iniquity with our God nor respect of persons nor taking of gifts and he charged them saying Thus shall ye do in the fear of the Lord faithfully and with a perfect heart and what cause soever shall come to you betwixt blood and blood betwixt law and commandment statute and judgement let them not trespasse against the Lord. Look upon this all ye that have contrary to this holy Law which is the written word of God given so long since to judge the earth this word of Sion shall throw down all your witchcrafts of Jesabel and your night-Spels of subtilty for ye have not judged according to the holy word of God Some may say Woe to you Judges Lawyers and Juries for destroying the declaration and truth of Gods word changing it into your own forms and not proving all Causes by Scripture all your legal rudiments must fall at the appearing of Sions glory and shall cause all your Rivers in Egypt to dry up for his word and the Saints must judge the earth and your unstable justice shall fall and come to nothing when the word of God shall be every mans true testimony to restore and to redresse to bring again and to reduce to settle all things to their ancient Oiginal which have been so long traduced from their place And without all question the godly of the people shall govern meaning the remnant of the Tribes out of Sion For I will cleanse your bloud I am the Lord that shall rore from thence and utter my voice and the earth shall shake but I will be the hope and heritage of Jacob He will be jealous for his land and have pity by his redeemed that they may have justice from God out of Sion And I cannot see how any other law can be warrantable but onely this word of God and to deny all mens mixture which are but ordinances of men and legal 1 Cor. 6.1 Dare any of you having a matter against another go to law before the unjust and not before the Saints As if he should say will you bring your selves within the danger of the cursed laws of the Gentiles And in Vers 2. he saith Know you not the saints shall judge the world and we shall judge Angels much more the things that pertain to this life Joel 3.2 the Lord saith He will plead with all nations for the heritage of his people saying behold I will raise them out of the place where ye have sold them And elsewhere he saith I will restore unto you the years the Locusts have eaten the Canker-worm the Caterpiller and Palmer-worm which I have sent amongst you As if hee should say I will take away all the devourers that have led you captive which have seduced the simple carying on causes in Latin and in an unknown tongue This is not that law which the Apostle James declareth in his second Chapter saying So walk and so speak as you may be judged by the law of liberty which is Sion to try all your actions by and so to be justified by Gospel truths which is contrary to the laws of men And wicked men ought not to bear sway for God will have a community to communicate justice to all according as truth shall guide them to this law of liberty and Gospel freedom and not by mens ordinances that must fall For mercy shall rejoyce over judgement and shall glory over all oppression We cannot finde by either law or Gospel that men should die by any outward act of theft but the ancient records of God manifest only restitution and if the person be not able to restore then be a servant or slave to the person whom hee hath offended The Lord saith He that killeth with the sword shall die by the sword shewing that by murther bloud shall touch bloud it were good if legal cruelty were restrained as yet it hath not but in short time provided by our God we shall have truth established in our borders with mercy and justice to remain in our streets it hath been a long time mixed with Wormwood by rigorous and cruel laws being enacted that any malitious man that would swear against another man whether it were right or wrong as many times by way of supposition not considering the danger of an oath or whether it be right or wrong the Oath being passed the Jurie presently findeth it the plaintiffe having no way to prove the wrong done but his own Oath by an inditement under the King to prove the theft making the King his grand witness which hath been an intollerable mark of the beast and all ye Jury-men may be ashamed and cover your mouths for all the bloudy Verdicts you have given up look to it for God will call you to an accompt for all your works in that you have set the King to prove mens actions which hath been a lying testimony when the King hath been far distant from the Bench ye corrupt Judges and simple Jury-men it hath evidently appeared by some that hath been wrongfully and hastily put to death a miserable spectacle before your eys and this is a fin that will lye heavie upon Judge and Jury-men when ye shall take the King for a witness as if he were present to prove the felony this is a high principle for a knave to work his will to prove the felony done to the Plaintiff but draw the Curtain there the King hath something else to do then to come and prove your unjust act A miserable heathenish law and Turkish the Turk can but demand a mans life and what is it else to do in this We see plainly the King may be enriched by such a law as for bringing in either to himself or some other Lord of a Mannor felons goods which freedom they have purchased from him that is gone And this law cannot be satisfied with mans life but wife and children must be utterly undone and all taken from them by the lord of felons goods O down with this Babylon I wonder the world doth not violently pull her down for they cannot be contented to take the things that were stoln which is all they can have but they will have all then all shall be mine so that the thing is although he never stole before and the fact be of small value yet he must lose his sweet life and die as a dog which is a base inhumane and salvage cruelty Turkish and not Christian-like the just God and Lord Jehovah will surely confound such doings Some have been by relation prepared for the ladder and yet by accident the right theef hath been taken and for the same fact hath suffered death a heavie thing it is unto that Jurie that shall censure a man to death by an indictment under his own pretence by an indictment in the Kings name yet we do not justifie theft but that it should be lawfully proved as all other trespasses be under two witnesses every truth shall be established for one witnesse which
Witch up the prices of corn These are abominable branches and theeves to the Common wealths good All these and such as these be would be branded with the letter G. signifying God hath plagued thee Now this publick theft is far worse then poor poverteous theft for poor poverty judgeth the law and justifieth it self When the world and all outward means fail yet God will be seen in equity and will justifie the poor mans condition in a way of consideration Sir you and all the Parliament should be the breasts of our Consolation yet we know not how you will order our Common wealths affaires which as yet we lye under your veyl and liable to your Disposing not yet enjoying a free National stability according to Gods Institution or Creation but to live in hope and above hope looking beyond all outward externals which is nothing in his sight Now the Over-ruling power and providence of God guide you in those great affaires you take in hand Yet further to let you understand we lie yet in Darknesse under a sad Dispensation betwixt a King and an unsetled State full of murmurings distractions and declinings from true godlinesse working our own ends by personal greatnesse not seeing that sweet enjoyment we might have in God if we did not so highly prize this fading world but to see nothing honourable below Christ but all mens honours shall quake as an Aspen leafe and none shall hold but that of godlinesse Who is afflicted and I not or who shall declare but I from the Lord I fear not to speak the truth in the Lords Design I can have no rest night nor day untill I see his work accomplished but there is much covetuousnesse and oppression in our Nation that as yet we must not say our God is a reconciled God but his hand is stretched out still untill he hath bent Juda and gathered in Israel and restored Jerusalem and untill then the sword shall drink bloud and shall not cease is it riches honour or greatnesse ye strive for O take the best Season and goldenest Opportunity it is not an outward enjoyment will make you inwardly happy but in that you tread down all principalities and powers for Christ Jesus his Crown and Dignities and that is the highest appearance and fullest power and God will crown the works of all his Saints that stand up for his Kingly Power and I beseech you to lay down your honour at Christs feet and then you shall be exalted for things in heaven and things on earth and things under the earth must bowe at the Name of Jesus and at his appearance for God will bring down the high spirits of Mount Seir and Capernaum and he haughtinesse of the proud earth shall come down and the humble shall be exalted for the Lord will raise the honour of his Son that hath been long crucified under the worlds tyranny so that at his appearing both Lord and King shall refuse their titles of honour I speak not this to your disgrace but to speak the things I have heard and seen Act. 4.20 and I dare not but appear for Christ in the face of fire and faggot or greatest damp or danger I am a poor man I am sure I need not look for honour neither do I acknowledge any thing honourable below Christ therefore in truth Lord your honour must fall at his appearing O would to God you would make known that which cannot be hid for now it is high time to awake that Sion should put on strength for now it is come to the birth and wanteth your help to bring forth O that you would please to stand up to maintain true Judgment that Justice may run down our streets so you shall prosper in blessings even as a garden refreshed with sweet drops from above verily ye shall be as the morning Star in brightnesse to passe the Lord shall blesse your going out and your comig in he shall be your consolation and great peace and much happinesse shall attend your gates The Work in hand is to raise the Tabernacle of David that is fallen which is a restoring of many generations The duty we are Obliged is to build Gods house and to destroy all other foundations and to come into one fold which is Christs sheepfold called the new Model or Jewestical Fabrick We are all bound to build up the partition wall that hath been trod down so long even the holy City which our Saviour and Lord telleth us shall be trod down untill the fulnesse of the Gentiles come in Zach. 6.14 the 3. 5. he is your King Hos 2. I will betroth thee unto me in loving kindnesse and in mercy Make the Lord your King he is your King which if you do the high Lord will blesse you in your good name in your person and in your estate and will raise good out of your generations that you may be called the Repairer of the breach and restorer of paths to dwell in He is your King Psal 21. thou hast a perfect crown of gold upon his head Psalm 22. For the Kingdome is the Lords and he is the Governour among the Nations Psalm 2. Yet have I set my King upon my holy hill Sion His Kingly power was seen in Joseph Psalm 150.21 22. He made him Ruler over all his substance to bind his Princes at his pleasure and to teach his Senatours wisdome he set Moises his servant and Aaron whom he had chosen and his wonders was seen in the Land of Ham. And the Prophet John saith he that overcometh shall rule the Nations with a rod of iron Surely our God shall do this and greater things Another great example under the type of Joshuah Jos 3. If thou wilt walk in my ways and if thou wilt keep my charge then shalt thou judge my House and keep my Court and I will give thee places with them that stand by In this we see that God is ever ready to crown a good work also they that be faithful to God he will be faithful to them Further that your Excellency would be pleased to let the prisoners go free that their cry may not come up to the Lord by relation some of them have died in prison by salvage cruelty There is no Nation under heaven but do allow their prisoners something if it be but bread and water but in truth some have not had that allowance which is not Christian-like being kept there having no relief nor support Is God seen in it or shall he not controverse for these things Open your prison gates for pity and let offenders be branded as bond-servants with a letter to be known to whom they have offended and so to restore as they be able and and not to keep them in hell upon earth Also it is manifested that some poor godly Christians have lost their lives denying their designe not having justice which were their arrears desiring it for their wives and could not have it and
so denied to go forth which caused the loss of life And it hath been a woful spectacle in the worlds eye when it hath been apparently known that some devouring Nimrods have bought out many poor souldiers pay some for 4 1 5 1 or 6 1 in the score and all for want of justice Their cries will come up to the God of heaven I beseech your Excellence promote true justice for Gods cause and fear no human flesh and the Lord will be your arm of defence Oh Army of the Lord Esay 1.26 I will restore thy judgments as at the first and thou shalt be called the City of Righteousness when Sion shall be redeemed with justice and when you shall redeem the oppressed judge the fatherless and plead for the widow then the Lord will delight in your works of piety Now that it may please you to take into your consideration and to move our Parliament upon the Lords designe that both they and you may be called blessed in the act of Restoring Ezek. 47.14 the Lord declareth saying Ye shall one inherit as well as another Meaning the Earth or the Land which is the Lords Verse the 22 he saith Ye shall divide the Land by lot for an inheritance And lastly he saith What Tribe soever the stranger sojourneth in there ye shall give him his inheritance Now the clamation of our poor Israel is for want of Commons to plant and build upon and this being alienated and estranged from them by cursed Ahabs which now do enjoy Naboths Vineyard and spoil our good Commons The Lord hath sent me to move you upon this object that they which have possessions should not take away the Commons from the poor Common wealth of Israel but that they which have no inheritance should have their Lots in the Commons as it is their right by Creation from God the Prophets Esay Jeremy and Ezekiel shall be tilled and become as the garden of Eden Joel 3.2 I will plead with them for my people Israel and for my heritage which they have cast lots for my land and parted it among the Nation Now if your Excellency please to help the Lord against the mighty then he saith Joel 2. I will restore to you the years that the Locusts have eaten the Cankerworm the Caterpiller and the Palinerworm which I sent amongst you Lastly That you would please to fall and kneel at the appearing of the Lord when he shall set up his Ordination or Determinate Power then all your subordinate powers must fall then he that is least in the world shall be greatest in his Kingdome and he that overcometh shall rule the Nations Let the high praises of God be in your mouth and a two edged sword in your hand to destroy sin for a spiritual and temporal Justice So I rest your poor petitioner to command Denus to the restored Church in the Isle of Pathmos A Protestation and Engagement I Am ingaged for the Cause and shall lay down my life and dearest blood and will do it in case of conscience for the defence of the everlasting Gospel though humane Lawes do fail and mens ordinances come to nothing yet how unchangeable is the Law of God in his ordination Christ at his first appearance destroyed every mans law and ordinances and thereupon wounded the Beast saying All power is given me in heaven and in earth Go teach all Nations as if be should say every law statute and ordinance of man is at an end yet many strive for earthly and humane power and cause the sword to rule by a law which is not the Law of God to kill and keep alive although for common trespasses making their own wills a law contrary to the law of Sion and we hold up the sword by a law and a law by the sword which is not good our Lord saith he that killeth with the sword shall dye with the sword He in Genesis Whosoever killeth Cain his blood shall be required seven fold and Revel 11. Whosoever killeth them shall be so killed tt is better for a man to dye an Anatomy then to be a man-slayer to take away life and free Creation from any of the Creatures of God and to lord over them by cruelty Our Saviour saith offences will be but woe be to them by whom they do come it were better a milstone were hanged about his neck and cast into the Sea then to offend in bloud robbery or any such thing by legal cruelty pretending a law above the Gospel and Records of Christ to his Disciples which law to maintain is not so ancient as that order of Melchizedeck made to Abraham by a promise though the law was given by Moses yet faith and truth came by Christ So that under the name of Melchizedeck or under the name of Christ he the Lord hath alwayes put an end to mans ordinances according to his Divine Ordination and I know no law of man that can stand before the Law of God in Sion there is but one Law and one Law-giver which gift to us is the free Gospel as James saith So speak and so walk that ye may be judged by the Law of liberty which is the Word of God for an outward record called by David his Statutes Divine meaning the Old and New Testament by way of cauâ—â—â—â— that every godly Magistrate should lay the Bible book before him to convince every sinne and errour of the offender and not to use any other book of mixture compounded together lest they adde or diminish from Gods Word or Commandment for then and at that time the Bible shall be the chief Statute to maintain Freedome and Justice it is not your statutes of Winchester London or Magna Charta so Evangelical or ancient that can stand when the power of Christ appeareth and shall shine out of the East unto the West and from the North to the South so that all the Nations shall see his glorious appearing which is his testimony of Light to me a sufferer for the Gospel of Christ and I know not whether by imprisonment or losse of life the prison is but freedomes purgatory and it shall at the last conquer hell and Freedome shall have victory by his statutes Divine it is for the Law of God that I dye daily and am much killed in my dear Desires I stand up for the liberty of the Gospel and Freedome of the Creation and to plead for the Kingdome of Christ and the inheritance of the people which I hope you will not hinder me of Our Saviour saith Matth. 10. Fear them not for there is nothing hid that shall not be known and I cannot but declare the things I have seen I am not onely ready to suffer your imprisonment but to suffer death or any torture for the Cause I mean for the Law and Liberties of the Gospel of the Lord. I am a faithful witnesse of God I fear not your Famine Distresse or Death I am the person to raise
Johns testimony he was Juda and I am Israel Denus the feet of the two Witnesses Septemb. 29 1651. The Law of Sion HEre is an Alligory of two Lawes the first is the singular and pure Law of God the other is the unjust lawes of Man This pure Law of God shall put an end to all the lawes of man upon the seventh Vial this Law of God gendereth to life and salvation but the lawes of man do gender to cruelty and corruption which lawes of man must fall before Sion which are not lawes according to his Word and true equity all such lawes are but mens ordinances and shall not stand before the Law of God for there is but one Law and one Law-giver which is God that hath given us his Word for a Law to be a restoring right to all and for want of this true execution of Gods word it maketh the curse remain upon the Creature to this day and because of forbidden fruit which is contrary to his Institution maketh it so but Gods word should be set in its place to judge or condemn to save or justifie and not mens traditions which are vain Our Saviour saith Man liveth not onely by bread but by every word that cometh out of Gods mouth which is from his ancient Decree to keep all things by his Providence which is a hidden law and spiritual and agreeable to the letter of his Word and I know no other law that man can erect but to judge all things by the law of Gods Word and to throw down mens ordinances which be not agreeable to it for such lawes proceed not out of Sion neither can our Judges be Judges in Israel except they make Gods word the rule of justice to try causes by And going contrary to this Rule it maketh many fleshly Judges and weak Jury-men O simple ignorance and base folly to go from the Judge of Heaven and Earth to serve under these Judges which destroy his Word and Law of justice for there is no offence committed before God or against man but may be judged by his word of Truth and pure Gospel under the jurisdiction of Christ and his Church which may be called Jure Divino that is under twelve holy persons or so many Senatours of Gods house that your law may wholly proceed out of Sion that Divine Justice may censure all judicature power and so to tread them under feet with the scarlet whore which have taken away many mens lives contrary to Gods word and holy Scripture it hath been a poor businesse carried on so long that wicked Judges should sit to give sentence and some wicked fore-men among the rest should give up their verdict contrary to the Law of Sion having judged for reward and some for want of seeing the pure Will of God and declaration of his word his word ought to judge and govern and shall throw down all oppressing that his people may have rest from all their enemies these Judges have been in such esteem before men and yet ignorant of Divine justice which he hath set before them in his Word I desire you all to know both Judge and Justice if you adde or diminish from Gods VVord it will prove unjustice and therein ye fall severity and hinder the free passage of the Gospel changing it into your own ordinances using the Gospel to your own turns which is a cursed thing to do your lawes are of Euphrates which shall perish in Armagiddon and fall by destruction ye Judges Lawyers Priests and Jesuites your ordinances shall burn with Babylon and your seven streams of power are struck by the seventh Vial of Gods wrath his Law must go out of Sion which shall cast out all your laws that justice may run down our streets What makes so much bauling in our Churches To answer it is because they go on hood-winked compounding the lawes of men amongst the ordinances of God which be far distant the one from the other and for want of the true executing of this word of God all your Churches are in a combustion as Bees up in armes one against another for the truth and untill we make Gods word the Rule and Law of our civil affaires to bring our selves under the Captivity of Christ and untill then the curse shall remain I properly mean the cursed lawes of man which have bought and sold the lives of some men contrary to the Word of God and Law of Sion this curse or cursed ordinance of man God will suddenly burn up and abolish by the brightnesse of his appearing and David saith Blessed are they that keep his testimonies thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee I will not forget thy word Princes did sit and speak against me but I did meditate in thy statutes devine Thy Law is my counsel day and night I have more understanding then all my Teachers I understand more then the Ancient because I keep thy Law I have refrained my feet from every evill way because of thy word How sweet are thy words unto my taste Thy word is a light to my feet quicken me according to thy word mine eyes prevent the night watch I beheld the transgressours and was grieved because they kept not thy word Tears run down mine eyes because they keep not thy word Now if our Lawyers would truly see this Law of God they durst not do as they do and if our Judges would prove causes by this word of God then might we call them the Judges in Israel but it is not so for they prove their own testimonies and act sin by a law but look into this 119. Psalm and ye shall find it pithy to this purpose he calleth it thy Statutes divine which if our Magistrates did but savingly look in this glasse of Gods law they might well throw away their books which be but the step-mother to this Law of Sion called mens ordinances which have thus traded in power over Gods word and true Gospel untill the year of our Lord 1650. which was then shaken though not utterly faln yet it shall lose its shining light of oriency and tho Lawyers and Judges shall never gain credit nor comfort until they do erect the true word of God far above the statutes of Winchester 2 Chron. 19. there ye may find at large that Jehosaphat made of the Levites and of the Priests and of the chiefest of the Fathers of Israel for the judgment of the Lord and for all Controversies And in that ye may find he did not set the ungodly to judge nor bloudy men that should judge according to their own wills but such as were chosen men of the Lord that should make his holy word the rule of justice to end all differences Now good Jehosaphat gave the Judges a charge saying Take heed what ye do ye judge not for man but for the Lord who is with you in the judgment take heed and do it for there is no