I Am moved of the Lord to preſent this Paper to you, it requires your ſpeedy conſideration; and therefore as you love your own ſouls defer it not: the crying ſin of perſecuting the righteous Seed of God, it now brought to your door, and you muſt account for every days delay; ariſe, ſtand up and execute Juſtice and Judgement, that you may be hid in the day of the Lords fierce wrath, which is at hand.

I come not to you to clamour or complain, nor to petition any thing from you, but to diſcharge my duty in obedience to the command of the Lord, in laying before you the afflictions and ſufferings of the innocent by the hands of your Miniſters and Servants, that ſo you may acquit your ſelves, leſt the guilt fall upon your own heads.

IN the Northen Parts of this Nation, God hath raiſed and is raiſing up his own Seed in many people, according to his promiſes; which hath layen in bondage in a ſtrange Land for many generations, and is daily encreaſing their number to the praiſe of his own name, which gathers their hearts out of all the worlds Wayes, Worſhips, Cuſtoms, Riches and Pleaſures, to live with the Lord in Spirit, and to be taught of him alone; Whereat the formal Profeſſors of the world, and the carnal-religious of theſe dayes are ſo much enraged, that in every place, to the utmoſt of their power, they beat, wound, ſtone, impriſon and perſecute them; as it was in all Generations, as the Scriptures witneſs, He that is born after the Fleſh, will perſecute him that is after the Spirit.

And the reaſon why theſe People above all others are hated by all ſorts of men, is, becauſe the righteous Spirit of God that rules in them, as it will not comply or have fellowſhip with the wicked in their Pride, luſts, pleaſures, cuſtoms, Worſhips, faſhions and unfruitful works of darkneſs, ſo will it not wink at them, but reprove them where and in whomſoever they are; it ſpares not a man becauſe he hath a flattering Title, nor paſſeth by him that is rich or decked with gay clothes, but reproves all, yea in the gate, without reſpect of Perſons; and therefore is it that ſnares are laid for them in every place to make them offenders for a word; And as the wicked are thereby provoked, ſo are their cruel minds encouraged by the Lamb-like diſpoſitions of theſe people; for having the ſame Spirit that was in Chriſt Jeſus, they are like-minded, they do not reſiſt the evil, but like Sheep are led to the ſlaughter and open not their mouthes; being curſed they bleſs, he that takes their cloak, may take their coat too; to him that ſmites one cheek, they offer alſo the other; And as they ſave not themſelves, but caſt their care on the Lord, ſo they ſeek not for relief to any man, but patiently wait on the Lord for his deliverance, bearing ſtripes, wounds, Priſons, reproach and ſhame with joy, knowing that through many tribulations they muſt enter the Kingdom; praying even for their Perſecutors, that their ſin may not be laid to their charge. And being raiſed up with Chriſt, and made partakers of the Life which is eternal, their hearts burn with love to all Creatures; and therefore in the Spirit and Power of the Lord they are carried into the publike meetings of the world, to declare his word, and to reaſon and diſpute againſt their outſide profeſſion, to bring them to repentance, that they may know the true God, whom they ignorantly worſhip, which dwels not in Temples made with hands, but in the humble and contrite hearts, that tremble at his word, as the manner and practiſe of Jeſus Chriſt and his Apoſtles was. And for theſe things did about 30 of them lie in Priſon when I came lately from thence, and I hear ſix more are ſince committed; thoſe that are ſet to do juſtice, being of the ſame nature and ſpirit with the rude world, take part with them in their wickedneſs, encouraging their hands, and laying the blame upon the innocent, calling them diſturbers of the peace, movers of Sedition, turbulent perſons, when its onely the man of ſin they diſquiet; and all the uproars of the brutiſh people that live in wrath, anger, and quarrels, are laid to their charge; as it was in all Generations.

All theſe perſons being moved to go to a Juſtice of Peace in Kendal, to ſpeak to him againſt his perſecution and Tyranny, and to warn him of the evil to come, were by him commited to Priſon.

The words ſpoken by them ſeverally to him, as alſo the ſubſtance of what the others ſpoke in the Steeple-houſes might have been ſet down, but this is not intended as an accuſation of any, nor to ſhew forth their ignorance or weakneſs.

Oh ye Heads and Rulers of the people, raiſed up to do Righteouſneſs and Juſtice! Look upon theſe poor deſpiſed Creatures, what evil is found in them? what wickedneſs have they committed? not one of ſix and thirty comitted for a vice; is it not time to appear for the innocent, and to ſave him from the ſeed of evil-doers? what are the offences laid to their charge? they will not put off their hats, no not to a Magiſtrate; are not men aſhamed to call themſelves Chriſtians, and pretend liberty for tender Conſciences, and yet ſtand upon ſuch trifles, and to fine and impriſon for it? is not obedience to the Magiſtrate, and a chearful ready performance of his juſt commands, his greateſt honour? that he may ſay to this man go, and he goeth; and to another do this, and he doth it; but now the life of all Religion is placed in outſide ſhadows and formalities.

Some of them are puniſhed becauſe they were Strangers in the place where they were apprehended; what would theſe men that puniſh them have done with Chriſt that had not whereon to lay his head? and doth not the Scripture require reſpect to them above all others? were they chargeable to any but their friends who entertaiend them with joy? but it ſeems the Capital Crime is to ſpeak in the publike Aſſemblies of the People; and was it not the practice of Chriſt and his Apoſtles to ſpeak in the Synagogues, and where the people were met together? I know it makes the Prieſts rage, becauſe they are thereby detected; and it is they that fill the world with uproars and tumults, and ſo they have done in all Generations; what have they been doing all their lives, and their Predeceſſors, that have ſtill ſuch brutiſh raging people to their flocks, wolves and not Sheep? but they run and were never ſent, therefore do they not profit the people, and down ſhall the falſe Prophet and the Beaſt that holds him up; his time is at hand, al the Powers of the earth ſhall not ſave him; ſome ſay its not contrary to Law to ſpeak after the Prieſt hath done. Why then are ſo many of theſe people in priſon for it? but why is it an offence to ſpeak before he hath done, there are intervalls between his ſeveral exerciſes? It is anſwered, it breeds tumults and diſtraction among the people; Let the Magiſtrate look to his duty to puniſh him that breaks the Peace, or offers violence to any, & that will ſoon be prevented; are they Churches? then may all propheſie, and if any thing be revealed to him that ſits by, let the firſt hold his peace; Are they aſſemblies of the world? then why doth the Magiſtrate interpoſe his Authority to hold up their falſe worſhip, and not ſuffer the Meſſengers of the Lord to call people to the truth, and leave all men to manifeſt the power of the ſpirit they ſpeak from; For great is the truth, and will prevail; and God neither needs nor requires the help of man to uphold or ſpread his Goſpel. The Prieſt many times ſpeaks thoſe things, to which, if a preſent anſwer might be made, before the peoples minds and memories were diſtracted with a multitude of vain Notions, the truth might be made manifeſt, and things that differ diſcerned; And let all that fear the Lord conſider, is it any thing but a carnal humane invented ſtory they tell, ſtudied, and brought forth by their own wit and learning? And is not the word of the Lord a more divine thing? doth not he that hath his own time when to ſpeak, what to ſay, and when to be ſilent, ſtand in the will of man? be ſilent oh reaſon, thou knoweſt not the mind of the Lord. Doth not the Miniſter of God ſpeak the word of the Lord from his own mouth? When, where, and how the Lord pleaſe; For it is not he that ſpeaks, but the Holy Ghoſt that dwells in him; He that hath his words from his own wit and memory, may ſpeak and be ſilent when he will; he that hath them from the Holy Ghoſt, muſt ſpeak as he is moved, and as they are brought to his remembrance by the ſpirit of truth? be carefull how ye meddle in theſe things! Oh ye powers of the Earth, men have long been taught one by another, but now the Lord is come to teach his people himſelf; the Scriptures abundantly witneſs, that in the laſt times ſhall be the greateſt pourings out of the Spirit; men ſhall not need to run to the broken Ciſterns of Univerſities and humane Studies, for all the people of the Lord ſhall be taught of the Lord; if you ſay, yea, but it muſt be by means; I anſwer, by no other but his own Spirit; whence have they their words that ſpeak to you, which you think muſt be the means? are they not from their own brains? but that wiſe eye by which they ſearch and find out what they preach, knows not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are fooliſhneſs to it, and to it they are hid, and a myſtery not to be found out: Ceaſe then from man, oh all ye people of the Earth, and hearken to the voyce of the Spirit of the Lord, which you may hear in your conſciences, rebuking and reproving you for ſin and wickedneſs; and minding and obeying that, it will bring you into the fear of the Lord, which is the beginning of wiſdom, and the fear of the Lord is to depart from all iniquity; ſo will you come to know what a tender conſcience means; and ye wil then ſuffer all manner of torments rather then defile your conſciences by the pollutions and vanities of the world; and the myſterie of Faith is held in a pure conſcience, which worldly Religion knows not; and loving and obeying that voyce, and walking in the light that ſhews you ſin and evil, you will be brought to underſtand the Scriptures, and to have fellowſhip with God and Jeſus Chriſt, and with one another in the Spirit, and to have your mindes purified, and the holy Seed will be raiſed up, and the body of ſin deſtroyed, and Chriſt will reign and rule in you.

Many of theſe people are committed becauſe they will not finde Sureties to be of the good behaviour; and I hear ſome ſaying, Are they not acceſſary to their own ſufferings, that will not do it when they intend to be of good behaviour? I Anſwer, They are perſons of no ill behaviour, but are bound to good behaviour by the righteous law of God written in their hearts; and therefore, they may not confeſs themſelves guilty by ſubmitting to a puniſhment; the Law intends the reſtraint of evil doers; Again, they are required to finde Sureties, either becauſe they have ſpoken in a Steeple-houſe, or to a Magiſtrate; who dare binde himſelf not to obey the command of the Lord? ſhall Moſes be bound not to go to Pharoah? Shall Tyrants trample on the Lords people, and ſhall not the Lord by his Prophets reprove i • ? ſhall the Lord have people in a Congregation, and ſhall he not ſend his Meſſengers to call them out? men may impriſon and reſtrain the body, but they cannot ſtop the mouth, nor may the Saints ſtop their own. How ſhall all the wickedneſſes of the earth be reproved, but by the righteous ſpirit of the Lord in his people? By the Act of Queen Maries, after three months impriſonment, a ſubmiſſion muſt be made to the Prieſt, and Sureties be given for good behaviour; that is, not to offend ſo again. Oh ye Members of the Parliament that fear the Lord! Conſider, ſhall the righteous bow to the wicked, or ſhall the ſeed of God be bound not to reprove the man of ſin? The great work of the Lord is not to throw down one man to ſet up another; But to throw down the unrighteous ſeed, that the holy ſeed may be raiſed up, and have dominion; If you reſtrain the Lord in his work, all the Armies in the World ſhall not ſave you; all theſe witneſſes are now raiſed up to ſhew you where the way is ſtopped, and the Lord hath herein made it known to you; its not the releaſe of the Priſoners alone that he requires; but to make a free way for the Sons of Zion; Here you are brought to a ſtrait, look to it; For as you deal in this matter, ſo ſhall you be eſtabliſhed; Should I tell you in all particulars how far the ignorant zeal of Judges, and Juſtices hath tranſported them beyond the bounds of Law, of reaſon; Nay, of humanity, you would wonder, and ſay, theſe men are not fit to be Judges of things pertaining to the Conſcience; Should I Relate the Beatings, Woundings, Stonings, Baitings with Maſtiff Dogs, and Impriſonments, that theſe poor people have ſuffered in Cities, Towns, Villages and Steeple-houſes, I might fill a volumn; but I come not to make complaints againſt any in particular, and therefore I have concealed all the perſecuters names. Be not affrighted by reports, were not the beſt of men always accounted the worſt, the off-ſcouring of all things? they are above all others (I know it) Innocent, harmleſs, peaceable; they diſpute not Authority with any man, nor queſtion Forms of Government, nor trouble their heads what becomes of the World, but as Strangers and Pilgrimes they have their converſation on the earth, wandring to and fro, ſeeking another City. Some of them are committed for other things; one becauſe he would not ſwear; Doth not Chriſt and his Apoſtle James poſitively forbid all ſwearing? and where do we find any of the Saints ſwearing after the comming of Chriſt? Its not long till a light will ſhine in this Nation, to ſhew the deceits of this and many other like things; I cannot herein ſay more to particulars, I have done my duty, the ſin lyes at your door; Do what ſeems good to you; conſider, ſcruples of conſcience are not obvious to every mans reaſon, if they were, no liberty need be pleaded for tender conſciences.