THE CRY Of OPPRESSION: Occasioned by the Priests of Eng­lands Pulpit-guard, which is a Popish Law that was made by Queen MARY, to guard her Friars and Jesuits. With a true discovery of the unjust proceedings of those called Magistrates of Bathe; Where­in is a Lamentation over them, and a Warning unto them to Repent, lest they perish for ever.

VPon the 27 day of the Third Month (called MAY) in the Year (according to the Worlds Account) 1655. I was moved of the living God to go into the Idol-Temple in the City of Bathe, and there was one Priest Sanger (Priest of Martins Parish, near the place called Charing Cross in London,) standing up praying in the high place, and as I stood by a chief seat, in that Tem­ple (or Synagogue) in which were two or three Priests, there came unto me he whom they call their Sexton, and said, it was Prayer-time, and would have had me take off my hat, but I spake not a word unto him, yet heard I a voice saying unto me, The prayers of the wicked are abomination to the Lord. And the witness of God arose up in me very swift [Page 4]against the false Prophet, (and against all the rest of the false Prophets and Sorcerers that were there at that time from ma­ny places of the Land) that was speaking lies in the Name of the Lord, saying, Hearken unto the W [...]rd of the Lord, albeit the Lord spake not unto him, neither did the Lord send him: therefore did he not profit the people; and so dreadful and terrible was the power of the Living God on me, and in me, that I did exceedingly quake and tremble; his Word was in my bosome as a fire, I was weary with forbearing, I reeled like a drunken man, and was ready to sink down to the ground, so heavy was the burthen and indignation of the Lord in me against the Sorcerers and false Prophets. But af­ter a little while the Lord by his secret power did stop the mouth of the false Prophet, which was speaking lies in his Name, &c. before I had spoken the Word of the Lord: but then immediatly was I forced to roar out the burthen, judge­ments, and indignation of the Lord against the Sorcerers and false Prophets, and the terrible day of the Lord, a day of bowling, howling that was (and is) coming upon them; then presently they were in an uproar, and he (called their Sexton) with others fell upon me, haling and beating of me, that Christs words might be fulfilled, which said, They shall beat you in their Synagogues, and hale you out of them, and hale you before Magistrates, and cast you into prison, &c. And another (as it was said) cried out Stab him, hear the fruits of your Ministry.

Then came the Constables (that then were) of the Town, Robert Chapman, and Walter Gibbs, and haled me away pre­sently to prison: and as I was haling thither, the bruits that held me by my arms did strive to break or wrest them, but I was preserved by the strength and power of my God, out of their rage and madness; Praises to the Lord for ever.

On the next day I was brought before Iohn Biggs Mayor, that then was, and Matthew Cliff that then was called a Ju­stice; they asked me, wherefore I came to disturb their Mi­nister? I answered, the Lord sent me (and truly so he did) to bear witness against him, for he was a deceiver, and a false Prophet, and hath deceived you; but they were not wil­ling [Page 5]to dispute the cause with me, but sa [...]d, except you give security to be of good behaviour, you must go to prison a­gain; I demanded by what Law they judged me? they an­swered, they had a Law: so I required to hear it, then they commanded their Clerk to read their Law to me, which was done; and that Law they read to me, and judged me by was a Law made by Queen Mary (which killed and Martyr­ed the servants of God called Protestants in her daies) to guard her Friars and Jesuits.

But had not those that sate as my Judges been wilfully blind and ignorant as well as malitious, but had had the least measure of the wisdom and spirit of God (which ought to be the only Guide and Counsellor of all faithful and just Judges, and Magistrates, which judge for the Lord in Righte­ousness, and not for gifts and rewards,) truly they would have found a clause in that Law, whereby they might justly and truly have judged me guiltless of transgressing of that Popish Law it self, for in that Law are these words, (that is to say) If any one shall wilfully, malitiously, and contemptuously &c. let or disturb any Preacher or Preachers, in his or their Sermon, &c. that then they should suffer according to that Law.

But the Lord that searcheth all hearts, and knows the se­crets and intents of all hearts, is my witness that I went not into that Temple or Synagogue at that time, by the wilful, malitious, contemptible will of man, but only in obedience to the movings and Spirit of the living God, which movings are contrary to the will of man (he that hath an an ear to hear, can hear and understand) yet so contrary to the true sense of the Law, I was had to prison again.

Now let the light of Christ in all judge what ground the Priests stand upon, and have for their Ministry, that are not able to stand or defend themselves without a Popish Law to guard them; neither they nor any else can deny it, for it was read to me, and by it have I been wrongfully kept in prison, and by those that were the Ministers of it, above nineteen months; but I denied to be judged by that Law, for I told them it was a Popish law, made by that wicked Queen Mary, which killed the servants of the Lord; but they answered, [Page 6]they could not help it, for it was not repealed.

Now if it be not repealed, let all the wise in God judge by what followeth, by a Law of Queen Elizabeth (touching Common-prayer, &c.) Act 10. Chap. 2. last Clause, its said, That all Laws, Statutes, Ordinances, &c. wherein or whereby any other services, Administrations, Sacraments, or Common-Prayers are licensed, or set forth to be used, shall be from hence­forth utterly void, and of none effect.

But if you say it is not repealed by the Statute aforesaid, yet prove I it void, from that first Principle of the Laws of Eng­land, in the Book (Doct. & Student.) Chap. 2. to this effect: That the Law of God is the only true ground of all Laws; and that all Laws, Statutes, Ordinances, Customs, or Prescripti­ons whatsoever, that are contrary to the righteous Law of God, are all null, void, and of none effect, &c.

And also in OLIVER the Protectors Articles of Govern­ment, Article 35. are these words, viz. That the Christian Religion contained in the Scripture be held forth, and recom­mended a [...] the publick profession of the Nation, &c.

Article 37. That such as profess Faith in God, by Jesus Christ, though differing in judgement from the Doctrine, Wor­ship, and Discipline publickly held forth, shall not be restrained from, but shall be protected in the profession of the Faith, and exercise of their Religion: so that they abuse not this Liberty to the civil injury of others, and to the actual disturbance of the publick peace on their part, &c.

Article 38. That all Laws, Statutes, Ordinances, and Clauses in any Law, Statute, or Ordinance to the contrary of the aforesaid Liberty, shall be esteemed as null and void.

Now this is according to the Law of God, and to the Chri­stian Religion, and is contained in the holy Scriptures of truth, to go into a Synagogue, or Steeple-house, and there to ask a question, or to dispute, or to bear witness against the false worships; it being the manner of Christ, and his holy Prophets and Apostles so to do, 1 Kings 1.2. Luke 2.46. And it was and is the order in the holy Church of Christ, as the Scriptures testifie, to wit, That if any thing be revealed to him that stands by, let the first hold his peace, for ye may all [Page 7]prophesie one by one, 1 Cor: 14.29, 30. and therefore it being according to the Law of God, and to Christian Religion, and the Faith in Christ Jesus, professed and exercised by the Lord Jesus, and his Ministers, and being no civil injury to any, nor disturbance to the publick peace on my part, to go and bear witness against a false worship, and hireling Priest, I ought to be protected therein, as in the exercise of the true Christian Religion.

And therefore (undoubtedly) your said Popish Law is repealed, void, and of none effect, as I have proved be­fore.

And therefore ye Rulers of Bathe have unjustly (like un­reasonable men) kept me a prisoner above these nineteen months, and have not convicted me of the transgression of the righteous Law of God, (which ought to be your Rule, Deut. 14.17, 18, 19) or any Law of the Nation.

As I was informed, some of you (called Magistrates) said, if ye should let me go without giving you Bonds of Security for good behaviour, (as ye call it) that I would sue you at your Law for wrong imprisonment; Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord, who is come and coming to give to you, ac­cording as your Works shall be; and to him do I commit my cause, who will in his righteous judgements ease him of his adversaries, and avenge him of his enemies. The light of Christ in your consciences will be your Judge and condem­nation, which condemnation will be forer torment unto you than the loss of all your outward riches, or glory, or any o­ther judgement that man can inflict upon your carnal bodies; so your fear and jealousie I do deny; and your evill I do not resist, but in patience do suffer your wrong, till he for whose testimony I suffer, work away for my deliverance, out of the hands of unreasonable men. And in a few dayes after my first committing to prison, John Biggs that then was (called) Mayor, sent William Baker his Serjeant, with this Message (as he said) if I would say I was sorry, and to that effect, for what I had done, he would set me at liberty; to which I an­swered, that I was so far from being sorry for the testimony that I had borne against the Priests, that I would seal it with my blood, if it were required; and to this my answer, the [Page 8]Keeper of the prison that then was, (which since hath left the prison) was witness: yet notwithstanding William Baker went and told his Master the Mayor, that I said that if I were out of prison I would go and do the like again, which was false, and the Keeper of the prison did witness so to William Bakers face; for which William Baker gave him very uncivil language, and for that cause a little while after John Biggs would not suffer my Friends that came to visit me, to come at me, while he was in his power, but commanded the Keep­er to keep me in the inner prison, yet William Baker gave me to my face very fair words, and did witness that what I then said to him was truth; the Lord lay not this sin to thy charge William Baker, for thou didst falsly accuse me at that time, the light of Christ in thy Conscience is my witness, but it was that the Scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, That in the last dayes men shall be traytors, heady, high-minded, proud, covetous, boasters, blasphemers, fierce, despisers of those that are good, and (mark) false accusers, &c. 2 Tim. 3.1, 2.

And on the fifth day of the Ninth month, 1655. (that be­ing the day of their Sessions) the Rulers of Bathe sent for me to their Sessions before them; and when I came into their Court. John Boyce that then was (called) Mayor, asked me, if I knew before whom I stood (for he with others of them were clothed in Scarlet, and Velvet, but the end will be woe) I answered I did, so he commanded to take off my hat, and it was done, and one of them gave it me in my hand, and I put it on my head again: Edward Parker one of their Bayliffs or Sheriffs that then was standing by me, (being filled with rage and madness, as well as Wine or strong Drink) haled my hat off my head again, and struck me in the face; I asked them (if they) sat to judge me according to Law, and contrary to Law, did suffer me to be struck in their Court, and said, God will judge and smite you; but there was such a rude noise amongst them, that they could scarce hear or understand what each other said, for their carriage was more like Dogs barking, and Swine renting, than like men that sate to judge the cause of the Oppressed, and Afflicted, such was the car­riage of some of those Which sat as Judges, and Justices; nei­ther [Page 9]would they (scarce) suffer him; they called their May­or that then was to speak, which I suppose would have done Justice, had he not feared the ill-will of his Brethren; and so I reproved them for their rudeness, and said, if they stood before a Magistrate of God, who judged righteously for the Lord, they would dread and tremble at his presence, for the eyes of a faithful King, Judge, or Magistrate (who hateth Gifts and Rewards, which judgeth without partiality, and wresteth not the cause of the poor, nor respecteth the person of the Rich) scattereth the Wicked, Prov. 20.8, 26. but at last the Mayor had leave to speak, and said unto me, except I did give security to be of good behaviour, that I must go to prison again, so commanded to take me away, and charged the Keeper to keep me up in the inner prison, and not to suffer any to come at me but my Wife, whose outward dwel­ling was three miles from the Town; yet he did not deny any Friend (that came to visit me) if they asked him to come at me; and John Parker called an Alderman, cryed out, throw him into the Dungeon, and put bolts of iron upon him; so they haled me to prison again, and did not at all con­vince me of any Law I had transgressed; and committed my Friend T. H. that was with me to prison also, that gave them no just offence in word or action, but only stood there pea­ceably to see if I might have justice; but after they were a little cool (for many of them were much inflamed with Wine and strong Drink, which did not become men of their places, Prov: 31.4, 5.) they released my Friend out of pri­son again.

And upon the 23 day of the Fourth month, 1656. came some Friends of Bristol into Bathe, and one of them went to John Boyce the Mayor that then was, and spake something unto him concerning his keeping me in prison, and at that time there was with the Mayor the Constable of Bathe that then was, Henry Parker, and they had had some discourse con­cerning my releasing out of prison; so the Constable did en­gage (as did after appear) for my good behaviour, and that I should not commit the like offence; so the Mayor bad him go and fetch me forth of prison: so he came up to the pri­son, and that Friend with him, and asked me whether I [Page 10]was willing to go forth of prison, and said, the Mayor had sent him to release me, but he did not tell me plainly that he had engaged for me as aforesaid, but was very urgent (and so was that Friend also that came with him, that I think did not know their deceit) to have me go with him; but I gave them little answer, but waited to know the mind of the Lord, (for the Lord had afore-shewed unto me, that so they should come and fetch me forth, and bad me not hearken un­to them, and also sent his Messenger upon the 27. day of the Third month, 1656. which was but little before the Constable came to me, and he said unto me, take heed how thou do come forth, lest thou art ensnared, but come forth freely, or else thou wilt rue it the longest day thou livest; so having a command from the infallible Spirit of the living God not to hearken unto them, and fore-warned by his Messen­ger without, I was in great dread and fear, and was not hasty to answer them a word; upon which the Constable was ex­ceedingly urgent upon me for an answer, pretending much feigned love, and using many words unto me, and said, The Lord in times past did give his servants a tongue to speak, and immediatly did reveal in them what to say, and asked me a­gain, whether I was not willing to go forth of prison? to which I answered, that this is that the Lord hath immediatly revealed in me, I am willing in his time to go forth of pri­son, but ye have kept me here near fourteen months a prisoner to satisfie your lusts and envy, and have not so much as con­victed me of the transgression of any just Law of this Nation; neither have ye had me to your Sessions these two or three Sessions, which ye ought to have done, and there to have ex­ecuted judgement upon me if I had deserved it, and been convicted of the transgression of any just Law; but your carriage the last time I was there was such unto me, I think it hath caused shame as well as hardness of heart to possess some of you, or else there to have cleared me, which is according to the Law of the Nation, which is not denyed to Felons and murtherers, which if ye do refuse to do, let them that sent me to prison come and fetch me forth. To this effect, if not the very words was my answer to the Constable: at which he was much discontented, and said, I was a false Prophet, and [Page 11]Deceiver, or worse to that purpose, and said, I might lye in prison till Dooms-day (as he called it) before they that sent me to prison would fetch me forth, and so he departed; then it was presently reported that I might come forth of prison, but that I loved to lye in prison, or to that effect; where­upon there being some Friends in Town at that time, they sent the said Friend that came to me, with the Constable, to the Mayor again, (by reason he said as well as others, I might come forth of prison, but I would not) to fetch a dis­charge for the Keeper of the prison, it being according to the Law of the Nation so to do; so that Friend being urgent upon the Mayor for a Discharge, he did write (instead of a Discharge) a charge to the Keeper for to keep my body in prison, and called for an Officer to carry it to the Keeper, but looking again upon that Friend that went for a dis­charge, he said, I think thou art pretty honest, give it to the Keeper. This following is a Copy of it; let the wise in God judge.

So when those Friends saw that charge to keep me in pri­son, instead of a discharge, they went down to the said Con­stable, and told him of it; to which he said, that they had no intent to let me forth, but to try whether I would go forthor not, which will be proved if it be required, and to two of those Friends whose Names are here subscribed, he said that he had engaged to the Mayor, that Thomas Mor­ford should not commit the like offence, if he would set him at liberty; then the Constable being demanded whether I might come forth of prison without any pretended security from any man by word or deed; he answered, I might not. To this testimony the said Friends have subscribed their Names, Charles Jones, John Wathen.

And on the next day came some Friends from Bristol, and thereabouts to Bathe for to visit me in the prison; but be­fore they came unto me, some of them went to the Mayor, and spake something to him concerning my long, fore, and unjust imprisonment; so he told them that he would have set me at liberty the yesterday, but I did refuse to go forth, and said unto them, tell his Friends of Bristol of it; then those Friends (when they came to prison to me) told me what the Mayor had said unto them; then I shewed them the true cause why I did not go forth, and the Mayors Charge instead of a Discharge. Then some of them went down to him again, and shewed him his deceit: then he was exceed­ing angry with them, and called for an Officer to send them to prison, but after his passion was a little over, he told them the Sessions was very near, and then he would send for me to the Sessions; then those Friends urged him again to per­form his promise: he bad them not fear, for it should be so.

Upon the 14. day of the Fifth Month, 1656. (it being the day of their Quarter. Sessions) those Friends came again to Bathe, and some of them went down to the Mayors house that morning, before he went to the Sessions, to mind him of his promise that he had made them: but he was very an­gry with them, and bad them go out of his house, and come to the Hall a thousand of them, and he would answer them, so they (though not a thousand of them) did go to the Hall, where as soon as they appeared before them called Justices, which should have done justice, some of them which ware long Robes, with some others, fell upon my Friends, haling and pulling of them like wild Bruits, and thrusting them down stairs, ready to spoil their bodies; and so though John Boyce that then was called Mayor bad them come to the Hall he suffered them to be so abused; then they waited below till they were going to dinner, and then they charged the Mayor with his promise again: then he told them in the after­noon he would send for me to the Sessions; in the afternoon they went again, and required him to perform his promise, and to do justice; but he that was called the Recorder, James Ash, passed away, and did not do me justice: neither [Page 13]did the Mayor (notwithstanding all his promises) send for me to the Sessions; but a little before they left the Hall that eve­ning, the Rulers sent up Carew Davis their Serjeant unto me in the prison, to know if I had any security; to which I answered, if they would let me go down to their Hall, and there convince me as a Transgressor of any just Law, I was willing to receive any Punishment that might be inflicted up­on me according to that Law; and there was a Friend, a rich man in the outward, offered security if they proved me a Transgressor, or of any evill behaviour; so the Sergeant went down, and some of my Friends with him to them again, and gave them my answer, and my Friends that offered secu­rity, and their answer was, except my Friends did engage to be my security, before I did come out of prison, I should not come forth. We are witnesses to the truth hereof, whose Names are here subscribed.

• John Johns,
• John Weare,
• Anne Hill,
• Eliz. Atwood,
• Richard Iones,
• Thomas Terret,
• Katherine Evans,
• Iohn Wickham,
• Anth. Sturbs,
• Ioan Screen.

Upon the 25 day of the Sixth month, 1656. came the Keeper of the prison unto me, and said, I might go forth of prison if I would, I demanded of him who did give such order? then he seemed to be very angry with me for questioning of him, and would give me none other account; I told him if they did put beggars in prison but a night or two, they did com­monly send for them before their Magistrates, and there clear them, and have they kept me here almost sixteen months un­justly, and now think to thrust me out privately, with thy saying, I may go out of prison if I will, so he passed away from me, and I waited to know from the Lord what I should do. So after a little while I was moved of the Lord to write a Letter to the Mayor, which was in substance accor­ding to what is before declared, and therefore shall omit it here; and to know of him the certainty of the Keepers say­ing, that I might go forth of prison if I would, and I sent it down by my Wife, so the Mayor bad my Wife bring a man [Page 14]of the Town to him, and she should know more of the mat­ter, so at that very instant there came a Friend of Bristol to prison to me, and I desired him to go down to the Mayor, and to know what his intent was towards me: so he did, where, as soon as he appeared, the Mayor came and took him by the hand, and asked him what Country-man he was, which being answered, he took him aside, and said, we are about to set Thomas Morford at liberty, and this is all we will require of you, that is to say, that you will promise that when he is forth he shall be civil, and of good behaviour, and (said the Mayor) we will put him forth, and he shall never know you promised any such thing: which my Friend deny­ing, (knowing that I was innocent, and had not been of any evill behaviour, neither had deserved any part of that unjust imprisonment, the Mayor began to be angry, and said that every soul ought to be subject to the Higher Powers; To which my Friend answered by way of Question; Art thou that higher power to which the Soul of Man ought to be sub­ject? To which the Mayors answer was, if he thou'd him, he would bind him to the good Behaviour, and bad him be gone about his business; and that Friend to testifie the truth concerning the Keepers saying, I might go forth of prison if I would, hath subscribed his Name, which is Iohn Weale

Upon the 11. day of the Ninth Month 1656. (that being the day of their Quarter-Sessions) Matthew Cliffe at this time called Mayor, Ordered at the Sessions (but thither he did not send for me, but judged me before he tryed me, and there slaundered me with false accusations behind my back, and said I was a Railer, and a Disturber, as it was said, and charged the Keeper to keep me in the inner prison, and not to suffer any to come at me, but my Wife; in which inner pri­son being a close dark room, they have kept me the greatest part of these nineteen months, into which sometimes in rainy weather runs down streams of water, then which the Law of the Nation affords better for Felons and Murtherers. And there was a Felon (with another) put over the room where I was, and the Felon brake through the sealing over-head in­to the room where I was: & because I gave notice to the Kee­per, [Page 15]and did not give my consent for him to break the rest of the prison, when he was put up again, he threw down his piss or Urine several times over the place where my bed was, that it might run down upon it.

Upon the 17 day of the said Ninth Month came Anne Blacklin, and several other Friends with her to visit me, and desired the Keeper that they might come into prison to me; but his answer was that the Mayor had commanded not to suffer any to come in except my Wife; so Anne Blacklin and those other Friends went to Matthew Cliffe the (called) Mayor, and desired him that they might be permitted to come into the prison to me, but he told her she should not come in to me, nor see my face, for he said, I had abused their Minister, and was a Railer: then she bad him send for me before his face, and convince me of evill, or being a Rayler, but that he refused to do, and said he would send for me the next Sessions, and then if I did not what he did require of me, he would send me to Bridewel, and so he rudely and unbecoming a Magistrate, to so evill entreat a stranger, and give such an evill example, thrust her and her Friends out of his house, and would not suffer them to come into prison to me, though she told him she came a purpose from Bristol to visit me; and in a few dayes after came Iames Travers, and Iohn Wickham to Bathe, and desired the Keeper to let them into the prison to me, but the Keeper or his Wife told Iohn Wickham that the Mayor had charged them not to let in any, but my Wife, for if they did, he would take away the keyes from them; and Iames Stirredge, and Iames Travers went to Matthew Cliffe Mayor, to know of him what Law he had to keep me so close prisoner; he told them he had a Law, but shewed them none, and would not suffer them to come into prison, neither would he give leave to any that ever asked him (to come in to visit me) to come in.

And whereas thou Matthew Cliffe, and ye Iohn Boyce, and Iohn Biggs who were Mayors before him, with others of your company, do accuse me for Railing, Railing I do deny, and do not use (or bring) railing accusations against any man, and so that slander I do return back again on your own heads, who are the false Accusers, and in the nature of Rail­ers. [Page 16]Did I rail at thee Iohn Boyce, and thee Matthew Cliff, and the rest of your company on the 5. day of the Ninth month 1655. when ye passed in pride and pomp, with your pipes sounding before you through the gate to Thomas Scrines house to feast, where ye feasted and enflamed your selves with Wine and strong Drink, without the fear of the Lord? I say unto you, Did I rail, to tell you, as it was it was in the dayes of Noah, so shall it be, and is in this the day of the co­ming of the Son of Man: They eat (saith Christ) they drank, &c. & bid you repent (with a lamentation over you) & mind the light of Christ in you, which shewed you sin and evill, and reproved you for it, for that was your Teacher, for your Teachers without you have deceived you, and I said (and now affirm again) that the Lord will stain your pride and glory; and this I was moved of the living God to speak unto you, for which ye caused me to be shut into the inner prison, before ye came back, and used me so uncivil and brutish that night, at your Sessions as I said before.

And did I rail at thee Matthew Cliffe, the 9. day of the Ninth Month 1655. because I asked thee as thou passedst through the gate, when thou wouldst fear the living God, and do Justice? Or did I rail at thee the 16. day of that month, I being moved of the Lord to go out into the outward pri­son (the inner prison door being but a very little while be­fore left open) which I believe was the mind of the Lord so to have it, and immediatly thou passedst by with thy Mace before thee, to the Idol Temple; and the Word of the Lord came unto me saying, say unto Matthew Cliffe, Thus saith the Lord God of hosts, Except thou repent, and meet me the living God by Repentance, I will cut thy life off from the earth, and thou shalt go down to thy Grave in sorrow; and when thou art on thy bed of Torment, remember how thou sleightedst the day of thy Visitation; and this was the Word of the Lord unto thee, The light of Christ in thy Con­science, and in all your Consciences, shall eternally witness me to be true; and this was the substance of whatever I spake to any of you as aforesaid, which for the clearing of Truth, and my Innocency, and taking off of your reproach, I was pressed in my spirit to send forth this as a testimony a­gainst [Page 17]you, for it is no more than what is contained in the holy Scripture of truth; and let the wise in God judge. And I say unto you, (as Eliah said to Ahab) who are in Au­thority, from the greatest Prince, to the least of you all, that ye are they that disturb and trouble the Nations, in that ye do not keep the peace which ye ought to do, but suffer the Lords servants (whom he hath sent unto you) to preach his everlasting Gospel freely, and to fore warn you of his great and mighty day that is come, and coming upon you all, and of his great wrath, and fierce indignation that he will assu­redly pour forth upon you except you speedily repent, to be beaten with sticks, and stones, dirted, whipped, stocked, and to be cast into prison, and there to perish by long and sore unjust imprisonment; and ye are those that have itching ears, heaping up to your selves Teachers, to wit, your hireling Priests, which prophesie falsely, and divine for mo­ney, and speak peace to the wicked, which put into their mouths, and against them that do not, they prepare war. And so ye are those that do hold up the horrible filthy thing in the Land, and cannot endure sound Doctrine, but are making havock of the servants of the most high God; and ye do plainly manifest your selves to be such Princes as the Pro­phet Ezekiel called Ravening Wolves, which made it their prey to shed blood, &c. Ezek. 22.27. And to tell you plainly from the Spirit of the living God, what ye are, is no railing: but the day will come, ye will confess it to be more honesty and faithfulness in them that so do from the Spirit of the Lord, than it is in them that preach peace to the Wicked.

So my grievous and unjust oppressions I have received from these unreasonable men, I leave to the Lord, and all that fear his Name to judge thereof.

Oh! all ye Inhabitants of the Earth, the dreadfull and mighty day of the Lord is come, and coming upon you all unawares, as a Theefe in the night, and though ye are say­ing, peace, and safety, sudden and eternal destruction as a whirlwind will come upon you, except ye repent; and in particular upon you, O ye Inhabitants of Bathe, who are a shelter for all wickedness, pride, and wantonness, fulness [Page 18]of Bread, and all uncleanness abound amongst you; ye are seen as Sodom and Gomorrah, the Lord will stain your pride and glory, and the righteous judgements of the Lord will be heavy upon you: your blessings which ye have turned into lasciviousness, lusts, and uncleanness, are corrupted and ac­cursed, and the day hasteneth that all that fear the living God, will not seek unto them, but our waters shall be a wal­lowing place for Swine, and the wild Beasts of the field, and the Sword of the Lord will be upon the arm, and the right eye of your Idol Shepheards, and false prophets, Zack. 11.17. Their right eye will utterly be darkened, and their arm clean dryed up, and some of you shall wander up and down with your earthen vessels to seek water, and this is the plague the Lord will smite you with, who are persecutors of his an­nointed ones; Amos 8.12. Your flesh shall consume away while ye stand upon your feet, your eyes shall consume in their holes, and your tongues consume away in your mouths, Zack. 14.12. nothing of this shall fail, the mouth of the Lord of Hosts hath spoken it; at a time appointed it will speak, and not lye; and if in the day of the Lord they shall be cast into everlasting fire, that did not visit the least of Christs little-ones in prison; What shall ye do that cast them in, and will not suffer them that do come to visit them to come at them. Witness to this against thee Matthew Cliffe, Anne Blacklin, &c. whose testimonies will stand against thee for ever; and also against thee Iohn Bigg, shall witness Nicholus Jordan, Iohn Dowel, Nathaniel Milner, and Sara Bennet of Bristol (in the year 1655.) with several others; for at that time the said N. Iordan coming up the street of Bathe a little after his Wife, and my other Friends, there came two young men (Samuel Whitehead, and George Sprat) with a cord, and interwinding N. Iordan in the cord, struck up his heels, and he fell upon the hard stones, ready to break his bones, he being (at that time) but a weak man in body; and when he appealed to thee Iohn Bigg, no redress he had: so thou didst plainly manifest thy self to bear the Sword in vain, who lettest the evill-doer go free.

Upon the 26. day of the Fourth month (called Iune) last past, there being the servants of the Lord met together (in the hired house and ground of Thomas Dyer) and as they were peaceably and quietly waiting and hearing the Word of the Lord from his servants, Tho. Salthouse, Miles Hal­head, the bruit people gathered about the place where they were, hallowing and yawling, like wild Beasts, throwing stones and dirt, as though they would have murthered the peaceable people of the Lord, and sorely hurt Tho. Salthouse in the head with a stone, while he was speaking the Word of the Lord freely, in love to their Souls; and when those Friends passed away from the Meeting, the brutish people followed them in the street, throwing stones and dirt at them as though they had been wild mad, whooping, and yawling, and beating of a Drum; and this is the fruits of your Go­vernment, and yet ye say to us, Let every Soul be subject to the higher power; and a little before ye Rulers of Bathe cast me into prison, I was passing peaceably with two of my Friends. T. H. and R. S. down your streets, none of us gi­ving any offence in word or action; at that time a multitude of your brutish people fell upon us, and were like to murther us, we being all at that time exceeding weak in our bodies; and thou Robert Allen (who art above forty years of Age) thou shouldest have had more wit and reason, than to have given such an evill example to the younger, as thou didst in beating me; the Lord forgive Thee, and not lay it to thy charge.

And I have been very sick in your prison, so that my very flesh consumed away, and my bones were corrupted, and ye visited me not; and when I have been hungry, those whom the Lord had sent to bring me meat, ye have severaltimes been ready to murther them, which was my Wife, Iohn Evans her Brother, and his Wife and Daughter, and Tho. Hawkins, one of them was once sore wounded; and the Bruits being asked why they did so? they answered, that Iohn Bigg the Mayor that then was, bad them beat my Friends out of Town, because they were Quakers.

These unjust actions will light heavy on you which are called Justices, and Magistrates, who ought to be a terror [Page 20]to such evill-doers, and keepers of the peace, and protectors of the Innocent, for else ye bear the Sword in vain, and the Sword of the Lord will be turned against you, who is the Higher Power, and unto him your Souls ought to be sub­ject.

And ye that are Rulers of Families, ought to be examples in Righteousness, Moderation, and Meekness of Life to your Servants, and Children, and to admonish and nurture them up in the fear of the Lord, and to correct them for abusing and mocking such as do neither you nor them any harm; But (O ye Inhabitants of Bathe) what evill examples do ye give one to another, both Magistrates, Priests, and People, in Swearing, Lying, Drunkenness, buying one another at Law, and living in all manner of uncleanness, your Children run­ning up and down streets whooping, and yawling, like wild Bruits, mocking and abusing strangers, which doth testifie what breeding and manners their Parents have brought them up in, which neither fear God, nor regard man, and yet some of them are (called) Centlemens Children; but they are but Gentiles Children which know not God, for surely were there either Parents, Magistrates, or Ministers that did truly fear the living God, their Children would bring forth some better Fruits: but it is like Priests, like People. Oh that ye Persecutors of the Lords people knew the thing that belongs to your peace before it be held from your eyes, and your hou­ses left desolate, and that thing is Christ Jesus the light of the world, in which did ye believe in truth, and follow, it would lead you into the good manners, and out of the evill communication, and lead you to live a righteous holy life, without which none shall see the Lord, and to do unto all men, as ye would that they should do unto you, and that is good Religion.

Oh that ye knew the day of your Visitation, and that there were hearts in you truly to fear the Lord, and that ye rightly considered of your latter-end, before that day of wrath come upon you, wherein your Souls will have no pleasure, which is reserved for the Wicked, Perditions, and ungodly ones; then ye shall confess him which now ye call a natural light, to be supernatural, when he will fit in your Conscience as a Refiners [Page 21]fire, and as an Oven that burneth, when your breath as a fire is consuming you, being kindled by the Spirit of burn­ings, and of judgement from the Lord God; but did ye love and follow the light which Christ hath enlightened you withall, it would lead you out of that great indignation which will assuredly come upon you, except ye do repent. But if ye do rebelliously reject the day of your visitation, and salvation proffered unto you; remember when ye are in the pit ye were fore-warned of it; and this is love to your Souls, and I do beseech the Lord to forgive this great evill ye have done against me, who am the least of his servants. Lord lay it not to their charge, for they know not what they have done.

THE Deceit and Enmity OF THE PRIESTS MANIFESTED.

YE Priests, oppression, and injustice are the fruits of your Ministry: the controversie of the Lord is great against you, and of you will the Lord require all the Souls that per­ish under your Ministry, for ye have only sought your own gain, and ease, and have not sought that which hath been lost, neither have ye brought again that which hath been driven away, nor bound up that which hath been broken, nor healed that which hath been sick; but with force and cruelty do ye rule, speaking peace to them that put into your mouths, and they that do not, against them ye prepare War, to wit, go to law, and take away their Good by force; ye are those that are esta­blishing the Vision, (Dan. 11.14.) robbing the people, and exalting your selves; but at the time appointed ye shall fall, and never rise again: the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it, but first ye will do wickedly, and by reason of them that for­sake the holy Covenant, Woe unto them; by you and your deceit, and flattery will the holy people deeply suffer, and by [Page 26]the rest of your Sects; and the abomination that maketh de­solation will yet be exalted. Woe unto you.

I am the light of the world, saith Christ, that lighteth every man that cometh into the world, and that Christ said, They shall hale you out of their Synagogues, and ye, shall be brought before Magistrates, and Rulers for my names sake, and they shall scourge you, and cast you into prison, and ye shall have tribulation ten dayes, that ye may be tryed; he that endures to the and stall be saved, and shall have a Crown of glory. And if they kill you (mark) they shrit think they do God good ser­vice. This is fulfilling by you Priests, in particular by you George Long, and Priest Sangers of London, for by your Mini­stry (causing) have I been haled out of the Synagogue, and cast into prison, and haled before Magistrates. And,

Moreover, thou George, Long, [...]ouldest have the blood of me, and my innocent Friends, to quen [...]h thy blood thirsty mind, for thou saidst (near the 23 day of the 5 month last, in Iohn Biggs house (where ye Priests and Magistrates were feasting and feeding without the fear of the Lord) thou wouldest have three or four Quakers hanged for an example; William Russel asked thee wherefore, but thou couldst give no just account, now let all that fear the Lord judge whe­ther thou art not a murtherer, and blood-thirsty hater of the upright, Prov. 29. And as troops of robbers wait in the way for a man, so the company of Priests murther by consent, and no murtherer hath eternal life abiding in him. 1 Ioh. 3.15. and when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you, saith the Lord God; and though ye make many prayers, I will not hear you, for your hand are full of blood, Isa. 1.15. The Lord is against you, and will not appear among you, ex­cept it be in his fierce wrath and indignation. The light of Christ in you shall witness this to be truth, of which thou George Long scornfully asked if it were the light of a candle we spake of to be within us; to which thus saith the Lord God, That in the day thou shalt run to hide thy self in thy secret chamber of imaginary and vain hope, in which thou hast consulted with the lying spirits of Divination, and Witch­craft, and I, that am the dreadful God, there meet thee (ex­cept thou Repent) with my spirit of wrath and indignation, [Page 27]even in burning flames of fire; then shall the scorner be con­sumed, and then thou shalt confess that I am not a natural light, saith the Lord God.

And when thou George Long wentest to the house of T. C. to demand hire of him which never set thee a work, nor made any condition with thee, neither will he buy thy Ba­bylonish stuff, but did (to thy face) deny thee to be a Minister of Christ, neither dost thou abide in his Doctrine, but are a Swearer, and forcer of others so to do (contrary to the com­mand of Christ, and his Ministers, who say, Swear not at all, by any Oath, Mat. 5.34. James 5.12.) Witness to this the men of Witcombes Parish, whom thou compelledst to swear: and at that time when thou wast at T.C. his house, and his Wife charged thee for thy lye, and false report against the innocent, thou badst her and the rest (if it were a lye) take it, and make sport with it.

Now all people that love your Souls, take notice of George Long who is a reporter of lyes, and bids others take them, and make sport with them: so he doth plainly manifest himself to be one of those false Prophets that Christ said should come in the last dayes, of whom saith Christ, Ye shall know them by their fruits, Mat. 7.20. And these are the fruits of the false Prophets, to wit, sporting themselves with their own deceivings; (mark ye that are makers of Feasts with your Priests) while they feast with you, having eyes full of Adul­tery, and that cannot cease from sin, (take notice) beguiling unstable souls; an heart they have, exercised with covetous practises, (mark) cursed children, which have forsaken the right way of the Lord, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam, who loved gifts and rewards (as ye Priests do) the wages of unrighteousness, 2 Pet. 2. from verse 1. to 15, from the 10 Verse of Jude, to the 19. And in those two Chapters ye may read a true discovery of the Priest, and false Prophets.

And thou George Long saidst (at the time aforesaid) to T.C. that the Quakers preach the Doctrine of the Pope, to wit, Perfection. Now whether the Doctrine of Perfection be a Doctrine of the Pope, or false, let the light of Christ in all judge; for the blessed God, his servants, and Prophets [Page 28]and Christ Jesus and his Ministers preached the Doctrine of Perfection, the Lord said to Abraham, Walk before me, and be thou perfect, Gen. 17.1. And Moses (his servant) preached perfection, and said, Thou shalt be perfect with the Lord thy God, and not follow them that use Divination, &c. Deut. 18.11, 12, 13. David preached Perfection, 1 Chro. 28.9. and said, Know thou the God of thy Fathers, and serve him with a perfect heart. Hezekiah did witness he had walked before the Lord in truth, and with a perfect heart, and had done that which was good in his sight, 2 Kings 20.3. And Solomon preached Perfection, and said, 1 Kings 18.61. Let your heart be perfect with the Lord our God, to walk in his Statutes, and keep his Commandements; and Prov. 11.5. The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way, (mark George Long) but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness. And Isaiah, (that holy Prophet) preached Perfection, saying, Thou wilt keep them in perfect peace, whose minds are staid on thee, Isai. 26 3, 4. And the Lord Jesus (the everlasting Co­venant of God) preached Perfection, saying, Be ye perfect, even as your Heavenly Father is perfect, Mat. 5.48. And Paul (his Minister) preached Perfection, not with enticing words of mans wisdom, but in the demonstration, power, and Spirit of the Lord: howbeit, he preached wisdom a­mongst them (mark) that were perfect; and therein did Paul strive and labour according to the mighty workings of the Lord in him, (mark) to present every man perfect in Christ Jesus; and therefore having these promises, saith Paul (see what the promises were, 2 Cor. 6.3 last verses) Let us cleanse our selves, (take notice ye that say, that man can­not be free from sin on earth) from all filthiness of fl [...]sh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of the Lord; and he said, they were, not come to the Mount that might be touched, but ye are come unto Mnunt Syon, and unto the City of the li­ving God, Heavenly Ierusal [...]m, and to an innumerable compa­ny of Angels, to the general assembly, and Church of the first­born which are written in Heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect. And Epaphras a servant of Christ, laboured fervently in prayers, that they might stand perfect and compleat; Read these Scriptures, [Page 29]1 Cor. 2.4, 5, 6. 2 Cor. 7.1. Col. 1.28. Heb. 12.18. to 23. Col. 4.12. Heb. 6.1. John 17.23. 1 Iohn 4.12, 17, 18.

Now let all that fear the Lord judge, whether the Do­ctrine of Perfection be a Doctrine of the Pope, yea or nay; or whether G. Long which denies the Doctrine of Perfection doth not deny the Doctrine of Christ, and so is an Anti­christ, 2 Iohn 9. and tells the people they cannot be freed from sin while they are on earth, and yet saith, if they have Faith to believe that Christ dyed for their sins, they shall be saved, and so applies the Promises to that nature, which the judgements of the Lord are to, preaching peace to the wick­ed, to whom God hath said, There is no peace; and (to con­firm this Doctrine of imperfection) tells people, that Paul was a sinner, and David was a sinner, and that Iob was not a perfect man; witness to this against thee George Long Fran­cis Stokes of London, to whom thou saidst (when I sent by him to thee a few Queries, which thou never yet answeredst, which I shall send (some of them) once more (with some others) unto thee, and Priest Sangers; at that time thou saidst, Iob was not a perfect man, and so thou blasphemously chargedst God to be a lyar, which said, Satan, hast thou con­sidered my servant Iob? that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evill? Iob 1.8. Therefore thou George Long hast spoken wickedly against God, Thou thinkest that he is altogether such a one as thy self, but he is a pure and holy God, and hath reproved thee, through me the least of his servants, and set thy sins in order before thee, (as Psalm 50.21.) for although Iob said in the anguish and bitterness of his soul and spirit that (mark) if I should just fie my self, my own mouth would condemn me; if I say I am perfect, it would prove me perverse; yet the Lord said, Iob was a perfect man, and the Word of the Lord is true; Iob said, he was as one desperate, and did con­fess his words to be as wind, ch. 6.26 for he was not suffe­red to fetch his breath by reason of the anguish and bitterness of his Soul, and he desired the Lord to take his hand and dread off him. And in all this Iob sinned not with his lips, Iob 2.10. And Iob said, My face is foul with weeping, and on my eye-lids is the shadow of death, (mark) not for any in­justice [Page 30]in mine hands, for all my prayers are pure; and he said, My Righteousness I hold fast, and will not let go, my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live: here Iob did con­fess his perfect holy life, Job 16.16. and 27.6. And the Lord said again, chap. 2. Satan, hast thou considered my servant Job? that there is none like him in all the earth, &c. and still he hol­deth fast his integrity, although thou hast moved me against him to destr [...] him (mark) without a cause. Iob was a per­fect man, and none spake of me the things that were right, like my servant Job, saith the Lord God Almighty, Iob 42.7. And therefore thou George Long art a forger of lyes, who saidst, Iob was not a perfect man: Thou art a Physitian of no value, and the wrath of God is kindled against thee, (and all you wicked ones) who are searching for the sin and failings of the holy Fathers of old, thereby thinking to keep people in sin for terme of life, and also to hold up the horrible filthy thing in the Land, and the abomination that maketh desola­tion, &c.

And although David was a sinner, yet when he saw his sin, he repented, and sate on the ground, and made Sack-cloth his garments, and prayed the Lord to blot out his sin, and his iniquities, and to create in him a clean heart, and renew a right spirit within him, which David did witness the Lord had done for him, and had delivered him out of all his trou­ble, and said, I will praise the Lord for ever, (mark) because he hath done it, &c. Ps. 51.9, 10, 52.9.54.7.

And although Paul did cry out, O wretched man that I am, &c. yet he did after witness, and say, the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus had made him free from the law of sin and death, and over death he did triumph, and thanked God that he had given him the victory over his sin, through our Lord Jesus Christ, Rom. 7.25. and 8.1, 2, 37. and ch. 6.16, 17, 18. 1 Cor. 15.55. to the end.

[This may serve to satisfie the simple, and for a witness a­gainst thee Rob. Hill, who falsely reportedst that I said, Paul was not a Saint, or born of God, when he said, O wretched man, &c. Thou askedst me, whether he was not a sinner? I answered, that he that was born of God, did not commit sin, &c. But thou by thy consequences concludest, and falsely [Page 31]reportedst as aforesaid: Let the wise in God judge, to whom I refer my self; I had been silent herein (knowing it is honou­rable to cease from strife) had I not been told of it by several people since I came into prison, for it is near two years ago that the words were spoken]

Now let all the wise in heart judge whether or no Iob, Da­vid, and Paul did not witness a cleansing from their sins and iniquities, and witness a perfect holy life, or perfection, con­trary to that Doctrine of George Long, and others, who quote them for examples to people, that they may live in sin for terme of life, which is just the Doctrine of the Pope, (who in his ground differeth little from the Priests of Eng­land, though in some particular circumstances they may: for the Pope, and his Jesuits, and Fryars, tell the people they cannot be free from sin, or perfect, whiles they are on earth, but tell them there is a Purgatory, where they must be clean­sed after death, for which many of them do give their whole estates to the Pope, his Fryars, &c. to pray for their Souls after death, that they may be freed of out Purgatory (which they say is a place of torment) and go to Heaven. And hence it is through their subtilty and craft they have gotten so many Abbies, &c. and other yearly Revenues as they have, part of which is now become their Successors, (to wit, the Priests of England;) and hence was the ground, (to wit, from the Pope) of Glebes, and Tythes, for which the Priests of Eng­land contend so earnestly, and sue men at Law, &c. And the Pope, his Jesuits, and Fryars, &c. say, the Wafer or bread is (Corpus Dei) the Body of God, and the Wine his Blood, after they have consecrated it (as they call it,) and some of the Priests of England say the same; and the Pope and his Priests, &c. wash, or sprinkle little Children, and call that Baptism; and they use a form of words at their Graves, bury­ing of their dead; and they stand praying in the Synagogues and Pulpits, and preach from a Chapter and Verse, and have Parsonage-houses, Gleabs, and Tythes, and some of them preach for hire, moneys, &c. All which the Priests of Eng­land, for the greatest part of them do the like; and against such dumb greedy Doggs who could never have enough, but preach for their gain from their Quarters; the Lord sent Isaiah [Page 32]to cry, Isa. 56.10, 11. and against such the Lord sent Jerimiah to cry, which did commit the horrible thing in the Land, the Prophets prophecying falsely, and the Priests bearing rule by their means, and the people did love to have it so, as ye people of England do; but what will ye do in the end thereof? ye shall lye down in sorrow, Isa 5.30, 31. Isa. 50.11. and against such the Lord sent Ezekiel, to cry, who did make a prey of the prople, and destroyed Souls for dishonest gain, Ezek. 34.3, 4. and 27.4. And against such the Lord sent Micah to cry, which did preach for hire, and divine for money, as your Priests and Divines do, Micah 3.10, 11. And Christ said, ye shall know them by they fruits; and against such Christ Jesus cryed, who stood pray­ing in the Synagogues, and were called of men Master, and had the chief Seats in the Assemblies, and the uppermost rooms at Feasts, Mat. 23.6, 7.

Now all people who have been learning the way of truth from your priests, some 20, 30, 40 years, some more, some less, and have given them great Gifts and Rewards, and yet ye are as ignorant of the true way to eternal life, as ye were the first time you went to hear them: and look with a single eye on your Priests, and see what difference there is between their Doctrine, and that of the Popes.

Therefore be ye warned of them all people, before the ter­rible day of the Lord come upon you, and consume you as stubble, for in that day the wicked shall be as stubble, which is come, and coming, and with the Rod of his mouth will he smite the earth, and with the breath of his lips will he slay the wicked; therefore while ye have time, prize it, and re­pent, for though there be a righteous holy life to be attained through Christ Jesus, Isa. 4.4. whose blood cleanseth from all sin; yet those whom he doth redeem by his Spirit of burnings, and of judgement from sin, Rom. [...].6. he doth redeem them henceforth not to live in sin, but unto him which dyed and rose again (he that hath an ear to hear, 2 Cor. 5.15. can hear) to serve him (mark) in newness of life; and if ever any of you come to witness a perfect holy life, either Priest, or People in any measure; ye must come to witness a real, not feigned, forsaking of your evil wayes, and a daily dying and crucifying of that life that now liveth [Page 33]in you, with all its lusts and affections; Gal. 5.24.25, 16. Rom 6.4. And the life that ye have sl [...]ne (whiles ye have nourished your hearts as in the day of slaughter) to be raised by the power and glory of the Lord God, even as Jesus was raised from the dead, &c. And therefore your saying, ye hope ye shall be saved from your sins, and ye believe Christ dyed for your sins, and by faith in Christ, ye shall be saved, &c. It is not your speaking those words, and living in sin, will serve your turns, for Christ is come and com­ing, to give to every one, according as their works shall be: And therefore that beliefe, that doth not lead you out of sin and evil, and to live a truly righteous holy life, it is the belief of Devils, for, the Devils believe and tremble, Iam. 2.19. Therefore saith Christ, who is the light of the world, Ioh. 8.12. Ioh. 12.46.that light­eth every one that cometh into the world; that whosoever be­lieveth, (mark and understand aright) and followeth, shall not abide in darkness, but shall have the light of life; God is light and in him is no darkness: If ye say ye believe in the light, and walk in darkness, sin and evil, ye are lyers and the truth is not in you, 1 Iohn. 1.5, 6. 1 Ioh. 3.3. And that hope that is not purifying your hearts, even as he is pure, is the hope of the hypocrite, and the hope of the hypocrite shall perish: And that faith which doth not give you victory over sin, and the world, Ia. 2.10.26 (which is in your hearts, out of which proceedeth evil thoughts, adul­teries murders, thefts, covetousness, pride, deceit, and all manner of wicked uncleanness) that faith is a dead faith, for whatsoever is born of God, overcomes the world, and that is your victory over the world, even your faith, 1 Joh. 5.4.

Now in the light of Christ in you all, Judge whether ye have this true hope, faith and belief, with their effects and o­perations, as they are in Jesus; ye or nay? For though Moses did tell the children of Israel, of a land of rest, which was truth, yet after the Lord by his power, delivered them from the oppressions of Pharaoh, and his Task-masters, and brought them through the Sea, & delivered them from their enemies that pursued them, and from many other enemies in their travels, and lead them through Wildernesses, and through a great and terrible Wilderness, wherein were Scor­pions, and fiery Serpents, & drought & no water; Deut 8.15. Yet I say, many for their rebellion, disobedience and hardness [Page 34]of heart, and unbelief, entred not into that land of rest, but dyed in the Wilderness, but the faithful and obedient, did enter into the land of promise; I have transferred this un­to you as a figure, if ye can receive it, do. Now all these things happened unto them for examples, And they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

A TESTIMONY Against the Worlds feigned Love, and Salutations, and flattering Titles.
As also against their false Accusati­ons, against them scornfully called Qua­kers, touching Magistracy, Ministry, Scriptures, Heaven, and Hell.
And likewise against the Prayers, and Songs of their Idol Temples, wherein is a true Discovery of their eternal Destruction, except they repent.

The world hath a love, and loves its own; And have several salutations and flattering titles, giving to each (as they think) ac­cording to his or their place, or estate, or riches: some saying, How d'ee, or I am glad to see you well; others good morrow, with a put off of the hat, &c. And others with bowings and cringing, saying, your humble Servant Sir, or, your servants servant, &c. And all is but feigned love, and words pro­ceeding from a deceitful heart, for, when poverty, tribulations, or any other afflictions come, your love, and feigned respect have an end. Yet for fashion-sake (which will pass away and [Page 40]have an end also) if ye meet each other, ye will still use your deceitful salutations, (to wit) How d'ee, or I am glad to see you well, &c. When sometimes if ye could avoid it, ye would not see each other, and also have secret envy in your hearts one towards another, and would do any evil one to another, in body or goods, if it were not for some slavish fears, that do possess you of the law; and ye do backbite, and revile each o­ther, behind one anothers backs, and yet, (if ye do meet each other, if envy and malice be not so great in you, that it stops your mouths) ye will say, How d'ee? I am glad to see you well, &c. when ye are not well in body or soul, (for envie destroys and consumes body and soul) And where there is envie strife and division, there is every evil work, and that is not well, 1 Cor. 3.3. Iam. 3.16. And ye that say, I am glad to see you well, &c. know sometimes that the person or persons to whom ye speak, are not well, but want both food and ray­ment, and ye some of you have it in great abundance, albeit ye give them not those things that are needful, and what good do your words do them? Read Iam. 2.14.15.16. and 1 Iohn 3.17. But as for your souls food, healer, or covering, ye are little sensible of it (any of you whose hearts dwel in the earth) what it is, or where it is. But did ye love and follow the light of Christ in you, that checks you for sin and deceit, and that shews you the hypocrisie of your hearts (as is afore shewed unto you) it would give you power against it, and lead you into the kingdome of God, through the Cross, where that precious oyntment, covering, and living bread for your souls is.

And ye that say, your humble servant Sir; or, your servants servant, bowing and cringing, using many vain words. Are ye not lyers and hypoctites ye, or nay? And is not the woe from God to the hypocrite? And is not the lyer for the lake? when ye say, your humble servant Sir, &c. Are not your hearts haughty, & puft up in pride, and living in it? And are ye not wanton, scornets, mockers, and persecutors of the innocent? Are these the fruits of true humility? Nay, nay, see, Gal. 5.22, 23, 24, 25, 26. and there ye shall read the decla­ration of the fruits of true humility, and in the light of Christ Judge your selves, and ye shall not be judged, for ye that use [Page 41]that deceitful salutation, saying, I am you servants servant, ye are of Hams Generation, Gen. 9.25. And that that is in high esteem amongst men, is abomination to the Lord.

Therefore repent while ye have time, for the day is come and coming, that an account shall be given for every idle word; And by your words (saith Christ shall ye be justi­fyed, and by your words shall ye be condemned, Math. 12.36, 27. Therefore all who to the light and life of Christ, in any measure are come, and by it are guided, cannot use your vain words, nor bow to your deceit, not use your fashions (which to them are past away) and for that cause ye per­secute them to death, and no murtherer hath eternal life a­biding in him, 1 Iohn 3.15.

But where do yeread, in all the Scriptures, that any did require any such thing, as putting off the hat, and fining of men, and casting of them into prison, if not done? Did ever Moses, who was as a King, a Priest and a Prophet to Israel, or David and Solomon, who were Kings, ever compel men to such a thing? Solomon said, my son give me the heart, not the hat: Is not the hat an ornament of the body? may ye not as well compel the servants of the Lord, to pull off their shooes, as their hats? And why do ye compel the male ser­vants of the most high God, to stand bare headed before you more then the Females?

Oh! the loftiness and haughtiness of man! I will (saith the Lord God of Hosts) stain the pride & glory of all flesh, an woe to the crown of pride: Do ye not shew your selves to be those whited Sapulchers, which appear very beautiful out­wardly (or with a seeming humility) but are within full of hypocrysie and all uncleanness. And although some of you, say Abraham, Lot, &c. bowed, yet they did not bow to the wicked, but it was to the Angels, or Messengers of the most high God, & although Jacob bowed seven times, (Blessed is he that readeth and understandeth) Jacob was then in return­ing to his fathers house; & thus saith the Lord to you, O ye E­domites (or the house of Esau) because Esau your father, and ye his children, pursued his brother with the sword, & did cast off all pity; and his anger did tear (as yours doth) perpetnal­ly, and he kept (as ye do) his wrath for ever. Therefore [Page 42]thus saith the Lord, the house of Jacob shall now be a fire; and the house of Joseph shall be a flame, and the house of Esau shall now be for stubble, and no one of your fathers house shall remain, the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. And to whom then shall the seed of Iacob bow but unto me, saith the Lord God of hosts, whose alone right it is?

But may I ask you a question, what spirit is this that is so much contending for honour before men, bowings, putting off the hatt, &c. Is it not that spirit that was in Saul, when the spirit of God was departed from him? Or is it not that that was in Haman, that vexed him because Mordecai could not bow to him? Or whether it be not that which was in the Chaldeans, and Nebuchadnezzar, who had prepared an hot fiery furnace, to cast the Innocents in, because they could not bow to there image? Or is it not that spirit that would have had the Lord Jesus to have bowed, or fallen down and worshipped him; yea, or nay? which Christ reproved and said, Get thee hence Satan, It is written, thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, &c. Mat. 4.10, 11.

But Paul saith, concerning the holy fathers of old, Abra­ham, Isaac, &c. Brethren, I would not have you to be ignorant, that all our Fathers were under the cloud, and passed through the sea, &c. But now, the star of Jacob is risen, the Cloud is scattering, the Lord again, as in the ancient of daies, is smiting the tongue of the Egyptian Sea, in the seven streams; this is enough to the wise.

And all that (but) to Mount Sion are come, a Law from God, they have received, which saith, Thou shalt not bow, &c. And the Scripture doth testifie, that Peter a Minister of Christ, and his holy Angel, did deny, and forbid bowing un­to them, for when Cornelius would have fallen down or bow­ed to Peter, he denyed it, and said, stand up, for I my self also am a man, Acts 10.25, 26. And when the Angel came un­to John, Iohn. 19: 10. 22.9. Exod. 20 45. Deut. 5.8, 9. Phil. 2.9. he fell down, and would haue worshipped the Angel, But he forbad it, saying, see thou do it not, I am thy fellow-ser­vant, and of thy brethren the Prophets, which keep the say­ings of the book, worship God, which is a spirit. And unto me saith the Lord God, shall every knee bow, both in Heaven, and in earth.

So that it is evident, that there is not one Scripture, that doth require any such thing, as putting off the hat, or bowing; But the Scriptures do testifie against it, and forbid it, as I have prov­ed before, except it be that of Solomon which saith, The evill shall bow before the good, and the wicked at the gate of the righteous,

And although Moses said, Thou shalt stand up before the hoary head; yet he did not say, they should put off the hat, or bow, &c.

And as for you who are contending for flattering titles of ho­nour, which yee say, Paul gave to Festus, Agrippa, &c. Luke to Theophilus, Iohn to the Lady, &c. This cover is too narrow for your deceipt, in the light of Christ are ye seen, judged and deny­ed; for, when Paul said, noble Festus, &c. and O King Agrip­pa, &c. Paul spake as he found by them, for they were more no­ble than the Tumultuous Jewes, who took him (to wit Paul) with Sylas, and cast them into the inner Prison, Acts 26.22, 23, 24, 25. and made their feet fast in the stocks; And the Magistates rent their clothes, and beat them uncondemned, &c. Acts 22.25. But when Paul came before Festus and Agrippa, they were more noble, than those aforesaid, & gave him leave peaceably to give an account of his faith, and the hope that was in him; neither were they offended at Paul, when he Thee'd and Thou'd them. And they judged him without partiality, and said, we find nothing worthy of death, or of bonds, in this man, &c. And so they were truly noble in their judgments to Paul, and to this Pauls words do much accord, for when he came to the Bereans, he said, they were more noble than the tumultuous Jewes of Thessalonica, in that they received the word with already­ness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether these things Paul testified of, were so, &c. Acts 17.10, 11. And hence was the true ground of Pauls saying, Noble Festus, O King, &c. which was for their noble and true judge ment of Pauls inno­sency, as is aforesaid.

And when Luke said, most excellent Theophilus, &c. It was for his love to the truth of Jesus, which Theophilus was instructed in. And Paul said, he accounted all things but dung in comparison of the excellency of the knowledge of Christ, &c. And Solomon saith, The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour, but the way of the wicked seduceth them. But such a one was not Theophilus, who was instructed in the way of God; and therefore Luke a servant of the Lord Jesus thought, good to give him a more perfect under­standing [Page 44]of all things from the very first, in order concerning the Lord Jesus, &c. Luke 1, 1, 2, 3, 4. And hence was it, that Luke did account Theophilus excellent, or more excellent than Herod, Pilate, and the wicked high Priests, who seduced them to kill the just One.

And when John wrot to the Elect Lady, it was not one who lived in idleness, pride, wantonness, lusts, excesse of ryoting, whose appar­rel was laced with silver or gold, or used plaiting of the hair, or looked for flattering titles, or respect to her person. But it was one who was covered with the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, who had her children walking in the truth, whom I love saith Iohn (mark) in the truth, and not onely I, but also all they that have known the truth, which truth, leads out of all the evills, afore­said, read 1 Pet. 3.1.2, 3, 4. Pet. 4 3. Iam. 2.1, 2, 3, 4. for though John did not speak those words, yet Peter and James did for the most part, & the spirit of Christ was but one in them, and ye who are called Ladies, Maddam, &c. in the light of Christ judge your selves whether ye have the fruits of the Elect Lady, or whether ye are any of those vertuous women, spoken of, Pro. 31. who are doing good, not evill, all the dayes of their lives, seeking the wool and flax, working willingly with their hands, (not in vain toyes, but) with the spindle and distaffe; or whether ye are not with some of your husbands, who are plotting and wresting the judge­ment of the poor and needy, living in all manner of sin and evill, persecuting the innocent, yea, or nay, these are not the fruits of of true Humility, or Nobility, nay, nay; to the light of Christ in all your consciences I speak.

And whereas some of you say, we hold there is no Heaven nor Hell, but that in the conscence; ye are false accusers, for if in this life onely were our hope of Christ, 1 Cor. 15.19.we were of all men most miserable, for they who to the life of Christ, by faith in him, in any measure, are come, can say (with Paul, that all our present sufferings, are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us, which hath been hid from ages and generations, but now is made ma­nifest in his Saints, Christ the hope of glory. And in love to this glorious life, (we have in measure received as the earnest, for obedience to the faith) of the eternall inheritance, as we abide in it) our dearest relations of all visible created objects whatsoever, and our lives also, are not dear unto us in comparison of it. And [Page 45]we know that when this our earthly tabernacle shall be dessolved, we have a building with God, not made with hands, 2 Cor. 5, 1, [...] (mark) eternall in the Heavens, for in this we groan earnestly, &c. and they who to this life are come (as I said before) in any measure, can witness, the great torment and tribulation, they have passed thorough, Acts 14.22. which is the portion for everlasting, of the wicked, Psa. 17.14. Psa 13.5.67.8. Job 21.6. to. 15. who have their portion of ease, joy, pleasure, only in this life, and have more than heart can wish; whose eyes stand out with fatness, their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them; their bull gendereth, and faileth not, their Cow calveth, &c. your children dance & have the Tymbrel & Harp, & rejoyce in the Or­gan, therefore they & you their parents, say unto God, depart from us, for we desire not the knowledge of thy wayes; Mat. 25. [...] to the end,and what is the Al­mighty, that we should serve him, &c. And ye spend your dayes in wealth, persecuting the innocent; but in a moment go down to the grave. And to such Christ is now saying, Depart from me, ye curs­ed (take notice) into everlasting fire, woe is me for you, ye wicked ones, Repent while ye have time, this is the day of your visitation, & salvation proffered unto you, who are wanton, & in pleasure on the earth, nourishing your hearts as in the day of slaughter, ye have condemned and killed the just, and he doth not resist you.

And as for you who have gone up and down to get men to sub­scribe to your grievous Prescription, which ye have prescribed a­gainst the innocent saying they (who are called Quakers) deny the Sriptures, and are Jesuites; witness to this ye of Marshfield, & thereabouts, and others, saying, they deny Magistrates and Mi­nisters, Government, &c. thereby thinking to cover your wick­edness, that ye have purposed against the guiltless.

I who am a Servant of the living God, and a fellow feeler and partaker of their sufferings, am moved of the Lord, to send forth this as a witness against you, who have done, and are doing so wickedly, for so we who are scornfully called Quakers, hated and persecuted without a cause, do own Magistrates and good Go­vernment, whether the King as supream, or any other Governors, who are of the Lord, sent for the punishment of evill doers, and for the praise of them that do well, for so is the will of God, &c. for no Magistrate ought to be a terror to good and godly men or any other good thing; But if he be, he bears the sword in vain, & the sword so the Lord, will be turned against him, and cut him off, [Page 46]as were Ahab, Jehoash. and others, as the Scripture testifies, that did oppresse his people: nay, look to our dayes, remember Wentworth of Ireland, & the late King, with other of that generation. Take notice, ye that are in authority are ye better than they? Nay, ye are not, if ye walk in their steps, and ye will have their end, except ye repent. And as for you who are in Authority, and act contrary to the pure law of God, which ought to be your rule, Deut. 17.18.19. and are acted by your wills and lusts, and unrighteous Laws, wereby we suffer deeply; yet to you also are we subject, in that we suffer under your great oppression, without resisting of you, which we rather chuse to doe, than to disobey the royall Law statutes and judgements of the most high and holy God.

And Ministers of Christ we own, who abide in the doctrine of Christ, 2 Iohn 9. But Jesuites, & all that wicked Popish Generation, we do them deny, for they are as great enimies to the truth, as it is in Jesus, as the Priests of England are, who abide not in his Doctrine, and will use and are using, the Servants of the Lord, whom he hath sent, and is sending unto them, them to forewarn of the plagues and righteous Judgements of God, that are coming upon them, as bad as your priests of England have done; who have given, and are giving them a wicked example, and your re­ward will be a like.

And the Scriptures we do own and are ours, and are for the per­fecting of us, being given by inspiration of God, and to us they are profitable for Doctrine and reproof, for correction, & instructi­on, in righteousness, that thereby we may be thoroughly furnish­ed to every good work of the Lord.

And therefore all ye who are plotting and persecuting of the Lords chosen ones, (whom he hath redeemed, and is redeeming, with his pretious blood, and by judgement, Eph. 17. Isa. 52. Isa. 1.27. out of the worlds customes, fashions, words, &c.) fining of them, and casting them into prison, for not bowing or putting off the hatt, &c. to satisfie your wills and lusts, and some of you are afflicting, and whipping, and putting of them into stocks, other stoning & dirting of them, in streets & high wayes, they not giving you the least offence in word or action; ye are those that rob the Lord of his honour, & haters of Sion, & the Lord will plead with you all, poor and rich, by fire and sword, and will cut your cords of wickedness asunder, and ye will be as grasse that groweth on [Page 47]the house top, that withereth before it be grown up, wherewith the mower filleth not his hand, nor he that bindeth sheaves, his bosome, neither will they which pass by, say, we bless you in the name of the Lord, or the blessing of the Lord be upon you, neither receive you into their house, or bid you God speed, for he that so doeth, will be partaker of your evil deeds, Psal. 129.4 to the end, 2 Iohn 10.11 And then will the prayers and prophe­sies of David, which ye have made the Songs of your Temples, (unto which ye have added and diminished both words and verses; Witness Psal. 2. Psal. 4. Psal. 14. and 15. with many others, therefore denyed by the Children of light) will come up­on you who are Confederates, persecuting the innocent, for ye sing, your hearts are foul and vain, and death in hast will fall on you, and send you quick to hell, except ye repent. Will it not be just with the Lord to answer your prayers, who are doing so wickedly, Read and understand what ye sing, Psal, 5.6, 9. Psal. 55.16. Are ye not lyars and Hypocrites when ye sing All the night I wash my bed with tears, &c. My joynts in sunder break, My heart doth in my body melt, like wax against the heat, &c. My tongue cleaves to my jawes. Are not your tonges at liberty, utter­ing forth deceit? And are not your hearts as hard as the nether mill-stone? And do ye not spend the night in sleep and ease? O ye simple ones, when will ye be wise? Do ye not know the lyar is for the Lake, ye sing and say; ye do not haunt with men, whose deeds are vain, to come into the house ye do refuse with the deceitful train; ye much abhor the wicked sort: it were well if ye did, But are ye not some of them that are taking Counsel against the Lords annointed ones? If ye say nay, Then are ye not some of them that resort into the Temples or Synagogues, (called Churches) Into which come all manner of wicked lewd persons, The light of Christ in all your consciences, shall eternally witness this to be truth, and answer your condemnation to be just, except ye spee­dily repent, & come out from amongst them, & touch not the un­clean thing; understand what you sing and read, Psal. 26. for the Lord is discovering the secrets of al hearts, ye read, or sing, My wounds stink and and are festred so, as loathsome is to see, &c. That ye go wailing all the day in doleful heavyness, &c. And ye say or sing, ye roare for grief of heart, and are not puft in mind, and have no scornful eye, &c. How dare ye to be so presumptious, to breath [Page 48]forth such abominable untruths before the Lord, when ye are at ease, clothed in rich arayment, perfumed with sweet smells, and are haughty, scorners, puft up with pride of mind, living in wantonness ease, and pleasure, singing vain songs and times, having eyes full of adultery, &c.

By this ye may as in a Looking-glasse, see and read your figure, and also what blindness and ignorance your Preists have lead you into, that ye are not truly sensible, when ye sing, whether it be for a blessing or a curse, and therefore I was moved, out of tender love to your souls, that ye might come to consider aright, of your con­dition to forewarn you of those plagues, that ye ignorantly pray for to come upon you, which will assuredly come upon you speedily, except ye repent. The light of Christ in all your consci­ences shall eternally witness me to be true, and answer your condemnation to be just, if ye sleight the day of your visitation, and salvation proffered unto you.