A GLASS For the People of New-England, In which they may see themselves and Spirits, and if not too late Repent and Turn from their Abominable Wayes and Cursed Contrivances.
THey may remember, that themselves were here accounted Dissenters from the Episcopal Worshippers; and may be, many of them, in that Day could not in Conscience Comply with the Prelate then in power; so took their Flight in that Day, in which they were called to bear a Testimony against that they saw to be Evil in that Day and Time.
But when they came to New-England, they (I mean the worst and basest-spirited of them, which indeed were most in Number) fell to Bani [...]h their Fellows, which could not bow to their gilded Calf of Will-worship, which in short time grew a great Bull, with Horns to push and gore, even to the Gallows, those that could not worship the Beast; notwithstanding the Lord raised up a Testimony in many of their Neighbours and Inhabitants of the same Country, who witnessed for the God of Heaven, against their Wayes, Doctrines and Worships, some of which they banished in a barbarous manner; others they evilly intreated and accused them of Heresie, Conspiracy, Muteny, Faction, and what n [...]t, to hide their Deceit and cover their Persecution withal. And to the end they may come [Page 4] to a Sight and Sense of their Abominations, I am willing to set a few things in order before them, and not only before them, but also that all others may hear, and learn, and fear, and do no more so wickedly, lest the Anger of the just God break forth as a Flame, as it is now happened among that persecuting Generation in New-England. So that all may see against whom and what they have set themselves, and vaunted themselves at all times, even against the Appearance of the Lord Jesus Christ, that he should not appear to stain their Pride, in which they prided themselves above all Humanity or Tenderness, either to Learned or Unlearned, Male or Female, Old or Young (if any questioned what their Hireling Priests and Smiting Prophets said) they must be banished, slandered and named with reproachful Names at best; but how much worse used, many can witness, and their own Cruelty manifest.
Many were the Abuses committed by them, on those that went over on the same Account as themselves did, and had as good a Right to live there as any amongst them, although they banished them, by what Power, they best know that have seen their Patent; but I'le leave that a while, and come to their proceeding against John Wheelwright, one of the Ministers of the Country, whom they charged with False D [...]ctrine, and a Mover of Sedition, and what not, as you may see at large in a Book in Manuscript, in which is all their Proceeding, too much here to insert, I'le only give the Reader some Passages, by which it may be easily understood, against what they set themselves, and opposed.
But I may first give a hint at the manner of their Work; J [...]hn Wheelwright preached of a Light in man, and of a Spirit in man, at which New-England was in an Uproar, and much troubled (as Herod and all Judea was when they heard of Christ Jesus (who is the [...]ight) coming into the World. So a Jezebel's Fast, as you shall see anon was proclaimed, under pretence to seek God in this Day of Trouble; the Fast was kept [...]n the 16th Day of the 11th Moneth, 1636. and this Pestilent Man (as they deemed him) John Wheelwright, must preach at B [...]ston, before the Wolves in Sheeps Clothing; and [Page 5] indeed, however it hath been or may be with him since, the man then spoke and preached many sound Truths; I'le here insert some of his Sermon, and let the Reader judge.
He exhorted the Brethren and Sisters, To get Christ into their Hearts, that they may be happy; and exhorts his Brethren and Sisters in the Name of God, To endeavour to bring Christ into the Hearts of People, and then (saith he) you shall make the Church and your selves happy.
And also said, That as soon as Christ cometh into the Soul, he makes the Creature nothing; and (said he) in the Gospel Works of Sanctification must be pressed no other way, but as they grow from the Root, Christ Jesus; for it is he that worketh in you both to will and to do, of his own good Pleasure: and (said he) this is the Covenant of Grace, I will forgive their Sins, and write my Law in their Hearts and Inward Parts, and that is the Gospel in which the Spirit of God is conveyed, &c.
And saith he, We must be Meck and Lowly, as Christ was lowly, and content to receive all from the Father, even so must we be meek and lowly, and content to receive all from Christ: If Duties be pressed any other way, they will be Burdens, that neither we nor our Fathers were or will be able to bear; therefore, saith he, if we mean to keep Jesus Christ, we must keep open this Fountain, and held forth this Light.
And told them in that S [...]rmon, That the Spirit of Christ was no Smiting Spirit (and so far John Wheelwright in this place) with much more, honest & true things, that were then given him to declare, and which indeed he then even in the midst of Woolflsh Professors did boldly and valiantly declare, and as honestly and nobly stood unto in your Court, when and where you Arraigned him, Judged him and Condemned him, but could not disprove his Doctrine, though he and others often challenged both Priests and Professors, from highest to lowest; and all or most you had to say, was, That it was contrary to the rest of the Ministers, and therefore was Seditious and Mutinous.
But because I would be fair, and not wrest their words nor meanings, I'le rehearse some of their own Sayings in open Court [Page 6] against Wheelwright's Doctrine, exactly as I read in a Book, as aforesaid, and having also some Knowledge of things done in that Place of N [...]w-England. At a Court at Boston, 1636. consisting of Henry Vane Governour, Twelve Magistrates, Twelve Priests & Thirty Three Deputies; John Wheelwright was brought into the Court, and accused for preaching on the Fast Day a Heretical and Seditious Sermon, tending to Mutiny and Disturbance. Wheelwright bids them prove it by Scripture, and so did the Governour and many others, who saw their Wickedness, and abhorred and declared against their Proceedings; and many Members in the Court gave in their Testimony, That his Doctrine was true, and according to God and Scriptures; and so said John Cotton, one of the Twelve Judges of the Matter, and a chief man for Learning, as they accounted him. But so mad was the greatest part of them, that they would proceed against Wheelwright and his Doctrine, right or wrong; but he would not answer to their ensnaring Questions, but still offered them to prove his Doctrine by Scriptures.
And now, to make good my word, I'le give the Reader their own words in Court.
And first let's hear Collicott, one of the Witnesses against him in Court (saith Collicott) His Ʋse in his Sermon was, to put a Difference between a Covenant of Works, and a Covenant of Grace, and I do conceive, that he did drive against the things now in question. And for the Light that is revealed by the Spirit, he did plainly and punctually say, That in that Case there was nothing to be seen but the Glorious Light of the Spirit breaking in upon the Soul in an absolute Promise. So far Collicott.
But let's hear Spencer, that great Orator, and New-England Church Member; may be hee'l be more to the Purpose then his Brother Collicott: Well, come on, Spencer; let's hear what thou canst say against John Wheelwright.
Spencer: Wheelwright teaches, that the Knowledge of our Sanctification, as well as our Justification, is only by Faith in Christ; and that in the [...]ovenant of Grace nothing is revealed but Jesus Christ, and his Righteousness freely given to the Soul, and the Knowledge of it comes by Faith: And this, saith Spencer, [Page 7] is contrary to the Doctrine preacht in New-England; for, saith Spencer, it is commonly taught in New-England, That a man may prove his Justificaiion by his Sanctification. And so far Spencer in this place.
Well, hear John Endicott: This is concluded a False Doctrine, because it is a Doctrine against all the Ministers of the Country. But here John Endicott told a Notorious Lye in open Court; for sure he owned that John Cotton was a Minister, and if so, hear what he declared in open Court.
Cotton: Brother Wheelwright's Doctrine was according to God, in the Poin [...]s Controverted, and wholely, and altogether; and nothing did I hear alledged against the Doctrine proved by the Word of God. And so far John Cotton, with much more, which he then spake to allay the Heat of their Raging Spirits, but all would not do; for when they were so much Challenged to prove by Scripture the Doctrine False, which Wheelwright had del [...]vered, or else to acquit him, they found out another way to bring their Wicked Ends to pass.
And said Spencer: The Matter in hand is not th [...] Doctrine, whether it be true or false; but the Question is, Whether or not Mr. Wheelwright hath stirred up Mutiny in the Country, and cast Aspersion upon the Ministers? And the Ministers, I mean eleven or twelve, were as mad as who was madest, and as violent as any in this Matter; for which, and such like Causes and Out-rages, committed by them, both in New-England, and also here in England, the Lord, by sundry Wayes and in divers Manners, hath pleaded with some of them, and some are hardned against a Day of Judgment, which certainly will overtake them in this Life, or in the Life and Judgment that is to come.
But that which is most to be lamented, that those which once had a Good Testimony in their Hearts and Mouthes for God and his Light and spiritual Appearance; and they not being faithful and constant to that which was made manifest and committed to them, its even happened to them according to the Saying of the Lord God, by the Mouth of his Prophet, That in the Day in which a Righteous Man turns from his Righteousness, [Page 8] and doth wickedly, all the Righteousness that he hath done shall be forgotten, and in the Sin which he doth he shall surely dye the Death.
And so I'le leave John Cotton and John Wheel wright and others to that of God in their Consciences, if any of them be in the Body, as for them that are out of the Body, they are gone to their long Home.
And so you Professors of New-England, who are not yet wholely blind, may see what your Priests, Rulers and Church-members have banded themselves against for this Thirty or Forty Years.
Even against God, who is a Spirit, and who is Light in all his Appearances, in either Son or Daughter, before ever a Quaker came amongst you: So the God of Heaven and Earth is clear of all your Blood, having raised up Testimony after Testimony, even ever since you set up your Inventions, and denyed the Light.
The next Piece of Wickedness I am to mind you of, is your barbarous Action committed against Ann Hutchinson, whom you first imprisoned, then banished and so exposed her to that desolate Condition, that she fell into the Hands of the Indians who murdered her with her Family except one Child, and after that made a notorious Lye on the destroyed Woman, the which one of their Priests put in Print, and another of that Tribe, Samu [...]l Clark Priest of London, taking the Lye out of his Brother Wells his short Story, and must needs put it into his Book called, God's Judgments against Heresie, in which he also scandalized Mary Dyer and Midwife Hawkins, all which were known to be Women of honest Lives and Conversations, only protested against their false Church and Worships, for which they suffered in their Names and Estates, and some lost their Lives for their Testimony sake: For Mary Dyer they banished and hanged at Boston, for her Testimony against them, which she was moved of the Lord to bear amongst them.
But because you Professors have banished, and so been a means of destroying a Woman and her Family, as before, and [Page 9] have covered your selves by saying, she held about Thirty Monstrous Heretical Opinions, but have not that I can find laid down so much as One of them, for Indifferent Persons to judge.
So I may do a little of that Work for you and others, by which it may be seen what the Ground of your Quarrel was; and I will do it in short, and honestly, as I found it in her Letter, to one Mr. Leveret as she writ him in her Answer to his 1st. Moneth 1646.
It seems by that Letter which Leveret sent to Ann Hutchinson he termed her Haughty Jezebel, and said she was a Railer and Reviler, and such like Terms and Names, and yet in the same Letter asked her what was become of the Light, she once shined in, in their Parts?
And now Ann Hutchinson, to that Letter of Leveret's, If it were the True Light, in which you say I did once shine in, I am sure the Author thereof, and the Maintainer of it is God, and it shall break forth more and more unto the perfect Day, and when I was with you it discovered the best Light in your self to be Darkness, as your self confessed to me in your own Parlour.
And whereas you say I speak great swelling Words of Vanity, that Scripture is fulfilled in your false Teachers, who follow the Way of Balaam and Bozer, And that Water holds out the Spirit, John 7. 38, 39. And Christ Jesus came by this Water or Spirit, Mat. 1. 18. And hereby we shall know the Spirit of Antichrist, because he confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the Flesh. And as to that in Rev. 12. which you say must be meant of Constantine, and not of Christ, being brought forth in the Gentile Church, then the Woman that brought forth Constantine must be crowned with Twelve Stars.
But your Church standing in the City Order, by your own Confession must needs be one of those Cities of the Nations, which the L [...]rd hath said should fall, Rev. 16. 19. And if what you called Railing or Reviling, were a Truth of God, acted by him through me, then you have called the Spirit of God a Railer and Reviler. And so far Ann Hutchinson, with much more in her [Page 10] Answer to Leveret's Letter of the 1st. Moneth 1646. after they had imprisoned her, and banished her.
So Reader if thou hast an Understanding of what the Woman held forth, thou may soon conclude what the Thirty Heretical Opinions were, that so much enraged New-England Professors to imprison, banish, and so (in a Sense) murther her and her Family by the wicked Hands of the Indians.
But how shall these People hide their Wickedness from the simple-hearted, that they should not see their Wickedness, and cry out against their Cruelty? well, I'le shew thee honest Inquirer, how they hide themselves and the Innocent Blood.
The Woman before mentioned having been imprisoned and there by the Priests and Professors pumpt and sifted to get something against her▪ laying their Snares to entrap her, and having so done take their Opportunity when her Husband & Friends were absent, as it is said, and examined her in the fore-part of the Day, and banished her in the after-part.
Notable quick Work! so she goes by Water with many others that perceived they must go to Pot next, and providentially fell with Road-Island, and there they made a Cave or Caves, and in them lived until the cold Winter was past, in which time it was known to the Professors, where they were, and that they had bought the Island of the Indians; and the Professors began to stir and endeavour to bring the Island within the Compass of their Patent, so the poor molested Woman, it's like let in Fear, and thought she would go far enough from their Reach, so going Southward to seek a Place to settle upon, where she and her Family might live in Quietness, fell upon a Piece of Land that was in Controversie between the Dutch and the Natives, and the Natives being in a Heat came upon them, and were the Executioners of what the New-England Priests, Magistrates and Church-Members were an Occasion of, through their wicked and cruel proceeding, in forcing them to flee from their Rage and Fury.
And because I promised thee to tell thee honest Inquirer, how they hide and cover their Wickedness, I'le do it by rehearsing [Page 11] what Priest Wells a chief Actor in this matter, printed in his Book entitled W [...]lls's short Story (page 44.) as Samuel Clark in his lying Book quotes his Brother W [...]lls for his Author, of this and such like most Notorious Lyes, of which he prints thus, Ann Hutchinson, Mary Dyer and Midwife Hawkins, see Clark's Examples page 249. and they have been known to be honest Women, and such as were of good Report, and nev [...]r accounted either Witches or such Persons, as these two Priests and Brethren in Wickedness would have People believe, that so their Wickedness might be undiscovered.
Now here Priest Clark after he had writ and printed a most cursed Lye of Mary Dyer, whom they banished and afterward hanged at Boston, as also of Midwife Hawkins: Saith he, About the same time, and in the same place, One Mrs. Hutchinson, who held about Thirty Monstrous & Heretical Opinions, whereof you have a Catalogue set down by the same Author, page 59. And growing big with Child, and towards the Time of her Labour, at last broughtforth Thirty Monstrous Births, or thereabouts, some bigger and some lesser, some of one Shape and some of another, few of any perfect Shape, none of all of humane Shape: This Mrs. Hutchinson was first vanish [...]d by the Magistrates of New-England, into Rhoad Island for her Heresies, out not staying long there, she removed with all her Family, her Daughter and her Children into the Dutch Plantation to a Place called Hell Gate, where the Indians set upon them, and slew her and her Family, her Daughter and her Daughter's Husband, with all their Children save only one that escaped.
So here is the Priests and Professors Cover, and they wipe their Mouths, and I warrant they would by saying the Indians committed this Murder be thought clear of this Innocent Blood.
So Reader thou mayest see the Rage and Envy of this professing Generation, for they banished, imprisoned this tenderly bred Woman in or towards Winter, and what with Fears and Tessings to and fro the Woman miscaried, upon which they grounded their abominable Untruth; many Witnesses might be produced to prove this, and to disprove their [Page 12] abominable frequently told Slanders, and also printed by Priests and New-England Professors, and their Consederates here in England.
I might i [...]sert that other Story which the same Lye makers made of Mary Dyer, and Midwife Hawkins, but it's not worth while, as to his Description of a horrid Monster, wherein their Lyes were apparent to many sober People.
And now let me mind you of your abominable Wickedness committed by whipping Obadi [...]h Holems the Baptist with forty Stripes save one, it seems the old Father of all Whippers about Religion, loads his whipping Children in one Way, and sets them their deceitful Bounds, and may be he and they his Children may bring Scripture and Example for Forty Stripes save one.
But why would you not dispute the Point with Obadiah, when he so fairly offered it at your torturing Place, and the man you may remember brought his Bible to your Whipping Post to prove his Principle and Practice by Scripture, and disprove your Principles and Practices by the same; but your Godly Magistrate, as you called him, told him that was no Place to dispute in, or Words to that purpose, and so you whipt him in cruel manner forty Stripes save one: And his Fellow that was with him an aged honest man, you whipt also in cruel manner, and would have whipt Clark as you said, had you not had Money given you: But where did you learn in Law or Gospel to take Money for not whipping them that deserved Whipping? Behold your base Dunghil Spirits in which you act!
And you may remember, that when one of your own Members or Brethren, though not in Cruelty, namely John Spur, beheld your Barbarous proceedings, and the man's then Christian like Deportment under the Tyranny of your Tormenter, who in violent manner in the Face of the People, after your Jezabel. Lecture at Boston, gave him Forty Stripes save one upon his naked Body, the which John Spur beholding, was moved with Pity, and in the Brokenness and Tenderness of his Heart could do no less then take the man by the Hand, and gave thanks in the Man's behalf to God, who had carried him [Page 13] through so great an Exercise, with so much Joy and Patience, for which John Spur was sent for to your Seat of the Whore and Beast at Boston, and there was sined for giving Thanks to God, as aforesaid, the Sum of Forty Shillings; and this was for taking the Man by the Hand, and giving Thanks to God, after he had been whipt Forty Stripes save one.
So all People may see what blind Zeal will hurry Professors on to do, drink Blood, and desire to drink more and more, and thirst more and more after Blood, as will in time be manifest to all sober People. Oh drunken Professors and Talkers of God Christ and Ordinances! but possess nothing but Cruelty and Deceit. How are you made drunk with the Cup of Abomination? What more abominable, then for men to rent and tear the Flesh off the Backs of Men and Women like Dogs, and all about Religion, and yet say no infallible [...]pirit to be known now adays, so then they themselves may be wrong as well as any.
Oh how have these Professors like Dragons smote with Head and Tail (the false Hireling Priests, the Head, and the Earthly Power the Tail) at all Appearances of God ever since they usurped Authority, never given nor granted them by God nor man, witness their Pattent given them by the King; repugnant to such Cruel Proceedings against tender Consciences And how have you vented your Folly, and made your Madness manifest, by your base reproachful Language, commonly vented like Floods after them that could not submit to your Bundle of will-Worship, calling that good Island which took up, as I may say, your Banished, and yielded to them through the Blessing of God its Increase, which you commonly would call it, Rogues Island, and in my Hearing some of your Members commonly would say that none but Whores and Rogues went thither; A base envious Term and Name, by which the Rancor of your Spirits doth appear to all sober People.
Oh the exceeding Cruelty that appears in your Hearts, and because I would have you sensible of your own Iniquity and mourn under it, I may set one thing more before you in order, and that is this.
[Page 14] When, or soon after you had made your Decree, that none should be received to inhabit within your Jurisdict [...]on, but such as should be allowed by some of the Magistrates, thinking thereby to keep up your invented B [...]ilding, and Babylonish Tower of Will worship: And how bountifully hath the Lord handed forth to you, by raising up Testimony after Testimony against all your unequal Proceedings, and I may here rehearse one before named, (viz.) John Wheelwright.
First, Saith he, This Law doth leave these weighty matters of the Commonw [...]alth of receiving or rejecting such as come over to the Approbation of Magistrates, and suspend those things to the Judgement of Man, whereas the Judgement is God's, Deut. 1. 17. This is made a Ground-work of gross Popery, Priests and Magistrates are to judge, but it must be according to God's Law, Deut. 17. 9, 10, 11. That Law which gives that (without Limitation) which is proper to God cannot be just.
Secondly, Because here is Liberty given by this Law to expel and reject those which are most Eminent Christians, if they suite not with the Disposition of the Magistrates, whereby it will come to pass, that Christ and his Members will find worse Entertainment amongst us, then Abraham and Isaac did amongst the Philistines, then Jacob amongst the Sechemites, then L [...]t amongst the Sodomites, then the Israelites amongst the Egyptians; These all gave leave to God's People to sit down amongst them, though (they) could not claim Right as the King's Subjects may now—That Law, the Execution whereof may make us more cruel and tyrannical over God's Children then Pagans and Sodomites, therefore it must needs be most wicked and sinful.
Thirdly, This Law doth cross many Laws of Christ, Christ would have us to render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, Mat. 12. 11. but this Law will not give unto the King's Majesty his Right of planting some of his Subjects amongst us except they please them.
Christ bids us not to forget to entertain Strangers, Heb. 13. 2. But by this Law we must not entertain for any continuance of time such Strangers as the Magistrates like not, though they be never so gracious, allowed of by God and Good Men, except we [Page 15] will forfeit them our whole Estates, it may be and much more then our Estates come unto.
Fourthly, Christ commands us to do good unto all, but especially unto them of the Houshold of Faith. Gal. 6. 10. this Law gives Liberty to do hurt unto all, especially unto them of the Houshold of Faith. Many other Laws there are of Christ, saith Wheelwright, which this Law dasheth against, and therefore is most wicked and sinful. And so far John Wheelwright in his Testimony against your Law or ungodly Decree, which Sayings of his are come to pass, and you have exceeded Philistines, Egyptians and Sodomites, so it may be truly said who is like unto you, Priests, Magistrates and Professors of New-England, in Cruelty, Boldness and Presumption?
Oh that you would be stirred up to search what the matter is that the Lord is so displeased with you! it seems to me and many more, he is making you an Example to many Nations, & I hope, and do believe it will be for good to many in these Kingdoms of England, Scotland, Ireland and Holland, with all their Territories, when they shall hear, behold and consider what the Lord is doing▪ and suffering to come to pass upon a People that made a great shew, and a great talk of God, Christ and Ordinances, but in the very time of this great talk and profession, brought forth more Oppression then Egypt and Sodom, and have indeed done worse then all the Nations round about, and therefore thou must drink of the Cup of terrible Amazement and Astonishment, poured out by a Just Hand, as from God upon thy Inhabitauts, Oh New-England!
And the Lord God grant for his Mercy sake, that the Inhabitants of our poor Lands of England, Scotland and Ireland, may be warned, that so they may no longer follow your pernicious Ways, and bring like punishment upon themselves as you, oh people of New-England have done, by provoking a Longsuffering God, who hath indeed born long your unrighteous Ways and Doings.
Oh how hath the Father and Author of all Persecution about Religion, and your deceitful Hearts fitted you for a Day of Slaughter! How are your young, as well as your old men become a Scorn and Derision in Cities and Countries! and are [Page 16] not the Fruits of the corrupt Tree found among you? Is not Drunkenness, Gaming, Cheating and Cozening found among you, that it's even become a By Word, There is a New England Cheat, take heed of a New-England Cheat.
And how ashamed are your prophane and Professors, to hear one tell them of their and your pranks! they cannot endure to be told of your Laws; to whip, banish, cut off Ears, spoil Goods and hang at last, Dissenters from them in Religion, while themselves say it's a great and damnable Heresie to hold Infallibility in the things of God, and that a man must prove his Just [...]fication by his Sanct [...]fication, and that there are Delusions in the Witness of the Spirit, and Sanctification must be the Judge of the Witness of the Spirit; and that the Seal of the spirit is not the holy Ghost in us, and the Witness of the spirit is only mediate, and not immediate; and to say that Christ is our sanctification, is a damnable Doctrine.
And do you not say, that God b [...]und himself in an everlasting Covenant of Grace to the legi [...]timate Seed of them that be in Church-covenant, and that Children are left under an everlasting Covenant, by leaving them under Church covenant; and that there is a running over of Grace from the Father to the Children in the Way of Church covenant; and that Children by Church covenant, are born in an Eternal Covenant. See the Elders Tenent in the Bay, with much more confused Stuff too long to write o [...] read unless it were better.
But admit all this were as true, as it is false and blasphemous, would any sober Man or Woman think this to belong or appertain to that whipping Church, and Church-members of New-England?
Let them lay aside their long Prayers, and then tell me what is left among them, that will either enchant the Eye or Ear of any sober Man? for are they not as Earthly minded, as Proud spirited as any, as Envious as any, and yet would be accounted the Members of the Church of Christ.
Oh how are you yet pulling down as with a Cart▪Rope the Judgement begun in your Land and Country! witness your new-found ways to torture and tear like Dogs the Flesh of the [Page 17] Conscientious, who are clear of your Calamities, in the Sight of God, though it may be some of their Earthly Houses may fall, by the Hands of the barbarous Indians, as many have fallen by the Hands of barbarous Professors; but I say, they are clear of those Calamities, and not at all engaged in your Quarrels which you have brought upon your selves, through your Pride and unequal Dealing with Dissenters in matters of Religion, and by your treacherous Practices toward the Indians, all which crieth very loud for Vengeance, however you may think to hide your selves with Flattering Printed Papers, yet your Filthiness doth appear and cannot be hid.
And you have now found out a new way to torture the Conscientious People (viz.) your Gantelop and Whip, with which you whip an Hundred Stripes. Oh how are you grown in Cruelty! from forty Stripes save one, and two Pounds Fine, to an hundred Stripes, and five Pounds Fine, and this with your old Laws new revived, you have got up at Boston to torture those that are no ways engaged in your Quarrel (as I said before) and punishmen [...]s which God hath certainly brought upon you, for all your Abominations.
But through and over all the Cruelty of your Gantelop the Lord hath born a little one, and though you had Power to hale this mortal Body through your many whipping professors and prophane, yet the Testimony lives [...]ver all, and is a sweet Savour unto God, to whom be praises forever, and evermore,
And I hope all that fear the Lord, both small and great will be found in the same Testimony, and to it stand to the praise and glory of God, who is now requiring at your Hands the Blood of his innocent Servants and Martyrs, slain by that murdering [...]pirit, which in Persecutors hath lived, reigned and acted, from the Day of righteous Abel, unto this Day.
And now you would pick a new Quarrel with the Quaker [...], and say, They set their Posts by God's Posts, and their Thres: holds to God's Thresholds, and you are troubled that man should joyn his Posts to God's Posts, and his Thresholds to God's Thresholds, and that in the open Meetings of the Quakers, whose damnable Dectrines and Blasphemies provoke divine Jealousie.
[Page 18] But you have not t [...]ld us what those pernicious Tenents are that are preached in the Quakers Meetings, no more then you did of Ann Hutchinson whom you banish'd for her Testimony, as hath been hinted.
But to whom should man joyn his Posts and Thresholds, if he have any to joyn, as you say ye have? I hope none will be so blind and ignorant as to set their Posts or Threshold to the Devil's Post, and the Professors of New-England's Posts, viz. their whipping Post or Gallows Posts, no nor yet joyn their Threshold to t [...]eir Goal Thresholds, nor their Bridwel. Threshold, devilish slaughter house Thresholds, over which, and in which, Professors and Talkers of God and Christ do and have haled over Lambs and Followers of Christ, and in which they crop their Ears, and out of which they bring them in their Wills and Madness, and banish, whip and hang them in their blind Zeal.
And you can take God's Posts which he through the Operation of his Everlasting and Eternal Spirit hath fitted and prepared for his holy Building, and hang them upon the Devil's Posts (viz.) your Gallows posts, and set them to your whipping-posts, and sport your selves with tearing and rending their naked Backs, and Arms, and tender Breasts of Men and Women with forty Stripes save one, and sometimes an hundred. Oh bloody Butchers of Professors! how do you stinck of Blood, of Innocent Blood. And now after, and for all these Abominations which you have committed against the Lord God, and his Appearance in his Sons and Daughters, Servants and Handmaids, upon whom he hath in these later Dayes poured out of his Spirit, according to the Scriptures and the Promise of God, and that upon some amongst your selves, which called to you to mind the Light and [...]pirit, and its Teaching, and also cried out against your Idolatrous Practices, and confused Principles; and against your smiting Spirits, and that before that reproachful Name of Quaker got up, all which you have evilly intreated, banishing some, and whipping others, before the Quakers were sent from God to call you to Repentance, and Amendment of Life, that you might [Page 19] not dye in your Sins, but these you most Evilly Intreated.
And now the Lord for his own Elect's Sake is risen to take Vengeance, and make Inquiry after Innocent Blood, which your proud and earthly Hearts have drunk in, and was hid through Deceit.
And the Lord God is making you, as I may say, as a Sign to many Nations, that shall coolly, and seriously hear and consider what you have professed, and what brought forth; and now you would fain hide your selves a little longer, and say, The Quaker is the chief Cause of our Misery, and he joyns his Thresholds to G [...]d's Thresholds, and his Posts to God's Posts, and that in the open Meetings of the Quakers, whose blasphemous Principles, &c.
But ye have not printed their Principles that ye call so provoking Divine Jealousie, no more then you printed Williams his Principles whom you banished, nor yet John Wheelwright's Principles, which set the Priests and Professors in New-England in an Uproar in the Year One Thousand Six Hundred Thirty Six.
But John Wheelwright spoke many things which are now come to pass; and also bore Testimony to the Light. Read part of his Sermon preached at Boston, which provoked Jealousie, but not Divine, but Devilish Jealousie.
And in his third Use in that [...]ermon, did he n [...]t say, The second Sort of People that were to be condemned, are all such, as do set themselves against the Lord Jesus Christ, such are the greatest Enemies to the State as can be, if they can have their Wills, you see what a lamentable State, both Church and Commonwealth will be in, then we shall have need of mourning, the Lord cannot endure these that are Enemies to himself, and Kingdom, and People, and unto the Good of his Church; such shall never be able to prevail against the Lord. What will be the End and Issue think you, if People do set themselves against the Way of Grace and the Lord Jesus Christ? This will be the Issue of it, those that oppose the Ways of Grace, and resist the Truth, they shall wax worse and worse, 2 Tim. 3. 8. they may happily proceed a great Way, but the time shall come that they shall go no further, and by [Page 20] Reason of the Agitation of things it will come to pass, that the Church will be cleared, and your Folly manifested unto all men, so saith the Apostle, It is a hard thing to kick against the Pricks, Acts 9. 5. Who ever strove against God and prospered? If men or women fall upon the Lord Jesus Christ they break, but if the Lord Jesus Christ fall on them he will grind them to Powder: If any fall upon Christ, and will not let Christ alone, but fall upon them which hold him, and will abuse them, and be buffeting the Lord Jesus Christ, there is never a Stroke they give, but makes Wounds in their Consciences, but if they will be heaving out Christ, they shall find it the heaviest Stone that ever was; it will fall and grind them to Powder, if People set themselves against the Lord, and the Ways of Grace, and his Truth this will be the Issue of it on their Part; either those that set themselves against the Ways of God, they will be put to silence by the Light that cometh from Christ; for such Truths come with such Light and Power that they shall be so convinced, as that they shall not be able to speak any more in the Case, as Christ put down those that came against him, so that they durst ask him no more Questions; and so there cometh such a Power from the Word held forth by the Saints of God, that it will strick a Fear into their Hearts that oppose it: What ailest thou O Jordan that the Floods go back! Tremble thou Earth at the Presence of the Lord. They that came to Christ fell back, there cometh a divine Power from the Lord that turneth them all back; the Lord will strick with Trembling those that come against Jerusalem; or if they be not put to silence, it will come to pass in time, they will fall i [...]to a wonderful Strong Passion, and will quarrel with the Saints of God. It was the Case of Zedekiah with Michaiah, the Question was, which of them had the Spirit of God, and he comes and smites the Prophet Michaiah on the Cheek, but the Spirit of God is not a smiting Spirit. Stephen convinced the Jews, and did by the Power of the holy Ghost Evidence his Cause to be the Cause of God, and they were not able to resist the Spirit by which he spake and they came and run upon him, why do ye resist the holy Ghost (saith he) what maketh the Sin against the holy Ghost, but Enlightning, and setting themselves against the way of Truth, and [Page 21] persecuting it in Malice and Wrath. It is a fearfull thing to fall into the Hands of the Living God. Heb. 10. 31. For our God is a consuming Fire, Let every one (in the Fear of God) have a Care how they set themselves against the Truth, and Ways of God, and the Ways of Jesus Christ; for we must all appear before the Judgement Seat of Christ, 2 Cor. 5. 10.
Thus much of the Sermon preached by John Wheelwright, in the Year 1636.
By which you Professors of New England may see how prophetical he spake of what is come to pass and fulfilled on you, as he said, If People did set themselves to Oppose and Resist the Grace of God, and his Way and Truth (as you have done) such shall wax worse and worse. And are you not more and more enraged, and crying out Blasphemy and Heresie? but have not given Account what those Blasphemous and Heretical Principles are, against which you have set your selves this Thirty or Forty Years. And why did you not print Obadiah Horne's Principles, to whom you gave Forty Stripes save one, and his Fellow-Sufferer's Principles, whom you also whipped in a Cruel Manner? So it seems all must fare alike that sute not with your Will-worship. But now of late you have printed against the Quakers, but give no Account either what they say, do or hold, which seems to me to be very brutish, and below common Civility or Manhood: You see, I do not so by you; but plainly tell, what you say, do and hold, and may enlarge upon all, if I have been too scant in my Account, neither indeed would I be willing to be otherwise dealt with in such a Case.
What! are you so Mad-drunk with Blood, that ye care not either what you do, say, or print? You have no need to make your selves more naked.
Could not your Secretary Rawsen, which hath partaken with you in your Wickedness and Folly, and has had a large scope of Blood with you, advised you better then to put in print such a piece of Folly? Why did you not set him to work, and print the Quakers Abominable bl [...]sphemies and Idolatries, as you call them, that so all People might have judged of the [Page 22] Matters, or else kept his printed Piece in New-England? for People here in England, even many Prophane Ones, and much more sober Men and Women, know the Quakers Principles and Conversation also, and are not willing to close their Eyes, as Professors in New-England have, and here in England l [...]kewise many Professors do.
Its well known Rawson hath Envy enough in his Heart to lay open Quakers Faults, if he could find such great ones; but may be he intends to wrap the Lambs in Wolves Skins, like one of their Priests, who was talking of the Quakers, and was asked, Why they should suffer so deeply, or the like, seeing no Evil Thing was proved against them? Why (said the Priest, or words to that purpose) in case you have a Wolf in your Trap, but may be canno [...] prove he killed a Lamb, or the like, but he is a Wolf, and of such a Nature as will do Mischief; so he must not go, and the Quaker must suffer though nothing can be proved against him o [...] them, but in the Trap he is. And may be that is the Matter that you go aboard S [...]ips, and Rifle the Quakers, and then ca [...]ry them into Prison, and l [...]ck them up, may be when they have been long tossed upon the Sea, and would gladly enjoy a little fresh A [...]r and Victuals.
Well, the Lord God, against whom you have done Evil, above what can be said or written with Tongue or Pen of man, open your Blind Eyes; yea, if you could come to him who is the Light and Life of all Good Men and Women; he, I say, would anoint your Eyes, that the God of this Wicked World, to wit, the Devil, hath blinded, and then would you see as you are seen, and be h [...]mbled before the Lord God of Everlasting Pity, which hath no Pleasure in him that dyes, who indeed would have all return and live. A Remnant there is that know, he is a very Pitiful God, and a Gracious God, a Sin-pardoning God, a God that blots out Iniquity as its turned from; therefore turn ye all People to the Light; for God is Light, and his Son is Light; so love the Light, and [...]e love God and his Son, who is come a Light into the World, that whosoever believes in him and follows him, should not abide in Darkness, nor Envy, nor Anger, nor Wrath, nor Malice, [Page 23] but come to Love, which (thinks, muchless) does no Evil to any man; and so, live in God, who is Love: but first they must come out of the Devil, who was, is, and ever will be a Murderer of Mankind, both Soul and Body, without they turn from him, and deny his wicked Spirit; and indeed, the Fruits of his spirit are manifest, which are Anger, Wrath, Whisperings, Evil-surmisings, &c. which being lived in, grow to Banishings, Whippings, Cutting off Ears, Hanging and Murdering about Religion, and what not that is Aboninable; and against such Wickedness there is a Law of God and Man: But the Fruits of God's Holy Spirit are Quietness, Meekness, Lowliness, Temperance, Brotherly-kindness, Merciful as God is Merciful, against such there is no Law; for all Law is for such, I mean, not all mens Laws or Decrees which are made against the Innocent; but all Good, Just and Equal Laws, are not against, but for, all such as truly Fear the Lord, and work Righteousness, and abide in him, who is the Author of all Good, to whom be Praise forever, Amen.
Reader, be not troubled that I use the word Professor so often, for it very often riseth in me so; and I mean, such as profess God, Christ and Scriptures, and Ordinances of the Gospel, but live in another Spirit, and them are the Professors meant: but such as possess, and then profess, what, and no more then they do possess, such Professors my Soul loves, and the Lord my God loves, and will love for evermore.