Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	gospel_n	law_n	life_n	7,267	5	5.2543	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A54026	Concerning persecution: which is, the afflicting or punishing that which is good, under the pretence of its being evil. Which practice is contrary to the very nature of mankind (so far as it is drawn out of the corruption and depravation) which would be good and do good, and have good cherished, and evil suppressed, both in it self and others. ... Yet this unhappy error will always be committed in nations and governments, until the proper right and just liberty of men's consciences be discerned, acknowledged and allowed. Likewise, there are some answers given to that common objection, against affording conscience in its due liberty, because evil persons may pretend conscience to escape the just punishment of their evil deeds. With a brief account of that supposed stubbornes, which by man is objected against the people called Quakers. ... By Isaac Penington the younger.	Penington, Isaac, 1616-1679.	1661 (1661)	Wing P1156; ESTC R214723	23,798	32

CONCERNING PERSECUTION Which is The Afflicting or Punishing that which is GOOD under the Pretence of its being EVIL Which Practice is contrary to the very Nature of Mankind so far as it is drawn out of the Corruption and Depravation which would be Good and do Good and have Good Cherished and Evil Suppressed both in it self and others It is contrary also to all Equal and Righteous Government which is for the suppressing of Evil and cherishing of Good and not for the afflicting and crushing of that which is Good upon pretence of its being Evil. Yet this unhappy Error will alwayes be committed in Nations and Governments until the proper Right and just Liberty of Men's Consciences be discerned acknowledged and allowed LIKEWISE There are some Answers given to that common Objection against affording CONSIENCE its due Liberty because Evil Persons may pretend Conscience to escape the just Punishment of their Evil Deeds With a brief Account of that supposed STUBBORNES which by many is objected against the People called QUAKERS Given forth in love to this Nation that at length the true bottom and foundation of a lasting Peace and Settlement may be espied the Spirits of the Governors and People fixed thereon and that dangerous Rock of Persecution whereon both the Powers and People of this Nation have so often split carefully avoided by all By Isaac Penington the younger London Printed for Robert Wilson in Martins Le Grand 1661. The PREFACE THere hath been an Enmity in the Seed of the Serpent against the Seed of the Woman from the time of the Promise even until now God in mercy to Mankind hath given unto him since the Fall a Seed or Principle of Life in the Light and Strength whereof he is to war against and subdue the Corrupt Principle and so be freed from the Curse and become Heir of the Blessing Against this Principle all the Powers of Darkness fight even in every particular man and woman until they be overcome and subjected there And against those in whom this pure Principle reigns all the Powers of Darkness in the world fight also striving to make it miserable and to bring it into death and captivity that they might keep up the content and happiness of the Corrupt State All the Nations of the Earth have alwayes warred against the Principle of God and the People of his choice In the time of the Law the Jews were the object of the Envy and Hatred of all the world in the times of the Gospel the Jews in Spirit were hated and hunted in that day and hour not only by Heathens but also by such as were Jews according to the Letter and ever since the Apostacy by Christians also according to the Letter who are as great enemies to the Spirit Power as ever the Jews were Now all the Misery of the World as it at first came by departing from the Principle of Life so it hath been ever since continued by mens joyning with the Principle of Death and Corruption to oppose and withstand the workings of the Principle of Life both in themselves and others VVhat man is there that hath not in him a Witness against that which is Evil But where is that man who joyns with this Witness in him against the Evil and not with the Evil against this Witness Oh how doth God's Witness reprove for Sin making the heart which is not sensual and brutish but seriously considers its latter end sad because of it This is God's way of making the creature weary thereof of weaning him from it delivering him out of it and so rescuing him from the Wrath and Everlasting Burnings which are the portion and inheritance of the Wicked But who is it that doth not strive to stop silence and suppress this Witness in himself that he might enjoy his lusts ease and content in the flesh by keeping the sight and remembrance of the Evil-day far from him And if he can do so then he rejoyceth and maketh merry over the Testimony of the Witness in himself and when he hath so far prevailed then he is in a good capacity to persecute others who hear and obey the Voice and Testimony thereof in themselves That which is to redeem the World out of Misery is the Power of the Gospel and precious is the Peace which comes thereby after the work of the Spiritual Sword with the trouble thereof is finished O how blessed would the Principle and Power of Life make the World might it but have its free course therein O how happy is that man who bears the Condemnation because of Sin follows the guidance of the living God and waits for the day of his Salvation O the sweet inward Peace of Spirit which is enjoyed after the storm and after the Judgment of that which is to be judged and destroyed And that which makes one person happy the same must make Nations happy There is no true settlement nor abiding security but in the setled and abiding Principle God is arisen to shake the Earth and it can settle no more upon the old foundations yea the same God hath shriveled up the old Heavens and they can no more be stretched forth again Behold I make all things new saith the Lord in the days of the Gospel when he stretcheth forth the Arm of his Power And who is he which shall venture to establish the old Heavens and the old Earth which the Lord God is removing and causing to passe away and abolish the new Heavens and the new Earth which the Lord God hath created and formed and is establishing O that men knew the place of Wisdom that they might be wise and not fight against their Creator from whom their strength comes and against whom their strength cannot prevail O that men could see how industrious they are to keep up Misery and to keep out Happiness The eye of man in the fallen and corrupt estate cannot see aright and mis-seeing how can he chuse but mis-aim and mis-act and mis-aiming and mis-acting how can he attain his end But the Lord's Counsel shall stand and he will fulfill all his pleasure in every heart and throughout the Earth Happy is he who is weaned from himself and begotten in the Light of Life which is incorruptible he shall stand and be blessed when all flesh falls before the Breath of the Lord and becomes miserable and the fall of all the fleshly will wisdom and strength hastens apace happy is he who is delivered from them before the day of their ruine which is nearer than man is aware of or can believe I. P. Concerning PERSECUTION c. BEcause men generally in Persecuting know not what they do neither whom it is they Persecute nor how they sin against God therein nor what danger they are exposing themselves to and what misery they are drawing upon themselves thereby both in this World and for ever even as Christ said concerning the Jews who were Persecuting Him even to Death Father

being and inward state of the true Church and instead thereof set up an earthly Image agreeable to the earthly spirit in Nations but burthensom to that which is innocent pure and spiritual The Lord God suffered this to stand all it s allotted time and to have power to keep down the Visibility of His Truth and People but the Lord hath appointed a season to raise up his own Building again and to throw down this Image Now this I say to all men in the Fear and Dread of the Almighty Stand still and mark if all the power of man be able to keep down God's spiritual Building which he is raising up or to keep up any part of the earthly Image which He is throwing down The spirit of man in various wayes hath shewed what it judgeth best to have down and to have up and hath put forth its strength to accomplish its will and counsel Stand still a while and ye shall see that the Spirit of the Lord will also shew what He would have down and what He would have up and He will also put forth His strength to accomplish His Will and Counsel It is the Glory and Honour of the Lord to carry on His Work in the midst of all the Oppositions of man and against the full current of his strength and will This will make it to appear to be of God and cause the Glory of his Name to shine O that men could fear the Lord and bow before Him that He might be honoured in them and see good to honour them in the carrying on of His Work and so might not be forced through their hearkening to the dark spirit and because of their ignorance of and disobedience to the Light of his Spirit to get Himself a Name by overturning their strength and Councils and causing his Glory to shine over them We have been a poor oppressed People from the day that the Power of the Lord brake forth upon us and his Light sprang in us even until now And now we are brought lower than ever and are in greater danger to the eye of man than ever Yet our confidence is still in our God and this we are certain of that our Principle and Practices there-from shall stand and man shall not be able to prevail against it for God will preserve his People in his Life and Power and the heads of all that wait upon Him in his Fear shall be lift up above all the swellings of the Waters yea a song of Praise is already prepared in the hearts of God's Chosen against the day of his Deliverance We look not out but give up our backs to the smiter as if their stroaks were never to have an end and yet we wait on our God and hope in Him as if Deliverance were springing up every moment And Oh that God would smite the spirit of Enmity and Darkness in Men and Powers and then there would be Love Peace pursuing after God and Righteousness and no more persecuting and smiting of God's People for the Uprightness of their hearts and for their Obedience and Faithfulness to Him But be it known throughout all the Earth We are the Lord's and we must worship and serve Him He hath redeemed us even all of us in some measure who have known Unity with His living Truth in soul in body and spirit and they must all be His in the first place and cannot bow to man in the least against His Will or contrary to the Law of his pure Life and Leadings of his Spirit in the heart Here is our standing in the strength of our God whatever become of us And here we stand in love and good-will to mankind yea to these present Powers however they judge of us and have been praying for them and mourning over them while they have been smiting of us And when they have drawn the Hand of the Lord upon themselves if the Lord shall please to open their eyes to see what we have been towards them and how fain we would have had them set footing there where they might have stood firm and have been preserved they will bewail as much their dealings with us as what will befall themselves The Lord will manifest all things in his Time and give his Truth a passage in the Earth and his People a quiet habitation therein how black soever the face of things now appear as relating to them O how happy will the Day be when the Lord shall have wrought down the selfish spirit in man and shall have raised up His own Noble and Equal Principle Then shall Righteousness spring up and spread abroad throughout the Nations and the work of Righteousness shall be Peace and the effect of Righteousness Quietness and Assurance for ever THE END

forgive them for they know not what they do and afterward to Saul Saul Saul why Persecutest thou me Therefore in love to those who are at unawares running into this great Error that they may find the good Hand of God stopping them therein for their own good are these things following concerning Persecution Written wherein are manifested First What it is that is Persecuted 2. Who it is that Persecutes or is the Persecutor 3. The Nature of Persecution 4. The Grounds or Causes of Persecution 5. The Ways and Meanes of Persecution 6. The Ends of Persecuting what men aim at therein or rather what that Spirit in men which puts them upon Persecuting of others aims at thereby 7. The Colour or false Pretence of the Persecuting Spirit 8. The Blessedness of the Persecuted 9. The Misery of the Persecutors 10. The Way and Meanes whereby men may come to avoid this great evil of Persecuting others Whereunto in the Last Place are added Some sad Effects of Persecution to kindle in men a Desire of avoiding so great an Evil in its self and so Pernitious an Enemy to all that is good in General and Particularly to the Peace and Welfare of Mankind as the Persecuting Spirit is 1. What or Who it is that is Persecuted The Persecuted in all Ages is that which is born after God's Spirit Gal. 4. 29. He that is new-created in Christ Jesus who is formed in the Image and by the Spirit of God which is contrary to the Image and Spirit of the World and who followes Christ in the leadings and teachings of his Spirit which is out of and contrary to the course fashions ways customs of the world This is the man that is Persecuted in all ages He that is of another Spirit Principle than the World so cannot be as the World is being made otherwise by God nor walk as the World walks nor worship as the World worships being taught and required of God to do otherwise This is the man who is afflicted reproached hated hunted persecuted And so the Apostle laies it down not only as a thing to be in his Age but in after Ages also 2 Tim. 3. 12. Yea and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer Persecution Men may talk of Christ profess Christ worship Christ according to the way that is set up in Nations and avoid Persecution but come under the new Principle come into his life live Godly in Him become really subject unto the Power and direction of his Spirit then there is no longer avoiding of Persecution That which comes into the Life of Christ comes presently into a proportion of Suffering from that which is contrary to His Life 2. What or Who it is that persecuteth or is the Persecutor The Persecutor in all Ages is that which is after the flesh That Spirit and Principle in man which is from beneath puts the men in whom it is upon Persecuting the other Principle and the persons in whom it appears Or more plainly thus That which is of the world that which Loves the world and present state thereof that which lies in the darkness is in unity with it loveth it and the corrupt wayes thereof that hates the Light and Persecuteth the children of the Light who are witnesses against and reprovers of the darkness John 3. 20. He that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was after the Spirit So it was formerly so it is also now saith the Apostle Gal. 4. 29. Now there are several sorts and ranks of these as some in the way of open prophaness and wickedness some more civilised and of a more gentle noble and considerate spirit and temper some more religions and devout in worships though not rightly principled and guided but turned aside to some inventions or other of the earthly spirit all which are pleasing to the earthly spirit But all these though they are different one from another and agree not well among themselves but are full of dislikes one toward another yet they all agree in this to wit in a willingness to have that persecuted and subjected which is of a contrary spirit and nature to them all They are all against this more or less though not all against it in the same degree of heat and vehemency 3. The Nature of Persecution or What it is to Persecute Persecution is the opposition of the flesh against the spirit The fretting or dashing of the earthly spirit or spirit of man corrupted against that which is born of God The fighting of the unregenerate and unrenewed spirit in man against the spirit of man renewed by the regenerating power of the Spirit of God The fighting the opposing of this spirit against the other is Persecution What ever any man does in his own will according to his own wisdom and after the inclination of his own heart against another who desires to fear the Lord who waits on Him for the counsel and guidance of His Spirit that he might Obey and Worship Him aright is Persecution The Principle of God teaches to fear the Lord not according to the fear which is taught by the precepts of men but according to the fear which God puts into the heart it teaches likewise to worship the Lord not according as man invents and thinks good to prescribe but as the Lord instructs and requires it teacheth likewise not to conform to the world but to deny it and come out of it Now the hating opposing and punishing of that which is thus taught because of these teachings and its obedience thereto this is Persecution The rising of the heart against such is Persecution in the heart The reproaching scoffing at or speaking evil of such is Persecution with the tongue So Ishmael's mocking of Isaac Gen. 21. 9 10. is called Persecuting of him Gal. 4. 29. 30. The smiting fining imprisoning of such c. in relation to any thing that they do from this Principle is Persecution with the hand or lifting up of the power either of a particular Person or of a Magistrate against such 4. The Grounds of Persecution or what are the things that cause the one Spirit and Principle to Persecute and the other to be Persecuted The Grounds and Causes which expose the one to Persecution and kindle the heat of Persecuting in the other are chiefly these three ensuing 1. The enmity of the birth of the Flesh against the birth of the Spirit There is enmity in the Serpent against the Woman and in the seed of the Serpent against the seed of the Woman That which is born of the corrupt Principle cannot endure that which is born of the pure Principle That which walks and worships in the will and according to the inventions of man's wisdom and in shadows and fleshly Forms pleasing to the flesh cannot endure that which worships in Spirit and Truth 2. The contrariety of that which is born of God and drawn out of the world to that which

is of the flesh or of corrupt man and left in the World this is that which incenseth and draweth forth the enmity in the corrupt Principle They are not of the world even as I am not of the World John 17. 16. Therefore the World hateth them v. 14. They are of another Spirit of another Image of another Make of another Heart of another Desire of another manner of Carriage and Demeanor of another Principle have other Ends in all they do then the World And their whole course and conversation being in the Light and in the Love in true Purity of Mind reproves the world which lies in the darkness and in the enmity and walks in the wickedness And how can the world bear this in the midst of all their height glory and greatness to be continually reproved by a poor and contemptible Generation as Gods choice in the world have for the generality of them always been even looked upon by the world as the off-scouring thereof as not fit to be suffered to have a being in it but rather as deserving to be scowred off from it The Light whereof the Children of Light are born and which they hold forth or rather which God holds forth by them condemns the World The evenness sweetness and straitness of their conversation and practices condemns the unevenness crookednes perversenes of the spirit of the World The integrity seriousness and spirituality of their worship with the living power and presence of God appearing among them condemns the deadness formality and hypocrisie of the worships of the world who draw nigh to God with their lips when it is manifest that their hearts are far from Him being ensnared and captivated with Vanities and Self-interests and love of the World and earthly things Indeed the whole course and manifestation of the Light and Power of God in them is a continual upbraiding of the principle and ways of darkness in the men of the world And how can the men of the world forbear making an unrighteous war even a war of Persecution against that which invades their territories and makes war with them in Righteousness Can darkness chuse but fight to save its own dominions It must put out the Light or it cannot save its own but will be losing ground daily 3. Because of the Children of Light leaving and coming out of the world They were once of the world as well as others Of the same nature of the same spirit of the same corrupt will of the same corrupt wisdom walking in their way worshipping according to their worships approving and observing their customs fashions and vanities But when the Spirit of Christ called them out of the world and created in them that which could hear his voice and was willing to follow him then they left all these and stood Witnesses in God's Spirit which called and in that life which was begotten in them and in the fear love and power of that God who quickned them against all these And this mads the world in that they were once of them but left them Had they staid in the world and been still of the world the world would have loved them as it doth the rest of its own but departing from the world travelling towards another countrey subjecting themselves to another Spirit and testifying against that Spirit which formerly led them and still leads the world and against those ways and practices wherein formerly they walked and wherein the world still walks this fills the worldly spirit with rage against them 5. The Wayes and Means of Persecution The Wayes and Means of Persecution are very many Who can want Instruments to afflict the innocent and helpless who can neither resist the evil which is offered them nor harm that which offers it I shall onely here mention three general heads to which many particulars may be referred 1. One great way of Persecution is by making use of Laws already made either according to their proper tendency to that end and purpose or by bending them aside from their proper intent to reach those whom they have a mind to afflict and persecute Thus the Jewes when they had a mind to have Christ put to death told Pilate We have a Law and by our Law he ought to die John 19. 7. 2. Another way is by making new Laws fit for their purpose whereby they may catch ensnare and suppress that which is contrary to their spirit and principle and which will not bow thereto This is a certain way to take that which is born of God and which cannot but be true to Him and so cannot bow to the corrupt will of man nor to any Law made in the corrupt will to strengthen the corruption and against the holy pure Will and Mind of God Thus Daniel and the Three Children were caught in the snare by Laws Daniel for praying to his God against the Royal Statute and firm Decree of the King signed in writing according to the desire and advice of all the Presidents of the Kingdom the Governors Princes Counsellors and Captains Dan. 6. 7 8. and the Three Children for not worshipping the Image Nebuchadnezzar had set up according to the Decree of the King observe this by the way and consider it well What hath been set up all this night of the Apostacy but Images of the true Worship and what compelling hath there been thereto Thus have Articles been framed and Statures made here in England as in King Henry 8. and in Queen Mary's days which have been great Engines of Persecution And thus have there been some late Laws made in New England to the same Effect though better might have justly been expected from them And this is not only a certain way but a very plausible way likewise whereby the Persecutor hides himself from the Imputation of Persecution and appears as a just Executer of the Law and so represents him who is upright before God and innocent in the sight of God as an Offender and Breaker of the Law and so justly punishable But this will not alwayes cover the unjust spirits Persecution of the Just He that shall persecute the Lord of Glory as he that persecuteth the least Member of His how contemptible soever he appears to his eye doth no lesse Act. 9. 4. Matth. 25. 40 45. when Christ shall call him to account therefore it will be a vain plea for him to say there was a Law for it and he acted according to Law It is fit for all Men and Laws to bow before the Lord and not to disturb any in their Obedience to the Lord or hurt the Principle of his Life in any but cherish and nurse it up as much as in them lies in that tenderness which Christ begetteth in it and in that spiritual Liberty which Christ allows it 3. A third way of Persecution is by the hand of Violence without either Law or so much as pretence to Law Thus the persecuting spirit when it

well in desiring such a man as this to be put to death might they not well prefer Barrabas before a man thus represented by their chief Priests and Teachers who knew and could expound the Law and were best able to judge as they might well think both what was the Truth and who were Deceivers 8. The Blessednesse of the Persecuted The Disciple of Christ who is persecuted for Conscience sake who suffers from men and their Laws for the uprightness of his heart towards and for his obedience unto Christ that man is precious in the eye of Christ and hath his blessing with Him yea the more men disesteem and hate him upon this account the greater is his blessedness Blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute you and shall say all manner of Evil against you falsly for my sake Rejoyce and be exceeding glad Matth. 5. 11 12. He is blessed in several respects 1. That man is in that Spirit and in that way which God hath chosen and so he is in a happy state and condition at present He is in the path of Life in the way of Peace under the Leadings of God's Spirit The World loveth and cherisheth that which is its own that which is of it and walketh with it but is at enmity and war with that which is of God Therefore the World's Dislike Enmity and Persecution is an evidence of God's choice and of a Removal from it towards God It is an happy thing in the eye of man to be at unity with the World to have the love and friendship thereof to have all men speak well of one to be found doing that which is pleasing in the eye of the World and to be enjoying the pleasures and profits thereof but in the eye of God it is happy to be in unity with that which is contrary to the World and procureth its ill-will Love not the World neither the things that are in the World If any man love the World the love of the Father which begetteth out of the World is not in him But he that loseth the love of the World for the Principle of God and his subjection thereto is in that which the Father loveth and feeleth the Love of the Father opened in him and revealed to him and this is truly an happy state 2. The Recompence which God will give to them in the World to come who cleave to Him and his Truth for all the Persecutions which they endure in this World for his Truth 's sake is exceeding great Great is your Reward in Heaven Mat. 5. 14. Our light Affliction which is but for a moment but at most for the time of this world worketh for us a far more exceeding eternal weight of Glory 2 Cor. 4. 17. 3. The Reward is great in this world also There is an hundred fold Recompence to be reaped in this life The Peace of God in the Conscience the Presence of God the Life of God the Vertue of God the Glory of the Spirit of God which accompanieth resteth with and abideth on the heart which is faithful and waiteth upon God for Patience Meekness Innocency and Strength to carry through the Sufferings may well be valued at above an hundred fold Income and Recompence for all the Hardships and Tribusations which are undergone for his Name-sake If ye be reproached for the Name of Christ happy are ye for the Spirit of Glory and of God resteth upon you 1 Pet. 4. 14. 9. The grievous misery of the Persecutors It is a miserable thing to be deceived about that which is good to put Good for evil Light for darkness Sweet for bitter and so under a mistake at least become a Persecutor of the good All good is of God and he that is against good is against God and it is a dreadful thing for the creature to set himself in battel against his Creator and to engage the Power and Wrath of the Omnipotent One against him though while the eye is shut it doth not appear to men either that they are against God or that their danger is so great thereby as indeed it is The Children of God are as the Apple of his Eye Who can touch them and He not be deeply sensible yea and they are most dear to God in that for which the World most persecutes them And therefore their danger and misery must needs be great which may further appear in these three respects 1. In respect of the weight of Wrath which their Persecutions of others here will bring upon themselves in the world to come Then every hard word with every thing they have done against any Lamb of Christ's shall come upon them There is a time of Judgment for all that is sowed in this world and then every one shall reap what he hath sowed And if he that hath not visited the sick and imprisoned for Christ's sake shall hear that sentence Go ye our sed c. what will his portion be who hath imprisoned them and caused their sickness Now is our time of trouble but the Lord hath prepared a day of rest for that Spirit which is troubled in this world by the spirit of this world and then shall the troublesom spirit which troubled the peaceable Spirit and would give it no rest in its following and obeying the Lord be troubled by the Spirit of the Lord 2 Thess 1. 6 7. And what shall the misery of that spirit be whom the Spirit of the Lord troubleth and filleth with anguish and torments in his Fire and with his Brimstone Oh that men would awaken and consider in time and not fell away their everlasting Inheritance for a mess of Vanity and transitory Lusts and Pleasures 2. The hand of God doth often overtake them in this world and the Lord doth many times curse their very Blessings to them insomuch as they cannot enjoy this world with that sweetness and content they might were it not for the rage and bitterness of their spirits against God's People and their provoking of God against them thereby How many of his own People did Pharoah lose and how did he break the strength and glory of his Kingdom by persecuting God's Israel of old How did Amalek cause his name to be rooted out from under Heaven How did the Nations and mighty Powers of the Earth fall upon this account one after another And in this Nation how many Powers have already fallen thereby Jerusalem is a burthensome stone it was so in the type it is much more so in the substance which lyes in the way of every earthly spirit and power which they know not how to build with neither can they rear up their own building because of it and therefore every Power strives to remove it out of their way but they know not the weight of it nor who it is that hath squared it nor how firm it is fixed upon the Rock The earthly spirit is never to enjoy any true or lasting Peace

judge him for differing either in Apprehensions or Practices about Worship much lesse persecute him therefore But that man who is of a prophane spirit or comes easily by his Religion even by the wisdom industry and parts of man and not by the gift of God and is exercised in that Fear of God which is taught by the Precepts of men but knoweth not that Fear which God puts in the heart from whence the true Religion and Worship springs either of these may be drawn to persecute yea indeed it will be hard for either of them to abstain there-from 2. By meckness of spirit The Gospel makes meek tender gentle peaceable fills with love and sweetness of spirit teacheth to love to forgive to pray for and bless enemies and how shall this man persecute Can a Lamb persecute Can a Dove persecute Indeed a Wolf in Sheeps clothing may raven and devour but a true sheep cannot As the power of the Gospel is known the devouring and persecuting nature is destroyed and that being taken away Persecution soon comes to an end 3. By a sober and patient consideration of their cause whom they persecute and what it is in themselves which moves them to persecute them The strength of Persecution lies in the darknes in the dark thoughts mis-judgings and misapprehensions about him whom one persecutes or is inclined to persecute in prejudices and false judgements of Persons and things received which by a sober hearing and considering of things in God's fear and in meekness might be removed and then the eager Persecuting heat of spirit would soon abate and fall the fewel which kindled it being taken away The Jews stopped their ears and ran upon Stephen Acts. 7. 57. This is the way of persecuting spirits They take in prejudices against persons their Principles and Practices stop their ears against what may be said to manifest either the equity of the thing in its self or their mistake about it and then run headlong in their fury of persecuting and devouring But he that is sober and considerate and weighs the cause before he engages against it and observes what it is in him which moves so hotly against another and which is so ready to believe ill aforehand he shall soon see that which is always hid from the eye of the Persecutor and find water to cast on this devouring fire of spirit in him 4. By a righteous frame of spirit which is willing to do by another as he would be done to in the like case Persecution ariseth from unrighteousness and selfishness righteousness and true equity would soon end it If no man would make another man's Conscience bow by force who would not have his own so bowed Persecution would soon cease But this is the great evil and unrighteousness of man whoever is uppermost thinks he hath right to bow all the rest under him and looks upon them as guilty and offenders if their Consciences do not yield and bow under him And he that newly complained of the load laid on his Conscience by others yet if he can get ease and power into his hand is presently laying a load upon others Here is a wrong frame of spirit within and how can it chuse but bring forth injury and Persecution outwardly 5. By taking heed and watching against the corrupt and carnal Principle with the reasonings self-ends and interests thereof and hearkening to the Principle of God which teacheth and speaketh right Reason Man as he came from God and was by especial favour formed in His Image So it pleased God to place in him a Principle of His own Life to govern him This Image was defaced by the fall and this Principle forfeited yet for Christ's sake who is the Saviour of all men but especially of them that believe the Lord stirreth up and visiteth all mankind more or less by the pure eternal Principle of His own Light and Life in Christ In hearkening to this man's reason is rectified purified and preserved pure and his steps here are safe But consulting and contriving out of this he meets with that which corrupts him captivating and mis-byassing his reason and then all his intents designes and contrivances become corrupt and tend not onely towards the prejudice of others at present but also to his own loss and detriment in the issue He therefore that would be safe in the enjoyment of any blessing which he hath received from God and faithful in doing him service in his generation must know what of himself is ready to betray him that he may watch against it and turn from it and what in himself is given him of God to enlighten guide instruct and preserve him that he may hearken thereto and be made happy thereby 11. And Lastly To set it yet more home upon all that are ingenuous and would be worthy and noble and do that which is worthy and noble abhorting cruelty afflicting and oppressing of others let them consider the fruits and effects of Persecution which are very many and of the worst kind even sutable to the nature of the root At present I shall onely mention these four 1. In a great degree it hindreth the growth of the present good in every age and generation so far as the earthly power or sword of the Magistrate can well hinder Persecution of that which is good by the earthly Powers in its proper tendency is an hinderance to the growth thereof in their age and day though the Lord can overbear the malignity of it and further the growth of his Seed thereby 2. It wholly tends towards hindring the shooting up of any further seeds of good which God hath to saw in the earth For all the seeds of good which God hath to sow in the earth at first they are looked upon as evil until by God's blessing upon them and opening of mens eyes through the much suffering of those vessels in whom God causeth the most excellent seeds of his virtue and goodness first to appear their innocency and beauty begins at length to shine in mens eyes and be discerned 3. It occasioneth the growth of evil For good withstandeth opposeth and chaseth away evil even as light doth darkness and therefore the preventing of the springing up of the good is a cherishing and strengthening of the evil Besides the same Spirit Government or Power which persecuteth and keepeth down the good under a pretence of its being evil cannot chuse but also cherish and nurse up the evil under a pretence of its being good For the same eye tongue and heart that seeth calleth and acknowledgeth that which is indeed good to be evil cannot chuse but also mistake the evil and think it good 4. It draweth down the wrath of God upon People Powers and Governments where such persecution is where the evil is cherished under a pretence of its being good and the good endeavoured to be suppressed under a pretence of its being evil If men from their hearts do acknowledge the