Liberty of Conscience who therefore in their own Countrey in England did so decry that violent Tyranny and because of the injury done to them there fled from it as a thing not sufferable and leaving their own native Soul came into this utmost Region of the Earth surrounded on all hands with Barbarous Nations That this was so plain that they must be inconsiderate who doubt of it since they behav'd themselves so to their own Countreymen and those who when under affliction and trouble had fled unto them for refuge and comfort but met with nothing among them but the utmost cruelty That it further appear'd from the Savage fierceness they us'd towards Men that were altogether innocent bereaving 'em not only of their Goods and Estates but even of their Reputation Blood Bones and Life it self There were not a few Complaints of others also who were not at all of the family of the Quakers who spoke their Abhorrence against that new sort of Judgment that was hitherto among Protestants unheard of thinking it unreasonable thus to rage ' gainst those whom they reckon'd just honest and blameless or at least to be guilty of inconsiderable faults or had they deserv'd some notable punishment yet they thought it Disgraceful for themselves to be the Authors of inflicting it These and the like were some matter of trouble to the Magistracy of Boston who cou'd as little deny the cause as what they had acted that they might against all Complaints and Calumnies shield the fame of their Name and Religion and if any thing of the like nature shou'd happen for the future more excusably repeat what they had already done and seize them that said any thing to the contrary they caus'd this Apologetical Pamphlet to be emitted in English by their own Clerk Edward Rawson Tho the equity of our proceedings with William Robbinson Marmaduc Stevenson and Mary Dyer being fortify'd by the Authority of our Court and according to the Laws both of Cod and our Countrey do's induce us rather reasonably to expect Commendation and Praise from all good and wise Men than dispose us to think it at all necessary to make any Defence and Apology for our selves Notwithstanding because some of a shallow Capacity from perhaps a Principle of Pity and Compassion which as it is indeed a Christian vertue so it 's justly intitl'd to deserved praise except where it too easily turns it self putting on false and pernicious dresses for want of a Judgment better inform'd are desirous of some satisfaction in the matter and because those Men that are of ill principles and practices may unjustly accuse us and take us for Men of very Bloody and cruel Inclinations we therefore thought fit to satisfy the one and stop the Mouths and Clamours of the others to order the publishing of this Declaration 'T is almost three years since some Men who profess'd themselves openly Quakers after we understood being inform'd by Letters sent us from the English by the way of Berbado's how pernicious their opinions and endeavours had been took the boldness also to come unto Boston We only then committed them to Prison till we cou'd find occasion to send 'em from among us without using any further severity against ' em And tho their discipline and turbulent behaviour troublesome to the people and reproachful to the Magistrate call'd loudly for a greater punishment without the least shadow of Injustice yet the Court was rather willing to shew their prudence in preserving and defend-ing our own peace and the Government that was establish'd among us against the Quakers utmost efforts who aim'd at the subversion of our Laws and Statutes and final overthrow of our Religion also This we 're too well acquainted with to be ignorant of both by what our experience taught us of them and what Specimens their Ancestors the Papists have left us We therefore made and promulg'd a Law that no Master of a Ship whatsoever shou'd bring a Quaker into our Precincts and Territories if they did otherwise they were to be Imprisoned untill they cou'd be banish'd and remov'd from among us But since yet these Men did constantly return through many secret ways and wandrings neither cou'd any punishment or threatning be invented to stop their impudent and rash coming back tho we endeavour'd to prevent it by increasing the punishment to the cutting off the returner's ear●● yet that it self did not avail to withstand their mad and unweary'd fury we were therefore forc'd to take another course to maintain the publick Peace and Tranquillity Upon this all things being