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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	scripture_n	spirit_n	try_v	2,382	5	8.8588	5	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A96961	The wounds of an enemie in the house of a friend. Being a relation of the hard measure sustained by Miles Halhead, and Thomas Salthouse, for the testimony of Jesus: particularly in a long, and sore, and close imprisonment, first at Plymouth, and then at Exeter in the county of Devon, though they have neither offended the law of God, or of the nation. Published for the clearing of their innocency from the cloud of transgression, of which they are supposed highly guilty, and by reason of their silent abiding such sharp, and long, and cruell sufferings.	Halhead, Miles, 1613 or 14-1689 or 90.; Salthouse, Thomas, 1630-1691.	1656 (1656)	Wing W3665; Thomason E870_7; ESTC R2977	52,373	80

with many other words of truth and sobernesse which was not to any one in particular If these be provoking words and worthy of such bonds as we suffer let all men that have moderation bear witnesse And in that you say We refuse to be tryed by the Country Oh! how dare you give such things under your hands when you your selves and all people that were in the Court can bear us witness that we did not refuse to be tryed but did appeale to the highest power that was there unto whom many in the Country came for Justice and from whom we expected righteous judgement for you know we said We were willing to be tryed by the Bench to whom all the Court was in subjection to whose power we were and are subject to for conscience sake and did not resist your power but for the ve pounds that is demanded of us we answer we owe nothing to any man but to love one another therefore we deny to pay so much money for naught but if any man will come to us and say that we have wronged him we will make him satisfaction and pay him the utmost farthing And as for Sureties for the good behaviour they that walk in the light of Christ who is the Surety of a better Covenant then mans Covenant whom we witnesse teaching us to deny the customes and fashions of the world and all ungodlinesse and worldly lusts and to doe to all men as we would they should doe unt● us And we are tyed to the good behaviour by the Righteous Law of God and dare not lye nor swear nor be drunk nor use any deceit pollicy shifts or double dealing nor respect mens persons for the liberty of the outward man or any other advantage to that in all your consciences doe we appeale whether we be wo thy of such bonds as these where none of our friends nor acquaintance must come at us or speak with us but they must be imprisoned Is the Law of England so exact against us such as have been alwayes faithfull in that which hath been manifested and in the States service and desires nothing else but to worship God in Spirit and truth according to what is manifested and witnessed in the light of Jesus Christ who is the way to the father that when we were locked up in close Prison the Souldiers kept John Gannyclife who is a Constable in their custody for coming to speak with us and another person who did spy in at a hole of the door where we were this they did by an Order from Captain Joyce who hath given it under his hand to take into their custody all such as they suspected to be of us whom they called Quakers But this they doe that the Scripture may be fulfilled which Jesus Christ spake to his Disciples They shall hale you before Magistrates and Rulers who shall cast some of you into prison and the time shall come if they kill you they shall think they doe God good service But here is our confidence in his Promise that he that endures to the end shall be saved and if we suffer with him we shall also reigne with him for whose sake we are made willing by his eternall power to suffer the losse of all things that we may receive an inheritance with them that are Sanctified and witnesse against all deceit and abomination to the laying down of our lives if it be required who are Prisoners for the Testimony of Jesus in Thomas Parish neer Exon in Bridewell Thomas Salthouse Miles Halhead A copy of their Letter sent the Mayor of Plymouth after their first Apprehension FRIEND SEing the Lord God of power who is Lord of Heaven and Earth hath entrusted thee with the power of a Magistrate to bear the Sword of Justice which is for the punishment of evil doers and the encouragement of those that doe well and to rule for him who brings peace on earth and hath good will towards men even Jesus Christ the Mediator of the New Covenant who is the end of the Law for righteousnesse to every one that believeth who was supposed to be the Son of Joseph but was the Son of God and he that hath the Son hath life and he that hath not the Son hath not life and we know that the Son of God is come and hath given us an understanding to know him who is true and he that hath the Son hath the Father also and he that hath the witnesse in himself hath set to his seale that God is true he that hath understanding let him read he that loveth not knoweth not God for God is love and if any man say I love God and hate his Brother he is a lyar for his Commandement is love and he that rules in love rules with Authority and not as the Scribes and Pharisees The Law of God is perfect and endureth for ever he is our Judge and Law-giver before whom all must appear to give an accompt for all the deeds done in the body when every man shall receive according to his works Now Friend to thee for Justice doe we call that the truth may be freed from scandalls and false reports and the oppressed set free which is pure Religion that we may have that favour at thy hands which the Law doth afford to bring our Accusers to us that have any thing to lay to our charge worthy of Bonds that things may be tryed by the light and actions weighed in the ballance of equity that truth may spring up out of the Earth and righteousnesse may run down as a mighty stream and peace and Justice may kisse each other for know assuredly although we are counted deceivers yet are we true and nothing doe we desire from thee as thou art a Magistrate but to have the truth cleared by the light and truth set at liberty and if there be any that knoweth the onely true God and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent and hath eternall life abiding in him we desire to be tryed by him even him that is guided by the Spirit of God and as many as are led by the Spirit of God are the Sons of God And whereas some ignorant men say that we deny the Trinity and the God-head which is false for God is a Spirit and as many as are led by the Spirit are the Sons of God and the Father Son and Spirit are one and this we witnesse according to the Scriptures and this God is but one in whom all things live move and have their being who is above all and in all and through all God blessed for ever And for the word Trinity there is no such Scripture as speaks of a Trinity so in tendernesse of conscience and love to the Spirit of Truth which gave forth the Scriptures we dare not wrest them nor speak any other language nor add nor diminish from them So Friend to the light of Jesus Christ in thine own conscience and the measure of the

THE WOVNDS of an ENEMIE IN THE House of a FRIEND BEING A RELATION Of the hard Measure sustained by Miles Halhead and Thomas Salthouse for the Testimony of JESUS particularly in a long and sore and close Imprisonment first at Plymouth and then at Exeter in the County of Devon though they have neither offended the Law of God or of the NATION Published for the clearing of their Innocency from the cloud of Transgression of which they are supposed highly guilty and by reason of their silent abiding such sharp and long and cruell sufferings Even the Sea Monsters draw out the brest they give suck is their young ones the daughter of my People is become Cruel like the Ostriches in the wildernesse Lam. 4.3 Have the workers of Iniquity no knowledge who eate up my People as they eate Bread they have not called upon God There were they in great fear where no fear was for God hath scattered the bones of him that encampeth against thee thou hast put them to shame because God hath despised them Psal. 53.4 The dark places of the Earth are full of the Habitation of Cruelty Psal. 74.20 For the oppression of the poor for the sighing of the needy now will I arise saith the Lord I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him Psal. 12.5 If he turn not he will whet his sword he hath beat his Bow and made it ready He also hath prepared for him the Instruments of Death he ordaineth his Arrowes against the Persecutors Psal. 7.12 13. LONDON Printed for Giles Calvert at the Black spread-Eagle near the West end of Pauls 1656. THE WOUNDS OF AN ENEMY In the House of a FRIEND MILES Halhead and Thomas Salthouse being pressed in spirit to visite the Seed of God in captivity in Plymouth in the County of Devon left their outward Beings and relations in the North and passed thitherward as far as Hunniton near the City of Exeter where a guard being placed for the apprehending of such persons as were suspected to have had a hand in an insurrection broke forth a little before whilst they were on their journey at Salisbury and dispersed at Southmoulton in the County aforesaid they were taken up by them and brought before Colonel Cappleston High-Sheriff of the County upon suspition of being Cavileeres and having had a hand therein who having examined them though he confessed he did not believe them to be Cavalieres not any thing appearing upon or against them as matter of suspition yet caused he them to kept close prisoners at Exeter for the space of about fourteen dayes and then sent them from Officer to Officer towards their homes But being come two miles from Taunton on the way to Bridgwater the Officer that conducted them from thence fell to the ground and lying grovelling thereon in the sight of divers people was able to goe no further whereupon they returned back to the Justice at Taunton and acquainted him with what had befallen the Officer he sent with them and to know what further he would injoyn them who after some consideration told them he would have no more to doe with them and having set them at liberty desired the Lord to be with them Hereupon they passed to Bristoll where and in the Country thereabouts having stayed some time they departed being moved of the Lord towards Plymouth againe having with them a friend of Bristoll born at Exeter and Certificates from the Captaine of the Fort at Bristoll and of a Justice concerning them and their good affections to the Common wealth which before they had not being ignorant when they came out of the North of any such occasion as had fallen out whilst they were on their way that might require any such thing And so through the hand of the Lord they came to Plymouth the sixteenth day of the month called May 1655. and there had severall peaceable meetings in the houses of friends to whom they ministred what they had heard and seen and handled of the word of life and were made manifest with mighty power to that of God in the Consciences of many to whom they were sent who being thereby turned from darknesse to light and the eye being opened in them which the God of this world hath blinded the captives came to witnesse deliverance even the acceptable time the day of salvation The Standard of the Lord being thus set up many people flock thereunto insomuch that the house of John Harris a friend near the Town where a meeting was appointed to be on the first day of the week following being not able to receive them they went into his garden and to them both in the fore and afternoon did they declare the truth of the experience of what they had found of the free grace of God which brings salvation manifested in them provoking them unto love and to good works according to the Scriptures of the Prophets and Apostles as the Spirit gave them utterance exhorting them in the words of sobernesse and truth full of plainnesse and simplicity and tending onely to the advancement of the Kingdome of Christ amongst men without using any inveighings against men or opinions and were approved of by those that heard them though severall came onely to hear some new thing Having both of them spoken and finished what they had to say George Brookes then Priest of the Nightingale Friggot a man whom they knew not spake to the people a pretty space of time wholly in the praise and commendation of what they had said affirming it to be the eternall truth and exhorting them to perseverance from that Scripture Take heed that yee receive not the grace of God in vaine telling them that they must expect to suffer persecution but the principle from whence he spake being seen in the light of Jesus Christ which changeth not with which he was comprehended Thomas Salthouse said that he had spoken many good words and faire speeches but asked him whether he lived the life of what he spake for that it was he that had the witnesse in himselfe that setteth to his seale that God is true and their friend who came with them from Bristoll as aforesaid told him he had spoken of a Trinity in Unity and a Unity in Trinity when as no such language was to be found in the Scriptures which being ended Thomas Salthouse spake a few words more to the people exhorting them in the words of the Apostle Let him that stole steal no more and made use of the words of Christ He that entreth not in by the doore into the sheep-fold but climbeth up some other way the same is a Thiefe and a Robber which he directed not to George Brookes or any one in particular Miles Halhead having not spoken one word nor Thomas Salthouse otherwise then as afore rehearsed and so the meeting ended But the persecution raised against them then began in which the Priest aforesaid to fulfill the words himselfe had said

so far doe the Priests and men of this Generation who in works pretend to the Prophets and Christ Jesus and the Apostles and the holy men of God and the Scriptures outstript their fore-fathers in a sottish and malicious persecuting of the truth for till this example the like hath not been heard of since the foundation of the world and is voyd of understanding and ridiculous amongst all rationall men On this foot he that tells an envious person that he is a murderer and he that looks on a woman to lust after her is an adulterer and the covetous person that he is an Idolater and he that speaketh a Divination of his own heart for the word of the Lord useth witchcraft and he that knowes not nor speakes from the mouth of the Lord is a dumb Dog that cannot bark and he that saith when the Lord saith not is a devourer the murderer of soules and he that biteth with his teeth and prepareth war when men put not into his mouth is a greedy Dog and those who are in the nature and Generation of the Pharisees who professe what they are not and persecute and murder the life of what they professe where it is manifested are Serpents Generation of Vipers with such like would be Indicted as Offendors against the Ordinance for preventing of Duells He that taketh what is none of his as to the things without the things of this world is a Thief and truly is so judged and accounted of He that taketh the words of the Prophets and Christ Jesus and the Apostles which they spake from the life and useth his tongue and saith the Lord saith when the Lord spake not to him having not the life that spake them forth taketh that which is none of his and is a Thief as to the things which are within the things that are spirituall and truly is so judged and accounted of He that steals without hath an outward Law to passe upon him as a Transgressour he that steals within hath the Law of Christ Jesus by which he shall also be judged for further then the outward the Law of man hath no power and this is agreeable to that of God in every mans conscience also to the Ordinance against Duells which they and all the Children of light own in its place as a bearing of the sword against fightings quarrellings evill speakings and such like as evill doing which the Principle of light which is Jesus Christ discovers and witnesseth against and the root from whence they proceed to wit from mens lusts that are within them And he that said Let him that stole steale no more was the Minister of God who addeth the Law upon the transgressour and he that said He that entreth not in by the doore into the sheep-fold but climbeth up some other way the same is a Thief and a Robber is the Law-giver the Prophet whom whosoever doth not hear in all things shall be cut off from his people and he that said I am against the Prophets that steales my word every one from his neighbour is the Lord of glory who shall judge the quick and the dead by the man Christ Jesus the Law-giver and Minister of God at his appearing and coming But the Priests have gotten a new weapon against the Lamb to wit the Ordinance against Duells and with it they will fight against his battle Axes and Weapons of War to wit his Witnesses and none shall testifie against their deceit with a spirituall weapon but they will have it to be a carnall one and will take an Ordinance of man to fight against it and judge it by which never intended it But their Weapon formed shall not prosper the overflowing scourge shall sweep away their refuge of lyes and their coverings are ripping off nor can the Rocks and Mountaines hide them from the wrath of him who sitteth on the Throne and judgeth righteously And whereas something is mentioned in the Indictment of the Trinity one of them said I know no such Scripture that speaks of three persons in the Trinity but the three the Scriptures speak of the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost these three are one and that Baptism by one Spirit into one body and the Father the Word and the Spirit the Scriptures declare to be one and he that hath the Son hath the Father also and this we own he that can receive it let him And this was spoken as to what G. Brookes said of a Trinity in Unity and a Unity in Trinity which as he was told the Scriptures no where spake Court To this Indictment they were demanded to answer guilty or not guilty Answer We are not guilty in what is there charged upon us Court By whom will you be tryed Answer By you whom the Lord God of power hath set in Authority to judge righteously between man and man and to put a difference between the precious and the vile and set the oppressed free from whom we doe expect justice and equity Court Will ye be tryed by God and the Country Answer We are willing to be tryed by this Bench and desire that our accusers may be brought in and that we may have liberty to speak for our selves and make our defence against the false accusations laid to our charge Court Will ye be judges of your own case Jaylor take them away which was done immediately When they were first apprehended and brought before the Mayor and Magistrates of Plymouth many honest people who were present at the meeting aforesaid and were ready in the Hall to testifie the truth of things were all turned out and not a man or woman that favoured them permitted to stay notwithstanding which and the keeping fast of the doores of the common Hall that so none of them might returne in did they in the presence of near one hundred of other people desire openly that if either man or woman had any thing to lay to their charge they would speak but no man or woman appeared to speak nor ever were their accusers brought face to face that they might see them or hear them speak And now after seven weeks imprisonment being brought before the Sessions and such an abominable pack of falshood and lyes in an Indictment exhibited against them unto which they pleaded not guilty and declared againe and againe in answer to what they required of them to wit by whom will ye be tryed That they were willing to be tryed by the Bench whom the Lord God of power had set in Authority to judge righteously between man and man c. as aforesaid and desired their accusers might be brought in and that they might have liberty to speak for themselves and make their defence against the false accusations layed to their charge because they spake it not in the form of words which they would have though they both pleaded and submitted to a tryall as aforesaid and a Jury might they have called and tryed them by or otherwise

their carriage here was not becoming men much lesse Christians and besides their contempt of Authority and all the while they were in Prison they never sought God by prayer at any time nor desired a blessing on any Creature they received or gave thanks for them and these very men were about two months past taken up by Collonel Coppleston High Sheriff of our County and after 14 dayes restraint were sent away by him for Taunton from Tithing to Tithing as by their own Examination and they shew no occasion they have to come to these parts They are by profession Quakers but Husbandmen by their calling one of them is a Lancashire man the other of Westmorland and they left their Families Relations and Callings about three Months since as they say and doe net work nor employ themselves in their Callings to procure themselves a livelihood but wander up and down in all parts to vent their wicked Opinions discover their irregular practises in the breach of Peace disturbance of good People Indeed Sir they hold many sad Opinions destructive to the true Religion and Power of godlinesse I have hereby according to my Duty given your Honour an account of what passed here in reference to these men I could say much more in reference to their Examination and discourse with them but I fear I have already trespassed upon your Honours patience in the perusal of these lines and humbly desiring your excuse for giving you this trouble and doe most thankefully acknowledge your Honours continued favours to this place and for which we stand very much obliged desiring your Honour still te retain such an Opinion of us as those that desire to doe nothing unbecoming Christians and persons that desire the welfare and peace of this Common-wealth and Government and shall ever labour to appear Your Honours very humble Servant JOHN PAGE Mayor for my Self and Brethren THis is the second time this Mayor hath affirmed this abominable lye under his Hand and Seal notwithstanding that two sufficient men of the Town of Plymouth had entred into a Recognizance before him for their Appearance which the next morning he denyed to give under his hand as he had promised and voided the Recognizance the Town Clerk saying it would not stand in Law and sent them to Prison And here as he twice chargeth them for refusing to doe that which they had done before him and which he had refused to deliver them under his hand according to his promise and made voyd as the cause of their imprisonment so he committed them to Prison for refusing to doe that which the Town Clerk said would not stand in Law and so according to what he affirmed was contrary thereunto Canst thou who doest such things as these blush Is it not hereby apparent that cause is sought for and made where there is none to destroy the innocent What the measure wants of filling with false Accusations that the Indictments meaning and this Mayors conceiving shall make up to cause the righteous to suffer Where is that late Proclamation intituled against Quakers There is one against disturbing of Christians in their peaceable Assemblies and there is the 37 Article of the Government which saith That all that professe faith in God by Jesus Christ shall not be restrained from but be protected in the profession of the faith and exercise of their Religion c. Both which thou hast broken in sending thy Officers and taking them from their peaceable meetings of Christians waiting on the Lord by thy Warrants The Law forbids the reproaching of any and all evill speaking as evill doing yet this Mayor who calls himself a Minister of the Law reproacheth the Servants of the most high God who fear before his presence and tremble at his word as the holy men of God have done from the beginning on Record in the Scriptures with the name of Quakers and intitles the Generation of those who seek the face of the Lord with the name of Quakers which he so reproacheth by profession What difference is there between a calling and profession Is coming to Plymouth in obedience to the movings of the Lord to visite friends and to speak to them the words of eternall life to Preach the everlasting Gospel and to exhort them to love and good works according to the Scriptures of truth no occasion shewed they not this as the occasion of their coming thither and is it not a lawfull one And have they not there many seals of their Ministry who by it are turned from darknesse to light and from the Kingdome of Satan unto God How can they employ themselves in their callings of husbandry when kept in Prison how can they return to their Families Relations and Callings when thus detained as they were at first hindred in their Journey on their lawfull occasions and are still by Thee Doest thou complain of them for not doing that which by imprisoning of them thou hast made impossible Did they want a livelihood before they were laid hands on or do they now though it 's neer nine months since the time of their commitment by thee Did they ask any thing of thee or of any one else wast thou or Plymouth burdened or made chargeable by or had not the Town the advantage of their expence for themselves and Horses and the friend that was with them how knowest Thou that they want a livelihood or hast Thou or thy Generation administred to them or to their Families and Relations during near nine months of restraint and six of them in a close imprisonment without a cause in a strange place 200 miles from their outward Habitations whereby they are kept from imploying themselves to procure a livelihood for themselves Families and Relations Is riding the strait Road from Bristoll to Plymouth lying at the best Inns and paying for what they have for themselves and Horses a wandring Thinkest thou what the Law calls wandring is not known and how much thou hast broken the Law upon them and what penalties thou art under for so doing and art thou sure thou shalt never be called to an account deceive not thy self May not a man travell where he will in times of peace paying for what he hath and behaving himself peaceable what if they had come onely to see the Town of Plymouth Make it thy own case wouldst thou not judge it hard measure for them to doe to thee as thou hast done to them Art thou not ashamed of lying to say they wandred in all parts when they travelled the direct Road Or callest thou the going about to Preach the Gospel a wandring Did not the Apostles and holy men of God doe so and yet were they not as hardly thought of and reviled by those of thy Generation then as these are now by thee and those of the same Generation and as wickedly persecuted by reason of whose cruelty they wandred in Desert in Mountaines in Dens and Caves of the earth

we Answer THe fear of the Lord which is the beginning of wisedome hath taught us to regard and honour all men in the Lord and that Act we own which is made against quarrelling and fighting and cursed speaking which is the fruit of the flesh and that the Magistrates bear not the sword in vain but adds the penalty to the transgression of it and not to add the Law where there is no transgression proved And we doe declare and many can witnesse that unlesse you call the Scripture disgracefull words there was none spoken to him by us And we doe affirm that one of us did not speak one word to him and yet we are both accused and imprisoned and if this be the penalty of the Act that if one man offend two must suffer let all that know the Law of England with moderation judge And whether discoursing of the Scripture be a transgression of that yea or nay For what was spoken many of our friends of Plymouth which you confesse to be honest people that are friends to the Common-wealth of England did hear us you say Yet might they not be permitted to hear us examined before the Mayor and Magistrates of Plymouth upon the 23 day of the third month in the Common Hall in the presence of neer one hundred people and all our friends that heard the discourse and know the truth of it were put forth of the Hall and the door kept fast And we desired that if either man or woman had any thing to lay to our charge they might then speak But we never had our Accusars brought before us that we might see them or hear them speak And for that George Brooks spake concerning the three persons of the Trinity these words was spoken by one of us I know no such Scripture that speaks of the three persons in the Trinity but the three that the Scripture speaks of the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost and these three are one And the Baptism by one Spirit into one body and the Father the Word and the Spirit the Scripture declares to be one and he that hath the Son hath the father also And this we doe own he that can receive it let him And no such word was spoken by us as calling him a deluding spirit and therefore the Accusation is false Neither did we say that he came to draw away the hearts of the people from God as you say for he stood up and vindicated what we had declared to be truth and that of God in his conscience will witnesse against you in this thing And in that you say We spake to the people not to hearken to him and that he was a THIEF and pointed to the Bible which was then in his hand and other harms to the said George Brooks against the peace publick Here under a cloak of maliciousnesse have you made Lyes your refuge but with the light you are comprehended and your works of darknesse brought to it and reproved for we did neither call him Thief nor say he had stollen the Bible that was in his hand which you say we pointed at And you speak of other harms against George Brooks and say We meaned that he lyed And here you make use of meanings as if here were not false Accusations sufficient to drive on your design of Persecution you might have mentioned those other harms you speak of if you knew of any but it 's like you have mentioned the worst you heard of which we declare to be false as many can witnesse that heard the discourse that are inhabitors of Plymouth and friends to the peace of Englands Common-wealth So all yee that take your Oaths and give informations consider what you doe for because of Oaths the land mourns and the Lord God will come near to judgement and will be a swift witnesse against the lyar and the false Swearer that are out of the doctrine of Christ who saith Swear not at all but in all your communications let your yea be yea and your nay nay for whatsoever is more is evill And every one of you in particular take heed to the light of Christ in your consciences and there is your Teacher loving it that will keep you from accusing any man falsly and lead you out of all controversie and strife up to Jesus Christ who is the end of the Law for righteousnesse to every one that believeth on him who brings peace on earth and good will towards men who is the Prince of Peace of whose Government there shall be no end who is God over all blessed for evermore This we have written in Answer to the Bill of Indictment against us Thomas Salthouse and Miles Halhead Prisoners for the truths sake in Bridewell in Thomas Parish neer Exeter in Devonshire Record of the Sentence given against them at Sessions Devon A Calender of the Prisoners Tryed and Delivered at the Generall Sessions of the Peace publick holden at the Castle of Exon. July 10. 1655. THomas Salthouse and Miles Halhead for provoking words against George Brooks Clerk who refused to be Tryed by the Countrey fined 5 l. a piece and committed to Bridewell till payment and finding Sureties for the good behaviour The Answer of Miles and Thomas thereunto TO you Justices by whom we are committed we Answer as we did when we were before you and doe affirm that one of us spake not a word unto him George Brooks and to satisfie all such as may hear this thing under which we suffer as if we were Thieves or Murtherers we shall lay open to the view of all people the ground of the Discourse We being met together at a friends house neer Plymouth to wait upon the Lord there being more people then the house would contein we went into a Garden and after we had spoken some words of Exhortation to the people and had declared the truth of the experience we had found manifested in us of the free grace of God that brings salvation provoking them to love and to good works according to the Scriptures of the Prophets and Apostles as the Spirit gave us utterance at that time Then George Brooks unknown unto us stood up and spake to the people with the words of Paul to the Corinthians and said Take heed that yee receive not the grace of God in vain with many words in Vindication of what we had spoken witnessing that it was the eternall truth which we had spoken So after all was ended some began to enter into some discourse with him and one of us asked him whether he could witnesse what he had spoken to be from the life and power of it saying Thou hast uttered many Scriptures and good words but it 's he that hath the witnesse in himself that sets to his seal that God is true Then directing my speech to all that were there by way of Exhortation I spake the words of Paul to the Ephesians Let him that stole steal no more

Spirit of Truth doe we exhort thee to take heed that the spirituall man judge all things in righteteousnesse and truth So we remain Prisoners of the Lord not as evill doers our conscience bearing us witnesse in the presence of the Lord in whom is everlasting strength who are friends of the Truth and of the Common-wealth of England Known to the World by the Names of Thomas Salthouse Miles Halhead For the hands of John Page Mayor of Plymouth The copy of another Letter to the Mayor of Plymouth concerning Swearing John Page Mayor of Plymouth FOrasmuch as it hath pleased thee to cast us into Prison and hast Examined us and hast found no breach of any Law by which thou can'st lawfully punish us but under a pretence hath tendred us an Oath to swear against the Supremacy and Purgatory We doe in the presence of the Lord God of Heaven and Earth deny the Pope and all things therein mentioned with as much detestation as thou thy self or any in the world can or doth our consciences also bearing us witnesse in the presence of our God who is able to deliver us although we are cast into a Prison nay if we be cast into a Den of Lyons and a fiery Furnace with the three Children as you may read in Daniel that would not fall down to worship the Image neither will we disobey the Command of Jesus Christ who saith Swear not at all and the Apostle James saith Above all things my brethren swear not neither by Heaven nor by Earth nor by any other Oath but let your yea be yea and your nay nay lest you fall into condemnation And all that doth the will of God shall know of the doctrine of Christ and whosoever transgresseth and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ hath not God He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ hath both the Father and the Son If any come unto you and bring not this doctrine receive him not into your house nor bid him God speed and this we doe affirm that swearing is out of the doctrine of Christ although you may alledge many Scriptures for Swearing as in the first Covenant and that an Oath among men for confirmation is to them an end of all strife but he that is made the Surety of a better Covenant who hath put an end to all strife where it is witnessed saith Swear not at all although that you may alledge that the Angels swore yet know this that when he bringeth his first begotten into the world he saith Let the Angels of God worship him So we lay it upon thee to witnesse for us or against us whether Yea or nay is not to be preferred before swearing by all those who professe Religion seeing that Jesus Christ hath commanded not to swear at all and he saith If yee love me keep my Commandements and if we suffer imprisonment for keeping the Commandements of Christ it is not grievous to us for we refuse not to swear for any guiltinesse that is in us or that can be charged upon us for we are against all false wayes false worships false Lawes but we deny swearing because Jesus Christ hath commanded us not to swear at all So if we be kept in Prison let it never be said by you That it is for any thing but because we dare not swear knowing that to disobey the Commandements of Christ is the way of Cain who was driven out from the presence of God and became a Fugitive and a Vagabond and this some of you would charge upon us to be Vagabonds who in tendernesse of conscience and in the obedience to the light of Jesus Christ and in love to him our lives are not dear to us to lay down if it be required for the confession of him before men and the keeping of his Commandements for to this end are we called and our rejoycing is in this that in simplicity and godly sincerity our conversations hath been and is honest as many can witnesse for us against those who in their wisedome goe about to entrap and ensnare the innocent And this we write not to justifie our selves but for the sake of the simple ones who have heard many lyes and false reports of us of this doe we put thee in mind not that thou art ignorant that all the glory and honour belongeth to the Lord God who hath said He will not give his glory unto another and Vengeance is mine and I will repay it saith the Lord who will ease himself of all his Adversaries and recompence tribulation to them that trouble afflict or offend one of the least that believe in his Name So in love to thee and all people for the eternall good of all doe we heartily wish that grace and peace may be multiplied so we rest in the will of our father to doe or to suffer that he may be glorified by us to whom all glory belongeth for evermore and pray that the sin of Persecution may not be committed by thee nor any that professe to be the friends of Englands Whose Names are known to be Thomas Salthouse Miles Halhead For the hands of John Page Mayor of Plymouth HEar ye this O Priests and hearken ye house of Israel and give ye eare O house of the King for judgement is towards you because you have been as a snare on Mizpah and a net spread upon Tabor And ye revolters are profound to make slaughter though I have been a rebuker of them all Hear I pray you O Heads of Jacob and yee Princes of the house of Israel Is it not for you to know Judgement Shalt thou reigne because thou closest thy selfe in Cedar Did not their Father eate and drinke and doe Judgement and Justice and then it was well with him he Judged the Cause of the poor and needy then it a as well with him was not this know me saith the Lord And hear yee Rulers who hate the good and love the evill who pluck the skin from off the people of the Lord and their flesh from off their bones yea who abhor Judgement and pervert all equity who turne Judgement into worme wood and leave off righteousnesse in the Earth who decree unrighteous decrees and write grievousnesse which ye have prescribed Woe unto you for Judgement is turned away backward and Justice standeth afar off for truth is fallen in the street and equity cannot enter yea truth faileth and he that departeth from evill maketh himselfe a prey a man is made an Offender for a word a snare is laid for him that reproveth in the gate the just is afflicted and turned aside for a thing of nought and the poor in the gate from their right The righteousnesse of the righteous is taken from him he that rebuketh in the gate is hated he that speaketh uprightly is abhorred iniquities are conceived are travelled withall are searched out A diligent search is accomplished the inward thought and the heart is deep they dig as low as