Apostle saw then creping into houses leading silly women captive always learning never able to come to the knowledge of the truth and this doctrine hath spread abroad and ye are in it having the form are not the people yet learning silly vvomen indeed some thirty years learning some fourty some fifty some sixty years learning yet must be taught still therfore you and your doctrine we utterly deny For as the Apostle saith ye need not that 2 John 2. 20 27. 1 John 3. 13. any man teach you you know all things but these vvere not of the vvorld nor are they of this vvorld vvho vvitness this teaching nor the Teachers Pr. Object Francis Howgill to be of better deport especially towards the Magistracie and Ministerie of England Answ Would you have Francis Howgill to be like unto the World your selves Is he going from the power and prince of the air which rules in you the children of disobedience therefore you hate him Ephes 2. 2. Iohn 15. 19. Justice he owns which cuts down corruption which brings all into an upright carriage and righteous way towards God and man this he owns and honors in his soul the Ministers of God he owns and such as bear rule by their means as Ieremy cried out against so do I and such as are gredy dumb doggs which seek for their gain from Ier. 5. 30. 31. Isai 56. 10 11 their Quarters which Isa spoke against I speak against and such as are hirelings which Micah cried out against I cry out against and such as seek for the fleece and cloath with the wooll and feed themselves with the fat and kill Exck. 34. 2 3. them that are fed Ezekiel cried out against such and fo do I the pure seed being made manifest in me le ts me see you to be such now see if you can excuse your selves And all such as who lay heavie burdens upon the people and say they are Ministers of Christ and act those things which Christ forbids I deny For saith Jesus Christ they are called of men Masters and have the chiefest places in the Assemblies stand praying in the Synagogues Matth. 23. 4 5 6 7 14. Matth. 6. 5. whose prayers are heathenish and love the uppermost rooms at feasts and love greetings in the market and under a pretence make long prayers devouring Widows houses A Widow hath no husband and Christ cryed woe against all such woe was their portion they painted themselves with other mens words painted sepulchers full of poyson within woe was their portion and there you are woe is your portien he that upholds that which Christ cried out against is an Antichrist and would you have him uphold Antichrist and deny Christ the world never received Christ but Antichrist The Apostle saith They go in Iude 11. the way of Cain and run greedily after the error of Balaam wo unto them Are not all the Priests here And would you have this set up which all 1 Iohn 4. 1 2 3 the Prophets Christ and his Apostles cried out against Where the same Spirit is made manifest it sees you all in error blaspheming God and his Temple Pr. Obj. And by enjoyning Tho. Ayrey and Alexander Dixon and the rest of the speakers and followers that live in this County to abide at their own houses study to be quiet and do their own business labouring in their own calling which is the Apostles Rule and not to wander up and down the countrey as seducers to draw Disciples after them save onely as privat men in way of travell about their own occasions Ans Tho. Ayrey and other friends whom you would have to abide in their own callings according to the Apostles Rule and study 1 Cor. 7. 20. 2 Thess 2. 3. to be quiet that they own but the witnessing forth of the truth doth disturb the man of sinne which makes it now appear he that is called of the Lord being a servant is the Lords freeman like wise he that is called being free is Christs servant ye are bought with a price but be not ye the servants of man Brethren let every one wherein he is called of the Lord there abide with the Lord. This call is a holy call which calls into 1 Cor. 7. 22 23 24. holiness and righteousness without which none shall see the Lord and this call is not of man And the Apostles Rule we do own and witness but as for seducing people we deny it is your own practice we were all seduced by you till God did enlighten 1 Pet. 2. 9. Iob 33. 30. us bring us out of darkness into his marvellous light by which we testifie against all the works of darkness and all who are brought into this light are one in unity as the Apostle saith 1 Iohn 1 7. Iude 20. Isa 54. 13. exhort one another daily as the light doth appear building up one another in the most holy faith and all the children of God shall be taught of the Lord and great shall be the peace of them And the Saints went from house to house who were as one soul and met together in singleness of Acts 4. 32 Acts 2. 46. heart here you shew your selves to be deniers of the practices of the Apostles and of the Saints and would tread it under foot and shew forth a beastly nature under the pretence of humility which is meer hypocrisie and no good at all to poor souls nor for Justice nor for the Common-wealth nor for pure Religion nor for the Church of God nor for godliness but onely for your carnall states and for fear of losing your carnall means doe you rage for they that own pure Religion own us the Church of God owns us and they that own justice own us and who owns the Prophets Christ and his Apostles own us but you who have their forms and not their power persecute us so shewing your selves to be haters of the truth The Apostles Rule and use was to go up Matth. 28. 19. and down the countrey who were Ministers of God and rejoyce in them whom he had made Ministers to witness forth the truth and did plainly declare they had no certain dwelling place How dare you take the Apostles for your cloke and their words and act contrary to their life they were guided by the Spirit of the Lord and they did draw Disciples after them out of the world and earthly mindedness in whom the substance of all Types and Figures was made manifest they Acts 4. 32. 2 Tim. 4. 10. had one heart one minde some indeed did forsake them and imbraced the present world as Demas so would you have us to forsake the power of truth and imbrace the present world then we should not abide in the calling wherein we are called of the Lord. See what a confusion is in your words Object And for the Lords gracious guidance of your selves in the affairs of so great
SEVERAL PETITIONS ANSWERED That were put up by the Priests of WESTMORLAND Against James Nayler and Geo. Fox Servants of the most High God persecuted by the Priests of the world as Jesus Christ and the Apostles were persecuted by the Jewish high Priests for the witnessing of the truth and testifying against the deceits of the world With the answer to an Order given forth by the justices at Appleby Sessions contrary to the Law of God and the Laws of the Land Also an exhortation to the people to mind the light of God in them the teachings and leadings of the Spirit of Truth the which if it be obeyed will lead and guide them into all truth This is the condemnation That light is come into the world and men love darkness rather then light because their deeds are evill He that loves the light brings his deeds to the light that the light may prove them but he that doth evill hateth the light neither cometh he to the light lest his deeds should be reproved But he that loveth the truth and doth that which is righteous cometh to the light that his deeds may be made manifest that they are wrought in God John 3. 19 20 21 verses Little Children let no man deceive you he that doth righteousness is righteous even as he is righteous he that committeth sin is of the Divell In this the children of God are manifest and the children of the Divel whosoever doth not righteousness is not of God neither he that loveth not his brother 1 Iohn 7 8 9 10. Marvell not if the world hate you it hated me before it hated you Iohn 1â— 18. Blessed are you when men shall hate you and when they shall separate you from their company and shall reproach you and cast out your name as evill for the Son of Mans sake rejoyce ye in that day and leap for joy for behold great is your reward in heaven for in the like manner did their fathers unto the Prophets Luke 6. 22 23. London printed for Giles Calvert at the Black spread Eagle at the West end of Pauls 1653. An Epistle to the Reader Christian Friends REmember the words of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ who said the servant was not greater then his Lord and saith he if they have persecuted me they will persecute you also and saith he marvell not if the world hate you it hated me before it hated you if ye were of the world the world would love you but because I have chosen you out of the world therefore the world hateth you but these are the fruits of darkness that ariseth from Cains generation they that are after the flesh t ey persecute them that are after the Spirit it is the world that persecutes and as they are in their naturall state and condition they know not God but are enemies both to him and His where he is made manifest in Spirit they that are in the corrupt nature are ignorant of him according as it is written in the Epistle to the Corinthians the naturall man knowes not the things of God because they are spiritually discerned and no man knowes the Father but the Son neither knoweth any man the Son but the Father and he to whom the Son reveals him there is no knowing of God but by the Revelation of his Spirit but naturall men such as the Priests of the world who are ignorant of God and are onemies to him being guided by the spirit of error standing up in actuall Rebellion against God now that he is Revealing his Son in the hearts of his people and leading them by the Divine light of his holy Spirit out of Egypt out of bondage and darkness wherein they have been held in the time of the fall while the mystery of iniquitie hath been working and Antichrist sitting in the Temple of God as God shewing himself to be God and the Priests of the world have been casting a mist before the eyes of the understandings of the people by their Greek Latin and Hebrew which is but dung and drosse earthie and ayrie hath driven the people into earthly conceivings imagination having no other knowledge of God but by conceiving and imagining of him are of those whom the Lord complains of by his servant the Prophet saying This people draweth near me with their mouth and with their lips do they honor me but their hearts is far from me and their fear towards me is taught by the precepts of men therefore thus saith the Lord I will gather those that have been scattered in the Cloudie and dark day and I will teach them my self and write my Law in their hearts and put my Spirit in their inward parts then shall ye know that I the Lord have spoken it and I will take you from among the hearthen and gather you out of all Countries and sprinkle clear water upon you and cleanse you from all your uncleanness a new heart also will I give you and a new Spirit will I put within you and I will cause you to walk in my statutes to do them Ezek. 36. Chapter Now the Lord is fulfilling his Promises made of old to the seed of Abraham after the spirit the Immortall seed that is begotten not by the will of man but by the will of God and born again of water and the spirit being separated from all uncleanness and they that live in the filth of the flesh fulfilling the lusts thereof know them not that are born again washed and cleansed sanctified and justified and are taught of God and made pertakers of the Divine nature but are enemies to them it is the same generation now that persecuts that persecuted from the beginning but it is but that the Scriptures may be fulfilled the Beast shall make War with the Saints God and Magog joyns together in Battle against the Lamb the Priests of the world are the greatest persecutors of the truth of God Now as the High Priest was when Jesus Christ came in the flesh the chief Priests were the greatest persecutors of him then stirring up the Rulers and Elders and the rude multitude against him calling him A deceiver and A blasphemer and they spued forth their envie against him in raising false witnesses against him and every way incensing the People against him to cry out to have him put to death Saying Crucifie him Crucifie him and let us have Barabbas let loose which was a murderer and if thou do but Read this little ensuing treatise thou shalt finde something worthy of thy labour being single eyed thou wilt be brought to see Antichrist or the man of sin in A high measure the mystery of iniquitie acting in the Priests of the world that do professe themselves to be the Ministers of Christ but are of the Synagogue of Satan and are enemies to Jesus Christ where he is made manifest and raised up in the spirits of any to testifie against their deceits wherein they do deceive
him then they haled him out of the Temple and persecuted him could not own nor beleeve what was revealed in him so if any should come amongst you now and tell you that God dwels not in Temples made Acts 17. 24 25. with hands neither was he worshipped with mens hands ye would hate them beat them or stone them as they did the Apostles This ye do that the Scripture might be fulfilled The time shall come when they shal John 16. 2. put you out of their Synagogues and shall hale you before Magistrates and who shall kill you will think he doth God good service And do not you shew your selves openly to be of this generation Will you have another meaning for the Scriptures There are but two ways the one is pure and leads up to the Father the other stands pretending God and Christ which way you are in persecuting us who posses the truth Here 's John 8. 41 33. Luke 13. 24. the stand Pr. Ob. And though these people tell people where they come that they are sent to them from God to declare what he hath revealed in them and labour to perswade them that they come to them with the Authority of Christ and of the Apostles yet our selves do confidently beleeve and know them to be wicked men deceivers and the very Ministers of Satan as may appear Answ Our call we witness is of the Lord not by man that makes you whose call is by man so persecute Mat. 23. 33. 34. Gal. 1. 1. 1 Cor. 1. 26. 27. 28. us your own will is standing you rage against any that come contrary to the will of man if ever you witness that call whereby all the Prophets and Apostles were and are sent you will not question our Authority the Lords work is spirituall 't is him alone that fits them and furnishes them with power from on high to bear witness to the Truth and whereas you say before that you know not our Country nor conditions yet here you say that we are wicked men and deceivers yea the Ministers of Satan it seems you care not what you say but say and unsay any thing to root out the innocent you are lyars and are without Rev. 22. 15. Isa 54. 17. Mat. 26. 65. among dogs murderers sorcerers whoremongers whose portion is in the lake your weapons that you form against the truth will not prosper but the Lord hath discovered you to some and is raising up a light whereby your deceits will be laid open with evill Jam. 2. 4. thoughts ye judge who are the Ministers of Satan and by the wicked imaginations of your own hearts counts truth blasphemie and puts light for darkness as ever the Priests did Pri. Obj. 1. By their horrid blasphemies which they have uttered secondly by their damnable Heresies and dangerous errours which they have avouched Ans Blasphemy and Heresie whereof we are accused we do deny that which is false and errors we deny for they are without God and that is your own conditions Gal. 2. 12. and there ye live without God in the world and who are Acts 4. 32. in the truth are of one mind and one heart now all the Priests see which pretend Gods and faith whether you be in one faith which if you do consider faith which is the gift of God ye know it not it cannot be bought and Eph. 2. 8. Act. 8. 19. 20. 21. sold for monie And shew me in the Scripture that ever the Prophets or Apostles had a set way of the world or seeked to the world for augmentations or tithes do Mat. 10. 8. not ye shew here the spirit of error erring from the way of the Apostles And do ye not shew your selves in the same generation of them that Peter spoke of who live in wickedness and go after the error of Baalam and 2 Pet. 2. 13. 14. 15. in the way of Cain to persecute the righteous seed where it is come here thou makest but a rod for thy own back who liveth in uncleanness sporting in the day Pro. 26. 3. Jude 10. 2 Pet. 2. 13. time feasting rioting and such are as naturall bruit beasts and what they know they know naturally whose Judgement lingers not whose damnation slumbers not wo unto you for you go in the way of Cain and the Lord is coming in power to pour his plagues upon the beast you beasts who doe not abide in the truth Pri. Obj. All which tends not onely to the disturbance of the publique peace and fafety of the Common-wealth but to the subversion of all government Answ That is false it is not our intention to destroy the Commonwealth of Israel for a Commonwealth Eph. 2. 12. is to bring up all into purity and Justice righteousness we set up own and honour in our souls for conscience sake And Justice is to keep peace and that we own Justice is not to make strife nor debate but to keep peace and he bears not the sword in vain but he that doth pretend Justice and is partiall and hath an evil eye and rules with his own will and tyrannic that we Jer 25. 10. Hosea 4. 2. 2 Tim. 3 4. Prov. 21. 22. Prov. 28. 9. Prov. 15. 8. 9. Rom. 8. 22. Psal 146. 9. Rom. 13. 12. deny for the Commonwealth is destroyed for want of Justice the Land mourns because of Oathes the Land mourns because of wickedness drunkennes fighting and wrangling carding and diceing shovelbord and bowling all these filthy pleasures ye lustfull ones which holds them up we deny for this cause the Creation grones but Justice we own let every soul be subject to the higher power for all power is of God that soul is subject to the power of God all these works are denied and this Justice which keepes peace and righteousness we own honour and set up in our souls Pri. Obj. We do in all humility adress our selves humbly and earnestly praying as you tender the glory of God Answ The prayers of the wicked are abomination to the Lord and your humility is fained it crouches Prov. 12. 22. Prov. 28. 9. Col. 2. 18. Psal 146. 9. to one and persecutes another here you shew your selves to be no Ministers of Jesus Christ for your weapons are carnall ours spirituall sayes the Apostle casting down spirituall wickednesses in high places which we witness and here you shew not the same spirit that was 1 John 4. 6. in the Apostles but of error Pr. Obj. And the good of so many souls as are and may be indangered by their impious principles and practises that you would be pleased to make use of that Authoritie wherewith the Lord hath invested you speedily to provide for the safety of true Religion and the publique peace Answ If you be Ministers of God ye are to watch Heb. 13. 17. for the souls tell me how many souls ye have led out of death but you are
in the flesh and your Ministry is carnall Cain is alive in you and the soul ye know not for it is in the death therefore dissemble not thou deceiver telling people of a soul for thou art him that keepes in the death and shuts the Kingdom of Heaven Mat. 23. 13. Jam. 5 6. Acts 7. 52. from against men and knowes not the soul for that is shut up from thy understanding that minde shall never know it thou art a murderer of the just and watchest for thy means and if meu will not give it thee thou fues them at the law therefore dost thou use carnall weapons to maintain thee in thy carnall Ministry it shewes thy weapons to be carnall and not spirituall shewing thy Kingdom to be of this world And here doth not thou shew forth damnable doctrines for shame blush Impious principles and practises we deny they are your own which keepes poor souls in death your preaching the carnall Letter to the carnall minde and your carnall weapons will not maintain you but you seek to a Magistrate here you shame your profession for where the truth is springing the pure seed arising you cannot suppress it with your carnall weapon the Letter then you run to a Magistrate without to suppress it while we all lived under your Ministry and what you spoke we took it for truth as being naturally blind hearing you blind then you owned us but God now Mat. 15. 14. of his infinite love and mercy according to his promise hath gathered us who have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day following such shepherds as you which fed your selves and cloathed your selves with the wooll made a prey upon us and sought for the Fleece Ezek. 24 12. 13. 14. 8. 10. but God as he hath said he hath fulfilled I will gather my sheep from their mouthes and my sheep shall be a prey no longer unto them and will feed them in a good pasture and we witness the Scripture fulfilled therefore do you hate us and seek to persecute them in whom Jesus Christ is made manifest but it is that the Gal. 4. 29. 2 Tim. 3. 12. Scripture might be fulfilled he that is born after the flesh persecutes him that is born after the spirit and if any man live godly in Christ Jesus he must suffer persecution here the Scripture is fulfilled you shew your selves to be carnall indeed you must have an outward Authoritie to rule your Religion for shame give over your profession for pure Religion he that lives in it and walkes in it hath power over his own tongue and is kept unspotted from the world and doth visit the fatherless Jam. 1. 26. 27. widowes and strangers and this hath not an outward power to order it but is guided and ordered by the spirit of the Lord to the Lord himself to whom be praises for ever and such we own in our souls and such ye seek to persecute and instead of relieving and Rev. 8. 14. receiving strangers you give them a report or scandall as wanderers that the Scripture might be fulfilled who preached the everlasting Gospel the world knew not and who forsook their own country and sought for another whom the world was not worthy of and you Heb. 11. 38. Heb. 13. 1. 1 Tim. 5. 10. shew your selves to be of that generation he that was a minister of God did exhort to receive strangers by that means some received Angels and the same eternal word hath God made manifest and sent his servants to witness it forth and to warn you all of wo and misery that will come upon all uncleanness and ungodliness and some of them you prison some of them you beat Mat. 10. 17. Mat. 27. 1. 20. Mat. 26. 3. 4. and mock and scourge in your Synagogues and some of them you hale before Magistrates And the chief Priests were ever the ringleaders to slay the righteous seed where it was born wherein the Scriptures come to be fulfilled and you shew the fulfilling of them upon the children of the Lord and the words of Jesus Christ true but he is coming who bears the government upon Isa 9. 6. Psal 23. 1. Col. 1. â—8 1 Thes 1. 1. his shoulders he alone will rule them who rules all nations with a rod of iron he alone will be their teacher and their Shepherd he alone rules his Church who is the head but this Church is not of this world nor maintained by any weapon of this world the true Church is in God yours vvithout vvho maintain it with a carnall vveapon you vvould have a speedy suppressing of the truth vvhere it is risen here you shevv your selves to be of that number vvho call evil good Isa 5. 20. Acts 13. 50. Acts 22. 22. and good evil and even the generation of them that vvould ever have had truth suppressed when it was risen Amos 7. 12. as they said to Christ depart out of our coasts as they said to Paul 't is not fit such a fellow should live upon the earth as to Amos go thy way into Judah prophecie there thatvvas the Kings chappell and he told them the songs of the Temple should be turned into Amos 8. 3. pla 119. 120. howling so shall that nature which hath turned Davids quakings and trembling into meeter when ye read them hats ye keep on and vvhen ye sing them hats ye put off and worship the vvorks of your own hands shewing the spirit of error Pr. Obj. By the checking the vvicked endeavours and proceediugs of these men Answ That is the blasphemer indeed vvhich vvould have the truth chect and be limitted It is vvritten the beast shall blaspheme God and his Temple And Rev. 13. 6. God hath raised up a light in many that are Justices to reprove that nature in you vvhich is fawning and flattering and you will fawn upon them vvhile they vvill Mica 3. 5. give you means but if they give you no means then you prepare vvar against them Pr. Obj. Which vve humbly conceive may be at least by ordering James Nayler and Geo. Fox being strangers to depart out of this County and to return unto their own homes Ans You pretended Ministers of Christ which do but conceive with an earthly power to hinder the proceedings of that which you conceive to be error which is the eternall truth and which conceivings arise out of pride Here it shews that you have not an infallible judgement and as it is written God will scatter the Luke 1. 15. proud in their imaginations and there is your portion All people though you now despise us and cast reproches slanders upon us ye shal eternally witness us but it is that the Scripture may be fulfilled There shall be false accusers incontinent fierce despisers of them that are good having a form of godliness and 2 Tim. 3. 3 4 5 and so on denying the power thereof vvhich the
concernment we shall ever pray Answ You are blinde without the truth and Prov. 28. 9. your prayers are an abomination unto the Lord and they who have the gracious guidance of the Tit. 2. 11 12. Lord will witness us for the free grace of God that brings salvation you have turned into wantonness it teacheth them to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts them we own where this grace doth guide we have unity with them but where this free grace hath appeared and is turned into wantonness them we deny and there is your conditions the grace of God hath appeared in many of the Justices which hath brought them from under your bondage which will not be your Executioners to execute your wrath and malice upon the harmless innocent people It hath been of late that they who lived under your Ministry the Lord alone was pleased to manifest himself in them so that they are brought to deny you and declare what was freely revealed in them presently you cryed out against them and had them before Magistrates to suppress the truth praised be the Lord who hath enlightened many by and with his own light and is setting up his own Kingdom to his own glory praises praisesbe unto the Lord God Rev. 11. 15. Almighty never did the Apostles go to any Magistrate to suppress people strangers who witnesse forth the power of truth in any where it appears that you have not the same Spirit that was in them It is the evil in you which would have the truth it self suppressed It is of great concernment for you to stand up to maintain your Kingdom for if truth rise ye shall lose your Kingdom eternally shall you witness us to be no Seducers be ye witnesses against your selves Mat. 23. 31. that ye are witnesses against the power of truth Another Petition put up by the Priests in Westmerland Priests Petition TO the Right Honorable the Justices of peace for this County of Westmerland Answ That which is Right Honorable is that which is pure which is of God which worships the Father of heaven and earth now all people fear John 5. 41 44. the Lord Jesus Christ and see if there be not corruption within that would be honored and worshipped as ye read in all the Scriptures they who honored the Lord Iesus Christ cryed against deceits and Iesus Christ testified against the works of the world and the Apostles testified against the same but that which was pure they John 7. 7. set up in their souls and so do we and honor in our souls Priests Petition The humble Petition of several Gentlemen Ministers of the Gospel and others friends and servants to Iesus Christ his Gospel truths and Ordinances and the general wealth of this Commonwealth and Nation Answ Never did the Gospel Ministers put up a Petition to a Magistrate to maintain the Gospel nor the servants of Iesus Christ wherein it appears Mat. 10. 10. 2 Cor. 10. 14. 2 Cor. 3. 6. 1 John 3. 12. John 4. 21 22 23 24. that you are Ministers of the Letter which is carnal and death and you must have a carnal weapon to hold you up for shame give over your Profession and you profess humbleness your humbleness is to persecute here you shew forth the nature of Cain and void of the knowledge of Iesus Christ and the Ordinances of Iesus Christ was never set up by man but man who lived in his own will was ever against them and you know not his Ordinances for they that knew his Ordinances were not persecutors but Paul before he was a Minister of Iesus Christ and knew his Ordinances he came with Letters from the Priests to persecute the Saints who believed in Iesus Christ and were of one soul and Acts 9. 2. Acts 22. 4. Acts 20. 7. Acts 4 32. met together yea in the night time all night where it shews you have but the form not the power which must be turned away from according to Scripture Priests Petition Sheweth that in the late wars we or the most of us did expose lives liberties estates and relations with all other personal advantages in the just defence of Religion and Liberty in concurrence with and maintenance of the just proceedings of our Parliament after the prosperous effects whereof we expected the settlement of the grand ends of our Engagement and so much the more as being the promise of the Parliament the vows of their affections the price of our prayers purses hazards losses banishments and the blood of many thousands our fellow servants in the work of God freely sacrificed in the quarrel of this Nation what hath been done in the settlement of our Civil Rights Peace and wholsom Law we bless God for and the Parliament as his Instruments nor can we but acknowledge what hath been done by them in the cause of God as their Acts against Adulteries Fornication Swearing Drunkenness Sabboth-breaking Ordinances against Promoters of Heretical Doctrines Acts against Ranters or Blasphemers may the Lord increase the number of these things Answ If ye will own the wholsom Law ye will own us but this is but a pretence for who owns the wholsom Law denies all corruption this is but a pretence whereby ye make a colour to make them that live in the truth to appear odious unto the world setting forth your selves unto the world Pharisee like and there to make the pure truth odious through your envious mindes but the day doth declare all things your end will 1 Cor. 3. 13. make it manifest though you pretend your selves to be Ministers of the Gospel yet your ends will 1 Cor. 3. 13. shew you to be bloody Cains and it doth now begin to appear the second birth is brought forth which doth not own your sacrifices this birth you 1 Cor. 15. 47 48 49. seek to slay Pr. Obj. Yet so it is that in this County severall persons proselytes of one Geo. Fox and James Nayler do in the time of our Assemblies ordinarily in a way of contempt and scorn come in anong us with their hats on at time of our prayer or singing used in our Gongregations some of them shew violent actions in time of Sermon or prayer or singing and cry out aloud with horrible clamors slanders abuses reproaches against our Ministers Answ That is false for our friends shew no violent actions but are against them but come peaceably in and if they be moved by the Lord to cry aloud who art thou that wilt withstand the Lord Do not you read in the Scripture that the Lord sent his Prophets and bad them cry aloud and spare not And as for clamors Isa 58. 1. we utterly deny it is your own and as for slanders abuses reproaches we utterly deny it is your own we are against all filthy minds that give forth reproaches but we speak the same language the Scripture doth from the same Word that gave it forth and your
therefore do you persecute me because I testifie against you that your deeds are evill And dealing with the Divel I utterly deny and the works of darkness for he that is born of God sins not neither can he because 1 John 3. 8. 9. the seed of God remains in him and the evill one cannot touch him but if they call the master of the house Beelzebub what will they do unto the children So it was Jesus Christ Lord and Master had that portion of the world it is the same now where he is made manifest in any the same generation persecutes it is no strange thing Mat. 10. 25. Pr. Petition That we know the Principles of some of their followers are against subjection to Magistrates against distinction amongst men and the practices of the most is such that there is a denying of relations children professedly refusing subjection to their Parents and servants to their masters Answ Whereas you say we are not subject to justice that is false for conscience sake let every soul be subject to the higher power for all power is of God and he that resisteth the power resisteth the ordinance of God So for conscience sake we honor justice and all men in the Lord but as for respecting persons we deny for the Scripture Rom. 13. 1 2. denies the same he that respects persons commits sin and is a transgressor of the Law He that was a minister of Iesus Christ said this Here you James 2. 9. Rev. 22. 15. shew your selves to be without and no ministers of God but would have others to transgress the law of God O false accusers where do any walk stubbornly against their parents but for conscience sake they cannot yeeld to those things which carnally they would have them act as follow the worship of the world without them and not worworship God in Spirit and set up your teachers of the world God hath raised up a light in many John 4. 23. Luke 1. 79. Mat. 21. 16. Mat. 11. 25. young children draws them to himselfe and you spue forth your venom against them servants and children because they will not hold you up and now when you are like to fall If Christs words should be fulfilled where he saith Call no man father upon earth and he that loves Father or Mat. 23. 9. Mat. 10. 37. mother more then me is not worthy of me what would you say to that Fathers and mothers pass away and that love that is in the flesh but the Father the Lord God of Heaven and Earth is for ever and who owns him will not walk in disobedience to any thing but the evill and if God put into the mouth of any servants to speak that doth Acts 2. 18. not take them from faithfulness in the outward to their masters where they are But you accusers which have the form of godliness but deny the power ever shew forth your selves Where do any of the servants masters go to complain to the Magistrates But you Priests shew your selves 1 Tim. 5 13. busie about other mens matters only to hold up your own profits and accuse the just with many false and scandalous slanders Pr. Petition That we are sensible what confusions divisions tumults and parties are made by these mens disturbances and cannot but with sadness of spirit remember that such small beginnings have in other nations grown to eat out their peace and stagger the foundation of their States as also to lay it before you what advantage it gives for the common enemy weakens the Parliaments interest in the peoples hearts Answ Truth ever stirred up confusion where it was though it lay close till truth came Luke 12. 49. as you read in the Scriptures Christ came to put fire in the earth and the Apostles where they came in the markets or Synagogues who witnessed forth the substance to draw people to it to serve the Lord in newness of life to come up into the everlasting truth and peace then every one stood up in his own imagination and thoughts as you do now to oppose the truth and said they would turn the world up side down Pr. Petition To see such persons unrestrained creats discontents and laies a clear foundation for civill wars or at least advantage to the Hollanders or French now in arms against us to carry on their wicked intentions with greater facility Answ The intention of your mind is to have truth restrained which takes away the occasions of all wars and brings into love and true heartedness and there is nothing discontent with us but that which doth not abide in the truth And wheras thou speakest of weakning the Parliaments interest and laying a foundation of new war This is hatched in your own minds so to incense ignorant people it is your own interest that you fear for if the Parliament should take away your Tythes and your means little love would appear to them for it hath been already said by you that the Parliament hath opened a gap for all blasphemings but the hands of evil doers we do not strengthen and you are the men that raise up civill warres against them that live peaceably and love peace and go about to take away the ocasions of all warres For the world raises up a persecution and a civill warre against a peaceable people whose intents are to bring up all to God to live in unity one with another to be of one heart and one mind and one soul to seive God in newness of life whom Christ Iesus hath set free from the Traditions and Rudiments of the world Now who are set free from the world you bring under your bondage and perfecute them if they will not obey you shewing forth the nature of Pharaoh not letting Israel go to serve God Priests Petition Therefore as you are Christians and English Magistrates vve are freemen born of England and desiring somthing more as instruments under God with others of your present peace do beg an chalenge from you Answ Now you shew your complements we are no breakers of peace who owns the peace owns us and he that bears this sword that cuts Rom. 13. 4. down all corruption and filthiness owns us For there is no peace to the vvicked saith God and this you shall all find vvho vvould have peace to that vvhich must die it is your eternall peace and eternal souls good that we are moved of the Lord to speak unto you for which eternally you shall witness Priests Petition 1. Your timely looking unto the Peace of England that it seems too evidently to be endeavored to be rent asunder Answ Justices that keeps peace we honor and set up and wait all for the peace but your intention in this is to have truth suppressed and wickedness flourish and the works of darkness not discovered here is Justice weakned and the hand of evil doers strengthened against the innocent which ever the chief Priests
did for they asked to release Barabas and crucifie Jesus the innocent and gathered the Elders against him to seek to put him to death so do you now where he is made manifest who are of the same generation Priests Petition 2. The protection of our selves and our Ministers from violence or disturbance in our worship of God and suppression of offenders Answ Where did the Saints or Ministers of God seek to a Magistrate to protect their worship but Acts 24. 5. on the contrary they were persecuted of such which the Jews and Priests did incense them to which is the same you do now as the Jews who came against Paul and said he was a pestilent fellow a mover of sedition a stirrer up of heresie a Ring-leader of the Sect of the Nazarens turning the world up side down and teaches contrary to our Custom and this holy place he told them God dwelled not in Temples made with hands neither was he worshipped with mens hands Acts 17. 24 25 which outward custom you are upholding now in the same nature that they were in when the Jews brought Paul to Felix holding up their own customs by an outward Law as imprisoning him Paul had no Law to maintain him but the Law of God and the eternal Word to guide him and Mat. 23. 4. Gal. 1. 1. Isaiah 33. 22. the same we do witness against all the powers of men but the power of God let every soul be subject too Priests Petition 3. Execution of the Statute against Sabboth breakers and such as under pretence of Religion are in no Religious Assemblies that day Answ All that live in pretence of Religion and not in power is nothing all that owns pure Religion owns us and all that owns the Sabboth the eternal Rest the eternal day owns us but while people have met together to set up you who in the week day invented fashions and on that day put it on so the eye goes out looking at new fashions and in the week day follows oathes drunkenness prophaneness pleasures and such practises we deny but to live righteously soberly in this present world this we own and whom you finde wrangling walking in uncleanness cursed speaking fighting drunkenness upon such you should lay the Law for the Law was made for the Lawless but you pretended Ministers seek to bring upon us bounds who are redeemed from these ways through the love and power of God if you were the Ministers of God you would go about to bring people from under all Law up to God but you shew your selves to be of that generation which shut the Kingdom of heaven from Mat. 23. 13. men which Kingdom is a Kingdom of peace this we witness Priests Petition 4. Charge to all differing judgements to meet together each Lords day peaceably and not to spread themselves to several places for disturbance Answ If any be moved by the Lord to come into your Assemblies to speak the word of the Lord unto them for your souls eternal happiness would you have this limitted this is your intent to limit the Holy one of Israel As for disturbance we all deny and to draw people up to God that we do out of all carnal ways for God is a Spirit and will be worshipped in spirit and in truth and this worship we own and who are here denies all your Temples and Priests herein is one Priest Jesus Christ the Biship of our souls for they who received the Substance denyed the Priests and they met together the first day of the week and when any was moved to go forth they went and witnessed forth the Substance to them that lived in the Shadows this we do and now to deny you Priests being ye cannot witness your call the Temple which God never commanded they that are in the Temples of God do This dark Ministry hath long reigned over people and kept them in bondage underimitated forms but Luke 1. 79. now God is raising a light in his people to gather them up to himself to live in love and unity one with another Pr. Pet. 5. Suppression of persons living without any calling Answ Then this suppression must come upon your selves for you cannot witness that ever you were called of God or sent forth by Jesus Christ to preach the everlasting truth for if you were you would not raise up persecution against them that witness a call from the Lord who of you receive whipping stocking stoning prisoning buffeting and haling us out of your Assemblies who do pretend your selves to be Ministers of Christ wait to have that suppressed in your selves that persecutes then you will not seek to oppress the just for your own ends that ye might be maintained in your beastly worship and your Antichristian ways Priests Petition 6. And your witnessing against all blasphemers of the name of God especially such as are contained in the Acts of Parliament Answ If you would have them witness against all Blaspemers then they must witness against you who calls evil good and good evil and vents forth so many Blasphemies against them who live in the power of truth Priests Petition And if the application of any effectual remedy lie not within your power that you will dlease to joyn with us in this desire and transmit this cause to the knowledge of the Right Honorable the Councel of State as a cause so nearly concerning the peace of England and we shall ever pray c. Answ You would have a Law or an Act forth under a pretence to suppress the truth under the name of Blaspemy because it doth shake your Kingdom who live in your self ends for ranting ways and blaspemy we utterly deny and takers of Gods name in vain which you do in every word you speak because ye know him not he is merciful to the just and unjust but you shew your cruelty against the just and persecute them Here you shew forth your serpentine nature and would beget others in the same envy to joyn with you to be the stronger to tread down the truth as it is written The Beast shall make war against the Lamb but the Lamb get the victory praises praises for ever be to the Lord God Almighty you say the Lords Prayer Forgive us as we forgive them that trespass against us but you persecute them that seeks your souls health seeking you and not yours their prayers are an abomination to the Lord. And what is Right and Honorable will Prov. 28. 9. Iohn 5. 44. Prov. 20. 3. Rev. 14. 7. deny all you and your Petitions for they who owns God and Christ owns us who owns peace owns us and we them in our souls but all the pretenders of God and godliness who live in uncleanness and ungodliness denying the power that cuts down iniquity which we own and set up Therefore all people whose mindes are now bent to raise up persecution and Priests who stands railing in your Pulpits incensing ignorant people
against harmless innocent people Are not you laying here a foundation for a new war and so digging a pit for your selves to fall into you need never fear them who live in the power of truth to raise up an outward war but it is your false suggestion to incense people to make them believe lies but God hath raised up alight in people and in Magistrates which discerns all your intents An Order that was ordered at the Sessions at Appleby in Westmerlrnd ORdered That whosoever shall hereafter disturb any Minister in the Publike Exercise of his Ministry within this County or give any scandalous opprobious terms against any of them shall be apprehended by the Constables or Church wirdens of the place where the offence shall be committed and brought before the next Justice of the peace to finde Sureties for his or her good behaviour and upon refusing to finde such Sureties to be committed to the common Goal till willingly they shall do the same or be from thence delivered by due course of Law And likewise all such persons as me t in great numbers and Assemblies in the night time within this County shall be apprehended and bound to good behaviour as aforesaid Priests Order ORdered That whosoever shall hereafter disturb any Minister in the Publike Exercise of his Ministry within this County Answ The Law of the Land doth give freedom to speak after the man hath done and here you seem to make a new Parliament and new Laws contrary to the Law of the Land and here you shew your selves not to do Justice not acting according to the Law of the Land and the 1 Cor. 14. 30 31. Num. 11. 28 29 Num. 12. 7. Heb. 3 2. 1 Law of God Moses said who witnessed forth the Law and was Ruler in the Law he wished that all Gods people were Prophets now he was faithful in the Law of God which God had commanded him and here thou shewst to act contrary to the Law of the Land and turn'st thy self out of thy justice And the Minister of God said that all might speak in the true Church and if any thing were revealed to him that fate by let the first hold his peace for you may all prophesie one by one that all may be edified and God may be glorified for the spirits of the Prophets are subject 1 Cor. 14. 30 31. 32. to the Prophets and here you do shew your selves to be no Prophets nor no Ministers and your Church no Church if any should come into your Assemblies and sit by and something be revealed to him and he say Let the other hold his peace and you say he disturbs the Minister 1 Thess 5. 19. Mat. 10. 17. 23 Heb. 11. 36 37. Acts 7 58. 59. here you would quench the Spirit and limit the holy one And here is the Scripture fulfilled upon you If they should speak you would scourge them in your Synagogues nay stone them beat them and imprison them and mock them and is not Jesus Christs words fulfilled here And they shall persecute you and now you shew it forth blush for shame and never take him for a cloak Gen. 48. Mat. 23. 33 34 35. Acts 21. 30. 2 Pet. 2. 12. for you are in the same Generation of them that persecuted them who lived in the truth be ye witnesses unto your selves that you are in the same nature that they were in that hailed Paul out of the Temple how darest thou then take his words into thy mouth O brazen face beast that doth not abide the truth Priests Order Or give any scandalous opprobious terms against any of them shall be apprehended by the Constables or Church Wardens of the place where the offence shall be committed Answ That which you call scandalous terms is the truth upon the deceit according to Scripture Gal. 3. 1. For Paul said they were bewitched them that were drawn from the Spirit of the Lord within them to carnal circumcision without them so do you bewitch the people now as sprinkling of infants and telling them of a Sacrament which there is no Scripture for and drawing them from Jer. 5. 30 31. their Teacher within them for Jeremiah said they bear rule by their means and held up the horrible filthy thing that was committed in the Land and Isa 56. 10 11. Isaiah said they were greedy dumb dogs which could not bark which never had enough seeking for their gain from their quarters And all people consider do not all the Priests of the world bear rule by their means and seek for their gain from their quarter we speak the truth we have a cloud of witnesses and Micah said the Priests Micah 3. 5. preached for hire and he that did not put into their mouthes they prepared war against him Do not you Priests sue men at the Law if they do not put into your mouthes nay of your own Church And yet professes your selves to be Teachers of Christ O for shame blush Paul 1 Cor. 6. 1 5. that was a Minister of Christ said to the Saints that went to Law there was not a wise man among them and here thou shewst thy self to be no Minister of Christ no not to walk according to the Letter no not a wise man Jesus Christ said Wo unto you Scribes and Pharisees hypocrites them that were called of men Masters and so are you them that had the chiefest places in the Assemblies and so have you stand praying in the Synagogues and so do you and vvith a Mat. 23. 6 7 8 10 23. pretence make long prayers devouring Widows houses and Iesus Christ cried vvo against such and you hold up those things which Christ doth forbid and you do make men believe you are Ministers of Christ and that Christ hath sent you and act those things vvhich Christ doth forbid and the same wo is upon you that was upon them that held up those practises and the Apostle said they had forsaken the right vvay vvo unto them for they have gone in the vvay of Cain and run greedily after the error of Balaam Are not 2 Pet. 2. 15. 3. Iude 11. you in envy like Cain do not you shew it forth and run after the vvages of Balaam for gifts rewards and covetousness vvho make merchandise upon the people and as Ezekiel said they seek after the Fleece and eat the Fat and cloath vvith the Wooll and kill them that were fed and made a prey upon them and devoured them But as the Ezek. 34. 23 10. 14. Lord said I vvill gather them from their mouths and feed them upon the mountains And this Scri ture we witnesse to be fulfilled praise and honor be to the Lord. And you Priests do not you seek after the wooll Will you make a lye of Scripture Friends do not say this is railing for I speak the truth and have a cloud of witnesses the prophets and Apostles which spoke from the same Word
Priests and consulted that they might take Iesus by subtilty and kill him The chief Priests hired Judas to betray Christ The chief Priests and Elders of the people set a great multitud with swords and staves to take Iesus and when he was taken they led him to the high Priests where the Scribes and Elders were assembled the chief Priests and Elders and all the Councell sought false witness again Iesus to put him to death The high Priest when he saw that he could not find witness to condemn him then he arose and provoke dhm to speak that he might ensnare him in his words but when Iesus held his peace then the High Priest did adjure him by the living God to tell whether he were the Son of God or no. And when he witnessed forth the truth the high Priest rent his cloaths and said he hath spoken blasphemy what further need have we of witnesses And from that they concluded he was worthy of death and then they spat in his face and mocked him And when the morning was come all the chief Priests and Elders of the People took counsel against Mat. 27 2. Iesus to put him to death And when they had bound him they delivered him to Pilat When Judas brought again the thirty pieces of silver the chief Priests confessed it to be the price of blood and took consell how to dispose of it The Vers 6. chief Priests and Elders accused Christ before Pilat of many things Pilat knew that for envy they had delivered him The chief Priests perswaded Vers 12 13 18. 41. 43 the people to take Barabbas and destroy Iesus The The chief Priests mocked Iesus on the cross with the Scribes and Elders and said He trusted in God let him deliverhim now if he wou'd have him for he said I am the Son of God The chief Priests called Christ a deceiver The chiefe Priests and Elders devised a lie and gave large mony to the Mat. 28. 11 12 13 14. Soldiers to report it and promised them security in so doing The chief Priests and the Captain of the Temple come upon the Apostles and being grieved Acts 4. 1 2 3 6 c. that they preached through Iesus the resurrection of the dead they laid hands on them and put them in hold and the next day the high Priest and all his kindred gathered together and when he had set them in the middest they asked them by what vowes and by what means they had done this and though they could not deny the power yet they agreed to threaten the Apostles lest they truth should spread any further The high Priest and they that were with him were filled with indignation because of the works done by the Apostles and put them in the common Goal The Acts 17 18 27 28. 53. high Piest called the Councel and all the Senate of the children of Israel against the Apostles and sent to the prison to have them brought and when they were come the high Priest said Did not we strictly command you to teach no more in this name And when the Apostles did still witness forth the truth they took counsell to slay them Acts 7. 1. Acts 9. 1 2 21. The High Priest examined Stephen and for witnessing forth the truth he was stoned to death Saul had letters from the High Priest whereby to persecute the Saints and to bring them bound ot the chief Priests The High Priest commanded to smite Paul on the mouth for speaking truth Fourty Acts 23. 2 14. Acts 24. 2. men having sworn to murder Paul came to the chief Priest for help to act it The High Priest descended with the Elders and a certain Orator who was to inform against Paul The chief Priests Acts 25. 15. and Elders informed Festus and desired judgement against Paul The Priests and the Prophets and Ier. 26. 8. 11. all the people said Jeremy thou shalt surely die because he spoke the word of the Lord. The Priests Ier. 23. 11. and the Prophets accused Jeremy to the Princes saying This man is worthy of death yea both Priest and Prophet are prophane yea in my house I have found their wickedness saith the Lord yea his watchmen are all blind they are ignorant yea they are greedy Doggs that can never have Isa 56 10 11 12. enough they are Shepeards that cannot understand they all look for their gain from their quarters Come ye say they I will fetch wine and we will fill our selves with strong drink and to morrow shall be as this day and much more abundant Awake ye drunkards and weep and howl all ye drinkers of wine gird your selves and lament Joel 1. 5 13. you Priests howl you Ministers of the Altar they build up Sion with blood and Ierusalem with iniquity the Heads there of judge forrewards Micah 3. 10. and the Priests thereof teach for hire and the Prophets thereof divine for money yet will they lean upon the Lord and say is not the Lord amongst us no evil can come upon us and now Mic. 3. 10 11. ye Priests this Commandment is for you If ye will not hear and if ye will not lay it to heart to give glory unto my name saith the Lord of Hosts Mal. 2. 1 2 3 4 I will even send a curse upon you and will curse your blessings yea I have cursed them already because you do not lay it to heart but behold I will corrupt their seed and spread dung upon their faces even the dung of your solemn feasts and one shall take you away with it And ye shall Jer. 5. 30 31. know that I have sent this Commandment unto you that my Covenant might be with Levi saith the Lord of Hosts A wonderful a horrible thing is committed in the Land the Prophets prophesie falsly and the Priests bear rule by their means my people love to have it so but what will you do in the end thereof for from the least of them to the greatest of them they are given to Covetousness and from the Prophet even unto the Priest every one dealeth falsly They have healed the hurt of the daughter of my people Jer. 6. 13 14 15 deceitfully saying Peace peace when there is no peace Were they ashamed when they had committed abominations nay they were not at all ashamed neither could they blush therefore they shall fall amongst them that fall at the time that I visit them they shall be cast down saith the Lord. I was moved to write this after the tryal at Lancaster An Exhortation to the People FRiends do not call this railing because we use plainness of speech and not with fained words nor sow pillows under your elbows as the false Prophets did as you read in the Scripture but we use the same language of the Prophets Christ and the Apostles who spoke against fained humbleness as it is as the Scripture saith They go on
in the way of Cain and run greedily after the error of Balaam and many shall follow their pernicious ways of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of O all friends and people see if there be not something within you which shews you sin and evil and the deceits of your own hearts which if you do hearken to it and love it you will love Christ for he is the light and hating this light you hate Christ because your deeds are evil and will not bring your works to the light least the light should reprove them and here iâ— your condemnation the light within you and it is not a Chapter nor a Verse without you And loving this light it will bring you off all the worlds ways and worships to worship God for they walked in their own ways which spent their money for that which was not bread and there you are in your own ways and it will draw you out of all the worlds Churches into the Church in God and wait in this light and it will gather all your hearts together to live in unity one with another and it will lead you to the everlasting day of the Lord and walking in that light there will be no occasion of stumbling for being disobedient to the light there will be stumbling at noon day Therefore all people prize your time this is the day of your visitation and salvation and if ever you own a clean pure conscience you will own us and if ever you come to know Jesus Christ you will own us and if ever you own the Lord God of heaven and earth and come to know him and worship him you will then own us and know us and if ever you own the life of the Prophets and the Apostles you will then own us to be sent of God and of God and we seek not yours but your saving health and souls good and your eternal peace and happiness and eternally shall you witness us to that which doth convince you I speak that which will witness with me in the end when the thoughts of every mans heart shall be revealed and the book of Conscience shall be opened therefore below in heart and consider where you are and learn the lesson of Christ and put him on and forsake all your blinde guides without you and minde the guide within you they are the sons of God that are guided by the Spirit of the Lord they are not the Sons of God who can profess and talk of the Letter and persecute them which are contrary to their opinions but shew forth to be the children of the Devil and not of God MY name is covered from the world and the world knows not me nor my name the earthly name the earthly man knows and he is afraid of reproach and cannot bear it upon the earthly name he that overcometh hath the new name and knoweth it he that is not come into the War knows it not he that overcometh sitteth in his throne he that overcometh is crowned he that is judged and judgement is brought into victory and then it is set in the earth he that overcometh eateth of the hidden Manna he that overcometh shal inherite all things he that is without hath the old name and wants all things and cannot judge any thing for the natural man knows not the things of God but the spiritual man judgeth all things he that hath an ear to hear let him hear and blessed is he that reads and doth understand what he reads G. F. TO THE Parliament of this Common-wealth and the General and Major General of the ARMY A Declaration of the present condition of several Inhabitants in Westmeriand and some part in Lancashire whose names are subscribed who have been faithful to the Parliament and serviceable in their places to this Commonwealth to the hazard of their Lives Liberties and Estates Declareth THat the Lord hath made known himself and manifested his love to us in letting us see the deadness and emptiness of all the outward Ministry of the world and hath according to his own promise led us forth of the barren Wilderness of outward carnal Worships and is his himself become out Teacher and hath made us willing to wait alone upon him for Teaching By the power and vertue of which we deny all the Teaching which stands in the will of man whatsoever and so meeting together to wait upon the Lords unlimitted power exhoring and building up one another in our most holy faith according to the practice of all the Saints before us Not onely spending the First day of the week in such Exercises but several other days and nights as the Lord gives us opportunity to the great refreshment of our souls and uniting of our hearts to the Lord and one to another to his everlasting praise and glory and having occasion to praise the Lord for that Freedom which the Parliament doth allow us for which the Priests much maligns us and stirs up the ignorant people in their Publique Assemblies to execute their rigour upon us fomentinglyes and accusing us to the Magistrates falsely causing some to be Endicted some Imprisoned and some bound over for no just cause at all And hath done all that in them lies to deprive us of that Liberty which the Parliament hath afforded As may appear by several Orders made at a late Sessions at Appleby in Westmerland wherein they have Ordered That we shall not meet together in the night time which hath been the practice of the Saints in former ages and hath been our practice because there are many Servants and young labouring people which cannot come on the day which comes at the night because we would not give an occasion of offence Wherein we do witness that while we did meet together on the night to sport and spend the time in vanity we were not medled withal but now we do testifie against all such practices and who lives now in the same nature hates us But Justice which cuts down filthiness and gives way for truth to rise we own But there are several got into Commission of the peace formerly Malignants and some that have been actually in Arms against the Parliament contrary to the Act of Parliament and are utter Enemies to the Truth as doth appear not onely here but likewise in Yorkshire where there hath been ten of our Brethren and Sisters kept in Prison in York Castle some of them the most part of a whole year and since the last Assizes were kept in close Prison until one of them dyed and so continued in close Prison until it pleased the Lord to move the hearts of some to procure them more Liberty And whereas we are a people accused to deny Magistracy it is not so For Justice we own in our souls which cuts down corruption which keeps the soul in the death For let every soul be subject to the higher power For all power is of God and that we set up own and honor for Conscience sake and all men in the Lord. Likewise our dear Brother James Nayler lies in Prison in Appleby who served the Parliament under the Command of Major General Lambert betwixt eight and nine years as we believe some of the Army can witness All that we desire is that Books may be printed whereby the Truth may be manifested And if we transgress or offend we are willing to suffer This Petition was signed by Three hundred and twenty nine of the Inhabitants of Lancashire and part of Westmerland FINIS