the Sun with its most glorious beams In its large Womb hath swallowed up her pale and glimmering Streams By which he Body is made dark this all may plainly see And when it gets before the Sun then an Eclipse will be Yea this also may be minded because it is most clear The Sun is ne're Eclipsed but when th' Moon is in its Sphere And the Earths Body also is as dark as is the Moon For when it gets before the Sun the Moon 's Eclips'd full soon Thus Nature hath these outward Signs that in their Sphears do run For the Earths Body doth Eclipse the Moon and She the Sun These outward Signs of Heaven were discern'd by men of old Who yet the Mystery did not see being all led blind-fold Because the God of this World had their minds wholly blinded Lest that the Gospel-Light should shine and they by it be led And though the Hypocrites of old Heavens outward could discern Yet did not know true Bethlehem where Gods own Seed was born Of these Figures the Prophets did of old make use you see When they told where the World was set in mans heart there to be So he that to God is a Friend must have the World cast out From this same place where it is set else Truth it will not sprout And this the cause of the Eclipse that man comes not to know Neither beginning nor the end of him God doth not show The works that he at all times doth they being heavenly Because of this total Eclipse that on his heart doth lye So that the Moons dark Body 's of to us no use at all The Sun reflecting not thereon by the Earths Interval This made the Seers which of old with shame confounded were For they no Answer of God had because they Preacht for hire Yea for money they did Devine and Judged for reward Thus building up Sion with blood no sight had of the Lord. The dark Moon here is turnd to BLOOD tho it pretend to build The glorious Mountain of the Lord have hereby Saints blood spill'd And yet for all this seem to lean themselves upon the Lord As if no evil she had done but in heart did accord This hard-heart Earth was still the same of which the Lord so long Complain'd of in the Wilderness it grieved him so strong To day to day for forty years oh this was all the noise But their hard hearts they could not hear the sounding of his voyce This Earth this Lust this Will this Fesh they being of one nature Are those that keep the glorious beams from shining on the Creature But now the Day of God is come expel those Mists he will Which do his Sun-beams over-cast that shine would on his still For though a man have outward eyes be they never so clear Yet if that Night do him oretake he is little the neer And as it is in outward Earth this is the cause of Night Having a Body thick and gross its self hinders the Light This Judgement was on th' Prophets which with their keen Teeth did bite ' Gainst those that put not in their mouths in War prepare to fight Therefore Night should be unto them they shall no Vision have Not so much Light as to devine how they themselves may save And down o're them the Sun shall go are Prophets of that day Yea darkness shall oretake them all who make not God their stay They therefore shall cover their Lipps for tho they call and cry They shall no answer have from God ' cause in the earth they lye These were also the Belly-gods whose glory was their shame For that they Earthly things did mind and therefore were to blame And this likewise was that also which Demas did embrace Who for this present world did forsake both Truth and Grace These were the false Teachers of which Peter did so fore-tell Should Heresies damnable bring that swift destruction fell Upon them in their great glory for that they should deny The Lord Light Life that thus bought them so in dark Death shall lye Yea these are they through Avarice and fained words should make Merchandise of the People too this darkness they did take And following these pernitious wayes is the sole reason why Truths way is evil spoken off to th' Light they 'l not come nigh So this is Moon Eclips'd you see the Earth and the hard Heart And now before this Cloud be gone these things must feel the smart For that the World and things therein must all be burnt with fire And be removed from his place in the Day of Gods ire But what is that which doth Eclipse the Sun The Moon I 've said When it is turned into Blood then doth it the Sun shade And makes his Body to look black and shine as if it were For all its great and glorious beams but a Sack-cloth of hair This was the time that Joel did prophesie of and say When Sun was dark then Moon was blood this should precede Gods day And 't was fulfil'd when the sixth-Seal was opened for loe A mighty Earth-quake then was seen which many well do know For then the Stars of Heaven fell unto the Earth their place Because they were untimely Figgs they staid there but a space For by this mighty Wind and Storm which God among them sent He shook off what untimely was tho glorious things were ment And now the Earth not only doth but also Heavens shake Because Gods Day is at the door they tremble do and quake For this first Earth and Heaven too which Man could not sustain Are both together shaken now their Form doth not remain Therefore this Heaven departed is even as it were a Scrole For all their glorious fained words together when t is rowl'd And every Mountain and Island which glory in their graces Are by this Storm and mighty Wind remov'd out of their places And they that were Kings of the Earth Great and Rich Men also With chief Captains and mighty Men with Bond and Free-Men go And hide themselves within the Dens yea on the Mountains call And on the Rocks for to hide them or upon them to fall These are the Presbyterian Moon which in the Night was Light But when to Persecution fell then all was Blood and spight But now their Kingdom shaken is and they are made to quake Having their Measure measured back this makes their own hearts akâ— This makes their Stars their mighty Men down from their heaven fall Rather than they will drink this Cup that is mixed with gall And so what Antichristian was in Way and Form before And Covenanted then against the same they now Adore Thus now their Valiant Captains do from Heaven daily slide Their Rich and mighty Men also in Rocks and Mountains hide From the Light Face of him that sits upon his Fathers Throne And from the Wrath of the Lamb which they often made to grone Object But some may now Object and
THE POOR Widows Mite Cast into the LORD'S TREASURY Wherein are contained Some Reasons in the Justification of the Meetings of the People of God called QUAKERS with an Approbation of several Truths held by them and the ground of Dark Persecution Discussed Written by a Woman of the South who came from the ends of the Earth to hear the Wisdom of him that is greater than Solomon and doth a far off behold the happy Estate of his Friends and Servants who stand continually before him to hear and receive Wisdom from him who is the true Emanuel Now lest it should be counted a Libel or any should think we dare not own it in the World I have subscribed my Name A MITE if ALL is more than ALL Than they Abundance have That have not FAITH to give up ALL Their ALL will not them Save Printed for the use and benefit of such Bees as suck their Hony from the Flowers and Blossoms that God makes to spring that they may have to keep themselves alive in the dark stormy Winter 1671 THE Widows Suite TO Her FRIEND T. S. whom she desires to be IMPRIMATOR to her Small Mite My Friend THese Lines to thee are sent that thou mayst them review Because I know thou dost Believe and Seest in things are True So that if ought be Unsav'ry and thou dost know the Fault Thou having in thy House Seas'ning put thereto the Earths Salt Moreover I not willing am that Truth at all be Blam'd Nor would I do or give out ought that any should be sham'd Therefore unto the Sanctu'ry I do my Weights forth bring The Ballance thereof them to try this is the only thing To have all right and made good weight Infirmities to heal And what Weights equal are and just on them to strike the Seal Which when they have Truths Seal on them Oh! then none will question Let the Noble Bereans search they 'l find the Weights all one The Poor WIDOWS MITE Cast into the LORDS TREASURY Where in are contained in short some reasons in the Justification of the Meetings of the People of God called QUAKERS c. NO Prologue Preface Frontispice nor no Epistle have To Usher in this little Mite that long hath lain in Grave But now a Resurrection hath and from the Grave is come And in the Holy City walks though before deaf and dumbe Nor did it see at all for that in 's very Birth 't was blind Nor taste the goodness of his God nor could him feel or find Now Praises praises unto him that quickned hath dry Bones By breathing makes the sences live to Abraham's Seed of Stones This is the mighty Power of God on us that blind were born His giving forth his Light his Christ his Everlasting â—…orn His Gospel Grace and Righteousness his Joy his Peace his Strength His mighty Arm Salvation brings unto us now at length With Wisdom Truth and Holiness which is to Sanctifie And cleanse this little New-born Babe which long in sin did lye This is the true Emanuel that doth his People save From all the sins that they have done that kept their Souls in Gravâ—… This is the Spirit that quickens us this is the time of Love When in our Blood we wallowing were Oh then What did 〈…〉 Our Father could not seeing he by birth an Am'rite was Nor Mother either cause that she came of the Hittits These fleshly earthly Canaanites could not help in that day Of the Souls great calamity God only is its stay For Pitty pitty no Eye had on it for to help when It was cast out and loath'd of all Love to it God had then He then did purge and purifie that Birth that is his own The which is born of the Spirit by a new Name is known And He it is deliverance brings from Satans Power and Might And hath translated us into his Sons marvelous Light Whereby we wonder and admire his Mercies manifold And from his Truth cannot retire his Truth doth make us bold And valiant for it upon Earth for which we All have lost For in our Building we sate down and did cast up the Cost And by the same our Souls have gain'd let th' world go as it will Let Life or Death or Sufferings come so God be with us still This is the Test we have for God in this we all agree That of our selves no help we have All is of Grace and Free For Obligations we have none wherewith the Lord to tye But the Free Promises he makes on them we do relye So those that true experience have pray tell it to each other What for their Souls the Lord hath done be it Sister or Brother This is the Cause that we do Meet together it 's Gods due That we may serve and witness Him by his Word which is true For in the mouth of two or three when they witness Allone Gods Word it is established and Truth prevails upon The Hearts and Souls of them that hear both IN and OVT also Whereby they the same Spirit know that is in many MO. This was the Order Paul did give the Co-rin-thi-ans to That to one place the Church should come and this also should do The Prophet or to Prophesie to Judge the others were By the same Spirit which they spoke that to them Truths did clear And if amongst them there did come one that believed not Convicted then he is of all and Judgement is his Lot And thus the secrets of his heart all manifested be So falling down upon his Face then worship God will he And of a truth report that God it is that lives in you This way th'unlearned come to know the Way of God that 's true Here one by one may Prophesie that all may hear and learn And also may be comforted that to Gods Spirit turn We Members of each others are being Christs Body dear Which he hath purchas'd with his Blood and plac'd in us his Fear For we be they the which are built on the Foundation Of Prophets and Apostles to Jesus Christ's Corner-stone In whom also the Building is fitly fram'd together Grown unto an holy Temple from which God will not sever For being Built together are through the Almighty Spirit An Habitation of God the which he will Inherit And so the Head it cannot say to 'th Foot I need not thee Nor eke the Eye unto the Ear O be thou gone from me For that the Body is but One yet Members hath it Many Apeare there would Deformity if lack there were of Any This Body God hath temper'd so the Members each with other That all should have the self same care Vncomly parts to cover Not to Rejoyce at Nakedness as did that cursed Cham But as Japhet and blessed Shem going backwards cover'd shame So what is wanting in each one a supply others have To Minister unto each wants by it their Soules to save And this all is by the same Spirit diversities of Guifts With
fill the Breast likewise is eas'd The Child then it is satisfi'd and Mother also pleas'd This figure God made use of when to Israel he did say Her Child can a Mother forget that sucks on her each day This is the Faith that sucks the Breast of Consolation By which the Just shall ever live if they feed thereupon For in the World we are but sent this plainly doth appear Which shews our Father is alive in whose House is our chear In which is Bread of Life enough and Mansions there are many So Prodigals must come thereto if they mean to have any And this may well observed be what doth the Father move No sooner sees his Son to come but RVNS to meet his Love Oh here is Love Love Love indeed Who can such Love er'e shun For when poor Souls begin to move the Father he doth RVN Yea not away but towards him as if it were a Bliss With arms spread out doth it receive and gives to it a Kiss And is not only here content with joy his House doth sound Because the dead is made alive his lost Son now is found And seemeth to be servile to beset with cares and fears Waiting for to be garcious on Israel forty years And when that we did wallow in the blood that was our own Vnsalted washt or pittied then was his strong Arm known Oh this was Gods own only Power that did Salvation bring Oh this was then a time of Love which makes us now to sing Salvation Glory and Power unto our God for ever Who is our present help at hand his Promise faild us never So all may see the ground-work then that solely doth us move In our affections to Love him ' cause first he did us Love For when that we ungodly were then he his own Son sent From sin and Satan us to free this was his true intent From Egypts darkness and Deaths bonds poor Souls he did set free This was Gods Love and the Sons Word in this both did agree This Truth also in many things illustrated may be That we no Independants are alone on God live we Though we as strong as Sampson were who the Philistines killd And heaps on heaps of them did bear yet he to Death must yeild Till the Lord cleave a hollow place where water did spring out In the same Jaw-bone of the Asse wherewith he made the Rout And when that he had drank thereof his Spirit came again And he revived also was though given himself as slain So of our selves no strength we have 't is in God we must hoast Who is our Captain Strength and Stay the only Lord of Hoasts Now by experience David may yet in Gods strength alone Declare how he by it had killd the great Philistian The Lyon Bear and through an Hoast gone by this strength he hath And he over a Wall hath lept that stood a cross his Path. This is the way that he did go and therefore Courage took ' Cause formerly God did him help and never him forsook Though then were some as there be now which unto him did say That in his God no help there was whereon his soul to stay This plainly then you now may see these cause mens hearts to faint Denying of Gods strength which he doth work in every Saint So putting them quite out of heart for ever to attain Over their hearts-lusts Victory or Ground on them to gain This Spirit you may also see in Israel of old Which did not the true Spies believe though they God Truth bâ— told For they the Sons of Anack feard that mighty were and tall So did not in Gods Power trust but fell a murmuring all And their false Spies to help forward their unbelief and spight Said They appear'd like Grashoppers in the Anakims sight None doubted then nor do they now but the Land it is good But how 't could then or now can be attaind the Question stood And notwithstanding God to them such Miracles did show And wonderfully brought them out of Egypt they did know Yet those false Spies did them perswade as Ministers do now Of Satan which do make a trade against God to avow That from their Masters Kingdom he poor Souls cannot set free Or that his Kingdom in this World diminished shall be Which is the cause of Vnbelief amongst us now at length But those that unto Sion come do grow from strength to strength And now as then the true Caleb do still the People tell The Land is good and to Conquer they able are full well And that the People should not fear unto them thus he sed Their Defence doth from them depart they are to us for Bread And that the Lord he was with them there was no cause to fear Yet they for all this did rebell for their words did not care For many false Spies still they had which brought an ill report So that the Congregation bad stone them with stones for 't Now if there be a Caleb that God follow fully will With other Spirit than they do they cry him stone or kill And yet for all this God will bring his Calebs to this Land They and their Seed shall it possess which to his Truth do stand Who do believe and so confess God by his Power can Bring his People out of Egypt to heavenly Canaan From this it may observed be The false spies they are many From which the ground of Vnbelief doth spring Truth scarce hath any Though in this work it is their share to suffer as men think Yet unto us it is our Joy of Christs own Cup to drink E'en as t was then so it is now Destructions way is wide And many follow in the same few from it turn aside These men that did Gods glory see and miracles also In Egypt and i' th Wilderness do tempt him ten times mo Than those that never yet did see Gods Power that 's Divine More tollerable it shall be for such who have no Sign These Miracles and Wonders great Advantages should be And in our hearts such Courage raise that we no fear should see This is the way David did go with confidence to Saul He took up Courage in his heart and told Israel all That in Gods strength a Lyon he had killed and a Bear And therefore this Physitian bold knew no such thing as Fear This Plea we ' gainst all those have that unto People preach Let God or man do what they can Man Canaan Land can't reach Something of the Cause of DARKNESSE IGNORANCE and PERSECUTION AS the dark Body of the Moon which in the Night is Light That it receiveth from the Sun by standing in its sight And then again by Reflection on us this Light doth cast While it thus governeth the Night no longer doth it last For when the Day-light doth appear it wan doth wax and fade ' Cause it retains no Life or Power nor hath it any Shade For that the brightness of
us still We could not rest but we must rise till we did know his will If for our zeal you us condemn Samuel must stand our Friend To speak for us when that God will to Jesses house him send Who there for us will make excuse for this our Ignorance When he did judge God annointed with his outward eyes glance For the Lord said he should not look on outward countenance Nor on the height of the stature though it was Jesses Branch For by that way God doth not look neither by it doth chuse For what accords not with his heart that still he doth refuse Here Samuel took the first-born Son for Gods Annointed sure But Countenance nor Stature doth answer to God the pure So second third and all seven past before Samuel But no answer from God he had of them as he could tell So being at a stand he said are here all thy Children David unworthy counted was to be with his Brethren Yet by the Lord annointed is whatere of him is sed For Gods Spirit on him is pourd Sure mercies of David Thus you see all the seven Sons disowned by their Maker But this same last Sheep-keeping lad because he was a Quaker All here may see that God doth chuse the heart that is upright Which tremble doth at his own Word is pleasant in his sight So we can say in truth of heart when God did first us call And we ran in the several wayes yea some have run them all In something we did answer him that pleasd him we do know That he never left calling us till his Truth us did show So the Last way some did profess was no Form but Seeking By Babylons fall they all did cease but now is found the thing The MESSIAH that doth restore Israel that was lost The which hath suffered much Shipwrack is cast upon our coast So the sure Mercies we have found the Christ the first the last The Spirit of the Living God which was in Ages past Christ by the flesh was Davids Son he being his Off-spring But yet in Spirit was Davids Root for David calls him King Here answerd is the great Question that doth with Truth accord How Jesus Christ not only was Davids own Son but Lord This is the King that God hath set upon his holy Hill That shall the Pot-shards of Earth break that bow not to his Will God being a Spirit his Son is so and so of right is Lord. Who was and is and ever shall be King with one accord His Day Christ said Abram did see tho some him for 't did scorn The Everlasting Father was though Isays Child new-born This was the Scepter which was not from Israel to depart The inward Israel indeed who 're Circumcis'd in heart This Law giver 'tween Judas feet yea nearer in his womb Who never shall from his depart until that SHILO come This was the Spiritual meat and drink this was the store the stock Of Israel that followed them to drink t is Christ the Rock Yea this the Rock of Ages is it was and shall be so Generations Foundation no other shall they know So now that former fickle State in which we wore wavering Being wholly unsatisfied until we had our King But now our Lord and King is come and in our hearts doth raign And hath our Enemies Sin and Death in 〈…〉 eat measure slain So I again to you do say do not upbraid us more With such a fickle wavering state as you have done before When in dead Forms and outward Priests which perish with using We neither handle touch or taste with you any such thing Wherefore your outward visible Signs must all of them give place According to your Liturgy 't is inward spiritual Grace The which now in the heart doth raign of many in this Nation For outward Shaddows were but till the time of Reformation But now the good things they are come Christ Body is discern'd And Gods Kingdom of Righteousness of Joy and Peace is learn'd The which in Meats and Drinks doth not consist as many think For in this Kingdom we afresh with Christ this fruit do drink And therefore all your Washings then that divers were and many With all your worldly Elements that doth not perfect any For the Body Christ hath prepard to do thy will O God For that thy People willing be in this days Power O Lord. And now may'nt I say Glory to as well as Englands Form The Father Son and holy Ghost in it I see no harm And that in the beginning 't was I also say the same So it shall be world without end Praise to his Holy NAME His Name 's but one and yet to him there many Names are given According as he Ministers to us here under Heaven And here on Earth Three record bear tho Three in ONE agree And answer Heavens record to as Branches of ONE Tree Some more SCRUPLES clear'd NOW for the opening of the Truth which is our strength c stay In answering of Objections to this same some may say Object Oh! here 's a Table richly deckt Oh here are dishes store Oh! is all this but one Small Mite and from a Widow poor Though here are many good Dishes they have not the right place Nor in good Order Vsherd in oh this doth spoile the Grace For there are sometimes Dishes come the which should last be brought And this Course will not it admit of this some will find fault Though we confess the meat be good and on the Table store But Sauce here is not sutable to sight it is but poor Answ My Answer this noâ—… â—…nquet is for them full Stomack have But bitter things for hungry Soules which newly come from grave But yet in it ought sweetness find O this is all my aim To praise the goodness of our God for his Love in the same And seeing meat is on the Board if it be'nt rightly set Let others take the pains that can the Dishes places â—…it Now for my part when I did taste any dish that was good I presently brought him to board to others for their food If in Feasts they first best Wine bring and after that that 's worst Yet Christ when he makes Water Wine the last's as good as first So these Traditions we do not in our minds much admire So hungry Souls with Righthousness be fed is our desire Object Tautologies O some may say be here I do them find Which are Dishes of one like meat this doth not please the mind Answ My Answer is 't was meat I lov'd that I often did eat And so for 't should not be reprov'd for giving of my meat This way Prophets and Apostles did use with Line on Line Thus putting Saints in remembrance by stirring their pure mine And that 't was not grievous to them the same thing for to write Yea those things which they did believe and had thereof the sight Object But now again for to return and
wonder at this Mite Which is come forth in many words this Title is 〈…〉 ight Answ When I at first my Mite had cast into Gods Treasury The more I cast the more I had how could this Miracle be My Sister of Sareptha was also a Widow poor A little meal and oyl she had oh this was all her store And this was but to serve one time oh Death it was so nigh And she was gon to dress the same to eat and so to dye But when as that the Prophet came and first desir'd a Cake Her Faith was such to give him some forthwith the same did bake By giving of the Prophet soâ—…e her Meal it did not waste Nor did the 〈◊〉 of Oyl her fail but increased as fast For where Gods Word and Prophet is there Mercies do not cease And when the Mite is spent thereon it doth hold forth encrease For when my All is given up God then is my All still Then who can want that hath this All t is He doth all things fill Then t is but giving unto God that ALL that we call our In Faith and he upon us will for it his Mercies pour King Solomon the same did see the Scatterer did encrease And that which holdeth more thans meet from Poverty did not cease Yea he that watereth shall be watred himself also And that the Liberal shall be made fat as is a Doe So he that giveth of his store oh he shall not be poor But Truth and Knowledge shall encrease and fill him more and more POSTSCRIPT POET I 'm not nor Poets Son at all that I should rhime Howe're this same doth come to pass thus Eccho did my mind Object On this way some may evil think because it is in Verse And sacred things they solid are Meeter's not to rehearse Answ Though for this much may spoken be yet this I say to those That they that do not like the Verse may read the same in Prose And yet the Sacred solid Truth will be the self-same thing Tho Joyes surround did make me sound Praises to Sions King And though I clap my hands for Joy O who will angry be Raptures of Love doth my Soul move Oh t is my Love 't is he That doth redeem poor Souls from Death their Feet from falling to And makes the Desolate to sing Praises to him as due And why may noâ—… I sing that New Song as David formerly And as the Redeemed of God that do Praise him thereby And shall not I in heart rejoyce in God that is my strength And is become Salvation unto me now at length Object But some may say Thou crafty art in Verse to bring this thing That they that love not solid Truth may hereby catch feeding In this same way thinking there is meat fit for their minds then They come to savour this your way then you have catcht those men Answ If that the World it be the Sea and men the Fishes be And if this Bait doth catch them out they 'l praise the Bait and he Who is the Founder of this Love them from this world to snatch By giving forth this mighty Power that Fishes Fishes catch In Heavens Net if men be caught and from their element took No cause they will have to repent the Sea and World forsook When th' Angler to the River comes and doth him there sit down Minding the Water and the Fish and Plumbing of the Ground He then considers the Region in which the Fish do swim Where high or low or middle way he may put Bait therein So sitteth still expecting when some pleasure he shall see How that his Bait doth please the Fish that catched they may be And though Men may but nibble at this Bait it is good meat For it is made of Bread of Life and fit for men to eat This was the guise that Paul did use when he Corinthians took By meeting of them in their way they swallowed Bait and Hook And so he to each Region went with this his Gospel clear Which is the mighty Power of God and serveth every where From Christ when Peter had this Power his Net in Sea to cast What multitudes of Fish were caught tho none all the Night past T is this Days Pawer makes Fish to come it multitudes doth bring Without it Peter all night Fisht and yet he caught nothing This is th' encrease that God doth give with it when Paul doth plant Apollo's watering with the same refresheth many a Saint Now for the present to conclude my Mite my Cud that 's good Whereby the clean Beasts they were known that fit were for mans food So blessed Mary she laid up all Christs words in her heart And so she chewd and ponderd them lest from her they should start So of my Cud I do give forth that others it may chew For this may help to raise their own Country people thus do And as it is with leaking Pumps loose water is the phraise To put water into their Heads their own water to raise For if the dead it doth not raise then is my writing vain However it doth witness for Gods Talent and the Gain Melchisedeck's our King and Friend His Priesthood never will have END E. Hincks END