This following, more particularly concerneth the Officers of the Army, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 the Rulers of this Nation, then the Army in general.

Take heed of raiſing or continuing War with other Nations (in your own wills) for to get your ſelves a Name, and to get their earthly Treaſures, as ſome of you have been inſtruments to do, for the Lord's hand hath been, and yet is againſt that, and he will not proſper you therein; therefore be you warned, and know that this is a warning unto you from the Lord God; and ſeek peace, and eſchew evil, and learn to do well, that the bleſsing of the Lord ye may come to feel, and that this deſtroying of creatures about Religion, and the honor & gain of this World may ceaſe.

And take heed how ye meddle with Religion, for that hath ſplit & broken many Rulers before you; therefore ſet not up one ſect, and throw not down another by an outward law & force, for that is wrong, & the Lord is againſt that; but wait in his light to receive his counſel, that ſo ye may be kept in Gods Wiſdom, & that therein ye may be inſtruments in the hand of the Lord, for the keeping of the outward peace of theſe Nations which are under your command.

And take heed of hearkening unto ſuch who in the kings time cryed him up, & ran to him to give them a law to ſettle them in their Worſhip; & then again in the Parliaments time ran to them & cryed them up, begging a Law to ſettle Church-government, (as they call'd it) & then in the late Protectors time cryed them up, & petitioned unto them with many feigned flattering words, and begged a law of them to ſettle them in their Worſhip; now theſe are the deceitful workers, who teach for filthy lucre, & are time obſervers, who through covetouſneſs and feigned words, makes merchandize of the people; & theſe quench the ſpirit, and deſpiſeth propheſying, and changeth with the times & Governments, let them be never ſo contrary, and theſe are neither true to God nor man, but are men pleaſers, and ſuch ſerves not the Lord Jeſus, but their own bellies; and theſe wanting the power of God, runs to the Rulers for an outward power to uphold them; theſe are whored from the life of God in their own particulars, and theſe ſeek to ſtop the life of God where-ever it appears; therefore take heed of upholding or ſetting them up by an outward Law, leſt you become the beaſt [mark that] which carrieth the Whore, which is to be taken with the falſe Prophet and the old Dragon, (the Father of all unrighteouſneſs) and caſt alive into the Lake.

Now the true Worſhip and Religion which ſtands in the ſpirit, and in the truth, muſt be ſet up, and eſtabliſhed, and upheld by the Power immortal, and not by an outward Law.

But let your Law ſtop that in all (where-ever it appears) which wreſtles with fleſh and blood, and fights with the creature about Religion; for this ſpirit could never make manifeſt the true Worſhip & Religion, neither would it ſuffer others to do it who had the ſpirit of God, if it could ſtop them by an outward Law or force; ſo that which fights, wreſtles, and ſtrives with the creatures about religion, is not for Chriſt, but is ante againſt Chriſt & the Apoſtles, who wreſtled not with fleſh & blood, but with the power of darkneſs, & with the ſpiritual wickedneſs in high places, that ſo wickedneſs & deceit might be deſtroyed in the creatures, and that the creatures might be preſerved; and their Weapons were not carnal, but ſpiritual.

But they that cryes out to the Rulers for an outward Law to uphold their worſhip & religion, they war not with the ſpiritual Weapons, but with the carnal, and theſe deſtroys the creatures, but cannot deſtroy the wickedneſs; & theſe have quenched the ſpirit in their own particulars, and theſe would quench it in others, & will not ſuffer him that hath ſomething revealed unto him, to ſpeak, but cryes to the Magiſtrates, or to the rude multitude, for help, and ſo flees to their carnal Weapons, and thoſe being ſtirred up by their Teacher, ſome of them oft times beats thoſe that have the truth to declare in their Synagogues, & hales them out, & railes on them, & ſpits upon them, and ſometimes buffets, ſtocks, whips, & impriſons, and mangles the creatures, & ſo mars & defaceth the workmanſhip of God; and this hath been the work of Antichriſt in all ages when Truth hath appeared againſt deceit; and ſuch cannot truly ſay, truth hath prevailed on their parts, when they have thus beaten, and haled, and ſtocked, and whipped, and impriſoned the creatures; but violence there at that time hath prevailed, by which they that have had the truth to declare, oft times have been ſtopped from ſpeaking it.

So let none do violence to one anothers perſons or eſtates, but let your Law take hold on them that would do ſo but let them alone in their profeſſion, and then it will ſoon appear who is in the truth, and who are Miniſters of Chriſt, and of the ſpirit; for thoſe that are in the ſpirit of truth, will aſſuredly prevail over them that be in the ſpirit of deceit; and this will be manifeſted ſoon, if there be no violence done to them who be in the ſpirit of truth, thereby to ſtop them from ſpeaking the truth, and then the truth wil reach unto the Witneſs of God in peoples conſciences; & then many who could not diſcern the Truth whiles there was ſuch ſtrivings & fightings with the creatures, wil come to ſee and feel it; and then Truth ſhall prevail, and deceit ſhall fall where ever it be▪ and what covering ſoever it have got, it ſhall be ript off, and he that is in the Spirit of Truth, and abides in it, ſhall overcome all falſe ſpirits.

Now I know ye are not altogether ignorant, how that the lives and goods of ſeveral in this Nation hath been made a prey upon by the Prieſts, who hath robbed and ſpoyled both the fatherleſs, Widows, & others; & hath priſoned ſeveral unto death by a Law made by the Popiſh Kings, and ſince ſtrengthened by thoſe that are called Proteſtants, concerning tythes, & theſe before-mentioned hath ſuffered thus for not paying tythes. Now tythes in the Law given by the command of God unto Levi the changeable Prieſthood, (who was to have no inheritance among his Brethren) was for the maintenance of that Tribe, & alſo for the Fatherleſs, the Widows, and the Strangers; but Chriſt being come after the order of Melchiſedech, he is the everlaſting unchangeable High-Prieſt, not made by a carnal commandment, but by the power of an endleſs life; he offering himſelf up once for all, put an end to the changeable prieſthood, who were made by a Law which gave them tythes; ſo this Prieſthood & this Law was changeable, this Prieſthood could not continue by reaſon of death; ſo this Prieſthood being changed & ended by Chriſt the unchangeable Prieſt, made by the power of an endleſs life, there was a neceſſity alſo of a change & end of that law by which the changeable Prieſts (who could not continue by reaſon of death) were made, which gave them tythes; then Chriſt the everlaſting High-Prieſt, made by the power of an endleſs life, by the ſame power he made Miniſters, & freely gave them gifts for the work of the Miniſtry, which was for the perfecting of the Saints; & in the power of an endleſs life ſent he them forth, ſaying, Freely ye have received, freely give, and into what houſe ſoever ye enter, and they receive you, ye may eat ſuch things as are ſet before you, for the workman is worthy of his meat. Theſe were Workmen, & they firſt planted a Vinyard, & then eat of the fruit thereof; firſt gathered a flock, & then eat of the milk thereof; ſowed ſpiritual things, & reaped of their carnal things unto whom they had ſown ſpirituals; preached the Goſpel, & lived of the Goſpel; theſe were not made Miniſters by the will of man, nor by an outward Law, neither received they their maintenance by an outward Law, nor compelled or forced any to pay them; neither robbed, or ſpoyled, or impriſoned they any that would not give them maintenance; but they had a neceſſity laid on them to preach the Goſpel, and they did ſo, and coveted no mans gold, nor ſilver, nor apparel; & theſe ſought not peoples goods, but them; & their diligence and care was not to make the Goſpel chargeable, for having food & rayment, they were therewithall content; & they received it of ſuch alſo (mark that) as did receive them and their teſtimony, and ſo oppreſſed no man.

But Paul foreſaw that after his departure grievous & ravenous Wolves ſhould enter, that would not ſpare the flock; & Chriſt propheſied of them alſo; and theſe entered before John's departure, and he warned the little children (who had the annointing abiding in them) to take heed of them, for they were the Antichriſts, and went from the annointing in the particular, and ſo from thoſe that were in it; & then the murthering ſpirit got up in theſe, & the World went after theſe who ſpared not the flock, but killed thoſe that had the teſtimony of Jeſus, which is the ſpirit of Propheſie; & theſe Antichriſts having loſt the ſpirit, being ravened from it in their own particulars, and having killed thoſe that were made Miniſters by the ſpirit, who had freely received, & freely gave; then they ſet up their Schools & Colledges, there to make Miniſters by the wil of man, & then made a carnal Law, whereby they had tythes given them; for theſe had not freely received, neither would they freely give; ſo tythes among the Gentiles was ſet up by the devouring, murthering ſpirit by a law by which law they are yet upheld, (& not by God) & they that yet receive the tythes, are found in the devouring, murdering ſpirit, (many of them) who have devoured many peoples goods in this nation, who could not for conſcience ſake pay tyths, & hath cauſed ſeveral others to be kept in priſon until death for the ſame: And this hath been the work of Antichriſt, who hath the ſheeps clothing, the good words, but inwardly is the ravening Wolf.

And in this Work many of the Prieſts of England hath been found of late, as is manifeſt by their fruits; & they have the ſame unjuſt law to oppreſs & deſtroy the innocent ſtil, notwithſtanding ſome of you have pretended and declared much to the contrary long.

Now many of the Prieſts when we tel them of this their cruelty & oppreſſion, they will ſay, They are Miniſters of the Goſpel, & he that preaches the Goſpel, God hath hath ordained that he ſhould live of the Goſpel. Well, we ſay ſo too, That we are Miniſters of the goſpel, & he that preaches the goſpel, ought to live of the goſpel (which is the power of God) and ought not to have any outward Law to compel any to give him whereon to live. So this is that which we (who have learned to do unto all men, as we would they ſhould do unto us) would have, that he that preaches the goſpel ſhould live of the goſpel, and not on that which comes by the force of an outward Law; but the Prieſts maintenance is contrary to the maintenance of the Miniſters of the Law or Goſpel.

Therefore, firſt let there be no outward Law to hinder or reſtrain any people from hearing any whom they believe is a Miniſter of the Goſpel, nor yet to compel any to hear any one vvhom they believe is not a Miniſter of the Goſpel; for an outward Law can but reſtrain or compel the outward man, but the heart none can reſtrain from evil, nor compel to the good, but the Law & Power of God only in the heart; therefore let there be a free liberty for all people to meet concerning their Worſhip, provided that under pretence of meeting to worſhip, they meet not to plot for the overthrowing of the outward Governors by an outward power, for if that can be proved and made manifeſt, truly then let ſuch ſuffer by an outward Law.

And likewiſe, let there be no law to compel any one to maintain any Teacher, neither let there be any law to reſtrain any one from giving any thing to their Teacher, (for this is but equal) ſo let the people have liberty herein, that ſo this oppreſſion about the maintenance of Teachers may ceaſe; And then it will ſoon appear whether theſe Prieſts be Miniſters of the Goſpel, and whether their Goſpel will maintain them, yea, or nay.

But many of the Rulers have ſaid, If we ſhould not provide maintenance for our Miniſters, then preaching would ſoon fall, and then many people would become heathens.

I anſwer, He that is a Miniſter of Chriſt, the Power of God, which is the everlaſting Goſpel, neceſſity is laid upon him to preach the Goſpel, and wo be unto him if he preach not the Goſpel: And he that is ſent forth by Chriſt, is not to take thought what he ſhall eat, or what he ſhall drink, or wherewithall he ſhall be clothed, for his heavenly Father knoweth that he hath need of all theſe things, and provides them for choſe that he ſends forth, (without an outward Law to compel it) that ſo they lack not any thing.

Now that Miniſtry which the forcing an outward maintenance for it, will uphold it, & the not forcing an ou • ward maintenance for it, will cauſe it to ceaſe, [mark] this Min •• try never did any good or ſervice for God, not never can (that is God's truth unto you) at the furtheſt; this Miniſtry hath but brought people to draw near unto God with their mouths▪ and to appear to honor him with their lips, when their hearts have been afar off; but this Miniſtry could never bring any into the true knowledge of God, and Chriſt, whom God hath ſent and freely given for a Covenant of light; and without this knowledge, all people upon the earth are without the life eternal▪ and ſo are heathens, whatever they profeſs in words, though they may make long prayers, and think to be heard in their much ſpeaking, as the phariſees & hypocrites did, whom Chriſt call'd Heathens; therefore conſider what a Miniſtry you have upheld, and do uphold.

So let that Miniſtry fall which cannot ſtand without an outward Law for to compel an outward maintenance for it, for the Lord regards it not, but his hand is againſt it, and againſt that which would uphold it, and both muſt fall together.

So what is here declared concerning Religion, and the maintenance of Teachers, and the like, it is in the equal royal Law of liberty, which is, To love thy neighbor as thy ſelf, and to do unto all as we would be done unto.

And ſo if the ſpirit which we are led and guided by (who are called in ſcorn Quakers) be not able to prevail over that vvhich vve oppoſe in others as error, then let us be manifeſted to be in the error, and let us fall; onely let there be a fair tryal, and let there not be ſuch beating, and haling, & tearing, and mangling, and ſtocking, and impriſoning of the creatures as hath been; for vvhere theſe things have been acted, many have been ſtopped at that time for ſpeaking the truth, yet notvvithſtanding the truth hath prevailed over all, and ſhall prevail. And if that can be proved againſt us truly, that we plot at our Meetings, or at any other time againſt the outward Governors, to overturn them by an outward power or force; then let us alſo ſuffer (as I ſaid before) by a juſt Law.

And if he that ſends us forth, will not provide food and raiment for us, then let us want; and if we cannot live of our Goſpel which we preach, without an outward Law to compel us an outward maintenance, & if our Miniſtry will not ſtand without it, then let us want whereon to live, & let our Miniſtry fall.

And let none be compelled to uphold another's Meeting-place (concerning their Worſhip) for that is oppreſſion; but let every one uphold their own; and that ſort of profeſſors that will not uphold the place where they meet to worſhip, let their houſe fall, and then it will appear where the earthly ſpirit lodgeth; for they that compel others to uphold another's place of Worſhip, doth but cover and ſtrengthen the earthly ſpirit; therefore let there not be ſuch havock made of peoples goods as hath been of late upon many who could not give to the upholding another's Meeting-houſe; for this is out of the equality, in the oppreſſion and tyranny.

So come into that which is equal, and keep in that, and that will bring you to act that which is equal and juſt, unto all, and to break all outward Laws that are not equal and juſt, but tends to tyranny and oppreſsion; and truly there are many Laws and Cuſtoms in this Nation, whereby the innocent are oppreſt; ſo wait to feel the power of God, that ye may rule and govern in that, (for the Lord,) and feeling the power of God, and keeping to that, it will bring you out of all deceit and tranſgreſsion in the particular, and ſo to ſtand over all deceit and tranſgreſſion in the general; and it will alſo bring you to judge righteouſly, without reſpect to perſons; and this will reach to the Witneſs of God in all conſciences.

So wait to feel the higher power to rule over the evil doer in the particular, & to know & feel the Authority of God there, & then ye wil come to rule over all evil doers in the higher Power, even in the Authority of God, & then that of God in all conſciences where ye come to rule, ſhall anſwer to your government.

But if ye give way to the evil-doer in the particular, and let him have the liberty there, [mark that] then that will cauſe the Juſt to ſuffer in the particular, and then the ſame will give way and liberty to evil doers without, whereby the Juſt without will come to ſuffer alſo.

Therefore keep to the power of the Lord in your own particulars, (you who have felt it) and that will bring ye to do Juſtice unto all without partiality, & this will make you honorable in the hearts of the people and then ſhall righteouſneſs, Truth; Equity, Mercy, & Juſtice, proſper over all, and be exalted, & all deceit unrighteouſneſs, & unrighteous vvays ſhall be confounded. So remember, He that ruleth over men muſt be juſt, ruling in the fear of God.

Something after.

AND all ye that are Officers and Rulers now, who have taſted of the pure power of the Lord God, and hath felt it ſtirring in you againſt all oppreſſion and tyranny, whereby alſo ye were made to witneſs againſt the back ſlidings of others, even to the loſing of your places, (ſome of you) ſome being turned out, and others that could not ſtay for conſcience ſake.

VVell, keep to the power of the Lord which ye have felt, and do not abuſe it, but wait in it, that ye may be kept low in his fear, that ſo thoſe who are come to ſee their back-ſlidings, and do repent them, may come to have unity with you, and you with them, in that which kept you in any meaſure out of the back-ſlidings, and which hath alſo brought them to ſee theirs, and to repent of it; for that is but one in you both, it is even the meaſure of the pure God which is given you to profit withall; therefore in that all wait to receive the wiſdom which is from above, that in it ye may all be preſerved and kept in enity together, and that therein ye may be inſtruments for the ſetling and preſerving the outward Peace and juſt Liberties of the people of theſe Nations, which are under your charge.

But verily, much of the wars which hath lately been entered into, hath not been for the peace, ſafety, and well-being of theſe Nations, (for the power being loſt, pride and luſt was the ground of them;) Therefore all mind the Lords wiſdom and counſel, that peradventure ye may find, and ſee a way how to ſtop them, leaſt ye bring enemies upon heaps both upon your ſelves and theſe Nations; for yet verily, breaking, breaking, overfurning, and yet overturning will be among all thoſe that will not ſubmit to the counſel of the Lord, and wait in his light, to be led and guided in his wiſdom; for he will be known to rule in the kingdoms of men, and he will exalt his own Name over all.

Many are your Enemies within and without, therefore be not high-minded, but fear, leaſt they prevail over you.

The Lord is near unto all thoſe that fears him, and truſts in his Name, to deliver them; but thoſe that go out of his fear, and truſts in the wiſdome or arm of fleſh, they ſhall be broken; the mouth of the Lord hath ſpoken it.

Given forth in the former part of the 3d. Month, 1659.