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
and Settlement which is the Gift of God until it leave off persecuting God's Israel which are the People whom God calleth out of the world and leave them free for God to enjoy command and dispose of and whatever holds Israel in bondage either within or without must either subject to the Lord or be broken by that Arm of Power which the Lord putteth forth to redeem Israel with 3. By all their Persecutions and Afflictions they shall but increase and cause to grow that which they strive to suppress This is Misery indeed for a man to hazard his soul eternally and his Peace and Prosperity in this world to crush and suppress a People and yet not be able to effect that neither but even thereby occasion their growth and encrease and yet so it is in the day that God putteth forth his hand to redeem Israel The wayes that man takes to bring them back into captivity shall be the means of perfecting their Redemption Come said Pharoah this People multiply too fast they grow more and mightier than we let us deal wisely with them and keep them down by hard labour lest they grow over-numerous and joyn with our Enemies against us when they see their advantage But they grew and spread the more upon his wise plotting and contriving to diminish them And what did he get by striving to keep them from going forth of his Land and Idolatrous Worships to worship the Lord aright but Plagues and Judgements upon himself and his People from the Lord Can the Powers of the Earth withstand God any more now than they could formerly shall not He redeem and bring forth his People from the Land of Babylon His spiritual Israel from the spiritual Egypt Shall He not break the Antichristian Yoak from their Consciences that they may be free in spirit to serve the Lord Can any hinder God from breathing his Spirit upon People and from begetting them in the image and likeness of his Spirit unto Himself And shall not these be the Lord's shall not the same Spirit teach them to worship the Lord shall God call them to worship Him openly and shall they not obey him but worship Him according to man's Inventions and Commandments or not at all publickly Oh ye sons of men be wise do not contend with the Lord be not bewitched by the Cup of Fornications from the pure spiritual Worship of the living God into Man's Inventions which the Lord's Soul loaths nor do not strive to hold any back from the Lord whom the Lord draws after Him but consider his Power wait to know his Work in the world and do not intrench upon his Dominions but be thankful for and content with your own and do not provoke Him against you who can more easily take yours from you than ye can His from Him And consider this Watch-word in that which can open and shew the truth of it The Lord hath put forth his Arm to recover his Possessions from out of the hands of Antichrist and who shall be able to force it back again to make it return into His bosom without effecting what He stretched it forth for Therefore O Magistrates of this Nation do not make use of the Sword to suppress the Plants of God but to cut down that which manifestly is not of God Look abroad throughout this Nation behold how much evil there is to grieve and provoke the Lord and to divert good from the Nation and to bring wrath upon it and the Government thereof strike at that in righteous and true Judgment and with mercy to creatures souls and bodies but that which certainly is of God meddle not with and that which may be of God for ought ye know be circumspect in medling with lest ye engage God against you It were better to let many Tares grow than pluck up one Ear of Corn. Christ hath absolutely expressed it to be his Mind that he would not have that done which may so much as hazard the plucking up of an Ear of Corn Mat. 13. 29. But oh how are the Laws and Governments of this world to be lamented over and oh what need there is of their Reformation whose common work it is to pluck up the Ears of Corn and leave the Tares standing The chief cause of this misery from whence it principally ariseth is men's medling with those things which God hath reserved for Himself and assaying to do that carnally which God once did spiritually and will do spiritually again in his due time when He hath sufficiently shewn how untoward and improper mans hand is to effect it The Christians in the Apostles dayes were of one heart and one mind which proceeded from the Power and Work of God upon them and then they soon came into one Way and Worship but men will have Unity and Uniformity in a way of Religion and Worship before there is one heart and one mind Now this is contrary to the Spirit of God and to the very nature of Religion and the cause of much Cruelty upon mens Consciences and this hath been and will be the constant effect of it even the crushing as much as lies in man of that which is tender and of and for God and the encreasing of that which is formal dead and earthly Now if ever Christ appointed or intended such a Church-Government which naturally produceth this effect let all that fear God and are of sober spirits judge 10. The way and means to avoid Persecution Where is the man in whom there is any good who hath any love to Goodness and Righteousness who hateth Cruelty and Oppression over mens outward Liberties and Estates and much more over the Consciences of People that could not with his heart desire to have this grand Enemy removed both from particular persons and also from Governors and Governments that Peace and Settlement might be known Righteousness reaped all Cruelty and Hardness in one man towards another removed and there be no more complaining in our streets either because of Oppressions from men or fear of Wrath from God upon those Governments which oppress And who would not earnestly pray to God for the discovery of that way and those means and be very industrious in the use of them whereby this persecuting spirit and temper might be wasted and dryed up in him Now the way and means whereby the persecuting spirit may be subdued are divers as 1. By a true Awe and Fear of God in the heart The Fear of God teacheth to depart from Iniquity and to seek the crucifying and bringing under of the worldly spirit in a man's self and to wait daily to have God's Will revealed and likewise to be made obedient thereunto Now he that is in this temper of spirit will hardly be drawn to persecute another but rather rejoyce to see a tenderness of spirit in him and true subjection of heart to what he believes to be the Mind and Will of God and dares not so much as
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
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
created by God is mild and flexible and easie to be led by the least child in the line of goodness And I can truly say this that I never in my whole course and conversation who have long been a Spectator and un-interested person both as relating to the civil state and the various professions of Religion till the power of Truth and presence of God appearing in this People drew my heart after them yea I cannot but say in the singleness of my heart I never met with a more mild gentle flexible-spirited People And he that can reach the ground of the thing cannot but see it to be thus For he that is daily exercised in denying his will and wisdom he on whose back the Lord lays the cross and crucifies him every day his self-will and self-wisdom with all the conceitedness and stiffness which ariseth therefrom must needs be much broken in him 2. In the tenderness and pliableness to good which God begets there is and cannot but be an unbendedness to evil Consider this O ye that are wise In the birth which God begets in the heart in the immortal Seed of life which God hath sown and causeth to spring up in his heritage there is a bowing to God at every appearance of good accompanied with a tenderness gentleness and good will to man But it cannot bow to that which is evil in any man upon the face of the earth Read then this Riddle with a true understanding The tender one cannot yeild the flexible one cannot bow but naturally standeth upright and strait towards God even in every thing it hath learned of him and which he requireth of it Thus in the Apostles days the Christians though meek though sweet though pliable to the Spirit of God and to all good yet could not bow to so much as an appearance of evil any where but shun and avoid it every where And if it were not for this kind of stiffness and unbendedness the Children of God could never be preserved in their departure out of the Worlds Spirit Wayes Worships and Practices but would soon be ensnared and drawn back again by the enticements and subtilties of the worldly nature either in themselves or others 3. A stiffness then I grant an unbendedness I grant but not of the earthly not of the self-wil nor according to the earthly but such as ariseth from Truth in the heart and from tenderness of Spirit towards God such as is begot in His fear preserved by his power and is necessary towards their preservation who are born of Him and called by Him out of the World And if those who are apt and liable to mis-judge of them did but see the sincere desire of their hearts not to offend man but to be subject to the utmost according to the will of God and knew what breathings there are in their hearts to God in relation to the Magistrate and when they appear before Him that they may be preserved in the pure fear and in righteousness and inoffensiveness and how they cannot but refuse to break any of God's commands because He is their Supream Lord and they dare not disobey Him to please man or avoid their own sufferings from man I say if men did see this surely they would not call it stubbornness and self-willedness but a pure subjection and denial of the self-will in God's fear joyned with an holy and humble boldness in His power 4. Let it be equally considered and it will soon be acknowledged That the least thing which God requires the Command being from so great a King upon whom the soul hath so great dependance from whom it hath so great hopes and to whom universal obedience is so due in it self and so profitable to the creature is exceeding weighty and it is impossible for the fear of Him and due tenderness towards His Commands to be preserved without a strict and close giving up the Will to Him and standing in His strength strong and unbended against all temptations provocations allurements and affrightments to the contrary and how easily may men call this stubborness and stiffness But this they receive from God as well as the law of obedience and power to obey and this which men call stubborness flows in upon them from him when they are in the sweetest and meekest frame of spirit most ready to deny themselves and to yield up their own wills to whatsoever is good and righteous and so of God 5. The same thing which is offended at this unbendedness and resolvedness which is wrought and preserved in them by the fear of God calling it by way of reproach stiffness and stubborness I say the very same thing will commend that resolution and stiffness which is taken up in man's wisdom and held in man's will Is it not good to weigh and consider things reasonably and then to chuse and hold fast to those Principles which appear most reasonable what man but will say it is And is it not good to obey and keep to that Light which is higher than Reason which comprehends Reason rectifying and preserving it making it profitable and serviceable to God which made it to the Vessel in which it is and to the rest of the Creation But Wisdom is justified of her Children He that knows not the Principle of the Eternal Light who is not born of it much less by unfeigned obedience and subjection formed into it he cannot justifie it in his Paths but he justifies the earthly wisdom and reason of man by it setting up appearances of Good instead of Good and would make all acknowledge and bow to them as Good whereas that which is indeed acquainted with the Good living in the Principle thereof cannot bow to the false Appearance but only to the Truth it self When man's spirit and wisdom is wearied out of all its paths and he broken with the misery which will certainly overtake him therein at last the Path of God will be welcome to him and that Principle which through the operation of God is able to rectifie him and make him happy There hath long been a Peace and Prosperity throughout the world in Unrighteousness but the season is at length come for the breaking thereof and now there is not to be such a setled false Peace in Unrighteousness any longer but Tribulation Anguish and Destruction is coming upon the selfish and unjust spirit and he that refuseth the Path of Righteousness must not know Peace but be overtaken with the over-flowing scourge and swept into and shut up in the pit which hath long been digging for the wicked Psal 94. 13. and mark this thing following ye that would not find your selves deceived of your souls hereafter nor of your outward Peace and Prosperity here for it deeply concerns both The Spirit of the Lord once raised up a spiritual building which the spirit of the Dragon overturned as to its outward state though the gates of Hell could not prevail against the
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