Selected quad for the lemma: scripture_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
scripture_n	according_a	faith_n	spirit_n	2,347	5	5.0849	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A77941	A declaration of the sad and great persecution and martyrdom of the people of God, called Quakers, in New--England for the worshipping of God. Wherof 22 have been banished upon pain of death. 03 have been martyred. 03 have had their right-ears cut. 01 hath been burned in the hand with the letter H. 31 persons have received 650 stripes. 01 was beat while his body was like a jelly. Several were beat with pitched ropes. Five appeals made by them to England, were denied by the rulers of Boston. One thousand forty four pounds worth of goods hath been taken from them (being poor men) for meeting together in the fear of the Lord, and for keeping the commands of Christ. One now lyeth in iron-fetters, condemned to dye. Also, some considerations, presented to the King, which is in answer to a petition and address, which was presented unto him by the general court at Boston : subscribed by J. Endicot, the chief persecutor there; thinking thereby to cover themselves from the blood of the innocent.	Burrough, Edward, 1634-1662.	1661 (1661)	Wing B5994; Thomason E1086_4; ESTC R13926	22,607	32

be not works contrary to the Scriptures and the Spirit that gave them forth and contrary to a good Conscience I am yet ignorant and must leave it to the Judgment of the King before whom this matter is brought to receive his Judgment 2. Let the King consider how they have ignorantly condemned themselves in the same things for which they have judged others for while they seem to Complain of the Imposi●ions of the Bishops which they stile prevailing Hierarchy If it was Transgression in the Bishops in dayes past to impose upon these Petitioners and to persecute them for Non-Conformists How much more are these men guilty of Imposition and Persecution of tender Consciences Nay they have exceeded in the same Transgression and become seven-fold guilty of the sins themselves which they Complain against in others for they have gone further in Cruelty and Persecution towards the innocent Quakers than ever the Bishops proceeded against them even so far further as the murthering of a Man is more than cutting off his Ear and the Cause of the Quakers towards these Petitioners hath been as Innocent as ever theirs was towards the Bishops Oh Hypocritical generation who are Condemning of others for that whereof themselves are guilty and Imposing upon others in a far higher degree than ever the Bishops imposed on them witness their Law in New-England which judgeth every man to pay 5 s. per day who come not to their Assembly and imposing Fines of 40 s. and 50 s. a piece on such as meet together to Worship the Lord which are evident Signes of an evil Conscience as themselves speak The next thing that I note upon which the King ought to Consider the Petitioners say concerning the Quakers open Capital Blasphemers open Seducers from the Glorious Trinity the Lords Christ the Blessed Gospel and from the Holy Scriptures as the Rule of Life open Enemies to Government it self as Established in the Hands of any but men of their own Principles malignant Promoters of Doctrines directly tending to subvert both our Church and State By way of Answer to this let the King Consider 1. The envious and detestable Spirit of maliciousness of these Accusers and how vehement and fervent their persecuting Spirit is drawn forth with reproachful tearms in the highest degree like as if they could not utter sufficiently the Envy of their hearts or as if they wanted words to demonstrate their malignity and devouring malice against that People whom they in scorn call Quakers and all this to present us odious and abominable before Thee O King I say but this of them unto thee The Lord forgive them if they have not sinned unto death and unpardonably I have no desire of Revenge towards them but I leave vengeance to the Lord who will recompence in his season neither do I desire to provoke or incense the King against them only duty to God and the King teacheth me and love constraineth me and an absolute necessity presseth much upon me to spread our denyal of their bitter and malicious Accusations against us before the King unto whom we are thus fowly accused And I say I am Confident That the King hath better experience of us than to believe these our malicious Accusers And I do Appeal to him from the knowledge which he hath already of us that he believes we are Innocent and not guilty of those things thus unjustly Charged upon us and I question not but he will rightly understand that these Accusations are more out of Hatred and Envy against us than out of desire to benefit the King by such presentation 2. I do Testifie unto the King and before the whole World That we do profess and believe concerning the Father Son and Spirit and the Lord Iesus Christ and the blessed Gospel and the Holy Scriptures I say We do believe and make Profession in Truth and Righteousness concerning all these things and by our Doctrines and Instructions do perswade all People to believe and not Seduce any from these Truths of the Gospel And this is known through these Kingdoms concerning us though we stand now Accused falsly concerning these Matters before the King But as for the Scriptures being the Rule of Life We say The Spirit of God that gave forth the Scriptures is the Rule of Life and Faith unto the Saints and leads not contrary but according unto the Scriptures in the beleif and practice of whatsoever the Scripture saith and if these Petitioners did make the Scriptures the Rule of their Lives and Practices for the denial of which they here accuse us they would not have Cut off Ears Banished and put to Death for the Cause of Conscience which is contrary to the Scriptures and proceedeth from another Spirit than that which gave forth the Scriptures 3. Concerning Government our Principles and Practices are known to many and partly to the King We are not Enemies unto Government it self as these our Accusers do charge us but it is our Principle and hath ever been and is our Practice to be subject to whatsoever Government is set up over us either by doing or suffering and neither to vilifie nor rebel against any Government or Governours by any malicious Plots or Contrivances but to walk in meekness and humility towards all being subject for Conscience sake as I have said either by doing or suffering and I doubt not but the King is sufficiently informed hereof and believeth this Testimony 4. As for our Doctrines tending to subvert both Church and State this is also a false Accusation and Slander for our Doctrines are to convert and not to subvert even to Convert to God and Truth and Righteousness that men should live in these things and forsake all that which is contrary and this effect our Doctrines have wrought in the World as the Testimony of many Consciences shall bear witness Oh let the King Consider of our Defence as well as of our Enemies Charge who have thought it not enough to whip most cruelly banish cut Ears and put to death the Innocent but must still accuse them falsly and seek to cover themselves by fawning and flattering Addresses unto the King like as if they had done no evil when as the God of Heaven is witnesse to whom we can Appeal That our Brethren suffered the Tortures of shameful Death in New-England through their unjust Lawes and Sentences as Saints and Servants of the living God for the Name of Christ Jesus and for his Truth which they held until Death and not for evil-doing And the Executioners of these inhumane cruelcies seem so far from Repentance for their Evil doing that they rather Justifie themselves in what they have done and cease not to Smite and Wound and Reproach the Innocent and that before the King and that after they have martyred them Again These Petitioners say After all other means for a long time used in vain We were at last constrained for our own Safety say they to pass a Sentence of

A DECLARATION Of the SAD and GREAT Persecution and Martyrdom Of the People of God called QUAKERS in NEW-ENGLAND for the Worshipping of God Wherof 22 have been Banished upon pain of Death 03 have been MARTYRED 03 have had their Right-Ears cut 01 hath been burned in the Hand with the letter H 31 Persons have received 650 Stripes 01 was beat while his Body was like a jelly Several were beat with Pitched Ropes Five Appeals made by them to England were denied by the Rulers of Boston One thousand forty four pounds worth of Goods hath been taken from them being poor men for meeting together in the fear of the Lord and for keeping th● Commands of Christ One now lyeth in I●on-fetters condemned to dye ALSO Some CONSIDERATIONS presented to the KING which is in Answer to a Petition and Address which was presented unto Him by the General Court at Boston Subscribed by J. Endicot the chief Persecutor there thinking thereby to cover themselves from the Blood of the Innocent Gal. 4.29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit even so it is now God hath no respect to Cains Sacrifice that killed his Brother about Religion London Printed for Robert Wilson in Martins Le Grand SOME CONSIDERATIONS Presented unto the King of England c. BEING Partly an Answer unto a Petition and Addresse of the Gen. Court of Boston in New-England presented unto the King as is said Feb. last the 11th day OH King this my occasion to present thee with these Considerations is very urgent and of great necessity even in the behalf of Innocent Blood hoping that my Work will find such favour with thee as to induce thee to the reading and serious consideration hereof my occasion is this Because of a Paper presented to thee called The humble Petition and Adresse of the General Court at Boston in New-England In which is contained divers Calumnies unjust Reproaches palpable untruths and malicious slanders against an Innocent People whom they scornfully call Quakers whom for the Name of Christs sake are made a Reproach through the world and by these Petitioners have been persecuted unto Banishment and Death it is hard to relate the Cruelties committed against these People and acted upon them by these Petitioners they have spoyled their Goods imprisoned many of their Persons whipped them cut off their Ears burned them yea banished and murdered them and all this I aver and affirm before thee O King wholly unjustly and unrighteously and without the Breach of any Just Law of God or Man but only for and because of Difference in Judgment and Practice concerning Spiritual things without any transgression of the Law of God or their own Laws Saving that they made Laws against them on purpose to spoil their Goods imprison their Persons cut off their Ears yea and kill them which Laws were made by them without any Power truly derived from the lawful Authority of England contrary to their Pa●ent And now O King these same Men have presented thee with a Petition in which is asserted very many ex●ream Reproaches as I have said in contempt and derision of that People and all this as if those People were guilty of heinous crimes that it might appear to thee as if these Petitioners had done nothing but Justice in what they have done and they seek to cover themselves and to hide their Wickedness before thee in what they have unjustly acted and this seems to be the current of some part of the same Petition already presented unto thee like as if they had done no Evil though they have uniustly banished cut off Ears whipped inhumanely and taken away lives as aforesaid and they would have thee believe they are Innocent towards thee and towards us when as it is evident as the Sun at Noon-day that they are our persecu●ors and that they have unjustly persecuted us unto death for the Name of Christ and that also they are not unto thee as they hypocritically feign themselves And therefore O King for the clearing of our selves and the Name of the Lord which we profess and for the reproving of their bold and impudent Insolencies both in what they have already done to us and now in seeking to cover themselves unto thee and also if there be any doubtfulness in thy heart of these matters for these ends and causes with respect to the Fear of God and Honour to the King I hereby presume to pursue their said Petition even unto thy Court and to wipe away the slanders and reproaches of Ungodly men as much as possible hoping hereby thou wilt receive due and just information in this matter of proceeding between us and them that thy Just Judgment may be given accordingly And I shall transcribe some few of their own words presented to thee and thereupon spread some few Considerations before thee also and I pray God give thee an understanding to judge justly in this and all other cases The first thing that I note is Whereas they say That they have chosen rather the pure Scripture-worship with a good Conscience in this poor remote Wilderness to wit New-England among the Heathens than the pleasures of England with subjection to the imposition of the then so disposed and so far prevailing Hierarchy which we could not do without an evil Consciencee c. say thay The Considerations presented to the King upon these words are divers 1. The Worship Doctrine Discipline and Constitution of the Church of New-England is different and contrary and not purely according unto the Scriptures in the Administration of the Gospel nor in a pure Conscience purely guided by the Spirit of God though they seem to justifie their own way and case before the King and this may justly be made appear in his presence upon good occasion only at this time I assert the Case and if ever God gives opportunity I may prosecute it with Proofs and Evidences and that to the great Reproof of the Church so called of New-England who are not only in Doctrine Worship and Conversation contrary to the Scriptures but impudent and too presumptuous to affirm their own Self-justification and Innocency before the King when as it is manifest as the Day is from the Night that the Pastors and Members of the Church of New-England want the Spirit of God that gave forth the Scriptures and follow the spirit of Persecution Violence and Cruelty and are void of a Good Conscience both to God and Men To prove this there needs no greater Evidence than their own Deportment towards the Harmless Quakers for these five years time who as I have said have spoiled their Goods and imprisoned their Persons cut off their Ears banished them and Inhumanely put them to death and all this only because of difference in judgment and practice in Religious matters when as no manner of Evil could be charged upon them in the things between Man and Man And if these

Lord spake in her and now the thing is come to pass She beginning to speak of her Call J. Endicot said Away with her away with her So she was brought to the Prison-House where she was before close shut up until the next day About the time perfixt the Marshal Michaelson came and called hastily for her when he came into the Room she desired him to stay a little and speaking mildly to him she said She should be ready presently even like a Sheep prepared for the slaughter But he in the Wolvish Nature said He could not wait upon her but she should now wait upon him Margaret Smith her Companion hearing him speak these words with others from the Cain-like Spirit was moved to Testifie against their unjust Lawes and Proceedings being grieved to see both him and many others in such grosse Darkness and Hard-heartedness Then he said You shall have your share of the same with other violent words Then they brought her forth and Drums were beat before and behind her with a Band of Souldiers through the Town and so to the Place of Execution which is about a Mile the Drums beating that none might hear her speak all the way The Words of Mary Dyar upon the Ladder Some said unto her That if she would return she might come down and save her L fe Bonner and Gardener-like She answered and said Nay I cannot for in obedience to the Will of the Lord God I came and in his Will I abide faithful to the Death Their Captain John Webb said she had been here before and had the Sentence of Banishment upon pain of Death and had broken this Law in coming again now as well as formerly and therefore she was guilty of her own Blood To which M. Dyar said Nay I came to keep Blood-guiltiness from you desiring you to repeal the unrighteous unjust Law of Banishment upon pain of Death made against the Innocent Servants of the Lord therefore my Blood will be required at your hands who wilfully do it but for those that do it in the simplicity of their hearts I do desire the Lord to forgive them I came to do the Will of my Father and in obedience to his Will I stand even to the Death John Wilson their Priest of Boston said M. Dyar O Repent O Repent and be not so deluded and carried away by the deceit of the Devil M. Dyar answered and said Nay man I am not now to Repent Some asked her Whether she would have the Elders to pray for her She said I know never an Elder here They asked Whether she would have any of the People to pray for her She said She desired the Prayers of all the People of God Some scoffingly said It may be she thinks there is none here this is a mock M. Dyar looked about and said I know but few here Then they spake to her again That one of the Elders might pray for her She replyed and said Nay first a Child then a young man then a strong man before an Elder of Christ Iesus Some charged her with something that was not understood what it was But her Answer was It 's false it 's false I never spoke the words Then one said she should say she had been in Paradise And she answered Yea I have been in Paradise several dayes And more she spake of her Eternal Happiness that 's out of mind And so sweetly and chearfully in the Lord she finished her Testimony and dyed a faithful Martyr of Iesus Christ And still they are going on in acting their cruel Laws for the same day in the former part of it they sent for Joseph Nicholson and his Wife Jane Nicholson and banished them on pain of Death Then sent for three more and whilest they were examining them there came one to the Court and tells them Now M. Dyar is cast off Then several of the Court spake to this purpose and one scoffingly said She did hang as a Flag for them to take example by But precious in the sight of the Lord is the Death of his Saints But now the fruits of New-England Professors are made manifest to the World who are so far degenerated from the Lord that they set up the killing of his Saints as an Eusign or a Flag that many may follow their Cruelty These are the people that say Their Churches are the purest Churches in the World and that their Magistrates are godly Magistrates and godly Ministers A fair shew to the World even another Beast coming up out of the Earth and he had two horns like a Lamb and he spake as a Dragon and he exerciseth all the power of the first Beast before him And their General Court being ended they left Nine of us still remaining in Prison it seems looking for encouragement from England that more may follow their Ensign And we have a further Accompt also That one of our Friends named William Leddra being Banished upon pain of Death he not Departing the Colony but being moved to Return again to Boston was Apprehended and cast into Prison and there lyeth Chained to a Logg with a Horse-lock Condemned to Die By all which it is manifest That in them is fulfilled the words of Christ He that will lose his life for my sake shall find it But we do clearly in the Light of the Lord see That he that seeks to save his own life will kill the Just Witness what these Persecutors in New-England who fled to save themselves have done Therefore let all People take notice That Christ nor his Apostles never gave any President Example or Command to take away the Lives of any Who ended the Jews Law which was to put to death false Prophets and Blasphemers and so all that be in the Power of God may see the Ignorance of the Governours of New-England concerning the Scriptures and the Power of God who know not what spirit they are of POST-SCRIPT LEt the King hear me one Request more which I crave of him and I hope will be judged but just in me to intercede for and noble just and righteous in him to grant Forasmuch as I perceive that divers Informations and Accusations against us may come to the Kings Ear by Word or Letter or Petition whereby our Innocent Cause may be falsly reputed and we made to seem great Offenders in his presence upon which I Request That we may have the knowledge of what any such Informations and Accusations are against us in any relation and who are our Accusers and this is requisite for us to know and just in the King to grant that we may not suffer prejudice or suspition in the Kings mind in any case and neither know what our Accusations nor whom the Accusers are And therefore we should account it great favour in the King and no more than what he may do in Justice and Nobility to suffer us to have the knowledge of what we are Accused of in any case in any manner by any person and this for no other end than that we m●y make our Innocent and Lawful Defence and may clear our selves from all false Accusations before the King and all the world that we may not be judged in any matter upon any secret Information and Accusation without being heard in our lawful Defence for if the King should so proceed in Judgment against us upon any Accusation without hearing our Defence as well as our Accusers Charge how should he but endanger himself in passing unrighteous Judgement against us to his own hurt And therefore that the King may be truly directed to just Judgment by hearing the Accused in their Defence as well as the Accusers in their Charge and that Gods People and his glorious Truth may not be unjustly judged without hearing their Defence and for the avoiding of unjust Judgment and Persecution in the Land and for the reproving of false Accusers for these Causes the King ought to shew so much favour and justice to let us know what our Accusations are and by whom in all things that are or may be presented to him for there is not any thing whereof we can be accused concerning either Civil or Religious Matters but I hope we can make our Defence clear and prove Gods Innocency with which we are cloathed from all false Informations and Accusations And this Request I present to the King and not presumptuously but with all due respect to the honour of God and love to his People and Reverence to the King E. B. London the 15th of the first Month 1660. THE END