several years by reason of the hard-hearted cruelty of the Priest that sought for his Goods more then for the good of his Soul as plainly appears by those his unchristian-like Actions even like those of old that would cry Peace Peace while People put into their Mouths but when for Conscience-sake they could not do it then those false Teachers prepar'd War against them and thus he that is born after the flesh persecutes him that is born after the spirit from one Generation to another But after this his so long Imprisonment it pleased God to make way for his deliverance out of those Bonds by the Death of the said Priest his persecuter who on a journey broke his Legg whereof he Died without ever Returning home but his Wise fulfilling her Husband's Cruelty would not condescend to his Enlargement which was in her power to do but constrained him to go to London being above Two hundred Miles which he Travelled on Foot and so obtained his full Liberty by a Habias Corpus the Lord having endued him with Christian patience all this time to undergo what he permitted his persecutor to Inflict upon him And after this it was some time my lot to travel with him in the service of Truth in whose Company I had great satisfaction for he did not only Preach in Word Doctrine but in Life and Conversation also and so was A rightly qualifi'd Minister of the Gospel and was a serviceable Member in the Church of Christ both for the Propagating of Truth and a Support to Friends where he Lived and Travelled the Lord having endued him with a good Understanding which did so sanctifie his Natural acquirements that he was thereby qualified to answer his Call into the Ministry which he delivered in Meekness according to his Deportment in his Conversation which which was Mild Courteous little in his own Eye or in outward shew or appearance Yet would not turn his back off an Enemy to Truth in Truth 's defence and he was qualfi'd for Truth 's service in his open and plain Testimony which was both sweet and lively to the Comforting the Faithful stirring up the Careless and reaching the Witness in those who were unacquainted with the Way of Righteousness For indeed his Labour in the Work of the Gospel was refreshing to the honest-hearted who as a faithful Steward over the manifold Grace's of God a measure of which was committed to his Charge did â—ruly Labour in the Service thereof not by constraint but willingly not for filthy Lucre but with a ready Mind neither as being Lord over God's Heretage but being an Ensample unto the Flock for which I doubt not he hath his Reward at the Hand of the great Shepheard even a Crown of Glory that fadeth not away And now I shall speak a little of his manner of Life towards his latter End for as he had been an Innocent carriag'd Man and a lover of Truth and Righteousness from a Child so it pleased God to preserve him all along even to his Lifes end although attended many times with great Weakness of Body by reason of some Distempers occasioned partly by the aforesaid Imprisonment which he underwent for his Testimony 's sake which God had given him to bear against the Anti-christian Ministry of the Age Yet that saying was fulfilled in him as in the Apostles time although the Outward Man perished and grew weaker and weaker the Inward Man was renewed day by day for these light afflictions which last but for a moment work in us a far more Exceeding and Eternal weight of Glory while we look not at those things that are seen but at the things that are not seen for the things that are seen are Temporal but the things that are not seen are Eternal So we need not fear any of these things that we may suffer for a good Cause if the Devil be permitted to cast some into Prison and we may have Tribulation for a time yet the promise is to those that are Faithful unto Death they shall receive a Crown of Life So although many be the Tryals and Exercises of the Righteous yet the Lord in his own appointed time can and will deliver out of them all and although for a time the Back be given to the smiter yet the Rod of the Wicked shall not always be upon the Backs of the Righteous but God will Rescue them out of their hands that they shall not be a prey to them any longer But too few Consider when Righteous and Good Men are taken away that it's God's Pleasure and Goodness to them to take them from the Evil to come as he hath done our dear Friend of whom I am writing And though he be removed from us yet the remembrance of his innocent Life doth remain with us and although it be our loss yet it is his gain In that Eternal Joy Rest Where his Soul 's for ever blest And when he was upon his Death-bead he was sweetly preserved in a sense of that Life that flowed from the Fountain of pure Refreshment which made him to utter many savoury Expressions even to the Edifying of those that stood by him some of which that could be remembred are here inserted For when I with some other Friends went to see him we had a Meeting at his House at Ballany Carrick in the County of Wicklow on the first day of the Week before he departed this Life being the 16th day of the Ninth Month 1684. where he sat up in the Meeting all the time and we had a Heavenly season and the Lord's refreshing Presence was with us which he having a sense of did often express his great Joy and Satisfaction therein and in the enjoyment of Friends company and said he could wish if it were the Will of God that he might be taken away when we were there So I with some other Friends stay'd all Night and lodged in the Chamber where he lay and he was very quiet and patiently bore his Affliction The next Morning one of his servants coming to him ask'd him how he did his answer was to her naming her by her Name thou hast had much trouble in attending of me but now the time is short that I have to stay for he was not unsensible that the time of his Dissolution drew near his servant being reached with his words began to weep he said I know there will be Mourning for me but blessed be God it is not as those that have no hope for he knew that hope which was grounded upon the Foundation of the Prophets and Apostles Jesus Christ being the Chief Corner-stone the same that all the Faithful did bear Witness too in former Ages And so that day was chiefly spent in preparing for the time of his Change in setting his House in Order and setling his outward Concerns and when he came to Sign his Will his Hand shoke by reason of weakness of Body He looking up with a chearful
same God to day and can save so take heed betime least the judgments of God fall heavy upon thee and labour not to incur the wrath and displeasure of the Almighty upon thy Soul for thy deceit violence spoyling and persecuting is and will be a token of perdition when my innocent suffering is and will be a token of Salvation and that in Christ Jesus So be warned I advise thee once more and repent and amend speedily lest the plagues and arrows of the Almighty fall heavy upon thee for this I am bold to tell thee in the Name of the Lord that the Lords wrath is kindled against such which will not cease nor quench till the workers of Iniquity be cut off that have added affliction to the afflicted and usurpingly exercised lordship over the Heritage of God for your treachery deceit and folly hath and is appearing to all Men and Gods controversie against you is begun for your end is destruction whose God is your gain and your belly whose mind is on earthly things yea the Stone of your Wall and the Beam of your Timber the very materials of Babel's Building shall cry out against the Builders and the Stone you have rejected is become Head viz. Christ Jesus the Light and if thy patience can read it and apply it so do if not how willt thou bear and answer the Lord when these things fall upon thee Carlile the 13th of the 3d Month 1665. From a Sufferer for Truth and Righteousness Tho. Carleton These Queries following I propounded to him occasioned by some Discourse between us about their Sacrament and Conformity which he seemed to charge upon me as the sole cause of my imprisonment having the like confounded Architectors of Babel either lost the original cause else finding the weakness and inconsideratness of it was ashamed and so let it fall For I said to him that I never thought Nonconformity to their Church and Sacrament had been the cause but rather Tythes as my Mittimus signified he answered no no it was it and nothing but it meaning Nonconformity L. West PErceiving thou blamest me for want of Conformity to the Church Ordinances and Sacraments as if that were the sole cause of my imprisonment and thou pretending to be a Minister in the Church and to the Church give me a full and positive answer to these following Queries according to Scripture sound Doctrine and the spirit of Truth that so my judgment may be rightly informed and if I have been erroneous and schismatical I am willing to reform when I am thereof convinced 1. What is the qualification of a Minister of Christ what is his Gifts and Endowments and how and from whom are they obtained 2. How is a Minister of Christ to be called sent what is their Ordination or whether thy Call Ordination or Ministry be from him to whom wast thou sent and to what end or whether there be not some that run unsent and never profit the People according to Jer. 23.32 3. What dost thou Minister from in thy self or what dost thou Minister to in the People or wherein doth thy gift and ministration conâ—â—â—t 4. What is the Gifts and Parts of a Minister of Christ what is the gifts and parts of a Minister of Antichrist or how do they differ one from another 5. Whether is a Minister to be Servant to and in the Church or to exercise lordship over the Church and Heritage c. as the manner of the Gentiles is 6. Whether is covetousness pride wrath malice envy swearing lying drunkenness fornication oppression robbery theft idle and corrupt communication and such like of the Spirit of Christ or Antichrist 7. Whether they that do such things do believe in God and have Faith in Jesus Christ or can be either a Minister or Member in his Church and Body having not obtained Remission Redemption and Salvation from those things 8. What is the Church of Christ or how many Churches is there whereof doth it consit whereon doth it stand where and by whom is the Foundation thereof laid and how is it preserved Holy and without Spot or whether is it subject to corruption and change yea or nay 9. What are the Ordinances of the Church what are the Precepts Rules and Canons therein to be observed and to whom doth the Rule and Government thereof belong 10. Whether doth these Ordinances of the Church belong unto all Men or whether is all Men under the Rule and Government thereof or what is the qualification of those that have a right therein and the priviledge of those that are Governed thereby 11. How many Ordinances are in the Church when and by whom are they instituted to what end and for what time 12. What is Baptism who is the Baptiser with what and to what are Men Babtized 13. How many Baptisms are there and how do they differ one from another 14. How are they Baptized that are Baptized into the death of Christ and are Buried with him in Baptism or how is the Baptizing with Fire and the Holy Ghost 15. Whether doth dipping and sprinkling in water England's present Church Form in Baptism make one a Member of Christ or whether is any unclean thing a Member of Christ yea or nay 16. Whether they that were Baptized and ingrafted as a Member in the Church if they perform what was therein promised viz forsake the Devil and all his works the pomps and vanities of this wicked World and all the sinful Lusts of the flesh and believe all the Articles of the Christian Faith and keep Gods holy Will and Commandments and walk in the same whether they must not be excomunicated and cast out of your Church and into Prison and suffer loss both in body and estate yea or nay according to John 16.2 17. What was those Ordinances and Traditions that Paul forbad the Collossians to touch taste or handle which though commanded by Men was to perish with using which Ordinances Christ blotted out and nailed to his Cross as being against such as he had quickned and raised by his Spirit 18. What was those Meats and Drinks those Holy-dayes New-moons and Sabboth-dayes which was but shadows of good things to come or is not the Churches yet under those Ordinances Traditions and Shadows and knows not the Light of the glorious Gospel revealed which Christ commanded to believe in 19. What was the Philosophy Traditions and Rudiments of the World which had like to have spoiled some and which those that were dead with Christ were not to be subject to but if Pope and Turk should have power to set up their Traditions Rudiments would you not be subject and Preach them up for Doctrine 20. What is the Sacrament of the Lords Supper which thou would have me receive how is it distributed and received or what is the qualifications of the worthy Receivers and if I Eat and Drink the thing signified viz. the Body and Blood Spiritually and so difist from
THE MEMORY OF That Faithful Servant of the Lord Thomas Carleton Reviv'd BEING A COLLECTION Of several of his VVritings in the ensuing Volume as a Testimony of his Zeal for promoting the blessed Truth and Establishing of Friends therein Also some TESTIMONIES Concerning his Faithfulness and Perseverance in the Way of the Lord unto the Finishing of his Course here with joy which was the 18th day of the Ninth Month 1684. The Memory of the just is blessed Prov. 10.7 The Righteous shall be had in Everlasting Remembrance Psal 112.9 Printed in the Year 1694. The Testimony of Thomas Trafford concerning his Friend and Brother in the Truth Thomas Carleton THere is a Testimony in my Heart at this time to bear for dear Thomas Carleton Notwithstanding it is long since he was Removed from us as to the outward yet his Memorial lives with me and in the Revivings of it can do no less then say something of the Experience Knowledg I had of him My first acquaintance with him was by the Spirit of Truth in a Meeting for as soon as I saw his Face as he was coming into the Meeting I felt my heart united or knit to him as Jonathan's was to David and it was sealed to me That he had a Testimony to bear for the Lord's Truth in the Assemblies of his People which was Confirmed to me that Meeting For after some time sitting in the Meeting there came an Exercise upon his Spirit and he stood up in great Fear and Dread which was his usual manner when he was so Exercised under the powerfull Word of Life not being a Man forward in entring upon that service but rather backward until necessitated thereunto by the constraining Power of God And while he was delivering his Testimony I had dear unity with him and my Soul was refreshed by his Ministry although he was but short and my love reached so to him that I could not be satisfied untill I went to see him at his Lodging after which time we grew into a more near acquaintance one with another both inwardly and outwardly so that we became near and dear one unto another and thereby came to have a true sense and knowledge of one anothers Mindâ— and Spirits and truly my heart and spirit is broken at this time in the remembrance of that sweet and brotherly love that continued between us to the last for he was a true Yoke-fellow in the Labour of the Gospel for the good and wel-fare of the Church and I must needs say I have found the want of him with some others who were true sensible Members in the Body or Church of Christ whom the Lord hath been pleased to remove from us and take to himself which I must be content with resting in the Faith that he can and will raise up others in his time to supply their places And although this my Friend and Brother was a Man attended with many Infirmities of Body which disabled him from Travelling much abroad yet I can say he was seldom if ever without a Concern Care or Exercise upon his Spirit that all things might be well in the Church and that those who were Convinced of the Truth might live answerable to what they did profess and was many a time Constrained to bear Testimony in a holy Zeal against such as were dry Formilist Professors of it and did not come up into a Living Experimental Exercise of the power of Truth and such who walked loose in their Conversations as will appear by the following Epistles that he Writ and God who tempers the Body as he Sees meet had indued him with a large and clear understanding both in Divine Spiritual things and also Natural Parts beyond many which did very much adorn him and so much the more in that he did not think so of himself but would appear as simple as any which bespoke him to be one of Christs Followers who had Learned to be Meek and Lowly in heart I Write what I know and it is not to attribute any thing to Man but to acknowledge the great Work of God in and for Man who as Vessels in his Hand he hath honoured therefore we who have been made partakers of their Work and Service can do no less And indeed all his Parts and Gifts were Sanctified unto him for he was a Man of of a sweet temper mild in Controverting things and could govern his Spirit with gravity either with such as did oppose Truth and contend against it or at other times in Church Discipline or with unruly Spirits that he might have to do with Oh the Remembrance of him makes the loss of him more to be Lamented But having this answer returned sealed unto me that our loss is his gain therefore am Contented in the will of the Lord and notwithstanding his Parts did exceed many yet he was ready to prefer others before himself which was an Ornament to him and did very much become his Holy Profession he was a Man that Loved the Truth and all such that lived in it and he was of a tender Spirit desiring nothing more then the Unity of the Brethren and to hear of the Prosperity of Truth and Peace in the Church So that I have cause to believe he is one of that Number to whom it is said Blessed are the Dead which Die in the Lord from henceforth yâ—â— said the Spirit that they may rest from â—â—eâ—â— Labours and their Works do follow them Written this 15th day of the 6. Month 1693. At Wicklow by one that loves the Brethren Thomas Trafford THE TESTIMONY OF GEORGE ROOKE Concerning Thomas Carleton THis I have to say concerning this our dear Friend and Brother in the Truth that is removed from us by Death according to God's appointment for all Men once to Die he was a Man that was tender of Gods glory in his Day and laboured for the promotion of his Truth into the service of which the Lord was pleased to Call him when he was but young in years and made known unto him the riches of the Mistery which had been hid from Ages past even Christ Revealed within the sure Hope of Eternal Glory by which he was preserved both sure and stedfast in his Testimony-bearing for God where-ever the Lord was pleased to Order him whether it was in a Prison-house or at Liberty he was not unwilling to submit to his Will even to do and suffer whereby he might honour and glorifie his Maker in his day and generation And he had not long been Convinced of the blessed Truth till Lewis West the Priest of the Parish where he lived began to persecute him because for Conscience-sake he could not pay Tythes and cast him into Prison at Carlisle in Cumberland for at Little-Salkeld in that County was the place of his abode then though some years after his Enlargement he removed himself and family into this Nation of Ireland But mark he being put in Prison was kept Prisoner
Tree of Life that is in the midst of the Paradise of God and their names shall be written in the Book of the Life of the Lamb from henceforth and for ever It being my aim and intent at this time to present unto publick view and to the manifested Light and Judgment of all pious and sober Men not only my discent state and condition from my Childhood but rather my estate and condition in Spirit in all the gentle leadings drawing and carryings on of my Soul by the Lord from the day of the dispensation of the tender Mercy and Love of God by his light dispensed and made known in me unto this present day of my Sufferings for his Name and Gospel and also to give a Relation of the ground and cause of my Sâ—fferings the Person by whom and the manner how with a breviate of my Testimony and Judgment in the matters of this Treatise in as much brevity as possible whereby to clear my Conscience and answer the witness in others in the sight of God AS for my discent to speak after the manner of Men I sprang of mean though honest Parents according to the Flesh my Father being a Husbandman in the County of Cumberland I according to his pleasure was educated sometimes at School sometime with Herding and tending of Sheep or Cattel sometime with the Plow Cart or Threshing Instrument or other lawfull Labours according to the manner of that part of the County in which I lived yet such was the love and tender mercy of the Lord who always had respect unto the meek and lowly in heart and dwells with the the contrite and humble in Spirit and shews kindness and mercy to them of low degree that he was pleased to visit me with his everlasting Love which often presented unto me my state and manner of Life and by the same Love and Light he made known unto me that his Way and Worship was a purer holier Way and cleaner Life then yet I had attained unto and withall gave me to see the evils and miserable effects of that state and condition in which I lived according to the Fashions Customs Ways and Worships of the formal World which secret drawings I felt time after time as a small still Voice inwardly calling for Righteousness and Holiness of Life and as it were saying This is the Way walk in it Read your own States for thus I was induced to seek after the Lord and to make further enqâ—iry into the Way of God out of which I perceived my self and then not knowing where the Lord was to be found nor that it was he that stirred and drew by his Love in me I gave my self to Reading and searching of the Scriptures which was then Preached by the Man made Ministers and also generally believed by the People they taught to be the Word of God and the alonâ— way to the Kingdom and to the knowledge of God his Way and Worship and believing their Doctrines I did with much diligence and zeal press after the knowledge of the Scriptures giving up my self to Hear Sermons learn Catechisms and the like after the manner and general Practise Taught by the then Preachers sometime more Strickt then the rest whose comliness seemed to Transcend the precedent Generation of Priests and their way of Worship yet it pleased the Lord not only inwardly to break my rest in spirit but also outwardly to afflict me with Bodily afflictions for I was afflicted from my youth up and from my Childhood the rod of Correction was upon me inwardly and outwardly inwardly known to my self alone and outwardly apparent to most or all that knew me after the flesh some concluding I was in a Consumption some in one Disease some in another and then by the advice and will of my Father according to the flesh I sought to and proved many Doctors and Physitians for the restoration of the health of my Body but they like the Priests were all Physitians of no value for none did remove the cause nor take away the effect which still remained with me and upon me as a motive spur or whip to drive me forward to get an interest in the Lord who through the riches of his Love did spiritually apply my Bodily afflictions for the Health and Salvation of my Soul inwardly drawing my affections and desires after Him still presenting to my view and raising in my unerstanding a way more Holy and Pure and more agreeable to his Will then the way I was in drawing me from one degree of Grace to another and from one Dispensation to another according to his good Pleasure and Wâ—ll then I began to affect those that separated from the formal Worships and pubâ—ick People who sâ—emed to be a People of more reformed lives and judgments and of more circumspect Conversations and chused rather to settle and joyn with those called Independants who at that day were beautiful and glorious to that glimmering Twilight estate that I was in they being then pretty tender and low I often adjudged my self inferiour unworthy and undeserving the Fellowship and Society of such a People yet still I pressed forward desiring to attain unto that state which was before me which by the eye of Faith I saw and to apprehend that for which I was apprehended in the Love of God yet was I often tossed in my self like restless waves in a troubled Sea not feeling peace nor stability with the Lord I often besought the Lord in secret in the brokenness and contrition of spirit to clear my understanding and judgment and make me to know his own Living Way Truth and People Sects and Opinions then abounding one saying this is the way anâ—tâ—er saying that is the way one saying lo Christ is in this or here another saying He is in that or there thus every Denomination and Judgment construing wresting and interpreting the Scriptures to their sundry Tenents and forcing meanings from them to answer their Principles and to maintain every of their interpretations as authentick Truths in all which I was as one without Foundation tossed with every of their windy Doctrines iâ— stâ—ll rested with me Man was created for Gods glory I being ever and anon judged and condemned in my self for Sin and Disobedience for the Law was come by which is the knowledge of Sin and the Commandment being come Sin revived and I died and having as it were wrought Death in me by that which was good then Sâ—n by the Commandment became exceeding Sinful and then was I driven to seek for Peace night and day early and late in publick and private Fastings or Feastings or Family Devotions whatsoever running from one House to another and from one Town to another from one Assembly and Worship to another even as it were from Sea to Sea seeking the Word of the Lord as Amos said Amos 8.12 in all their Sabboths Lectures Humiliations or Thank givings diligently observing every Ordinance so called in which
the Minister said God was to be found and all to obtain Peace with my Maker but it as it were fled from me and was not to be found amongst them and and then this cry was great in me O that I knew the Truth Oh that I knew the True and Living Way to the Kingdom of God! O that I could feel that Testimony of Spirit which they so much spoke of bearing witness with my Spirit that I was in the Sonship though I felt and knew I was in the way according to their Judgment and had the signal tokens of a Christian as they produced from that spiritual progress and operation the Saints and Servants of God went through in Ages past which was as Way-marks set up by Patriarchs the Prophets and Children of Israel in their Travel to Canaan and by the Apostles and Servants of our Lord Jesus Christ in their Spiritual Travel to the Heavenly Canaan through the Regeneration and New Birth But being as I said before often deeply humbled before the Lord and tendred and broken in my Spirit distressed in my Soul afflicted in my Body day and night panting and breathing after the Lord as the Hart panteth after the water Brooks being many times deprived of my natural rest and sustenance mine eyes preventing the night Watches as David said watering my Bed with my Tears being almost overwhelmed in the Floods multitudes of Afflictions compassing me about Wars and Commotions on every side Famine and Pestilence and Earthquakes fearful Sights and great Signs appearing from Heaven these were the beginning of Sorrows and Days of great Tribulation then did the sign of the coming of the Son of Man appear in the Clouds of Heaven with Power and great Glory whose appearance was as the Lightning that appeared from the East and shined unto the West by which it pleased the Father to manifest the way of Life and to reveal his Son in me and by his Light that gives the Knowledge of the glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ 2 Cor. 4.6 He was pleased to give me a glimpse of that heavenly Land and of the Way to the Kingdom of God which I saw to be in and through the Light of Christ Jesus which Lighteth every Man that cometh into the World as it was then Preached and testified by the Servants of the Lord a measure of which I felt in my self which told me all that ever I did secretly condemning every work in me with every word and action that was against or contrary to the mind and will of the Father and also justifying every good word and work that was according to his Will Thus the Lord having opened my understanding and given me in measure a feeling of himself I was forced to conclude as the woman of Samaria did that this was the Christ this was the Way this was the Truth as by daily experience I found by the operation of the Light in my own heart compared with the Testimony that the Saints and Servants of God had given in Ages past and thus in the mouths of two or three Witnesses this Testimony was established and confirmed in me but how to receive and give obedience I knew not the Enemy often raising Doubts and Fears in me often disswading me from embracing the Light with much questioning whether it were the Truth yea or nay Then as soon as the Seed the Man-child appeared the Dragon appeared also ready to Devour the Man-child then the Read-Sea was as it were before and Pharoh and his Host behind and fear fell on every side then appeared Father against Son and Son against Father one Nation against another and still the greatest Enemies were in mine own House and then was I in great distress then was the Dayes of great Tribulation perceiving the Way strait and narrow being to forsake Father or Mother House or Lands Friends and Relations and all old acquaintances and cast down all Crowns Dignities Wisdom Riches or what other Enjoyments whatsoever and deny my self and become a Fool and a Reproach a Scorn a By-word and a Hissing to the Men of the World and take up the Cross daily and follow the Lord through great Tribulation through the Red-Sea through the Wilderness yea even through Death it self then was I ready to faint and to say with them This was a hard saying who can bear it then the Dragon cast out Floods after the Manchild but God prepared a place in the Wilderness and the Child was preserved then was the warfare great between the Flesh and the Spirit the Law in my Members waring against the Law in my Mind doing that which I allowed not and leaving undone that which I allowed with my mind I served the Law of God but with my Flesh the Law of Sin the Spirit indeed was willing to Drink that bitter Cup but the Flesh was weak then when I would have done good Evil being present prevented me then I became as one destitude of all succour comfort and support not knowing whither to fly or how to escape from the dreadfull wrath of God that was then impending over me if I disobeyed then was I forced in the fulness of time not only to stand still and see the Salvation of God but also to resign my self into his Blessed Will and sweetly to Drink that bitter Cup that was given me to Dâ—iâ—k allowing that the Will of the Lord and not my will should be done being willing to undergo any thing so the Lord be glorified and my Soul might rest in Peace being that for which I had long travelled in spirit having been often as it were at the Pâ—ts brink and as it were at the mouth of the Furnace having Drunk deep of the Cup of Judgment and of Indignation and of the Wrath of the Lord for Sin and for Iniquity often travelling as with my Hands upon my loyns pained and crying outin my Soul as a Woman in Travel that longeth for the appointed hour of her Deliverance often in that state blessing the Lord for the Ministration of condemnation which at that Day was glorious to me often doubting and fearing in my self least the Lord should cease striving with me and have left me and given me up to a reprobate Mind and to heardness of Heart being often ready to Dispair of obtaining the promised Land that was before me considering the many lets impediments obstructions hazards dangers which like Mountains of opposition appeared as high as the top of Carmel And thus being assaulted by the Enemy reasoning in my self I was at a point what to do to turn back to Egypt the Land of Darkness or House of Bondage again I durst not knowing the Light in me the Piller of fire that appeared for my Guide and Leadâ—r led me Canaan ward and knowing the Terrors and Judgments of the Lord that had not only passed upon me but was still impending over me for sin disobedience because I offered not up freely nor sacrificed
as she said and indeed sprung of mean Parentage and low Degree according to the flesh and in my minority Educated a little at School but the most part about Husbandry Tilling or Hearding or the like bring an inferiour weak Child in comparison of Thousands but what I now am is by the Grace and sweet Love of God for which I have cause to bless and magnifie his Name for ever and let such I say as hath known both him and me and not only such but all that have any feeling or sense of the Way and Work of God judge of us and between us in every thing either before or hereafter inserted or recited being for my own part according to the principle of Light and Truth I profess willing to recommend my self to every Mans Conscience in the sight of God and also to give a reason to any Man that shall in Truth and Soberness demand a reason of me of the Faith and Hope that is in me according to the manifestation of the Grace of God received Now I say the said L. W. was no sooner setled in his place and I set to follow the Lord but he began to menace and threaten me together with other Professors to bring us under Conformity and by and by shewed his austerity by which he made many Professors and others inclining to Reformation bow and conform who came in by degrees and yielded Conformity at one time or other in one thing or other which strengthened his Lordly spirit in severity who should have been Minister and Servant to all thereupon perswading himself that a little more rigor a little more severity one twist more i' th rod one cord more i' th whip would subject all his Parishioners and make them Conform sometimes he would have drawn me with soft words pretending great kindness to me or any of my Mothers Children c. for our Parents sake the smalness wherof may appear by and by for he having no occasion at all against me save touching the Law of my God being that which was matter of Conscience and weight to me yet it seems occasion must be had and small ones must be taken where great ones are not and therefore he took it against me because for Conscience sake I could not pay him Tythes A thing never challenged nor paid for ought I know by any Gospel Minister nor any other under a Gospel Dispensation what ever any Man may pretend so he that flattereth and smootheth deceitfully crying Peace Peace to the Wicked because I cannot now run with them to their excess nor cannot return to their vomiâ— again but especially because I could not put into his mouth as Micah said Mic. 3.5 he now forthwith prepares open War against me and thus he begins for my first years denyal of Tythes to him he presents me to the Jury at a Temporal Court held at his own House in the manner of little Salkeld by the Dean and Chapter so called of Carlile he himself being one of the Lords of the Court so being called by the Jury I told them that for Conscience sake I could pay him none often saying to them that that Court had nothing to do to determine matters of that nature the Ecclesiastical Courts being provided for that purpose unto whom such things more properly belonged yet the Jurors slighted me and said I was a fool it was better for me to have them determined there c. So being willing to do the Priest a pleasure they proceeded to cast it for him and gave a Precept against me of One pound one shilling or there abouts for which the Prebends Bailiffs took a Cow from me woâ—â—h Three pound three shillings or upwards I having but one other the Priest called me to him required me to pay him I said no I could pay him none then he beckned to one of his Fellows another Prebend being then present to reason and expostulate with me endeavouring to perswade me to pay him and in our dispute he pleaded the Civil Law a third Priest standing by by way of Interlocution Promptingly said to the Ear of the other Jure Divino Sir Jure Divino to whom I answered either of you prove Tythes Jure Divino here before all this People and I will pay them which thing they stayed not to do for immediately the aforesaid L. W. taking one of them by the arm drew them away and they all three went to an Alehouse leaving me to the Court with whom I reasoned a while clearing my Conscience which I valued more worth then a Cow and then left them The Jury meeting at other times I still warned them not to meddle with it being it appertained to another Court nevertheless they proceeded as above but mark what befel about the very time the Jury delivered in their Verdict the Fore-man had a Barn burned by a sudden hand from the Lord as was believed amounting to a considerable dammage which thing I often pondered in my spirit though few looked on it otherwise then a common accident This being done from that time forward he proceeded to take my Tythes in kind as they fell due c. his Collectors taking Hay and Corn at their pleasure sometime going in at the wrong end of the Dale contrary to the order of Tything so taking the best of the Grain other sometimes taking three or four Stooks or a Cart load together off at one end and if I carried away any untythed they were sure to please themselves in the next Dale of mine where they came Thus they continued not shaming to bear and drâ—g away by force what they could apprehend mark even as the Priests viz. Eli's Sons and their Servants did in Israel of old who were Sons of Belial and with their flesh-hooks dragged out of the Pan Pot or Caldron either boyled or raw and if any denied to give them they took it away by force read 1 Sam. 2. from verse 12 to 17. but mark their end for the Lord was grieved with them and said he would cut them off that there should not be an old Man left in El's house and verse the 35 36. I will raise up a Priest saith the Lord that shall do according to all that is in mine heart and it shall come to pass that every one that is left in thine house speaking to Eli shall come crouching to him for pieces of Silver and morsels of Bread Mark the end of these Priests Sons of Belial who served themselves with the fat and kept Servants as vile as themselves who violently pulled and reaved away by force from the People even as the tything polluted Priests and their Servants doth now in our days are they not pulling rending and reaving throughout this Nation of England so barbarously and inhumanely that they have made their name to stiâ—k and they are become contemptible and base before all People read Mal. 2. to verse 9 and will not their end be like those Sons of
Tabernacle of clay is undemolished for he alone is worthy of all Glory and Thanksgiving from me for evermore For he brings to nought the understanding of the Prudent and turns the wisdom of the Wise men backward and confounds the Wisest Ahithophels so that their vain hope perisheth and their Expectation is cut off Now all this he hath wickedly done against me and that for no just cause as in the sight of the Lord nor no cause pretended save some small Tythes as Hens Easter-Reckonings c. which was no doubt very inconsiderate in comparison of what he hath done for I have been much perswaded that when he begun with me he could no way reckon Five shillings for his Collectors took in kind that which was most material as Corn and Hay as I have before related and for Wooll and Lamb I had none and for other Goods I had but a few it may be a Cow or two but seldom if ever three which things could amount to no great value suppose it were for two or three years an account whereof I have often required of him I have also written to him for an account also my Relations have desired an account of him but to this day none could I have from him also I have written to him that we might fairly and soberly Discourse of the Title of Tythes profering if I were convinced that they were Lawfull to pay them without all that to do and withall warned him â—o cease from his wicked proceedings being perswâ—ded they should not go unpunished by the Lord a true Transcription whereof hereafter follows as they were sent him in several Papers at several times which I have inserted for the Readers better satisfaction LEwis I am informed there is a design in thy Heart to deprive me of mine inheritance left me by my Father Is this the fruit of thy Ministry and in this dost thou do as thou wouldst be don unto Hath Satan filled thine heart and rooted Covetousness so deep in thee Take heed to thy ways search and see what spirit thou art of and what spirit it is that suggesteth this in thee enter into consideration with thy self and commune with thy own heart whether thou wouldst be done unto so yea or nay or whether it be thy place to covet thy Neighbours Goods or Inheritance methinks thou shouldst not be ignorant what became of that Woman Jesabel for coveting Naboth's Vinyard and what the reward of Covetuousness is the Scriptures are full observe the words of the Wise Man that said lay not in wait O wicked Man against the dwelling of the Righteous spoil not his resting place enter not into the Fields of the Fatherless c. and whatsoever is written is written for our Learning thou hast often repeated that Command that saith Covet not thy Neighbours Goods nor any thing that is thy Neighbours and is thy heart now going after thy Covetousness Weigh these things with thy practise Why shouldst thou destroy thy own Soul thou that holdest Scripture for thy Rule will it justifie thee in this thing Or where hast thou any such Rule in it amongst all the Conversations of the Saints And do not think but thou must be brought before the Tribunal of God there to give an account of all thy deeds done in thy Body and there thy person will have no more respect then mine though now it may all thy Pomp thy Dignity and Riches will stand thee in no stead neither justifie thee in his sight who hath said The wicked shall not go unpunished thou hast deprived me of my just Liberty already and if that cannot content or satisfie thee surely no more will mine Estate for the more thou obeyest that envious and covetous spirit the more it will draw thee on untill thy Soul be shut up in the Grave out of which there is no redemption So I desire thee have respect to thy Souls everlasting health for these and such like as thou art often found in are not the fruits of a Gospel Minister for Christ and his Apostles never taught any such Doctrine and truly whilst thou art of this spirit and conversation thy Ministry will not profit to wards God nor thou canst never turn many unto Righteousness its true thou mayst make some Proselytes but I think few Converts it appears thou came not to seek nor gather us but ours so that thy end is thy own and therefore accursed so unless thou repent thou shalt certainly bear the indignation of the Almighty for little or nothing hast thou Ministred unto me either in Doctrine or Practice but that which savours of Death and such Ministration deserves no maintenance So I desire thee as one that respects thy Souls everlasting welfare and in love thereunto I send this unto thee and not in any respect to my own interest as the Lord whom I serve knoweth in whose presence I am but that thou mayst cease to bring so deep guilt and weight upon thy Soul but rather repent of thy wicked purposes and seek unto the Lord if peradventure the thoughts of thine heart may be forgiven thee for according to outward appearance one would think thine Estate were sufficient to satisfie thee that thou shouldest not reap where thou sowedst not and covet my penny that hast so many pounds remember the Parable of Nathan to David But thou may object and say there is a reason thou hast a proper right and due unto it To this I answer as I have formerly done if thou or any of thy Function will appoint the time and place where I or some other of my Companions in bonds may meet with you and according to Scripture sound Doctrine and the Spirit of Truth convince me or us that such things is just and due and properly belong to your Ministration or that Christ and his Apostles did ordain constitute or allow any such Ministry or Maintenance after he had offered himself a perfect Sacrifice having thereby abolished all Types and the Law that made nothing perfect I say if thou or any of you can or will convince me or us of the lawfulness of paying Tythes we should neither suffer Imprisonment loss of Estate or Goods nor the Execution of any Law to pass upon us for denyal of Tythes but rather pay them as conscientiously as any one whatsoever And this were but the place and duty of your Function and indeed if it were not matter of conscience to me I could not have suffered such detriment loss and imprisonment in the patience and content as I have done by thee and I am yet resolved to suffer more before I offend Gods Witness in my Conscience And further I demand of thee what the sum or value is that thou claimest of me being reckoned up together for I have been deprived of my just Liberty a full year and upwards which is a penalty beyond my offence or any pretence of offence that thou hast shewed me So that I think thou needed not
every one of them and if any one do plead himself free by their Law then as some of them hath said they know what to do they have another baâ—t to catch us with which they know will hold and that is tender us an Oath and because we will not swear like themselves then either fine or imprison or banish c. and having got us into Prisons for Tythes or such things there they let us lie as dead Men out of mind never owning nor regarding us in any thing from year to year unless to envy and straiten our Liberty c. by stirring up and provoking the Goalers against us who being willing to do the Priests and Magistrates a favour hath often shown their severity to the hazard of the lives of the Innocent in their Custody whom they have called sometime their sheep and yet preyed upon us not allowing us the Liberty they allowed to Fellons and Murderers c. yet still the Lord was with us and wonderfully preserved us to his praise when Men rose up against us to have swallowed us up with open mouth blessed be His Name for evermore And also whether it were not requisite that he gave me a true and particular account of every of his demands and claims whatsoever or of any other difference if any had been betwixt us before he had thus far proceeded to have damnified me having done what in him lay to deprive me of all save only my life which I have yet for a prey And also whether it had not been his place and duty pretending to be a Teacher and Instructer of othersâ— a Mâ—nister and Pastor or Elder in the Church being reputed a Learned Orthodoxical Divine and sometime professing himself my spiritual Father but such measure aâ— I have had from him are no spiritual instructions to me I say if so whether he ought not to have answered my Queries and also my other Papers sent to him which he never would do to this day thereby to have informed and cleared my judgment and understanding being things appertaining to Faith and Religion and the Profession and Worship of Christianity and so matters of Conscience to me let all sober wise Men judge Also I shall appeal unto all sober and conscientious Men and Women and refer my self to the witness of God and the illuminated understanding in all whether ever any of the Holy Men of God did so with any person in the Church or out of the Church Believer or Infidel as he hath done with me yea or nay or whether ever you read of any of the Apostles or Ministers of Christ in Ages past that denied to give a Reason of their Faith and Hope in Christ Jesus and to Instruct Exhort Inform Teach Reprove Rebuke c. as he hath done or whether you read of any Ministers of Christ that sued at Law for the maintenance of their Bellies spoyled and Persecuted Excomunicated out of their Church into Prison sought Mens Liberty Heritage Estate and yet can shew no fair nor just cause as he hath done yea or nay Whether ever any Ministers of Christ did swear lye and beat with the fist of wickedness as he hath done yea or nay or whether ever any Ministers of Christ was so inclined to drunkenness and to frequent Ale-houses that they needed to be restrained by a Fine as his wife hath done with him yea or nay All which with several such like deeds which I shall now omit I need not go far to prove being his own practice doth notoriously evidence and testifie the same sufficiently known to many that knows both him and me and by what is before related Now considering the many Disputes Contentions Strifes suing at Law spoiling of goods casting into Prisons and the great unparalell'd sufferings that have been occasioned in this Nation in these late years about Tythes and the great objections and exclamations made against us for denying them about which I have a share being deeply concerned and involved therein together for the quietness and peace of my spirit upon which this thing hath long rested â—xcites me to cast in my mite and lay down my reasons and grounds whereupon I have denied them and suffered for the non-payment thereof tho weakest and unfitest of many thousands for such a work yet according to what I have received and am perswaded of I shall lay down in truth and simplicity and that chiefly for the satisfaction of such as desire to be satisfied and for the stopping the many objections and maledictions of others made in secret behind my back by some of my Neighbours especially the people called Independants in that part who most of any hath condemned me for suffering so much for such small trivial matters as they say being as it seems a small scruple in their Consciences and such a more as they can easily swallow now though in the beginning rise and growth of their Religion their Judgment was wholly against Tythes in a Gospel day yea some of them preaching in great zeal against them Condemning the Institution of them saying They were clear contrary to the maintenance of a Gospel Ministry and yet when they saw that Tythes were like to be the only wages maintenance and reward of their preaching being generally established by the Laws and Cannons of England for that end rather then they would want that sweet morsel and goodly Garment and the Fleshly ease that came thereby and suffer any thing for the denying of the same they could soon through their Christian Prudence or Policy cure that Malady and for the better digestion of that Diet make to themselves a stomach Pill or two to Cure that Crudity and so rather Suppress Extirpat Hide or let fall one of their Principles then either want that delightsome livelyhood or beloved Benefice or yet either suffer any thing either in Liberty or Estate for the holding that Principle throughout So for the Considerations aforesaid I shall endeavour to answer the general Objections Principly made against me and my Brethren in this case and what I hold and believe concerning them 1st Objection is Abraham's Returning from Chedarlaomer from Rescuing his Nephew Lot Melchisedeck met him and blessed him and blessed the Lord in his behalf and brought forth Bread and Wine and set before him c. and to him Abraham gave a Tenth of the spoyls Gen. 14.18 Heb. 7.4 Answer To this I say I never find it a president or rule for me suppose he gave a Tenth it was a voluntary gift he was neither commanded by God nor compelled by Man and if he had not given I think he had not sinned and that which he did give was but a Tenth of the Spoils taken at the Victory and so no rule for me being no Soldier at any such Slaughter and so not partaker of any such Spoils so if it be binding to any as I think to none it is to Soldiers and not to Plowmen and what if he in
that Despise the Light accounting it as a thing of nought calling it Natural or Diabolical or an unholy thing esteeming it too mean a Meat for your stuffed up Stomachs and cannot yet be digested by you what better Testimony would you have Would you have one arise from the Dead here 's John a Man sent from God and here 's Christ Jesus which rose from the Dead which Death could not bold also we have the Testimony of the Spirit of Truth and having received this Testimony we have the Witness in our selves and can set to our Seals that God is True John 3.35 and that there is no other way to the Father but by Christ Jesus the Light which is the Life and Blood of the Everlasting Covenant though many set it at nought and will not stoop to so small a thing yet all the Powers of Darkness cannot comprehend it it will break thorow them all to your condemnation that are disobedient and for proof thereof I appeal to every of your Consciences in the sight of God and let the Light therein which abideth in you which is Truth and no Lye John 2.27 let it declare for me whether any of you can hide you from it If you take the Wings of the Morning as David said and fly into the uttermost parts of the Earth it will find you out do what you will it will declare the nature of your deeds when you do evil at home or abroad never so secretly when no man sees it will condemn you and when you do well it will justifie and you will feel peace and joy in that Work it will tell you all that ever you did as the Woman of Samaria said Is not this the Christ come and see then they came and saw and believed also not because of her words but by what they heard from him themselves saying they knew indeed that this is the very Christ John 4.42 So be intreated as a Man would intreat his Friend whom he loveth to come with the Samaritans and see wether it be not so as we have said she was but one and that a Woman yet they came forth with her to see if it was he and it was he and they believed but we are many Witnesses and Testifie what we have heard and seen and handled of him So once more I say be intreated to come and see not to come forth after us and follow us as he said Luke 17.21 23. but to turn in your minds I mean to the Light of Christ Jesus in your own Hearts for the Kingdom of Heaven is within you and there hearken to him that is the Light of the World mark the World is set in Mans Heart Eccles 3.11 and when you have heard and obeyed for that is believing indeed I question not but you will be ready to say with the Samaritans That ye know that he is indeed the very Christ So put not off by delays but while the Lord calls do you answer and while he seeks be you gathered Prov. 1.24.26 yea while the Light and Love of God is with you believe in it receive it and walk in it for Darkness comes when no Man shall walk or work John 22 35 36. And the Light of the wicked shall be put out and the spark of his fire shall be quenched Job 18.5 6. Then shall his Wrath and Fury increase which will torment the Conscience for ever where they shall feel the Worm that dies not and the Fire that never goes out then Sorrow Mourning and bitter Lamentation shall fall upon them then may they cry to the Mountains fall on us and to the Hills to cover us even they I mean that slighteth their day of Visitation and hate to be reformed For behold the Days come that shall burn as an Oven wherein all the proud and all that do wickedly shall be as stubble the Day that cometh shall burn them up and shall leave them neither Root nor Branch but to them that fear my Name saith the Lord shall the Son of Righteousness arise with healing in his Wings and they shall go forth and grow as Calves in the stall and they shall tread down the Wicked yea the Wicked shall be as Ashes under the soles of their feet in that Day when I shall do this saith the Lord he that can believe it let him This is my Testimony given forth in the same Love wherewith the Lord my God hath loved me not desiring to Eat my Morsel alone nor yet to conceal the loving kindness of the Lord which is held forth freely unto all of which I am made a partaker according to the measure of that Grace and Love received in Christ Jesus who would not that any should perish but that all Men might come to the knowledge of the Truth and be saved who was the First-fruits of Righteousness leaving us an Example to follow his steps So desiring that all might come to partake of the same Grace with us and walk in the same Light with us where there is no occasion of Stumbling and come to drink of the same Living Water with us which whosoever drinketh thereof shall never thirst again but is satisfied for ever this none knows save they that drink thereof and they are but a few Having for the Reasons aforesaid committed this to publick view it s now other Mens as well as mine to judge of and no doubt may be by some opposed as well as by others approved I therefore desire the discreet Reader having soberly and piously pondred this short Treatise in the fear of the Lord not rashly to asperse either me or it behind my back thereby to make my Principle or Testimony odious in the Eyes of such as are weak and unstable in Judgment but rather having any thing to object against the Truth of any particular herein to make known their Objections to me either by word or writing and I shall be very willing to be Christianly informed or else to give a Christian information and sober Reply for their satisfaction and for the clearing and vindicating of every particular herein according to that Talent of knowledge that is given me to improve and this I hope will be easily granted by such as is willing to do unto me as they would have me or others to do unto them which is according to both Law and Prophets Given forth about the 6th Month 1667. Tho. Carleton THE END To the CALLED OF GOD And true Professors of the LIGHT SPIRIT of Jesus Christ in these Northern Nations To the Called of GOD c. OH my well-beloved Friends Brethren and Sisters in that Spiritual Heavenly Relation that stands in the power of an endless Life do I tenderly Greet you all and in the sensible Feeling thereof do I at this time with much tenderness and fear communicate these following Exhortations unto you Upon the Second day of the Tenth Month at Even after I was returned from waiting upon and serving