different Ministrations which Operate as thrifts And yet it is but the same Lord on whom we only call And the same God that Operates and Worketh all in all To own the Word of Wisdom's given the Word of Knowledg to By the same Spirit another hath both Faith and Power to do And heal infirmities of Soules by working Miracl's many And Prophesie and Descerning of Spirits where ther 's any All this the one and self-same Spirit which doth his members fill Dividing unto every man severally as t' will If this Church Figure be too bright for worldlings for to see The use we make of our Meetings in one Body to be Take your own body-figure-Body-figure-world the Countrys Members are And each Comodity there grows which are brought from on far These outward things the spirit are of the world that 's compleat And every place where each doth go are members of the great And now God he hath plac't things so in the whole ther 's no want Neither can any Country say I 've all her 's nothing scant And so each Country his Offring to each other sends Then these these gifts when they receive with others making mends This order the worlds members have their wants for to supply By sending their abounding fruits for things they on rely And where most trading there is us'd Oh there they rich do grew In gold silver and pretious stones this Babylon doth know By Schism War if Trading fail Oh! then they do grow poor By wanting of Commerce and Trade when they have spent thir store This being true why shall not we as Members each of other Bring forth our Offrings to the Lord these may comfort another Object Me thinks I hear some Critick say O this is cunning made For to compare Conventicles to our great World and Trade You count your selves so heavenly me thinks that you should not So paraphrase on this fowl World lest you receive a blot Answer My Answer is 't is for thy sake thy hearing being but dull That I speak after the manner of men to thee in full Moreover this Worlds Children are more wiser much by far In their own generation then Lights own Children are So to this generation who mock and scorn and fain And for thy sake I have digrest but now let me return Unto Gods order in his Church that all may hear and learn This favour and incoragment it is held forth to all That what of God revealed is to any other shall Have liberty to speak it forth the Prophet which must hold Their spirits being subject to the Prophet which is bold So it the bruised reed breaks not nor smoking flax doth quench Till Judgment unto Victory comes and Truth sits on the Bench. For that the knowledg of the Truth doth bring us all together And from this Truth we cannot swerve nor from each other sever For the profession of our Faith together must hold fast For this our hope our stay our strength that must help us at last For whether shall we go but there where words of Life do spring And from the roots doth hony drop that makes poor Souls to sing Oh these Assemblies we may not at all as some forsake Least fiery indignation upon us God doth take For that it is a wilful sin not to profess Gods Name When before men we be brought forth to suffer for the same For where that two or three be come together in his Name If the mid'st of them he will be who can keep from the same For that in him the Treasures be of Wisdome Knowledg to Which he gives to his Children dear whose hearts to him are true In him 's the Oracle of God who doth his People teach In their hearts how to worship him so they it forth do preach And not Meeting it was the cause of Hearing some were dull Which made things hard for to be said or uttered to the full For there were some that for their time ought Teachers for to be And yet have need one teach again first Principles to see And were become such as had need of Milk and not strong Meat For every one that useth Milk unskilful is to Eat Or feed upon the Righteous Word for that a Babe is he To him strong Meat doth not belong with him t' will not agree But those that are of riper age to them it doth belong E'en those that by reason of use have their sences made strong Being exercised do deserne between both good and evil So in Gods Truth we are kept from the lying murdering Devil Job that was just and perfect both such Meetings did come to With other of the sons of God as Gods sons now do do And though Sathan did also come 't was for advantage sake To be Informer and accuse that he their goods might take And though that he Commission got to take all in his power By Sabins and Caldeans to as he doth at this hour Perswading God they him would Curse if he 'll but let him tuch Their goods or ought else that they have no Meetings would be such And yet again there was a day when the Sons of God Came For to present themselves before the Lord they are the same Who still hold fast Integrity although that he doth move ' Gainst him and us both to destroy yet we 'll not Curse our Love Yea Skin for Skin and all we have yea Bone and Flesh also We hope we shall to him give up rather then Curse him mo For how can we commit this sin not to walk in Gods way When we such large experience have of him our strength and stay But I shall rather here break forth it being now the Spring By Chirping praise our Gad of Love Who can but to him sing And in my song I shall you shew What these our Meetings be I figured have in many things yet all in Truth agree We are the Tabernacle of the Con-gre-ga-ti-on The which the Lord in Earth reserves to call his Name upon In us the Ark and Covenant is and Mercy-seat we see With Pot of Heavenly Manna to to us the Cher'bims flee With us also there is the Rod that buddeth and is green Of the High Priest from Judah came as plainly may be seen Here is the Golden Censer to in which is heavenly fire And here 's the Table of Shew-bread What can you more desire And here 's the Cap of Blessing to in our Communion This Blood our Souls must also purge for other help we 've none And if that you Baptiz'd would be oh here are Baptim's many Here 's Water Fire Suffrings Death here you cant miss of any With us there is the Laver of Re-ge-ne-ra-ti-on For Juda and Jerusalem it cleanseth Mount Sion And Fire-Baptism's also here the Holy Ghost Gods Word A Suffering-Baptism doth appear proceeding from the Sword A more secret Baptism there is cannot be spoke with breath And this is that Baptism of Christ Baptiz'd into his
the Devil The which besides Old Adam did set on to tempt the Lord And in 's temptations offered what the World could afford The Kingdom power and glory to him he would allow And said t was his to give to those that unto him would bow Though he himself a wandrer were up and down in the Earth Our adversary doth appear to devour Spiritual birth This Spirit you shall see in them that do worlds glory seek And such as flatter fawn and bow to them they 'll appear meek But any one that fears the Lord and cant to proud flesh bow No favour love or curtesie to such he doth allow Though his necessities be great as Christs were also when He fasted forty nights and dayes a hungry he was then And this the Devil he did know to him it did appear Because Christ would not bow to him he therefore did him jear To satisfie his own hunger Bids him with stones make bread His own necessities to help if he meant to be fed And further mischiefs he contriv'd and dangers what he could When put upon the Pinacle himself cast from he should For if thou be Gods Son he said the Angels they have Charge And in their hands they should bear up and keep thy feet at large Lest thou at any time shouldst dash thy foot against a stone These were the snares affronts and jears our Lord he put upon But in Gods Power he did them bear of him we are to learn And to suffer all for his sake tho brought we are to burn Object But some may say That thou dost treat ' gainst Gods Commandement Which bids us honour our Parents this is the true Intent Answ For Answer hereunto I say This honour do we give There wants and their necessities we always do relieve This is the true Honour the which Christ he himself did say Though Jews Traditions made it void and Gods Law disobey For what profit our Parents do receive from us at all Is but returning of their own Corban we don't it call If in the Lord our Parents be we honour them also And if the Lord do honour them How can we then say no This is as 't is in Marriages are only in the Lord Where only is the Vnity and the alone Accord For here 's no caring for the World the Husband for to please The Husband being in the Lord they both are serv'd with ease When Wife and Husband both do seek the Lord for to obey What can the Wife or Husband do that either will gain-say For please the Lord the Wife is pleas'd if in the Lord she be And please the Lord the Husband 's pleas'd if in the Lord be he And if at all a jar arise they shall each other heal Till the thing plain be signifi'd and God doth it reveal Yea this will be to Parents to when in the Lord they be We honour do and please them both when that they do agree This is the double honour too the Elder is to have That in the World and Doctrine both do labour souls to save And this is not before People that we do them admire They being in the Lord do not at all such things desire The Grand SCRUPLE and OBJECTION ANSWERED Object BUT some may say You fickle are and know not where to fix And you in many Forms have been in seven or at least six When you from us at first did go Puritans you would be But when the Scotish-Broiles began you cryd Presbyterâ—e And so in War you would fight for 't in it some Blood you spent Yet here you could not fix at all but turn Independent And so you several Churches were with Power severally And then you broke up Churches to and did them all deny Because you said They were not built on the Foundation And all the Ordinances lost for Pope was Corner-stone Oh then did you bethink your selves what then was best to do To Bail these Churches and to get more Ordinances New For that this Anti-christian Pope the former he had spoild And now they must have all anew the others being defild And then a great Contention rose who should this same begin And who should John the Baptist be sith none were free from sin And all had need to be washed because that there was none The which had Gods Word come to him as it did come to John Neither that Power nor Spirit which could bring such things to pass By turning hearts to God as did the Prophet E-li-as At last this work it was begun there 's very few know how And many this Tradition took to it did many flow And so in many Bodies grew yet here were not content Which shews that you are wavering being Incontinent For here you did not tarry long but anon presently So great was your Ambition grown must be a Monarchy And that not only a small one you count your selves to thrive The World contains but four great ones and you must make them five So when that this great power came forth your building that was â—…igh You said your selves 't was but rotten and Foundation sandy For that as soon as any storm on this your house did blow Your Monarchy came tumbling down into the dust full-â—…ow And then when in the dust you were not knowing what to do When all your heavenly Building fell you went a seeking to And by that name you did confess still that there is a want Your Souls not being satisfied for that they still do pant So what shall we that do stand by of ye now for to make Who Valliant Famous Builders were but now are made to Quake And now for it are Quakers called your Laborinth is such So many means and ways you 've tryed we dare not with you tuch Answ For Answer hereunto I say these things do not dispise For when the Lord did Samuel call he presently did rise And ran forthwith to Old Ely and said lo here am I For that thou now didest call me and I came by and by Then Ely bid him go to rest and ly him down again But the Lord called Samuel before he long had layn Then Samuel rose the second time and to Ely did say Here I am for thou did'st call me he Answered nay nay But the Lord still calls Samuel again the third time to Who forth with went to Ely then to know what he should do And that with this great confidence and said he did him call That t' was the Lord Ely perceived that called these times all Samuel did not yet know the Lord nor ought by him was sed Gods Word to him was not showen nor yet was re-ve-led But Samuel Samuel cal'd is still and a fourth time also Before he knows it is the Lord then here 's thy Servant lo. Then do not you condemn us when 't was God who still did call Though we run to the Outward Priest and Ordinances all And second third and forth way God calling of
THE POOR Widows Mite Cast into the LORD'S TREASURY Wherein are contained Some Reasons in the Justification of the Meetings of the People of God called QUAKERS with an Approbation of several Truths held by them and the ground of Dark Persecution Discussed Written by a Woman of the South who came from the ends of the Earth to hear the Wisdom of him that is greater than Solomon and doth a far off behold the happy Estate of his Friends and Servants who stand continually before him to hear and receive Wisdom from him who is the true Emanuel Now lest it should be counted a Libel or any should think we dare not own it in the World I have subscribed my Name A MITE if ALL is more than ALL Than they Abundance have That have not FAITH to give up ALL Their ALL will not them Save Printed for the use and benefit of such Bees as suck their Hony from the Flowers and Blossoms that God makes to spring that they may have to keep themselves alive in the dark stormy Winter 1671 THE Widows Suite TO Her FRIEND T. S. whom she desires to be IMPRIMATOR to her Small Mite My Friend THese Lines to thee are sent that thou mayst them review Because I know thou dost Believe and Seest in things are True So that if ought be Unsav'ry and thou dost know the Fault Thou having in thy House Seas'ning put thereto the Earths Salt Moreover I not willing am that Truth at all be Blam'd Nor would I do or give out ought that any should be sham'd Therefore unto the Sanctu'ry I do my Weights forth bring The Ballance thereof them to try this is the only thing To have all right and made good weight Infirmities to heal And what Weights equal are and just on them to strike the Seal Which when they have Truths Seal on them Oh! then none will question Let the Noble Bereans search they 'l find the Weights all one The Poor WIDOWS MITE Cast into the LORDS TREASURY Where in are contained in short some reasons in the Justification of the Meetings of the People of God called QUAKERS c. NO Prologue Preface Frontispice nor no Epistle have To Usher in this little Mite that long hath lain in Grave But now a Resurrection hath and from the Grave is come And in the Holy City walks though before deaf and dumbe Nor did it see at all for that in 's very Birth 't was blind Nor taste the goodness of his God nor could him feel or find Now Praises praises unto him that quickned hath dry Bones By breathing makes the sences live to Abraham's Seed of Stones This is the mighty Power of God on us that blind were born His giving forth his Light his Christ his Everlasting â—…orn His Gospel Grace and Righteousness his Joy his Peace his Strength His mighty Arm Salvation brings unto us now at length With Wisdom Truth and Holiness which is to Sanctifie And cleanse this little New-born Babe which long in sin did lye This is the true Emanuel that doth his People save From all the sins that they have done that kept their Souls in Gravâ—… This is the Spirit that quickens us this is the time of Love When in our Blood we wallowing were Oh then What did 〈…〉 Our Father could not seeing he by birth an Am'rite was Nor Mother either cause that she came of the Hittits These fleshly earthly Canaanites could not help in that day Of the Souls great calamity God only is its stay For Pitty pitty no Eye had on it for to help when It was cast out and loath'd of all Love to it God had then He then did purge and purifie that Birth that is his own The which is born of the Spirit by a new Name is known And He it is deliverance brings from Satans Power and Might And hath translated us into his Sons marvelous Light Whereby we wonder and admire his Mercies manifold And from his Truth cannot retire his Truth doth make us bold And valiant for it upon Earth for which we All have lost For in our Building we sate down and did cast up the Cost And by the same our Souls have gain'd let th' world go as it will Let Life or Death or Sufferings come so God be with us still This is the Test we have for God in this we all agree That of our selves no help we have All is of Grace and Free For Obligations we have none wherewith the Lord to tye But the Free Promises he makes on them we do relye So those that true experience have pray tell it to each other What for their Souls the Lord hath done be it Sister or Brother This is the Cause that we do Meet together it 's Gods due That we may serve and witness Him by his Word which is true For in the mouth of two or three when they witness Allone Gods Word it is established and Truth prevails upon The Hearts and Souls of them that hear both IN and OVT also Whereby they the same Spirit know that is in many MO. This was the Order Paul did give the Co-rin-thi-ans to That to one place the Church should come and this also should do The Prophet or to Prophesie to Judge the others were By the same Spirit which they spoke that to them Truths did clear And if amongst them there did come one that believed not Convicted then he is of all and Judgement is his Lot And thus the secrets of his heart all manifested be So falling down upon his Face then worship God will he And of a truth report that God it is that lives in you This way th'unlearned come to know the Way of God that 's true Here one by one may Prophesie that all may hear and learn And also may be comforted that to Gods Spirit turn We Members of each others are being Christs Body dear Which he hath purchas'd with his Blood and plac'd in us his Fear For we be they the which are built on the Foundation Of Prophets and Apostles to Jesus Christ's Corner-stone In whom also the Building is fitly fram'd together Grown unto an holy Temple from which God will not sever For being Built together are through the Almighty Spirit An Habitation of God the which he will Inherit And so the Head it cannot say to 'th Foot I need not thee Nor eke the Eye unto the Ear O be thou gone from me For that the Body is but One yet Members hath it Many Apeare there would Deformity if lack there were of Any This Body God hath temper'd so the Members each with other That all should have the self same care Vncomly parts to cover Not to Rejoyce at Nakedness as did that cursed Cham But as Japhet and blessed Shem going backwards cover'd shame So what is wanting in each one a supply others have To Minister unto each wants by it their Soules to save And this all is by the same Spirit diversities of Guifts With
again together brought and kindled fresh anew Oh then each coal rejoyceth much when fire is put thereto Which is the end for which they are created of the Lord That Light Life Heat and Comfort to each other may afford And if our Candles being Light we can by no means hide But must come to our Candlestick what ever doth betide Because that we know it is night in which many do grope Therefore we do bring forth our Light to give to them some hope Which is the Gospel-power of God that Satan can't abide But seeks our Candle to put out that he Gods power may hide For he the Prince of darkness is and would have all be so And if 't be asked Where Light may shine He present cryes No no. Then seen his wicked works would be that to them are the Gate Of their Destruction therefore he of all things it doth hate When first in flesh Christ did appear though in a Child young born He musters then up all his power for to destroy the Form And led them then to Bethlehem with this his false intent By which dark Power he did devour many poor Innocent Herod he then troubled full sore with all Jerusalem Perswading him the Child was born should Rule both him and them But this was then another thing than Worldly Rule to have For if that he would be a King the People he must save But his Kingdom it is not here nor do his Servants fight But in mens hearts it doth appear and guides them to the Right From whence all wrath strife and envy are shut out with all Wars And all in Peace and Love do Live without hatred or Jars So that the ground and cause of Fear we may from men remove No other Principle we have but unto all men Love And therefore are our Meetings now not kept in any spight Of King or Law or Parliament but purely in Gods sight For shall not Sions Daughter shine now that her Light is come Or can her Glory once be hid that 's radiant as the Sun For that she hath her Pride cast off in this the Lords own Day Her haughty Looks and stretch'd out Neck with wanton Eyes do stay Her walking mincing twinkling Feet her Bravery full soon Her Chains her Braslets and Mufflers Round tyers like the Moon Her Bonnets and Leg-ornaments her Head-band and Ear-rings Changable Suits of Apparel her Wimples Crisping-pins Also her Glasses Hoods and Veils these Burthens God endures And all her Heavenly outward shews which seen pleasant Pictures These her own righteous filthy Raggs her Covering and Garment And th' Meek and quiet Spirit hath took for her Ornament Though Captive she was to those things she hath shook off the dust And put on beautiful Garments the which she wore at first This is the Bride that bids you Come the Spirit saith the same And whosoever thirsts and will may come unto this Name The which we are gathered unto in all the Peoples sight Being Christs Bride and Body too and for the World a Light So under Bed nor Bushel nere must we at all be hid But on the Table must be set a Light for the Blinded For this worlds god mens minds doth blind with riches cares fears He would not have this Gospel shine that these foggs all would clear But would have all in darkness dwell this is his Ellement For with this Light he angry is and with us discontent Something about SPEAKING Who is to Speak or What to be spoken Object BUT some may say You many times sit silent we do see And there is no speaking at all with us this don't agree Answ My Answer is If any have Gods Oracle we 'll hear For that is it expells all Mists and makes the Air clear For this doth first the Vessel cleanse from whence it doth proceed That first believes and therefore speaks to this we 're all agreed Faiths work is first to cleanse the heart from all hypocrisies Than may it help for to pluck out Motes from their Brothers eyes For how the unconverted shall at all strengthen his Brother For then they do condemn themselves by teaching of another How shall the Thief at all exhort another not to steal Or the diseas'd Physician tell others he will them heal Or how can any teach the Law who yet the Law do break Such Teachers make Gods Name blasphemd when they presume to speak Or how blind Guides can lead the way in which others should go Or any free out of the Pit themselves do stumble so So what authority have these at all others to Teach When still the Law doth them condemn how can they Gospel Preach Moreover they say None from sin are free here thus they tell So prove themselves false-witnesses of True Emanuel And this also doth testifie their labour 's all in vain So they do give themselves the lye yet they must preach for gain Because they have their time all spent and thus been exercis'd Yea this good Doctrine counted was till Quakers them surpris'd But if there be a David here whose Table 's richly spread Whose Cup doth overflow he may speak with a holy dread The things he hath so learn'd of God and preach his holy Word But no Dreamers we can allow for them 's prepard the Sword Their Father and their Mother both the which did them beget While they prophesie shall run through this Sword against them 's set Oh this is the commanding Power doth flesh in silence keep Their glorious Dreams we 'll nor admire which are products of sleep For now that blessed hour is come The dead Gods Voice do hear And many that did sleep awak For Christ he doth appear Yea from the dead they risen are and Christ hath gi'n them Light And sin reprov'd in which we walkt in darkness of the Night And unto Judgement we are come which Sion doth redeem With Righteousness his Converts he doth bring unto esteem For that all Judgement to the Son the Father doth commit And now to Judgement he is come and in mens hearts doth sit And all his Enemies that will not have the Lord to raign Before his face they are brought forth with order to be slain The strong man he doth also bind that did his own House keep And spoil of all his Goods hath made now the Soul's wake from sleep For now our God he doth arise his enemies to scatter Which are these dreaming Prophets that do thus fawn lye and flatter And being in his own House doth his Oracles speak now So this same sence of Spirit in all cannot but it allow For he that to the Lord is joynd is with him one in Spirit And to this Truth he sets his Seal This gift is no mans Merit So by the mouth of such a man the Lord this use doth make His holy Word still to declare as he by Prophets spake For such a man he can declare the things that he hath seen And
ears have heard for with his hands Gods Word hath handled been Yea this is he can truly tell you things of admiration What for his Soul the Lord hath done in his Regeneration So he is gatherd up into the Cloud of Witnesses Which here alone did serve the Lord yea him did fear and please And these are they that do not preach at any time for Hire But having Gods Word in their heart cannot contain T is fire And if the Holy Ghost could not for money then he bought And Simon Magus was condemn'd for having such a thought What is the Ghost that is in men that money out do reach And what is that which it receives with condition to preach It seemeth then that they have not of God this self-same Gift Sith that they can contain themselves till we for money shift For them their lips can knowledge keep ther 's none that they wil cherish For if People no money have they all are like to perish For freely they receiv'd have not the Gospel they do preach And therefore freely can't it give so for rewards do Teach That these men truly you may know they tell you what was said By Prophets Christ and Apostels these are their only aid And thus like to the wandring Jews in their Names would cast out The unclean spirit that 's in men but it gives them the rout And so upon them it doth fall that they do quarter crave And do return and tell men that him out there 's none can have For that they know they Power have both in and or'e them to Though they use Paul and Jesus words for money this they do For Satans Kingdom 's not so weak he should himself out cast But this same preaching Pollicy makes it the longer last And so he sets them for to steal the Saints and Prophets Words And bids them hear the Word of God thus much he them affords But yet with this Proviso to That none the same can keep Or any now hath the same Spirit but that it still doth sleep And therefore must not now look for any such Miracle For the power and work is lost this is Satans Oracle For he hath now changed his Form to keep from Peoples sight Though he the Prince of darkness be yet seems Angel of Light These Priests and Curats that do take upon them Souls to cure Physitians are of no value that God's fire can't endure But here you see they have but what they from their Neighbours steal They having not set Seal to God he nought to them reveals And though they say Hear you Gods Word spoken to Jeremy Or unto some other Prophet yet in their mouth 's a lye And so tho they do say or swear that the Lord he doth 〈◊〉 Yea then they do false witness bear this Test they cannot give Whereas those that do dwell in God and He dwelleth in them The Prophets and Apostles know yea Davids 〈◊〉 and Stone Bâ—ing in the Path they walkt do see their foot-steps every one And know their Light and Lanthorn to which unto them hath shown And therefore can in truth repeat what they to all do tell That God also their Souls hath brought from the dark pit of Hell This Spirit it may Preach and Teach Gods wonders manifold The which can speak Gods Word in truth being right a Lyin bolâ— Here you may see we do not quench Gods Spirit he affords That in the least measure doth speak rejoyce we at those words Something about SILENCE Object BUT some do say We marvel much that you can sit Silent We do conceive it no profit nor are with it content For if that we should sit a while silent from hearing breath Our mind a wandring then would be up and down in the Earth And so contriving in our hearts what 's to be done we plot Till there be someting we know not that on our heart doth smote And if this earthly spirit act â—…n for which we feel this smart Some former evil we have done lyes gnawing of our heart So to this outward Ear we must have Objects that do sound That the inward Intelect may thereby be wholly drown'd For that which doth us thus reprove and on our hearts doth smite Doth silence make our burthen ' cause it brings that to our sight For this is that to us doth shew the evils we have done In silence we are made to know therefore we silence shun And so among the trees do run our selves there for to hide For this same small still Voice at all by no means we abide Answer All this we must confess also for we the same have felt Gods Loving-kindness we do know thus he with us have dealt For t is the Lord the which doth wound and he doth also heal 'T is he doth kill and make alive thus with us he doth deal All the Satanick thoughts which thus wandred within our hearts His Light and Power did reprove he cast at them his Darts For this is the true Prophet which Ahab cannot abide That Prophesies not well of him that from the Lord doth slide And this is the Prophet also that the Samarians knew Which told them all they ever did they said 'T was Christ the true Though he at that time was in Fesh when he their thoughts did show But now in Spirit again is come by these things we him know The Word which in beginning was made Fesh Christ yesterday The same is now and e're shall be true Soules Eternal stay And this is that must humble all it is Gods mighty hand Before that ye exalted be his Power must make you stand And therefore now to Silence come Chastisement do'nt refuse For 't is Gods Love unto you all his Sons hereby doth chuse And therefore now with David pray the Lord your hearts to search To find out all Iniquity and in his fire it parch Yea with thy Candle do thou Lord search thy Jerusalem Tha it thy Holy City may be when thou turn'st out them That have kept and defil'd thy House the Temple that is thine Which unto thee should holy be Destroy them all in time That are not Children of thy House but came in by the Fall This Heathen Babylonish brood dash them against the Wall This Enemy which in thy Field when men slept there did Sow His Legions of Tares O Lord let them thy fire know This Man of sin in thy Temple presumptuously doth sit Exalting of himself above all that is calld God yet And shewing of himself to be the God of all the Earth Giving forth Laws of sin and death to all that here have breath And by those Laws in Members war and doth us captive lead Therefore for us O mighty God our Cause now do thou plead For in Hea'n we have none but Thee nor in Earth do we seek For any other helper but Thou Lamb of God the Meek For this same mighty Man of sin sends Ministers to praech None can
be freed from sin or death this Doctrine they do preach Whereby we all our Life-time have been kept in misery They also boldly do affirm that Paul he then did lye When unto God he did give thanks which was his strength and stay For that he had deliverance through Jesus Christ the Way And though Paul in his Agony did ask the question so From this Body of sin and death Who shall deliver Who This question it was only writ ' cause he would answer make Who was the alone Deliverance and for whose onely sake For none such tender pitty had to the poor wretched man To bind his wounds and 's wants supply but th' good Samaritan Who poured oyl into his wounds set him on his own Beast And brought him unto Christs own Inne the place of all Souls Rest With Wounds bound up and Charges paid this Love the Lord doth send With Stock laid in for future time what the poor Soul should spend Now shall not Paul when he is cleans'd and other Leapers to Return and give to God the thanks to whom alone t is due With David also come and tell what for his soul is done And that no Condemnation is in Jesus Christ Gods Son For they now walk not after flesh another Law they have The which of Spirit is and Life that doth their poor Souls save And this doth also set them free from Flesh Law Sin and Death And makes dry Bones together come for God sends for his Breath Which is the Gospel-Power of God which those Ministers hide Whose minds the God of this World blinds lest he should be espide Thus they go forth and People tell from sin they can't be freed Whilst on this side the Grave we are So their Lord's Lord indeed So making void the mighty Power of the Emanuel Who came to save People from sin Lyes of him they do tell As if his Hand were shortned and weakned were his Power Or that the World the Divels were for to rule every hour Whereas all Power in Heaven and Earth unto the Son is given And he must surely Raign on Earth though's Enemies have striven Him to oppose yet if not here Oh where shall Gods Son Raign For all his Enemies Death and Hell shall every one be slain For he must Rule till these be brought under his feet then shall The Son his Kingdom re-assigne and God be all in all So stop your mouths you Messengers that are Satanical For the Lords Christ is come to Raign his Rule must be your Fall And all your mighty Captains to which are of his Empire For Dragon Beast False Prophet to shall be cast in the fire For the Lords Christ came to destroy all the works of the Devil That Righteousness E'relasting may be brought from all that 's evil And if he were not to destroy his works in this world wrought What other World doth he work in that any out have sought When he his Messengers and Works are all cast in the fire What Works can he or they then do that any can desire 'T is also in this wicked World Gods Grace Salvation brings Teaching us worldly Lusts to shun and each ungoly thing And in this present world to live godly and soberly And to relieve in Righteousness the fatherless thereby The Widow likewise to visit this is Religion pure From the Worlds spots thus to keep clear the Devil can't endure And if all this you can't believe take your own evidence Of your own Doctrine the result and Catachistick sence Whereby this Truth it is confirm'd ' gainst all to be the same Where Children they are taught to say what 's promis'd in their name That the Devil and AL his works they must and will forsake And AL the Pomps and Vanities of this world leave to take And AL the sinful Lusts also of the Flesh which do rise ALL these they must be now forsook that did their hearts surprize And these not only to be left but they Gods Word must keep And his holy Commandements all their Life not in sleep This Christian Article of Faith they must fully believe Though they themselves their works destroy yet this to learn they give Oh is no here Babel built now anon pull'd down again This is the Dialect they speal of Sounds this is the strain Object But some may say For all this yet Paul in his flesh did feel A Prick Buffeting of Satan and this God did not heal Answ All this is true in his Warfare Pricks in the flesh he may And Buffetings of Satan to who sought him to destroy For when that â—e a Souldier was of Satan on his side He then with might did Persecute Christians could not abide And like his Master went about roaring for to devour And Letters had from the High Priest to take all in his Power And said himself He was e'en mad ' gainst all on God did call He went from house to house and did them unto Prison hall Now all this time there was no cause Satan should buffet Saul Till that he had his Champion lost and was convert to Paul And now who otherwise can think but Paul bufft'ed must be by his old Master that he serv'd now they do not agree Moreover must not Paul now have the measure he hid give And now the Wheel's upon him turn'd till the Lord him relieve So this no evil was in Paul nor ought that was unjust Though to the Lord he three times sought ' cause he did on him trust This seeking to the Lord did shew who had the power and might And that himself was but weakness 't was God must for him fight The Answer was he should not Fear sufficient was his Grace Him to defend and Courage give his Enemies to face He now must be a Souldier for his new Master t is right Therefore with Pricks and Buffets to his old Master doth fight Against him in temptation in raising of his mind To glory in the things he saw to which before he 's blind But by the Shield of Faith he did defend himself from evil And quenched hath the fiery darts cast at him from the Devil And Gods Light Armour on he put with the Sword of the Spirit The Helmet of Salvation to all 's Free here is no Merit So with this Armour and Weapon Paul did fight a good fight Against the Devil kept the Faith by Gods Pow-er and Might And by this Faith he did resist the Devil and made him fly And in this Faith the Victory got also a Crown thereby The which the Righteous God will give unto his Souldiers all That under this his Banner fight and on his Name do call So all may see that this was not an evil then in Paul But Souldiers marks of Jesus Christ the which we must bear all And his seeking thus unto God is as a sucking Child That seeketh for its Mothers Breast that is tender and mild And when the Child had suckt its
fill the Breast likewise is eas'd The Child then it is satisfi'd and Mother also pleas'd This figure God made use of when to Israel he did say Her Child can a Mother forget that sucks on her each day This is the Faith that sucks the Breast of Consolation By which the Just shall ever live if they feed thereupon For in the World we are but sent this plainly doth appear Which shews our Father is alive in whose House is our chear In which is Bread of Life enough and Mansions there are many So Prodigals must come thereto if they mean to have any And this may well observed be what doth the Father move No sooner sees his Son to come but RVNS to meet his Love Oh here is Love Love Love indeed Who can such Love er'e shun For when poor Souls begin to move the Father he doth RVN Yea not away but towards him as if it were a Bliss With arms spread out doth it receive and gives to it a Kiss And is not only here content with joy his House doth sound Because the dead is made alive his lost Son now is found And seemeth to be servile to beset with cares and fears Waiting for to be garcious on Israel forty years And when that we did wallow in the blood that was our own Vnsalted washt or pittied then was his strong Arm known Oh this was Gods own only Power that did Salvation bring Oh this was then a time of Love which makes us now to sing Salvation Glory and Power unto our God for ever Who is our present help at hand his Promise faild us never So all may see the ground-work then that solely doth us move In our affections to Love him ' cause first he did us Love For when that we ungodly were then he his own Son sent From sin and Satan us to free this was his true intent From Egypts darkness and Deaths bonds poor Souls he did set free This was Gods Love and the Sons Word in this both did agree This Truth also in many things illustrated may be That we no Independants are alone on God live we Though we as strong as Sampson were who the Philistines killd And heaps on heaps of them did bear yet he to Death must yeild Till the Lord cleave a hollow place where water did spring out In the same Jaw-bone of the Asse wherewith he made the Rout And when that he had drank thereof his Spirit came again And he revived also was though given himself as slain So of our selves no strength we have 't is in God we must hoast Who is our Captain Strength and Stay the only Lord of Hoasts Now by experience David may yet in Gods strength alone Declare how he by it had killd the great Philistian The Lyon Bear and through an Hoast gone by this strength he hath And he over a Wall hath lept that stood a cross his Path. This is the way that he did go and therefore Courage took ' Cause formerly God did him help and never him forsook Though then were some as there be now which unto him did say That in his God no help there was whereon his soul to stay This plainly then you now may see these cause mens hearts to faint Denying of Gods strength which he doth work in every Saint So putting them quite out of heart for ever to attain Over their hearts-lusts Victory or Ground on them to gain This Spirit you may also see in Israel of old Which did not the true Spies believe though they God Truth bâ— told For they the Sons of Anack feard that mighty were and tall So did not in Gods Power trust but fell a murmuring all And their false Spies to help forward their unbelief and spight Said They appear'd like Grashoppers in the Anakims sight None doubted then nor do they now but the Land it is good But how 't could then or now can be attaind the Question stood And notwithstanding God to them such Miracles did show And wonderfully brought them out of Egypt they did know Yet those false Spies did them perswade as Ministers do now Of Satan which do make a trade against God to avow That from their Masters Kingdom he poor Souls cannot set free Or that his Kingdom in this World diminished shall be Which is the cause of Vnbelief amongst us now at length But those that unto Sion come do grow from strength to strength And now as then the true Caleb do still the People tell The Land is good and to Conquer they able are full well And that the People should not fear unto them thus he sed Their Defence doth from them depart they are to us for Bread And that the Lord he was with them there was no cause to fear Yet they for all this did rebell for their words did not care For many false Spies still they had which brought an ill report So that the Congregation bad stone them with stones for 't Now if there be a Caleb that God follow fully will With other Spirit than they do they cry him stone or kill And yet for all this God will bring his Calebs to this Land They and their Seed shall it possess which to his Truth do stand Who do believe and so confess God by his Power can Bring his People out of Egypt to heavenly Canaan From this it may observed be The false spies they are many From which the ground of Vnbelief doth spring Truth scarce hath any Though in this work it is their share to suffer as men think Yet unto us it is our Joy of Christs own Cup to drink E'en as t was then so it is now Destructions way is wide And many follow in the same few from it turn aside These men that did Gods glory see and miracles also In Egypt and i' th Wilderness do tempt him ten times mo Than those that never yet did see Gods Power that 's Divine More tollerable it shall be for such who have no Sign These Miracles and Wonders great Advantages should be And in our hearts such Courage raise that we no fear should see This is the way David did go with confidence to Saul He took up Courage in his heart and told Israel all That in Gods strength a Lyon he had killed and a Bear And therefore this Physitian bold knew no such thing as Fear This Plea we ' gainst all those have that unto People preach Let God or man do what they can Man Canaan Land can't reach Something of the Cause of DARKNESSE IGNORANCE and PERSECUTION AS the dark Body of the Moon which in the Night is Light That it receiveth from the Sun by standing in its sight And then again by Reflection on us this Light doth cast While it thus governeth the Night no longer doth it last For when the Day-light doth appear it wan doth wax and fade ' Cause it retains no Life or Power nor hath it any Shade For that the brightness of
so it is decreed now So Hamon is the first of all that ever yet I 've read Who got forth such a cruel Law yet we find of his Seed Thus also Nebuchadnezzar who in his Pallace walkt Said Is not this Great Babylon with much such glorying talkt That I have built for the House of the Kingdom that is mine And by the might of my Power thus slighting Gods Divine And also for the honour of alone my Majesty As if at all there had not been a Power that 's on high While these words were in the Kings mouth there fell a voice from heaven The Kingdom is departed now that unto thee was given This was the Image-making man and Persecutor too That cast i' th fire who would not to 's Image Worship do Therefore let none think that we do 't through peevishness of mind For we for it good Reason have and Precepts too Divine Examples too you see we have recorded in Scripture Of Gods Judgements that on men fell which were both just and sure As hard-hearted Pharaoh did keep Israel in Bondage great And when Liberty it was sought with God he would not treat But said Who is the Lord that he at all should him obey With such presumptuous words as these from his proud heart did say And in the stead of Liberty did make their Burthens more For which upon his Head God did full many Judgements poure Bloody waters Froggs Lice and Flies with Boyles and Blanches many Hail Locusts Darkness and First-born were slain he left not any And yet for all those Judgements which fell on him as his due So hard-hearted he yet still was that Israel he 'd pursue So Gods People in a great strait being thus surrounded By standing kill Salvation saw of God and Pharaoh drounded This is for you a warning then that follow step by step That regard not Fire War or Plague but over these things lep Tho you count those things Accidents which unto you are given But that you should no Covers have God shews you signs from heaven Yea and such signs all your Wise men with their Egyptian Art Could tell the coming of the same which made them all to start Nor what th' effect or influence these Blasing-Stars would be That in one year did shew themselves not one or two but three Thus Pharaohs drown'd and Hamons hang'd Nebuchadnezzar's due To lose his Kingdom and Herod eaten with worms was to So all proud persecuting Spirits Examples here 's for you For God is now the same also his Judgements just and true For his Hand is not shortned but can help 't is our stay Nor is his power now weakend more than 't was yesterday For all the Honour and Glory of Man is but a lye And if there were no Worshippers of Idols they would dye This Honour God he will not give to graven Images Nor his Glory to mortal men tho they him near so please For that the Kingdom it is his the Power and Glory too And Honour for ever and e're to him alone t is due For if the Angel which to John shewd Mysteries manifold Would not be bow'd to or worshipt how dare man be so bold For he our Fellow-servant was and of our Brethren to Which Jesus Testimony had and Prophesying Spirit true These are the highest attainments of Angels and of Men That maketh them honourable yet are they but Brethren And so they dare not now to bow or worship give each other Or glory in ought that they have for 't cometh from another And now all earthly Images you all must now be dumbe And speak no more for your glory now Gods Kingdom is come And his Almighty Power shall you altogether grind And in the Sea your Ashes cast that henceforth none you find This is the little Stone the which out of the Mountain's cut Though without hands your Images shall break as a small Nut. These Idols of Silver and Gold they shall to Moles be given The which blind Vermin in Earth creep shut up from th' Light of heaven And the blind Bats must have a part that are Birds of the night The which cannot abide the Day to fly in peoples sight Therefore alone to God we 'l bow and worship him alway Who is our Fountain Treasure Stock our Light Life Bread and Stay And therefore now Man speak no more for to be bow'd unto For Gods Prerogative it is and he must have his due If Saints and Angels they would not at all be bow'd to then What spirit have all those that do seek worship now from men For if Gods Messengers and Gifts we must not once admire Oh then Whose Messengers are they that Glory do desire For all the Gifts and Graces wâ—…ch God he doth to us send That him alone we should praise which is both Author and End For we the Israel of God are while we walk in this sphere So no Weapon against us formd shall prosper Sword or Spear If in the Fire we are cast oh there 's the Son of God Or through the Water made to pass oh there 's also the Lord. So to be burnt or over-flowd no cause we have to fear For Angels Lyons mouths do stop of 's Daniels he hath care If Oxen must not muzzeld be that do tread out the Corn Oh then what care will he have of his Babes that are new born But if that yet we do please men Gods Servants we are not And when men worldly honour seek it signifies a Blot That they from God departed are in whom men honour have And gone into the World from him who do its honour crave Saul is a figure unto such who Gods Word disobeyd And God from him departed was oh then he cryd and said Before the People honour me oh this was all his cry For those that have forsaken God on this alone rely But this is sad and desmal to Worlds glory for to gain Out of Gods presence to be cast into eternal pain In this Doctrine it is observ'd the Persecutors proud Which will not to this Image bow Life hardly is allow'd And God he is so just and true in Judgement he 'll not act Till plainly the notoriousness appear doth of the Fact Cain he cannot at all be cast out of Gods presence till The Blood of Abel he hath spilt then Judgement on him fell So you that offer unto God the Sacrifice of Praise Which Offering he doth respect and also did alwayes Thus to the Will of God you must your selves and all commit Tho Caldees and Sabeans too themselves against you set For the Chastisements of the Lord we never must refuse ' Cause ye no Bastards are but Sons he to himself doth chuse And when that you corrected are Obedience thereby learn You shall not need to fear but God the Rod forthwith will burn Now if the ground-work you would know in fine of all this evil From th' Dragon and old Serpent t is or spirit of