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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	apostle_n	speak_v	word_n	9,283	5	4.1967	3	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A96961	The wounds of an enemie in the house of a friend. Being a relation of the hard measure sustained by Miles Halhead, and Thomas Salthouse, for the testimony of Jesus: particularly in a long, and sore, and close imprisonment, first at Plymouth, and then at Exeter in the county of Devon, though they have neither offended the law of God, or of the nation. Published for the clearing of their innocency from the cloud of transgression, of which they are supposed highly guilty, and by reason of their silent abiding such sharp, and long, and cruell sufferings.	Halhead, Miles, 1613 or 14-1689 or 90.; Salthouse, Thomas, 1630-1691.	1656 (1656)	Wing W3665; Thomason E870_7; ESTC R2977	52,373	80

THE WOVNDS of an ENEMIE IN THE House of a FRIEND BEING A RELATION Of the hard Measure sustained by Miles Halhead and Thomas Salthouse for the Testimony of JESUS particularly in a long and sore and close Imprisonment first at Plymouth and then at Exeter in the County of Devon though they have neither offended the Law of God or of the NATION Published for the clearing of their Innocency from the cloud of Transgression of which they are supposed highly guilty and by reason of their silent abiding such sharp and long and cruell sufferings Even the Sea Monsters draw out the brest they give suck is their young ones the daughter of my People is become Cruel like the Ostriches in the wildernesse Lam. 4.3 Have the workers of Iniquity no knowledge who eate up my People as they eate Bread they have not called upon God There were they in great fear where no fear was for God hath scattered the bones of him that encampeth against thee thou hast put them to shame because God hath despised them Psal. 53.4 The dark places of the Earth are full of the Habitation of Cruelty Psal. 74.20 For the oppression of the poor for the sighing of the needy now will I arise saith the Lord I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him Psal. 12.5 If he turn not he will whet his sword he hath beat his Bow and made it ready He also hath prepared for him the Instruments of Death he ordaineth his Arrowes against the Persecutors Psal. 7.12 13. LONDON Printed for Giles Calvert at the Black spread-Eagle near the West end of Pauls 1656. THE WOUNDS OF AN ENEMY In the House of a FRIEND MILES Halhead and Thomas Salthouse being pressed in spirit to visite the Seed of God in captivity in Plymouth in the County of Devon left their outward Beings and relations in the North and passed thitherward as far as Hunniton near the City of Exeter where a guard being placed for the apprehending of such persons as were suspected to have had a hand in an insurrection broke forth a little before whilst they were on their journey at Salisbury and dispersed at Southmoulton in the County aforesaid they were taken up by them and brought before Colonel Cappleston High-Sheriff of the County upon suspition of being Cavileeres and having had a hand therein who having examined them though he confessed he did not believe them to be Cavalieres not any thing appearing upon or against them as matter of suspition yet caused he them to kept close prisoners at Exeter for the space of about fourteen dayes and then sent them from Officer to Officer towards their homes But being come two miles from Taunton on the way to Bridgwater the Officer that conducted them from thence fell to the ground and lying grovelling thereon in the sight of divers people was able to goe no further whereupon they returned back to the Justice at Taunton and acquainted him with what had befallen the Officer he sent with them and to know what further he would injoyn them who after some consideration told them he would have no more to doe with them and having set them at liberty desired the Lord to be with them Hereupon they passed to Bristoll where and in the Country thereabouts having stayed some time they departed being moved of the Lord towards Plymouth againe having with them a friend of Bristoll born at Exeter and Certificates from the Captaine of the Fort at Bristoll and of a Justice concerning them and their good affections to the Common wealth which before they had not being ignorant when they came out of the North of any such occasion as had fallen out whilst they were on their way that might require any such thing And so through the hand of the Lord they came to Plymouth the sixteenth day of the month called May 1655. and there had severall peaceable meetings in the houses of friends to whom they ministred what they had heard and seen and handled of the word of life and were made manifest with mighty power to that of God in the Consciences of many to whom they were sent who being thereby turned from darknesse to light and the eye being opened in them which the God of this world hath blinded the captives came to witnesse deliverance even the acceptable time the day of salvation The Standard of the Lord being thus set up many people flock thereunto insomuch that the house of John Harris a friend near the Town where a meeting was appointed to be on the first day of the week following being not able to receive them they went into his garden and to them both in the fore and afternoon did they declare the truth of the experience of what they had found of the free grace of God which brings salvation manifested in them provoking them unto love and to good works according to the Scriptures of the Prophets and Apostles as the Spirit gave them utterance exhorting them in the words of sobernesse and truth full of plainnesse and simplicity and tending onely to the advancement of the Kingdome of Christ amongst men without using any inveighings against men or opinions and were approved of by those that heard them though severall came onely to hear some new thing Having both of them spoken and finished what they had to say George Brookes then Priest of the Nightingale Friggot a man whom they knew not spake to the people a pretty space of time wholly in the praise and commendation of what they had said affirming it to be the eternall truth and exhorting them to perseverance from that Scripture Take heed that yee receive not the grace of God in vaine telling them that they must expect to suffer persecution but the principle from whence he spake being seen in the light of Jesus Christ which changeth not with which he was comprehended Thomas Salthouse said that he had spoken many good words and faire speeches but asked him whether he lived the life of what he spake for that it was he that had the witnesse in himselfe that setteth to his seale that God is true and their friend who came with them from Bristoll as aforesaid told him he had spoken of a Trinity in Unity and a Unity in Trinity when as no such language was to be found in the Scriptures which being ended Thomas Salthouse spake a few words more to the people exhorting them in the words of the Apostle Let him that stole steal no more and made use of the words of Christ He that entreth not in by the doore into the sheep-fold but climbeth up some other way the same is a Thiefe and a Robber which he directed not to George Brookes or any one in particular Miles Halhead having not spoken one word nor Thomas Salthouse otherwise then as afore rehearsed and so the meeting ended But the persecution raised against them then began in which the Priest aforesaid to fulfill the words himselfe had said

we Answer THe fear of the Lord which is the beginning of wisedome hath taught us to regard and honour all men in the Lord and that Act we own which is made against quarrelling and fighting and cursed speaking which is the fruit of the flesh and that the Magistrates bear not the sword in vain but adds the penalty to the transgression of it and not to add the Law where there is no transgression proved And we doe declare and many can witnesse that unlesse you call the Scripture disgracefull words there was none spoken to him by us And we doe affirm that one of us did not speak one word to him and yet we are both accused and imprisoned and if this be the penalty of the Act that if one man offend two must suffer let all that know the Law of England with moderation judge And whether discoursing of the Scripture be a transgression of that yea or nay For what was spoken many of our friends of Plymouth which you confesse to be honest people that are friends to the Common-wealth of England did hear us you say Yet might they not be permitted to hear us examined before the Mayor and Magistrates of Plymouth upon the 23 day of the third month in the Common Hall in the presence of neer one hundred people and all our friends that heard the discourse and know the truth of it were put forth of the Hall and the door kept fast And we desired that if either man or woman had any thing to lay to our charge they might then speak But we never had our Accusars brought before us that we might see them or hear them speak And for that George Brooks spake concerning the three persons of the Trinity these words was spoken by one of us I know no such Scripture that speaks of the three persons in the Trinity but the three that the Scripture speaks of the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost and these three are one And the Baptism by one Spirit into one body and the Father the Word and the Spirit the Scripture declares to be one and he that hath the Son hath the father also And this we doe own he that can receive it let him And no such word was spoken by us as calling him a deluding spirit and therefore the Accusation is false Neither did we say that he came to draw away the hearts of the people from God as you say for he stood up and vindicated what we had declared to be truth and that of God in his conscience will witnesse against you in this thing And in that you say We spake to the people not to hearken to him and that he was a THIEF and pointed to the Bible which was then in his hand and other harms to the said George Brooks against the peace publick Here under a cloak of maliciousnesse have you made Lyes your refuge but with the light you are comprehended and your works of darknesse brought to it and reproved for we did neither call him Thief nor say he had stollen the Bible that was in his hand which you say we pointed at And you speak of other harms against George Brooks and say We meaned that he lyed And here you make use of meanings as if here were not false Accusations sufficient to drive on your design of Persecution you might have mentioned those other harms you speak of if you knew of any but it 's like you have mentioned the worst you heard of which we declare to be false as many can witnesse that heard the discourse that are inhabitors of Plymouth and friends to the peace of Englands Common-wealth So all yee that take your Oaths and give informations consider what you doe for because of Oaths the land mourns and the Lord God will come near to judgement and will be a swift witnesse against the lyar and the false Swearer that are out of the doctrine of Christ who saith Swear not at all but in all your communications let your yea be yea and your nay nay for whatsoever is more is evill And every one of you in particular take heed to the light of Christ in your consciences and there is your Teacher loving it that will keep you from accusing any man falsly and lead you out of all controversie and strife up to Jesus Christ who is the end of the Law for righteousnesse to every one that believeth on him who brings peace on earth and good will towards men who is the Prince of Peace of whose Government there shall be no end who is God over all blessed for evermore This we have written in Answer to the Bill of Indictment against us Thomas Salthouse and Miles Halhead Prisoners for the truths sake in Bridewell in Thomas Parish neer Exeter in Devonshire Record of the Sentence given against them at Sessions Devon A Calender of the Prisoners Tryed and Delivered at the Generall Sessions of the Peace publick holden at the Castle of Exon. July 10. 1655. THomas Salthouse and Miles Halhead for provoking words against George Brooks Clerk who refused to be Tryed by the Countrey fined 5 l. a piece and committed to Bridewell till payment and finding Sureties for the good behaviour The Answer of Miles and Thomas thereunto TO you Justices by whom we are committed we Answer as we did when we were before you and doe affirm that one of us spake not a word unto him George Brooks and to satisfie all such as may hear this thing under which we suffer as if we were Thieves or Murtherers we shall lay open to the view of all people the ground of the Discourse We being met together at a friends house neer Plymouth to wait upon the Lord there being more people then the house would contein we went into a Garden and after we had spoken some words of Exhortation to the people and had declared the truth of the experience we had found manifested in us of the free grace of God that brings salvation provoking them to love and to good works according to the Scriptures of the Prophets and Apostles as the Spirit gave us utterance at that time Then George Brooks unknown unto us stood up and spake to the people with the words of Paul to the Corinthians and said Take heed that yee receive not the grace of God in vain with many words in Vindication of what we had spoken witnessing that it was the eternall truth which we had spoken So after all was ended some began to enter into some discourse with him and one of us asked him whether he could witnesse what he had spoken to be from the life and power of it saying Thou hast uttered many Scriptures and good words but it 's he that hath the witnesse in himself that sets to his seal that God is true Then directing my speech to all that were there by way of Exhortation I spake the words of Paul to the Ephesians Let him that stole steal no more

so far doe the Priests and men of this Generation who in works pretend to the Prophets and Christ Jesus and the Apostles and the holy men of God and the Scriptures outstript their fore-fathers in a sottish and malicious persecuting of the truth for till this example the like hath not been heard of since the foundation of the world and is voyd of understanding and ridiculous amongst all rationall men On this foot he that tells an envious person that he is a murderer and he that looks on a woman to lust after her is an adulterer and the covetous person that he is an Idolater and he that speaketh a Divination of his own heart for the word of the Lord useth witchcraft and he that knowes not nor speakes from the mouth of the Lord is a dumb Dog that cannot bark and he that saith when the Lord saith not is a devourer the murderer of soules and he that biteth with his teeth and prepareth war when men put not into his mouth is a greedy Dog and those who are in the nature and Generation of the Pharisees who professe what they are not and persecute and murder the life of what they professe where it is manifested are Serpents Generation of Vipers with such like would be Indicted as Offendors against the Ordinance for preventing of Duells He that taketh what is none of his as to the things without the things of this world is a Thief and truly is so judged and accounted of He that taketh the words of the Prophets and Christ Jesus and the Apostles which they spake from the life and useth his tongue and saith the Lord saith when the Lord spake not to him having not the life that spake them forth taketh that which is none of his and is a Thief as to the things which are within the things that are spirituall and truly is so judged and accounted of He that steals without hath an outward Law to passe upon him as a Transgressour he that steals within hath the Law of Christ Jesus by which he shall also be judged for further then the outward the Law of man hath no power and this is agreeable to that of God in every mans conscience also to the Ordinance against Duells which they and all the Children of light own in its place as a bearing of the sword against fightings quarrellings evill speakings and such like as evill doing which the Principle of light which is Jesus Christ discovers and witnesseth against and the root from whence they proceed to wit from mens lusts that are within them And he that said Let him that stole steale no more was the Minister of God who addeth the Law upon the transgressour and he that said He that entreth not in by the doore into the sheep-fold but climbeth up some other way the same is a Thief and a Robber is the Law-giver the Prophet whom whosoever doth not hear in all things shall be cut off from his people and he that said I am against the Prophets that steales my word every one from his neighbour is the Lord of glory who shall judge the quick and the dead by the man Christ Jesus the Law-giver and Minister of God at his appearing and coming But the Priests have gotten a new weapon against the Lamb to wit the Ordinance against Duells and with it they will fight against his battle Axes and Weapons of War to wit his Witnesses and none shall testifie against their deceit with a spirituall weapon but they will have it to be a carnall one and will take an Ordinance of man to fight against it and judge it by which never intended it But their Weapon formed shall not prosper the overflowing scourge shall sweep away their refuge of lyes and their coverings are ripping off nor can the Rocks and Mountaines hide them from the wrath of him who sitteth on the Throne and judgeth righteously And whereas something is mentioned in the Indictment of the Trinity one of them said I know no such Scripture that speaks of three persons in the Trinity but the three the Scriptures speak of the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost these three are one and that Baptism by one Spirit into one body and the Father the Word and the Spirit the Scriptures declare to be one and he that hath the Son hath the Father also and this we own he that can receive it let him And this was spoken as to what G. Brookes said of a Trinity in Unity and a Unity in Trinity which as he was told the Scriptures no where spake Court To this Indictment they were demanded to answer guilty or not guilty Answer We are not guilty in what is there charged upon us Court By whom will you be tryed Answer By you whom the Lord God of power hath set in Authority to judge righteously between man and man and to put a difference between the precious and the vile and set the oppressed free from whom we doe expect justice and equity Court Will ye be tryed by God and the Country Answer We are willing to be tryed by this Bench and desire that our accusers may be brought in and that we may have liberty to speak for our selves and make our defence against the false accusations laid to our charge Court Will ye be judges of your own case Jaylor take them away which was done immediately When they were first apprehended and brought before the Mayor and Magistrates of Plymouth many honest people who were present at the meeting aforesaid and were ready in the Hall to testifie the truth of things were all turned out and not a man or woman that favoured them permitted to stay notwithstanding which and the keeping fast of the doores of the common Hall that so none of them might returne in did they in the presence of near one hundred of other people desire openly that if either man or woman had any thing to lay to their charge they would speak but no man or woman appeared to speak nor ever were their accusers brought face to face that they might see them or hear them speak And now after seven weeks imprisonment being brought before the Sessions and such an abominable pack of falshood and lyes in an Indictment exhibited against them unto which they pleaded not guilty and declared againe and againe in answer to what they required of them to wit by whom will ye be tryed That they were willing to be tryed by the Bench whom the Lord God of power had set in Authority to judge righteously between man and man c. as aforesaid and desired their accusers might be brought in and that they might have liberty to speak for themselves and make their defence against the false accusations layed to their charge because they spake it not in the form of words which they would have though they both pleaded and submitted to a tryall as aforesaid and a Jury might they have called and tryed them by or otherwise

the men in severall parts who are summoned by Prelaticall Malignant and Presbyterian Justices so called to abjure Popery or their Names and Habitations to be taken and returned into the Exchequer for the Sequestration of their Estates and these are the men who are taken up in the Country as they are upon their lawfull occasions against whom there being no accusation in Law this Oath is put to them which because they refuse to take out of conscience to an Oath not daring to swear at all because of the Command of Christ Jesus the great Law-giver are imprisoned where many of them have a long time layn and doe yet lye though contrary to Law not unknown to the Chief in Authority some of whom have personally pressed it And not only is this exercised upon men but on women also who till this day since the times of Popery were never known to be so used but have been forborn as that which hath been accounted below the dignity and spirit of a man to exact And the next word now to any one who is reproached with the name of Quaker who are known out of Conscience not to dare to Swear at all is usually give him or her the Oath of Abjuration of Popery though he be their Neighbour whom they know to be and their Consciences tells them is far from any such thing and there they are sure to catch him and to have their revenge on him for Witnessing the Truth as it is in Jesus when otherwise they cannot get him into the compasse or pretence of any Law and having fast here there he may lye for the Eternall Truth for which he suffers seeks not to man for deliverance and those who should regard care little for the matter and the cry of their oppressions seldome enters into their ears Thus in all Ages hath Error sought to support it self against the Truth and to ensnare the Consciences of those of her Children with Oaths when other manner of Persecutions have not reached that so she might be secure and never know sorrow Which Oaths as they are out of the Doctrine of Christ so a Curse have they proved instead of a Defence and the beginner and certaine Fore-runner of the Destruction and Finall Overthrow of that Kingdome as these and former Generations have witnessed though before in never so promising and flourishing condition and seeming in its own eye to want nothing but Oaths to establish it And now the Witnesse of God is drawn forth against this and all manner of Swearing and it is Witnessing in sufferings at the hands of those on whom was pressed the Oath c. And the Covenant and who in their time Suffered by and Testified and Fought against those who imposed and sought to establish both and also against the Bishops Oath Ex Officio which required a man to Swear against himself and Whether the imposing of an Oath upon a man to abjure what is supposed to be his conscience wherewithall to worship God upon the penalty of loosing his Estate if he refuse be lesse let the Wise in heart judge And Whether upon the same ground and by the same Rule the like Oath may not be imposed as to any other thing and exacted upon the same penalty The Witnesse of God hath its time of Raigning as well as Suffering and will as certainly Raigne as it doth Suffer it was ever so in all Ages these later above any have known it so and so it will be in this and in the Ages to come Let those whom it concerns who have had a time of Suffering and Reigning and now cause others to Suffer consider before it be too late The Judge standeth at the door and according to the Greatnesse and Majesty of the Truth that is witnessed and the Sufferings that attend its Testimony and the condition of those who cause it to Suffer as having been Witnesses and Sufferers themselves and the Sword of the Lord upon that which hath caused to Suffer and have known his Presence and Mighty Power therein wonderfully and his strange Overturnings whereby to cause to Raigne what hath been so testified unto by Sufferings will be the Judgement Except they repent You only have I known of all the Families of the Earth therefore will I punish you for your iniquities saith the Lord Whilst they are the sufferings of Sion who is there that considereth or layeth them to heart but the Rod of the wicked shall not alwayes lye on the back of the Righteous there 's a time when the Testimony of the Truth in sufferings will be finished and other men will have their Day who have cryed Aha and nagged the head and stamped with the feet and helped on their sufferings and caused them to suffer and looked on their brethren in the day of their distresse wherein the Lord will mock at their calamity and their sorrowes which shall come upon them as on a woman in travell and they shall not escape whilst the righteous who have mourned in Sion joy in the Lord and rejoyce in the God of their salvation having beauty for ashes the Oyle of joy for mourning and the Garments of praise for the spirit of heavinesse for God is Judge The next day they were brought before the Bench again Court Will ye confesse that you wronged G. Brookes in calling of him Thief and be sorry for it and make him satisfaction Answ One of us did not speak one word to him and therefore I deny to make him satisfaction or to be sorry for it and what was spoken was no such thing therefore we will not lye for our liberty nor confesse that we are sorry for that which we never spoke Court You are fined five pound a piece and must goe to the House of Correction till payment and to find Sureties for your good behaviour and for refusing to take the Oath we shall take course to send to the North to seize on your Estates according to the Proclamation And so to Prison were they returned and what followes entred as the Record of their proceedings A Calender of the Prisoners Tryed and Delivered at the Generall Sessions of the Peace publick holden at the Castle of Exon. July 10. 1655. THomas Salthouse and Miles Halhead for provoking words against George Brooks Clerk who refused to be Tryed by the Countrey fined 5 l. a piece committed to Bridewell till payment and finding Sureties for their good behaviour And thus as the day before they were returned to Prison instead of being admitted to a Tryall according to Law after the Indictment against them was read and they had made a sufficient Legall Plea thereunto and Desired their Accusers might be brought in and they liberty to speak in their own Defence as aforesaid so now Judgement is given against them without a Tryall or Hearing or bringing in so much as one Accuser and yet the Record saith A Calender of the Prisoners Tryed Have such things as these before these dayes been

with many other words of truth and sobernesse which was not to any one in particular If these be provoking words and worthy of such bonds as we suffer let all men that have moderation bear witnesse And in that you say We refuse to be tryed by the Country Oh! how dare you give such things under your hands when you your selves and all people that were in the Court can bear us witness that we did not refuse to be tryed but did appeale to the highest power that was there unto whom many in the Country came for Justice and from whom we expected righteous judgement for you know we said We were willing to be tryed by the Bench to whom all the Court was in subjection to whose power we were and are subject to for conscience sake and did not resist your power but for the ve pounds that is demanded of us we answer we owe nothing to any man but to love one another therefore we deny to pay so much money for naught but if any man will come to us and say that we have wronged him we will make him satisfaction and pay him the utmost farthing And as for Sureties for the good behaviour they that walk in the light of Christ who is the Surety of a better Covenant then mans Covenant whom we witnesse teaching us to deny the customes and fashions of the world and all ungodlinesse and worldly lusts and to doe to all men as we would they should doe unt● us And we are tyed to the good behaviour by the Righteous Law of God and dare not lye nor swear nor be drunk nor use any deceit pollicy shifts or double dealing nor respect mens persons for the liberty of the outward man or any other advantage to that in all your consciences doe we appeale whether we be wo thy of such bonds as these where none of our friends nor acquaintance must come at us or speak with us but they must be imprisoned Is the Law of England so exact against us such as have been alwayes faithfull in that which hath been manifested and in the States service and desires nothing else but to worship God in Spirit and truth according to what is manifested and witnessed in the light of Jesus Christ who is the way to the father that when we were locked up in close Prison the Souldiers kept John Gannyclife who is a Constable in their custody for coming to speak with us and another person who did spy in at a hole of the door where we were this they did by an Order from Captain Joyce who hath given it under his hand to take into their custody all such as they suspected to be of us whom they called Quakers But this they doe that the Scripture may be fulfilled which Jesus Christ spake to his Disciples They shall hale you before Magistrates and Rulers who shall cast some of you into prison and the time shall come if they kill you they shall think they doe God good service But here is our confidence in his Promise that he that endures to the end shall be saved and if we suffer with him we shall also reigne with him for whose sake we are made willing by his eternall power to suffer the losse of all things that we may receive an inheritance with them that are Sanctified and witnesse against all deceit and abomination to the laying down of our lives if it be required who are Prisoners for the Testimony of Jesus in Thomas Parish neer Exon in Bridewell Thomas Salthouse Miles Halhead A copy of their Letter sent the Mayor of Plymouth after their first Apprehension FRIEND SEing the Lord God of power who is Lord of Heaven and Earth hath entrusted thee with the power of a Magistrate to bear the Sword of Justice which is for the punishment of evil doers and the encouragement of those that doe well and to rule for him who brings peace on earth and hath good will towards men even Jesus Christ the Mediator of the New Covenant who is the end of the Law for righteousnesse to every one that believeth who was supposed to be the Son of Joseph but was the Son of God and he that hath the Son hath life and he that hath not the Son hath not life and we know that the Son of God is come and hath given us an understanding to know him who is true and he that hath the Son hath the Father also and he that hath the witnesse in himself hath set to his seale that God is true he that hath understanding let him read he that loveth not knoweth not God for God is love and if any man say I love God and hate his Brother he is a lyar for his Commandement is love and he that rules in love rules with Authority and not as the Scribes and Pharisees The Law of God is perfect and endureth for ever he is our Judge and Law-giver before whom all must appear to give an accompt for all the deeds done in the body when every man shall receive according to his works Now Friend to thee for Justice doe we call that the truth may be freed from scandalls and false reports and the oppressed set free which is pure Religion that we may have that favour at thy hands which the Law doth afford to bring our Accusers to us that have any thing to lay to our charge worthy of Bonds that things may be tryed by the light and actions weighed in the ballance of equity that truth may spring up out of the Earth and righteousnesse may run down as a mighty stream and peace and Justice may kisse each other for know assuredly although we are counted deceivers yet are we true and nothing doe we desire from thee as thou art a Magistrate but to have the truth cleared by the light and truth set at liberty and if there be any that knoweth the onely true God and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent and hath eternall life abiding in him we desire to be tryed by him even him that is guided by the Spirit of God and as many as are led by the Spirit of God are the Sons of God And whereas some ignorant men say that we deny the Trinity and the God-head which is false for God is a Spirit and as many as are led by the Spirit are the Sons of God and the Father Son and Spirit are one and this we witnesse according to the Scriptures and this God is but one in whom all things live move and have their being who is above all and in all and through all God blessed for ever And for the word Trinity there is no such Scripture as speaks of a Trinity so in tendernesse of conscience and love to the Spirit of Truth which gave forth the Scriptures we dare not wrest them nor speak any other language nor add nor diminish from them So Friend to the light of Jesus Christ in thine own conscience and the measure of the

and hurried with rage and madnesse by the Prince of the Aire who rules mightily in the children of Disobedience beyond bowells and naturall affection And this is the case and this is the condition of these two innocent servants of the Lord who having all their dayes been seeking after the Lord and walking in that which is called good conscience and Godlinesse and having at length through the riches of that free love of God in Jesus Christ come to find what they had so diligently sought for even Eternall life which is in the Son and to witnesse it in their measures and in the light of Jesus Christ by whom the world was made to comprehend and see where all professions and people are who know not nor believe in the light to wit Jesus Christ the light of the world who lighteth every one that cometh into the world nor doe witnesse the life of Jesus made manifest in them as by the light they have been brought to see it in their owne particulars and knowing the terrours of the Lord out of bowels of love to the precious soules of people which are eternall and at the command of the Lord have left their Country and Relations as to the outward in the North and travelled for their sakes to shew unto them what they had found and tasted and seen and handled of the word of life that so their soules might be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus and being come thither did no other thing then to meet in the fear of the Lord with friends to wait upon him and to declare the truth of the experience of what they had found of the free grace of God which brings salvation manifested in them provoking them unto love and to good works according to the Scriptures of the Prophets and Apostles and exhorting to holinesse and the things that are eternall as the day approacheth from the measure of the life of God which they had received as the Spirit gave them utterance out of which meetings they were taken contrary to the practice of the Church of Christ and the example of the Saints in the Scriptures and the instrument of Government and dealt withall as hath been mentioned And which indeed is hardly to be believed but hath been said is true for no other thing but as aforesaid have they done or that is not according to the righteous Law of the holy God which shall be answered with that in every mans conscience And to make appear truly to the contrary are all men here openly charged who can even their greatest adversaries because of whose cruelty and oppression and to manifest what it is this Relation is undertaken Neverthelesse through the power of the Lord in whom is everlasting strength whom they witnesse and for whom they suffer they glory in tribulation and stands over the heads of their greatest enemies who puffe at them knowing that he who shall come will come and will not tarry when their Testimony in sufferings is finished for the Seeds sake and the glorious Gospel of our Lord Jesus for whom they suffer in bonds and are ready even unto the death from the hands of those who professe him as dying at Jerusalem and yet crucifie him in his truth members and have the generation of their forefathers from the beginning And then neither Guards nor Gates shall be able to keep them For our God is King over the whole Earth and his Kingdome is begun to be set up and to him whom man despiseth to him whom the Nation abhorreth to a servant of Rulers Kings shall see and arise Princes also shall worship because of the Lord who is faithfull and the holy one of Israel which hath chosen him saith the Lord the Redeemer of Israel and his holy one who commandeth deliverance for Jacob and Kings shall be thy nursing Fathers and their Queens thy nursing mothers they shall bow down to thee with their faces towards the earth and lick up the dust of feet and thou shalt know that I am the Lord for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me The sons also of those that afflict thee shall come bending unto thee and all those that despised thee shall bow themselves down at the soles of thy feet and they shall call thee the City of the Lord the Syon of the holy one of Israel Whereas thou hast been forsaken and hated so that no man went through thee I will make thee an eternall excelency a joy of many generations Thou shalt also suck the milk of the Gentiles and shalt suck the breasts of Kings and thou shalt know that I the Lord am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer the mighty one of Jacob For thus saith the Lord even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered for I will contend with them that contendeth with thee and I will save thy children and I will feed them that oppresse thee with their own flesh and they shall be drunken with their own blood as with sweet wine and all flesh shall know that I the Lord am thy Saviour and Redeemer the mighty one of Jacob And the Nation and the Kingdome that will not serve thee shall perish yea those Nations shall be utterly wasted Therefore hear now this thou afflicted and drunken but not with wine Thus saith thy Lord the Lord and thy God that pleadeth the cause of his people behold I have taken out of thy hand the cup of trembling even the dregs of the cup of my fury thou shalt no more drink it againe But I will put it into the hand of them that afflict thee which have said to thy soule bow down that we may goe over and thou hast layed thy body as the ground and as the street to them that went over A Testimoniall of severall honest men of Plymouth concerning the meeting aforesaid and the passages thereat upon which is laid the pretended ground and cause of the sufferings of Miles Halhead and Thomas Salthouse at which they were present FOrasmuch as we are concerned in the sufferings of our dear Friends Thomas Salthouse and Miles Halhead who have been kept close Prisoners in and near the City of Exeter almost six Months contrary to equity and justice they having not broken the least clause of any Law we think it necessary to give a briefe Relation of the state of their Sufferings After some trouble and difficulty which the said Thomas Salthouse and Miles Halhead indured in coming to Plymouth May 16. 1655. they came safe to Plymouth where then had severall Meetings with most of us and the first day of the week following we had a Meeting which was appointed by us at John Harris his house a little out of the Town where both our Friends spake in the forenoon and afternoon and were approved of by those that heard them there being no lesse then thirty persons of the company in the afternoon that came