the_o prisoner_n uindication_n with_o a_o sober_a expostulation_n and_o reprehension_n of_o persecutor_n by_o john_n gratton_n what_o mean_v you_o that_o you_o beat_v my_o people_n to_o piece_n and_o grind_v the_o face_n of_o the_o poor_a say_v the_o lord_n god_n of_o host_n isa._n 3._o 15._o lord_n how_o long_o shall_v the_o wicked_a triumph_n how_o long_o shall_v they_o utter_v and_o speak_v hard_a thing_n they_o break_v in_o piece_n thy_o people_n o_o lord_n and_o afflict_v thy_o heritage_n they_o slay_v the_o widow_n and_o the_o stranger_n and_o murder_v the_o fatherless_a psal._n 94._o 3_o 4_o 5_o 6._o london_n print_v and_o sell_v by_o andrew_n sowle_n at_o the_o crooked-billet_a in_o holloway-lane_n near_o shoreditch_n 1683._o to_o all_o persecutor_n both_o by_o word_n and_o action_n a_o few_o word_n for_o the_o clear_n of_o myself_o and_o the_o truth_n i_o profess_v in_o real_a love_n from_o he_o that_o seek_v the_o good_a of_o all_o mankind_n in_o general_n have_v real_a 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only_o be_v admit_v to_o preach_v as_o will_v do_v it_o free_o in_o they_o but_o though_o he_o do_v whip_v such_o out_o as_o aforesaid_a yet_o we_o never_o read_v that_o he_o whip_v any_o in_o or_o that_o if_o any_o will_v not_o come_v to_o that_o place_n that_o then_o he_o imprison_v they_o or_o fine_v they_o or_o the_o like_a no_o he_o be_v a_o shepherd_n tender_a and_o love_a unto_o they_o if_o one_o go_v astray_o his_o way_n to_o fetch_v they_o in_o have_v be_v and_o be_v ever_o by_o his_o gentle_a call_v unto_o they_o and_o reprove_v rebuke_v and_o check_v of_o they_o in_o their_o heart_n by_o his_o spirit_n and_o follow_v of_o they_o with_o his_o righteous_a judgement_n in_o their_o inward_a man_n so_o that_o for_o want_n of_o true_a peace_n with_o god_n many_o have_v return_v again_o to_o he_o who_o show_v they_o wherein_o they_o offend_v and_o when_o they_o return_v there_o be_v more_o joy_n in_o heaven_n over_o one_o sinner_n that_o repent_v than_o ninety_o nine_o just_a 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way_n to_o bring_v they_o to_o become_v hypocrite_n and_o heretic_n and_o be_v the_o way_n such_o man_n have_v go_v in_o to_o hold_v up_o their_o idolatry_n and_o superstition_n in_o all_o age_n witness_n baal_n prophet_n and_o the_o old_a serpent_n know_v it_o well_o enough_o therefore_o it_o be_v say_v in_o the_o revelation_n that_o the_o devil_n shall_v cast_v some_o of_o you_o into_o prison_n some_o of_o who_o some_o of_o the_o servant_n and_o faithful_a witness_n of_o jesus_n who_o will_v not_o can_v not_o worship_v the_o beast_n but_o further_a suppose_v i_o want_v faith_n and_o a_o right_a understanding_n of_o the_o thing_n that_o belong_v to_o my_o everlasting_a peace_n do_v you_o think_v that_o a_o prison_n will_v be_v a_o mean_n to_o bring_v i_o into_o the_o true_a faith_n can_v the_o prison_n wall_n rectify_v my_o understanding_n or_o give_v i_o faith_n and_o wisdom_n do_v ever_o christ_n command_v the_o use_n of_o a_o prison_n or_o fine_a or_o any_o thing_n of_o that_o 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that_o be_v my_o persecutor_n be_v you_o not_o much_o like_o these_o man_n aforesaid_a who_o persecute_v christ_n and_o his_o apostle_n and_o cry_v to_o the_o ruler_n for_o help_n in_o your_o proceed_n against_o i_o and_o though_o some_o of_o you_o never_o see_v i_o as_o i_o know_v of_o and_o none_o of_o you_o ever_o come_v to_o discourse_v i_o or_o see_v wherein_o i_o be_v mistake_v as_o to_o my_o faith_n and_o principle_n yet_o you_o can_v fling_v it_o out_o that_o i_o be_o a_o dangerous_a person_n and_o a_o deceiver_n and_o run_v up_o and_o down_o the_o country_n to_o delude_v people_n oh_o these_o your_o lie_n and_o false_a charge_n will_v one_o day_n be_v remember_v except_o you_o repent_v which_o i_o desire_v you_o may_v and_o as_o i_o say_v before_o consider_v your_o do_n and_o see_v who_o you_o run_v parallel_n with_o you_o be_v but_o man_n you_o may_v be_v mistake_v see_v you_o be_v not_o lead_v by_o a_o infallible_a spirit_n and_o therefore_o can_v be_v sure_o yourselves_o be_v in_o the_o right_a but_o you_o go_v by_o conjecture_n and_o rest_n upon_o the_o judgement_n of_o ancient_a father_n reverend_a divine_n heathen_a author_n or_o your_o own_o conceiving_n or_o the_o like_a and_o be_v uncertain_a and_o leave_v the_o people_n unsatisfied_a and_o so_o manifest_v yourselves_o to_o be_v such_o as_o be_v not_o send_v with_o the_o lord_n message_n receive_v from_o god_n himself_o as_o by_o all_o your_o uncertain_a beat_v the_o air_n be_v manifest_a to_o every_o one_o who_o eye_n the_o lord_n have_v open_v so_o that_o here_o be_v great_a danger_n if_o i_o shall_v leave_v christ_n the_o true_a light_n and_o teacher_n of_o man_n who_o now_o appear_v by_o his_o pure_a spirit_n in_o my_o heart_n and_o show_v i_o the_o thing_n that_o do_v belong_v to_o my_o peace_n and_o follow_v you_o that_o i_o shall_v then_o be_v lead_v to_o act_v both_o in_o principle_n and_o practice_n and_o do_v those_o thing_n i_o ought_v not_o and_o leave_v undo_v those_o thing_n i_o 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i_o will_v not_o have_v do_v it_o for_o it_o be_v against_o my_o faith_n and_o conscience_n and_o because_o of_o the_o fear_n of_o man_n will_v this_o excuse_v i_o if_o not_o than_o i_o ask_v you_o can_v you_o excuse_v i_o to_o god_n and_o assure_v i_o of_o it_o that_o if_o i_o will_v conform_v to_o your_o worship_n and_o give_v you_o money_n for_o a_o pardon_n of_o my_o true_a obedience_n to_o god_n in_o disobedience_n to_o you_o for_o so_o indeed_o the_o case_n lie_v if_o not_o that_o you_o can_v excuse_v i_o if_o you_o shall_v or_o can_v force_v i_o to_o sin_n against_o god_n then_o why_o shall_v
we_o cheat_n heretic_n false_a prophet_n and_o what_o not_o this_o be_v and_o have_v be_v our_o entertainment_n among_o you_o and_o be_v i_o at_o this_o day_n in_o prison_n because_o i_o can_v dare_v not_o play_v hypocrite_n and_o go_v contrary_a to_o my_o faith_n but_o you_o will_v say_v may_v be_v that_o my_o faith_n be_v not_o true_a faith_n but_o i_o believe_v a_o error_n i_o answer_v you_o can_v prove_v your_o charge_n against_o we_o from_o clear_a scripture_n which_o say_v that_o it_o be_v not_o only_o give_v unto_o we_o to_o believe_v but_o also_o to_o suffer_v for_o his_o sake_n we_o believe_v in_o but_o it_o no_o where_o say_v it_o be_v give_v we_o also_o to_o make_v other_o suffer_v that_o do_v not_o believe_v and_o suppose_v i_o do_v want_v a_o right_a understanding_n and_o true_a faith_n i_o say_v again_o do_v you_o think_v that_o a_o prison_n will_v help_v i_o can_v a_o prison_n give_v faith_n can_v prison_n wall_n rectify_v man_n understanding_n lay_v aside_o these_o carnal_a crutch_n and_o bring_v spiritual_a weapon_n truth_n be_v sufficient_a to_o plead_v its_o own_o cause_n and_o faith_n be_v the_o gift_n of_o god_n it_o be_v only_o base_a cain_n self_n worship_n that_o force_v he_o that_o will_v not_o worship_v the_o beast_n or_o receive_v his_o mark_n in_o his_o forehead_n or_o in_o his_o hand_n must_v be_v kill_v or_o no_o man_n must_v buy_v or_o sell_v with_o he_o at_o least_o so_o error_n and_o enmity_n envy_n and_o cruelty_n always_o go_v together_o but_o the_o truth_n be_v receive_v for_o its_o own_o worth_a and_o it_o be_v the_o manner_n and_o nature_n of_o true_a faith_n to_o work_v by_o love_n pure_a religion_n and_o true_a be_v love_v god_n above_o all_o and_o our_o neighbour_n as_o ourselves_o and_o in_o this_o love_n we_o shall_v visit_v the_o fatherless_a and_o widow_n and_o not_o make_v widow_n and_o fatherless_a in_o a_o sense_n by_o cast_v the_o father_n and_o husband_n in_o prison_n this_o be_v not_o to_o keep_v unspotted_a from_o the_o world_n for_o it_o be_v say_v the_o world_n shall_v hate_v we_o who_o be_v true_a follower_n of_o christ_n and_o persecute_v we_o and_o excommunicate_v we_o out_o of_o their_o synagogue_n and_o say_v all_o manner_n of_o evil_n false_o against_o we_o yea_o our_o saviour_n tell_v we_o they_o shall_v bring_v we_o before_o king_n and_o ruler_n for_o a_o testimony_n against_o they_o but_o christ_n jesus_n no_o where_o bid_v his_o disciple_n excommunicate_v those_o out_o of_o their_o place_n of_o worship_n that_o will_v not_o believe_v nor_o bring_v they_o before_o king_n and_o ruler_n or_o cry_v to_o ruler_n for_o to_o put_v they_o in_o prison_n fine_a they_o and_o spoil_v their_o good_n its_o true_a he_o bid_v they_o shake_v the_o dust_n off_o their_o foot_n for_o a_o testimony_n against_o they_o that_o will_v not_o receive_v their_o testimony_n but_o when_o they_o will_v have_v have_v fire_n from_o heaven_n to_o have_v destroy_v those_o that_o do_v not_o receive_v he_o christ_n rebuke_v they_o and_o say_v you_o know_v not_o what_o manner_n of_o spirit_n you_o be_v of_o the_o son_n of_o man_n be_v not_o come_v to_o destroy_v man_n life_n but_o to_o save_v they_o it_o be_v true_a he_o tell_v they_o the_o ruler_n of_o the_o gentile_n exercise_v lordship_n over_o they_o and_o their_o great_a one_o exercise_v authority_n upon_o they_o but_o say_v christ_n it_o shall_v not_o be_v so_o among_o you_o etc._n etc._n remember_v what_o he_o compare_v the_o angry_a scribe_n and_o pharisee_n to_o who_o take_v offence_n at_o both_o john_n baptist_n and_o himself_o and_o indeed_o almost_o all_o that_o god_n send_v among_o they_o say_v he_o they_o be_v like_a unto_o child_n sit_v in_o the_o marketplace_n and_o call_v one_o to_o another_o and_o say_v we_o have_v pipe_v unto_o you_o and_o you_o have_v not_o dance_v we_o have_v mourn_v unto_o you_o and_o you_o have_v not_o lament_v etc._n etc._n and_o be_v not_o this_o like_o you_o who_o be_v still_o so_o childish_a to_o be_v angry_a with_o we_o because_o we_o do_v not_o dance_v after_o your_o pipe_n nor_o lament_v after_o your_o mourn_a why_o will_v you_o not_o do_v as_o you_o will_v be_v do_v by_o you_o will_v not_o take_v it_o well_o to_o be_v force_v to_o conform_v to_o we_o will_v you_o then_o i_o ask_v you_o why_o will_v you_o not_o be_v merciful_a as_o christ_n command_v you_o as_o your_o father_n say_v he_o be_v merciful_a who_o be_v kind_a say_v he_o to_o the_o unthankful_a and_o to_o the_o evil_a let_v your_o fruit_n declare_v you_o to_o be_v branch_n of_o the_o true_a vine_n and_o child_n of_o god_n have_v you_o forget_v what_o be_v say_v of_o the_o man_n that_o fall_v among_o thief_n as_o he_o go_v from_o jerusalem_n to_o jericho_n the_o thief_n strip_v he_o and_o wound_v he_o and_o leave_v he_o half_o dead_a now_o the_o priest_n pass_v by_o and_o the_o levite_n look_v on_o he_o also_o pass_v by_o and_o leave_v he_o but_o the_o good_a samaritan_n take_v pity_n on_o he_o when_o he_o come_v by_o and_o bind_v up_o his_o wound_n pour_v in_o oil_n and_o wine_n and_o set_v he_o on_o his_o own_o beast_n and_o bring_v he_o to_o a_o inn_n and_o take_v care_n of_o he_o and_o say_v christ_n go_v thou_o and_o do_v likewise_o alack_o how_o many_o lie_v wound_v in_o sin_n and_o iniquity_n and_o naked_a of_o all_o that_o be_v good_a and_o must_v none_o take_v pity_n of_o they_o what!_o though_o it_o be_v a_o man_n of_o another_o city_n or_o society_n if_o he_o have_v oil_n and_o wine_n and_o will_v lend_v a_o hand_n of_o help_n and_o do_v good_a to_o the_o wound_a and_o help_v the_o naked_a to_o a_o garment_n why_o shall_v you_o be_v offend_v it_o be_v ill_a in_o the_o priest_n and_o levite_n that_o will_v not_o help_v he_o themselves_o and_o show_v a_o churlish_a idle_a easeful_a selfish_a spirit_n in_o they_o that_o care_v not_o what_o come_v of_o man_n so_o they_o can_v eat_v the_o fat_a and_o clothe_v themselves_o with_o the_o fleece_n and_o live_v at_o ease_n but_o it_o will_v have_v be_v much_o worse_a in_o they_o if_o they_o will_v neither_o a_o help_v he_o themselves_o nor_o suffer_v another_o to_o help_v he_o but_o if_o he_o do_v take_v he_o and_o cast_v he_o in_o prison_n spoil_v his_o good_n or_o put_v he_o to_o death_n and_o christ_n say_v woe_n unto_o you_o scribe_n pharisee_n and_o hypocrite_n for_o you_o shut_v up_o the_o kingdom_n of_o heaven_n against_o man_n for_o you_o neither_o go_v in_o yourselves_o neither_o suffer_v you_o they_o that_o be_v enter_v to_o go_v in_o woe_n unto_o you_o scribe_n pharisee_n hypocrite_n for_o you_o devour_v widow_n house_n yes_o in_o our_o day_n leave_v she_o not_o a_o cow_n to_o give_v her_o milk_n nor_o a_o bed_n to_o lie_v on_o and_o for_o a_o pretence_n say_v he_o make_v long_a prayer_n therefore_o you_o shall_v receive_v the_o great_a condemnation_n woe_n unto_o you_o blind_a guide_n who_o lie_v heavy_a burden_n and_o grievous_a to_o bear_v upon_o man_n but_o will_v not_o touch_v they_o with_o one_o of_o your_o finger_n but_o say_v christ_n they_o walk_v in_o long_a robe_n love_v the_o uppermost_a room_n at_o feast_n and_o the_o chief_a place_n in_o the_o synagogue_n and_o greeting_n in_o the_o market_n and_o to_o be_v call_v of_o man_n rabbi_n master_n but_o say_v he_o to_o his_o disciple_n be_v not_o you_o call_v master_n for_o one_o be_v your_o master_n even_o christ_n and_o all_o you_o be_v brethren_n but_o perhaps_o you_o may_v say_v we_o be_v not_o your_o brethren_n well_o suppose_v we_o be_v not_o you_o ought_v to_o love_v we_o if_o we_o be_v your_o enemy_n but_o if_o we_o be_v not_o your_o brethren_n why_o do_v you_o take_v tithe_n from_o we_o for_o it_o be_v never_o know_v that_o the_o child_n of_o israel_n take_v tithe_n of_o any_o but_o only_o their_o brethren_n see_v heb._n 7._o 5._o however_o you_o ought_v to_o do_v all_o thing_n in_o charity_n for_o the_o wrath_n of_o man_n work_v not_o the_o righteousness_n of_o god_n it_o be_v say_v mercy_n rejoice_v against_o judgement_n for_o he_o shall_v have_v judgement_n without_o mercy_n that_o have_v show_v no_o mercy_n for_o if_o you_o have_v bitter_a envy_v &_o strife_n in_o your_o heart_n glory_v not_o you_o be_v no_o better_a than_o unbeliever_n therefore_o lie_v not_o against_o the_o truth_n for_o say_v the_o apostle_n this_o wisdom_n descend_v not_o from_o above_o but_o be_v earthly_a sensual_a devilish_a for_o where_o envy_n and_o strife_n be_v there_o be_v confusion_n and_o every_o evil_a work_n but_o the_o wisdom_n that_o be_v from_o above_o be_v pure_a peaceable_a gentle_a and_o easy_a to_o be_v entreat_v full_a of_o mercy_n and_o good_a fruit_n without_o