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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A44231	A brief relation of some part of the sufferings of the true Christians, the people of God, in scorn called Quakers, in Ireland, for these last eleaven years, viz, from 1660 until 1671 with an occasional treatise of their principles and practices briefly stated, whereby the innocency of their cause, for which they so suffer, is not only plainly demonstrated, but also from all false asperations and causeless pretences sufficiently vindicated / collected by T.H. and A.F.	Holme, Thomas, d. 1695.; Fuller, Abraham, d. 1694.	1672 (1672)	Wing H2514; ESTC R7372	56,059	82

A Brief Relation Of some part of the SUFFERINGS Of the True Christians The People of God in Scorn called Quakers in IRELAND For these last Eleaven Years viz. from 1660. until 1671. With an Occasional Treatise of their Principles and Practices briefly stated whereby the Innocency of their Cause for which they so suffer is not only plainly Demonstrated but also from all false Aspersions and causless Pretences sufficiently Vindicated Collected by T. H. and A. F. Heb. 10. 23 25. Not forsaking the Assembling of our selves together as the manner of some is Heb. 7. 12. The Priesthood being changed there is made of necessity a Change also of the Law Acts 13. 15 If ye have any Word of Exhortation for the People say on Mat. 5. 34. But I say unto you Swear not at all Jam. 2. 9. If ye have Respect to Persons ye commit Sin Exod. 20 9. Six days shalt thou labour Printed in the Year 1673. THE PREFACE READER THere having been a great Defection from true Christianity in the long Night of Apostacy whereby gross Darkness hath overspread the Nations foretold by the Apostles That Antichrist Deceivers grievous Wolves false Teachers Core-like false Worshippers should ensue these ushered in the Apostacy which began in the Apostles dayes and grew so great that they became Persecutors of the True Christians as indeed false Worship and Persecution are inseparable Companions For John by the Revelation of God to him saw the Beast which the Dragon had given his Power unto after he had persecuted the Woman which fled into and was fed in the Wilderness 1260. dayes and the Man-Child caught up to God set up his Worship and compelling thereto and the false Prophet deceiving them that had worshipped the Image of the Beast And he also saw the great Whore sitting upon the Beast which was to be worshipped forty two Moneths having a Golden Cup in her hand wherewith she deceived and by her Sorceries enticed the Nations to commit Fornication with her and so corrupted the Earth and made her self drunk with the Blood of the Saints and Martyrs of Jesus c. Hereby John saw in the Spirit the great and long Sufferings of the true Christians the Church and People of God in the time of the Apostacy by the false Christians the false Worshippers who having lost the Power and Spirit by which the Apostles and primitive Christians were led and guided how to worship God in Spirit and in Truth set up fair and gilded Forms of Worship Jeroboam-like of their own making and inventing and at length lost not only the Power but the very Form of Truth and true worship and then being in the Enmity did compel to their Worship and Cain-like persecuted to Death the true Worshippers the true Church and people of God witness several Histories of the Papal Persecution of the true Christians in all Kingdoms and Countries where the Power of Rome extended it self and so continues in many places to this Day And how can we do less then charge the rise of Christians so called persecuting for Religion to proceed thence For they were the first Authors of Force and Vioience in matters of Faith and Opinion in Religion amongst Christians the Inquisition being chiefly entrusted to the Order of Dominick who first preached this Force and by whose means many true Christians were put to Death for not abjuring their Principles and true Faith in Religion and this was the first Example of putting Erring Persons to Death in the Church of Rome for Christianity doth not punish Corporally people for erring Spiritually but indeed Popery doth And of the same mind were divers ancient and modern Writes who said That people must be enformed to embrace Religion with Reason and not compelled by Violence for nothing violent or injurious can be Religious because Reason and not Force ought to convince That God never loves to plant his Church by Violence and Blood the Condition of Christians being rather to be persecuted then to persecute What Cruelty among Christians is acted under the colour of Religion as if we could not be Christians unless we crucifie one another And by Compulsion no man can make a a Hypocrite to be a true Believer but on the contrary many may be made Hypocrites For people in the Matters of Religion and Worship of God should rather be drawn by the Spirit of the Lord in God's Authority then driven by the Terrors of Magistrates or forced by the Penalties and Punishments of outward Laws of Men And how can that Service and Worship be acceptable to God which for its Authority hath only the Force and Fear of Man without the Faith and Fear of God John also saw the Whore the Mother of Harlots judged and the downfall of her Pride and the Merchants of the Earth that were enriched by Trading and Trafficking with her lamenting her Fall and the Man-Child come to rule the Nations with a Rod of Iron smiting them with the Sword of his Mouth and the holy City new Jerusalem the Mother of us all discending out of Heaven from God prepared as a Bride for her Husband and in this Holy City there was no Temple the Lord God and the Lamb being the Temple of it and the Lamb the Light thereof and the Nations of them that are saved shall walk in the Light of it c. Here John the Divine had a Sight of the restoring of the true Church to its primitive Purity and Institution in Faith Worship Discipline and all Gospel-Order And now the Day of God's great Love and rich Mercy to Mankind is dawned again after the long Night of Apostacy since the Apostles dayes and the Everlasting Gospel is preached again and he that made Heaven and Earth is to be Worshipped again in Spirit and in Truth and many are turned from Darkness to Light and from the Power of Satan and the Dragon's worship unto God and the Church is returning out of the Wilderness and making her self ready for the Marriage of the Lamb an Invitation to the Supper is proclaimed and the Way to the Holy City discovered And it having pleased God to bring us forth in this Blessed Day and Happy Age wherein the true Light hath appeared in which we have believed and are turned thereto by which we are come to see the first day's Work of God's new Creation Light separated from Darkness and to see over and beyond this long and thick dark Night to God's Day the Light that manifests Sin the Deeds of Darkness the Works of the Devil and hereby we are come to the Foundation Principle again of many Generations and to the true Religion to see and know the true Worship of the primitive Christians again so to be led out of all By-wayes Will-worship Rudiments Traditions and Presciptions of men to Worship God aright which is in the Spirit and in the Truth which Christ Jesus set up above 1600 years ago for we are of and for the

yea or Negation Nay nay And as the Jews under the Law confirmed their Testimony to end Strife Controversie c. by Swearing and bound themselves by an Oath sometimes by Vows and Curses so the Christians in the Gospel and New Covenant are bound in Conscience by the Power and Law of Christ in them which is a far greater Bond then Swearing To do to all Men as they would be done unto and to perform Equity and Righteousness in that Love which is the fulfilling of the Law in the Sight of God and Man without Swearing Oaths which were but Figures of this inward Bond or Covenant confirmed by the Oath of God to the Seed of Abraham which the True Christians are of who witness the Substance and End of all Oaths without and of Strife Doubts and Variances that occasioned the Oaths for the requiring of an Oath supposeth Doubt or Unbelief in the one Party which is no more to be pleaded for then it is to be practiced in a true Christian And we do affirm further for our Principle in this matter That to Swear at all is against the Law of the Spirit of Truth that dwells in us and is against the positive Command of Christ Jesus herein who said Swear not at all and this fully and plainly excludeth all the Glosses and Pretences of all men whatsoever who would take upon them to interpret Christ's Words and Meanings as they say in this as if he meant not to bar taking an Oath before a Magistrate or to end a Controversie in a Suit of Law betwixt two Parties c. but as if he meant only forbidding Vain Accustomary and Unlawful Oaths or Swearing and such like imagined Stuff many have writ about and pleaded for which if well considered is no great marvel For if they cannot believe in the Light that lighteth them the Son of God and his Covenant how can they own his Doctrine and Principle in this or other things published by him or by his Spirit and Authority 2dly From the positive Precept of the Apostle Jam. 5. 12. who preached his Lord and Master Christ Jesus his fame Doctrine against Swearing when he wrote to the Twelve scattered Tribes of the Jews who by the old Law were allowed or commanded to Swear truly but when they were converted to the Faith and come to own and believe in Christ and his Doctrine then they were oblieged and commanded not to Swear at all no not to Swear truly it self but to speak the Truth their word Yea to be Yea their word Nay to be Nay for the Apostle seeing may be finding and foreseeing that these converted Jews and Israelites because of former Precepts Customs in the Law which they had been under might use or plead for some sort of Swearing like People now who argue for Swearing before a Magistrate contrary to Christs Command therefore he puts a greater weight then ordinary upon this Doctrine as if the concernment thereby had exceeded his other Doctrine in saying But above all things Swear not by any Oath Neither do we read that any of the other Apostles used the like Doctrine to the converted Gentiles at Rome Corinth Ephesus Galatia c. against Swearing there being no such need to them that were not oblieged by the Law to Swear in any respect So here are two plain Scripture Proofs for our Principle and Practice herein and when any can produce Scripture in the New Testament to prove so plainly their Practice of Swearing in Gospel-dayes before a Magistrate which they call a lawful Oath or yet before any other or upon any occasion whatsoever to be lawful and allowed of or commanded by Christ or his Apostles who are the Authors of the Book called the New Testament then we may give further Answer or write more about it but till then they especially they that profess Christ and ought to obey his Command ought not to blame us much less to persecute fine or imprison us for obeying the Command of Christ and observing the Doctrine of his blessed Apostle James 3dly As Swearing was thus forbidden by Christ and his Apostle so the primitive Christians observed the same accordingly For the Bishop of Smyrna a Martyr for the Truth refused to Swear saying That he was a CHRISTIAN so it seems the Primitive True Christians did not Swear and as his Answer importeth when they urged him to Swear he used no other Argument to respond or shew his refusal but to say He was a Christian that thereby his Persecutors might know That he would not Swear because he was a Christian as by that Profession bearing Testimony against Swearing or breaking the Command of Christ Hereto agree several old and eminent Writers as also the Testimony of divers Martyrs and Sufferers under the Papal Power in Peiedmond England c. who bore witness to our and the true old Christian-Principle herein Bishop Gawden bore the like Testimony and said Amongst false Christians Oaths are not to be regarded and amongst true Christians there was no need of them William Thorp his Testimony herein was said he It is a Sin to Swear well W. Brute also testified and affirmed That no Christian ought to Swear And so discend to our Times since the Lord hath called us to be his People our Principle in this as in all other things agrees with the primitive Christians being like-minded with them for if we should Swear and break Christ's Command his Light would condemn us as the Apostle James said lest ye fall into Condemnation Hereby it appeareth That our refusing to Swear proceedeth from sufficient Ground Christ's Command the Apostle's Doctrine and the Primitive Christians Practices so that it is Matter of Conscience to us not to Swear at all And because it is urged against us That hereby we are incapable to serve the King our Country To which we say we make not our selves incapable but we are made incapable by the Law of the Land that requires that of us which Christ has forbid us to give and seeing we live under such Rulers and Magistrates as profess Christianity and the Scriptures to be their Rule to believe in and to walk by we desire them to excuse us in this matter and well to mind Peter and the Apostles Answer to the Persecuting High Priest and his Council at Jerusalem who had imprisoned the Apostles and streightly charged them to Preach no more in the Name of Jesus We o●ght to obey God rather then men said they and not seek to compel or persecute us because we cannot we dare not Swear nor take an Oath either to serve in Offices or upon Juries or giving Evidence though we are willing and ready to serve in any Office or Place meet for us and which we are capable of faithfully to perform the same as also to give in Evidence by speaking truly so as that we may not break Christ's Command or stain our Consciences through Disobedience And for

Pharisees John 8. 59. a great professing people even by such as professed the Messiah to come Thus was the Just and Holy One the Messiah Christ Jesus the Seed the Son of God and Saviour of the World put to Death by Wicked and Ungodly Men who are of the Line of Cain's spirit the seed of the Serpent the Devil Peter and John went into the Temple Acts 3. 4. 1. the place of Worship at the time of Prayer and preached Christ which the Temple-Worshippers could not bear but laid hands on them whipt them and put them in Prison strictly charging them To Preach no more in the Name of Jesus the Priests being the chief Instruments as also at the killing of Christ Stephen a true Worshipper of God Acts 6. was accused of many Falshoods by men subborned and false Witnesses and brought before the Council of the Jews false Worshippers and he being full of Faith and Power preached Christ unto them and withal told them Acts 7. That God dwelled not in Temples made with hands further charging them and their Fathers with persecuting the Prophets and murdering of Jesus for which he was stoned and put to Death by the National Worshippers Paul preached Christ in the Synagogues Acts 9. 20 23. for which the Jews took Counsel against him waiting and watching at the Gate day and night so great was their Envy to kill him And he and Barnabas preached in the Jews Synagogues at Cyprus Antioch c. and the Jews persecuted them and Banished them their Coasts Acts 13. as many of God's Servants are served in these dayes And at Iconium they were also persecuted and Paul stoned near unto Death by the professing Jews and false Worshippers for going into their Synagogues and preaching Christ Acts 14. And at Thessalonica Paul as his manner was went into the Synagogues on the Sabboth dayes and reasoned with them out of the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ c. Acts 17. and the Unbelievers and base people set the City on an Uproar against them as such do now against God's Servants for preaching the same Christ accusing them with turning the World upside down and doing contrary to the Decrees of Caesar and troubled the City and the Rulers even as the Priests and worst of People in our Age do concerning us whom the Lord hath redeemed from their Mouthes And when Paul came to Athens he did not joyn to the publick Worship but his Spirit was stirred in him seeing them given to Idolatry he disputed in the Synagogues with the Jews and in the Market daily with them that met with him there certain Philosophers of the Epicureans and Stoicks encountred him some calling him a Babbler others a Setter forth of strange Godds because he preached Jesus and the Resurrection and yet they themselves knew not the Living God Thus Peter and several of the Apostles Disciples the true Worshippers for bearing the like Testimony were also persecuted and some to Death Many more Examples might be mentioned of the true Worshippers of the Lord even through Ages and Generations recorded in the Scriptures who knew God whom they worshipped and could not joyn with the false Worshippers yea if National Worshippers in their day that knew not the Lord but reasoned with them and testified against them in their publick places and else-where as the Lord required them and they were alwayes persecuted by the false birth of Religion the false Worshippers and seed of Evil-doers that knew not God according to the Saying of the Apostle Gal. 4. 29. He that is born of the Flesh persecutes him that is born of the Spirit And also It may be seen in Histories and Books of Martyrs that many have suffered Martyrdom because they could not joyn to and with the National and established Worships then set up by men and so forsake the Spiritual Worship set up by Jesus Christ And as in former times so in these dayes the true Worshippers who worshipped God in Spirit and in Truth Jo. 4. 23 24. which is the Gospel-Worship set up by Christ Jesus cannot joyn contrary to their Consciences and Understandings with the National publick Worship for which there is neither Command nor Example in the Scriptures of Truth for their Practice Discipline Manner of Worship and Worship it self And seeing it is of necessity to know God before he can be worshipped aright and that none know the Father but the Son and him to whom the Son will reveal him Mat. 11. 27. if none then know God but by the Revelation of Christ Jesus and that the national Worshippers say Revelation which it seems is the only way to know God is ceased then by their Doctrine it follows That the Knowledge of God is ceased and then in vain do men worship for they worship they know not what How then can we joyn with them in such a Worship whilst they deny Revelation so worship an Unknown Godd But we come to know God by the Revelation of Jesus Christ 1 John 4. 13 14 15 16. and therefore we worship him and fear his holy Name and for thus worshipping we ought not to be persecuted especially not by those that profess Christianity Fifthly Concerning our not Swearing not taking off our Hats and for Working on dayes by some called Holy-days we have also good Ground and Scripture Authority First AND first for our refusing to Swear we have plain and undeniable Scripture Proofs 1st from Christ Jesus the Son of God in whom we believe Joh. 14. 1. who in his Sermon to his Disciples preached and opened the glorious Work and Worth of the Gospel above the Law though he came not to destroy the Law but to fulfil it You have heard said he that it hath been said by them of old time Thou shalt not Forswear thy self but shalt perform unto the Lord thine Oaths but I say unto you Swear not at all neither by Heaven c. but let your Communication be Yea yea Nay nay for whatsoever is more then these cometh of Evil Mat. 5. 17 33 35 36 37. And if men were not wilfully bind and hardned against Truth how could a Mouth be opened much less a Hand lifted up against us by the Professors of Christianity for our Principles herein seeing Christ the Gospel-Law giver bids us not Swear at all and him we are to hear and obey And as they under the Law were to Swear truly so we under the Gospel are to speak truly for true Christians are as far to exceed the Jews as the Gospel doth the Law because of that Noble and Just Principle in them which is to lead them and guide them into all Truth John 16. 13. to speak and act truly altogether at all times and in all places and then a Testimony to speak the Truth answereth unto and is in the Ground as valid as Swearing truly that which might be sworn unto in the time of the Law is now only to be confirmed by Confession Yea

worth 17s From John Wilson a Cow worth 28s Queens County 1669. John Edwards for warning the people unto Repentance in the Parish Worship-house at Ballinekill was cruelly beaten by Jam. Dunn Soveraign with a Staff until it brake in pieces and with the remaining part in his hand struck him on the bare head and then haled him to the Stocks and there set him for Two Hours in a cold Winter day Wexford County Tho. Murford for speaking in the Fear of the Lord to the People in a publick Place of Worship in Wexford was cruelly beaten and his Body sorely bruised and so committed to Prison 1662. James Taylor and John Blair for not going to the publick Worship-house called the Church were taken up by a Capias and imprisoned in Wexford Goal about twelve Weeks 1670. Jonas Chamberlin and Wil. Chamberlin for speaking a few words of Soberness and Truth to Edw. Withers called a Justice as he was passing to his Worship on the 25th of the 10th Moneth were committed to Prison Munster Province Cork County and City 1660. LVcretia Cook for exhorting the people in Bandonbridge to take heed and beware of false Prophets c. was committed to the Marshals and thence to Bridewel by John Laundon Provost and there kept twenty dayes And another Friend only for looking on Priest Nycholets in the publick Worship-house at Bandon was violently pulled and haled the Priest calling to the Magistrate saying Take him away take him away though the Friend spake not one word and it made such an uproar that the Friend had like to have bin smother'd in the worship-house 1669. Susanna Mitchell for bearing Testimony against Priest Cross's false Doctrine in the publick House of Worship in Cork City he being then teaching the Lawfulness of Swearing which is contrary to the Command of Christ and the Apostle was committed to Goal and there kept Prisoner a long time 1670. Solomon Eccles for going to the Cathedral at Cork the 16th of the 8th Moneth in Obedience to the Lord 's Requiring and for saying these words after Ben. Crosse the Priest had ended his Sermon and Prayer That the Prayer of the Wicked was Abomination to the Lord whereupon the said Priest said Let me Crave a Blessing so when he had done the said Friend was about to speak and the Souldiers began to pull and hale him but the Priest said Let him alone then the said Friend spake and said What shall be done to the man that makes Shiprack of a good Conscience though then it was not known to him that the said Priest Crosse had formerly been a Presbyterian Priest in Dorsetshire and had said ut ferunt That he had rather go to a Stake and be Burned then to put on a Surplice yet now preacht with a Surplice on So the Friend was laid hold on and had before the Mayor who committed him to Prison where he was kept ten dayes and then the Bishop and Peter Colthrop the Governour like Ananias and Pilate accused the said Solomon Eccles to the Earl of Orrery President of the Province of Munster for a Vagabond Quaker c. and so without any Examination of the said Person who by Law could not be proved a Vagabond obtained Order to whip him through Cork City which was accordingly executed with great severity the said Solomon being whipt all along the Streets of the City of Cork from North-Gate to South-Gate and in that time received at least Eighty Seven Lashes or Stripes and so expelled Waterford City 1660. Elinor Tatlock for going to the publick Worship-house in Waterford and there bearing Testimony against their Will-worship was put into Bridewel by John Horton Recorder and after several dayes she and her Husband were turned out of the City from their Children and Family Margret Blanch for exhorting the people to the Fear of the Lord c. at a time when she was at a Burial of one of her Relations was imprisoned six Moneths and in that time Excommunicated by Bishop Gore of Waterford and thereupon kept close Prisoner a long time and though often very sick and Weak of Body whilst in Prison and divers Entreaties made to the said Bishop for her Enlargement or going Home a while for Refreshment yet was generally refused by the said Hard-hearted Bishop And during her said long Imprisonment at Waterford the same Bishop Excommunicated her Husband William Blanch and as the said William Blanch was riding upon his lawful Occasions in Tiperary another County was there follow'd and watched and by Clonmell Town seized upon and committed to the Prison there where he was kept above a Year being there twenty Miles distant from his Wife in Prison at Waterford and his Family there so that neither the Husband and Wife could come to one another as being Prisoners nor yet either of them to their Family Conaught Province Galoway City 1669. SOlomon Eccles being moved of the Lord to go a Sign on the 14th of the 7th Moneth and that Naked with Fire and Brimstone burning on his Head without the Gates of the City unto a Papists Mass-Meeting and the Fryar and People being upon their Knees he in the Spirit of the Lord said Wo to these Idolatrous Worshippers God hath sent me this day to warn you and to let you see that if you Repent not what shall be your Reward and so he went over the Bridge into the City warning them also to Repentance and when done he was had to Prison with his three Friends Randal Consins Nicho. Grible and Henry Bloodworth who accompanied him in his Service and Eliza. Harper visiting them in Prison was also there detained and after several dayes Imprisonment were all released Fifthly and Lastly And these following for not Swearing for Conscience sake keeping to Yea and Nay according to Christ's Command who said Swear not at all for not taking off their Hats and giving men the Honour below for opening Shops and Working on dayes by the World called Holy Dayes which the Pope set up and for owning the Truth Christ Jesus the Light that lighteth every man that cometh into the World have been Fined Imprisoned Abused and their Goods taken from them Ulster Province Ardmagh County 1662. ROger Webb being Constable was called at the Sessions at Ardmagh to give in Presentments and because for Conscience sake he could not Swear was fined by Sir George Atkinson in 40 s. for which the Sheriffs Bailiffs took from him a Horse worth 45 s. 1665. Henry Furnace sen because for Conscience sake he could not Swear was fined 20 s. in the Manner Court for which the Bailiffs took from his Son a Horse worth 30 s. 1669. James Bradshaw being summoned to the Manner Court of Lurgan was fined 5 s. by John Relly Seneschal for not taking off his Hat and the Bailiffs took Goods from him worth 7 s. 1670. Christopher Hillary of Shankill Parish being one of the Militia under Captain Draper and afterwards convinced of Truth which leads out of all

Unchristian-like spirit of our Persecutors And forasmuch as there is not only a great Difference betwixt us and the literal Professors of Christianity touching the Worship and Service of the True and Living God but that the greatest part of all our Sufferings is generally for and on the account of our Worship to God for that God was and is to be worshipped is owned by all called Christians but how and by what few do understand and that God had a People that truly worshipped him in all Ages is recorded in the holy Scriptures of Truth and though they differed in Manner and Place yet however all that worshipped acceptably 't was by Faith in the Seed therefore we shall begin with that Branch of our meeting together to wait upon and worship the Lord. First As for our meeting frequently together to seek the Lord by waiting upon him in his holy Fear and to Worship him in the Spirit and in the Truth which is the only acceptable Worship with God we have amongst many more these brief ensuing Grounds and Reasons First BEcause the Lord hath thus prrswaded our Hearts by his good Spirit to meet often together to have our minds exercised in his Fear and Worship to wait upon him for more Light to know and understand more of his Heavenly Will which is revealed by his holy Spirit as well what is our Duty towards him and all men as to know his Will towards us and by the Light or Manifestation of himself by his Spirit we come to know and believe that he is a Spirit and is to be worshipped in his own Nature in the Spirit and in the Truth it being mans Duty to wait upon God in and by that of himself made manifest in man which only and truly shews him how when where and after what manner God will be worshipped For if God who is invisible be a Spirit and therein to be worshipped then nothing less then of the same Nature will reveal God to man and shew him how to serve and worship God aright and therefore of necessity for all that intend either to know the Mind of God or their Duty to him to be very serious and weighty in their approachings to worship God in order to conduct the mind of man to seek after and know the Will of God it being a weighty Work to worship the Lord God aright and to the end we may perform a Worship which may be acceptable in his sight therefore it is we thus meet together to seek his Face with our minds waiting and stayed in his Light and measure of his Spirit to open our Understandings in the Mysteries of his Heavenly Kingdom that we may know how to live and walk in this Life as becometh true Christians to answer the End for which we were created that is To glorifie God and to keep our selves unspotted of the Word which is pure Religion Ja. 1. 27. And thus by Faith was God worshipp'd before the Law from Adam till Moses for God having made man in his own Image capable to serve and obey him and to enjoy his blessed Presence but man by Transgression lost his Place and happy Estate and so was drove out from God yet not without a Promise of the Seed Christ to bruise the Serpent's head and though thus expelled yet was it his Duty to Serve Fear and Worship the Lord God his Creator as apppears by the practice of Adam's first Sons who worshipped God by offering Sacrifices each of them according to the perswasion of their Hearts and Understandings Gen. 3. 3 4 5. Cain the first Birth offered the Fruit of the Ground Abel the second Birth offered the Firstlings of his Flock and the Fat thereof and he and his Offering or Worship was accepted but unto Cain God had no respect as offering from that which was cursed and he not finding Acceptance with God in his said Service then Envy and Wrath arose in him and he Murthered his Innocent Brother Mark Here is the first Persecution about Religion here are the two Seeds and the two Births of which and from whence springs all the Natures and Lines and Worships of all Men in the World ever since and from hence its easie to know of what Race every Worship is of Persecutors are of and from envious Cain And is it not below a man or at least as a good man to be ranked of the Race of cursed Cain for shame then let all men forbare to persecute about Religion for you see who is the Father and whosoever persecutes it s a manifest token that he finds no Acceptance with God in his own Worship and so seeks to be revenged on his Brother on him that finds Peace with God in his Offering or Worshipping even on Righteous Abel And by Faith in the promised Seed Christ not only Abel but even all the rest of the holy Patriarchs Noah Abraham Isaac and Jacob c. performed their acceptable Services and Worships to God offering and worshipping in divers Places and Manners and yet without Scripture or written Rules and though they had not a written Law or outward Rule to direct them how to worship God yet had they the Everlasting Rule God's Spirit which was before Writings were by which they were surely acted and truly guided how to live and walk towards God and towards man and how to perform a Worship to God that might be acceptable in his sight as the Scriptures testifie And thus by Faith through all these Types Figures and Sacrifices under the Law was God truly worshipped a contrite Heart being more esteemed by God then Burnt-Offerings and Sacrifices Psal 51. 16 17. 1 Sam. 15. 22. Secondly Because it s our Duty so to meet to seek and worship God who is worthy to be sought unto and waited on by all that make Profession of him as tending to the Honour of his holy Name and Advancement of his Blessed Truth and to the Benefit and Comfort of our own Souls as appears by the Practice of the Saints of old who feared the Lord and spake often one to another and the Lord hearkened and heard and a Book of Remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord and thought upon his Name And they shall be mine in that day saith the Lord when I make up my Jewels Mal. 3. 16 17. So that in consideration of the Omnipotency of God who as we are his Creatures much more his People that fear him and his Children that believe in him doth expect our continual dependance on him as being ready to hear and answer our breathing Desires and to supply us with every Good Thing needful for us Lam. 3. 25 26. We have good Grounds thus to wait and meet 1st From the Promise of Christ Jesus who said Mat. 18. 20. Where two or three are gathered together in my Name there will I be in the midst of them and we have found him faithful that hath promised read Mat.

7. 7. to 12. 2dly From the Command of Christ to his Apostles Acts 1. 4. whose Duty it was to wait upon God for further Manifestation of his Mind and Will for though they had heard Christ's Divine Doctrine seen his Marvellous Miracles and been long conversant with him in the Flesh yet mark what he said unto them when he was to leave them Mat. 26. 11. for he as in the Flesh was not alwayes to stay with them which they were ignorant of Its expedient for you that I go away for if I go not away the Comforter will not come unto you and when the Comforter the Spirit of Truth is come he will guide you into all Truth and will dwell with you and shall be in you and shall teach you all things and abide with you forever Joh. 14. 2 3 16 to 27. Mark here the Spirit was to be their Rule or Guide and their Teacher in all things Yet after his Resurrection they being assembled and met together were commanded not to depart from Jerusalem but to wait there for the Promise of the Father or as Luke writes Luke 24. 32 45 49. until they were endued with Power from on High which should open their Understandings to understand the Scriptures and the Mysteries of God's Kingdom which Promise of Christ was fulfilled Acts 2. for the Comforter the holy Spirit did come upon them at their Meeting at Jerusalem to lead them into all Truth according to Christ's Promise Here thou mayst see that the very Apostles who had the Scriptures before as we have and had been so long with Christ yet they had not learned all things nor understood they the Scriptures then no more then they are now till the Spirit enlightened and endued them Well then Have not we great need now to meet together and wait for Christ's fulfilling this Promise to us to be taught all things that we may understand the Scriptures which are as a Book sealed from all those that are not led by the Measure of God's Spirit which we do Witness which only can open them they being not of any private Interpretation 2 Pet. 1. 20 21. And therefore the Apostle enjoyns the converted Hebrews To hold fast the Profession of their Faith without wavering and not to forsake the Assembling of themselves together as the manner of some was but exhort one another and so much the more as the day approaches Heb. 10. 23 24 25. And we are of the same Faith and Principle and therefore we cannot but meet together and exhort one another as an Expression of our Duty and thereby we make Confession to the Truth by holding fast our Profession thereof and we dare not forsake our thus assembling in the Service and Worship of God as the manner of some then was and now is who for fear lose the Testimony of their Profession creeping into Corners and sheltring from the Storms pleading Policy to forbear and not give Offence c. But our Profession being grounded on the Foundation Principle of true Religion the Light Christ Jesus we are made willing by the good and comfortable Effects we have received by our said Meetings and Waitings upon God having often in our Assemblies felt and enjoyed God's heavenly Life and blessed Presence to the great Refreshment of our Souls and encouraged to continue constant in this Practice without being afraid or ashamed Luke 1. 74 75. having such Divine Authority for our so doing though Sufferings even to the loss of all outwardly should attend us And our Duty herein is confirmed from the Practice of Christ Jesus and his blessed Apostles and Disciples and also the primitive Christians Acts 2. 41 42 to the end who as fast as they were convinced and gathered out of all other Worships whether National or particular Sects did thus assemble or meet together in Houses Fields c. though the Laws of the Lands or Power of the chief Rulers did neither tollerate nor encourage them but rather edict to the contrary yet they did neither desist or decline Meetings knowing it be their Duties and having found the vertue thereof by Christ's Promise fulfilled to them in at their Waitings upon God Acts 4. 17 18 19 20 21. And our Persecutors may as well say That Christ his Apostles Disciples primitive Christians were dissobedient to the then chief Authority in not desisting or declining preaching the Truth or meeting together in the Name of Jesus as Persecute us for the like now Acts 5. 28 29 42. Thirdly As the Spirit of God Scripture Authority and the Practice of the Saints Christ his Disciples and primitive Christians do justifie our thus meeting so now let us a little reason with men who if guided by Reason cannot but witness for us to the Innocency of our Sufferings for this Duty and Practice of our thus meeting to wait upon and worship God And can any one called a Christian if moderate say That its a Crime to meet to worship God if not then our meeting for that end is just and lawful neither are our Assemblies prejuditial to any What Evil Act was ever found amongst us at our said Meetings What Conspiracies can there be in a Silent Meeting or what Design can be contrived in a mixt Multitude where the Doors are open for any to come in to hear or see what is said or done or What ill Effects or bad Consequences to the Government in general either in the former or this present Powers time or to any Person in particular have our said Meetings produced have not both our Principles and Practices sufficiently evidenced our Innocency herein let our Neighbours and all that know us give their Testimony in this case And indeed if Reason rule men as it ought then upon a strict scrutiny into this thing there will be no Ground or Foundation in rerum natura for any Jealousie of us who are but a few mean innocent People that fear the Living God and are not seeking a Kingdom or Power below but a City whose Maker and Builder is God and Power against our inward and spiritual Enemies Heb. 11. 10 14 15 16. Luke 22. 29 30. Or can any ingenious or unbyased men truely say That they are re vera in any Terror of our said Meetings or really in fear that any thing in such an open and mixt Multitude can be designed to the prejudice of the present Powers or Peace of the Country but rather all this disturbing our peaceable Meetings and persecuting us for the same proceeds mostly from such professing Priests and Magistrates without the Possession who that they may appear to run paralel with the high Tides of the Times and to swim swiftly with the Streams of the Seasons thereby to ingratiate themselves are forward to persecute us because we cannot change and conform as they do contrary to our Consciences And besides seeing every man must render an account to God for himself how then will it serve or who will