THE STANDARD Of the Lord lifted up in New-England, In Opposition to the MAN OF SIN: OR, The Trumpet of the Lord sounding there, with a Visitation to the suffering Seed of God in New-England, or elsewhere.

With a Warning from the Lord, to the Rulers and Magistrates, Priests and People of New-Eng­land; but more especially to the Rulers and Magistrates of the Bloody Town of Boston, who have put the Servants of the Living God to Death.

The Lyon hath roared, who can but fear? The Trumpet hath sound­ed, who can but prepare himself to Battel, before the great and notable day of the Lord come?

Fear ye not me, saith the Lord? will ye not tremble at my presence, which placed the sands for the bounds of the Sea, by a perpetual Decree, that it cannot passe it; and though the waves thereof tosse themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it?

Jer. 5.20.

Written (in the Prison at Boston in New-England, in America,) By a Friend of Israels Commonwealth, known to the world by name, Joseph Nicholson.

LONDON, Printed for Robert Wilson, at the Signe of the Black-spread-Eagle and Winde-mil in Martins Le grand, 1660.

The Standard of the Lord lifted up in New-England; or the Trumpet of the Lord sound­ing there.

THe mighty day of the Lord is coming, wherein the secrets of every mans heart shall be revealed with the Light of Jesus Christ, which comes from Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who lighteth every man that comes into the world, John 1. ver. 9. And this is my beloved Son, saith God, hear you him, who lighteth every man that comes into the world; Drunkard hates the Light, Lyar hates the Light, Swearers, and cursed Speakers, you all hate the Light; and all you who live by stealth, you hate the Light; all you that live in envy, as Cain did, who slew his Brother, you hate the Light; all you that are proud, as Haman was, ye hate the Light; all you who commit adultery, you hate the Light; all you who live by cozening and cheating your fellow-crea­tures, by deceitful merchandize, in buying and selling, and speaking otherwise by your commodities than it is, you hate the Light; and all you who live in any form of Profession whatsoever, and persecute them who are in the life, who come to witness forth the Truth, as it is in Jesus Christ, made manifested in them, as it was in the Apostles, you are all to be condemned with the Light that comes from Jesus Christ, For [...]his is the condemnation of the world, (the Light) saith Christ, [...]hat Light is come into the world, and men love darkness rather than light, because their deeds are evil; John 3. ver. 19. For e­very one that doth evil, hateth the Light, neither cometh to the [...]ight, lest his deeds should be reproved; but he that doth truth, [...]meth to the Light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God: Therefore all people, high and low, [Page 4]rich and poor, bond and free, take warning betime, and put not the evil day afar off, and the good day afar off, and say in your hearts the Lord delayeth his coming, and so eat and drink with drunkards, and beat and persecute your fellow-creatures, who witness the life and Power, as they did who spoke-forth the Scriptures, for the Scriptures was given forth by Inspiration of the Spirit, holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost, and as the Spirit gave them utterance. Now people consider, the Scripture was not given forth for men to talk of, or make a trade of, or for men to get money by, as your hireling Teachers of the world do, who have so much a year for preaching, and talking of the Scriptures, of things made ready to their hands, other mens conditions, saying in such a Chapter, and such a verse, say­ing, Hearken my beloved brethren, in such a Chapter, and such a verse, to the Word of God, as it is written for your in­struction, when truly people the Lord never spoke unto them: Why may some say, is not the Scriptures true? yea, they are true, but the Scripture as a declaration of other mens conditi­ons, the Prophets conditions, & Christs words, & the Apostles words given forth from the life, but I am against him, saith the Lord, that steals the Word from his Neighbour, and saith, The Lord saith, when the Lord never spoke to him, but as they find it written in the Scriptures, other mens conditions, who were made partakers, and possessed and enjoyed what they spoke, this was not a Chapter, or verse in Scripture, o­ther mens conditions, but this was, and is the same as ever was from the beginning, the Innocent life, the holy life, Adams state, wherein he was created at first in the Image of God, but being fallen from that estate in Adam, there must be a coming back again, as the Scriptures speaks of, I will bring the blind by a way that they have not known, and there must be a bring­ing back again the Captivity, a restauration out of the fallen estate, For as in Adam all die, so in Christ shall all be made a­live: As many as believe on him whom the Father hath sent into the World, he was in the world, and the world knew him not, but as many as received him, he gave power to become the Sons of God; and he that hath the Son, hath Life, he that hath not the [Page 5]Son, hath not Life, and this life is the light of men; he was in the world and the world was made by him, and the world became flesh, and dwelt amongst us, and we saw the only begotten Son of God full of Glory, Mercy, Grace, and Peace, and to him that is at rest, (saith Christ) will I give of the water of life freely; he that hath an eare may hear what the Spirit saith, he that overcomes shall reign with me saith Christ. Therefore all people take warning berime, and do not deceive your selves by a pro­fession of God and Christ in words, and have not the life and power of what you profess; for it is not profession with­out possession, that will stand you instead in the day of the Lord God, which is coming upon all the ungodly of the world; who are out of the life and power, of that which the Scriptures were given forth from, for except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdome of God; this Birth is not by mans will, but by the will of God; and where this Birth is known, and witnessed in the least measure, it is hated and persecuted by the world, as ever it was in the dayes of the Apostles and Christ; for if they persecuted me saith Christ, they will also persecute you; and if they have done this to the master of the house, how much more to them of his houshold? for the Scribes and Pharisees knew where Christ should be born, but when he came they put him to death. The same is now made manifest, as ever was in the Apostles dayes, and in Christs time, by the Rulers and Magistrates of New-England, most of all the Rulers and Magistrates of the Town of Boston in New-England, who have made a law in their own wills to banish any, whom they call in scorn cursed Qua­kers, whom the Lord sends amongst them, to warn them to turn from the evil of their doings, who witness, Christ made manifest in them the hope of Glory, and after they have bani­shed them upon pain of death, not to come again into their Town or Jurisdiction, by their Law made in their own wills, when they in obedience to the Lord God of Heaven and Earth, as they were commanded of him to come again, not in con­tempt of their Law, though made in their own wills, but in obedience to the Lord, knowing it was better to obey God than man; thy unchristian like have put them to death, and [Page 6]this is the fruits of New-Englands profession, who are out of the life of what they profess in words, as their fruits have made them manifest, who have put the Innocent to death, who came to bear witness to the truth as it is in Jesus, and as it was made manifest in them; but happy I say were they who loved not their lives more than Christ, who have laid it down for his names sake, they shall receive a good reward, When they that caused them to be put to death, shall howl and lament; for their day of sorrow is coming on, for the Innocent blood cryes aloud for vengeance, upon them who put them to death, good it had been for them they had never been born, or that a mil­stone had been hanged about their neck, and that cast into the Sea, rather than they should have put them to death; there­fore all people, who have not had a hand in this thing, in put­ting the Innocent to death, who have not suffered as evill doers, but because they could not be subject to the Lawes of men, for conscience sake, knowing it better to obey God than men: take warning I say betime, while it is called to day, if you will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in a day of Slaugh­ter, for verily the day of the Lord God is at hand, wherein all the proud, and they that do wickedly shall be destroyed: The axe is laid to the root of the tree, and every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit, must be hewen down, and cast into the fire. The Lord hath said it, and he will bring it to pass in this the the day of his mighty Power; for now is the Lord calling by his messengers to all the inhabitants of the earth, to come to repentance, repentance from dead works, to serve the Lord in newnesse of life, in holynesse and purity, without which none can see the Lord; for holinesse becomes the house of God, whose house we are, whom he hath called out of the world to be a witnesse to his truth, as it is manifest in us, as he hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them, and they shall be my people, and I will be their God, faith the Lord, who is now risen, and arising to redeem a people to himself, zealous of good works wrought in Christ Jesus, made manifest within, the hope of Glory, and Glory be to the Lord God for ever more, who hath redeemed many to himself out of the fallen estate, Adams State, by Christ Jesus the Second Adam, the [Page 7]Lord from Heaven, for as is the earthly, such are they that are earthly; & as is the heavenly, such are they that are heavenly; for the first man Adam is of the earth, the second the Lord from Hea­ven, and by this Christ we witnesse redemption from sin, the same Christ that died at Jerusalem for our sins, and rose again for our justification, this we can truly say indeed and in truth, that Christ is risen indeed, and become the first fruits of them that sleep, and by this Christ we witness re­demption from sin, and also the Law of the members that warrs against the Law of the minde that Paul spoke of, yet we with Paul can say, we thank God through Christ Jesus our Lord, who gives victory, over the law of sin and death, which the Law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh. God sent his Son born of a woman to condemn Sin in the flesh, that we through him might have life, who believe on him, whom the Father hath sent into the world, whom the world cannot receive; for he that receiveth me saith Christ, receiv­eth him that sent me, and he that receiveth you, saith Christ to his disciples, receiveth me also, and he that keeps my sayings will keep yours also: He that hath an ear may hear what the Spirit saith, and he that is a thirst may come and drink freely without mony, or without price; Oh! dear people, why do you spend your mony for that which is not bread, and your labour for that which doth not satisfy? all you who have been learning may be some tenn years, some twenty years, some thirty years, some forty years, some fifty years, some sixty years, following the blind guides of the world, and yet not come to the knowledge of truth; but some say, loe here in this form, and some say in another; but I say believe them not, for where Christ is made manifest, he is made manifest within to de­stroy the works of the Devil. Now people, sin is a work of the Devil, and the Devil was a lyar from the beginning, he abode not in the truth; now he that commits sin abides not in the truth, for Christ is the truth, the way and the life; no man can come to the Father but by him: now as none can come to the Father but by Christ, so none can come to Christ but by the light they be enlightned withal, which shewes sin and evill: now all who live in sin, and hate the light, which ye [Page 8]be enlightned withal, they will not bring their deeds to the light lest they should be reproved: so they that hate the light, and will not come to Christ that they might have life, but goes on in the wicked wayes of the world, in scorning & dirision of their fellow Creatures, who love the light, and are guided by it, and are come to Christ, the way, the truth, and the life, who never persecuted any, neither taught he any such doctrine, as to imprison any, or whip, or stock, or banish, or put to death for conscience sake, as the Rulers of New-England have done, who cannot receive strangers, but persecute them, who come to beare witnesse to the truth, as it is in Jesus made manifest in them the hope of Glory: but here in New-England it is made manifest, as it was by Herod, when Christ was born, he sought to worship him, under pretence to destroy him; so here they call themselves a Church of Christ, but where he is made manifest in his members, they put him to death, and casts them into prison that comes to live among them, only because they are tituled Quakers; and thus they have entertained their country men and friends in New-England, and especially at the town of Boston, where they can­not endure to see one walk in the street, who they in scorn call cursed Quakers, though truly the people in scorn called cursed Quakers by them, are they who truly fear the Lord God of Heaven and Earth, and are witnesses for him against the man of sin, against the Beast and the false Prophet, which they worship here in New-England much, most of all at this Town of Boston: for all that will not worship in their way, though a false worship, they must be banished out of their Town and their Jurisdiction; and if they come again, put them to death. And their fruits have made them manifest, to be no Church of Christ, but of Anti-christ, hypocrites, got above the Light of Christ in themselves, painted Sepulchers, having got the Saints words declared from the life, but are found persecuting the same life, where it is made manifest as they were in, that they gave forth the Scripture; truly they are like the seaven lean kine of Egypt, which eat up the wel-favoured kine, and behold they wear still ill-favoured; so they as much as in them lyes, they devour all the appea­rance [Page 9]of that which is good in any, and yet they remain wicked still, so the Scripture comes to be fulfilled of them, evil men & seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived; but truly their condemnation slumbers not, for the Lord is coming near to Judgement to reckon with them for their Stew­ardship; for they have been long persecuting, and now they have put to death, its like they have long thirsted after blood, as their fruits have made it manifest indeed to be no Church of Christ as they call themselves, but such as the cheif Rulers and Priests were of, who put Christ to death, who said, they had a Law, and by their Law he ought to die; so here we have a law said they, if they come here again we will put them to death, they are afraid their kingdom should fall, for it shakes already; for they think either now or never when their king­dom of sin, which they so much plead for, comes to be oppo­sed, and the Priests trade called in question, who have got so much a year by the Scripture, telling the people of other mens conditions, things made ready to their hands, and plead­ing for sin, it plainly appears that they are Satans messengers indeed, who plead for sin, and say men shall never be per­fect while they are here, and yet they must have so much a year for preaching the Word of God, (as they say) when the Word is not to be bought and sold for money; but he that wills may buy without money, or without price, as the Prophet of old have said, he that thirsts let him come, and he that will may come, and buy wine and milk without money, or without price, and the Word nigh in thee in thy mouth and heart; the word of faith which Paul preached. So people, this is not a chapter or a verse in Scripture, other mens conditions; but this is a measure of the Spirit of Truth, which the Lord foretold by the prophet of old, saith he, It shall come to passe in the latter days that I will poure out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your Sons and Daughters shall prophesy; and now is the Lord fulfilling his promise, and his Sons and Daughters doth prophesy; whereby the world be­gins to rage, when they see the kingdom of Antichrist is like to fall, and the Merchants of Babylon, their wave will not passe for currant as formerly it hath done, therefore they have com­bined together against the Lord, and against his people, [Page 10]whom they in scorn call cursed Quakers, and have made a law in their will to put them to death; therefore all people who de­sires after the Lord God of Heaven and Earth, and hopes for mercy and forgivenesse for your sins, (as you will say) by Jesus Christ, to such I say own the Light of Jesus Christ, which you be enlightned withal, which shews sin and evill, which lets you see when you have done wrong, that condemns you for so doing, it will let you see all that ever you have done in your life time, if you take heed to it to be guided by it, and the same Light being minded and obeyed, it will bring you to hear Christs voice, for his sheep hear his voice and they follow him, but the voice of a tranger they will not follow, and he that hears the voice of the Son of God shall live, For the life that I now live (said Paul) is by the faith of the Son of God in me, and the same life is now made manitest in these our dayes, as was in the Apostles time, and Christs time, who said, He would send the Comforter the Spirit of Truth, which should lead into all Truth. Now this people is not a chapter or verse in Scripture, other mens conditions, for this is no profit for me, or for another, what other men enjoyed, except I come to enjoy the same as they did, who spoke forth the Scrip­ture: so people it is not for men and women, to take the Scriptures, or get words out of the Scriptures, and say, Thus saith the Lord, and this is the Word of God, because they find it written in the Scripture; this was other mens works, the Lord said so to them; But wait in the Light of Christ within our selves, to know the Word there, as they did, who gave forth the Scriptures, and as David said, hark what the Lord saith, for he it is that speaks peace to his people, and to the Saints upon earth, that they turn not again to folly, and you may read in the Scripture, that Paul said to Timothy, thou ha known the Holy Scriptures which was able to make him wise unto salvation, through faith which is in Christ Jesus, the second of Timothy the 3. Chap. and 15th verse. So all people that desires to know the truth as it is in Jesus, you must come to that of God in your selves, and know the Scriptures there, from that which is holy of God in you, as Paul said to Timothy, that which (is or) may be known of God [Page 11]is manifest within, as it is said, I have shewn it to thee O man, what I would have thee to do, to chuse the good and hate the evil: So people, be not deceived, God will not be mocked; for such as you sow, such shall you reap; He that sows to the flesh, shall of the flesh reap corrvption, but he that sows to the Spirit, shall reap life eternal, and this life is in the Son of God, and where he is revealed and made manifest, he is revealed within as Paul said, it pleased the Lord to reveal his Son in me, and where he is now revealed as ever he was, he sets free from sin, for if the Son shall make you free, then shall you be free indeed. So people this makes it plainly appear, that they that plead so much for sin, they plead for the Devil, for all sin is of the Devil, & also it appears plainly, that they know not the Son of God that sets free, who pleads so much for sin, (as the Teachers of the world do) though they can talke much of him by hear-say what other men speak, who witnessed him made manifest in them, for the Teachers of the world can say as the Prophets said, and as Christ spoke, and the Apostles spoke, as they find it written in the Scripture; and thus saith the Lord say they, and may be they will begin to reckon up Davids failings, (as thay say) and Peters denying of Christ and such like, and so begin to plead for sin, a thing truly abhorred of all them that fear the Lord, they dare not plead for sin because God hath forbiden it, so the Teachers of the world are out of the true Prophets life that they spoke from, who were sent to warn people to turn from the evill of their doings; and Christ said to his, as I am, so are you in this present world; and I hope none will say Christ was a sinner, for if any say, or think so they are lyars, and knows not the truth, as it is in Jesus; and the Apostles exhorted them who were turned from dark­nesse to light, To be perfect, and as many as were perfect be thus minded; and the Apostles was sent to turn people from the power of Satan unto God; and that was and is out of sin, for sin is of the Devil: so here the Teachers of the world, who have so much a year for preaching as they can get more or lesse at such a Town, or such a Parish as they call it, on such and such dayes, and may be some preach by a glasse a hour [Page 12]or more as their sermon holds out: so here they are limited to a time, and place contrary to the Apostles, who were to go into all Nations to Preach, and they were not to have so much a year where ever they came, neither bargained before hand; neither taught any for filthy lucre, as the Teachers of the world do, that people should never be free from sin, while they were upon the earth, for the Saints of old were set free from sin [...]e they were upon earth, and the same is now made manifest as ever was in the Apostles days; Glory and Honor, be given to God for evermore, and the Lamb of God is now risen and arising, who makes warr in Righteous­nesse, who is saving his people from their sins, who is giving them victory dayle, who now follow him in the regenera­tion or new birth, which is not born by mans will, but by the will of God, which is heir of the kingdom, which never fades away. So all people deceive not your selves [...] pro­fession of God and Christ, which you have or may not in words, and have not the life, which the words were given forth from, and cease from your hireling Shepherds, and Teach­ers, who preach peace to all for mony, if you put into their mouths; but if you put not into their mouths, they will prepare warr against you, and may be rayle much upon you, as they have against others before; if you will not buy their stuff at their rate, they will say you are deluded and bewitched; when any comes to beare witnesse against their false worship, which they have set up, to compel all to bow down to their God, though a false God: Now Christ and his Disciples, whom he sent forth, they never taught any such doctrine, that all that would not come and hear them, might be banished or put in prison, till they acknowledge their fault as they call it, in not coming to their worship, or else pay such a sum of mony a week, as their Rulers and Priests of Boton in New-England do, who hath put men to death for conscience sake, because they cannot obey their wicked law made in their own wills; and this is the fruits of New-Englands pro­fession, burning men, as some men use to do with their ox­en in the horns, that they might know them from others, and [Page 13]cutting mens ears, as men mark their cattel to know them by, and banishing of people, and putting them to death, and beating them with pitch ropes even to death, and whiping of them that fear the Lord God of Heaven and Earth, who are moved of him to come thousands of miles, to bear witness to his truth, whiping of them, and banishing of them, and putting of them to death, and casting them into prison, that come to inhabit among them; all this is accounted but a small thing in New-England, most of all at the town of Boston, where they call themselves a Church of Christ; but let all people that fear the Lord, or desire to know the truth, as it is in Jesus, Judge what a Church this is, who neither fears God, nor reverences man, that hath dealt thus with their fellow-creatures, who have been moved of the Lord to come from far, to warn them of the evil of their doings; this is a bad requital indeed, to requite the Lord evil for good, who hath thus dealt with his servants, whom he hath sent among them, to exhort them to turne from the evil of her doings, and yet these Rulers, and Magistrates, and Priests, will plead for sin, and deal thus with them, that would admonish them to turn from it, this is a filthy, and a horrible thing indeed, that is com­mitted in this land, Prophets prophesy falsly, and the Priests bear rule by their means, and people love to have it so, and what will you do in the end thereof: Oh dear people consider betime while it is called to day, if you will hear his voice harden not your hearts against the Lord, least he vex you in his wrath, and trouble you in his hote displeasure, which is coming on.

Some may object and say, at what time soever a sinner doth re­pent, the Lord will forgive.

To which I answer, at what time soever a sinner doth truly repent, and turn from the evill of his doings, he shall find mercy with the Lord, who is worthy to be feared: But let none dare to continue in sin, and say, at what time soever a sinner doth repent, he shall find mercy, but while it is called to day, if you will come to true repentance from dead works, to serve the living God in newnesse of life, owne the light of Christ in you, which shewes sin, and evil, in will bring you out of [Page 14]the worlds ways, and customs, and fashions, and traditions of men, that you have long lived in, if you take heed to it to be guided by it, you will come to Christ to feel him in you the hope of Glory, he who saves his people from their sins, he who is the Power of God unto salvation, to all them that believe in him, who own his light, and take heed to that to be guided by it, until the day dawn, and the day-star arise in their hearts, for you have an unction which is holy, and you need not that any man teach you, but as the anoynting teacheth; but first you must come to the light, to take heed to that, to be guided by that till the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts, and then you will come to know the anoynting which teacheth all things, which is truth, and no lye. But people take heed of the worlds words, which they think is repentance, when they have done evill, as lying, or swearing, or being drunk, or stolne, or other sin whatsoever they will say, when some thing within them condemns them for it, God forgive me; but O! that will not serve people, when a man or woman hath done wrong, and sinned against God, and in the same na­ture that they committed the offence against God, say God forgive me, for thats a taking Gods name in vain; for God hears not sinners until they come to that of God in them, that shews sin and evil, to be guided by that, that so they may be led out of sin; for all their praying, and reading, and hearing, in the first nature is abomination to God, he hears not that, it is but Cains Sacrifice, which God did not accept; but Abells the righteous, God did accept; So it is the se­cond birth, the Righteous that God hears, that which is immortal of himself, that which he hath given to e­very man to profit withal, a measure of himself, which is Gods gift to man, to bring man again to God, from whence he is fallen: In Adams State, the natural man knows not the things of God, they are spiritually discerned; so people it is not saying, when you have done evil, God forgive me, in that nature wherein you have committed the offence, but if you hope for mercy, and forgivenesse of your sins (as you will say) by Jesus Christ, you must come to that of God in [Page 15]you, that shews you sin, and evil, and tells you you should not have done so; now if you turne to that which shewes you sin and evill in your selves, to take heed to it to be guided by it, it will lead you out of sin in a contrary way to the world, and the vanities thereof, and from the hireling Shepherds, and Teachers of the world, for he that is is a friend to the world, is in the enmity against God, and thats out of the truth, for God is Truth, and with him is no variableness nor turning at all, for he waits to be gracious to all them who desires to turn from the evil of their do­ings, that so they may find mercy with him, whose mercy is to be had in remembrance al the day long, so he that hath an ear let him hear: And so forsake his sin, and own the light of Christ Jesus, which you be enlightned withal, it will bring you, if you take heed to it to be guided by it from the hirelings, the greedy dum dogs that seeks for their gain from their quarters: so if you come to the light of Christ in you, to be guided by that, you will come to know the teachings of God in Spirit, for the Children of God are taught of God, and they are established in righteousness, and they are far from oppression: the just is at liberty, the witnesse of God within, that which testifies against sin: So all people come to the light of Christ in you, that so you may come out of bondage, for the bond-womans son, must not be heir with the son of the free woman, bondman must be cast out, that which keeps the seed in bondage Ismael-like, which is wild, and heady, and angry, and rash, and froward, that genders unto-strife, and every evill work, and workers of iniquity must be destroyed; so to that which is pure of God in you, turn your minds, and wait in that, that so you may come to know Gods worship, which is in Spirit and in Truth; for now is he seeking such worshipers, and many are come to know his worship, but this worship is not at a house made with hands, as Steven was stoned to death, for bearing wittnesse against temples made with hands, Acts the 7th chap. and the 48. verse, but the worship of God is within, its known there, and he is worshiped within, in the measure of his own spirit; So all you that hunger and thirst after right cousnesse, come to the Light, that so you may come to know and worship God in [Page 16]Spirit and in Truth, that you may come to know the Law written in your hearts, and Spirit in your inward parts, to obey the Lord God of Heaven and Earth, there to worship him. That so you may come to know the teaching of the Lord by his Spirit, as the children of the Lord do; That so you may come to know the Scriptures fulfilled in you, as they did who spoke them forth; That so you may say, the Scriptures is yours indeed, and Truth; And when you are come to know these things in your selves, you will know Christ to be a Savi­our to you, saving you from sin; For this know assuredly, that if you come not to know Christ within you, a Saviour to save you from sin, then you are reprobates indeed, from the Faith which is in Christ Jesus our Lord and Saviour; to whom be Glory, and Honor, and Prayse, for ever and ever, Amen.

To all you Rulers, and Magistrates, and Priests in New-England, most of all of the Town of Boston in New-England, who have put the servants of the Living God to death: Whereas you say in your Law, there is a cursed Sect of Here­ticks risen up in the World, which are com­monly called Quakers, who take upon them to be immediately sent of God, and infal­libly assisted by the Spirit, to speak and write Blaspemous Opinions, despising Go­vernment, and the Order of God in Church and Common-wealth, speaking evil of Dig­nities, reproaching and reviling Magi­strates and Ministers, seeking to turn the People from the Faith, and Gain Proselites to their pernitious wayes.

THE People in scorn and derision called Quakers by you, are they who truly fear the Lord God of Hea­ven, and who in obedience to his Command, by his Spi­rit have been moved of him to come amongst you, to de­clare the Word of Truth as, it is manifest in Jesus, whom you have evil entreated, you have whipped many, and cut of the ears of some, as men use to mark their baests, you have [Page 18]burnt some, as men use to do their Oxen in the Horns, that they might know them from others, and you have banish­ed some, and you have cast many into Prison without the breach of any Just Law, even them that were your Inhabi­tants; and also them that have come from far to live a­mongst you, and you have unchristian-like put some to death, having no just cause against any of them, but that you have hatched mischief out of Hell, and in your wills have made a Law to punish the innocent, by whom the Lord sends amongst you to warn you, to turn from the evil of your doings; and thus you have requited the Lord evil for all his good to you ward; and you do despite against the Spirit of Grace for the People called Hereticks and cursed Quakers by you, who take upon them, as you say, to be immediately sent of God, and infallibly assisted by the Spirit; this we own and witness to be true in our measures to be immediately sent of God, and to be guided by his Spirit, that's of God; but to write or speak blas­phemous opinions, that we do deny, that hath not been proved against us yet by any of you or your hireling Priests; for they who are guided by the Spirit of God, they neither speak nor write blaspemous opinions, for the Spirit of God is not a spirit of blaspemy, as you may think or judge it to be, who make a mock at an immediate Call; and you are the Hereticks, who are gone from that of God in you, who are erred from the Spirit as Balaam was, who loved the wages of unrighteousness, as you Teachers do; and the People by you in scorn called Quakers, are not cursed, but blessed of the Lord, who came amongst you to bear witness for the truth as it is in Jesus; for although you have used incliantment as Balaak and Balaam did together to curse Jacob and defie Israel, yet your Inchantments and Laws, which you have hatched out of Hell shall be broken, and you both and the people in scorn by you called cursed Quakers, shall inhabit amongst you, and you shall be bro­ken to pieces, the Lord hath said it, and he will shortly bring it to pass, you cannot long strive against God and prosper, [Page 19]for he is risen against you already; and though your trum­pets sound aloud amongst you, who delight to shed inno­cent blood; yet the Trumpet of the Lord sound, louder in his ears, which cryes aloud for vengeance against you, who have put his servant to death, your condemnation is coming on apace, you are all to be condemned with the light that comes from Jesus Christ the Son of God, who lighteth every man that comes into the World.

And whereas you say, We despise Government, and Order in Church & Commonwealth, speaking evil of Dig­nities, reproach Magistrates and Ministers; that's false, for we own Government and Ministers, who fear the Lord, hates covetousness, and are guided by the Spirit of the Lord; but if any Magistrates makes Laws contrary to truth, as you have done, to put the innocent to death, we utterly deny both the Laws and Magistrates therein; but Magistrates, who are a terrour to evil-doers, and a praise to them that do well, we own; but such Magistrates are not you, who shed innocent blood; and we own such Ministers as are cal­led of God, Who are sent out to preach the Gospel freely without money, or without price; but such Ministers are not your Hire­lings, who can never have enough, who would limit the Spirit of God in others, who would have none to speak but themselves, that so they might keep people still in igno­rance, as they have done, ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth; but you Magistrates and Ministers so called, are all made manifest as Corah, Da­than and Abiram was, who rebelled against Moses, who said, All the Congregation were Holy: but your end will be like theirs, for your Cup is almost full of which you must drink, doubtless it shall be filled to you, your reward you shall have, for God will be honoured by you, but it will be your de­struction you generation of vipers, of serpents, who gnash your teeth for torment already, for your torment is begun already, your sorrow shall never cease nor flye away, your destruction draws near, you cannot escape the hand of the Almighty, he rises against you, he will render vengeance in [Page 20]flames of f [...]on you, wo be unto you who had no pitty, good it had been for you if you had not been born, on that a Mil-stone had been hanged about your neck, and you cast into the Sea, rather than you should have made a wicked Law; and so put the innocent to death, as you have done, whose innocent blood cryes aloud for vengeance against you inhabitants of this Town of Boston in New-England, who have shed innocent blood; Gods Judgments draws near all you, who had a hand in shedding innocent blood, the blood of the innocent is upon you, wo will be to you for evermore except you repent, you are grown fat and strong, and you spurn with the heel against God; you are worse than Pharaoh was, who said, Who was the Lord, that he should obey him to let Israel go; wo will be to you for ever, who will not let the Lords people worship him in his own way, but they must be cast into Prison, and whipt, and banished, and their ears cut, and burnt, and put to death, because they come to bear witness to the truth a­gainst your Idolatrous worship, and witness the true wor­ship, who worship him in Spirit and in Truth: And now is he seeking such worshippers, but you have rejected his messengers, and slighted the day of your visitation, and put his servants to death, and evil intreated many, whom he hath sent amongst you to bear witness to his truth as it is manifest in Jesus, but sorrow shall accompany you, where ever you go vengeance from the Lord and punish­ment as came upon Cain shall come upon you, cursed shall you be for evermore, in sorrow shall you lye down, and so shall you rise up, and in torment shall you be where ever ye go, your God whom you serve is not able to deliver you out my hand saith the Lord, your prayers and praises are accursed of God, your sacrifices is Cain-like, God will ne­ver hear you, your bud shall rot as the drunkard, for you are drunk with the Saints words, and you shall have blood to drink who have shed innocent blood; and this is to you who have put the servants of the Living God to Death.

TO you the Inhabitants of Boston in New-England, who have not had a hand in putting the innocent to death, if ye will return, return unto me saith the Lord, or else I will visit your sin upon you with the rest, for when I begin, I will also make an end; therefore if ye will return unto me saith the Lord, I will yet have mercy upon your unrighteousness, if you will break off your sins by true re­pentance, and own the light of Christ Jesus which you be enlightned withal, which shews you your transgressions, which lets you see when you have done any manner of thing that is evil, which reproves you in secret when no eye sees you, for whatsoever is done in secret shall be made ma­nifest by the light, for the day is dawning, and the sun-ri­sing is appearing amongst you, and wo will be unto all you, who cover your selves, and not with the Spirit of the Lord, for he will find you all out, your secret works of darkness must now be brought to light, your covers will be too narrow, all you who are covered but not with the Spirit of the Lord, your covers must all be rent off, root and branch must be destroyed and burnt up of all you, who are covered but not with the Spirit of our God, who is a con­suming fire to all his enemies, who waits to be gratious to all you, who have any desires to turn from the evil of your doings, that so you may find mercy with the Lord, that you may be hid in the day of the Lords fierce wrath, that so you may not perish with the rebellions and stiff-necked, and uncircumcised Rulers and Magistrates, and Priests and People, who have had a hand in putting the innocent to death, amongst you, who have not suffered as evil-doers, but for righteousness sake, because they could not be subject to their wicked Law, made contrary to the truth; To you I say, to you I speak, who have not had a hand in shed­ding innocent blood; Be ye all warned betime, while it is called to day, if you will hear his voice, harden not your hearts against the Lord; for verily I say unto you, except [Page 22] you repent, you shall all perish, as they who have put the innocent to death, for all your Meeting together, and Prayers, and singing and praising God as you think, is abomination in the sight of God, he never hears you, it is but a sacrifice offered in the first nature, which God never accepts in any, for the prayers of an ungenerate man God hears not, as you may read in Scripture; its the second birth God hears, as Abel was, the Righteous, whom Cain the murtherer slew, his sacrifices God did not accept, but Abels he had respect to: so until you come to be guided by that of God in you which is immortal, which gave forth the Scriptures, God hears not your Prayers, though there may be a Seal, yet it is not according to truth, for Christ is the truth, and where Christ is known, he redeems again to the Father, and so the lost estate comes to be recovered again in him, so the immortal of God is known. and wit­nessed in and through Jesus Christ, the same as ever was, which died at Jerusalem, who is now saving his people from their sins; for now the blind see, the lame walk, the dumb speak, and the lepers are cleansed, the same as ever was, glory be to God for evermore, who is now shedding, his saving health abroad to all Nations; the Glad Tidings of the Gospel is now going forth, and preaching Repen­tance to the Spirits in Prison; but this Gospel is not the four books Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, as many may think it to be; for if the Gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost; but the four books are not hid, for ma­ny have got them, but know not the Glad Tidings of the Gospel, for that's hid to all them who cannot witness Redemption by Christ Jesus by their sins, but are in the old nature, Adams state, driven out from God into the earth, groaping in the dark like the blind Sodomites, but cannot find the door; for Christ is the door, He is the good Shepheard the Sheep hear his voice and follow him but the voice of a tranger they will not follow, they will flye from the stranger; they know strangers, who have got the Saints words, but persecute the Saints life: they are strangers [Page 23]indeed, who would limit the Spirit of God in any; for Moses the man of God said, He would all the Lords People had been Prophets; and thousand in Old-England, glory be to God, know the true Shepheard, who feeds with the Bread of Life, from them who feed with the husk, who feed amongst Swine and Dogs, who rent and tear, and devour their fellow-creatures, who have marred their Re­ligion, and shamed their Profession, and stained their Na­tion with blood; but all in vain do they worship God teaching for Doctrine the Precepts of men; for the Mighty Day of the Lord God of Heaven and Earth is coming upon all them, that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, wherein the workers of iniquity must be destroyed; and all them, who keep the Seed of God in bondage, without which we had been as Sodom and Gomorrah, which perished in one day: And now is the Lord risen and arising for his Seeds sake, and wo to all them that keep the Seed in bondage, who will not let the oppressed go free to serve the Lord, and worship the Lord in his own way, but will dig up to themselves broken Cisterns that can hold no water, and so forsake Christ the Fountain of living Waters; for he is Antichrist who denies Christ come in the flesh, and such are they who put him to death in his Members; for if Christ be not in you, then are you reprobates indeed from the true Faith, which is in our Lord Jesus Christ. So dear people be not deceived any longer with a Profession of God and Christ in words, and be strangers from the life of what you profess, for it is not every one that saith Lord, Lord, shall enter; but he that doth the Will of God, he knows the hidden things, which are hid from the Wise and Prudent, and revealed unto Babes; so all people come down to the light of Christ in you, that so you may come to the life of what you profess in words, that so you may come to know the Power, as they did, who gave forth the Words; for they are hypocrites who know not the Life and Power of what they profess in words; such are hypo­crites indeed, got above the light of Christ in themselves, [Page 24]painted Sepulchers indeed, got the Saints Words to talk of, and persecute the Saints life, and such know not God and Christ, but by hear say, what ever they may profess in words, yet they know not the life, who persecute and put to death for Conscience sake, and threaten others with the like, who are moved of the Lord to live amongst them: So he that hath anear let him hear, and forsake the evil of his doings, and I will have mercy saith the Lord, and turn to our God, for he will abundantly pardon, if ye turn unto me saith the Lord, by timely Repentance before it be hid from your eyes; for if your Rulers and Priests would have heard the truth, they would not have put the innocent to death, but let them now beware, least it be now hid from their eyes.

From a Friend of Israel, Commonwealth, who here suffers for the truth as it is in Jesus amongst you Inhabitants of Boston in New-England, who cannot bow down to your God, nor your worship, because a false God and false worship, but stands a witness a­gainst your false worship, and wic­ked law which you have made, even till death: Known to the world by name of JOSEPH NICHOLSON.
THE END.

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