Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	call_v	lord_n	name_n	4,012	5	5.2726	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A71043	A cry against oppression & cruelty being a short account of the tryal, and of the sentence that was passed on several innocent people called Quakers, who are inhabitants of the city of Worcester, at the assizes holden there the 16, 17 and 18th days of the 5th month called July, who were imprisoned because they refused to swear in obedience to the commandment of Christ Jesus, &c, and for assembling themselves together peaceably in the name and fear of the Lord, to worship him in spirit and truth, according to his will.	Bourne, Edward, d. 1708.	1663 (1663)	Wing S4162A; ESTC R16278	16,462	26

A CRY AGAINST Oppression Cruelty BEING A short account of the Tryal and of the Sentence that was passed on several innocent people called Quakers who are Inhabitants of the City of Worcester At the Assizes holden there the 16 17 and 18 th days of the 5 th Month called July who were imprisoned because they refused to swear in obedience to the commandment of Christ Jesus c. And for assembling themselves together peaceably in the Name and fear of the Lord to worship him in Spirit and Truth according to his Will And when they bring you unto the Synagogues and unto Magistrates and Powers take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer on what ye shall say for the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what you ought to say Luke 12 11 12. The wicked delighteth in mischief but the followers of Truth abhorreth their wayes c. LONDON Printed and are to be sold by William VVarwick 1663. A Cry against Oppression and Cruelty c. IF we should altogethet hold our peace and not publish to the World what hard measure we have received from some who are in Authority wholly and without any just occasion given unto them as on our parts yet doubtless the righteous God who sees and beholds all the actions of men and will justly recompence for the same will in his own time clear our innocency and plead our cause for whose sake we suffer our Consciences bearing us perfect witness thereunto Yet in regard of some who have been informed otherwise concerning the cause of our sufferings then indeed it is as though we suffered in our own wills and in contempt of Authority and as though we were against all good Government when the truth is much otherwise Therefore to wipe off such aspersions that such as have been mis-informed concerning us may understand the truth this we declare in our own defence First We are brought to deny our selves from following our own wills that we might do the Will of God in every thing who hath called us to follow peace and holiness with all men And this we are taught to do by that Principle which God hath placed in us and not only in us but in all men which is the Light which Christ hath enlightened every man withal which lets them see their sin and wherein they are short in what they ought to be This is that which we say will lead even all people to do as they would be done unto and to seek others welfare as their own which every Christian ought to do and whosoever they be that are short in these things though they be called by the Name of Christians yet not doing that which the Spirit of Christ leads unto which is to seek others welfare as their own and to do as they would be done by though they may call themselves Christians yet indeed and really they cannot be said so to be Many Reasons might we give for what we have affirmed but this is sufficient It is said in the Scripture That so many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the sons of God And we say Such as are Christians indeed do and are made partakers of Christ's nature But it may be questioned What is the Nature of Christ Answer Meekness and humility and lowliness of spirit agreeable to his own words who said Learn of me for I am meek and lowly in heart c. O that those who are the cause of our oppression for the exercise of our Consciences towards the Lord even the righteous God of Heaven and Earth because we fear him and do labour to keep our Consciences void of offence towards him We wish that they and all others whose day of Visitation is not quite past would take diligent heed to the pure Light of Christ which shines in their hearts and so come to learn of Christ to be as he was that their souls may enter into rest that the Kingdom of God they may know in them which consists in peace and joy in the Holy Ghost c. and this we do from our hearts desire on their behalf Another thing charged against us by some is That we do what vve do in contempt of Authority c. Ans God vvho knovveth our hearts can bear us vvitnesse to the contrary unto vvhom vve do appeal and to his faithful Witness in every mans Conscience vvhich vvill let them see that vvhat vve do vve do it not in contempt of Authority but for Conscience sake tovvards God and if men require that from us vvhich God doth forbid to be done vvhether it be not better in such a case to obey God rather than man Let his faithful Witness in every mans Conscience give an ansvver Another thing charged against us by some is That vve are against all good Government c. Ans Unto vvhich Charge vve say Nay for vve are for a good Government and all just Lavvs and just Magistrates we own and do honor such as do rule for God who are a terror to the evil doer and a praise to them that do well such bears not the Sword in vain such answers the Witness of God in every mans Conscience which is just But such as do govern contrary to God's Witness in every mans conscience doing that which is unjust and unequal in the sight of the Lord who is just and whose way is equal it is such as the Light doth reprove and condemn in their own Consciences and such as these we cannot own but must testifie against And if by such our sufferings be continued we shall not rise up with carnal Weapons to work our own deliverance but patiently endure what may be further laid upon us for the Truth 's sake committing our Cause unto the Lord in whom we trust and do believe that he will in his own time deliver us by his holy Arm of Power unto whom be praises and dominion and thanksgiving for his mercy and loving-kindness who keepeth Covenant and mercy with all who trust in him from generation to generation for ever Concerning the manner of our Tryal and of the sentence that was past on us afterwards Several of us being brought into the Court by the Judges Order the 16th day of the 5th Month called July some of us were brought to the Bar first Thomas Ball was brought unto whom the Judge spake as follovveth Judge Have you taken the Oath of Allegiance Tho. Ball. Ans Nay Judge Will you take the Oath T. B. Nay Christ hath commanded to the contrary vvho said Swear not at all Then William Pit vvas brought to the Bar the Judge spake to him c. Judge Upon what account were you at Robert Smith's House the 8th day of June VV. P. Where are my Accusers Iudge VVill you take the Oath W. P. An. Let me be cleared of what I stand here charged for then I shall answer to this Next Gervase Pierson was brought to the Bar the

you and lifted up his hands saying If I do otherwise it will be between me and the Lord. E. B. I desire to ask one question in the fear of the Lord Judge That you may in the fear of the Lord. E. B. Suppose that if Christ and his Apostles were here at this time and if they should meet together would not this Law take hold of them Judge Yes that it would but said afterwards I will not answer your questions And said you are not Apostles E. B. We are Christians followers of Christ as they were then interrupted Judge Take them away And as to what I then said it is truth for we know that the same Spirit which led them leads us even the Spirit of truth which leads unto all truth and if it were not for the truths sake that we suffered we were in a sad condition and people may well believe that if it were not to keep our peace with the Lord we would not expose our selves to such hardships and cruelty as we do meet withall from the world because we refuse to swear in obedience to Christs command who saith swear not at all and because we dare not neglect to assemble our selves together in the name and fear of the Lord it being that way by which we have found him and have and do enjoy his holy presence amongst us c. Then Richard Fido Will. Pitt Edw. Stanton Abr. Roberts Gervase Pierson Abraham Armes and others were brought to the Bar the Indictments being read the Witnesses sworn and 〈◊〉 Judge spake VVill you take the Oath of Allegiance R. Fidoe I did never deny Allegiance to the King by way of swearing until I knew that Principle which did more oblige me to the King than swearing can do Judge VVhat is that Principle you speak of R. F. It is the pure Principle of God vvhich leads me to do to all men as I vvould they should do unto me Judge That is a good Principle it is the VVord of God Judge VVill you take the Oath now R. F. Is there amongst you any one that can accuse me of any thing done by me against the King that by it I should be suspected Or what is the ground of tendering it to me Judge It is in order to one of your Indictments VVil. Pyt. It is very vvell knovvn vve have been a suffering people for these many years under the former Powers in this very matter so that if this had been the first Oath we had refused to take you might have had more ground to have suspected our Allegiance to the King and his Government R. F. I desire to hear the Witness that svvear to the Indictment VV. P. Before the Witness be sworn I desire to be informed by the Court lest through our ignorance of the Law vve should deprive our selves of our own proper right The matter is this Whether vve may have liberty to except against such men of the Jury that are greatly prejudiced against us and so not competent Judges in this matter Judge Before the Jury was sworn you might but now you cannot VV. P. We were not present vvhen the Jury was svvorn Wherefore it seemeth we are deprived of our just right in this matter Iudge What have you to say against them I hope they are none of them of your Faction W. P. If vvhat vve have to say vvill not dismiss them it is to no purpose to declare it One of the Witnesses swore that we vvere at a Meeting about the number of 46. and that we refused to take the Oath of Allegiance at our commitment The Judge asked another of the Witnesses what he could say Witness I was there too and I say as he said Sir R. F. This Witness makes nothing against us What visible testimony have you against us tending to the Worship of God Witness None at all Iudge What were they doing Witness Some sitting and some standing R. F. Did you hear any one pray or speak or see any Book opened amongst them Witness answered No. Judge What have you to say for your selves For what end were you at that unlawful Meeting W. P. There are three or four fatherless Children amongst us vvhich we are to take care for that they may not be chargeable to Parishes for maintenance such things are taken care for amongst us when we meet together sometimes and whether we were not met together at that time for that end you are to prove Judge If you were met together for that end it is unlawful for you are to go from House to House W. P. That which is charitable is not unlawful Judge I leave that to the Jury whether they will take this new invented Plea for a sufficient ground to excuse your being at that unlawful Assembly or not Although the witness may prove little yet if the Jury believes you were met together under pretence of Religious worship as they well may it being your constant practice they may find the Bill R. F. You of the Iury take notice that all this makes nothing against us Judge That is true I may speak to the Jury for you R. F. But give me leave to inform them with the truth The Judge spake to this purpose following and would not allow Rich. Fidoe to speak Gentlemen of the Jury it is true this witness makes nothing against these men yet I shall leave it to you that if you as believe they did meet together under pretence of religious worship you may find the Bill Many things more were mentioned between other Friends the Iudge tending to the purpose before expressed which are left out so we were taken away and not permitted to speak what we would although the Iudge spoke otherwise the day before saying we should have liberty to speak as much as vve vvould vvhen we came to our tryal and said he would do us us all the right he could but let the Witness of God in every ones Conscience answer whether it vvere so or not The Iury being returned to give in their verdict found the Bills against us notwithstanding the evidence was made void in effect as upon the examination of the Witnesses doth appear before-mentioned upon our tryal Then John Price John Townsend were called to the Bar with Su. Pierson to receive the sentence also Edw. Bourne Geo Knight and Robert Tompkins Tho. Jukes and John Clark were called to the Bar the third time and the Oath was tendered unto them before sentence was passed Robert Tompkins desired to hear the Oath read which was accordingly done Iudge Will you take the Oath Tompkins answered No it is not my principle to swear E. Bourn spake What is truth in the Oath we can promise and if we do not swear it is in obedience to Christ's command but if you can convince us by the Scriptures that we may swear and not offend the Lord see what we will not do Iudge I will not talk with you according to the Scriptures I