And thi • doth • y Soul believe, and it is eſtabliſhed in my heart for eve • , th • t all your Weapons of Cruelty, your grievous and unjuſt •• ws which ye have made with the Conſent of your Lords Spiritual, to waſte and deſtroy Families, and baniſh the inno •••• t People of the Lord called Quakers, ſhall all work together in the end for their good, and drive them, even the Chil •••• and P • ople whom he hath bleſſed, ſo much nea ••• unto himſelf; and the more they are oppreſſed ſo much the greater will be the Cry of the Oppreſſed againſt you: and it will be with the oppreſſed Seed of God as with Iſrael in the • and of Egyp • , the more they were Oppreſſed the more they Multiplied▪ and all the wiſdom of this World, and the perſecuting Po ••• s of Hell and Death ſhall never hinder it, nor ſtop the Work which God is working, nor quench the Light and Spark which • uſt become a ſtrong Nation, the Holy One of Iſrael hath ſpok • n it.

Neverthel • ſs, ye are doing your endeavour, and taking wiſe Counſel and Advice, as Pharaoh did with the Magicians of Egyp • , how • o • oot out the Name of Iſrael from under Heaven, and to that • nd y • have eſtabliſhed your cruel Commandments, and ſ •• l • d your Decrees of Oppreſſion againſt them, and all this will but op • n the ears of the Lord to hear them, and cauſe hi • • o ſt •• t • h out his Arm to ſave them in your deſtruction; for th • Lord heareth the cry of the Afflicted, the Lord lo • ſ •• h • h • • onds of the Priſoners, and ill will it be with you, wh •• th • Souls of the wounded cry out. This mad • J ••••• i • h cry unto the Lord, Chap. 17. Let them be confounded tha • p •• ſ • cute 〈◊〉 , but let not me be confounded; let them be diſ •• id, b •• l •• not me be diſmaid; bring upon them the day of evil, and deſ • roy the • with double deſtruction: I ſay, theſe things will cry for Veng • anc • from the God of Heaven, as in the dayes of old, when Chriſt came near unto Jeruſalem, the conſide • ation of theſe things cauſed him to weep over it, ſaying, O J • r • ſ • l •• , J • ruſalem, thou that killeſt the Prophets, and ſtoneſt th •• th •• are ſent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thee▪ This is thy ſtate, and this is thy condition O London, with thy Magiſtrates and Rulers, how often hath the Lord wa • ned you, and ye would not be warned to leave off Perſecuting for matters of Conſcience in the Worſhip and Servic • of God in the dayes of your former Rulers, which were many; how often were they warned by the Servants of the Living God concerning this thing?

And now, in this your Day, you have been often warned, both you and your King, to let Conſcience go free; and you have made Promiſes, and the words of your King have been, we ſhould never ſuffer for Conſcience ſake ſo long as we lived peaceably. And again, you are warned at this time, both you and your King, that you leave off Perſecution, and let the Spirit of the Lord teach the Children of the Lord how to Worſhip him; for it is written in the Scriptures, that the Spirit teacheth them how to Pray and Worſhip as they ought, and as many as are the Sons of God are led by the Spirit of God; therefore do not think or believe that ſuch can be limited to any dead Form of Prayer or Worſhip ſet up by the Precepts and Commandments of men; therefore be warned of theſe things, and if you are not, it will be your utter ruine; and it is not for evil-doing, nor rebellion againſt the Lord, nor the good Laws of your King, that we are killed thus all the day long, and counted by you as Sheep for the ſlaughter, but becauſe we keep our Conſciences clear, in being obedient to his Living Word and Spirit, which purifies our hearts, that we are ſo uſed by you, and becauſe we that know the Lord are reſolved, though he ſuffer you to kill us, we will not fall down to your dead Image (nay, it is not ſo much as a true Image of a true Worſhip) nor Worſhip in any other way but the ſame which he himſelf ſhall teach us, for he is a Spirit, and in Spirit will be Worſhipped; and all they that Worſhip him after the Precepts and Commands of men, Worſhip they know not what.

Now all this Cruelty and Perſecution is done and ſuffered to be done, that that ſaying might be true, ſpoken by the Spirit in Generations paſt, They hated me without a cauſe; and he which is born of the Fleſh perſecutes him that is born of the Spirit; for the enmity of the Serpents Seed is againſt the Seed of the f •• e Woman, becauſe it is begotten and born of God which cannot ſin, in bowing to that which is begotten and brought forth by the wicked one; for there is a Seed begotten, and a Birth brought forth by the undefiled God in England, that ſerveth the Lord in bearing Witneſs, as it did in all Ages and Generations, againſt the Seed of Evil-doers. And in the Perſecutor is this Seed a prick: Saul, Saul, why perſecuteſt thou me? it is hard for thee to kick againſt the pricks. This is that Seed of the Kingdom which Chriſt told the perſecuting Jews, Luk. 17.21. was within them: And this is that which Paul told the Gentiles of, Rom. I. that which may be known of God is manifeſted within them. This is a Talent given to the evil and ſlothful ſervant, and a Prize in the hand of a fool, he wanting an heart to improve it to the praiſe of the Giver. This is the day of ſmall things, and the weakneſs of God, it being compared unto a Leaven hidden, and a grain of Muſtard-ſeed not grown. This is ſmall in its beginnings yet choſen of God, elect and precious: A precious Stone and ſure Foundation to all that have tryed, believed and proved it, he is precious, and the head of the corner; but to the wiſdom of man, and wiſe-builders, ſuch as build up Zion with blood, and Jeruſalem with iniquity, is he a ſtumbling ſtone, and rock of offence at this day: and had not the Lord God of Sabbaths left this Seed in fallen man, even we had all been as Sodom and Gomorrah, whom the Lord overthrew, and repented not. This is the Candle of the Lord, which all ye Perſecutors put under a buſhel; and that Light, by which Job that righteous Magiſtrate walked through all darkneſs, which all ye oppreſſors of the poor in ſpirit lie in: This is that which did convince the perſecuting Jews in themſelves that Chriſt was a good man, and Pilate alſo, ſo that he, notwithſtanding all the cry of the multitude, Crucifie, crucifie him, could find nothing worthy of death in him. And this was it which almoſt perſwaded King Agrippa to be a Chriſtian. And this is it which all Perſecutors and Compellers about Religion, grieve, and do violence to in themſelves firſt.

The light of the body is the eye, God ſaid. I will guide my People by mine eye. This all blind guides put out in themſelves. It is the god of this world in you Spiritual-men (falſly ſo called) with the ſeeming honour and glory thereof, which blindeth you, and ſhutteth your ears, leſt you ſhould hear what this good Spirit of God ſaith; as it is written by the Prophet, If thou canſt reade thy ſtate, do. Who is ſo blinde as he that is perfect? and deaf as the Lord's Meſſenger that I ſend? ſeeing many things, but thou obſerveſt not. Hear, ye deaf, and look, you blind, that you may ſee the Lord is w ••• pleaſed. For his Righteouſneſs ſake he will magnifie the Law, and make it honourable: but this is a people robbed and ſpoyled; they are all of them ſnared i • holes, and they are hid in priſon houſes: they are for a prey, and none delivereth; for a ſpoil, and none ſaith, Reſtore. Who among you will give ear to this? who will hearken and hear for the time to come? Thou that art compelling to worſhip in the Form thou ſetteſt up with carnal Laws, thou wouldſt blind all them whoſe eyes the Lord God hath opened in this day of his Power, in which he hath cauſed his day to ſpring from on high, which will cover thy day, and ſtain thy glory, whoſe fading crown is mortal, and doth not endure throughout all generations, but it is upon the head of the fat valleys, where run the pleaſant ſtreams, and where the ſprings of waters are, ye Perſecutors drink not of. The Lord hath cauſed his Day to ſpring, and he hath enlightned the Earth; from his holy Habitation everlaſting Glory is revealed, which will ſtain the glory of the World. England ſhal be as a Garden whom the Lord watereth with the dew of the everlaſting Hills; as a Vineyard with pleaſant Plants, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified: He is pouring his Waters out of his Buckets, and his Seed ſhall be in many Nations: His King ſhall be higher than Agag, and his Kingdom ſhall be exalted. The Lord hath ſpoken in his Holineſs, he will not lie unto David and his Seed for evermore. He will rejoyce over Paleſtina; over Ethiopia, Egypt, and Edom will he rejoyce. He will reveal his Glory, which ſhall cover the Earth as a morning without Clouds; and as the Sun at noon-day, ſo will he ſhine out of Zion: many ſhall be gathered into his Reſt, and he will beautifie the place of his Holineſs. And this is a Charge to all you Magiſtrares: in the Name of the Lord of Hoſt take heed what you do againſt Iſrael, they are a People whom he hath bleſſed, and whom he will honour with a Crown that is immortal, and with the right-hand of his Power will he ſav • them throughout Generations; and he will break their Enemies, and they ſhall never proſper, but ſhall be confounded for ever that oweth ill will to Jeruſalem. The daughter of Zion hath laughed you to ſcorn; the daughter of Jeruſalem ſhall rejoyce in her God for ever • nd ever; who hath f • rmed Jacob, he will preſer •• and ſave the diſtreſſed of Iſrael. The Lord liveth, and bleſſed be our Rock, and magnified for ever be the God of our Salvation, who hides us in the hollow of his hand, and in whoſe Name and Might we who know the Lord, are confident that he will never leave us nor forſake us utterly, nor give us as a prey into the hands of the wicked; and though he ſuffer you to plow long furrows upon our backs, as it was with the ſame Seed in all Generations; yet cannot we forget the Lord, becauſe we love him who is a preſent help in all times of trouble. We are perſwaded, and that by the Love which he hath ſhed abroad in our hearts, that all your Cruelty whatſoever, your ſpoyling of Goods, and Baniſhments, and whatſoever more he who limits all ſhall ſuffer you to do, ſhall never be able to ſeparate us from the Love of God, who hath united our ſouls in a perpetual Covenant, which can not be broken unto himſelf.

The Lord our God whom we ſerve, will break all unrighteous Laws, and the Yoke of Oppreſſion, as in the day of Middian, ſo will he riſe up for our help; and Wo be unto them which ſtand in his way when he riſeth: he will roar out of Sion, even as the Seas; for the indignation of the Lord is upon all Nations, and his Fury upon all their Armies: He will utterly deſtroy them, and deliver them to the ſlaughter; for it is the day of the Lord's Vengeance, and the Year of Recompences for the Controverfie of Sion, which hath long ſate ſolitary in a Wilderneſs; which hath been black as the tents of Ked •• , becauſe of the clouds of the night; the rain and ſtorms of the Winter have all paſſed over her, the Se • s and the waves thereof have covered her, and the reeds have been about her head: ſhe hath mourned ſore in the night becauſe of the oppreſſion, becauſe of the rage of the Dragon hath ſhe been hid in the wilderneſs, and ſitten deſolate in a Deſart, as they that are dead of old; covered hath ſhe been with the robe of unrighteouſneſs, and rapt up as in a mantle of violence: great hath been her wrong, and grievous the violence done unto my fleſh, do the Inhabitants of Sion ſay; and great will be the deliverance, and the glory that is to 〈◊〉 upon thy head for evermore. Ariſe and ſhine forth, for 〈◊〉 • ight is come, the Glory of thy God is riſen upon thee, which ſhall dazle the eyes of all that hate thee, and perſecute thee without a cauſe: the Lord will cover thee in the hollow of his hand, and make thee a ſharp threſhing inſtrument, wherewith he will threſh the Mountains, and beat the Hills to pieces. With thee will he plant Nations, and pluck up Nations: With thee will he ſtrike the Horſe and his Rider: With thee will he break the Chariot and his Driver; With thee will he break the Scepter, and fling the Crown to the ground.

He hath made thee as a poliſhed Shaft in his Quiver, wherewith he will ſtrike through the reins of his Enem • es: With thee will he bind the Dragon, and caſt the Beaſt and the falſe Prophets, which deceive the Nations, into the Lake of Fire: For the Wrath of the Lord is come, and the time of the Dead that they ſhould be judged, and thou ſhouldſt give reward unto thy Servants the Prophets, and to the Saints and them that fear thy Name ſmall and great, and ſhouldeſt deſtroy them which deſtroy the Earth: and though the Woman with the Man-child have been in the Wilderneſs, long hidden in a place prepared them of God; yet is the time come wherein ſhe is come forth again, even out of the Wilderneſs; fair as the Moon, clear as the Sun at noon-day, and terrible as an Army with Banners will ſhe be to her Perſecuters; the everlaſting Goſpel is preached again, the Angel that hath it is come, and he will have the Victory, and break his Enemies as a Potter's veſſel. Now is come Salvation and Strength, and the Kingdom of our God, and the Power of his Chriſt; for the Perſecuter and Accuſer of the Saints muſt be caſt down, and they ſhall overcome him by the Blood of the Lamb, and by the Word of their Teſtimony, which they hold who love not their lives unto the death, ſhall have domininion over the Mighty: But all you Perſecuters, you are they which Chriſt propheſied of ſhould come, Matth. 7. and Mat. 24. You are known by your fruits, to be the corrupt trees of whom men do not gather figs: for we find that ſaying fulfilled even amongſt you Biſhops and Spiritual men, the moſt upright amongſt you is but as a tho •• -hedge, ſcratching and tearing the wool, and devouring 〈◊〉 •• eep of God's Paſture (which are men) with your Spiritual Courts: your Weapons alſo we are ſure are not the ſame Chriſt and the Apoſtles warred withal, when they warred againſt Spiritual wickedneſs in high places; (mark) Spiritual wickedneſs was againſt the true Apoſtles. Paul himſelf was a Biſhop, and Timothy; but we do not reade that ever▪ they had ſuch Councils and Decrees as are now made, to baniſh and deſtroy them that will not conform in matters of Conſcience. Reade Act. 15.6. when the Apoſtles and Elders were come together, to confider and determine concerning them which troubled the Church, (and we know they had the mind of the Lord, I believe you will not deny it) verſ. 28. it is written, It ſeemeth good to the holy Ghoſt, &c. Mark, what they did, ſeemed good to the holy Ghoſt. But in their Decrees we reade not of any baniſhing or impriſoning, or of any ſuch Decrees as are made by you Lords ſpiritual. And when the Apoſtles caſt any out of the Church, we do not reade that they took ſuch a way as you do when you excommunicate, that they muſt neither buy nor ſell: for Paul ſaith, I write unto you, that you ſhould not accompany with Fornicators; yet ſaith he, not altogether with Fornicators of this world, for then muſt you go out of the world. But if any that is called a Brother be a Fornicator, or covetous, or an Idolater, or a Railer, or a Drunkard, with ſuch a one do not eat: For we have nothing to do to judge them that are without, but them that are within, ſaith Paul, 1 Cor. 5.11, 12. but theſe we reade of in the Revelations to be the Dragon's, and Beaſt's and falſe Prophet's weapons, which ſlew the Saints, and killed them that had the Teſtimony of Jeſus, which is the Word of God. And there you may reade all this Compelling is not of God, but the Devil; not of Chriſt, but Antichriſt: neither was it ever found in the true Church, but in the Synagogues of Satan. You may reade your ſelves, your • oot is one with Judas, whoſe Biſhoprick was taken from him, becauſe he perſecuted the poor and need man; and your Weapons are not Spiritual, but ſuch as the High Prieſts were, that came with Judas to apprehend Chriſt; ſo all your Decrees and Laws, whereby ye impriſon, ſpoil, and baniſh ſuch as cannot Conform to your Worſhip, nor deny the Lord who hath taught-them how to Worſhip, is not of God, but of the Devil; ſo ye are they in Sheeps clothing, but inwardly ravened from the Spirit and Power the true Biſhops had, which Chriſt ſaid ſhould come: And John which wrote unto the little Children in his Epiſtles, ſaid, were come already: by which he knew it was the laſt times. And John in the Revelation ſaith, All the World wondered after the Beaſt; (and this was ſixteen hundred years ſince) and ſaid, Who was able to make War with him? and they received his Mark and his Names, which were Names of Blaſphemy, who blaſphemed the Temple of God, and they that dwelt therein; but only they who loved not their lives unto death, whoſe Names were written in the Lamb's Book of Life before the foundation of the World, they followed the Lamb wherever he went.

Now they that are blind in heart, and Hypocrites, may believe you are true Biſhops and Miniſters of Chriſt, and your Church the true Church; the fearful and the unbelieving, who are with you without the Gate of the City of our Solemnity and Place where the Saints worſhip, and ſerve him day and night, they may ſay, Who is able to make War with the Beaſt? Falſe Prophets, they may fall down and bow to any thing; and all they whoſe Names are not written in the Lamb's Book of Life, they may Worſhip the Beaſt; and ſo that Scripture will be fulfilled in England, written in John's Revelations, Chap. 17. where the falſe Church is compa • ed (even Mystery Babylon) to a Woman deck'd with Gold, Pearls, and precious Stones; this Woman was drunk with the blood of the Saints, and yet in her hand was there a golden Cup, ſo fair and beautiful to look upon and behold, that ſhe made all the Kings and Great Men to drink of it, and ſo they became ſubject to her, even her in whom was found the blood of all the Saints and Prophets that were ſlain upon the Earth; verſ. 18. The Woman that thou ſaweſt is that great City, which reigneth over the Kings of the Earth: But I ſay, and it is the Truth of God, There are a few notwithſtanding all this, that are Redeemed out of that Earth, out of which that Beaſt which did carry the Woman, roſe, that have not defiled their Garments with this Woman, nor bowed to this Baal, nor kiſſed him; in whom the Lord hath opened a pure eye, that ſees an end of all things which had a beginning, and are come to the beginning it ſelf, the firſt and the laſt, where there is no darkneſs, nor ſhadow of death, where there is no Oppreſſion nor Cry, but the voice of Rejoycing and Salvation is in the dwelling place of the Righteous, in which Righteouſneſs is the Lord eſtabliſhing many: And though our outward man periſh daily in Priſons and Dungeons, under the hands of unmerciful men, whoſe tender mercies are cruelty, yet we can rejoyce in the Lord, & glory all the day long: Even in this your day, and the power of darkneſs, is the Lord a Light unto us; and when all men, even almoſt all ſay, there is a caſting down; then can our Souls truly ſay, The Lord is the lifter up of our head; and though we die daily, and are as men appointed by you for deſtruction, yet have we a Life hid from you; we have bread to eat and drink ye know not of, and in that do our hearts live that ſeek the Lord and his face continually, which all Perſecuters, and ſuch as do violence unto the blood of any man cannot enter into, but are ſhut out, even without the gate among the Dogs and the unclean, that can never enter in, the portion of whoſe Cup is not like the portion of Jacob, but lamentation, weeping, and wo.

All you Biſhops, which own your ſelves to be Miniſters of Chriſt, it is in my heart for Truth's ſake, which I love before my own life, that Truth and the Miniſters thereof may be made manifeſt, to ask you a few Queſtions:

Firſt, How ſhall one know a true Biſhop and Miniſter of Chriſt from the falſe, but by their fruits, the marks and ſymptoms the chief Biſhop and the true Miniſters ſet them forth by in the Scriptures? 2 Cor. 6.4, &c. where the Apoſtle ſaith, In all theſe things they have proved themſelves to be Miniſters of God, in much Patience, in Afflictions, in Neceſſities, in Diſtreſſes, in Stripes, in Impriſonments, in Tumults, in Labours, in Watchings, in Faſtings, (Mark) verſ. 6. By Pureneſs, by Knowledge, by Long-ſuffering, by Kindneſs, by the Holy Ghoſt, by Love unfeigned, by the Word of Truth, by the Power of God, by the Armour of Righteouſneſs on the Right hand and on the Left, by Honour and Diſhonour, by evil Report and good Report, as Deceivers, and yet true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, yet behold, we live; as chaſtized, and not killed; as ſorrowful, yet alwayes rejoycing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet poſſeſſing all things: (Mark) They were in God, whoſe was the Earth and the fulneſs thereof; they caſt their care upon him, who ſaid, The Labourer is worthy of his meat, and he cared for them. Whether theſe things did not alwayes attend the true Prophets, Chriſt and his true Apoſtles, before mentioned? And whether theſe be not the marks of the Lamb and his true Miniſters? And whether they that are found in the contrary, living in pleaſures, as Lords over Gods Heritage, not ruling in the Spirit and Power of God, but with cruel Laws made by the Powers of the Earth, whether theſe be not falſe Prophets and Miniſters of Antichriſt, let them go under what Name they will? and whether it be the Name of a Miniſter and Biſhop that makes him truly ſo, or the Nature and Power of God which firſt gave them the Names, Yea, or Nay? And whether theſe Marks and Characters are found in your Church and Miniſtry, or whether they be not rather found amongſt the Church and Miniſters of the People called Quakers, which by your conſent and advice are made this day in England to ſuffer ſuch cruel things as they do, and are like to do? Whether the marks of the Beaſt and Characters of the falſe Prophets, and Merchants of Babylon, which traded with the Bodies and Souls of men, be not rather found amongſt you, by whoſe conſent and advice they are cauſed ſo to ſuffer?

Again, Whether Paul were not a faithful and true Biſhop, who ſaid, Though we live in the fleſh, yet do we not war after the fleſh; but the weapons of our Warfare are ſpiritual and not carnal: Moreover he ſaid, We are counted as the off-ſcouring of all things; being defamed, we entreat; neither, ſaith he, do we wreſtle with fleſh and blood, (mark this ye that have put, or at leaſt ſuffered it ſo to be, ſo many thouſands of innocent People in cloſe Priſons, wherein many of them have loſt their lives) but with Principalities and Powers of Darkneſs, and with ſpiritual Wickedneſs in high Places, (mark) Spiritual wickedneſs was againſt Paul, as at this day it is againſt them that follow his ſteps: And whether your Warfare be the ſame Paul's was, and againſt the ſame? if yea, then why do you not uſe the ſame weapons the Apoſtles uſed, namely, found Doctrine? for a Biſhop muſt be blameleſs and faithful, as the Steward of God, holding faſt the faithfull Word, that thereby he may be able with ſound Doctrine (mark) not with Priſons, ſpoyling their Goods, and baniſhing, which deſtroyes the handy-work of God, and ſpills their blood; but with ſound Doctrine he muſt, Paul ſaith, be able both to convince and ſtop the mouths of gain-ſayers. Now if ye be found in the Faith, as they which watch for the Soul ought to be, even in that Faith which is a Myſtery to all that mingle their Sacrifices with Blood, and was once delivered unto the Saints, then Anſwer theſe Queries, and do not cry out, Hereſie, a Blaſphemy, and run to your Car • al Weapons, and Car • al Laws for help, as the perſecuting Jews did againſt Chriſt and the Apoſtles, when they were not able to reſiſt the Spirit and Power by which they ſpake.

Again, If your Church be true, and Miniſtry alſo, then why is it not upheld according to the Truth, as it is in the Scriptures declared to be in Jeſus? then according to Paul's words, 1. Cor. 5.12. What have ye to do to judge them that are without? or to ſue them for Maintenance that are without? are ye not greedy, which would feed upon the Milk of the Flock ye keep not, and eat the Fruit of the Vineyard ye neither dreſs nor plant? them that are without your Church, if it be true, leave them to God's Judgment, as Paul ſaith, What have I to do to judge them that are without? So I ſay, What have you to do with us, who have denied both you and your Church, root and branch, many years ſince? What have ye to do to Excommunicate and caſt them out, that for the Lord's ſake have ſeparated themſelves from both your Church and Miniſtry, becauſe they have no Faith to believe it is the true Church and Lamb's Wife (and, whatſoever is not of Faith, is ſin) but rather that Mystory Babylon, which John (Rev. 17. verſ. the laſt) ſaid, Ruled over the Kings of the Earth, and all Nations have drunk of her Cup, and were become unſtable as Waters, even her Cup in whom was found the blood of the Martyrs of Jeſus; and your Miniſters, the Merchants thereof, which muſt weep and mourn over her, for men will not buy her Merchandize as afore-time; the Merchandize of Gold, and Silver, and precious Stones, and of Pearls, and fine Linen, and Purple, and Silk, and Scarlet, and Cinamon, and Odours, and Oyntments, and Frankinſcence, and Wine, and Oyl, and fine flower of Wheat, and Beaſts, and Sheep, and Horſes, and Slaves, and Souls and Bodies of Men; the Merchants of theſe things, which are made rich by her, ſhall ſtand a far off for fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, ſaying, Alas, al ••• I that great City which was clothed in fine Linen, and Purple, and Scarlet, and deck'd with Gold, and precious Stones, and Pearls; and every Ship-maſter, and Company in Ships, and Saylors, and as many as traded by Sea, ſtood a far off and cryed, when they ſaw the ſmoke of her burning; What City is like unto this great City that reigneth over the Kings of the • arth? For in this day, even in this day that is dawned in England, muſt Babylon be deſtroyed, and all her Merchants mourn, and all their great Riches brought to nought; and ſhe that hath ſate as Queen upon many Waters, and hath been called the Lady of Kingdoms, ſhall know Widowhood, and loſs of Children: Therefore rejoyce over her thou Heavens, and holy Apoſtles, and Prophets, for God hath avenged you of her. And a mighty Angel took up a Stone, like a great Mill- • one, and caſt it into the Sea, ſaying, Thus with violence ſhall that great City Babylon be thrown down and be found no more at all.

Again, I do not read in the Scriptures among any of the Acts of Chriſt's Apoſtles, and Churches by them gathered, who had all Power in Heaven and Earth committed to them, that after. Excommunication, or caſting them out of the Church, they did ever ſpoil the Goods or Impriſon any ſuch, and that they ſhould not be ſuffered to buy or ſell, but be baniſhed, as is done in England, by the conſent and advice of you that ſeem to be Pillars of the Church. Theſe things hath my Soul weighed, and upon Conſideration of good advice, and in the counſel of the holy & pure God, I am bold to Conclude that theſe Marks and Characters are not of the Lamb or his Miniſters, but of the Beaſt, and falſe Prophets, and Apoſtles transformed, being found amongſt you.

I charge you in the Name of the Lord, not to be true Biſhops and Miniſters of Chriſt, neither were ye ever made ſo by the Holy Ghoſt and the Power of God, as they were we reade of in the Scriptures; nor your Church true but falſe, and a Neſt of unclean Birds, and Synagogue of Satan, and place where his ſeat is ſet; witneſs all the Priſons of England, and the ſpoiling of their Goods, who for Conſcience ſake are impriſoned; witneſs alſo Newgate in London, how many of the Lord's People have been kept there until death; a ſufficient witneſs is the whole Nation, of them that fear the Lord, in whoſe heart is his Law, againſt both you and your Church.

Again, Whether Chriſt be not come, the unchangeable High Prieſt, he which puts an end to all Shadows, changeable Prieſts and Worſhip? whether he be not given for a Covenant of Light? and whether all the Nations of them that are ſaved muſt not walk in it, the ſame that Moſes by the Spirit, the man of God, ſpoke of, ſaying, A Prophet like unto me ſhall the Lord your God raiſe up, him ſhall you hear in all things? and whether that Soul muſt not be cut off out of the Land of the Lord which hearkens not unto him only, even him who ſaith, Learn of me, and ye ſhall find reſt to your Souls; and that when I go away, I will ſend you the Spirit of Truth, the Comforter, which ſhall lead you into all Truth? And what do you think of them which have heard and learned of the Father, and are come to the knowledge of him, which to know is Life and Peace eternal, as he is obeyed, and his voice followed, who ſaith, My Sheep hear my voice, and a ſtranger they will not follow? What will become of them, I ſay, that have eaten of the true Bread, and drunk of the living Fountain, which, as a Well of living Water, ſpringeth up in them, even them that believe in the Name of Jeſus? if theſe ſhall fall away, and in their hearts turn back into Egypt to you again, and feed upon the Husks which ſatisfie not, and drink Water out of your broken Ciſterns, even the puddle waters of Babylon, from which all that fear the Lord, let them be ſeparated as we are whom ye perſecute, leſt they partake with you of the Woes and Plagues he is bringing upon you, becauſe of the blood of the Innocent, and the oppreſſion of the Poor. I ſpeak, that I may be refreſhed, let come on me what will, good is the Lord, and his mercy endures for ever, the Lord is gracious and full of compaſſion, but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruelty; the Lord will moſt certainly do by you as you have done by us, and ſuch a day is the Lord bringing upon all Perſecuters, the like was never ſeen in England; the mean while in patience we poſſeſs our Souls, and commit the keeping both of them and our Bodies, whom ye ſhut up for his Names ſake, whoſe witneſſes we are in cruel Priſons, as into the hands of a faithful Creator.

Thus ſaith the Lord, Hear me O my People, hearken unto me O my Nation, for a Law ſhall proceed from me, and all my Children ſhall be taught of me: What may you judge of your ſelves then, that ſay, Hearken unto us, Pray, Sing, and Worſhip God as we teach you, for a Law is proceeded from us, and all that will not Conform thereunto, all that will not Pray and Worſhip God according to the Precepts and Commandments we have preſcribed, they ſhall be eſteemed Rebels to the King, and all their Goods taken away, and at laſt, after long impriſonment, they ſhall be baniſhed out of the Nation; and all this is done, and intended to be done by the conſent and advice of you Lords Spiritual; Whether Chiiſt, who is the chief Biſhop of the Soul, and Shepherd of the Sheep, ever gave you, or any, which were true Miniſters and Biſhops, ſuch authority? Or, whether all this be not from Antichriſt's Power, and the Dragon's, that ſlew the Saints which had the Teſtimony of Jeſus and Word of God.

There are ſeveral Scriptures which ſpeak of forcing and compelling, which the Perſecutors make themſelves a Covering of: but this was in the time of the Law, when their Worſhi • was outward, • nd they were compelled to it by an outward Law: all which Chriſt put an end to, and ſaid, God is a Spirit; •• d they that worſhip him acceptably, muſt worſhip him in Spirit and in Truth.

But this I ſay unto all you, high and low, great and ſmall, that perſecute and impriſon about Religion; You have impriſoned and done violence to the Juſt and Holy One in your own hearts, the good Spirit which God who is a Spirit hath given to inſtruct you, that you have grieved and rebelled againſt; and • herefore all that will not do the like, muſt be impriſoned, their Goods ſpoiled, and their Perſons baniſhed: All that will not kill the Witneſs in themſelves, muſt by you be killed for its ſake all the day long; All they that will not make ſhipwrack of Faith and a good Conſcience, and lay the Heritage of God waſte, and tread the holy City under their feet, and blaſpheme the Temple of God and them that dwell therein, their Families muſt be laid waſte by your conſent; and they themſelves who fear before the Lord, and at the remembrance of his Holineſs, they muſt be counted Hereticks and Blaſphemers by this Generation: You have rejected the Word of the Lord, and will have none of Wiſdoms Counſel, and therefore muſt they, which walk in the Light of the Word, who are Wiſdoms Children, and juſtified by Chriſt who is God's Wiſdom and Righteouſneſs, be condemned by you, who are only wiſe to do evil.

The god of this world he it is that blindeth thee with the ſeeming glory and honour, ſo that thou canſt not ſee nor diſcern the things that be of the Spirit of God; and now thou being blinded thy ſelf (thou Perſecuter about Religion, whoever thou art) thou wouldſt with cruel tortures make all to ſee with thy vailed eye, thy own houſe being left deſolate, and overthrown by ſtrangers; deſolate, I ſay, of the Spirit (any otherwayes than to reprove and convince thee) and the true knowledge of God; thou wouldſt lay waſte the Temple of God without thee, and the Houſe which is a Houſe of Prayer indeed wouldſt thou have to become an habitation of Devils, and De • of Thieves, like thine own: thou haſt baniſhed the go • t • e reproof • of the good Spirit of God, and the Word which is nigh thee, out of thine own heart, and haſt ſet up another thing beſides the Fear of the Lord, which is to depart from evil; and now thou being baniſhed, like Cain, for thy rebellion, from the preſence of the Lord, art wrath; and thou wilt ſpoil all their Houſes and Goods, and lay their Dwellings deſolate; and though thou cannot baniſh them from the preſence of the Lord, as thou art thy ſelf, thou wilt do thy endeavour to make them miſerable upon the Earth; if thou canſt not kill them, thou wilt baniſh them under the name of Traitors, and they ſhall be whipt and impriſoned under the names of Vagabonds: thus thou art building thy City with blood; but ſtill thou art in a Land of fear, and but a Vagabond thy ſelf in the Earth, whilſt we poor deſpiſed People, called Quakers, who are free born of the Seed that is immortal, by this Generation have not ſo much as a place whereon to lay out heads, but in Priſons and nolſom Dungeons: and all this is, becauſe we cannot bow to the falſe Worſhips, the falſe Prophets, the Beaſt and Dragon is ſetting up, and eſtabliſhing with carnal Laws and weapons of Cruelty, which God will break: therefore are the Wicked angry, and rage like the ſwelling of the Seas, and ſend out their own ſhame, and execute their cruelty on the People whom the Lord hath bleſſed, and united to himſelf in a perpetual Covenant and firm Decree, that can never be broken. All this is done that Wrath may come upon you to the uttermoſt. Yet the Lord hath ſaid, Though all the Powers of Hell do riſe as Mountains of darkneſs, and Gog and Magog gather all their hoſt together, whoſe number is numberleſs, and their weapons the ſame the Dragon, Beaſt and falſe Prophets uſed in all Ages. All this is nothing with the Lord, in whom we have believed, he will go through them as an Arrow ſhot through the Air; he will ſave his Children, and not one of them ſhall be deſolate that truſt in him; though they walk in the midſt of the ſtones of fire, and through the deeps of the Seas, he will ſave them and be with them there; he will be ever mindful of his Covenant, and of his Oath, to a thouſand Generations: he will come unto them, and will not leave them comfortleſs there.