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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A44231	A brief relation of some part of the sufferings of the true Christians, the people of God, in scorn called Quakers, in Ireland, for these last eleaven years, viz, from 1660 until 1671 with an occasional treatise of their principles and practices briefly stated, whereby the innocency of their cause, for which they so suffer, is not only plainly demonstrated, but also from all false asperations and causeless pretences sufficiently vindicated / collected by T.H. and A.F.	Holme, Thomas, d. 1695.; Fuller, Abraham, d. 1694.	1672 (1672)	Wing H2514; ESTC R7372	56,059	82

Plea of the Transmutation of the property of Tythes from jus divinum to jus humanum will not serve in sound reason nor by Scripture to exact Tythes from true Christians nor yet for them to pay Tythes either to the Clergy or Lay-men And the Apostles continued in Christ's Doctrine and preached the Gospel freely coveting no mans Silver Gold or Apparel but laboured with their hands that neither they nor their Gospel might be chargeable 1 Cor. 9. 18. And Paul layes down in his Epistle 1 Tim. 3. the Quallification of Ministers and Bishops That they must not be Strikers nor Covetous nor greedy of filthy Lucre nor Proud c. and against such as preach for Lucre and make Merchandize of the Word both he and several of the Apostles bore Testimony as may be seen in the Scriptures And there having been so many Volumns published of late by several of our Friends against Tythes enough to satisfie a moderate and rational man against the use of them whether by payment or reception in these our Gospel dayes that we need not enlarge hereon and besides the Understandings of people in our Nations are so enlightened that very few do pay Tythes on the account of Conscience or Scripture Authority but as being constrained thereunto against their Wills for as peoples eyes are opened by believing in and embracing the true Light Christ Jesus they will easily see over the Apostacy unto the primitive true Christians times and so to discern the true Gospel-Ministers and their Allowances by Christ from the now National parochal hired Priests and their Maintenance by Tythes and forced wayes set up by men and that by the Scriptures of Truth Tythes and forced means is not a Maintenance for Gospel Ministers and that he that takes and he that pays Tythes now do both deny Christ come in the Flesh Thirdly Touching our not paying to the repair of the Parish or publick Houses of Worship called Churches we have good Ground First BEcause there is no Example for this from the Antient People of God the Jews either in building or re-edifying and repairing of the Temple of Jerusalem a Place Appointed and expresly Commanded of God to be built For neither did David that prepaired aboundance for the Building of it nor yet Solomen his Son that built it nor yet Zerubbabel and the Jews that Re-built and repaired it would admit of any of the Gentiles or strange Nations to help or assist them therein for when their Adversaries proffered help they refused acceptance saying You have nothing to do with us to build a House unto our God we our selves together will build it unto the Lord God of Israel Ezra 4. 1 2 3. So that the Jews for the love and zeal they bore to God and his Worship denied those that were not of their Religion that joyned not with them in their Worship to help them to rebuild or repair the Temple which was the Place for the Jews to worship at and this is contrary to you that call your selves Christians that compel others not of you to build mend your Places of worship Secondly Because there is no Example from the Primitive true Christians for after Christ came who ended the Temple Worship c. there were many thousands both of the Jews and Gentiles converted to the Faith and met in several Places and Houses to worship God Acts 11. 26. 20. 20. 28. 30. yet we do not read that they either imposed upon one another or compelled the Jews or Gentiles from whom they were turned to build up Places of Worship nor yet that the unconverted Jews and Gentiles compelled the Christians either to build or repair the Jews Synagogues or Diana's Temple Thirdly There is no equity or reason for us to pay to the building or repairing of those now Places of Worship called Churches for God hath so perswaded our hearts that we cannot joyn with them that go to worship there we having good Scripture ground both against the Worship it self the manner of worshipping and the Worshippers and therefore we refuse to go to the Place And can we do less then appeal to the equal Principle of God in men Whether it is not repugnant to right Reason and Equity for the Priests and others to ask much more to assess and compel by taking away our Goods excessively to pay to the building or repair of their Places of Worship called Churches which they themselves and not we make use of for we disown them in their Will-worship 2 Tim. 3. 5. where is taught for Doctrine the Commandments of men Mat. 15. 9. and where Prescriptions and Traditions of men form out a compuisive way of worship for Time Place Manner and Matter as being contrary to Christ's Speech to the Woman of Samaria Neither in this Mountain where the Patriachs worshipped nor yet at Jerusalem the place commanded by God to be built for him once to be worshipped in but the Hour cometh and now is said he that the true Worshippers shall worship God in Spirit and in Truth for such the Father seeks to Worship him and he is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship in the Spirit Joh. 4. 21 22 23 24. And further doth not this manifest that the litteral Professors of Christianity in this Age are grown very cold much below God's ancient People the Jews who for all they had been banished out of their own Country and been Captives in a strange Land in Caldea and Persia 77 Years yet at their return to Judea would not suffer any that were not of their Religion and came not to their Worship to help them to re-edifie repair the Temple commanded of God to be built is not this much unlike this Generation of men that by force make havock of us and out Goods for not helping them to build and repair their now places of Parish-Worship called Churches for which they have no Command from God to build or repair So now this may serve to inform people how innocently and that for Conscience sake we suffer in this thing and that our Persecutors have neither Example of God's Antient People nor of the primitive true Christians nor yet Reason or Equity on their sides for what they have done against us herein Fourthly For not going to the publick Worship and not joyning with them in their Worship at their said places called Churches and for Reproving and Exhorting them to fear God in the said Places and in Streets and Markets as we are commanded of the Lord we have good Ground though we have or may suffer for the same First For it appears by the Scriptures of Truth that in the Infancy of the World even before there was any written Law or outward Rule commanded or prescribed by God that People then offered or worshipped God each of them according to the perswasion of their own hearts and minds as is hinted at in the first Branch For Abel did not joyn with

Unchristian-like spirit of our Persecutors And forasmuch as there is not only a great Difference betwixt us and the literal Professors of Christianity touching the Worship and Service of the True and Living God but that the greatest part of all our Sufferings is generally for and on the account of our Worship to God for that God was and is to be worshipped is owned by all called Christians but how and by what few do understand and that God had a People that truly worshipped him in all Ages is recorded in the holy Scriptures of Truth and though they differed in Manner and Place yet however all that worshipped acceptably 't was by Faith in the Seed therefore we shall begin with that Branch of our meeting together to wait upon and worship the Lord. First As for our meeting frequently together to seek the Lord by waiting upon him in his holy Fear and to Worship him in the Spirit and in the Truth which is the only acceptable Worship with God we have amongst many more these brief ensuing Grounds and Reasons First BEcause the Lord hath thus prrswaded our Hearts by his good Spirit to meet often together to have our minds exercised in his Fear and Worship to wait upon him for more Light to know and understand more of his Heavenly Will which is revealed by his holy Spirit as well what is our Duty towards him and all men as to know his Will towards us and by the Light or Manifestation of himself by his Spirit we come to know and believe that he is a Spirit and is to be worshipped in his own Nature in the Spirit and in the Truth it being mans Duty to wait upon God in and by that of himself made manifest in man which only and truly shews him how when where and after what manner God will be worshipped For if God who is invisible be a Spirit and therein to be worshipped then nothing less then of the same Nature will reveal God to man and shew him how to serve and worship God aright and therefore of necessity for all that intend either to know the Mind of God or their Duty to him to be very serious and weighty in their approachings to worship God in order to conduct the mind of man to seek after and know the Will of God it being a weighty Work to worship the Lord God aright and to the end we may perform a Worship which may be acceptable in his sight therefore it is we thus meet together to seek his Face with our minds waiting and stayed in his Light and measure of his Spirit to open our Understandings in the Mysteries of his Heavenly Kingdom that we may know how to live and walk in this Life as becometh true Christians to answer the End for which we were created that is To glorifie God and to keep our selves unspotted of the Word which is pure Religion Ja. 1. 27. And thus by Faith was God worshipp'd before the Law from Adam till Moses for God having made man in his own Image capable to serve and obey him and to enjoy his blessed Presence but man by Transgression lost his Place and happy Estate and so was drove out from God yet not without a Promise of the Seed Christ to bruise the Serpent's head and though thus expelled yet was it his Duty to Serve Fear and Worship the Lord God his Creator as apppears by the practice of Adam's first Sons who worshipped God by offering Sacrifices each of them according to the perswasion of their Hearts and Understandings Gen. 3. 3 4 5. Cain the first Birth offered the Fruit of the Ground Abel the second Birth offered the Firstlings of his Flock and the Fat thereof and he and his Offering or Worship was accepted but unto Cain God had no respect as offering from that which was cursed and he not finding Acceptance with God in his said Service then Envy and Wrath arose in him and he Murthered his Innocent Brother Mark Here is the first Persecution about Religion here are the two Seeds and the two Births of which and from whence springs all the Natures and Lines and Worships of all Men in the World ever since and from hence its easie to know of what Race every Worship is of Persecutors are of and from envious Cain And is it not below a man or at least as a good man to be ranked of the Race of cursed Cain for shame then let all men forbare to persecute about Religion for you see who is the Father and whosoever persecutes it s a manifest token that he finds no Acceptance with God in his own Worship and so seeks to be revenged on his Brother on him that finds Peace with God in his Offering or Worshipping even on Righteous Abel And by Faith in the promised Seed Christ not only Abel but even all the rest of the holy Patriarchs Noah Abraham Isaac and Jacob c. performed their acceptable Services and Worships to God offering and worshipping in divers Places and Manners and yet without Scripture or written Rules and though they had not a written Law or outward Rule to direct them how to worship God yet had they the Everlasting Rule God's Spirit which was before Writings were by which they were surely acted and truly guided how to live and walk towards God and towards man and how to perform a Worship to God that might be acceptable in his sight as the Scriptures testifie And thus by Faith through all these Types Figures and Sacrifices under the Law was God truly worshipped a contrite Heart being more esteemed by God then Burnt-Offerings and Sacrifices Psal 51. 16 17. 1 Sam. 15. 22. Secondly Because it s our Duty so to meet to seek and worship God who is worthy to be sought unto and waited on by all that make Profession of him as tending to the Honour of his holy Name and Advancement of his Blessed Truth and to the Benefit and Comfort of our own Souls as appears by the Practice of the Saints of old who feared the Lord and spake often one to another and the Lord hearkened and heard and a Book of Remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord and thought upon his Name And they shall be mine in that day saith the Lord when I make up my Jewels Mal. 3. 16 17. So that in consideration of the Omnipotency of God who as we are his Creatures much more his People that fear him and his Children that believe in him doth expect our continual dependance on him as being ready to hear and answer our breathing Desires and to supply us with every Good Thing needful for us Lam. 3. 25 26. We have good Grounds thus to wait and meet 1st From the Promise of Christ Jesus who said Mat. 18. 20. Where two or three are gathered together in my Name there will I be in the midst of them and we have found him faithful that hath promised read Mat.

indeed they and he too ought he made two Calves of Gold and set up one at Betbel the other at Dan and falsly called them the Godds which brought Israel out of Egypt and it became a great Sin for the people worshipped them and went not to the Temple as they were commanded of God And he made an House of High-Places and Priests of the lowest of the people such as he knew being raised so by him would serve his Ends and call the dead Images Godds and his invented ways and worships the True Worship that were not of the Sons of Levi and therefore false Priests and not of God's appointing or making And he ordained Feasts Offerings Sacrifices Altars c. in some resemblance of the Worship at Jerusalem thereby to please the People and feed their Fancies with a doing something in imitation of the Worship at Jerusalem and by offering upon the Altar there Burnt-incense c. and feasting the people that it became a great Snare and Sin of Idolatry and turned away their Hearts from serving the Living God to serve Godds or rather more properly no Gods of Gold and the Works of mens hands and this very much provoked the Lord insomuch that whilst Jeroboam the King and the People were at their invented Worship at the Altar at Bethel there came a Man of God a Prophet out of Judah and cryed against the Altar the false Worship and the King put forth his Hand and said Lay hold on him as many do in our dayes and his Hand withered or dryed which by the Prayer of the Man of God was healed and restored again 1 King 13. 1 to 10. Neither did Jeroboam set up this his Worship as judging it in his Conscience to be the true Worship of God for he knew it was his own invented Worship and devised Way as is plain in 1 King 12. 27 33. but rather politickly prescribing a Way and Worship like in some things to that at Jerusalem to keep the People from the true Worship and to busie their minds in an active way of Worship by Priests of his own making who would say or do any thing he would have them their Places and Maintenance depending on him and also to strengthen himself in his Kingdom rather seeking his own Greatness and Preservation then the Honour and Glory of God that had bestowed such a Kingdom and Dignity unexpectedly on him and as the Author● of so fair and gilded a Way of Worship thereby wholy to allure and engage them to him and his Idolatrous Worship who having so sinned against God knew no other safety or strength then the good will and number of the People and several of the Kings of Judah and Israel were false Worshippers and against them and their said false Worships several Prophets of the Lord bore Testimony and reproved them as did Zechariah Michaiah Isaiah Jeremiah Ezekiel Malachi and several other Servants of the Lord which kept the Law of God then as we do now the Gospel and served the Lord in their Generations and knew him whom they served and could not forsake him and his Laws to joyn with the Idolaters and false Worshippers that knew not the Living God and for bearing Testimony against the false Worshippers and reproving them for their Will-worship Idolatry Sin and Wickedness were Persecuted imprisoned and some of them put to Death And it is to be well observed That not in all the time under the Law when Sacrifices Offerings Temple-worship c. as Types and Figures were set up by the Command of God none were lyable or compelled as we read of to worship there but the Jews and them that were of their Religion So that the true Worshippers were never Persecutors in any Age but false Worshippers have ever persecuted them that truly serve and worship God in sincerity of Heart therefore let not Persecutors think or look on themselves to be true Worshippers true Christians whilst they are in that Nature and let them but seriously examine their Hearts in the Light and Spirit of Christ Jesus and they will know that they find not acceptance with God in their own Services nor Peace of Conscience and true Satisfaction of Soul in their Worshippings and that 's the very Cause why they malign others and Caiu like envy and persecute sometimes to Death them that are more Innocent and that find Peace with God and Acceptance in their worshipping Thirdly The Lord having been thus worshipped before and under the Law and having a further and another Way of Worship in and by manifesting of the promised Seed to be clothed with Flesh John 1. 17. For the Law was given by Moses but Grace and Truth came by Jesus Christ who was the Substance of the Law of all the Offerings Sacrifices Altar and Temple-Worship which could not make perfect as pertaining to the Conscience all which he ended by his Coming and being offered up a Body being prepared him to do the Will of the Father and then Sacrifices of Righteousness and worshipping God in Spirit and in Truth ordained of God and declared by Christ for when Christ came he did not joyn with the publick Worship but reproved them that drew nigh with their Tongues and honoured God with their Lips and their Hearts far from him Mat. 15. 8 9. as many do now adayes and told them In vain they worshipped that taught for Doctrine the Commandments of Men and called them Blind Leaders John 7. 28. 4. 23. and he often went into the Temple the publick Place of Worship for the Jews and reproved them and set up the true Worship of God over all false worships in the Spirit and in the Truth which differed from the National Worships and as many as came to the Gospel Worship to worship God in Spirit were separated from the Jews and Gentiles Publick and National Worships and did often testifie against them in their publick Places and reproved them in the Streets and other Places for which they were persecuted by Unbelievers and false Worshippers that knew not God And Christ Jesus being come of whom Moses prophesied and said Acts 3. 22. He must be heard in all things and he being Head of his Church it s his Prerogative alone to establish the Worship and Order thereof and he only hath Power in all Spiritual Matters over his Body his Church and People who are oblieged in point of Duty to obey and observe his Commands and Institutions and not the Prescriptions of any other for God never was is or will be worshipped acceptably any otherwayes then in his own Will and Way And Christ Jesus for publishing the Everlasting Gospel and setting up his Father's Worship in Spirit and in Truth by ending the Law with its Ordinances and Temple-worship c. and for testifying against Sin and Wickedness the works of the Devil and for all other his good Words and Works he was persecuted and put to Death by the chief Priests Elders Scribes and

Pharisees John 8. 59. a great professing people even by such as professed the Messiah to come Thus was the Just and Holy One the Messiah Christ Jesus the Seed the Son of God and Saviour of the World put to Death by Wicked and Ungodly Men who are of the Line of Cain's spirit the seed of the Serpent the Devil Peter and John went into the Temple Acts 3. 4. 1. the place of Worship at the time of Prayer and preached Christ which the Temple-Worshippers could not bear but laid hands on them whipt them and put them in Prison strictly charging them To Preach no more in the Name of Jesus the Priests being the chief Instruments as also at the killing of Christ Stephen a true Worshipper of God Acts 6. was accused of many Falshoods by men subborned and false Witnesses and brought before the Council of the Jews false Worshippers and he being full of Faith and Power preached Christ unto them and withal told them Acts 7. That God dwelled not in Temples made with hands further charging them and their Fathers with persecuting the Prophets and murdering of Jesus for which he was stoned and put to Death by the National Worshippers Paul preached Christ in the Synagogues Acts 9. 20 23. for which the Jews took Counsel against him waiting and watching at the Gate day and night so great was their Envy to kill him And he and Barnabas preached in the Jews Synagogues at Cyprus Antioch c. and the Jews persecuted them and Banished them their Coasts Acts 13. as many of God's Servants are served in these dayes And at Iconium they were also persecuted and Paul stoned near unto Death by the professing Jews and false Worshippers for going into their Synagogues and preaching Christ Acts 14. And at Thessalonica Paul as his manner was went into the Synagogues on the Sabboth dayes and reasoned with them out of the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ c. Acts 17. and the Unbelievers and base people set the City on an Uproar against them as such do now against God's Servants for preaching the same Christ accusing them with turning the World upside down and doing contrary to the Decrees of Caesar and troubled the City and the Rulers even as the Priests and worst of People in our Age do concerning us whom the Lord hath redeemed from their Mouthes And when Paul came to Athens he did not joyn to the publick Worship but his Spirit was stirred in him seeing them given to Idolatry he disputed in the Synagogues with the Jews and in the Market daily with them that met with him there certain Philosophers of the Epicureans and Stoicks encountred him some calling him a Babbler others a Setter forth of strange Godds because he preached Jesus and the Resurrection and yet they themselves knew not the Living God Thus Peter and several of the Apostles Disciples the true Worshippers for bearing the like Testimony were also persecuted and some to Death Many more Examples might be mentioned of the true Worshippers of the Lord even through Ages and Generations recorded in the Scriptures who knew God whom they worshipped and could not joyn with the false Worshippers yea if National Worshippers in their day that knew not the Lord but reasoned with them and testified against them in their publick places and else-where as the Lord required them and they were alwayes persecuted by the false birth of Religion the false Worshippers and seed of Evil-doers that knew not God according to the Saying of the Apostle Gal. 4. 29. He that is born of the Flesh persecutes him that is born of the Spirit And also It may be seen in Histories and Books of Martyrs that many have suffered Martyrdom because they could not joyn to and with the National and established Worships then set up by men and so forsake the Spiritual Worship set up by Jesus Christ And as in former times so in these dayes the true Worshippers who worshipped God in Spirit and in Truth Jo. 4. 23 24. which is the Gospel-Worship set up by Christ Jesus cannot joyn contrary to their Consciences and Understandings with the National publick Worship for which there is neither Command nor Example in the Scriptures of Truth for their Practice Discipline Manner of Worship and Worship it self And seeing it is of necessity to know God before he can be worshipped aright and that none know the Father but the Son and him to whom the Son will reveal him Mat. 11. 27. if none then know God but by the Revelation of Christ Jesus and that the national Worshippers say Revelation which it seems is the only way to know God is ceased then by their Doctrine it follows That the Knowledge of God is ceased and then in vain do men worship for they worship they know not what How then can we joyn with them in such a Worship whilst they deny Revelation so worship an Unknown Godd But we come to know God by the Revelation of Jesus Christ 1 John 4. 13 14 15 16. and therefore we worship him and fear his holy Name and for thus worshipping we ought not to be persecuted especially not by those that profess Christianity Fifthly Concerning our not Swearing not taking off our Hats and for Working on dayes by some called Holy-days we have also good Ground and Scripture Authority First AND first for our refusing to Swear we have plain and undeniable Scripture Proofs 1st from Christ Jesus the Son of God in whom we believe Joh. 14. 1. who in his Sermon to his Disciples preached and opened the glorious Work and Worth of the Gospel above the Law though he came not to destroy the Law but to fulfil it You have heard said he that it hath been said by them of old time Thou shalt not Forswear thy self but shalt perform unto the Lord thine Oaths but I say unto you Swear not at all neither by Heaven c. but let your Communication be Yea yea Nay nay for whatsoever is more then these cometh of Evil Mat. 5. 17 33 35 36 37. And if men were not wilfully bind and hardned against Truth how could a Mouth be opened much less a Hand lifted up against us by the Professors of Christianity for our Principles herein seeing Christ the Gospel-Law giver bids us not Swear at all and him we are to hear and obey And as they under the Law were to Swear truly so we under the Gospel are to speak truly for true Christians are as far to exceed the Jews as the Gospel doth the Law because of that Noble and Just Principle in them which is to lead them and guide them into all Truth John 16. 13. to speak and act truly altogether at all times and in all places and then a Testimony to speak the Truth answereth unto and is in the Ground as valid as Swearing truly that which might be sworn unto in the time of the Law is now only to be confirmed by Confession Yea

a further Testimony of our Sincerity herein we further say and declare That we are content to suffer as much for not Serving truly and for not Speaking and Evidencing truly as those that are Perjured or Forsworn for we hold our selves as much yes more oblieged by affirming or speaking Truth by our word Yea and Nay as others do by Swearing truly or performing their Places by an Oath And if this sufficeth not then we must needs say It s hard to perswade men of a contrary mind to us herein until they come to own and believe in the Truth Christ the Light and then they will with us be like-minded with us that what we say affirm and witness is really Truth or truly said and done seeing they themselves are often doubtful of the verity of what is sworn or testified upon Oath by such as worship with them and are of the same Opinion with them and hold it as they do lawful to Swear for several times neither the Swearers nor the Matter sworn is believed by the Magistrate for men of good Fame are called and depended on for the truest Evidence So that it appeareth That it s not the taking of a bare Oath simply considered as an Oath which oblieges to perform or evidence and swear truly but rather the Honesty and good Conscience of the Party which proves the Performance from a Principle within and not from a formal Oath then we say Why should not a man as well be believ'd in speaking truly as swearing truly seeing all that swear cannot be believed there being so many Perjured False-sworn Secondly For not taking off our Hats which are part of our Bodily Garments and put and placed upon our Heads to keep them warm and dry as the rest of our Garments are for the other parts of our Bodies and so not Honouring mens Persons with pulling them off which it seems troubleth and distasteth the minds of some men that seek the Honour below in order to content and satisfie the Pride and Ambition for curreous and good-natured men contemn and disregard it looking upon it at best but an Alamode Complement of a late Edition and rather become a Fashion in our Country a National or general Custom then any absolute matter of Duty or Necessity And besides it would be no hard thing to prove the use of National or general Customs to be incongtuous with and dissonant unto the Life of a true Christian who is not to be fashionedunto the World 1 Pet. 1. 14. so that the not putting them off to answer the Will a lofty part in man is also Matter of Conscience to us for God knows our hearts that it s done in the Cross of Christ Jesus and not in Contempt of Authority or mens Persons bearing Rule For we dare not Respect Persons act contrary to the Apostles Doctrine who said Jam. 2. 1 to 11. If ye have Respect to Persons ye commit Sin and are convinced of the Law as Transgressors to this agrees Christ's Saying to his Hearers John 5. 41 44. How can ye believe which receive Honour one of another and seek not the Honour that comes down from God only and we do not read in the Scriptures that of all that were brought or voluntarily went before Kings Dukes Governours and Magistrates that any were commanded to put off their Hats or Bonnets nay Nebuchadnezar was not offended as we read with the three Children for their Hats Dan. 3. 21. for they were cast into the Fire with their Hosen and Hats Doth not the Turk mock it Christians for putting off their Hats shewing their bare Heads Is not this a Reproof to Christians that Persecute Fine and Imprison for not putting off the Hat to them because they have not the Hat-Honour and Hat-Respect which they cannot say is the Honour from above which Christ commendeth to seek Thirdly For Working or Opening our Shops on the Week-dayes called Holy-dayes we have this to say which though little yet may suffice a moderate man and will a true Christian We find Exod. 20. 6. the Law allowed Six Dayes in the Week to Work or Labour on and neither Christ nor his Apostles did ever forbid it nor yet ordained any such dayes as Holy-days to be kept and observed by the Churches in the Primitive Times And the Apostle Paul in his Epistle to the Romans saith Rom. 41. 5 6. One Man esteemeth one Day above another another esteemeth every Day alike let every man be fully perswaded in his own Mind he that regards a Day regards it unto the Lord and he that regards not the Day to the Lord he doth not regard it And he also said They should not judge one another about such things And seeing that neither the Apostles nor the Councils in their dayes made any such Decree or Law for observing such dayes have not therefore these Decrees and Laws been made by the Pope and his Councils since the Apostles dayes And who shall be observed the Apostles or the Pope judge ye So that there being no Institution of such dayes by Christ his Apostles or Primitive Councils why should we suffer or be persecuted for following our lawful Labours and Callings thereon especially by such as are called Christians AND thus Reader in this foregoing occasioned Treatise of the several Branches of our beforementioned Sufferings we have used brevity in regard divers of our Friends have published much already to the same purpuse yet we cannot be altogether silent at this time Prudence prompting us to put thus much to publick view for no other Cause and End then so far to vindicate our Principles and Practices by the holy Scriptures of Truth Practice of Primitive true Christians and other good Grounds and Reasons as that thereby it may plainly appear to any Sober and Moderate Man that we suffer Innocently not for Evil-doing and that our Persecutors are the more culpable and so much the more for that they profess the Scriptures And notwithstanding their thus Vnjust Vnchristian-like Vsage and Persecuting of us we purpose and resolve in the Lord God That the Powers and chief Rulers of the Nations as hitherto so hereafter also shall never have more against us then Nebuchadnezar had against Shadrach Meshach and Abednego Dan. 3. and Darius against Daniel Dan. 6. 4 to the end for Daniel and the Three Children were Faithful to the Kings of Babylon and Medea as their Accusers acknowledged who sought Occasion against Daniel but confessed they could find none except concerning the Law of his God which was his Worship and Religion THE END Dr. Taylor late Bishop of Down Derry Chrysost Tertul. Haywardus K. James K. Car. 1. Isa 42. 4. Phil. 3. 15. Gal. 1. 15. 1 Cor. 2. 10. Mat. 11. 25. Luke 4. 23. Mat. 5. 16. Joh. 15. 8. 1 Cor. 6. 20. Mat. 20. 26. and 23. 10. 1 Pet. 5. 2 3. Luke 22. 24 25 26. 2 Cor. 4. 5. Da. 5 27 Act. Mon. Thorp Huss G. Clapham Priest of Mountmelick and Geo. Walker Priest of Kilmore Gen. 4. 4. Heb. 11. 4. Gen. 4. 3 5 6 7 8. Gen. 5. 24. Gen. 6. 9 18. Gen. 8. 20 21. Gen. 12. 1 5 6 7 8. Gen. 13. 18. Gen. 15. 1. Gen. 17. 1. 18. 1. Ge. 20. 1 2. 21. 33 34. 22. 9 13 14. Genesis 23. 19 20. Genesis 24. 3 4. Genesis 26. 25. Genesis 28. 1. 2 Genesis 32. 28. Gen. 33 18 19 20. Genesis 35. 7 14 15. Genesis 47. 28 29 30 31. Genesis 50. 24 25 26. Ex. 17. 15. 19. 20. 27. 1. 30. 1. Jerom Chrysoft Ambr. Origen Act. and Mon. Bish Gawden Wil. Thorp Wil. Brute Acts 5. 29.