HEar a little though you be mighty, and be intreated to weigh with seriousness, what one fearing the Lord says unto you, who are executing the Act made against such as meet to worship contrary to the Ly­turgy of the Church of England, which we have heard is accor­ding to the Scriptures; for and in the Scriptures we have been trained up many of us from our childhood, and exercised there­in; and we have heard some of your Teachers and Worship­pers say that it is your Rule, and that all things are to be tryed by it, and that you that deal thus hardly with us, are called Christians, and would be so owned by us: if so you be, let Christ's Words be of authority with you; for we do believe, (even with that you are going about to exile) that God will one day judge the World by that Man Christ Jesus; and there­fore we fear to transgress his Commands; whom we know hath declared, What profit would it be to gain the whole World, and lose our own Souls? And we do believe, and have found it so, that he which pleaseth Man cannot please God: This is Scrip­ture, Friends, and that out of the mouth of Christ; So he is no Christian that believes not Christ: And for the keeping of this Commandment, have the holy Martyrs suffered in all Genera­tions, from righteous Abel unto this day, because they could not conform to Mens Wills, Pleasures and Laws: We have a Law, say the Jews, by which he ought to die; and Pilate to please them (though the Witness of God shewed him he was just) yet hearkened to them that said, He was not Caesars friend, if he let this man go; so to please Man, he delivered Christ to be cruci­fied; [Page 3]and it was not any outward Washing that could ever take away his guilt. Stephen, that holy Martyr, though he be­lieved the Scriptures, and knew them well (as you may read) yet because he denyed their Worship or Temple, telling them that they resisted the holy Ghost (which he knew that all who have nor learned of Christ do) and that in the Spirit God will be worshipped, and that such Worshippers he did and doth seek. Surely all Christians may then see, that they which go about to condemn, banish, and bring to an end Spiritual Worshippers, do walk contrary to God the Father; for he seeks them, saith the Scriptures, to worship him in Spirit, and Men would loose them; O Men are you stronger than God?

I have found that the Quakers are of Pauls Religion, who testifie that God is a consuming Fire, and that it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God; so we have chosen to suffer (as just Stephen did stoning) prisoning or banishing, ra­ther than to cease worshipping in the Spirit, or speaking of his Name, who requires Truth in the Inner Parts, and is to be wor­shipped every where in Truth and in Spirit: and if God says every where, and Men say not in this place, nor in this, for if you meet here, we will have you to prison, and banish you; judge you Christians, Whether it be better that we obey God or Man? Many instances do the Scriptures give you of this Truth, which you ought to seek into; and who are noble among you will do so. Remember Moses, he feared not the Wrath of a King; remem­ber Daniel, and the three Children; and many more might be instanced both of holy Men & Women, who followed the Lord fully to the Obedience of his Commands, disobeying any that commanded contrary, whatever they suffered for it; and upon this account the holy Martyrs suffered formerly, and now much in these latter dayes, even some to Hanging, cruel Whippings and Imprisonments, and spoiling of Goods and Estates, and upon no other Account, nor for no other Cause, but because in our obeying God we have disobeyed man.

But it may be you will say, that The Scripture sayes that Re­bellion is sin, and Disobedience is sin, and requires us to be subject un­to Kings, and Rulers, and Parents, and Masters, &c.

And to this I answer; We are so to all those, not for fear but [Page 4]for Conscience sake, and in all things are subject to the Higher Power, which I hope none of you will deny to be Christ, for he is the Power of God; and in Him did the Apostle Paul com­mand Wives, Children, Servants and Subjects to obey in the Lord, for whose sake all these were also to be denyed and forsa­ken, if the Lord called to it; as Moses, & Daniel & Paul could obey those very Kings and Rulers in some things, which in other things pertaining to God and their Conscience, they could not, and though it were Rebellion and Gain-saying for the People to resist Moses and Aaron, that wished they had been all Pro­phets; yet it was not Rebellion nor Evil, that Christ and his Apostles did resist the High Priests and Rulers of Israel; when they commanded them to speak no more in his Name, then they waxed more bold, knowing it was better to please God than Man, so they suffered imprisoning, whipping, stocking and sto­ning, chusing rather to please God than Man.

But it may be you'l say, I wrong you to compare you to the persecuting Rulers of Jerusalem: and you would have me and others to believe that you are like David and Solomon, Moses and Aaron; but I'le tell you, why we cannot so believe, be­cause we believe the Scriptures, and all that Christ saith; and he saith, we shall know the tree by its fruit, and that rave­nous Wolves would creep in in sheeps cloathing, and devour the flock.

Now we find that the Priests and Fathers of the Church of England are so unlike Moses and Aaron (that wished that all the Lord's People were Prophets) if they hear of any that witness the New Covenant in the heart (that the Scriptures speak of) and the pouring forth of the Spirit on Sons and Daughters, that they prophesie; these they account Hereticks, and instead of casting them out in the Spirit of Christ (as Paul did, who said indeed, that the evil doers should be given up to the Devil, for the saving of the Souls in the Day of the Lord) they give us up (before they have proved us either in error or evil doing to the civil Magistrates to persecute and cast in prison for not confor­ming to we know not what; so would make simple people be­lieve, that they give us up to the Devil when they give us up to you; by this means our Goods and Estates have been wasted [Page 5]and we imprisoned (yea some for their whole life time) which Proceedings be so unlike those good Shepherds which Christ told us of, that would lay down their lives for their Sheep, that I and many do believe in our Consciences, such are more like to be the Wolves and Hirelings which Christ spoke of, which would run away when the Devourers came, for they were gone and their Religion for many years, that if we would, we knew not where to find them: And there are many thousands in these Na­tions, that may not be come with the Quakers, to give their backs to the Smiters, and their cheeks to the pulling off of their hair, which are of this mind concerning your Priests: And for your Magistrates, I and my Friends have not found that you are such as put the Wicked far from you, and will not let a Lyar dwell in your house, or that you are a Terrour to Evil-Doers, and a praise to them that do Well, nor that you releive the Op­pressed, nor set the Prisoners at Liberty, or defend the Inno­cent, nor suppress the Proud, as those good Rulers did; for Drunkards, Swearers, Proud and Wanton persons are at liber­ty, and those who have departed from Iniquity (and fears to sin against God) are haled to Prison by those that work wickedness, yea some of those that have sate to do Justice, have smore, pinch­ched, tore off the hair of such as have been brought before them, though they have had nothing against them, but for worshipping God in Spirit; and these are some of the reasons that we can­not believe, that these are good Trees that bring forth such bad Fruit, or that they rule in or for God, that is the preserver of man, that instead of preserving us (as good David did, who of­fered his life that the Plague might cease from his People) you have cast many hundreds of us into prison together, in the heat of Summer, which might bring sickness and death, to the de­stroying of us; and as if this were not enough, are hastening to transport us into unknown places of the Earth: Is this like Christ, or those that ruse in him, who gave his Life for his Ene­mies: but we that fear the Lord, have prayed that some of you might come to the Wisdom of Gamaliel, and cease from your cruelty, lest you be found fighters against God; for what is of God shall stand; and know, That by true Judgement and Mercy, the Throne of the King shall be established. And of how little ac­count [Page 6]soever you the Magistrates of England make of us, God hath regard to all that fear him, and he did and will plead with those, that throw his Law behind their backs; and though we have and may still feel hard sufferings for breaking Mans Laws, do you think to escape for breaking God's Laws? and he hath not left you without the knowledge, that you should do to eve­ry one, as you would be done by; now have you, or are you about to do so by us, that have cast us in prison, & are preparing for our banishment, before you have sent any of the Fathers of the Church to convince us of our error, or give us sound rea­son that you are in the Truth, yet go about (because we will not conform to worship we know not what) to separate Husbands from Wives, and Wives from Husbands, Children from Pa­rents, and Parents from Children, and all from the Land of our Nativity, from our Estates and livelihoods, who though accoun­ted as a poor People, have all our time we have been a People born paat of your burdens and charges, and yet you not charged by us, nor have you found any thing against us, but in this mat­ter of our God, that we keep our Conscience undefiled, know­ing the Scriptures of Truth, That in the pure Conscience is held the Mystery of Faith; and if we have the Faith, we shall have the victory over wickedness, for against that we war; for by this the Saints did overcome; and though you banish us, we shall conquer (the Devil I mean) for we have the Faith; but if you think we have not, deal so righteously with us, as to send your Teachers to us into our meetings, to convince us by the Scriptures, and plain Demonstrations of the Spirit, as Paul did, who said, He was manifest to that of God in every man: Consci­ence; and in so doing we might be conformed to you: And if you should say to us, we may go to the several places & hear them there; we answer, those that Christ sent and called to convert men, and turn them from the evil of their wayes, sought them out and went to them: but if we should go to them, as some have, and ask them any Question, or object against any thing they say, would they answer us, and satisfie us? or would they not rather turn us out and imprison us, as they have done by some of us.

So Friends consider these things, whether you have done to [Page 7]us as you would be done by. What if the Quakers had power to compel to their Religion? but they are so low, the Mighty of the Earth never fear their rising. But what if the Papists or Turks had power, would you be thus used by them? or would you yield to them, without any other arguments, than Blows, Prisons and Banishment? Well Friends, if ever you should be tryed as God is trying us by you, you will have need of our strength; which yet you resist, though it yet hath not done stri­ving with some of you; and this upholds us, that we cannot fear what Man can do unto us; for the Lord is with us, and the Ark of his Strength, and a hiding place is prepared for us, and he will arise to plead the Cause of the Innocent. Some among you God hath and will visit with Mercy, and they will fear to go on in the execution of your unrighteous Decrees, lest they be found fighters against God: and you that have been and are working so wisely as you think for the safety of the Nation, by suppres­sing the Innocent, and forcing to conformity, what if I say un­to you, remember what the Prophet said, If God speak war, who can speak peace? therefore that which concerns your peace, do not still reject; for he had the tongue of the Learned, that said, there was but one thing needful, and this indeed pre­serveth Men and Nations; and if this were taught and sought amongst you, wickedness would not so abound as it doth: but God hath shewed thee, O Man, what thou shouldst do, to shew Mercy and walk humbly; for if you do go on to deal thus with an Innocent People (that never wronged any of you, nor have been hurtful unto the Nation in any thing) God will arise to plead our Cause, and in that day the Merciful shall find Mercy, but the proud and such as forget God, must be turned into Hell. O be wise ye Rulers of the Earth, and discern the Signs of his Coming whose reward is with him; doth not your Nation abound with wickedness? remember Sodom when Lot was gone forth of it; remember Jerusalem, when they had crucified the Just; O how fearful and suddain was their destruction! So will it be upon all that forget God.