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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A89853	Several petitions answered, that were put up by the priests of Westmorland, against James Nayler and Geo. Fox, servants of the most high God, persecuted by the priests of the world, as Jesus Christ and the apostles were persecuted by the Jewish high priests for the witnessing of the truth, and testifying against the deceits of the world. With the answer to an order given forth by the justices at Appleby sessions, contrary to the law of God, and the laws of the land. Also, an exhortation to the people, to mind the light of God in them, the teachings and leadings of the spirit of truth; the which if it be obeyed, will lead and guide them into all truth.	Naylor, James, 1617?-1660.; R. F. (Richard Farnworth), d. 1666.; Fox, George, 1624-1691.	1653 (1653)	Wing N316A; Thomason E703_4; ESTC R3636	42,778	72

Ministers which go in that path which all the holy men of God cried out against Isa 56. 10. 11. we speak the same language against them that they did and by the same spirit we see them take all people to record to judge who have a light in their understandings and the fear of the Lord to judge do not your Priests bear rule by your means and was it not a horrible filthy thing Ier. 5. 30 31. Ier. 10. 21. in the time of Jeremy and is not the same held up in this age now and do they not seek for their gain from their Quarters greedy dumb dogs Do not they take money for that which is not bread And do they not now seek for the fleece cloath with the wooll and make a prey of the people which Ezekiel cryed wo against And are you not Hirelings which Micah cried Micah 3. 11. against and them that put not into your mouthes you prepare warrre against them sue them at the Law and are you not called of men Masters Mat. 23. 6 7 8. Have not ye the chiefest places in the Assemblies Stand praying in the Synagogues And do you not lay heavy burdens upon the people which Jesus Christ cried wo against such Are not you in the same steps here Let the Scripture it self judg you and do not you draw people to those things which there is no Scripture for telling them of a Sacrament for which there is no Scripture telling them of sprinkling infants which there is no Scripture for telling people they are Ordinances all such Ordinances we deny but the Ordinances of God we own And doth not the Scripture say He that addes or diminishes the plagues are added Rev. 22. 18. Gal. 3. 1. unto him And were not the Galatians bewitched who were drawn from the anointing within them which God had commanded And do not you draw people to the things there is no Scripture for telling people they are Ordinances and are not you in the same generation bewitching people drawing them from the Spirit of the Lord within them to follow your imagination and them that do not you persecute them who obey the commands of God and the Ordinances of Jesus Christ to walk in the truth in the inward man which is unknown to you in the world but Mat. 10. 22. it is that the Scripture might be fulfilled They shall be hated of all men for my names sake and they through fained words shall make merchandize of you saith the Apostle who go in the way 2 Pet. 2. 3. 13 14 15. of Cain to murther who love the wages of unrighteousness who have the Spirit of error and causes people to erre for the minde that goes from the pure within is erred and that sets up Baal without before God but all whose mindes are guided by the Spirit of the Lord up to God deny all Baals Priests now do not say this is railing or false accusing in these steps are you which the holy men of God cryed out against read your selves and let all men judge and as for coming into your Synagogues with hats on when ye are singing of Psalms thou Priest hast not thou one or two caps on and when ye read Psalms hats must be on and when ye sing them hats must be off here ye worship the works of your own hands As Davids tremblings quakings wastings weepings roarings till his sight grew dim and watered his bed with his tears and roared all the day long Psal 6. 23 6 7. prophesies praises prayers these you sing having turned them into Rime crying Let ussing to the praise and glory of God which is all to his dishonor if one should see one of you lie in Davids condition weeping and roaring and turn it into Metre and go among a deal of ignorant people and cry let us sing to the praise and glory of God would you not say we made a Ryme of you as you have made of David All such practises and singings we deny but we will sing with the Spirit and with Grace and Understanding The Apostles which you profess in words you do not read that when they went into the world they gave Davids Experiences in Metre to sing but 1 Cor. 14. 15. Mark 7. 13. Col. 2. 8. was against all Traditions of men and so are we now with the same Spirit Priests Petition To the stirring up of woful tumults evident disturbance of the work and the turning of the peaceable Assemblies of the Church of Christ into the grossest confusion Answ For shame never mention your Churches to be the Churches of Christ which will so soon be turned into confusion do not so dishonor the Lord Jesus Christ and so little esteem his Chruch which is the Pillar and Ground of Truth and can the Pillar and Ground of Truth be shaken 1 Tim. 3 15. A Church must be that which is the Ground and Pillar of Truth the Church of Christ needs not have a carnal weapon to maintain it but it is now as it was they who had received the substance came into the Assemblies witnessed forth the substance and were haled forth and bruised and Acts 7. 48. Acts 21. 30. abused stocked and stoned so do you us now almost smothered in your Assemblies how dare you say ye are peaceable when ye are so in rage against a peaceable people who come among you for your souls good that ye may be directed unto the Lord when eternally ye shall witness us though now you would devour us Priests Petition That their deportent is such and with so continual violence against the most godly of our Ministers in all places in their travels in the streets abusing them with railing language scornful behaviours walking in the Markets with such great numbers together Answ As for violence we deny it it is your own you shew it daily and in this Petition you make it appear As for godly Ministers such we set up who are made Ministers by the will of Gal. 1. 1. God and not by the will of man but such as are made Ministers by Oxford and Cambridge such we deny they who are made Ministers by the will of Godwill not persecute any but here you make your selves manifest not to be such for if ye were ye would own us As touching railing language scornful behaviour it is false it is your own and herein you do abuse us such practises we deny which are according to the course of the world Was it not the practise of the Apostles to dispute Ephess 2. 2. Acts 19. 8. Acts 17. 17. Mat. 24. 34 35 dialy in the Markets in the Schools in the Synagogues and their practise here you do deny and shew your selves to be in that generation that persecuted the Apostles who now persecutes us where the same power is made manifest but it is that the Scripture may be fulfilled for every jot and tittle must be

against harmless innocent people Are not you laying here a foundation for a new war and so digging a pit for your selves to fall into you need never fear them who live in the power of truth to raise up an outward war but it is your false suggestion to incense people to make them believe lies but God hath raised up alight in people and in Magistrates which discerns all your intents An Order that was ordered at the Sessions at Appleby in Westmerlrnd ORdered That whosoever shall hereafter disturb any Minister in the Publike Exercise of his Ministry within this County or give any scandalous opprobious terms against any of them shall be apprehended by the Constables or Church wirdens of the place where the offence shall be committed and brought before the next Justice of the peace to finde Sureties for his or her good behaviour and upon refusing to finde such Sureties to be committed to the common Goal till willingly they shall do the same or be from thence delivered by due course of Law And likewise all such persons as me t in great numbers and Assemblies in the night time within this County shall be apprehended and bound to good behaviour as aforesaid Priests Order ORdered That whosoever shall hereafter disturb any Minister in the Publike Exercise of his Ministry within this County Answ The Law of the Land doth give freedom to speak after the man hath done and here you seem to make a new Parliament and new Laws contrary to the Law of the Land and here you shew your selves not to do Justice not acting according to the Law of the Land and the 1 Cor. 14. 30 31. Num. 11. 28 29 Num. 12. 7. Heb. 3 2. 1 Law of God Moses said who witnessed forth the Law and was Ruler in the Law he wished that all Gods people were Prophets now he was faithful in the Law of God which God had commanded him and here thou shewst to act contrary to the Law of the Land and turn'st thy self out of thy justice And the Minister of God said that all might speak in the true Church and if any thing were revealed to him that fate by let the first hold his peace for you may all prophesie one by one that all may be edified and God may be glorified for the spirits of the Prophets are subject 1 Cor. 14. 30 31. 32. to the Prophets and here you do shew your selves to be no Prophets nor no Ministers and your Church no Church if any should come into your Assemblies and sit by and something be revealed to him and he say Let the other hold his peace and you say he disturbs the Minister 1 Thess 5. 19. Mat. 10. 17. 23 Heb. 11. 36 37. Acts 7 58. 59. here you would quench the Spirit and limit the holy one And here is the Scripture fulfilled upon you If they should speak you would scourge them in your Synagogues nay stone them beat them and imprison them and mock them and is not Jesus Christs words fulfilled here And they shall persecute you and now you shew it forth blush for shame and never take him for a cloak Gen. 48. Mat. 23. 33 34 35. Acts 21. 30. 2 Pet. 2. 12. for you are in the same Generation of them that persecuted them who lived in the truth be ye witnesses unto your selves that you are in the same nature that they were in that hailed Paul out of the Temple how darest thou then take his words into thy mouth O brazen face beast that doth not abide the truth Priests Order Or give any scandalous opprobious terms against any of them shall be apprehended by the Constables or Church Wardens of the place where the offence shall be committed Answ That which you call scandalous terms is the truth upon the deceit according to Scripture Gal. 3. 1. For Paul said they were bewitched them that were drawn from the Spirit of the Lord within them to carnal circumcision without them so do you bewitch the people now as sprinkling of infants and telling them of a Sacrament which there is no Scripture for and drawing them from Jer. 5. 30 31. their Teacher within them for Jeremiah said they bear rule by their means and held up the horrible filthy thing that was committed in the Land and Isa 56. 10 11. Isaiah said they were greedy dumb dogs which could not bark which never had enough seeking for their gain from their quarters And all people consider do not all the Priests of the world bear rule by their means and seek for their gain from their quarter we speak the truth we have a cloud of witnesses and Micah said the Priests Micah 3. 5. preached for hire and he that did not put into their mouthes they prepared war against him Do not you Priests sue men at the Law if they do not put into your mouthes nay of your own Church And yet professes your selves to be Teachers of Christ O for shame blush Paul 1 Cor. 6. 1 5. that was a Minister of Christ said to the Saints that went to Law there was not a wise man among them and here thou shewst thy self to be no Minister of Christ no not to walk according to the Letter no not a wise man Jesus Christ said Wo unto you Scribes and Pharisees hypocrites them that were called of men Masters and so are you them that had the chiefest places in the Assemblies and so have you stand praying in the Synagogues and so do you and vvith a Mat. 23. 6 7 8 10 23. pretence make long prayers devouring Widows houses and Iesus Christ cried vvo against such and you hold up those things which Christ doth forbid and you do make men believe you are Ministers of Christ and that Christ hath sent you and act those things vvhich Christ doth forbid and the same wo is upon you that was upon them that held up those practises and the Apostle said they had forsaken the right vvay vvo unto them for they have gone in the vvay of Cain and run greedily after the error of Balaam Are not 2 Pet. 2. 15. 3. Iude 11. you in envy like Cain do not you shew it forth and run after the vvages of Balaam for gifts rewards and covetousness vvho make merchandise upon the people and as Ezekiel said they seek after the Fleece and eat the Fat and cloath vvith the Wooll and kill them that were fed and made a prey upon them and devoured them But as the Ezek. 34. 23 10. 14. Lord said I vvill gather them from their mouths and feed them upon the mountains And this Scri ture we witnesse to be fulfilled praise and honor be to the Lord. And you Priests do not you seek after the wooll Will you make a lye of Scripture Friends do not say this is railing for I speak the truth and have a cloud of witnesses the prophets and Apostles which spoke from the same Word

the people and are in the same state and condition that the Jewish High Priests were in that put Christ to death as thou readest keep thy eye single and be not Partiall and thou shalt see that the battell is begun betwixt Michael and the Dragon the Dragon he casteth forth floods of revilings and reproaches and persecutions after the man childe Christ Jesus as he is arising in the spirits of his people to stifle him in the birth that he may not come forth to raign and where he is Born up into the understandings of any ruling by the Divine Power of his Spirit in any the Dragon with his seven golden heads or the Priests under sever all Colours being the painted Beast that is gilded with their glorious notions having painted themselves over with the words of the Prophets and Apostles that suffered by such as they are of the same generation whose heart is deceitfull and that above measure being full of subtiltie the Serpents head being unbruised in them they labour every way as the Jewish High Priests did to destroy those who are brought to walk in the same state and condition that the holy men of God did In former ages men that were blameless and harmless in their lives and conversations were guided by the holy spirit of God that ruleth in them I know it by experience being acquainted with them in their godly conversation which those Cainish and Jewish spirited Priests goes about to cast dirt upon making them odious to the world stirring up the people in envie and malicionsness against them if it were possible to take away their lives and the Jewish high Priests stirred up the rulers and Elders of the people against both Jesus Christ and the Apostles who were his true Ministers to persecute Imprison and put them to death so do these stir up not onely the rude people in envie and malice but they stir up the Parliament and Rulers of the people by their false petitions to incense them against a harmless and an innocent people to take away if not their lives yet their liberties but where the Lord doth appear in any of the Rulers of the people they will see into the wickedness of the Priests that they are those that persecute the Lord of life in his Saints and servants and they do openly manifest themselves that they are none of the Ministers of Jesus Christ for they did never persecute nor imprison but on the contrary were both persecuted and imprisoned and so are those to whom Jesus Christ is made manifest in spirit now the Lord is setting up the Kingdom of his Son in the spirits of his people and the Kingdom of Antichrist Babylon the mystery of iniquity must be thrown down take heed of holding up that which God will not have to stand he is setting up the ministery of his Son in the spirits of his People and throwing down the ministery of Antichrist which is the ministry of the world as it is made manifest hey do openly appear to those that have their eyes in their head Now friend if thou do but read this with thy understanding thou shalt see that these persecuting Priests knowes nothing of God but are enemies to him and are guided by the Spirit of error walking contrary to Christ and his Apostles who were his true ministers and were guided by his holy Spirit and suffered by the ministry of the word as those dear hearts do that are guided I am sure by the Spirit of the Lord and are as dear to him as the Apple of his eye and if thou do but give thy diligence in reading to Read by the same guide that those are led by that write the ensuing treatise it will bring thee to see the innocency and uprightnes of their blomeles lives and conversation that they are made to suffer willingly for Righteousnes sake according to the command of Jesus Christ and walkers in his obedience knowing that their reward is in Heaven having their conversation in Heaven according to that of the Apostle in the third to the Philip. 20. And their affections being set on things above and not on the earth seeking a Kingdom but not of this world for were they of this world the world would love its own but because they are chosen out of the worlds ways and worships customes and fashions being dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world are brought to worship God in spirit being born again of water and the Spirit as John 3. and having their souls purified in yielaing abedience to the commands of the Spirit as the Saints had which more obedient to the same spirit which purified their souls as in 1 Pet. 1. 22 23. Who were born again as these are Children of the most High God whom the world and the persecuting envious Friests know not for the spirit that is in them is not of God because it Iusteth to envy bontrary to the Spirit of Jesus Christ which is pure and holy and is loving as it is raised up in any to rule and guide them it beareth all the worlds Judgements Reproaches Revilings and Persecutions and suffereth with Joy having the promise of this life and that which is to come thus saith the Lord woe to the wicked it shall be ill with them and they shall be rewarded according to their doings as in Isaiah the 3. 10. But say unto the righteous it shall be well with them v. 11. and saith Jesus Christ blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and say all manner of evil against you falfly as the Priests do by those innocent and harmless ones who are dear and precious in the sight of God and may rejoyce for their reward is great in Heaven according to that of our Saviour in Mat. 5. 10. 11. 12. And that of Peter who saith if ye be reproached for the name of Christ happy are you for the spirit of grace and of glory Resteth on you Rejoyce and be exceeding glad all ye that love the Lord Blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for ever for the Lord is glorifying himself and making his power known and all the Crowns of pride and vain glory and fleshly exaltation must be thrown down and the Son of his Love Raised up and exalted in the hearts of his people to sit upon his Throne Rejoyce for evermore A Friend to the Truth of God where it is made manifest Richard Farnworth To the Right Worshipfull the Justices of the Peace for the County of WESTMORLAND The Humble Petition of divers Ministers and other Inhabitants in the said County who earnestly desire the Glory of God and the Peace of his Church and this Common-Wealth Humbly Sheweth THat James Nayler and George Fox men whose Country habitation profession and condition is to us generally unknown meerly of their own accord without any Pasport Licence or Authority whatsoever that they can shew or we ever heard of have entered in to

SEVERAL PETITIONS ANSWERED That were put up by the Priests of WESTMORLAND Against James Nayler and Geo. Fox Servants of the most High God persecuted by the Priests of the world as Jesus Christ and the Apostles were persecuted by the Jewish high Priests for the witnessing of the truth and testifying against the deceits of the world With the answer to an Order given forth by the justices at Appleby Sessions contrary to the Law of God and the Laws of the Land Also an exhortation to the people to mind the light of God in them the teachings and leadings of the Spirit of Truth the which if it be obeyed will lead and guide them into all truth This is the condemnation That light is come into the world and men love darkness rather then light because their deeds are evill He that loves the light brings his deeds to the light that the light may prove them but he that doth evill hateth the light neither cometh he to the light lest his deeds should be reproved But he that loveth the truth and doth that which is righteous cometh to the light that his deeds may be made manifest that they are wrought in God John 3. 19 20 21 verses Little Children let no man deceive you he that doth righteousness is righteous even as he is righteous he that committeth sin is of the Divell In this the children of God are manifest and the children of the Divel whosoever doth not righteousness is not of God neither he that loveth not his brother 1 Iohn 7 8 9 10. Marvell not if the world hate you it hated me before it hated you Iohn 1● 18. Blessed are you when men shall hate you and when they shall separate you from their company and shall reproach you and cast out your name as evill for the Son of Mans sake rejoyce ye in that day and leap for joy for behold great is your reward in heaven for in the like manner did their fathers unto the Prophets Luke 6. 22 23. London printed for Giles Calvert at the Black spread Eagle at the West end of Pauls 1653. An Epistle to the Reader Christian Friends REmember the words of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ who said the servant was not greater then his Lord and saith he if they have persecuted me they will persecute you also and saith he marvell not if the world hate you it hated me before it hated you if ye were of the world the world would love you but because I have chosen you out of the world therefore the world hateth you but these are the fruits of darkness that ariseth from Cains generation they that are after the flesh t ey persecute them that are after the Spirit it is the world that persecutes and as they are in their naturall state and condition they know not God but are enemies both to him and His where he is made manifest in Spirit they that are in the corrupt nature are ignorant of him according as it is written in the Epistle to the Corinthians the naturall man knowes not the things of God because they are spiritually discerned and no man knowes the Father but the Son neither knoweth any man the Son but the Father and he to whom the Son reveals him there is no knowing of God but by the Revelation of his Spirit but naturall men such as the Priests of the world who are ignorant of God and are onemies to him being guided by the spirit of error standing up in actuall Rebellion against God now that he is Revealing his Son in the hearts of his people and leading them by the Divine light of his holy Spirit out of Egypt out of bondage and darkness wherein they have been held in the time of the fall while the mystery of iniquitie hath been working and Antichrist sitting in the Temple of God as God shewing himself to be God and the Priests of the world have been casting a mist before the eyes of the understandings of the people by their Greek Latin and Hebrew which is but dung and drosse earthie and ayrie hath driven the people into earthly conceivings imagination having no other knowledge of God but by conceiving and imagining of him are of those whom the Lord complains of by his servant the Prophet saying This people draweth near me with their mouth and with their lips do they honor me but their hearts is far from me and their fear towards me is taught by the precepts of men therefore thus saith the Lord I will gather those that have been scattered in the Cloudie and dark day and I will teach them my self and write my Law in their hearts and put my Spirit in their inward parts then shall ye know that I the Lord have spoken it and I will take you from among the hearthen and gather you out of all Countries and sprinkle clear water upon you and cleanse you from all your uncleanness a new heart also will I give you and a new Spirit will I put within you and I will cause you to walk in my statutes to do them Ezek. 36. Chapter Now the Lord is fulfilling his Promises made of old to the seed of Abraham after the spirit the Immortall seed that is begotten not by the will of man but by the will of God and born again of water and the spirit being separated from all uncleanness and they that live in the filth of the flesh fulfilling the lusts thereof know them not that are born again washed and cleansed sanctified and justified and are taught of God and made pertakers of the Divine nature but are enemies to them it is the same generation now that persecuts that persecuted from the beginning but it is but that the Scriptures may be fulfilled the Beast shall make War with the Saints God and Magog joyns together in Battle against the Lamb the Priests of the world are the greatest persecutors of the truth of God Now as the High Priest was when Jesus Christ came in the flesh the chief Priests were the greatest persecutors of him then stirring up the Rulers and Elders and the rude multitude against him calling him A deceiver and A blasphemer and they spued forth their envie against him in raising false witnesses against him and every way incensing the People against him to cry out to have him put to death Saying Crucifie him Crucifie him and let us have Barabbas let loose which was a murderer and if thou do but Read this little ensuing treatise thou shalt finde something worthy of thy labour being single eyed thou wilt be brought to see Antichrist or the man of sin in A high measure the mystery of iniquitie acting in the Priests of the world that do professe themselves to be the Ministers of Christ but are of the Synagogue of Satan and are enemies to Jesus Christ where he is made manifest and raised up in the spirits of any to testifie against their deceits wherein they do deceive

fulfilled Priests Petition And scarce passing by any not of their judgement without abusing words that it cannot but shew us as no small Symptomes of bad designs so no small reason to provide for our security Answ As for abusive words it is false it is the abusive minde that speaks which now appears to scandal the truth Several of us who be of one heart meet together sometimes in the Market and sometimes in other places and if we see pride and drunkenness and be moved to reprove and exhort see and hear cursed speakers swearers moved to reprove and exhort them or men fighting and brawling cozening cheating deceitful marehandizing lying and disembling which we say wo is upon do you call this abusive and we bid them repent and turn unto the Lord while they have time and now to prize it for the great day of the Lord is coming wherein every one Rom. 14. 12. shall give an account And the Apostle warned all small and great to turn unto the Lord and repent which we cannot but do the same who have found mercy of the Lord who brought us to repentance and changed our lives and this is it which you call abusive And poor creatures ye need not seek for security for there is none of them who are friends of the truth and in the truth that will hurt you Now do you shew your selves to walk in the Apostles practise or quite against it here you openly shew your selves to be men who would uphold iniquity and vice and would not have it reproved but persecute such who reprove the wicked whose righteous souls are vexed as 2 Pet. 2. 8. Prov. 10. 24. Jer. 17 5. just Lots was with your filthy Conversation who uphold iniquity and live in it T is written The wicked shall fear where there is not fear and did not the true Prophet say Cursed is he that makes flesh his arm and outs his strength in man Priests Petition That it is their great design to stir up the spirits of people against the Ministers of England in general without distinction setting forth and sending abroad daily almost Libels and slanders against the Office as needless Answ The Spirit of God if it be raised up Rom. 8. 10. we do witness it will testifie against you and all your practises and whereas we are moved to write abroad shewing forth the errors and deceits of you which as a scandal you call to be Libels but if ever you own the Prophets Christ and the Apostles ye will own them which are given forth by the same power and Spirit and all your Offices which are made by man and are of man we deny and slanders we deny they are your own and now you vent them forth Priests Petition Terming them as or under the names of Antichrists Antichrists Merchants Tythe Mongers Robbers Deceivers Ministers of the world Priests Murtherers Conjurers Devils and attempting to make Proclamations in the open markets to the said effect Ans Are you not Antichrists do not you act those things Christ forbids and upholds that which Christ doth forbid shewing your selves to be Antichrists do not you mount up into the highest places in Assemblies are called of men-Masters Mat. 23. 2 Pet. 2. 3. which Christ forbids and said to his be ye not called so And do not you buy and sell the Letter make merchandize of it when as the Minister of God said that the gift of God could not be Acts 8. 18. 23. 19 20. bought and sold for money and said he was in the gall of bitterness who thought to buy it and here you shew your selves to be in the gall of bitterness repent repent that the thoughts of your hearts may be changed and Job said that Job 28. 15 16. the wisdom of God cannot be bought and sold for money nor gold nor pearls nothing is to be compared unto it and do not you shew your selves to be merchants of the Letter for the gift of God cannot be bought and sold And do not you openly shew your selves to take Tythe of people and do not walk according to the Law Levi who received Tythes the strangers fatherless Deu. 26. 12 13 Deut. 14. 29. and widows were to come within his gate and be filled which ye do not so shewing the spirit of error and yet would be maintained in your deceit but God in his infinite love hath raised up Luke 1. 79. a light gathering his people from you discovering your deceit Are ye not Robbers do not you steal the words of the Prophets Christ and his Apostles and sell them for money and so are Theives and Robbers which Iesus Christ spoke of which goes not in at Jer. 23. 30. Iohn 10. 1. the door but climb another way and that Generation persecuted Christ and here you shew your selves to be persecuting them in whom he is risen Are ye not deceivers when as you draw people to those things God never commanded and tell people they are Ordinances of God As sprinkling of infants and saying the Steeple-house Col. 2. 22. 20. 21. is the Chruch and the house of God and tells people ye are the Ministers of God when he never sent you but studies a Devination of your own brain and not from the mouth of the Lord here you shew your selves to be Conjurers and hold up outward Temples Traditions and Customs Tythes Formal Singing Praying do you not here shew your selves to be Ministers of the world for what is acted outwardly is worldly your original is worldly your Hebrew Latine and Greek is worldly your Church is worldly but the Saints Church is in God as Paul Silvanus 1 Thess 1. 1. 1 John 3. 15. and Timotheus to the Church of the Thessalonians which was in God Do not you shew your selves to be murtherers in the generation of the Priests Cain like do you not shew it openly do not ye seek to persecute and put in prison some you have imprisoned some you have haled out of your Assemblies some ye have stoned and buffeted do not you shew your selves to be of the generation with the Priests whose Ministry was worldly and so ever the Ministry of the Letter persecuted the Ministers of the Spirit so it is now here the Scripture is fulfilled And are not you of the Devil they that abide not in the truth are of the Devil and do not 2 John 1. 9. you shew your selves to be Devils of the Devil Murtherers he was a murtherer from the beginning and which of you can say you come to the beginning but are seeking now to destroy the innocent a peaceable harmless people to bring them into prison and into bondage do not you shew your selves to be murtherers seeking to devour as the Iews who said God was their Father when they went about to kill Christ and were of their father the Devil doing the lusts of their father which generation you shew your John 8.

did for they asked to release Barabas and crucifie Jesus the innocent and gathered the Elders against him to seek to put him to death so do you now where he is made manifest who are of the same generation Priests Petition 2. The protection of our selves and our Ministers from violence or disturbance in our worship of God and suppression of offenders Answ Where did the Saints or Ministers of God seek to a Magistrate to protect their worship but Acts 24. 5. on the contrary they were persecuted of such which the Jews and Priests did incense them to which is the same you do now as the Jews who came against Paul and said he was a pestilent fellow a mover of sedition a stirrer up of heresie a Ring-leader of the Sect of the Nazarens turning the world up side down and teaches contrary to our Custom and this holy place he told them God dwelled not in Temples made with hands neither was he worshipped with mens hands Acts 17. 24 25 which outward custom you are upholding now in the same nature that they were in when the Jews brought Paul to Felix holding up their own customs by an outward Law as imprisoning him Paul had no Law to maintain him but the Law of God and the eternal Word to guide him and Mat. 23. 4. Gal. 1. 1. Isaiah 33. 22. the same we do witness against all the powers of men but the power of God let every soul be subject too Priests Petition 3. Execution of the Statute against Sabboth breakers and such as under pretence of Religion are in no Religious Assemblies that day Answ All that live in pretence of Religion and not in power is nothing all that owns pure Religion owns us and all that owns the Sabboth the eternal Rest the eternal day owns us but while people have met together to set up you who in the week day invented fashions and on that day put it on so the eye goes out looking at new fashions and in the week day follows oathes drunkenness prophaneness pleasures and such practises we deny but to live righteously soberly in this present world this we own and whom you finde wrangling walking in uncleanness cursed speaking fighting drunkenness upon such you should lay the Law for the Law was made for the Lawless but you pretended Ministers seek to bring upon us bounds who are redeemed from these ways through the love and power of God if you were the Ministers of God you would go about to bring people from under all Law up to God but you shew your selves to be of that generation which shut the Kingdom of heaven from Mat. 23. 13. men which Kingdom is a Kingdom of peace this we witness Priests Petition 4. Charge to all differing judgements to meet together each Lords day peaceably and not to spread themselves to several places for disturbance Answ If any be moved by the Lord to come into your Assemblies to speak the word of the Lord unto them for your souls eternal happiness would you have this limitted this is your intent to limit the Holy one of Israel As for disturbance we all deny and to draw people up to God that we do out of all carnal ways for God is a Spirit and will be worshipped in spirit and in truth and this worship we own and who are here denies all your Temples and Priests herein is one Priest Jesus Christ the Biship of our souls for they who received the Substance denyed the Priests and they met together the first day of the week and when any was moved to go forth they went and witnessed forth the Substance to them that lived in the Shadows this we do and now to deny you Priests being ye cannot witness your call the Temple which God never commanded they that are in the Temples of God do This dark Ministry hath long reigned over people and kept them in bondage underimitated forms but Luke 1. 79. now God is raising a light in his people to gather them up to himself to live in love and unity one with another Pr. Pet. 5. Suppression of persons living without any calling Answ Then this suppression must come upon your selves for you cannot witness that ever you were called of God or sent forth by Jesus Christ to preach the everlasting truth for if you were you would not raise up persecution against them that witness a call from the Lord who of you receive whipping stocking stoning prisoning buffeting and haling us out of your Assemblies who do pretend your selves to be Ministers of Christ wait to have that suppressed in your selves that persecutes then you will not seek to oppress the just for your own ends that ye might be maintained in your beastly worship and your Antichristian ways Priests Petition 6. And your witnessing against all blasphemers of the name of God especially such as are contained in the Acts of Parliament Answ If you would have them witness against all Blaspemers then they must witness against you who calls evil good and good evil and vents forth so many Blasphemies against them who live in the power of truth Priests Petition And if the application of any effectual remedy lie not within your power that you will dlease to joyn with us in this desire and transmit this cause to the knowledge of the Right Honorable the Councel of State as a cause so nearly concerning the peace of England and we shall ever pray c. Answ You would have a Law or an Act forth under a pretence to suppress the truth under the name of Blaspemy because it doth shake your Kingdom who live in your self ends for ranting ways and blaspemy we utterly deny and takers of Gods name in vain which you do in every word you speak because ye know him not he is merciful to the just and unjust but you shew your cruelty against the just and persecute them Here you shew forth your serpentine nature and would beget others in the same envy to joyn with you to be the stronger to tread down the truth as it is written The Beast shall make war against the Lamb but the Lamb get the victory praises praises for ever be to the Lord God Almighty you say the Lords Prayer Forgive us as we forgive them that trespass against us but you persecute them that seeks your souls health seeking you and not yours their prayers are an abomination to the Lord. And what is Right and Honorable will Prov. 28. 9. Iohn 5. 44. Prov. 20. 3. Rev. 14. 7. deny all you and your Petitions for they who owns God and Christ owns us who owns peace owns us and we them in our souls but all the pretenders of God and godliness who live in uncleanness and ungodliness denying the power that cuts down iniquity which we own and set up Therefore all people whose mindes are now bent to raise up persecution and Priests who stands railing in your Pulpits incensing ignorant people

concernment we shall ever pray Answ You are blinde without the truth and Prov. 28. 9. your prayers are an abomination unto the Lord and they who have the gracious guidance of the Tit. 2. 11 12. Lord will witness us for the free grace of God that brings salvation you have turned into wantonness it teacheth them to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts them we own where this grace doth guide we have unity with them but where this free grace hath appeared and is turned into wantonness them we deny and there is your conditions the grace of God hath appeared in many of the Justices which hath brought them from under your bondage which will not be your Executioners to execute your wrath and malice upon the harmless innocent people It hath been of late that they who lived under your Ministry the Lord alone was pleased to manifest himself in them so that they are brought to deny you and declare what was freely revealed in them presently you cryed out against them and had them before Magistrates to suppress the truth praised be the Lord who hath enlightened many by and with his own light and is setting up his own Kingdom to his own glory praises praisesbe unto the Lord God Rev. 11. 15. Almighty never did the Apostles go to any Magistrate to suppress people strangers who witnesse forth the power of truth in any where it appears that you have not the same Spirit that was in them It is the evil in you which would have the truth it self suppressed It is of great concernment for you to stand up to maintain your Kingdom for if truth rise ye shall lose your Kingdom eternally shall you witness us to be no Seducers be ye witnesses against your selves Mat. 23. 31. that ye are witnesses against the power of truth Another Petition put up by the Priests in Westmerland Priests Petition TO the Right Honorable the Justices of peace for this County of Westmerland Answ That which is Right Honorable is that which is pure which is of God which worships the Father of heaven and earth now all people fear John 5. 41 44. the Lord Jesus Christ and see if there be not corruption within that would be honored and worshipped as ye read in all the Scriptures they who honored the Lord Iesus Christ cryed against deceits and Iesus Christ testified against the works of the world and the Apostles testified against the same but that which was pure they John 7. 7. set up in their souls and so do we and honor in our souls Priests Petition The humble Petition of several Gentlemen Ministers of the Gospel and others friends and servants to Iesus Christ his Gospel truths and Ordinances and the general wealth of this Commonwealth and Nation Answ Never did the Gospel Ministers put up a Petition to a Magistrate to maintain the Gospel nor the servants of Iesus Christ wherein it appears Mat. 10. 10. 2 Cor. 10. 14. 2 Cor. 3. 6. 1 John 3. 12. John 4. 21 22 23 24. that you are Ministers of the Letter which is carnal and death and you must have a carnal weapon to hold you up for shame give over your Profession and you profess humbleness your humbleness is to persecute here you shew forth the nature of Cain and void of the knowledge of Iesus Christ and the Ordinances of Iesus Christ was never set up by man but man who lived in his own will was ever against them and you know not his Ordinances for they that knew his Ordinances were not persecutors but Paul before he was a Minister of Iesus Christ and knew his Ordinances he came with Letters from the Priests to persecute the Saints who believed in Iesus Christ and were of one soul and Acts 9. 2. Acts 22. 4. Acts 20. 7. Acts 4 32. met together yea in the night time all night where it shews you have but the form not the power which must be turned away from according to Scripture Priests Petition Sheweth that in the late wars we or the most of us did expose lives liberties estates and relations with all other personal advantages in the just defence of Religion and Liberty in concurrence with and maintenance of the just proceedings of our Parliament after the prosperous effects whereof we expected the settlement of the grand ends of our Engagement and so much the more as being the promise of the Parliament the vows of their affections the price of our prayers purses hazards losses banishments and the blood of many thousands our fellow servants in the work of God freely sacrificed in the quarrel of this Nation what hath been done in the settlement of our Civil Rights Peace and wholsom Law we bless God for and the Parliament as his Instruments nor can we but acknowledge what hath been done by them in the cause of God as their Acts against Adulteries Fornication Swearing Drunkenness Sabboth-breaking Ordinances against Promoters of Heretical Doctrines Acts against Ranters or Blasphemers may the Lord increase the number of these things Answ If ye will own the wholsom Law ye will own us but this is but a pretence for who owns the wholsom Law denies all corruption this is but a pretence whereby ye make a colour to make them that live in the truth to appear odious unto the world setting forth your selves unto the world Pharisee like and there to make the pure truth odious through your envious mindes but the day doth declare all things your end will 1 Cor. 3. 13. make it manifest though you pretend your selves to be Ministers of the Gospel yet your ends will 1 Cor. 3. 13. shew you to be bloody Cains and it doth now begin to appear the second birth is brought forth which doth not own your sacrifices this birth you 1 Cor. 15. 47 48 49. seek to slay Pr. Obj. Yet so it is that in this County severall persons proselytes of one Geo. Fox and James Nayler do in the time of our Assemblies ordinarily in a way of contempt and scorn come in anong us with their hats on at time of our prayer or singing used in our Gongregations some of them shew violent actions in time of Sermon or prayer or singing and cry out aloud with horrible clamors slanders abuses reproaches against our Ministers Answ That is false for our friends shew no violent actions but are against them but come peaceably in and if they be moved by the Lord to cry aloud who art thou that wilt withstand the Lord Do not you read in the Scripture that the Lord sent his Prophets and bad them cry aloud and spare not And as for clamors Isa 58. 1. we utterly deny it is your own and as for slanders abuses reproaches we utterly deny it is your own we are against all filthy minds that give forth reproaches but we speak the same language the Scripture doth from the same Word that gave it forth and your