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
the names of Blasphemers Deceivers Seducers and Disturbers of the Peace so make Lies their refuge as that Persecuting spirit ever did in all Ages To stop the lying Mouth and for the Simple sake that desire in the truth of their Hearts to know the leadings of the Spirit of Truth in the way to know the only true God I here publickly declare to the Inhabitants of England and to all that dwell upon the Earth what I was in the fallen estate and how the Lord raised me up by the arm of his mighty Power and carried me on through the great work of regeneration that all may know the Truth I am sent to bear Testimony to the Consciences of those that dwell upon the Earth is not any Seducing nor contrary to the Truth of the Gospel but is according to the Truth as it is in Jesus He that hath an Eye to see let him see and an Eâ—re to hear let him hear The first Birth I Was conceived in Sin and brought forth in Iniquity and in that state lived and delighted in pride and pleasures lightness and vanity as all do in that nature untill I was about eight Years of Age though before that time when I did live in vanity the Light in my Conscience did witness against me and caused some trouble in me but I departed from the Light and so followed the counsel of my own Heart that lead me into vanity to live without the fear of God And about the time when I was eight Years of Age of my natural birth the Word of the Lord came unto me I created thee for my glory an account thou must give to me for all thy words and actions done in the Body which word enlightned my Heart and opened the Book of Conscience in me where all was written I had done in the Body ever since I had any remembrance and when I had read my condition how I had lived without God who created me for his glory the Word of the Lord then came unto me Shall the Axe boast it self against him that heweth therewith or shall the Saw magnifie it self against him that shaketh it as if the Staff should shake it self against him that lifteth it up or as if the Staff should lift up it self as if it were no Wood and by the Power of the Word of the Lord that spoke in me my understanding was enlightned and my Conscience bore witness that it was my condition I had lifted up my self against the living God in living without his fear who created me to live in obedience to him but I had lived in disobedience to him untill that day so deep sorrow seized upon me and I knew not what to do that I might get acquaintance with the God of my Life who created me for his own praise and glory then I ceased from my vain conversation which I had lived in and began to read the Scriptures and Books and mourn and pray to a God I knew not where he was but expected him without looking up towards the Firmament where my carnal imaginations told me he was and as I had heard those the World calls Ministers whom I went to hear whose words did witness with my carnal imagination of God they said he was above the Skies calling it Heaven but I felt the hand of the Lord within me executing justice upon the wicked in me and what way ever I turned to seek him in observations thither the flaming Sword turned which was placed against me to keep the way of the Tree Life and execute the righteous justice of God upon me So I stood before the Throne of the Lamb reading in my mournful estate the sentence of condemnation that passed upon me from the glory of his presence and in this condemned estate I continued and through the ignorance where God was what his Worship was I strove to satisfie his justice in outward observations imitating what the Saints did sometimes in Fasting and Praying which was the practice of Cornelius and others of the Saints of the most high God as I found recorded in the Scripture of Truth But notwithstanding all my strict walking in observations in which I was seeking the Kingdom of God I found him not but the flaming Sword cut me down so my sorrow increased for I found none in my condition that I could declare it to Then it pleased the Lord to order my Friends in the flesh to put me to keep the Sheep where I was retired from company so my minde was kept in my mournfull estate where my great ease was in mourning to a God I knew not nor none could tell me where I should get acquaintance with him in the place where I was in the outward being in a Town called Allathorp nigh Pocklington in Yorkshire but hearing of a people about Leeds that walked more strictly in profession of the name of God then any did where I was I had no rest in my spirit till my Parents in the flesh sent me thither to be an Apprentice not regarding what Calling so I might be amongst those that feared the living God that I might be acquainted with the God of my life who had created me for himself and the desires the Lord raised up in me were answered when I was thirteen years old of my naturall birth I was bound an Apprentice to a Cloath-maker in a Town called Holdbeck near Leeds and as I hard so it was there was much speaking of God which they called preaching and professing him in words from the letter of the Scripture what the Saints had spoken forth so intimating the Saints practice in their carnall wisdom seeking the Kingdom of God in outward observations as I had done before I came there but when I met with none that could tell me what God had done for their souls in redeeming them from the body of sin which I groaned under and separated me from the presence of God though I walked strictly with them in their outward observations running to hear one man after another which they called Ministers yet I found no rest nor peace to my weary soul but the flaming sword the righteous Law of God cryed in me for a perfect fulfilling of the Law of God and did meet with me where-ever I was that I could finde no peace in that worship of God the world hath set up as in receiving the bread and wine which they told me was the seals of the Covenant which was long ere I durst receive it because I saw not my selfe prepared for the evil of my heart stood before me and when I was to receive it I sought the Lord to keep me by his Power that I might receive it worthily and when I did receive it my desire was the Lord would seal up his love to my Soul but I found nothing sealed up to my soul with it Then much
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
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
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
Enemies but many were Convinced and received the Truth in the Love of it in beholding the Unity of faithful Friends to their everlasting Comfort and the Honour of the Name of the Lord forever which caused my Soul with the rest of the faithful Labourers to praise the Name of the Lord in blessing the Travel of our Souls and giving us to see the Fruit of our Labour â—n hâ—s Vineyard and the Peace and Unity of his People But of late I have heard that thou my antient Friend Edward Nightingal and Iohn Cox with some other in that City doth meet in a Separating spirit from the rest of Friends in that City which casts a Stumbling-block in the way of many And instead of gathering People to receive the Truth you scatter and drive them away and giveth great advantage to them that watch for evil and is of a bad savour and a Wounding of the Spirits of them that truly fear the Lord I can truly say that your meeting in that Separating spirit which is such an evil savour in the Nation hath been and is more Affliction to me then all Persecutions and Imprisonments I have endured unto this day Therefore I intreat and beseech thee my Antient Friend Edward Nightingal with all that meet in the Separation from the rest of Friends in the City to turn your minds to the Light of Christ in you that will let you see you have not done well and with it judge that which hath led you to Separate from meeting with Friends and return to meet with Friends in the City in the sweet Concord Love and Unity in the Life of the Blessed Truth as in the days of old and Years past of which I am a witness with the rest of faithful Friends that in all our Meetings whether in the Prison or in the City we never wanted the sweet appearance of Christ our Life in us and amongst us according to his Promise and our Comfort then and so is it now with all that meet in his Name and Unity with his People as we did in those days which was many Years before the Enemy could get any enterance to make a breach amongst them that make Profession of Gods blessed Truth and to draw some into a self Separation as he hath done you and too many elsewhere For I do assure you it is the work of the Enemy of your Souls for you should not have Separated but have kept your places amongst Friends and not have taken offence because Friends see there might be some service for Truth in meeting twice on the First Day it is very like in that City some that had a Love to Truth might get an opportunity to come to one of the Meetings It is very much to me how you let the Enemy get over you as to cause you to Separate from Friends which if you had kept your places in meeting with Friends you in time might have seen a Service in meeting twice a day as well as they For you may be sure that Separation neither restores any to love the Truth neither gathers any to God but rather scattereth and driveth away some that was gathered in Love to Truth by the painful and faithful Labourers that was truly sent of the Lord as is before written Therefore in the earnings of tender Bowels of the Love of God to you I once more beseech you that you in Humiliation wait in the Light of Christ he will let you see how the Enemy led you from the Light out of your places when you Separated from Meeting with Friends and in yeilding obedience to the Light it will bring you into your places again to meet with Friends to your Comfort and the Honour of the Name of the Lord according to the Counsel of the Lord in my Heart here sent unto you But if you reject the Council of the Lord which in his Love I am moved to send these Lines unto you then shall I Lament your Conditions because of the evil consequence your Separation will produce to your sorrow and wounding many God would not have Wounded for which you must give an account And before you lay down your Heads in peace you will remember me who hath not hide from you the Counsel of the Lord. W. D. Warwick the 21 st day of the 11 th Month 1684. A General Epistle to Friends from that Ancient Servant of Christ William Dewsbury MY Dear Friends and Brethren who are called forth of the World and pluckt as Brands out of the Fire by the Heavenly Power of God and hath Convinced you of his Everlasting Truth in the Light of Jesus Christ My dear Friends as have you received the Truth in some measure watch and pray and Believe in the Name of Christ that his Power you may feel in the Heavenly Inspiration of his blessed Spirit to lay Judgment to the Line and Righteousness to the Plummet that all that is not Obedient to the Light of Christ may be kept down and buried in the Heavenly Baptism under the Sentence of Death as it was and is with all the Children of God who have received the Sentence of Death in our selves that we may have no confidence in our selves but alone trust in the Living God which will keep you all in the sweet seasoned savory Spirit of Life in all your Words Tradings and Dealings amongst the Children of Men then will you be manifest and known to all People to be the Salt of the Earth who retain the savour of the Heavenly Life in the Blessed Truth in you that every one according to your Measure may be felt upon all occasions continually streaming forth in the savoury Spirit of Life to the Comfort of your own Families and the City of God who over all is Blessed forever And my dear Friends I desire all to be watchful that not any come short of what is required of them both Rulers of Families and Parents of Children while you have a day to be with them call your Families together to wait upon the Lord in the fear of his Name certainly the Lord will answer the end of your endeavours in causing the savoury Life to stream through you to season your Servants and Children that the Church of God may be in every paâ—ticular Family and Habitation of his People Great is tâ—e concern upon my Spirit for the Children of all that profess the blessed Truth of God that all Parents may stand iâ— their places to bring up their Children in the fear of the Lord while they are in their Minority and tender Years and under their tuishion not to be too indulgent to them in suffering the Spirit of the World to rule in them to have their own wills and to do those things which are not according to the Truth of God and to connive at their Children instead of reproving of them and crossing the Spirit of the World in them and causing them to be content with such things as is
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
Lord God and great shall be the peace of my Children and â—his here declared the Scriptures witness and I witness the Scriptures fulfilled in me praises praises Hallelujah and eternal praises be unto the Lord God almighty who hath taken unto thee thy great Power to sit upon thy Throne and to the Lamb for evermore It being charged on me my Imprisonment to be just until I give a reason of the hope of my calling and that I am unwilling so to do To stop the lying Mouth of the false Accusers and to clear the Truth from the lies laid on it as is before written and in love to the Souls of the People that they the Truth may know as it is in Jesus Here I have declared the work of the mighty God in revealing his Son in me who led me on my journey through the dark World where I passed through great tribulations as formerly written until I came to the end of the World over it to rejoyce in the Power of my God 1 Cor. 10.11 upon whom the ends of the World are come whom the whole World that lies in wickedness hates and persecutes but to the pure single Eye that is not of the World I lay this before which is written that all which it minds may see the Truth I bear Testimony of is not any Popish Tenet though I was questioned concerning them at the general Assizes holden at Northampton the tenth and twelfth dayes of the first Moneth called March 1654. neither is it Seducing nor Blasphemy nor prejudicial to the Truth of the Gospel or peace of the Nation but according to the truth of the everlasting Gospel and sound peace of the Nation for which Testimony I am still kept in Bonds in the common Goal in Northampton numbred amongst the Transgressors in the low Prison with these arraigned for Fellony and Murther waiting in rest and peace till the Sufferings of the righteous Seed be fulfilled And all you that are Enemies to the Truth of God persecuting it under the names as formerly written calling the preaching of the Truth seducing this I declare and confess unto you in the presence of God after the Way you call Seducing do I worship the Lord God of my Fathers and witness fulfilled what is written in the Law and the Prophets he that can receive me let him W. D. Dear Friends whose minds are turned to the effectual Light that comes from Christ all mind your own measure and be content in what the Lord hath committed to you with the Light judge that which would draw your minds to look forth at others conditions and in impatiency to covet what the Lord hath given to them before it be manifest to you be faithful every one in your own measure and in patience wait in the Light for the unlimitted Spirit of Christ your Life to open the Seals of the Book and make known unto you the mystery of eternal Life which he will daily reveal in you that are faithful in your own measures to follow the Lord in what he makes manifest to you whom he hath called into his Vineyard at the nineth and eleventh hour be faithful to the Lord in walking in obedience to him in the Light he will make a short work in the Earth for his Seeds sake and your Reward shall be Rest and Peace in the presence of God in Christ with those that came into the Vineyard the 3d and 6th hour and laboured the heat of the day God almighty be with you his chosen Servants and Children and all in your measure keep in his eternal power bold valiant and faithful unto the end and crown you with eternal glory in Christ one Judge Lord and King God over all blessed forever Amen To all you that Rule in England from the highest to the lowest whom the Lord hath intrusted with power to see the Peace be kept and to judge the Cause of the People He hath given you Power their Causes to judge with Righteous Judgement the Evil-doers to Punish and the Righteous set Free out of the Hands of those that oppress them This is the Word of the Lord God to you THat you lend not your Ears to the counsel of your own Hearts or to the counsel of any without you that tempt you to draw your minds from the pure Counsel of God which is the Light that comes from Christ Jesus and calls on you in your Consciences to judge with Righteous Judgment as you will eternally answer before the pure powerful dreadful God take heed of abusing your power he hath intrusted you with in establishing any Law which is contrary to Scripture and the righteous Law of God in the Conscience as those did whom the Lord drave out and destroyed before you in his wrath and overturned in his fierce displeasure which if you uphold those Laws they made in their will or any other which is contrary to the righteous Law of God in the Conscience and rule according to those Laws and exercise the power committed to you to bind the Laws upon the Consciences of the Children of the Lord whom he hath chosen out of the world and made them his Jewels to fear an Oath in obedience to the righteous Law which saith Swear not at all which if you by these unrighteous Laws take advantage against the righteous Seed concerning the Law of their God them to ensnare under your power that you on them may satisfie your wills This I declare to you from the eternal God of Heaven and Earth it is hard for you to kick against the pricks for what is done to his people he takes it as done to himself and better a Milstone were hanged about your neck and you cast into the Sea saith Christ then to offend one of these little ones that believeth in his Name and obeys his Command who saith Swear not at all and now is manifesting his power in his People that all them may know between those that Swear and them that fear an Oath which if you them that fear an Oath oppress this knowâ— the Lord God will plead their Cause as he did the Cause of all his people in all Ages and destroyed those that oppressed them as in the time of Pharaoh and in the time of Nebuchadnezar and in the time of Hamon in the raign of King Ahasuerus and in the time of King Herod whom he smote in his righteous Judgments and consumed him with Worms Acts 12.23 for persecuting his people and robbing him of his glory the righteous justice of God he manifested upon the Enemies of his People is left upon record you to fore-warn that you touch not his chosen anointed People nor do his Prophets no harm for whose sakes he Kings rebukes and all that oppress them as is recorded in Scripture of truth And you Rulers of England who promised to the Lord God if he would deliver those that oppressed his people into your hands and
give you power over them you would take away all Laws that burthened the Consciences of his people and they should have free liberty to worship him in Spirit and in Truth according to his Law written in their own hearts and according to your desires the Lord appeared while you in his counsell stood and gave all into your power according to the desires of your own hearts and now is the time of your tryall wherein the Lord is trying you all this day whom he hath put power into your hands which if you now forget the Lord God who appeared to you when you were little in your own eyes in the day of your distress and deny to perform your Promises you made to the Lord when he delivered you out of the hands of those that sought your lives but contrary to all your Promises abuse your Power you are intrusted with to build up again what you seem'd to destroy which cost the price of so much blood in establishing Laws which are contrary to Scripture and the righteous Law of God in the Conscience and by them think to scatter the power of the holy people and to weary out the Saints of tlle most high God in turning Judgment backward and keeping Justice afar of that Truth falleth in the Streets and Equity cannot enter so he that departeth from Evil maketh himself a prey to your wills and the Lord God seeth it and is displeased with you that there is no Judgment for his People Therefore to you this is the Word of the Lord that abuse your power you are intrusted with in perverting judgment as before-written thus saith the Lord God The Pit you dig for my people ye shall fall into it your selves and my people I will deliver by the Arm of my mighty power and according to your deeds I will to you repay and recompence fury and vengeance to you my Adversaries and will you sweep away with the Beesom of my wrath except you repent and your blood shall be upon your own heads and you shall not escape but come to your End and none shall help you He that hath an Ear to hear let him hear And be fore-warned now in this day of your Visitation wherein the Lord hath to you sent you to forewarn of the evil that is a coming upon you that you may speedily to him return and lay your Crowns in the dust at the Feet of Jesus Sions King and in his Counsel stand which is the Light in the Conscience that in you witnesseth against every vain thought and wicked imaginations and in the Light wait his Power you to guide to perform your Promises and to take away all Laws contrary to Scripture and the righteous Law of God in the Conscience that the righteous Law of God may be your Guide which is the Guide of all the Children of God then will the Lord God of Heaven and Earth be with you and with the Arm of his mighty Power destroy all that Plot or rise up against you before whom he will make the unrighteous Powers of the Earth to shake if you abide faithful in his Counsel and will make you a terrour to the Evil-Doers and a praise to them that do well and will bring you into the eternal Peace and Rest he hath prepared for his People but if you reject his Counsel and cast his righteous Law behind your backs as you have done and follow the counsel of your own hearts all that have an Eye to see read and understand Prov. 29.1 He that hath been often reproved and hardeneth his Neck shall suddenly be destroyed and that without remedy And in that Day I shall be clear of your blood who in love to your Souls hath not hid the Counsel of God from you which he hath made known to me that you may be left without excuse in the day of the Lords Anger when he doth perform what he hath spoken Then shall I be remembred whom the World knoweth by Name William Deusbery and by some of you that profess to minister justice cast into Prison and there kept in the common Goal in Northampton for the Word of God and Testimony of Jesus Christ. From the Goal in Northampton the 25 th day of the 4 th Moneth 1655. O England England over all in thee I lament who Persecutes the Sons and Daughters of the most high God he hath to thee sent thee to forewarn of the evil day that is coming upon thee O That thou in this day of thy Visitation did know the things belonging to thy Peace which the living God tenders to thee in this day of his mercy wherein he waits on thee to be gracious unto thee and to make thee the glory of all the Nations of the World and in all thy Straits for thee appeared and in his mighty Power hath destroyed all that did secretly Plot and Rise up against thee to establish unrighteous Laws and them bind upon the Consciences of those that feared the Lord in thee and walked humbly before him according to the measure of Light received and now hath he appeared in the day of his mighty Power in thee O England to exalt the Kingdom of Christ in the Hearts of his Saints and hath sent them to Preach his everlasting Gospel in thee to turn the minds of the People from Darkness to Light which comes from Christ in it to wait for his Power to guide out of all Sin and Uncleaness into union and fellowship with the Father of Light which many of you People in England seemed to desire above all things and content to give up your lives to withstand them that did appear to bind any unrighteous Law upon you and by it to take advantage against you concerning the Law of God which you professed to love and to delight in your liberty in it more then in your nearest and dearest Relation or Life or any outward enjoyment and all you in that day who were faithful to the Lord according to the measure of Light manifest in you the Lord God did appear for you and in his mighty Power hath scattered those that stood up in enmity against you to bind Laws upon your Consciences which is contrary to Scripture and the righteous Law of God in the Heart and the Lord hath given you power over all those your Enemies and now have you free liberty which they cannot take from you to worship God in Spirit and in Truth according to the desires you seemed to manifest in the day you cryed to the Lord when you were in distress and now is the Lord come to visit you in his tender mercy and hath sent his Ministers to Preach his eternal Word freely without Money or Price in season and out of season to reprove rebuke exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine which many of you People in England who promised the Lord to worship him in Spirit and Truth now his counsel reject and turns to the Teachers you have
here that I have been of evil behaviour or have broken any Law of this Nation I am here present to answer it and to give in Bonds for my liberty I. A. You have transgressed the Law in that you came to the Bar with your heads covered because it is a contempt to Authority F. E. There is no Law in this Nation requires any such thing as putting off the Hat if there be any I desire it may be read that so before the Country I may be convinced by the Law before Bonds be required I. A. I shall deal favourably with you for I shall take your own Bond to appear at the next Assizes F. E. First prove me a Transgressor of the Law for the righteous Law of God saith Where there is no Law there is no Transgression and there is no Law in England that requires the putting off the Hat therefore it is not a Transgression therefore I desire that I may have the benefit of an English man which is not denied to any Felon here amongst us for I have to this day stood alwayes faithful to the Common-wealth and have not forfeited my liberty but have hazarded my life and estate to procure Freedom which now I am deprived of I. A. If you will not put in Bond for your Behaviour which I think is very reasonable take him away F. E. For my behaviour if there be any here that can accuse me I would have you Country men to speak any of you if not let all the poor people in Wellingborrow and the Towns there-abouts and the poor in Nothamton which I have for these fifteen or sixteen years imployed in Carding Spinning Dying and Weaving of Wooll speak what my behaviour hath been towards them or others For I have until they cast me into Prison imployed more poor people in work about Wooll then any one man in this Countrey doth yet notwthstanding what I have done and do may not I have the benefit of the Law as all Malefactors here have I. A. Goaler Take him away Judge said to Thomas Cocket Is your name Cocket Thomas Cocket said yea And he spake to Iohn Mansell and Iohn Brown that committed him to Prison and sat on the Bench with the Judge What have you to accuse me of I am here ready to answer the Law but they would not answer him a word neither did they or any other openly accuse him of any thing and though he hath been kept in Prison fourteen weeks and hath appeared at two general Sessions and at these Assizes where not any Accuser appeared to his face or evidence read to prove him the transgressor of any Law the Judge would not examine his Case nor hear him speak but commanded the Goaler to take them all away two or three times and would not let them speak for themselves Yet Marmaduke Storr said to the people take notice all people how we are deprived of the priviledge and liberty that the Law of this Nation allows in that we may not be heard speak and have a legal Trial which is granted to Felons and Murtherers Then they were with-drawn and he who is called William Deusbury turned to the Court and spoke as followeth to the Judge With what measure thou meetest to us it will be measured to thee again and the Lord God of Heaven and Earth will judge between thee and us and will give unto thee and every one of you according to the works you have done and in that day you shall know whai is now declared is the Truth the Lord hath spoken it in whom we trust and he will us deliver Soon after the Court did rise and the Goaler took them away whose names are formerly written to Prison again where he saith they must be kept until the next Assizes if they will not enter Bond for their good behaviour and appearance at the next Assizes though not any evil behaviour hath been proved against any of them by the Law of this Nation neither when they were committed to Prison from the time when they have been brought forth at the general Sessions and Assizes as what hath been formerly written makes manifest and at the general Sessions holden the fourteenth day of the fourth Month Iohn Whitehead Marmaduke Storr and Thomas Cocket was by those that then sat in Commission to do Justice sentenced to be kept in the house of Correction and there to be wrought hard and not to have any meat brought to them which those called Justice at that time said was their due Punished according to Law as Vagabonds and notwithstanding fix weeks after they were thus sentenced which they said was their punishment prescribed by Law they brought them forth at the Assizes in order to a further Tryal and alledged nothing against them but they were again committed to Prison amongst the servants of the Lord whose names are before written which were brought before Judge Atkins who did not read any Law to them they had transgresed but in the open Court said that common fame did repute them to be dangerous persons and said that common fame was a good Accuser but not a good Trier yet all that he tried their Cause with was the common fame for not any legal Tryal they had least the enmity and injustice of those that committed them should have been brought to light and tho he made a Goal-delivery of all Murtherers and Felons that had transgressed the Law yet those he could not find had transgressed the Law by any thing that could be informed against them because they were evil spoken of tho not any evil proved against them but according to the common fame of the people Judge Atkins sentenced them to Prison again where they are to be as he saith until the next Assizes and their Friends and acquaintance are not suffered to see them or to speak with them so in this day the Scripture is fulfilled as it was in former times by those that judged the righteous Seed by the common fame of the people who cryed release unto us Barrabas and Crucifie Iesus and though Pilate could not read any Law that Iesus had transgressed and in his Conscience knew that he was a just man yet to do the people a pleasure he harkened to their common fame which was that he would deliver him up to be Crucified and Pilate contrary to the Light in his own Conscience delivered him up to them to be Crucified Luke 23.22 23 24 25. and now in this day is the same righteous Seed the Lord hath blessed Jesus the Son of the living God persecuted in his Saints whose bodies are cast into Prison by those that judge for man accâ—â—ding to the common fame of the people who ever persecuted Christ the Lord of life that saith in as much as you have done it to the least of these my Brethren you have done it unto me Mat. 25 40 The Discovery of the Persecution of Iohn Huchin and Michael Patteson JOhn Huchin
he hath called and chosen to be faithful to him in his eternal Power rejoyce who will you all keep in that day in rest and peace in the ancient of days who shall sit to judge the Beast and the Whore their Kingdom to break down and destroy in his eternal judgement for evermore and will Rule over them by the Arm of his mighty Power and of his Dominion there shall be no end for to him it belongs forevermore Meet often together in the fear of the Lord his Power to manifest in you to his praise who is worthy forever Amen I charge and command all in the presence of the Lord God who make mention of his Name that you speak not at any time to any in your own will or to one another or to any without or to exhort them when you are guilty of the same thing in the exalted Spirit out of the Cross be silent thou Fool first judge thy self with the Light and in the Power dwell to cast the Beam out of thy own Eye and that thy own House be kept in order then wilt thou see clearly to take out the Mote out of thy Brothers Eye and how to exhort others how to walk in order to the Spirit of Truth and watch over one another with a single Eye All you that fear the Name of the Lord in tender love bear one anothers Burthens and exhort one another to build up one another in your most holy Faith God almighty be with you all his faithful Servants and Children and in his eternal Power keep you in himself that in him you may grow up in his pure nature to bear his Name in righteousness that his Image may be written in your Foreheads that all that sees you may know you to be the righteous Seed the Lord hath blessed his eternal Power preserve you and keep you and build you up in the purity of the Spirit and bond of Peace where I am with you in the eternal unity and in the unchangable Love and Life William Deusbery From Northampton Goal the 19 th of the 3 d Month 1655. A TRUE PROPHECIE OF THE Mighty Day of the Lord. Which is coming and is appeared in the North of England and is arising towards the South and shall over-spread this Nation and all Nations of the World. WHEREIN The Lord is redeeming Sion forth of her long inthral'd Captivity in Babylons Kingdom where she hath been scattered in the cloudy and dark day into Forms and Observations and there kept by the Priests and Teachers of the World who ran when God never sent them Now is the Lord appearing in this day of his mighty Power to gather his elect together out of all Forms and Observations Kindreds Tongues and Nations and is making up his Jewels his mighty Host and exalting Jesus Christ to be King of Kings to lead his Army he hath raised up in the North of England and is marched towards the South in the mighty power of the living Word of God which is sharp as a two-edged Sword to cut down High and Low Rich and Poor Priests and People and all the Powers of darkness in the Land and all the World over that are fruitless Trees that cumbers the ground defiles the Flesh and walks in disobedience to the righteous Law of God the pure Light in the Conscience For who falls on this Stone shall be broken but on whom it falls shall be ground to Powder So shall this Nation and all the Nations of the World be Conquered and the Victory witnessed neither by Sword nor Spear but by the Spirit of the Lord. A Word from the Lord to all the Inhabitants of England Rulers Priests and People to haste to meet the Lord with speedy Repentance and returning within to hearken diligently to his Counsel the pure Light of Christ in your Conscience to be guided by his Power else you shall perish in your gain-sayings For if his anger be kindled a little blessed are all they that trust in him O England who lies in the faln and lost estate separated from the true and living God by thine Iniquities notwithstanding all thy Profession of his Name in outward Forms and Observations Repent Repent and turn unto the Lord God Almighty who waits on thee to be gracious unto thee and to make thee the glory of all the Nations of the World if thou wilt diligently hearken unto his Counsel the Light that is in the Conscience of every one to wait in it upon the Lord God that he may guide thee by his Power And this I have to declare unto thee from the Lord which he hath made known unto me concerning thee O England certain years ago when the everlasting Covenant of Life was confirmed unto my Soul in the Lord Jesus Christ that I should go with the ransomed of the Lord unto Sion I enquired of my God to manifest unto me where Sion was that I might return thither to worship him in Spirit and Truth there being so many confused cries in thee O England who professes to worship the only true God some saying Lo here is Christ in the Presbyterian practice so called and the Independants so called cries Lo he is here and the Anabaptists so called saying Lo he is here and others in outward Forms saying He is here according as Christ foretold that the time would come when they shall say Lo here is Christ and lo there as it is fulfilled in thee but Christ saith Believe them not look not forth for the Kingdom of Heaven is within And as the Lightning that shineth out of the one part under Heaven and shineth unto the other part under Heaven even so shall the Son of Man be in his day And this I witness and while I was waiting on my God to make known unto me where Sion was the Word of the Lord came unto me with witness to my spirit that Christ was not divided and that there was no rent in his Garment For the Lord is one and his People one and that all thy outward Forms of Worship O England where thou art waiting for Christ in Observations is contrary to his Will for Christ saith The Kingdom of God is not in Observations neither shall they say lo here or lo there for behold the Kingdom of God is within you And that all thy strict observing of thy outward Forms is but imitating the Saints practices in thy babylonish heathenish Wisdom so there is nothing but confusion in thee and that all thy outward Forms is the outward Court which is without the Temple that the Angel was not to measure for it is given unto the Gentiles and the holy City shall they tread under foot and this was made known unto me from the Lord my God to be the estate and condition thou stoodst and doest stand in O England in all thy outward Forms and Observations Having a Form of Godliness but denying the
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
in contempt and reproach by those that seduce you Which thou chargest upon us and â—aist thou hast clearly discovered our Slanders Shifts and Shuffles and our reproaching the Ordinances and Institutions of our Lord as Heathenish by comparing them to that great Image of that Heathen King Dan. 3.3 And how we deny the Scripture to be a perfect Rule of knowing God believing in him and living unto him and reproach thee to be a lying Slanderer for charging us with that which is an apparent Truth as thou saist thou hast proved by our lying Papers and that we have reproached thee falsly and the Lies are returned upon our own Heads whilst thou saist we witness our selves Perfect and without Sin and have entred the new Ierusalem into which none shall enter that make a Lie c. Reply Them thou callst thy Friends who are in the Light with all the Children of the Light do witness that their Hearts were never warmed in Sacraments no such words is found in Scripture and thou that art pleading for the Authority of Scripture is with the Light of Christ in all his Saints denied and thy Sacraments which is not found in Scripture and in the Light thou art clearly seen the Slanders Shifts and Shufflels are thy own as is manifest in the Answer to the same Reproach and Accusations in the Second and Third Pages of thy Book and what we witness is according to Scripture which we own and in many things thou hast writ as before is manifest by thy own words the Scripture thon deniest so on whose Head the falshood remains to the Children of Light is made manifest and the day will further declare it wherein Christ our King shall be exalted over all in whom our perfection and cleansing from Sin is and leads us into new Ierusalem into which nothing enteâ—s that works Abomination or makes a Lie but who enter therein are led by the Spirit of Christ in whose Mouth is found no guile he that hath an Ear to hear let him hâ—ar And whereas thou saist to some of them thou callst thy Friends some of you have heard William Deusbery say of himself that he was as Perfect as that Christ that died at Ierusalem this is witnessed by one of Credit and Fidelity amongst your selves I forbear his name In Deusbery's new Brith he thus witnesseth of himself Reply Thy Spirit in the Light is seen who hast published what thou hast received from a nameless Author and thy Accusation is false which thou hast published to the World there were never any heard William Deusbery say of himself that he was as Perfect as that Christ that died at Ierusalem and that thou callst his new Birth will be a witness against thee there is no such word exprest by him as thou saist this nameless Author hath related of him In the presence of God he called William Deusbery doth witness that self is imperfect and self Righteousness as a filthy Ragg and a menstruous Cloath c. Isa 64.6 And he doth witness Christ Iesus the true Light which lighteth every own that comes into the World Iohn 1.9 which discovers the imperfection and filthiness of self with all its righteousness and his Perfection is in Christ the Light which he doth witness the same Christ and no other but he which suffered at Ierusalem who is the brightness of his Fathers glory c. Heb. 1.3 13.8 Which he thou falsly accusest as before written which all the Children of Light do witness the Righteousness of God in Christ the Light 2 Cor. 5.21 which for the Simples sake the Truth is witnessed forth in the presence of God which the Lord will clear from the Lies and Slanders cast upon it and he shall be known what he is whom you call a proud polluted Worm that dare exalt himself to a Perfection equal with God which are thy own words and what thou hast gathered up from others who falsly accuse as thou dost which words was not spoken by him thou callst a proud polluted Worm who can bear thy Revilings but for the Truths sake that the Simple do not stumble at the Way of Truth doth witness against thy false Accusations and Revilings which thou hast filled thy Book withal As in the 14th and 15th Pages Speaking to them thou callst Friends whom thou saist is seduced and thou declares that those whom thou chargest with seducing them doth reach them to cease from all Religious Duties of commanded Worship without scruple or check of Conscience before they can enjoy God or be taught immediatly what to do first put out the true Light and Power of Conscience to do his Office by despising the means of enlightning and convincing it to act in the Soul and then resolves to follow the immediate Commands of Conscience without questioning the Author of those Laws at all Reply Thy Accusation is false we do not teach any to ceafe from all religious duties of commanded worship neither put out the true Light we teach all to be obdient to the commands of God who saith this is my beloved Son in whom I am well-pleased hear him Mat. 17.5 And we bear Testimony of him that he is the true Light that lighteth every one that comes into the World Ioh. 1.9 and convinces the World of Sin Righteousness and Judgment Ioh. 16.8 and he alone commands in the Conscience for God and is the Author of the prefect Law handed in the hand of a Mediator to whom we exhort all to be subject and in whom all the Children of Light walk Col. 2.6 And for thy expressing a depth of deceit and delusion which thou chargest upon us which is found in thy self who hath made Lyes thy refuge to slander the Innocent which is further manifest in thy 16th Page Thou fayst we take no notice of Scripture authority as if they were altogether out of date which false Accusation is witnessed against in what is returned in answer to the preface of thy Book And in the 17th and 18th Pages thou chargest us with impudent fore-heads to make a shew of one thing and intend another purposely minded to deceive and yet they tell us often that as they write so they mean and speak the Truth in plainness most horrible hypocrisie and deceit which nothing but a lying and a knavish Head dare go about to excuse c. And all those unsavory words as before written wherein thou sayest we have discovered to purpose the deceit of our answer in saying the Revelations of Christ are according to Scripture and where the new Covenant is witnest the Law is written in the Heart and the Witness and Testimony of Jesus within bearing witness with our Spirits that we are Sons of God. Reply Doing any thing of purpose to deceive through Hypocrisie or Knavish Heads we deny and in the presence of God we speak the Truth in plaâ—â—ness and do witness there is no deceit in saying the Revelations of Christ are according to Scripture
without Christ to do any thing acceptable to God c. Which thou goest about to prove the contrary and saist there is the Light and use of reason and understanding faculties though corrupted And further thou says This Light of corrupt reason as before exprest presents to the conscience good and evil c. Reply In the Light thou art seen to be in the corrupt Fountain from whence all these corrupt words hath come which thou hast Printed in thy Book and thy words are not true Corrupt reason of Man doth not present to the Conscience things good and evil a corrupt Tree cannot bring forth good Fruit Mat. 7.18 There is nothing makes manifest Darkness but Light Ephes. 5.15 which all men in the Fall is gone from out of the way and there is none that doth good no not one Rom. 3.9 10 11. c. And the natural Man receives not the things that are of God nor can he know them because they are Spiritually discerned 1. Cor. 12.14 And all the Righteousness of Man in this state is as a filthy Rag and a menstruous Cloath Isa. 64.6 And this is the state of Man in corrupt Nature And the Light that convinces Man of this dark and corrupt Estate he is in is the Light of Christ that convinces the World of Sin Righteousness and Judgment Iohn 16.8 So we that were sometimes Darkness are now Light in the Lord Ephes. 5.8 And who walk in the Light there is no occasion of stumbling â— Iohn 2.10 And whereas thou saist Thou knowst we Lie as thou hast made it manifest Reply It is not so thou hast not yet made manifest and Lie that we have spoken by any truth thou hast declared And thou goest on as in thy 89th Page thou saist The rational Soul of Man corrupted is called the Candle of the Lord which we invent to be Christ which is false we deny that the corrupt Soul of Man is the Candle of the Lord or Christ. And further thou saist It was thy intended work to go thorow all the Answers to the ten Questions but for want of thy Paper which thou saist we detained from thee contrary to our Promise In which thou saist not true for the promise was to thee thou should have a Copy of thy Paper which thou sent to us when it was ready for thee which was not then written neither was any time set down of thy having it and as way was made a Copy according to our promise came to thy Hands And in the close of thy Book thou goest on aâ— thou begun saying we deny Scripture as to the 〈…〉 were intended and reproach the Ordinances of the Lord Jesus which the Scriptures Teach under the 〈◊〉 of Heatheâ—ish Worships c. which is 〈◊〉 to in the Truth declared a witness to stand against all the Reproaches that thou hast cast upon the Truth of the living God and the God thou art pleading for cannot crown thee with honour in the day wherein the living God will exalt his Son and clear the Innocency of his People then shall the God whose worship thou art defending be confounded and Confusion and Shame shall stop thy Mouth and if this come not to pass as declared then say the Lord hath not spoken by me And in that thou call'st thy Postscript in the end of thy Book the things therein thou falsely accusest us with and calls them the Rocks which we are to manifest how we shall escape which is clearly made manifest in what is written in answer to thy Book Only this where thou saist we make no difference between the visible professing Church and the Pagan World all may be saved alike if they will c. Reply They that make a visible Profession of Christ and deny to walk in the Light of his Spirit are of the World that lies in Wickedness 1 Iohn 5.19 Mat. 7.21 as well as them thou call'st the Pagan World and not any can be saved by what they do in their own wills all that is done in that nature is abomination to God as is plain in to Answer what thou hast writ in Pag. 70. It is not of him that willeth nor of him that runneth but of God that shews mercy Rom. 9.16 which he makes manifest in the riches of his Grace in Christ the Light who leads all that obey him in the strait way of self-denial and the daily Cross in obedience to the Will of God which is our sanctification And he that sanctifieth and they that are sanctified are one Heb. 2.4 1 Thes. 4.31 He that can receive it let him For the Truths sake that the Simple be not turned out of the way by the false Accusations Reproaches and Aspertions thou hast cast upon it what is before written in Answer to thee the Truth doth clear and the Answer to thy ten Questions which thou chargest to be deceitful that they may witness for themselves against what thou hast cast upon them that all that desire to know the Truth may them read The Questions and Answers are as followeth 1. Qu. Whether the writings of the Scriptures are a Declaration of the holy Will and Mind of God that necessarily oblige the Servants of God that profess him to believe and observe whatever is revealed therein to be believed and done and whether the Scripture alone be a perfect Rule of Faith and Life unto all of years amongst us yea or nay Ans. The Scriptures is a true Declaration of the things believed amongst the Saints and a true Testimony of Jesus Christ but not any do them know neither can believe what is written therein only by the outward Declaration and Testimony of Scripture but by the Word of Faiâ—h which is in the Heart and in the Mouth which is the Word of Faith which we Preach Rom. 10.7 8. 2. Qu. Whether any other Revelations and Observations not to be found in the Scripture be binding to the Consciences of those Persons that have the benefit of the Scripture or whether such Revelation or Dictates within a Mans Heart and Soul be as binding to the Conscience and to be urged to a Mans self or others as the Scriptures are Ans. The Revelations of Jesus Christ is according to Scripture which Revelation binds up the Testimony and Seals the Law in the Hearts of his Disciples and what Dictates is in the Conscience or Heart of Man contrary to the Law and Testimony is not to be regarded but disowned and judged with the Light which comes from Christ the Saints Life who guides them in a pure Life and holy Conversation according to Scripture Isa. 8.20 3. Qu. Whether any thing besides the Scripture is constituted of the blessed God to reveal Christ as Redeemer and Saviour to the Spirit of miserable lost Man to bring Man unto happiness or whether corrupt Man without the knowledge of Scripture may ordinarily attain unto Salvation yea or nay Ans. No Man can come to the Son any other way but whom the
Father draweth by the power of his unlimited Spirit and never any shall know the Father but he to whom the Son reveals him and he that thinks to attain the way to eternal Life by reading the Letter of the Scripture and regards not the Light that comes from Christ that witnesseth for God in the secret of the Heart and Conscience he deceives himself for the mystery of eternal Life is Sealed up in the sealed Book from all the Sons and Daughters of Men and none shall ever know it by the outward Testimony of Scripture but by the Inspiration of the Spiriâ— of Jesus Christ the Lyon of the Tribe of Iudah who is found worthy to open the Seals of the Book And is the Way the Truth and the Life to all that in his Light wait his Power them to guide in faithful obedience to the righteous and perfect Law of God written in the Heart for the exercise of the Conscience which keeps them void of offence towards God and towards Men according to Testimony of Scripture Acts â—4 1â— 23.1 4. 〈…〉 Light of Conscieâ—â—â— which is 〈…〉 Fall be the remains 〈…〉 Beliques lesâ— of the first Adam in reference to the Covenant of works or whether her common to all from the Redemption of the second Adam as flowing from the Covenant of Grace or how else I desire you would clearly express your thoughts in this Ans. Man in the fallen estate hath not any Light as the remains of the first Adam in him to guide him to do any thing well-pleasing to God as he stand in the state of corrupt Nature for all his Righteousness is as â—ilthy Rags and as a menstruous Cloth the Light that convinceth Man and Woman of the evil of their Hearts and discovers the filthiness of all their own Righteousness is the Light that comes from Christ the true Light that lighteth every Man that comes into the World Iohn 1.9 And this Light is not common to Man by nature it is the great gift of God his Grace that hath appeared and teacheth all that are guided by it to deny all Ungodliness and worldly Lusts and to live Godlily and Soberly in this present evil World and all that walk contrary to the Light this is their Condemnation the Light Iohn 3.19 5. Qu. Whether the end of God in giving and continuing this â—ind of Light to all Men in the World was not to be 〈◊〉 and câ—rb to the exorbitant lusts of so corrupt 〈◊〉 as Man and so made subserviant to God in the Government of the World in order to the peace and continuance of the same and to leave all without excuse Or what beside this the end of God was that this kind of Light should be minded and improued according to the power of Man by what he is from Creation 〈…〉 or Redemption in order to eternal happiness and the 〈◊〉 this Light in all Men shall be the only condemnation of the World. Or whether this Light be the Gospel or Christ or his Spirit or whether it be a Light either equal with or inferiour to or of a different kind with the Scriptures Ans. The Light which comes from Christ is given of God to guide the Creature out of its own strength and power to Christ the mighty Power and Wisdom of God the Creature to guide with Moderation in the use of all Creatures and to order and govern the Creation to the Praise and Glory of God And this Light is of the pure Nature of God and leads to Christ the Everlasting Gospel And this is the condemnation of the World that hate the Light which comes from Christ because they believe not in him Iohn 1.8 6. Qu. Whether the Light of Conscience the Light of Scripture the Light of Providence the Light of Grace ought noâ— to be prest upon all to reform them and draw them up to a higher pitch of Christian Obedience according to the written Word of the Lord Ans. Thou by all who are in the Light is seen to be in thy Wisdom querying after many Lights but 〈◊〉 is formerly written in answer to thy 4th Question there is but one true Light Christ who lighteth every one that comes into the World and all his Ministers turns the Minds of People froâ— Darkness to Christ the true Light in it to waâ—t on him for his Power to destroy the Power of Satan and to lead in the strait narrow way of self-denyal and the daily Cross which is the way into the Kingdom of God who ever will be my Disciple saith Christ be must deny himself and take up his Cross daily and follow me Luke 19.23 7. Qu. Whether a Sinner condemned by the Law is made just before God unto Eternal Life by an inherent Power within or work of Sanctification or whether by the Satisfaction and Suffering of Christ in Mans nature and behalf rested on by Faith Ans. The Creature whose Conscience is awakened by the Light the Righteous Law of God in the Heart which shews it its sinful state and stands condemned before the Throne of God for disobeying the Light shall never be justified by any self-Righteousness for it is uncleanness in the Sight of God for justification is through Faith in the Lord Jesus but this Faith which layes hold on Christ for justification is not attained by any Power the Creature hath of its self neither can any know it who receive honor one of another Iohn 5.44 How can ye believe who receive honor one of another and seek not the Honor that comes from God only Faith is the Gift of God given to the Children of Light who wait in the Light on the Lord in the way of his Judgments Isa. 26.8 till judgment be brought forth into Victory that the Creature be brought into true Poverty of Spirit forever to perish without free Redemption in the Lord Jesus which the Father in his appointed time reveales the Son to the Soul that stands condemned befoâ—e him and by the Arm of his mighty Power creates it to a lively Hope and he that hath this Hope in him purifieth himself even as he is pure so whom he justifieth he sanctifieth and he that saith he is justified and liveth in Sin deceiveth himself for Faith purifieth the Heart and purgeth the Conscience from dead Works to 〈…〉 witnessed in the 〈…〉 of Scripture Heb. 9.14 8. Qu. Whâ—ther the Person or Essence of Christâ— or his Spirit dwellâ— in any upon Earth or whether by his Gifts and Graces only or whether all those that have Christ in them must forsake all outward teaching of Men and 〈◊〉 the Scripture be but a dead Letter and of no use otherwise then Christ within doth witness unto them Answ. He that knows not Christ to be in him is a Reprobate for he that hath not the Spirit of Christ is 〈◊〉 of his and he that is guided by the Spirit of Christ needs not any teaching of Man for you shall not need to teach one
the Glory of my Name forever Therefore in my Life stand faithful in resistance of every evil Thought or whatever would cause you to murmer or desire any thing but what you know will advance the Glory of my Name and the Exaltation of my Truth over all that riseth up against it in your being truly subject to the measure of my Light and Life that will not let any seek a Pre-eminence or esteem amongst Men neither let Self-striving nor Self-serving have power in any but in true Humility Love and Meekness watch one over another and let the strong take the weak by the Hand that you may all gently in Love Meekness and holy Fear dread my Name and serve one another that your Love may be manifest unto me saith the Lord your God and one unto another in the naked simplicity of your Spirits then will I make my Dwelling amongst you and with you and my dreadful and glorious Presence you shall all feel mightily in you and amongst you moving in the exercise of my Spirit to the Renown of my Name and the Comfort of one another and I will Crown you with heavenly Blessings and the Glory of my Powerful Life and you shall praise my Name forever that I made you my Jewels and counted you worthy to suffer for the Testimony of my Name I will go before you through all the Waters and Floods of Afflictions and I will appear with you before all the Counsels of the Sons of Men and my saving Power shall compass you about in your hot and sharp Afflictions all you who have your Confidence alone in me the LORD your GOD. Therefore trust in my Name ye my dear Children and cast all your care upon me And if any of you joyfully suffer the Spoiling of your Goods I will supply with what is needful for you and yours And if any of you seal your Testimony in the Word of my Patience with your Blood I will take care of your tender Wives and Children or Parents for whom your Souls have been poured forth in Prayers unto me for their good Therefore hear my Word which is sounded unto you from the Throne of my Grace and eternal Glory Rejoyce not too much in Spirits being made subject but throw down your Crowns before me that there be not a Self-seeking Self-serving Spirit in the Family of my People but all feel the Birth Immortal raised up in the Resurrection of my Life in you all which truly makes Self of no Reputation so that all Loftiness be laid low and all Haughtiness bowed down in every one that I the Lord God in you all may be loved obeyed and exalted who is taking and will take to me my greaâ— Power to exalt the Meek upon the Earth and reign over all the Pride of the Children of men that is exalted above my Witness in their Conscience that so my Sons may be brought from far and my Daughters from the ends of the Earth in the sight of all People whom I will make to confess in Subjection to my Power That you are the beloved People of the most high God and of the righteous Seed which the Lord hath Blessed and not any Weapon formed against you shall prosper but come to nought which will be hastened for your Comforts and certainly performed according to what is here declared to your Eternal Joy and you shall assuredly know the Mouth of the Lord hath spoken it The Word of the Lord before expressed came to me in the Prison-House in Warwick the 13 th day of the first Month 1664. which constrained me to send it to be read amongst you dear faithful and suffering People of the Almighty God in whom I remain your Brother and Companion in Tribulation and Kingdom of Patience in the Lord Iesus Christ. W. D. Oh thou beloved Seed of God in London Hartford Bristol Redding and Colchester with all in other Places where the Power of Hell and Darkness is begun to make War in the fierceness of his Wrath and great Fury as though he would destroy and utterly lay waste ALL you dear Children born again of the Royal Seed who is raised up in the Power of the most High to bear the Name of the Lord in the Earth and to shine forth in the lively Image of his own Nature amongst the People in your loving the Lord Jesus better then all the World and the created objects and enjoyments therein and in this day of your great Trial you are found faithful in the Name of the Lord to withstand all the Power of Hell and Darkness and to make War in Righteousness neither with Sword nor Spear but in the Word of the Patience of the Lamb of God who overcame and was made perfect in sufferings Oh you chosen Vessels whom the Lord â—ath counted worthy to stand in the heat of the Trial in the excellent noble Life to bear your Testimony with the hazard of the loss of your estates and Liberty even to Banishment yea to lay down your lives if the Lord require it at your Hands to the comforting and incouraging of all your dear Brethren whose eyes are upon you and their Prayers and Breathings to the Lord for you that he may carry you on with boldness and sweeten your Passage until in faithfulness you have finished what is determied of the Lord in drinking of this Cop he is handing unto you that he may make you manifest to be his dear and chosen Jewels to the perfecting of the praise and glory of the Name of our God over all blessed forever Oh you valiant Brethren and beloved Sisters cloathed with the excellency of the glory of the incomprehensible God lift up your Heads in the Name of the Lord trample upon all the fear of Man and upon aâ—l the Representations of hardships of parting with dear and tender Wife or loving Husband or with your dear and tender Children which lyes near to the Hearts of loving Parents Oh how doth the compassion of a Father flow forth towards them and the earning of the Bowels of a tender and loving Mother towards the dear and tender Children when the Trial looks in the Face of being separated from them and to see their Faces no more Dear chosen Vessels of the most high God let not any of these things enter into you as to trouble or weaken your Testimony for the Lord who hath commanded me to write unto you to cast your care upon the Lord and be faithful in standing approved before him in your faithful Testimony he will be more then Wife to Husband or Husband to Wife or Parents to Children or Children to Parents yea he will instruct our Children with his Spirit and teach them his Fear though they should be in the Hands of their Enemies so that our Children shall not want the thing that is good for them The Lord hath sealed his Counsel to me which I here declare unto you Parents of tender Children whose Trial is
his Counsel the measure of his Spirit in you to guide you in his holy Fear that you may be Heirs of his living Mercies through your holy Conversations then will he come upon you in the fierceness of his Wrath and break you to peeces like Potsherds and get his Glory over all your Heads in the Revelation of his righteous Judgments wherein the Rider of the pale Horse shall execute the pleasure of his own will as he did the last Year upon thy Inhabitants Oh thou City of London so now art thou warned through the Constrainments of the Spirit of the Lord through him that could have no rest till he signified unto thee what is here given forth what the determination of God is Therefore Wo Wo unto the Wicked for it shall go ill with them But Oh blessed be the Faithful Lambs happy are you dear precious and blessed Vessels your Faithfulness to God in your watching waiting in the Light of the Son of Righteousness for whom you have stood as Pillars in the strength of the Almighty Ah your tenderness and love to God and one unto another in the days of great Calamity that hath been amongst you is recorded in the Book of Eternal Remembrance of the living God and in the Hearts of his Righteous Generation never to be forgotten Oh take your Crown of everlasting Blessings you innocent Lambs and Children of Light in the City of London Oh be valiant and keep your state with God that his pure saving sanctifying Spirâ—t may guide you all in purity of Life and Conversation and in the aboundings of the Pure Holy Love to God and one unto another the mighty Jehovah will shew himself for you in the day of great Tribulation you shall rejoyâ—â— when the wicked shall Howle yea you shall tryumph in the Pure Dominion of the Lord of Glory when the wicked shall be turned into Hell and all that forget God the Mouth of the Lord of Hosts hath spoken it Through your Brother in the Tribulation and Kingdom of Patience of the Lord Iesus W. D. Given forth in Obedience to the Lord the 10 th of the 3 d Moneth 1666. Blessed are all who are united to God in the Lord Jesus yea happy are the People that have the Lord for their God. A General Epistle given forth from the Spirit of the Lord to be Read in his Fear in the Assemblies of the Church of the First-Born gathered in these Northern-Countries and in all Countries and Islands where-ever the People of the Lord are scattered over the Face of the Earth Dear Friends CAlled in the Light of the Lord Jesus to stand living Witnesses for him upon the Earth amongst the Children of Men Oh! the Bowels of the Love of the Lord that is in my Heart to you that when I was nigh unto death to the sight of all that saw me as to the outward Man and scarce able to speak I was constrained to give forth the substance of what is now sent amongst you for a perfect discovery of your conditions seeing that many are called and few chosen and many convinced that are not converted therefore are these lines written that you may truly know whether you be born again and redeemed from the Earth yea or nay And in order thereunto let every Man and Woman search their Hearts with the Light of the Lord and it will truly manifest whether you be born again and so feed upon the Tree of Life or otherwise you rest in outward formal conformity to the Tturh and the heart in the Earth and that Spirit will turn against Truth and hath done And some others are drawn to delight their Hearts in the Gifts Parts and knowledge which the Lord hath given them more then in the Lord the Fountain from whence they come and so abuse the gift and feeds upon the fruit of the Tree of Knowledg which puffeth up and maketh Man wise in his own eyes and say in his Heart I am wise and rich sees and wants nothing when they are Blind miserable naked and wants all things and whatever any profess as to the Service of God that is in this condition they have an end to themselves in what they do which grieveth the Spirit of the Lord when Men and Women in a discoursitive Spirit takes upon them to declare the Truth when the Lord neither calls them nor speaketh by them so are the Children born of the Royal Seed burthened for such have turned against the Truth and the Children born of it whom the Lord hath and will ease in the day determined when all mouthes shall be closed in silence but who are opened by him and not any Voice be heard but his own Spirit speaking in and thorow his own Children born of him who alone seeks his Glory and not any thing for themselves which must be denied Therefore seeing the Enemies wiles are great and many let all dread the Lord and who have been led astray wait in the heart-searching Light to see the Mystery of Iniquity where it led them forth and return to the Light to judge down proud exalted self which hath turned against the Truth and bring into true Poverty and abhoring of self to wait at the Throne of Grace for the Lord to raise you up in the Resurrection which raised up Jesus from the dead and in this Life contentious Self is buried in death and the true unity is known where the Lord alone is exalted in purity joy love and peace in all his from the least to the highest growth and all Flesh abased before him who is worthy of all Obedience Praise and Glory for ever Amen And all dear Friends and Brethren that love the Light and rejoyce in the Judgments of the Lord to have subtil Self buried in the true Death that what gifts of the Spirit soever the Lord gives unto you and the Enemy tempt you never so strongly to puff you up in a self-priding spirit in what you have received of the Lord yet his fear is so minded by you which keeps you in a true sence of your nothingness and emptiness in your selves which causes you to wait in true self-denâ—aâ— for the daily assistance and renewing of your strength in the Resurrection of Life in the Lord Jesus and the more he manifests his Power with you the more empty and nothing you appear in your own Fyes And so is the true Birth known which makes Self of no repuration that the Lord may be exalted in his unlimitted power in manifesting himself in the poverty emptiness and nothingness of his people who are born of him that not any Flesh may glory before him but all in truth to say the Lord doth all in me and through me and the Lord shall have the Glory and I will sit in the dust at his feet with all my Brethren and Sisters to serve him and his People through whom we are raised up to sit in the Heavenly places in Christ Jesus in
thee in the Pleasure of our God in whom I remain Thy dear Brother W. D. A General Epistle Dear Friends WHom the Lord hath in this his Glorious Day visited and in his Light plucked as Brands out of the Fire to wait upon him that his Great Work of Regeneration may be perfected in all of you to your Eternal Comfort and the Glory of the Name of our God forever c. And my dear Friends seeing many are Called and few Chosen many Convinced that are not Converted and many come forth with us and go forth from us that are not of us as by sad Experience hath been witnessed c. and from the deep Sense of this working of the Enemy I am constrained to send this Epistle amongst you knowing the Kingdom of God is compared unto Ten Virgins Five Wise and Five Foolish who had all Lamps and slumbred in the Secure Mind until they were awakened to enter in with their Lord then were the Foolish Virgins made manifest that though they had Lamps like the other yet wanting the Oyl they neither did or could enter c. Oh! dear and tender Friends let all Dread the Lord who make mention of his Name in the Light of Christ for this Parable is to you unto whom the Lord hath sent to preach to you and in you the Word of his Kingdom And this is upon my Spirit in the Word of the Lord to you all convinced of the precious Truth of our God turly to examine and search your Hearts with the Light of Christ Jesus that you may have a certain Knowledge how it is with you and how you escaped the subtil Wiles of the Enemy which have hindred so many from the Possession of the Life of Truth and that you may truly discern how the Enemy draws into the Foolish Conceitedness in the Out-side and Formal Profession of the Truth feeding upon the Knowing Part and so stoppeth the Hunger that should reach the Life and then in an Exaltedness saith I See Know am Clothed and want Nothing when they are Blind Naked Miserable and want all things and this is the State of all the Foolish Virgins who dwell in the Outward Court and place all their Confidence in the Form and Outside and Profession of Truth and so has lost the Sense of that Heavenly Hunger which must possess the Life hid with God or else it must mourn out its days in Sorrow Therefore all dear Friends watch diligently to the Heart-searching Light that this Mystery of Iniquity you may all discern that so the Enemy may not prevail against you to turn you aside either to the Right Hand or to the Left that whatever the Lord has convinced you of to be Evil you may wait upon him for Strength to preserve you out of it that so you may Answer God's Witness in the Regulation of your Conversation in the Uprightness of your Hearts so you may stand clear before the Lord that you are willing to do and suffer whatever the Lord should call you to and when you have done all this then be you watchful to the Heart-searching Light that the Enemy doth not draw your Minds to place your Confidence in the Work of Righteousness you have done as the Ground of your Hope and Calling in Christ and want Faith in him and so cause you to rest in your Services and so come short of the hidden Life enjoyed through Faith in the Light and Life of Christ our Righteousness I beseech you dear Friends Wait to know your Passage in this great Mystery where the Entrance is into the Straight Gate where all the Foolish Virgins though their Lamp in the Outward Profession be never so Glorious yet through Pride in their Attainments never entered into this Rest and here is the farthest that ever any come that make a Profession of Truth that go from us and are not of us So tender Friends that truly seek God's Glory and so love his Light that you are willing to give up Life and all to do his Will and when the Enemy would draw you to rest in what you have done and so take the Jewels of God and play the Harlot and deck Your Selves you Dreaâ— the Lord and in his Light you see more Light and you see That all that you have done is your Duty and your reasonable Service which you must do or otherwise you perish eternally and yet your poor Souls in the Light travail on in the Foot-steps of the Flock of the Mournful Companions who are weeping in Secret and inwardly seeking the Lord God to be Married unto him in that hidden Life which is hid with Christ in God and until you enjoy the Marriage-Union in deep Humiliation you wait in the Light for the Lord to create you to a lively Hope in Christ Iesus the Second Adam And you tender Children of my Father who can understand in your Heavenly Travail and Exercise of Spirit what is here written Lift up your Heads and stay your Minds in the Light of the Lord Jesus which ransacks your Hearts and doth not only keep you in Holiness of Conversation but makes you weary of living under the Dominion of your own Thoughts and Wills Therefore I beseech you in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ watch to the Heart-searching Light that discerns your Thoughts and Intents and judgeth your Thoughts and all Fearfulness and Unbelief and wait in the Measure of the Light and Life that quickeneth your immortal Souls and hath begotten heavenly Breathings Hungerings and Thirstings to eat the Flesh and drink the Blood of the Lord Jesus Oh thou blessed Birth let not Streightness be upon thy Spirit for the Bowels of the almighty God earn towards thee which cannot be satisfied with any Thing but the pure Presence of Christ to reign in thy Heart and to exercise heavenly Authority in his Throne in thy Conscience Oh tender Babe born of the immortal Seed leâ—d not thy Ear to any of thine own Thoughts Doubts and Unbelief neither to the Accuser who seeks every way to discourage thee for trusting in the Name of the Lord but diligently incline thou thy Ear to the righteous Counsel which is the Light and Life The Lord will satisfie thy Hungry and Thirsty Soul with his everlasting Loving-kindness in Christ Jesus and will create thee to a lively Hope and marry thee to himself in his own Righteousness where thou wilt receive Dominion to reign over thy own Thoughts and thy own will and to walk in his Strength in the Word of Faith which will give thee Victory over the World within and without so will thy Heart be kept pure thy Conscience clean and thou cloathed with the glorious Garment a meek low and a quiet Spirit and so become the Righteousness of God in Christ Jesus the second Adam and the Lord of Life and Glory and here is the Dwelling-place of all the Sons and Daughters of Sion Citizens of the new Ierusalem who walk
according to the Truth of our God and for want of this carefulness in Parents the Spirit of the World is strengthened in their Children when it should be kept down by the heavenly Authority and Power that the Lord hath given to their Parents to rule over them and nâ—t to let them have their own wills satisfied in any thing which is contrary to the Truth of God and all in his Wisdom so walk with such Moderation in all things as well as clothed in modest Apparel laying by all Superfluity that your good Examples may raise up the witness of God in your Children and for want of this care in some Parents and being too indulgent and full of lenity to their Children they grow Rude Stubborn Self-willed and Disobedient to their Parents while they are under their tuishion to the wounding of the Hearts of their Parents who neglected their duty as to the Government of their Children in their tender Years Therefore I desire and beseech you in this weighty concern that you slight not the oppertunity God gives you to be in all things a good Example to all that live with you both Children and Servants that by your godly Conversation and heavenly Exhortations you raise up the Witness for God in your Children and Servants and in exercising the Power God hath given to you to cross and keep down the evil Nature while they live with you And when your Children grow up take them to Meetings and keep your Eyes over them that they behave themselves soberly according to your Exhortations then encourage them in wel-doing so will the Lord bless your sweet and heavenly Behaviour in your Families that Servants will bless God that ever it was their lots to come into your Families in that their Spirits were sweetly seasoned with the Truth by your heavenly Behaviour and Care over them c. and your Children will magnifie the Name of the Lord for your blessed Care and heavenly Instructions and godly Endeavours every way for their good in this World and their eternal happiness in the World to come which will Crown the hoary Heads of their Parents with Joy to see their blessed care and endeavours sanctified to their Children and to see their Off-spring to be made the Off-spring and Children of God blessed be his Name forever who heareth the Prayers of his People who is exercised daily in the heavenly inspiration of his holy Spirit to call upon his holy Name not only for Enemies but for a blessing upon their Families and for all that love the Truth of our God these are the Families that are a sweet savour to the Lord that he guards with the Angel of his presence and wiâ—l make them manifest and known to all People that they are his chosen Jewels whom he will preserve in the day when he will pour forth his Vengence upon the Heathen that know him not and upon all the Families that call not upon his Name And if any of these Children of these heavenly minded Parents when they are from under their tuishion for want of watchfulness grow into carelesness and turn their backs of the blessed Truth of God and trample all the care and good counsel of their Parents under their Feet to satisfie their own Wills in the Pride and Vanity of this evil World to the wounding of the Hearts of their careful and loving Parents they will be clear of their Blood when they shall reap the fruit of their doings except they Repent And all you young and tender People with others that come among Friends through the education of your careful Parents Masters or Mistrisses you have been under I have a concern upon my Spirit to write to you that you do not rest in an outward profession of the Truth by what you have received by Education but all watch to the heart searching Light of Christ in you which will let you see you must be Regenerated and Born again and so be made real and faithful Friends by the Heavenly inspiration of the powerful Spirit of God in you which if you be careful upon your watch you will see Judgment upon all in you that is not obedient to the Light of Christ in whose Light you will see more Light that will let you see your great necessity of the enjoyment of the Life which is hid with Christ in God which will cause you to pray without ceasing that the Lord would enable you to loath and abhor the Pride Pomp and Pleasure of this evil World and to give you assurance of Gods Love to your Souls and until you enjoy it in all places of your retirement you will pour forth your Supplications with Tears to the Lord as the blessed and heavenly Travellers and Companions did and doth who could not find the Kingdom of God in outward observations tho none more faithful in observing what is made known to them to be the Will of God but the Kingdom of God not consisting in outward observations you in the Light press forward according to your Spiritual Hunger and Thirst in true poverty of Spirit weeping and seeking the Lord your God asking the way to Sion with your Faces thitherward that you may enjoy his Salvation for Walls and Bulwarks Oh you blessed Children of the Lord lift up your Heads and stay your Minds upon the Lord patiently waiting upon him he will turn your Sorrows into everlasting rejoycing and seal you up with the holy Spirit of Promise and in the marriage union with himself and will give you assurance of your eternal Salvation then you will certainly know the Kingdom of God to be within you and the anointing to teach you which will enable you to delight in taking up the Cross daily in true obedience to the Light of Christ all the days you have a being amongst the Children of Men then will you in the Name of the Lord 〈◊〉 upon the Pride Pomp Pleasures and Vanity o◠〈◊〉 evil World to the great Comfort of your dear and careful Parents Masters and Mistrisses whose tuishion you were under in your minority and tender Years and to all that walk in the precious Truth of our God over all blessed foâ—ever Amen And all dear Friends and Brethren seeing the Lord who turneth the Hearts of Men as Rivers of Waters and in his loving kindness so ordereth those in Authority that the Prison Doors were opened once more in our day to injoy Peace and Quâ—etness according to his blessed will Praises be to his holy Name for evermore I have a concern upon my Spirit that all Friends and Brethren have their Hearts affected as mine is to live in the sence of the Mercies of the Lord and every one for the time to come endeavour to prevent the Enemy in what he hath been a doing of late Years to make disâ—union amongst Friends and Brethren by publick opposiâ—ion of some and others not patiently keeping in their places hath also separated the differnce being so publick
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
their Works then shall the Children of the Lord be known and the Worker of Iniquity shall fall before them From a lover of your Souls who desires it to be the Lords Will it may not be laid to your Charge what you have done to him who writes his Name William Deâ—sbery My Dear Friends THat are convinced of the Blessed Truth all wait in the Light that you may truely Experience Christ in you Baptizing you with the Holy Ghost and Fire Rendering Vengeance upon all in you that knows him not and obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ and so you will come to witness you are of the number of the slain of the Lord and conformable to him in his Sufferings and Death and you that are in the sence of your miserable and lost estate wait upon the Lord weeping and seeking the Lord your God asking the way to Sion with your Faces thither-wards until the Lord cause your Souls to hear the Voice of the Son of God and they that hear his Voice live but not in themselves not to themselves but the Life you then live is Christ in you and you in him Oh blessed are you that witness what is here written for you are the true Members of the Body of Christ who abhor your selves and admire the Lord with all his Saints in whom he is admired Oh Praise the Lord all you his dear Children for his wonderful Works in leading you in his narrow Way and through his strait Gate which so few find the Lord keep you by his mighty Power that you may contend for the Faith and keep it which the Lord hath Delivered unto you his Saints that through Faith you may have Victory over your own Wills and over the World with all the Pomp Pride and Pleasure of it and so delight in the daily Cross to be the well seasoned savory People in all your Words and Works to Glorifie our Father which is in Heaven even so be it with you is the Prayers of your ever Loving Brother William Dewsbery W. D. Desired this to be sent amongst his antient Friends in Yorkshire to be Read in their Meetings This which is here written is to you that say you are in Commission to do Justice in the County of Northampton and profess your selves to be Ministers of Justice the Evil-doers to Punish and the Oppressed to set Free from under the power of those that oppress them THis the Lord God of Heaven and Earth requires of you as you will eternally answer before him that you faithfully walk according to what you profess and judge with righteous Judgment the Causes brought before you without respect of Persons for he that respects Persons commits Sin and is convinced of the Law as a Transgressor And this is required that when you are met together that you cause to be brought before you all that hath informed against me who to you is known by Name William Dewsbury that it may be proved what the Blasphemy is for which Thomas Pentellow in Wilbey said he sent me unto Prison on suspition of And it is required that you cause to come before you all that have given evidence against my Companions in Tribulation and in the Kingdom and Patience of Jesus Christ whom you have cast into Prison with me Gather together as is required and see if your God whom you served that lead you to do what you have done will appear with you and justifie you in your Actions and clear you of Cruelty and Oppression which if your God cannot clear you obey him no longer as you have done in abusing your power to hide your Sin for if you do this Scripture will be fulfilled on you He that hideth his Sin shall not prosper This is required that you bring your deeds to the Light and if they be contrary to the Light let the Ancient of dayes who gives Judgment to the Saints of the most High judge you and your God that leads you to do the Works of darkness and while you have time turn to the Light of Christ that shows you the secret evil of your Hearts and wait in the Light on the Lord God in the way of his Judgments that if it be his good pleasure he may give you Repentance unto Life least you perish in your Disobedience But if you abuse your power as you have done in casting into Prison and there keeping them that believe in Christ whom you never yet proved had transgressed any Law no more then Pilat could prove against Iesus then by your Fruit you will prove your selves to be in the state of Cain who was a Vagabond and had no Habitation and dwelling in the onely true God and so persecuted the Righteous Seed as you have done and if you so continue no withstanding all reproof then read your Portion Proverbs 29.1 He that hath been often reproved and hardeneth his Neck shall suddenly be Destroyed and that without remedy he that hath an Ear to haer let him hear I whom to you am known by the Namâ— before-written was moved to send this to you which Truth you shall know when the day shall declare you have me Imprisoned for the Word of God and Testimony of Iesus Christ. W. D. Dear Friends and Brethren I did not know until this last night but that I should have been with you at the Yearly Meeting but it pleased the Lord to visit me with my antient Distemper which hath accompanied me many Years in Prison and since I was released the Distemper was so sharp upon me as to sence this last night that I did not know I should have lived to see another day but Crying to the Lord he ordered and cleared my way to go into the Country so I cannot be with you at this Yearly Meeting but desire the Lord to assist you with his blessed Power and heavenly Life to bring in the scattered ones to their everlasting Comfort and his Glory forever Amen And that it may be so with you is the Prayer of your loving Brother William Dwesbury London the 30th of the â—th Month 1688. An Index THe Word of the Living God to his Church Page 1. The Word of the Lord to thee Oliver Cromwel p. 4. The Mighty Day of the Lord is Coming pag. 8. Dear Friends Servants and Children of the Most High God pag. 16. To all Saints and Children of the Most High God pag. 21. Dear Friends mâ—et often together pag. 23. My Dear Friends this is the Word of the Lord pag. 24. The iscoverâ—y of the great Enmity of the Serpent pag. 26. To all you that rule in England pag. 57. A true Testimony from the Prisoners in Northampton pag. 67. A true Prophesie of the Mighty day of the Lord pag. 90. Christ Exalted pag. 115. The Mighty Day of the Lord pag. 156. Dear Friends Brethren and Sisters pag. 167. Dear Friends in the Name of the Lord Iesus Christ walk pag. 174. To all Nations Kindred Languages pag.