Correspondency betwixt Iesuits and Quakers as might render them suspicious or did you ever know any Priests or Iesuits in their Meetings and there suffered to Preach c. For I know the Iesuits and the Quakers and there is such vast difference in points of Religion that it is as possible to reconcile Light and Darkness as to reconcile them though they may appear different from us yet I think they are no Murtherers as the Papist have been and are I have no more but that I am yours though unknown T. O. The 13 th of March 1678 9. An Exhortation to all People to prize their Time in making their Calling and Election sure before they go hence and be no more As it hath pleased the Lord God in his tender Mercy in his Heavenly Power in Christ to assist his tender Hand-maid Mary Sam and give her full Assurance of her Eternal Salvation who lived with her Grand-Father William Dewsbury at Warwick where he was and is Prisoner for the Testimony of our Lord Jesus Christ And there she departed this natural Life when she was the Age of Twelve Years and sixteen Weeks and in her Sickness declared to all about her what God had done for her Soul. A brif Account whereof Follows ALL People mind the fear of the Lord who created the Henvens and the Earth the Seas and Fountains of Waters and all turn your Minds to the Light of Christ Jesus in your own Consciences that reproves for Sin in the secret of your Hearts and this God requires of you all to search your Hearts thorowly with the Light of Christ Jesus which is the true Light that lighteth every one that comes into the World as it is written in the Scriptures of Truth Iohn 1.9 And as you are faithfull to the Light it will let you see how you have lived and spent your precious time that is gone over your Heads then will your Consciences be awakned with the Light of Christ and you will be made sensible of your careless sinful and miserable state and condition that you have lived in so will the Lord in great Mercy to your Souls set your sin in order before you and the Iniquity of your Heels will compass you about so will you be made sensible of your lost and perishing State and Condition that if the Lord did not look upon you in his Mercy in the Lord Jesus to give you strength to forsake every evil Way and Repentance for what you have done you would perish forever So from the deep sence of your own nothingness and the need of the help of Christ Jesus the true Light and blessed Saviour to whom you Cry and Pray continually That he would perfect his great work of Regeneration in leading you in the foot-steps of the Tribulated Companions who go weeping and seeking the Lord their God asking the Way to Sion with their Faces thitherwards no more to let your Eyes slumber in peace nor your Eye-lids have rest until you be assured the Lord is your God and that he hath blotted out your Sins and done away your Iniquities for his Name sake and hath accepted of you in his new and Everlasting Covenant of his Mercy in Christ Jesus So you that were afar off in your Rebellious Nature of which you are now ashamed through true Repentance and Obedience to the Light you are made nigh in the Blood of Christ which gives you full assurance of your Eternal Salvation and purgeth your Consciences from dead Works to serve the Living God and whoever you are that come to witness this blessed Work of Regeneration wrought in your Hearts as before written in your being created to a lively Hope in Christ Jesus Mark you are to watch and pray that in the Exercise and Improvement of this Hope you may receive Strength to purifie your selves as he is Pure â—o comes all that are Worshippers of the Father to Worship him in Spirit and in Truth for such the Father seeks to Worship him and these are they whom he Perfects forever through the Sanctification of his Spirit So is this Scripture fulfilled in you He that doth Truth brings his Deeds to the Light that they may be manifest that they are wrought in God John 3.21 And these are his Children who walk in the Light and have their fellowship with the Father of Light in Christ Jesus their blessed Saviour and one with another in his humble meek pure and blessed Nature and so becomes his chosen Jewels and Citizens of Sion who walk in the Light of the New-Ierusalem as it is written in the Scriptures of Truth The Nations that are saved shall walk in the Light thereof And whatever any of you suffer who are redeemed from the Earth and have your Confidence in the Lord alone Christ takes as done unto himself as it is written Mat. 25.31 to the end of the Chapter When the Son of Man shall come in his Glory and his holy Angels with him then shall he sit upon the Throne of his Glory and divide the Sheep from the Goats when he hath set the Sheep on the right Hand and the Goats on the left then will he say to those on his Right Hand Come you blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the Foundation of the World for I was hungry and you gave me Meat thirsty and you gave me Drink a stranger and you took me in naked and you clothed me I was sick and you visited me I was in Prison and you came unto me Then shall the Righteous answer him saying Lord when saw we thee hungry and fed thee or thirsty and gave thee drink When saw we thee a stranger and took thee in or naked and clothed thee or when saw we thee sick and in Prison and came unto thee And the King shall answer and say unto them Verily I say unto you in as much as you have done it unto one of the least of these my Brethren ye have done it unto me Then shall he say unto them on the Left Hand Depart from me ye Cursed into Everlasting Fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels He gave them to understand why they must depart they had not done to him as those at the right Hand had done as you may read at large from Verse 41. to the end of the Chapter So all may see how Man's destruction is of himself in not regarding the Counsel of Christ Jesus the Light to guide them in a Humble Pitiful Compassionate Pure and Blessed Nature so they go into Everlasting Punishment but the Righteouss that are guided by his blessed Spirit as before written they shall go into Life Everlasting which is the Inheritance of all that walk in the Light faithful unto Death the Crown of Life they shall enjoy forever and for evermore as it pleased the Lord to give a full assurance to his tender Handmaid of her Eternal Salvation in his blessed Work upon her Spirit as the following
another for all my Children shall be taught of me saith the Lord God and the Scripture is but a killing letter but of use in its place a Testimony of Christ but not any knows Christ by it for Christ is known by the Light of his Spirit which gave forth the Scriptures and all that are guided by his Spirit knows the Scripture in the Truth as it is in Jesus Ephes. 4.21 9. Qu. Whether the conversion that was wrought upon the Souls of many under the ordinary outward Ministry of the Word in our publick Assemblies turning Men from Darkness to Light from prophaness to true Godliness be true unto Salvation and whether those tâ—at have been thus converted were in the state of Salvation before they joyned themselves unto your Society or whether can none be converted and saved that never came under nor gave their assent to the dispensation of your way and how you will justifie yours to be in the true and good old way that all have and shall be sâ—vâ—d in you may do well to make it out by some evident demâ—nstration Answ. Who can witness a true conversion by the Power of the Spirit of God in turning their minds from Darkness to Light that comes from Christ and in his Light wait to receive the sentence of Death in themselves to destroy all self-confidence in any thing below Christ and in the state of Death to wait till that they hear the voice of the Son of God and by his Power were raised up to a living hope in Christ to walk who throw his Blood do witness their Garmentâ— wâ—shed and made white to reign Kings and Priests upon the Earth for ever to Worship the Father in Spirit and Truth and who ever can witness this conversion whether it were begâ—n when they frequented your Publick Assemblies or absented from them this conversion we own who it can witness and of our way they are and will to us come and all shall know the Truth we witness is the good old way that all Souls that came to God walked in Christ the Way the Truth and the Life the ancient of days which was before time but manifest in time in all the Children of Light who doth them lead in the narrow way of self-denial and the daily Cross with him to enter thorow the strait Gate into the holy City new Ierusalem where the soul hath union with the Father of Light and beholds his Face and his Name is written in their Foreheads and there is no Night there neither need of Candle nor light of the Sun for the Lord God giveth them Light and they shall reign forever and ever Rev. 22.5 10. Qu. Whether any of your Way attain unto Perfection in this Life that they can truly say that they do all that God commands without failing either in matter or manner of obedience no not in thought word and deed and whether the Persons of any stand just before God that are not thus perfect Answ. All that are in the Way we are in which is Christ the Way to the Father in whom all in their measure are pressing on to the fulness of stature in Christ the perfect Man and who in him is grown to the fulness of stature in his Power doth stand which doth them guide that in their Mouths is found no guile for they are without fault before the Throne of God Rev. 14.5 THE MIGHTY DAY OF the LORD is Coming In which Christ is exalting King upon the holy Hill of Sion over all the World to Raign who in this Day of the Lord knocks at the door of the Heart of Jew and Gentile Kindreds Tongues People and Nations who desire to know the only true God and Christ Jesus whom he hath sent to be the Light of the World and Salvation to the ends of the Earth to all that obey him but a Stone of stumbling and a Rock of offence to all that reject his Counsel whom he will take in their own Crafts and overturn in their own Devices to the shame and confusion of their Faces but they that believe in him shall never be ashamed The Word of the Lord to all the faithful scattered in the World that in the Counsel of the Lord stands to strengthen the desires raised towards his Name them to give Victory over the World. A Warning to all that dwell upon the Earth and to the Kings Princes and Rulers in the World to submit to Christ the Light of the World least they perish in the day of his fierce wrath when the Hearts of all that disobey him do fall before him From the common Goal in Northampton the 7th day of the 11th Month 1655. Given forth by him the World knows by name William Deusbery at the writing of this Prisoner for the Word of God and Testimony of Jesus Christ. You People WHose Natural Birth and Generation were in the Northren Islands whom the Lord God of Heaven and Earth hath placed where he hath suffered you to be scattered into Barbadoes Virginia New-England and other Islands there-aways and Countries elsewhere and to every Kindred Tongues People and Nations in whom there is Desires raised to know the only true God and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent to be the Light of the World to guide the Feet of those that have sat in Darkness in the Light and Ways of Righteousness and Peace TO you the mighty Day of the Lord is coming and in his Power is appearing amongst you in raising Desires in some of you towards his Name which Desires cannot be satisfied with any outward Observations and Traditions of your Fathers but above them doth your minds raise in true Hunger and Thirst towards the living God for refreshment from his Presence Prize the Love of God to you in whom he hath raised Desires towards him and look not forth at any that teaches you to hearken to the Teachings of Men without who draws you to seek Christ and God without and to come to the knowledge of the Kingdom of God in outward Observations with which the the Kingdom of God comes not the Kingdom of God is within and as the Lightning is from the East to the West so is the coming of the Son of Man in his Day whose appearance is within But you People in the Day of Darkness and Ignorance that have been over the whole Earth have been deceived in looking forth at Teachings of Men without and for the Kingdom of God to come in outward Observations that Men have set up in their vain Thoughts wicked and carnal Imaginations of the Saints conditions which is Recorded in the Scriptures of Truth but they not regarding the motions of the Spirit of God within which taught and guided the Saints they are Strangers to the Saints Life though they speak great swelling words of the Knowledg of God and with them deceive the Simple with the enticing words of Man's Wisdom and boasting in other Mens Lines made ready to their
guide them forth of it in the Light to have union and fellowship with the Father of Light in Christ to whom you are come to be your Wisdom and he will establish your Souls in righteousness and peace that give up your selves to be guided by him Dear Friends Let the love of God that hath pluckt you as Brands out of the Fire and hath counted you worthy to be as the first Fruits of the Lamb constrain you to be faithful upon your watch to wait in the Light of Christ to dwell in his power that in it you may grow up in his Life and pure discerning to know the Deceit in all appearances and the Beast in his lying Wonders who keeps all in a Form of Truth that lends an Ear to him but out of the Life but in the Light of Christ you may know him he leads into a Form of words when the Life speaks not so the Soul doth not enjoy what the Mouth speaks and the Beast which is the Will is at Liberty from under the Yoke and out of the Cross painted with the Saints words and with you sits deckt a painted Beast above the Cross of Christ working lying Wonders in â—â—rming Sights and Groans when the pure Seed of God is not regarded which is in Prison the sighing and groaning of that the Lord hears and he will deliver that which Sighs and Groans to him for deliverance with groans that cannot be uttered and the Deceit also will work violently in you whose minds are turned from the pure Light to form and immitate the true Power that did pass through you from the Life but being faithful in your watch in the Light of Christ you may know him in his deceitful working in the mind he leads out of the Fear of God into a formality to appear before men so into Pride and Emulation which is to be thrown down and condemned with the Light of Christ. This is the word of the living God to you his dear and chosen Children in the Light all meet often together and take heed of lending an Ear to the Adversary the Devil who goes about like a roaring Lyon to tear you from the Light and to Sow the Seed of Enmity to watch over one another with an evil Eye to spie out one anothers weakness and to declare it to others behind their backs and to lay open their infirmities and discover their shame and uncover their nakedness thou who practises this art turned from the pure Light into Hams cursed nature which the wrath of God is to and is to be condemned with the Light of Christ in which thou must wait and own the condemnation upon that nature and to blind and pluck out that evil Eye and to open the pure single Eye to judge the deceit and guide thee in Obedience to the Light least thou perish in thy disobedience Dear Friends in the pure Light Power and Life dwell and take heed of speaking words in the sight and visions of the Truth when you are not in the Life and Power all mind the Union in the Power which will be manifest in all that wait in the pure fear in the silence of your Spirits in the Light for the living Power of Christ to declare it self in you and even through you to the praise of his Name who is worthy for this is the Word of the most high God to you his Sons and Daughters whom he hath chosen in his eternal love to watch over one another in love with a single Eye as over your own Souls and if you see any of the Children of Light through the Subtilty of the Devil prevailed against and turned from the Light take heed of laying open their infirmities to discover there Shame in uncovering there Nakedness to others but thou that discovers their conditions in tender Bowels of love minister to the pure in the Conscience to raise up the Witness to restore them again with the Spirit of Meekness then wilt thou save their Souls from Death and hide a multitude of Sins and here is Christ and his Disciples serving one another in love washing one anothers Feet in ministring to the pure to wash away the filthy nature and bearing one anothers burthens so fulfilling the Law of Christ who did bear the Burthen for us when we were Enemies he died for us and in fulness of time hath manifested his mighty power in you in raising up his Seed that you might be of the first Fruits in him to grow Trees of Righteousness in his Vineyard to bring forth Fruits to the praise and glory of his great and glorious Name who alone is worthy God Blessed forever God Almighty be with you his dear and chosen Children and his powerful and dreadful Spirit accompany you in all your ways and his eternal Power establish you in Vnity of the Spirit and Bond of Peace that in it yâ—u may stand over all the World and the troubles thereof within you and without you in his Power stand fast and unmoveable in the will of God where I am present with you saluting you in the Bowels of tender love in the eternal Vnity W. D. Dear Pretious and Beloved Friends CAlled in the Light of the Lord to stand living witnesses for God in the midst of a crooked wicked perverss and untoward Generation Dear Friends all in the Light and pure meek Spirit of the Lord enter into the Chamber of Rest which God hath prepared for you in his unlimitted Power to dwell there to stay your Minds and keep your Confidence and hold fast your Faith that so the door may be shut that not any thing enter which would cause feebleness of mind faintness of Spirit or in the least measure would cause you to stagger at the promises of the Lord who hath promised he will never leave us nor forsake us that what tryal soever any of us be called unto who love the Lord and have given up our names unto him he will not suffer one hair of our Heads to perish but what shall be for the Glory of his Name and the Comfort of our Souls forever as many of us are witnesses of the faithfulness of our God in making our passage pleasant through all Tryals and Suffering that hath been unto this day which is now manifesting it self as was proclaimed amongst you in times past Therefore I beseech you all dear Friends put not the day of the Lord afar off for a general Tryal will go on all that make mention of the Name of the Lord that it may be known who are truly born of God and who are not that so his pretious Jewels may be made up which doth and shall more and more shine forth in the brightness of his Glory being established in his Light Life and Love which the Gates of Hell cannot prevail against because the Lord is the strength of all that is born again and for their sakes he is making a short work in the Earth and to
the Lord in silence you have no Oyle in your Lamps you are turned from the Light that would lead you to the Power of God which would preserve in the true thirsting to wait for refreshment that is in his presence so you are Imprisoned and Starved for want of Food while you are in a silent Meeting amongst the wise Virgins who feed on the immortal Bread which comes down from Heaven the Flesh and Blood of Jesus Christ which daily strengthens them in the Power of God which gathers all their Hearts together in one where the union is in the invisible being in silence rejoycing together in the Lord to the Consciences of you foolish Virgins I speak you are strangers to the life the wise Virgins enjoyes though amongst them you come your life is in beautifying the outside of the Lamp with words being quickly spoken but the fear of God is not before your Eyes but your Wills are out of the Cross a false joy arises in you speaking what you do not possess priding and glorying in other mens Lines end contending for Truth with that mind that is out of the Truth and so become Trees blosoming with leaves but bears no Fruit and here your folly is made manifest while you speak to others your selves are under Reproof in that you are strangers to the life of God I charge and command you silence Flesh and speak not before the Lord you foolish ones that dare to make mention of his Name while the worker of Iniquity raigns in you whom the Lord will destroy except you repent therefore all Friends who make mention of the Name of the living God examine your Hearts search them and try your ways with the Light that comes from Christ with it read your condition in the Book of Conscience there will you see how you stand in the presence of the living pure holy God whether in the state of the foolish Virgins that is turned from the Light of Christ that did convince them of Sin and so gets into the form of the Truth but an Enemy to the Cross so make Shipwrack of Faith and a good Conscience c or whether you be in the state of the wise Virgins that loves the Light and in it to wait to dwell in the Power which chastiseth that nature which would draw from the Light and your Garments defile daily in the Cross and there your Souls is keept pure and chaste to follow the Lamb where ever he goes and enters with him into the rest that is prepared for the People of God where the foolish Virgins shall not come until they from their foolish Wisdom return into true obedience to the Father of Light c. Dear Children of the Lord God be valiant bold and faithful in your measures that in the Light Life and Power of God you may stand in the day of great tryal which the Lord will bring upon all you that make mention of his Name for power will be given to the Beast his Horn to exalt even to the host of Heaven for the clearing of the Sanctuary of the Lord then will all foolish Virgins and painted Beasts that are enemies to the Cross of Christ who hath defiled the Sanctuary of the living God in coming before him amongst his Saints and Children c. from amongst them they shall come trembling before the power of thâ— Beast when he utters his voice and commands all to Worship his Image but then shall all you Children of the most high God whom he hath called â—o be faithful to him in his eternal Power rejoyce who will you keep in that day in rest and peace in the ancient of days who will sit to judge in Righteousness all that withstands the rising of his Glory and of his Dominion there shall be no end Friends meet together in the true silence of your Spirits to wait in the Light for the unlimited Spirit of the Lord to manifest his Power in you to bruise the Serpents Head in all his appearance in you to put an end to Sin and to bring in everlasting Righteousness that you in him may grow up in the pure nature of the most high God over all blessed foâ— ever Amen God almighty keep you all faithful in his eternal Power in himself to bear his Name in Righteousness that his Name may be written in your Fore-heads that all that see you may witness you to be of the Righteous Seed that the Lord hath Blessed his Eternal Power and Presence keep you in the eternal unity of the Spirit and bond of Peace where I am with you in the unchangable Love and Life c. W. D. I desire you to let this be Read in your Meetings with a good understanding in the fear of the Lord for this is the Day I will make separation betwixt the Wise and the Foolish between those that fear the Lord and those that fear him not saith the Lord God almighty ALL Saints and Children of the most high God abide with God in the calling whereunto you are called which call is the measure of Light given unto you which witnesseth against all the deceitful twisting of the Serpent within you and seals up to your Spirits the eternal love of God in the free Covenant of life in Iesus Christ All in your measure as you have received of the Lord walk faithfully with him so will you be preserved pure clean and unblamable before him and will be fortified by the Arm of his eternal Power against all the deceit subtilty windings and twistings of the Serpent within you and without you I charge you all in the presence of the Lord God to abide with God in what he hath communicated to you and run not out from the Witness of the eternal Spirit that hath sealed you up in measure in the Power of his love Thou that doest run out to speak further then thou witnessest art a filthy Drunkard that lavisheth out thy self without the fear of the Lord and so spends and wasts upon thy Lusts and the plagues and vengance of the Lord is thy Portion thou filthy Drunkard for no Drunkard nor Lustful person shall inherit the Kingdom of God. All dear Lambs and Children of the Lord abide in the Witness of the eternal Spirit which will pass Judgment and bruise the Head of the Serpent in you so will you be armed against all the glorious appearances of the Serpent without to keep him out of the Scriptures and the least of you in the Truth of God will overturn all Priests and all the Men of the World that dwell in their Serpentine Wisdom and makes a Trade of the Letter speaking and disputing of the Saints conditions as the Devil did about the Body of Moses but cannot witness the Scriptures sealed up to their Souls by the eternal Spirit now all you that dwell in the Truth in your measure will comprehend them to be Houses built upon the Sand tall Cedars aspiring up into the Air
sturdy Oakes that stand in pride of their own conceits but hath no Root so let them not speak of the Scriptures but bring them to the Witness to which they can witness of the Scripture so will the breath of the eternal Spirit of the living God speaking in you from the Power of the Lord that hath sealed his love to your Spirits raze up the Sandy Foundation so will the House and the sturdy Oakes and the tall Cedars fall and the Serpent in all his windings and twistings his Head will be bruised and all deceits overturned and your Souls preserved pure and clean and the Name of the Lord honoured who doth accompany the Witness of the Spirit with his own Power and abiding in his Power you shall reign Kings upon the Earth and the Lord God almighty be with you all you Sons and Daughters of the most high God and carry you all on in his eternal and mighty Power faithful unto the end that ye may receive the Crown of eternal Glory which is laid up for you in the Lord Iesus Christ and there you will fare well and I shall remain with you for ever in the Lord. W. D. DEar Friends meet often together in the Name and fear of the living God and take heed of Words see that the Witness speaks which will cut down your own wills and it will minister to the Witness in others to the slaying of their wills and take heed of watching over one another with an evil Eye to spy out one anothers weakness and declare it to others and discover their nakedness thou that art here art cursed Ham and the Wrath of God will be revealed upon thee but watch one over another with a pure single Eye and if thou see the pure in Bondage in any one by the deceit whisper thou not behind their back to others but let the Witness in thee which sees the deceit and suffers with the pure that is pressed down by it let it declare and witness forth the minde of the living God against the deceit and it will cut it down and the pure holy Seed will be set at Liberty and thy Conscience will be kept clean unto the Lord in discharging thy Duty and so will thy Captivated Brother or Sister be restored again forth of the Hand of the Destroyer and then thou wilt have union together in that which is pure for ever in the Lord And the eternal God of Power keep you all his dear Children in his pure Wisdom to walk faithfully with him and one with another and the blessing of the Lord God almighty be with you all for ever Amen William Deusbery MY dear Friends this is the Word of the Lord to you all whom my Father hath chosen out of the World in his eternal Love to make known his Power in you thus saith the Lord to you Look not back but Iudge that mind with my pure Word I have Enlightened your Consciences withal for the exercising of them towards me and towards men And I command you my Children stand in my pure Counsel and look up to me and I will accompany you with my Power and will make the way plain before you in bringing down that which is untoward in you and disobedient to my Will so my Ways will not be burdensom and my Commandments grievous to you my dear Children and this is my Word to you Cast off whatever I have let you see is offensive to my Will that so your Souls may rest in the Bosom of my Love that I may carry you on in the Arms of my eternal Power faithful unto the end and Crown you with glory which I have laid up for you in the Lord Iesus sleight not my Counsel but be valiant and bold for the glory of my Name saith the Lord God and be not hasty to utter words before me but let your words be few and savory at all times ministring Grace to all that hears you that my Name may be honoured in all you my dear Children in all your words and actions then I will accompany you with my powerful presence and will make you a terror to all evil doers One to chase a Thousand and Five to put Ten Thousands to flight so will I get my self a glorious Name in the manifestation of my Power in you my Sons and Daughters who stands faithful in my Counsel and walks in my Fear and your Souls shall be refreshed in the Fountain of my Love in the Lord Iesus where you shall reign for ever in my presence Meet often together to wait upon me in the fear of my Name and watch one over another in love and I will be with you my dear Children to order you in my pure Wisdom to the praise and glory of my great Name saith the Lord God almighty Written from the Spirit of the Lord to be sent abroad amongst Friends to be Read at their Meetings William Deusbery THE DISCOVERY Of the great Enmity of the SERPENT Against the Seed of the Woman which witnesseth against him where he Rules both in Rulers Priests and People whose hearts are now made manifest in this great day of the Lords Power wherein he is sending his Sons and Daughters in the Power of his Spirit to run to and fro to declare his Word Which Discovereth the state of England who according to her own lusts hath heaped up Teachers to her self that hath spoken smooth things to her calling her the beautiful Church and Spouse of Christ but in the day of tryal she is found in Enmity to Christ in his appearance in his Children and to be in the estate deluded from the Spirit of Truth Recorded in 2 Tim. 4.2 3. Which cannot indure sound Doctrine having itching Ears and turns them away from the Truth to Fables and now are Englands Teachers tryed she hath heaped up to her self and their Doctrine proved and their Ministry made manifest in the great Enmity they manifest against Christ in Persecuting the Bodies of his Saints them to destroy whom he hath sent to Preach freely his eternal Word for which they are Stoned Beaten and Imprisoned and many of Englands Teachers whom she upholds stirs up the People so to do Being deceived not regarding what is spoken that neither Fornicator nor Idolater nor an Adulterer nor Effeminate nor Abuser of themselves with mankind nor Covetous nor Drunkards nor Revellers nor Extortioners shall Inherit the Kingdom of God 1 Cor. 6.9 10. A true Testimony of him the World knows by name William Deusbery and in scorn calld Quaker who hath been by them Imprisoned in York Darby Leicester and Northampton where he is now kept in the common Goal for the Word of God and Testimony of Iesus Christ. Also his Call to the Ministry of the everlasting Gospel by the still voice of the Spirit of God and his mighty Power destroying with the flaming Sword the disobedient that would not stand in his Counsel and causing the Soul to submit to
his Counsel the Light that comes from Christ in it to wait on him to open the Seals of the Book and make known the mystery of eternal life to the Soul the Scripture testifieth is in Christ the Truth of it to know as it is in Jesus The Word of the Lord to all in England whom the Lord hath betrusted with Power from the highest to the lowest to see the peace be kept and to judg the Cause of the People with righteous Judgments With a Lamentation over all in England who oppose Christ in his spiritual appearance and so slight the day of your Visitation to your own Destruction From the common Goal in Northampton the 25 th day of the 4 th Moneth 1655. Oh People in England AM I become your Enemy because I tell you the truth and deal plainly with you in declaring the minde of the Lord unto you which in the eternal riches of his Love he hath made known unto me by the Word of God and Testimony of Jesus Christ for which Word and Testimony I suffer outward Bonds and Persecutions as my Lord and Master did who was called a Blasphemer Belzebub the Prince of Devils by the high Priests who cried to the unjust Magistrates to deliver him up into their hands that their Persecuting Murthering spirits that thirsted after his Blood might be satisfied which the unjust men in Authority to do them a pleasure in satisfying their wills abused their power and delivered him up and though they proved not any thing against him they put him to Death calling him a Blasphemer and he sealed his Testimony with his Blood And all my holy Brethren Prophets and Apostles were called Blasphemers Hereticks Seducers and Deluders by the false Prophets High-Priests and Pharisees then who professed the Name of God in words but denied him in their practices and Persecuted his Children who were guided by his Word under the names formerly written as I and my Brethren are now Persecuted by the same Generation which profess God and Christ in words but denying him in their practices living in Pride and Pleasures Envy and Murder every way Persecuting and seeking to destroy the Bodies of the Saints of the most high God where the righteous Seed is raised up which witnesseth against their unrighteous practices and discovers them in their secret hypocrisie which is hid under their voluntary humility which causeth them to appear what they are and manifests what was hid in their Hearts under their fair coverings of outward Forms and Profession of Religion which they now manifest forth by their Fruit whose Children they are in obedience to their father the Devil who was a Persecuter and a Murtherer from the Beginning whose works they now do that profess Christ in words but denies to be guided by his Spirit for his Spirit is no Persecuter and so are they made manifest in what they do to all that have Eyes to see that they are strangers to Christ while they continue in Cain's nature persecuting the righteous Seed without a cause as he did and doth in this Nation both in the North of it and in other Prisons in several places of it there hath been cast into them the Saints and Children of the most high God for obeying his Will in witnessing forth his eternal Word that he hath made manifest in them And no breach of any National Law proved against them but a Popish Law made in Queen Maries Raign which some hath suffered under and many other of the Saints and Children of the most high God they have Persecuted and cast into Prisons and not the breach of any National Law proved against them but in the pride and envy of their Hearts do they Persecute the Innocent to satisfie their own wills as I am a witness against them who have Persecuted me and cast me into Prison under the name of a Seducer as they say for the Seducing of the People of this Nation and for suspition of Blasphemy and breaking of the publick Peace in dispersing Principles â—ontrary to the truth of the Gospel and Peace of the Nation and not any Accuser appeared to my face to prove what they charge against me as is formerly written either by the Law of God or the Law of the Nation but the Serpent in whom he rules hath manifest his enmity against me whom the Lord hath redeemed from the Earth and sent to Preach the everlasting Gospel to those that dwell upon the Earth and to witness against the wickedness of the dark World that the deeds thereof are evil for which Testimony the World that hates the Light that comes from Christ whom they ever Persecuted to fulfil the measure of their fathers Iniquities hath me and my Brethren Persecuted under the names as formerly written charging me with making Tumults and breaking the publick Peace for walking in obedience to the Spirit of Christ which guided all â—e sent to preach his Gospel to run to and fro as I have done in thee oh England that knowledge may be increased as is recorded in the Scripture of Truth Dan. 12.4 And is according to the commands of Christ Go your ways behold I send you forth as Lambs among Wolves carry neither Purse nor Scrip nor Shoes and salute no man by the way and into what City ye enter and they receive you eat such things as is set before you Luke 10. vers 3 4 8. But beware of men for they will deliver you up to their Counsel and they will scourge you in their Synagogues and you shall be brought before Governours and Kings for my Names sake but he that endures unto the end shall be saved Mat. 10. vers 17 18 22. According as it is written the wicked World that always did as they now do persecute the Messengers of Jesus Christ who to them were and are sent to witness against them in their Markets and Meeting-places that their deeds are evil which the Children of this Generation that are strangers to the leadings of the Spirit of Truth calls them that are guided by the Spirit to walk according to the Scripture makers of Tumults movers of Sedition breakers of the publick Peace as the unrighteous Generation did who Persecuted Christ and his Apostles whose practice was to declare the minde of God in their Synagogues and Markets as the Ministers of Christ do now And they found him in the Temple sitting in the midst of the Doctors both hearing and asking them Questions Luke 2.46 When Jesus came to Nazareth where he had been brought up and as his custom was he went into the Synagogue on the Sabbath day and as he was declaring the Word of eternal life to the People all they in the Synagogue when they heard these things he spake were filled with wrath and rose up and thrust him out of the City and led him to the brow of the Hill whereon the City was built that they might cast him down headlong but he passed through the
did hear with much attention until two men came to me and said they had order from Edmund Iohnson called Mayor to take me away and with violence drew me forth and had me before the said Edmund Iohnson who commanded his officers to put me in Prison before he did me examine which was done and the next day the man that put me in Prison brought me forth before the Mayor and William Billers another of the Rulers of the Town who did me examine and not finding any thing against me commanded Robert Brewin Keeper of the common Goal to put me out of the Town and strictly charged me to depart forth of their Coasts with many threatnings what they would do if I again into the Town did come but the threatnings of man was not regarded into the Town I did return in obedience to the command of the Lord to finish the Testimony of Jesus I was to witness to the Consciences of the Inhabitants of the Town of Leicester Then in obedience to the Spirit of Truth I journyed into Northamptonshire and in a Town called Wellingborrow and there aways many did receive the word of Life with much gladness of heart And at a time as I was going along the Street in that Town near the House of Thomas Andrews whom the people of the the World call their Teacher he to me did speak these words Give over deceiving the people least the Plagues of God fall upon thee the answer to him was if thou sayst I deceive the people make it appear wherein I deceive them he replyed thou tells them there is no original Sin I required of him didst thou hear me say so to that he made no answer then these words was to him declared thou must either prove what thou accusest me of or own thy condemnation upon thy false Accusation he fled away and did make no answer About the time which was near three weeks after I was ordered of the Lord to return again to Wellingborrow and hearing there was a Meeting in the Steeple-house where Thomas Andrews was who had me falsly accused as is formerly written for the Truths sake into the Steeple-house I did go and in silence did stand till the man called their Teacher had done then I declared the word of the Lord to the people who did hear peaceably and afterwards I spake in particular to Thomas Andrews to prove what he had â—alsly accused me of in saying I deceived the people and there make it manifest before the people or to own his condemnation upon his false accusation but to what was required no answer he did make but away fled Then Henry Smith who in that Town dwells out of the Steeple-house haled me into the yard where the Truth to the people was declared who did here stand peaceably to hear till William Baw called high Constable did take hold on me and had me away into the Market-place amongst the people and said he would bring evidence against me for Blasphemy so he had me as Prisoner to and fro in the Market-place with so doing he made disturbance among the people but when he could not prove what he had falsly accused me with he let me go who at that present time went from amongst the people to a Friends house and came no more forth amongst the people in the Market that day The next day being the twenty eighth of the tenth Moneth called December Richard Dennit being Constable of Wellingborow came to the Friends House where I was and took me forth by vertue of a Warrant that had no name but for one who is commonly called Quaker and had me with it before Thomas Pentlow called Justice at Wilby in Northamptonshire who did me examine but would not read me any Law I had transgressed but made a Mittimus and sent me to the common Goal in Northampton on the twenty nineth day of the tenth Moneth called December 1654. A Copy of the Mittimus I was denied by Iohn Snart Keeper of the Goal and also the men that were in Commission to do Justice when it was of them desired in open Court at the general Sessions holden at Northampton the tenth day of the eleventh Month by those whose names are Iohn Clark Iohn Parker called Sergeant at Law George Benson Iohn Mansil Iohn Brown who there did sit in Commission to have judged the Cause in righteousness between me and mine Accusers but when the Mittimus was read where the charge against me was written not any appeared to prove what the Blasphemy was for which they committed me to Prison in suspition of neither they to me read any Law that any thing charged against me had it transgrest but again to Prison did me commit to answer at the Assizes holden at Northampton the tenth and twelfth day of the first Month called March 1654. And three times I was there brought before Matthew Haile who did sit Judge of Life and Death to answer what might be objected against me and the last time I before him was brought Hugh Windham was with him who then was in Commission with him to have judged the Cause in righteousness between me and my Accusers and though not any Accuser appeared against me to prove me the transgressor of any Law neither would these that sat to judge my Cause any Law to me read that any evidence given in against me was the transgression of but they me committed to Prison where I had been amongst those arraigned for Fellony and Murther So under all these Lies and Aspertions false Accusations I suffer and instead of being cleared of them when I was brought before those that were in Commission to judge with righteous judgement more Accusations were laid upon me by them which was done by I. Parker at the general Sessions before written and Hugh Windham at the general Assizes before mentioned which both did accuse me in the open Court before the people that I was a Seducer and when I required them to make manifest wherein I did seduce any they would not answer to what then was required and a Coppy of the ground of the Evidence they pretend they have against me they denied to be given me in all places where they have proceeded against me as is formerly written least their works of darkness should come to light and their folly made manifest and Truth cleared of the Lies and false Accusations with which they blind the Eyes of many and cause them to stumble at the ways of Truth in speaking evil of the things they know not as is manifest in what is written So for the Truths sake I bear Testimony of and it to clear from all Lies and Aspersions cast upon it which hath caused the simple to stumble at the way of Truth and that they no longer be turned aside by the lying spirit who every way seeks to murther and destroy the Truth from the Earth in Persecuting the Bodies of the Saints and shutting them up in Prison under
Ellington whom the World in scorn calls Quakers who have been and is in Bonds for the Truths sake and as near as remembred the substance of what the Judge who made a Goal Delivery of all the Transgressors of the Law did express to the Servants of the Lord that was brought Prisoners before him whom no breach of Law was proved against and also as near as remembred here is declared the substance of what the Servants of the Lord did express so long as they were permitted to declare the Truth which did stop the Mouth of all that did object any thing against it and though the Judge could not gainsay the Truth declared by them nor Read them a Law that they had transgressed yet were they not suffered to have the benefit of the Law that Murtherers and Felons had that their Accusers might appear face to face and they have a Tryal and speak for themselves to clear the Truth from false Accusations cast upon it and them but we are again committed to Prison as the following Lines make manifest With a true Discovery of the Persecution of Iohn Huckin Michael Pâ—ttâ—sâ—â— and Thomas Goodayre who is Imprisoned in Northampton for the Truthâ— sake wherein the great enmity that is in Thomas Andrews Priest of Wâ—llinâ—orrow and Thomas Pentlow of Wilby c alled Justice and also of the Magistrates of Northampton made manifest Also the Word of the Lord to the Rulers and Judges and all that Plot against the righteous Seed the World in scorn calls Qâ—akers ABout the time of the eleventh hour of the one and twentieth day of the fifth Month the Goaler called William Deusbery Ioseph Storr Henry Williamson Iohn Whitehead Marmaduke Storr Thomas Cocket and Francis Ellington and he set them all together at the Bar before the Court the Judge looked upon them and after a little silence said to the Goaler Are these Prisoners the Goaler answered yea my Lord the Judge said to the Goaler do you use to bring Prisoners before the Court in this manner you deserve to be Fined ten Pound for bringing them before the Court cover'd the Goaler answered if you command me I shall take off their Hats then the Judge gave command and the Goalers Man took them off which being done the Judge having knowledge given which was William Deusbery spoke to him as followeth Judge Atkins said to William Deusbery what art thou here for William Deusbery answered The Mittimus will express what I was committed for but a Copy of it I am denied by the Keeper of the Goal I. A. What is thy name W. D. Unknown to the World. I. A. Let us hear what that name is that the World knows not W. D. It is known in the Light and not any can know it but him that hath it but the name the World knows me by is William Deusbery I. A. What Country-Man art thou W. D. Of the Land of Canaan I. A. That is afar off W. D. Nay it is near for all that dwell in God is in the holy City new Ierusalem which comes down from Heaven where the Souls is in rest and enjoys the love of God in Jesus Christ in whom the union is with the Father of Light. I. A. That is true but are you ashamed of your Countrey is it a disparagement for you to be born in England W. D. Nay for the Truths sake I am free to declare according to the Knowledg of the World my natural Birth was in York-Shire nine Miles from York towards Hull I. A. You pretend to be extraordinary Men and to have an extraordinary Knowledg of God. W. D. We witness the Work of Regeneration to be an extraordinary Work wrought in us by the Spirit of God. I. A. But the Apostles wrought with their Hands in their Callings W. D. They had Callings in the World some were Fishermen Paul a Tent-maker but when they were called to the Ministry of Christ they left their Callings to follow Christ where he led them by his Spirit to Preach the Word and I had a Calling in the World as they had and in it did abide until the Father revealed his Son in me and called me from my Calling I had in the World to Preach the eternal Word he had made known to me in the great Work of Regeneration I. A. Why didst thou not abide in thy own Countrey and Teach People in them Parts W. D. There I did stay until I was called from thence to go where I was led by the Spirit of the Lord and as many as are led by the Spirit of God are the Sons and Daughters of God and they that have not the Spirit of Christ are none of his I. A. You say well for we must in charity conclude that every one in this place hath the Spirit of God in them but how do you know that you are guided by the Spirit of God W. D. They that have the Spirit of God are known by their fruits and he that believeth in Jesus Christ and is guided by his Spirit hath the witness in himself I. A. That is true yet notwithstanding I see by your carriage that what my Brother Hails did at the last Assizes in requiring Bonds for your good behaviour he might justly do it for you are against Magistrates and Ministers W. D. Make that manifest wherein we are against them I. A. Said to Robert Guy Clark of the Peace What have you against these men R. Guy Here is an Information given in upon Oath by Mr Robert Beeton that William Deusbury on the twenty nineth of December 1654. did go into the Church in Wellingborrow and stood with his Hat on in the time of Sermon and Prayer and after the Minister had done he spake these words The Priests preach for hire and the People love to have it so But what will you do in the end thereof with other railing words which made disturbance amongst the people I. A. What have you against Storr and Williamson not any one spoke openly against them I shall take course that those that have disturbed the Ministers before I go forth of the Town that they shall be indicted W. D. It is the Liberty of the Law of this Nation that any which is brought Prisoner before those that sits to judge their Cause may speak for themselves the truth to witness against the false information given in against them and that Liberty I take to manifest the ground and cause of my going into the Steeple-house at Wellingborrow As I was going in the Street Thomas Andrews called Minister of that Town called to me with these words Give over deceiving the People lest the Plagues of God fall on thee I replyed these words Doest thou say I deceive the People make it manifest wherein I deceive them Thomas Andrews said Thou saidst there is not any Original Sin I replied Didst thou hear me say so to which he would not answer but fled away I being falsly accused by Thomas Andrews
of what thou understands of what is writ to thee and hath given it forth publickly to the World that we have accused thee of slanders in things that are too gross in plainness of speech to publish to the World c. Reply Dark diabolical snares we deny the Word of the Lord God we witness which was in the beginning which Word is Life and the Life is the Light of Men Iohn 1.1.4 Which word we Preach to turn the minds of People from darkness to light from the power of Satan to the living God Acts 26.18 in the light of his living Word which discovers the thoughts and intents of the Heart Heb. 4.12 to wait in his Light on him for power to lead out of all the ways of darkness into union with the Father of Life in Christ the Light who in him walk there is no occasion of stumbling Ioh. 2.10 but who deny to be guided by his Spirit is none of his Rom. 8.9 but in darkness walk and stumble at noon-day and it is truth we declare as it is Recorded in the Scripture of Truth he that can receive it let him and for thy charging the Answer to be obscure deceitful and confused seeing the deceit in thee hath published that they are deceitful and could not publish them to make manifest what the deceit is and some of them which thou hast published thou hast both added and diminished for the Truths sake the Queries with their Answers is published that the Answer may witness for it self against the falshood thou hast charged on it he that hath an Eye to see let him see And for thy giving thy sence of what thou understands of our writing and saith we accuse thee of slandering c. Reply Thy sence thou gives of our words with thy dark understanding we deny and slandering we deny it is thy own practice proved to thy Face by thy own words as followeth 2. In thy second false Accusation thou saist that we judge our Novices and all others besides our selves uncapable to receive some of our Principles as yet and therefore we study to darken the sence by subtil glozing equivocating expressions and shuffles Reply Thy false Accusation we deny we do not judge Novices besides our selves uncapable to receive our Principles we know Christ the true Light hath enlighted every one that comes into the World and the Gospel we Preach is to turn the minds of People from Darkness to Light and who it minds it will give them an understanding the principle of pure Religion to know Christ the Light in whom we stand clear of thy Slanders in this Light we plainly speak as moved of him and do not study to darken the sence of our words as thou dost falsly accuse us the Lord is Judge between thee and us 3. The third Accusation charging us with damnable Heresies c. And further thou saist what thou hast charged us withal is upon such rational grounds that thou art sure we are convinced in the seceret of our Hearts and Consciences that thou Lies not In the presence of God I charge thee to be a Liar in the Slanders and Lies before written what followeth will make thee more manifest thou saist we frequently judge Men by the Light which gave forth the Scripture even while we are opposing the authority of Scriptures as they are the only Rule of knowing God and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent c. Reply Thy charge is false in saying we oppose the authority of Scriptures which Christ the Light who gave forth the Scripture who spake as one having authority and not as the Scribes Mat. 7.29 and the Scripture is a true Testimony of him who is the Way to the Father none knows the Father but the Son and he to whom the Son reveals him Mat. 11.27 So thou in the Light art seen to be guilty of what thou chargest us withal in denying Christ the Light within to be the Authority of Scriptures and the perfect Rule of Faith and Obedience therefore let Flesh be silent and the lying Mouth be stopped for Christ we own which was before the Scriptures and is the authority of them for when he spoke them forth he spoke as one having authority and according as Christ speaketh of the Scriptures we them own in their place a true Testimony of him Iohn 5.39.40 who is the Way the Truth and the Life and no Man cometh to the Father but by him John 14.6 So none oomes to the knowledge of the Father by reading the Scriptures though they think to find Life there they shall not if they come not to Christ of whom they testifie and in whom the Life is who saith Search the Scriptures for in them ye think to have eternal Life and they are they which testifie of me and he reproves all who will not come to him that they may have life So what thou chargest us withal thou art the Man that denies the authority of Scriptures and found guilty of slandering the Children of Light as what is written makes manifest and what as followeth will make thee more manifest to all that have Eyes to see the many Falshoods and Lies thou hast begun the Book withal in that thou calls the Preface to the Reader so out of thy own Mouth thou art Condemned 4. The fourth Accusation thou saist we are so drunk with Delusion and Impudency that we will rather charge the Scripture with deceit then question our own deceitful Hearts Reply In the presence of God we witness against thee we own the Scripture to be the Scripture of Truth and do not charge the Scripture with deceit but with the Light of Christ that gave forth the Scriptures and discovereth the deceit of the Heart with which Light we judge the deceit of the Heart and witness against thee in the Light which makes known to us the Scripture in the Truth as it is in Jesus Christ the Light God is our witness 5. The fifth false Accusation thou saist we write and speak the Language of Scripture as if we were for it and is not which is rank Hypocrisie and done of purpose to deceive Reply We in the Light speak as moved of the Lord 2 Pet. 1.21 whose Language is according to Scripture and doing any thing in Hypocrisie we deny or to deceive any the Lord is our witness who will rebuke the lying spirit and stop thy lying Mouth 6. The sixth false Accusation thou saist we boast that we are as perfect as Christ that dyed at Ierusalem Reply Thy charge is false boasting we deny or any Perfection that is of self our Righteousness without Christ is as a filthy Ragg and a menstruous Cloth Christ our Righteousness who is the true Light That lighteth every one that comes into the World Iohn 1.9 we witness him the same Christ as was in that Body that suffered at Ierusalem and every one of the Children of Light in the measure of growth in him the same mind
is in them that was in Christ Jesus Phil. 2.5 who is the brightness of the Fathers glory Heb. 1.3 7. The seventh false Accusation thou saist we say that he that trusts in Christ that dyed at Ierusalem for Salvation shall be deceived Reply This Charge is false as the other in the presence of God we witness against thee no other Christ we bear Testimony of to be the Salvation of lost Man and Woman but that Christ according to Scripture Testimony who was born of the Virgin and made a good Confession before Pilate and suffered at Ierusalem and rose again the third day and ascended into Heaven and sitteth at the right Hand of God and this Christ we witness the true Light Who lighteth every one that comes into the World and saith I stand at the Door and knock who opens I will come into him and Sup with him and he with me Rev. 3.20 and we witness him faithful And as many as receives him to them he gives power to become the Sons of God and this is the condemnation of all because they believe not in him Iohn 12. 8. The eight false Accusation thou saist we reproach Christs Institutions and holy Ordinances with the odium of Mens Traditions outward Observations inconsistant with Gods Kingdom and compares them to Nebuchadnezar's great Idol c. Reply Thy Charge is false Christs Institutions and holy Ordinances we own in the Dispensation of time they were to be continued and what is now in this Dispensation of time known in the administration of his Spirit we own but who upholds any Idolatry in observing any thing by Tradition and not guided by the Spirit of Christ and so walk contrary to the perfect Law of God in the Conscience and though their words be never so glorious in outward appearance in crying the Ordinances of Christ while they deny to be guided by Christ they are no Ordinances of Christ but an Image set up in the proud exalted nature which Nebuchadnezar set up his Image in which with the Power of God shall be thrown down and thou with the rest of the Idol Worshippers shall be broken to pieces and Lies shall not save thee for the Lord will exalt his Name and his Children that observe his holy Ordinances shall raign in his spiritual Power that preserves them therein to observe the movings of his Spirit which doth lead to worship the Father in Spirit and Truth according to Scripture Testimony Iohn 4.23 24. And when thou Iohn Timson hast presented thy false Accusations and Lies to the Reader in the Preface of thy Book that they might receive the Falshoods and Lies that are written therein and these Lies and Slanders which are here laid before thee and witnessed against in the answer thereto returned will sufficiently prove to thy face and be manifest to that of God in every ones Conscience that thou hast spoken unadvisedly with thy Lips when thou saist thou Lies not and all these Lies found in thy Mouth given forth publickely for all to read and thou declares to the Reader that the Lord knows what diligence and tenderness of Bowels thou hast had to prepare it for them c. Reply Blush for shame O vain Man to appeal to the Lords knowledge of thy diligence and tenderness of Bowels to prepare so many Lies and Falshoods for People to read thou shalt certainly know that the Lord takes notice of thee and he will lay thee open and make thee manifest and Lies shall not cover thee nor be thy refuge Isa. 28.17 when our God will clear his Truth and thy Tongue and all others that rise up against him shall fall in Judgement the day shall declare it Further thou goes on saying as for those persons that have answered me who have charged me with bringing sorth many Lies and Slanders and have made a noise thereof as if I was some carnal lying wretch that matters not what I write Reply To that of God in every ones Conscience I appeal that Lies proceed from a carnal wretched Heart and the Lord is making thee manifest who would make Lies thy refuge which with the Light thou art seen and thy Lies turned upon thee that in the Light thou mayst be read what thou art and in the Light our Books are known and no such thing is in our Books as thou falsly charges us with and would make People believe is written therein in giving the sence of our words in thy dark mind and for the Simples sake an answer is returned to clear the Truth of God in what he hath given out by his Spirit both in word and writing and whether thou wilt receive it yea or nay thou shalt know and all others that Christ is the Authority of the Scripture and when he spoke them forth he spake as one having Authority and not as a Scribe and who in his Light walk cannot be perswaded to turn from him by any Lies and Reproaches thou canst cast upon them who saist we are wholly turned from the Truth which against thee witness it is not so let God be Judge and in his day make manifest what we are in whose Will we rest as moved of him to witness against the Falshoods thou hast further charged upon us in what followeth Thou hast not done justly nor honestly in that thou hast not Printed the Questions as given forth by thee and Answers as returned by us and in an answer to what is of thee required to prove the Charge thou chargest us withal in thy Reply to the Answer to the first Question and the false Accusations Lies and Slanders is not proved in all thou hast writ The one Baptism we own Eph. 4.5 and the Watch in the Church we own in the Spirit of life which in order doth keep in obedience to the pure God who is the God of order and not of confusion but keeps his Children in himself purely to live according to what is profest Further thou goest on and queries what proof would we have is it not our own prophane Language both in Papers and Conference it is no news to hear most of their Way dispute against water Baptism the Lords Supper a setled fixed Ministry over particular Churches and queries further what Quakers administer water Baptism the Lords Supper and constantly watches over a particular Flock or else for shame thou saist we must own the Charge and confess our Sin in telling the World these are thy lying Slanders Reply Prophane Language we deny and Shadows and Figures we witness done away the Substance being come water Baptism was in its time a Figure of the Substance as Iohn witnesses to whom that Dispensation was committed Mat. 3.11 I indeed Baptize with Water unto Repentance but he that comes after me is mightier then I whose Shooes I am not worthy to bear he shall Baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with Fire And Iohn's Baptism we deny to be in force he did decrease and Christ
will declare the Lord will gather his People together according as it s declared Revelations 5.9 And the Lye and false Accusâ—tion will still rest on thee for charging William Deusbery as before written and the impudent Lyar he will not be found when the Lord will separate between the precious and the vile then shall it be known who walk in outward Forms and deny Christ the Light and those that live in the Light Life and Power of Christ them to lead in the daily cross which keeps them in a pure Life and holy Conversation and thy false Accusations doth not us pinch neither do we any thing to evade but witness the Truth against thy false Accusations and in patience do finish our Testimony in sufferings and all with us that in the Light walk are in the Ordinances of the Gospel Church and witness the everlasting Gospel where all types shadows and figures are done away which thou so much cryes up and the Lord will throw thee and all down and a day of tribulation shall come upon thee and thou shalt not escape except thou repent And whereas thou revilest us for saying that the Spirit is the only rule of Faith and Life Ioh. 16.13 which thou sayst that promise was made directly to the twelve Reply Who art thou that limits the holy One the promise of his Spiriâ— is to all who wait on him in the manifestation of his Spirit according to the Testimony of Scripture 1 Cor. 2.7 8 9. the manifestation of his Spirit is given to every one to profit withal for to one is given by the Spirit the Word of Wisdom to another the Word of Knowledge by the same Spirit to another Faith by the same Spirit to another the Gifts of Healing by the same Spirit c. And for thy unsavory words which in reproach calls us proud Worms that vilifie and diminish from the Scripture c. Reply Pride is thy own we do not vilifie nor diminish the Scriptues we witness them a true Testimony of Christ the Life and who in his Light walk know the Truth of the Scriptures as it is in Jesus Eph. 4.201 And whereas thou saist in confession to what was declared to thee that Abel Enoch and Noah had Faith before the Scriptures were written to which thou quotes Heb. 1.1 God who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in times past unto the Fathers by the Prophets hath in these last days spoken to us by his Son and thou saist before there was any thing commited to writing the Lord did more visibly reveal his Will by Voice Visions Angels c. But since he hath committed his whole Will unto writing by the Prophets and Apostles these former manners are ceased and thou saist to look for the same discoveries still by Voice Vision or Inspiration is madness we run into Reply Thou vain Man who dare to say the Lord hath ceased making himself known to his People by Voice Vision or Inspiration holy men of God did speak and do speak as Inspired by the Spirit of God and moved by the Holy Ghost 2 Pet. 1.21 And the Lord hath promised in the latter days I will pour out my Spirit upon all Flesh Ioel 2.28 29. Acts 2.17 18. Ier. 31.33 34. Heb. 8.9 10 11. Isa. 54. â—3 All the Children of the Lord who are led by his Spirit doth witness these Scriptures fulfilled and knoweth the Lord is faithful according to his promise who will recompence into thy Bosom thy just reward for speaking evil of his Truth and whil'st thou deniest the manifestation of his Spirit which the Lord manifests to his People as is Recorded in the Scripture of Truth thy pride and confusion thou hast made manifest and neither knowst Moses Ministry nor the Apostles which thou in a busie mind speaks of in thy dark understanding which leads thee to fill thy Book with false Accusations as in thy 10th Page where thou saist we do not make any clear difference between the outward Declaration and the Word of Faith. Reply For the Simples sake as we have declared the Truth we do declare it which is witnessed with all the Children of Light the Word of Faith is in the Heart and in the Mouth and who are guided by it their Hearts are kept pure Faith purifies the Heart Acts 15.9 whether they have the outward Declaration yea or nay and they that have the outward Declaration and though they read it if they mind not the Word which is Life and Light which gave forth the Scriptures they do not live according to the Scripture for they are without Faith who are not guided by the Word Faith comes not by a bare reading the outward Declaration Faith is the gift of God Eph. 2.8 given to his Children who diligently hearken to his Word which is Life and the Life is the Light of Men. And for thy charging us with contradictions confused Nonsence bitter Censures and Shuffles and how notorious false it is wherein we say that not any do know the Scriptures by the outward Declaration Reply To the Light of Christ in all Consciences we appeal let the Righteous judge a natural Man knows not the things that are of God though he read the outward Declaration for they are spiritually discerned 1. Cor. 2 14. and none is found worthy to open the Seals of the Book but the Lyon of the Tribe of Iuda c. Rev 5.3.5 and then thou deniest Gods speaking to his People by Voice Vision or Inspiration and saist they run into madness that expect any such thing here thou art found in the Contradictions confused Nonsence bitter Censures and Shuffles and notorious Falshoods which thou hast fasly charged us withal and it is turned upon thy own Head and proved out of thy own Mouth that while thou art making a shew in words to maintain the Scripture Authority thou deniest both the Dispensation of the Spirit of God in Christ the Light and the Scriptures which bare Testimony of him as is manifest in the Reply to what thou hast writ in the Sixth and Eighth pages And whereas thou in the Eleventh Page callst us deceivers and saith to those thou callst thy Friends we have them abused by the deceit and cheats of our own Hearts c. Reply Deceit and Cheats thou art proved to be in and what thou endeavors to do in the deceit of thy Heart against the Truth thou wilt see thy hope fail thee and not a Blessing but a Curse upon thy endeavors which to thy Face is proved in what is before written to be contrary to the Dispensation of the Spirit and Scripture for which the terror of the Lord shall take hold on thee for thy uttering words without knowledg and speaking evil of the things thou knowest not as in the Twelth Page And whereas thou appeal'st to them thou callst thy Friends how their Hearts have been heated and warmed by Power of the Word and Sacraments c. Which is now
and all in the new Covenant do know the Law of God written in their Hearts and the Witness or Testimony of Jesus within 1 Iohn 5.10 bearing witness with their Spirits that they are the Children of God Rom. 8.16 and this declared is neither deceitful nor knavish which is the unsavory words thou chargest on us let the Truth of God in all Consciences judge to whom they belong the Scriptures we are not against they bear Testimony of Christ the Light whom we witness the way to the Father Mat. 11 27. None knows the Father but the Son and he to whom the Son will reveal him by the revelation of the Spirit of God is the things of God known to his People 1 Cor. 2.9 10 13. Rom. 8.11 16. according as is recorded we witness the Scriptures fulfilled in Christ the Light who is our Life Col. 3.3 4. And whereas thou queries did ever any read of the Law and Testimony in the Heart and that the Law and Testimony in the Heart is the Law of the new Covenant Reply Who hath read the Scripture in the fear of God hath read what the Lord hath promised as declared Isa. 8.16 Bind up the Testimony seal the Law among my Disciples and Ier. 31.33 This shall be the Covenant I will make with the House of Israel in those days saith the Lord I will put my Laws in their inward parts and write it in their Hearts Heb 8.10 11 12. and the Law written in the Heart we witness and the Lord faithful in performing according to his Promise in the new Covenant And thou goest on in Page 19 and 20 calling us Impostors and Pervertors of the new Covenant and to be in Idle proud Fancies and itching Humors of our own Brains in our Apostate Condition Reply We in the Light can bear thy reproach and have witnessed the Truth that it may stand a witness against thy revilings and in the Lord we rest who will make manifest whether thou or we be the Pervertors of the new Covenant and guilty of what thou chargest us with And whereas thou in the 22d Page says that William Deusbery tells us that the mighty day of the Lord is appeared in the North of England and is rising towards the South and shall over-spread this Nation and all the Nations of the World c. what the mans fancy and design is in bruiting and making such a noise of the appearance of the mighty day of the Lord judge ye I am sure he hath sufficiently discovered his own folly in blazing abroad such Dreams of his own lying Heart c. Reply In thy 2d Page thou hast enlarged thy self concerning that Book calling it a lying Paper c. and the Truth is witnessed in answer to thy charge and this in answer to what is here written Fancies Bruitishness Folly Dreams and Lyes William Deusbery denies the Truth he hath declared as the Lord hath him moved in Faithfulness to the Souls of all People that they be not found the sloathful Servants putting the Day of the Lord afar off in this his Day wherein the Hour of his righteous Judgment is come Rev. 14.7 to all that wait on him the Truth is declared that all men may prepare in the Light the Lord to meet and no longer in sloathfulness remain least he come upon them as a Thief in the Night and if the Day of the Lord do not arise over all the World and the Kingdoms of the World became the Kingdoms of our Lord and his Christ and the Lord perform not as is declared then say the Lord hath not spoken by me who is known to the World by name William Deusbery And in the 22d Page thou sayst we have set our selves in the Throne of Christ judging the whole World. Reply Thy Accusation is false self we deny to Christ we are subject who sits on his Throne and is come and coming in his Saints to judge the World Iude 14 15. 1 Cor. 6.2 and 2.5 And in the 23th page thou sayst why do not we command the Dead to rise and appear before us and many other unsavory words are there exprest Reply A wicked and Adulterous Generation shall seek after a sign and there shall no sign be given it but the sign of the Prophet Jonah Mat. 16.4 And whereas thou chargest Howgill and Burrough as thou callst them with pernitious Blasphemous Opinions Reply Thy Accusation is false they are faithful Men serving their Generation in the Light Ministers of Christ in whom is witnessed the God-head dwelling Bodily Col. 2.9 and in him we are one in God they that joyn to the Lord are one Spirit 1 Cor. 6.17 he that can receive it let him And whereas thou in the 29th Page saist that the Revelations of Christ that are according to Scripture are either Texts of Scripture expressed or rational Deductions Consequences and Conclusions that naturally flow from particular passages of Scriptures and not any other Revelations can be pleaded for a Rule Reply Thy dark mind is shut out from knowing the Revelations of Christ and though thou sayst that answer that was returned to these words was not to purpose it stands a witness against thee and will be found to purpose in the Light when thy reward thou shalt have for all thy unsavory words exprest in thy Book And in the 33th Page where thou falsely accuses us that we will allow of no Laws of God nor Scripture but the Revelations and Edicts of our own bewitched Hearts c. And when thou hast reviled us with false Accusation as before written thou beseechest those thou callst thy dear Friends to be serious in their Thoughts of what thou hast written in discovering our deceits and blasphemies denying the Rule that all things are to be tryed by and make themselves the absolute rule and we must not question what they say though it be never so insolent and to be abhorred of all sober Christians c. Reply Thou hast brazened thy Face to slander the Truth of God with Lies and Blasphemies which is the Foundation of all Heresie and there thou art found and thy Accusation is false Christ the Rule that all things is to be tryed by we own and deny our selves and to the Light of Christ in all Consciences we appeal whether thou or we deny the Rule thou that saist the Revelations of Christ are either Texts of Scripture expressed or rational Deductions Consequences c. as before written or we who witness Christ the true Light revealed by the Fâ—ther 〈…〉 knows the Father but the Son and he to whom the Son will reveal him Mat. 1â— 27 Luke 10 22. Let all that are in Christ with sobriety in the Light judge And for the rest of thy Slanders in the 37â—â— and 38th Pages where thou saist these miserable Worms un-Covenant themselves and un-Christ themselves as if they cared not for Grace and Mercy in standing before God denying the Scripture c. And in the
and are corrupted because of my foolishness I am troubled I am bowed down greatly I go mourning all the day long And may be none of you in all that place can witness the Condition and so Blasphemes the Name of God who will be Worshipped in Spirit and Truth and this is the rule given out from him If any be afflicted let him Pray if any be merry let him sing Psalms And there is none merry but the ransomed of the Lord who returns to Sion with joy and singing And everlasting joy shall be upon their Heads and they shall obtain gladness and joy and sorrow and sighing flyes away All People may search the Scriptures and see how you have been deceived by your Teachers who have caused you to seek your lost God in carnal and dead Observations which they have not any Scriptures for all cease from them for the Lord complains of them The leaders of my People causeth them to err saith the Lord of Hosts and now are these Scriptures fulfilled in these Men which the Apostle Prophesied of This know also that in the last daies perilous times shall come for Men shall be lovers of their own selves Covetous Boasters Proud Blasphemers disobedient to Parents Unthankful Unholy All People see are not your Teachers so Self-lovers before they come at you they must know what they must have Covetous Griping for much and if you will not give them so much as they can have in another place they will not come at you here is Self-love and Covetousness manifested without natural affections Truce-breakers false Accusers Traytors heady high-minded lovers of Pleasures more then lovers of God having a Form of godliness but denying the power thereof from such the Apostles exhorts to turn away All people behold and see all these Scriptures are fulfilled in your Teachers they speak against Pride and live in it against Covetousness and live in it they teach by their words to be natural affectionated one towards another and they walk contrary causing poor people to pay to maintain them in Pride and high Ranks in the Earth who can scarce get Bread for their Bellies and Cloathes for their Backs yet they force them to pay them being void of all natural affections and they are Truce-breakers breakâ—ng all Bonds and Covenants if they can get more Money in another place Thus they shew forth to all the World that they are lovers of Pleasures more then lovers of God and have a Form of godliness in words but deny the power thereof from such turn away for of this sort are they which creep into Houses and lead captive silly Women laden with Sin and divers Lusts these Scriptures are fulfilled in your Teachers every one hath his particular House to creep into where none must come but themselves or whom they please which is contrary to the practice of Christ or any that he sent forth they went through the Countries Towns Cities Villages according as they were guided by the Spirit of God to declare what he gave them to speak and your Teachers lead silly Women captive laden with Sin and led away with divers Lusts ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the Truth do not they tell you to look for Christ's coming in such Observations as they set up which is nothing but the invention of their Brains for Christ tells you The Kingdom of God comes not with Observations but it s within you But many of them that deny that the Light in your Consciences which makes manifest the evil of your Hearts is the Kingdom of God calling it the Light of a corrupt Conscience so shuts the Kingdom of Heaven against Men and will neither enter in themselves to be guided by the pure Light of the Kingdom of Christ within them nor suffer them that are entring in to enter as the Scribs and Pharisees did now as Iannes and Iembres withstood Moses so do these Men resist the Truth Men of Corrupt minds Reprobate concerning the Faith but they shall proceed no farther for their folly shall be made manifest to all Men as theirs also was and no Man shall buy their Merchandize any more All you enslaved Captives in the Kingdom of Babylon Why will you lay out your Money for that which is not Bread and your Labour for that which satisfies not hearken diligently unto Jesus Christ the Light that lets you see the evil of your Hearts to be guided by it and you shall eat that which is good encline your Ears saith Christ and come unto me hear and your Souls shall live and I will make an everlasting Covenant with you even the sure mercies of David Mind the Call of a powerful and tender Father in the Lord Jesus who calls Come forth of Babylon my People and touch no unclean thing and I will receive you and will be a Father unto you and ye shall be my Sons and Daughters saith the Lord God Almighty Friends prize your times slight not the day of the Lords mercy for he waits to be gracious and saith I stretch forth my Arm all the day long to a back-sliding and gain-saying People Every one mind your conditions deal justly with your own Hearts see what your Hearts hath fellowship with and guides your minds for the Kingdom of Christ is within you it is not in Observations as your Teachers tells you for they deceive you therefore Christ for-warned us for looking forth at those which would come in the latter days that would say Lo here is Christ lo there is Christ as it is in these our days some say Lo here is Christ in the Presbyterian practice the Independents say He is there and the Anabaptists say Lo he is here But Friends mind what Christ saith unto you Believe them not look not forth the Kingdom of Christ is not in any of those nor in any other outward Observations but be awarned the Kingdom of Christ is in you and that is the Light that lets you see the evil of your Hearts and Christ compares it to a grain of Mustard-seed the least of all seeds and it grows up above all other Herbs and becomes a Tree that the Fowls of the airâ—lodges therein and he compares it to a little Leaven that a Woman took and hid in three measures of Meal and it leavened the whole lump These are earthly Parables and Figgures which Christ laies down speaking to the earthly and carnal Heart of Man that he may read his condition within Therefore despise not the day of small things but mind the Counsel of the Lord Jesus the little Light that shines in thy dark Heart look upon the â—igures the Parables the little Leaven which is hid in three measures of Meal it changes the whole lump into the nature of it self so the little Light that shines in thy dark Heart is the powerful word of Faith Which was in the beginning by
to him and I have been very well as to any matter of Sickness until this Sickness came upon me And dear Mother I would have thee remember my love to my dear Sisters Relations and Friends and now I have nothing to do I have nothing to do A Friend answered Nothing Mary but to dye Then she said to her Mother I desire thee to give me a little clear Posset drink then I will see if I can have a little rest and sleep before I dye When the Posset drink came to her she took a little and desired her Mother to give her a little drink to wash her Mouth Then she said to her Mother I have a swelling behind my Ear but I would not have any thing done to it nor to my sore Throat nor Mouth for all will be well enough when I am in my Grave Then she asked what time a day it was it being the latter part of the day her Grand-Father said the Chimes are going Four she said I thought it had been more I will see if I can have a little rest and sleep before I dye And so she lay still and had a sweet rest and sleep and then she awaked without any Complaint and in a quiet peaceable â—rame of Spirit laid down her head in peace when the Clock struck the fifth hour of the 9th day of the 2d Moneth 1680. We whose Names are under-written were Eye and Ear Witnesses of what is before expressed as near as could be taken and does not much vary from what she declared as the Substance though much more sweet and comfortable Expressions past from her but for brevity-sake are willing this only to publish who stood by her when she drew her last Breath William Dewsbury her Grand-Father Mary Sam her Mother Jone Deusbury her Aunt Hannah Whitthead a Friend Dear Friends IN the Light of Christ to wait upon him to renew you in the Spirit of your minds to serve the living God. My dear Friends mind your Calling unto which you are called to wait in the Light to retain God in your Knowledge to feel the work of Regeneration perfected in you that you may truly learn to take up the Cross daily and to feel the heavenly Power manifest it self in the Light to raise you up in the Life that makes self of no Reputation and dryeth up the Tongue of the Egyptian Sea and bringeth all Flesh to true silence in you before the Lord then will not any be hasty to utter words before him but all in true Watchfulness and Prayer wait for the heavenly Inspiration of his holy Spirit to overcome your spirits and to sanctifie you in making you obedient to the Heavenly Government of Christ Jesus in you who will lead you forth of your own thoughts and wills in a humble subjection to his blessed Light Life Thought and Will which will order you in all faithfulness to walk with God in your Families to be good Examples by your good Conversation that so you may set up a Throne in the Consciences of your Children and Servants and all with whom you have to do in having all your words and works seasoned with the good savour of the Spirit of the Lord that he may give you an assurance that the Church of God is in every particular Family and that you are his dwelling-Place amongst the Children of Men then will the Angels of his Presence pitch their Tents about you in the day when this Scripture shall be fulfilled as it is written Pour forth thy Vengeance O Lord upon the Heathen that know thee not and upon all the Families that call not upon thy Name And dear Friends be watchful in Prayer always that you may enjoy the heavenly Life to exercise you in all faithfulness strive to exceed in Humility and Carefulness in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ to meet together that he may exercise guide and order you in all Services upon the account of the blessed Truth of our God that in the meek spiritual Life and Love you be subject to serve the Lord and one another in all love and tenderness of Heart in doing unto others as you would have them do unto you then will the Lord take delight in you and make you manifest to be his chosen Jewels and Saviours upon Mount Sion in repairing the Breaches and restoring the Desolate in bringing back again in the Bowels of Love those that have been driven away or turned aside either to the right hand or to the left in the hour of Temptation and daies of Tryal Oh you meek humble minded spirited People of the Almighty God lift up your heads and keep your minds staid upon the Lord to help you to keep your Habitations of Peace within the Gates of Sion where Salvation we have for Walls and Bulwarks whose confidence is in the Lord alone in whom I beseech you live in the endeared Love of Christ Jesus who gave his Life to Redeem us to himself and gave strength to his Redeemed ones to forsake Wife and Children to give up our lives daily in Tumults Stripes Blood-shed with cruel Sufferings both in Prison and when at Liberty for to bring Enemies out of enmity in the Light to be in union with God Oh be intreated to seek the Lord to subject all your minds to this Love of God in Christ Jesus to rule in you then will the desire of my Soul be answered in your restoring and gathering to God as is before written who will then build you up in the unity of the Spirit and bond of Peace which will enable you with Patience and meekness to weary out and overcome whatever is contrary to his pure peaceable and blessed nature the Mouth of the Lord hath spoken it Through your Brother and Companion in the Kingdom of Patience and Tribulation in the Lord Iesus Christ. W. D. Warwick Goal the the 10 th day of the 12 th Month 1680. A General Epistle to be Read in the Fear of God. In and amongst the Assemblies of his People My Dear Friends IN the Light of the Lord all Watch and Pray that you may receive Power through Faith in the Name of Christ to Reign over your own Thoughts and Wills then will you Delight in taking up the Daily Cross to the Mortifying of the Earthly Members That your Conversations may be as becometh the Gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ which will make you Manifest to the Witness of God in every Conscience that you are the Salt of the Earth that have kept your State and Habitation in God and doth retain the Sweet Savoury Spirit of Life which Seasons all your Words and Works and Ministers Grace to all with whom you have any concern to the Exalting Gods Blessed Truth over all that Watch for Evil which will cause their Eyes to fail and frustrate their Expectations for ever Amen And Deaâ— Friends I beseech you be Faithful upon all Accounts for the Service of the