The memory of the righteous revived being a brief collection of the books and written epistles of John Camm & John Audland, those two faithful and honourable servants of the Lord, who were called to the work of the ministry in the morning of Gods blessed day dawned in this generation, and, with other brethren, bore the heat and burden of the day faithfully, to the end and finishing of their course, being entered into the joy of their Lord : together with several testimonies relating to those two faithful labourers / published for the service of truth and friends, by Thomas Camm & Charles Marshal.

John Audland's Letters and Epistles,

To Friends, soon after he was gone forth in the Ministry.

Dear Hearts,

IN the eternal Truth, every one in your Measures, mind your own condition, and be Low, Meek and Humble, for such the Lord teacheth. Mind the fear of the Lord, always to dwell in it, that his secrets may be opened, for in the fear the secrets are made ma∣nifest; and the Pure know the se∣crets, but the Wisdom of God is hid from the vulterous eye; but that eye which comes out of Death, com∣prehends Death and the Grave, and

sees God, which no Man can, but the Son declares him, for he sees him. Now dear Hearts, wait for the Son to be made manifest in you, every one in particular; keep your Eye single, that your whole Body may be full of Light. My dear Hearts, be bold in this day of the Lord, and va∣liant for the Truth upon Earth, you who are redeemed from the Earth up to God, to serve him, and are called, let nothing stand between, but keep open that Eye which com∣prehends all the Earth; keep out the Earth, lest that the Eye be vai∣led; keep clean within, that no∣thing grow up within, but what is pure, that so you may discern the im∣pure; and you who are kept pure, be bold to reprove the Unfruitful works of darkness, and have no Fellowship with them, neither with∣in, nor without, for if any thing be spared within, it will spare without; and to be Rebellious, is as the Sin of

Witchcraft. Oh, my dear Hearts, my care is, that you grow in the Truth, and that you may keep sin∣gle every one in your Measure; take heed of coldness and dulness in any, but dwell in Authority, and speak in Authory, that deceit may be con∣founded and banished from among you, that so the Pure may be che∣rished in the Truth; none be Care∣less, but be Watchful, and Watch one over another in Love, that you may be established in Righteousness, that the Land may rejoyce, and the Peaceable flourish, and all the Un∣righteous be cut down by the Righ∣teous.

And Friends, dwell in the Power of Truth, and mind the Pre∣sence of the Lord with you always, which keeps bold, and causeth you to tread upon all the Worlds Ways, Words, Worships, Priests and De∣ceits, that so you may be fed upon the Mountains in a large Pasture.

Dear Friends, mind your daily feed∣ing in that which is eternal, and feed not the Carnal, nor labour not for the Bread which perisheth, but for that which endureth for ever. And all Friends, take heed of look∣ing back, for if any draweth back my Soul hath no pleasure in him: But all dear Friends, press forward in the strait way; my Hearts desire and prayer to the Lord is, that you may grow and increase in the In∣crease of God, and that you may all be Faithful, for there is your Crown. Oh, be Faithful to the end, that you may inherit all things, and be par∣takers of that which never shall have end; and keep in the Cross daily, which will Crucifie daily, and Mortifie daily your Affections which be upon Earth; for the day of the Lord is approaching, the good and happy day, glad-Tydings to the Prisoner, but a day of Ter∣ror to the Wicked, and to all that

live in filthiness, who profess much Love to God with their Mouthes, but the Heart going after Covetous∣ness: And a word to all you who are in that condition, who draw near God with your Mouthes, but your Hearts far from him; to you who are convinced of the Truth of God, and denies the Priests in words, and come to Meet amongst the Saints, and sits like them, but do not forsake your Sins, nor own the Cross of Christ, so as to live in it, and so you give occasion to the World, to speak evil of the Gos∣pel of Christ; now to such I say, from the Lord, Depart ye Workers of Ini∣quity, terrible and dreadful is the day that shall come upon you; wo unto them that cover with a Covering, but not of the Spirit of the Lord; Fear the Lord and tremble before him, and prize your time while it is called to day, for the Lord is near, and if he find you eating and drink∣ing

with the Drunken, he will cut you assunder, and give you your Por∣tion with Hypocrites. But all my dear Friends, dwell in the Power of the Lord, and let not your minds be stained, but keep single, and stand uncovered, that so you may discern all those that are covered, and reign above them in the eternal living Truth of God, to his praise for ever∣more; Praises and Honour to our God for ever, who is worthy; for all is falling before him. My dear Friends, the Harvest here is great, even all the Fields are white, and all the dumb Dogs, and idle Shep∣herds, Drones and Loiterers, runs, quakes, trembles and flyes before us; but the Sword of the Lord is in the hands of the Saints, and this Sword divides, hews and cuts down Deceit, and so way is made for the pure Seed to arise and raign above all, which conquers all, Praises be to the Lord for evermore.

Dear Friends, the Work of the Lord is great, and many are Convin∣ced of the living Truth; and I real∣ly see the Lord will raise up to him∣self a pure and a large People, to Serve and Worship him in Spirit and in Truth.

Farewell. My dear Brother and fellow Labourer Edward Burrough Salutes you all in the Lord; and the everlasting God of Power keep you all pure to his everlasting Praise; All ye Saints of the Lord, Praise ye the Lord and Magnifie him for ever.

Your dear Brother in the Truth, John Audland.

John Audland his Epistle to Friends, from Chester City the 5th of the 5th Month.

DEar Friends and Brethren in the Eternal Truth of God, Members of the same Body, par∣takers of the unsearchable Riches of the love of God, which love endures for evermore. Oh! my dear hearts, press on in the strait way, forget∣ting those things that are behind: Every one of you in perticular, mind to dwell in the pure fear of the Lord, which will keep you pure and single, to stand in his counsel, that so you may reign above the Earth, and re∣joyce over the heads of all your E∣nemies, walking in the Light of the Lord; And dwell in the Light, and with it you will see and know all the wiles of Satan, who would lay snares

Innocent; and in the power of the Lord stand, that you in his power may have Victory. My dear Friends, what I declared to you when I was present with you, the same do I now write to you, and in the Spirit I am present with you; and therefore in the Name of the Lord, and in his fear, put on boldness, put on courage, put on strength, every one in your mea∣sure stand, and be faithful in the Work of the Lord, as his Witnesses against all the World, for unto this are you called to cast off every weight and burthen, and to run with pati∣ence the race before you, the way is strait and narrow, no unclean thing must enter, nothing that defiles must enter; unto this are you all called, to put off the old Man with his Deeds, to die daily, to forsake the World, to deny all, to lay down your lives, and to take up the Cross of Christ daily, and have no fellowship with unfruit∣ful

works of darkness; God is pure, he calls to purity. Oh! my dear Hearts, as you abide faithful, you are my joy in the Lord, my Prayers are for you; God is my Witness I make mention of you daily to the Lord: my dear and tender Plants of God, as you grow and increase in the Increase of God, my joy will increase; Oh! stand stedfast as faithful Servants, every one upon your watch, that you may pertake daily of the Joy of the Lord, and walk worthy of the Love, which the Lord hath mani∣fested unto you, watch over one an∣other in Love, in Bowels, in tender∣ness, in compassion to that which is pure; and rule over all deceit, tread upon it, and reign over it, dwell in discerning every one, and suffer not that to speak which is not of God; but all wait in Love, and walk in Love, and the Body edifies it self in Love; and the God of Peace and Love keep you pure to his eternal Praise; to all the honest in heart, I

speak, walking in the pure Light of the Lord, that you may have Do∣minion over all the Earth, and earthly minds: And so such I say, who are convinced by the Light of God, but doth not walk in the Light, How will you escape? The Lord is dreadful, his Terrour will surprize all Hypocrites, the witness of the Lord is against all such, and his Judgments will take hold upon you, his hand you cannot escape; I say to such, as I have often told you, yea, I have told you Weeping, such are Enemies to the Cross of Christ, and by him are you to be Slain, who refuse him, and will not have him to Reign over you; and there∣fore by the Dreadfulness of the Lord, I charge you to walk in Obedience to that which is committed to you, that every one of you may deny those things which the Light in the Con∣science bears witness against: And I charge you give no evil Example in

your Walkings, nor in your Mee∣tings; in your Meetings be watch∣ful, bear Reproof patiently, ex∣amine your selves, let the Light search you, and you will see Re∣proof is to you who doth not walk in the Light; and in your walkings be watchful, have no fellowship with the world; for that which is of the world, and you that have fel∣lowship with the world, cannot bear witness against the world: And therefore come out, be seperate, touch no unclean thing, and fear the living God who searcheth all Hearts, and his reward is with him, to give to every one according to his deeds: But to all you that are faith∣ful, the Joy of the Lord is your strength, the Arm of the Lord is with you, the Sickle is in your Hand, thrust in the Sickle, for the Earth is ripe, the Press is full, the Fats over∣flow, the Glory of the Lord is ap∣pearing to shake terribly the Earth,

Glory to him for evermore: Fare∣wel.

All my dear Hearts, my Bowels run out freely to you, I am with you daily in that which will never Wither: The Lord God of Power keep you pure, every one in your Measure, to his eternal Praise: my Love is to you all, and remember me dearly to all Friends every where.

Your dear Brother, a servant of the Lord, and in him can we never be separated. John Audland.

DEar, and well-beloved Friends, in the pure Love, Life and Unity of the Spirit, do I Salute you, and Greet you in the Unity of the Spirit, am I with you present, and our fellowship doth endure forever, walking in the Spirit, and keeping the Unity of the Spirit, then are we present in the Spirit: But who walk after the Flesh, and live in the Flesh, and to the Flesh, such are not present in the Spirit, who lives not in the Spirit, and all such Fruits will dye and wither and fade away. Now my dear Friends, in love and life wait in your Measure of the Spirit, that you may profit and grow up in the Spirit which is pure, and purifies, and leads up into Purity, and Holiness, and Righteous∣ness in which stands the Kingdom of God; and nothing that is unrighte∣ous can enter into that Kingdom which stands in Righteousness

where the Lamb dwells, who is the Light of the Holy City which is the Habitation of the Righteous, where the Throne of the Lamb is exalted, & all Crowns cast down, and the Lamb alone Reigns, and they who follow him, whose Garments are washed, who have come thorow Tribulation, who stands before the Throne, sing∣ing the Song of Moses and the Lamb, who are redeemed from among men; Glory, Glory for evermore, unto him who Reigns over all, who is the faithful witness, who was dead, and is alive, and lives for evermore, out of whose Mouth proceeds the two edged Sword which cuts and divides, which is as a Fire, and as a Hammer, by which Sword the wicked is slain, and none that defiles can escape it, for it turns every way to keep the tree of Life, and none have right to eat of the Tree of Life but they that enter in at the strait Gate, and stands pure before the Throne of the Lamb: from his Throne proceeds the River of living

Waters, where the Hungry & Thirs∣ty are refreshed and satisfied; and by it the righteous man is planted, & his fruit shall never wither, nor his leaf shall never fade, but shall be as a fruitful Branch abiding in the Vine, and growing in the Vine. Oh, my dear Friends, abide and continue in that which hath called you, and prize the Love of God, never let his Benefits go out of your Minds, dwell low and single in the Fear of God, that you may be kept open and tender, in Love and Unity to grow together, and there am I with you in Bowels of love and tenderness; God is my witness, my heart Burns within me to you, and my Life reacheth to the Life in you, and I have great breathings in my Spirit to the Lord for you; Oh, let me be refreshed in your growth, my well-beloved Ones in whom my Soul de∣lighteth, that we may travel on to∣gether, and feed together on that

which lives for evermore, and gives Life for ever more; be not weary, nei∣ther faint in your Journey, my dear and precious Ones but wait upon the Lord God, and your strength shall be renewed daily, and your Life re∣freshed daily; be faithful, and abide in the daily Cross of Christ, endure it, and the Enemies of God will be cut down by it, and the residue of the Heathen will be Crucified, and Christ alone Reign, and all those be cut down that would not have him to Reign, such are Enemies to the Cross, and their end is Destruction; have no fellowship with such, I ex∣hort and charge you from the Lord, who is arisen in his Power to redeem Sion, and to take Vengeance upon all his Enemies; I am melted to melt you, in pure love and tender∣ness; I am even broken to break you, the Searcher and Revealer of all Secrets, bears me witness that I lve not; and I am charged to charge

you to abide in the daily Cross of Christ, that the Just may reign, that the Living God may be exalted a∣mongst you, whose name you bear: And therefore what manner of Per∣sons ought you to be. Oh, I even beseech you, that you walk worthy of your calling, in Bowels of love: My dear and well-beloved Ones, you bear the Name of the Living God, and his Fame thorow you is spread abroad, and the Dread of the Lord God takes hold upon the Heathen, and now is the Lord making known his Wonders, as ever was in any day, his strange Act is he bringing to pass, and his Work, blessed are your Eyes that see and your Ears that hear, and who are not offended at his coming, but deny all to fol∣low him, that you may be found worthy to believe in him, and suffer with him, that you may Reign with him, for evermore. Let it not be a light thing, to any amongst you, that you bear the Name of the

holy One, but for his glory by whom you are called, and whose Name you bear, stand single and abide in the Life, and follow the Lamb whi∣thersoever he goeth, that the Hea∣then may be confounded, and scat∣tered, who watch against you, that they might say, where is their God. And now are they gathering toge∣ther all their Inchanters, if so be they might prevail; for now the day of their Torment is begun, and the Voice of him that hath roared from his holy Place doth pursue them, and their can be no hiding place found; Terrour, Wo and Misery is coming upon all the Inhabitants of the Earth, let all Flesh bow and tremble before the Lord, his Fire is kindled, and his Sword is drawn, and his Bow is bent, and his Sword shall be made fat with Slain, and drunk with the Blood of his Enemies; the Sword is doubled that no Flesh may escape from the South to the North: Because of the Tidings, I am Smit∣ten

to Smite; the Lion hath roared, terrour, terrour to all the World, the day of Visitation is come, the day of Redemption is come, the day of Recompence is come, the Jealousie of the Lord will burn like Fire, and the Word of the Lord is gone forth, and by his own Power shall it be fullfiled: And the Vials, Wrath, Judgment, Vengeance, and the mighty Storm of Hail shall be pou∣red upon the Heathen, and who can stand when God doth this? And this is his day, and by his own Arm shall be performed, the Righteous shall shine forever, and ever, and shall dwell on high, their Bread shall be sure, their Waters shall not fail, the Just God will do Righteous∣ly, and the Righteous shall not pe∣rish with the wicked; the Lord hath said it: The righteous ones shall be rewarded, and shall Inherit the holy Mountain, and lie down in the Mountain where the Lion and the Lamb lie down together, and

the Wrath of the Lamb is as the roaring of the Lion, and all who follow the Lamb, the Lion goes be∣fore them; there is your strength, my beloved Ones, stand stedfast and be faithful, and the Lord is with you, and no Weapon formed against you shall prevail: The mighty Power of the Lord God go along with you, to keep you in his pure Power and Life for evermore; in which Power and Life I am with you bound up and sealed, and continues forever, to be your dear Brother in the Unity of the Spirit, and in the Bond of Peace. And Grace, Mercy, Peace, Love and Unity from the Lord Jesus Christ be multiplied in you and a∣mongst you, and the God of Power Peace and Love keep you pure and single, and preserve you for evermore. Moved of the Lord; farewell.

Your Dear Brother in that which never changeth. John Audland.

John Audland's Let∣ter. &c.

DEarly beloved ones in the Lord Jesus Christ; Grace, Mercy and Peace from God be multiplied to you, and in you; you my dear ones whom my Life reacheth out unto, with whom I am present in the eter∣nal Spirit of the living God in the pure eternal Love and Life of God do I Salute you, and greet you as with a holy Kiss; the Love of God which is shed abroad in my heart runs forth freely to you; Lambs of God, Babes of God, to you my Life doth reach: Little Children who are begotten to a lively hope by the Re∣surrection of the Dead, to you I write from the pure Life, to the stir∣ing up of your pure minds, that in the pure mind you may abide in the

lively hope, quietly to wait for the Revelation of the Son of God in you▪ which is ready to be revealed now in the last time, that you may witness him the s••eond time without Sin unto Salvation, who comes to condemn Sin in the Flesh who is now making him∣self manifest to take away Sin, that you may witness him without Sin, the Lamb without Spot, who takes a∣way Sin, to know him and be in him, without which there is no knowledg of him, and to abide in him; who gives an understanding to know him which is eternal Life this to witness; & to you this is the Word of the Lord little Children, that you may wait as new born Babes to be fed with the sin∣cere Milk of the Word, that by it you may grow up into him, and in him, who is the Word which reconcileth to God, which Hammers down all deceit which burns up all the dross, which treads down all the wicked under his Feet; whose Vesture is dipt in Blood, who treads the Wine Press, whose

Arm alone brings Salvation to this People, whose Name is called the Word of God, which Word doth divide and separate betwixt the pre∣cious and the vile, which Word is nigh you in your Hearts and in your Mouths, abide in it and wait upon it, and take counsel at it continually as at the Oracle of God, by which hearing comes, and faith comes, which gives the victory over the World, and leads you to deny the World; little Children, Heirs of ano∣ther World, so in that continue which hath turned your minds from the World towards God, from the Darkness to the Light; which leads up to Christ from the World, and guides unto God, and keeps in the way to eternal Inheritance which never fades; that through many tribulations you may see the entrance into the Kingdom where the World is overcome, and he raigns who overcomes the World; so abiding in him you abide in peace out of the

World where there is trouble, and there is your reward; verily my dear ones, all the sufferings of this present World is not worthy to be named with the Glory that is reveal∣ed at the revelation of the Son of God; so in the Light abide which leads up to the perfect Day, and walk as Children of the Day, redeem∣ing your time, and prising your time, the large Love of the Lord and his benefits may never slip out of your minds; so in the presence of the Lord do I exhort you, my beloved ones in the Lord, and charge you to abide in him, that you may grow up in the Unity of the Spirit, and keep the Unity: that which goes out breaks the Unity; and to you this is the Word of God, little Children.

Your Brother in the unchangable Love in the eternal Ʋnity of the Spirit. John Audland.

The 28th day of the 8th Month 1654.

A Letter sent unto Charles Marshall by John Aud∣land, 1654.

I am moved to write unto thee, to stand still in the Light which shows thee thy wretched state; by that Light, thou comest to see thy self where thou art, and how thou hast spent thy time: thy knowledge of God and profession of God, now comes to wither, that which thou hast gathered without, perisheth and stands thee in no stead; (Now) in that, that shows thee thy conditi∣on, wait, that the judgment of the Lord may be made manifest in thee upon the head of the wicked, and through judgment Sion may be set free. Abide in that which is the condemnation of all that's wicked, both within thee and without thee

start not aside from the judgments of the Lord, for his judgments are righteous, and all his ways are equal; if thou art brought as low as Hell, yea, if thou come to say there is no hope, let Patience have her perfect work in thee, and stand still and see the Salvation of God, and a way will be made beyond thy understand∣ing, for the deliverance of the oppres∣sed, for the freedom of his chosen, for the bringing of the Prisoner out of the Prison-House: Now, Friend from the Lord do I speak unto thee, to wait in the Light that shews thee thy condition, that thou mayst know one of the Days of the Son of Man, which came not to send peace on the Earth, but a Sword, and to kindle a Fire, and thou wilt love to know his judgments: he comes to shut and to open, thy right Eye must be pluckt out, and that Eye opened which the Prince of the Air hath blinded in the Chrildren of disobe∣dience.

Abide in that which judg∣eth; do not labour to get peace to that, that's now wounded, that the Judgments of the Lord may pass through the Earth, and the Serpents head come to be bruised, and the promise of God be made manifest unto the seed, and through judg∣ment the door of Mercy comes to be opened. Judgment upon the unjust, is mercy to the just, which hath been oppressed by the unjust; And to thee, this is the Word of the Lord; he that comes to the Worlds end, comes to his Wits end; before that World be known, which never shall have end, and that fruitful Field must become a barren Wilder∣ness, and the pure Plant of Gods own planting, must spring out of a barren Ground; so in the Light, which is of God, by which thou seest thy condition, stand and wait for the Power of the living God to be made manifest in thee, that that which

hath been high might be brought low, and that of low degree exalted, and to thee, this is the Word of the Lord, to that in thy Conscience I speak; by which Light thou now standest condemned, by which Light all that walk in it are justified, and led up to God, and the precious seperated from the vile, & all the wicked cast out, and the elected alone obtains the King∣dom: So the mighty God of Power direct thee, and open thy understand∣ing, that in his Light thou mayst come to see Light, and by the power∣ful Word may be stripped of all, and suffer the loss of all, that God alone may be exalted.

By one who hath suffered the loss of all, and through Death is passed unto Life. J. A.

A Letter sent unto John Aud∣land, by his Wife, 1654.

DEar Brother, dearer to me, then ever; My love flows out to thee, even the same love that I am loved withal of my Father, in that love Salute me to all my Friends, for dear you are all unto me, my life is much refreshed, in hearing from you; I received thy Letters, and all my Soul desireth, is, to hear from thee in the life; dear Heart, in Life dwell, there I am with thee out of all time, out of all Words, in the pure Power of the Lord, there is my joy and strength; O! How am I refreshed to hear from thee, to hear of thy faithfulness and boldness in the Work of the Lord, O! Dear Heart I cannot utter the joy I have concerning thee; thy presence I have continually in Spirit, therewith am I

filled with joy, all glory and honour be to our God forever. O! blessed be the Day in which thou waft born, that thou art found worthy to la∣bour in the work of the Lord, sure∣ly the Lord hath found thee faithful in a little, therefore he hath com∣mitted much unto thee, go on in the Name and Power of the Lord Jesus Christ, from whence all strength cometh, to whom be all glory and honour forever. O! dear Heart, go on, conquering and to conquer, knowing this, that thy Crown is sure. So, dear Heart, now is the time of the Lords Work, and few are willing to go forth into it, all the whole World lieth in wickedness doing their own work; but blessed be the Lord forever who hath called us from doing our own work into his great work, O! Marvellous are his Works, and his Wayes past find∣ing out, O! Dear Heart, thou know∣est my Heart, thou mayst read day∣ly

how that I rejoyce in nothing more than in thy prosperity in the Work of the Lord: Oh! It is past my utterance to express the joy I have for thee, I am full, I am full of love towards thee, never such love as this; the Mighty Power of the Lord go along with thee, and keep thee faithful and valient and bold in his pure Counsel, to stand single out of all the World. Oh! Dear Heart, all my love to thee is purer then Gold se∣ven times purified in the Fire: Oh! pure is he that hath loved us, there∣fore let Purity and Holiness cover us for ever: a joyful word it was to me to hear that thou wast moved to go for Bristol: Oh! my own Heart, my own life in that which now stands, act and obey, that thou mayst stand upon thy alone Guard; so dear Heart, let thy Prayers be for me, that I may be kept pure, out of all Temptations, singly to dwell in the Life; So fare well.

Ann Andland.

John Audlands Letter from Citsester to Friends at Bri∣stol, the 26th of the 10th Month, 1654.

Dear Friends,

LAmbs and Babes of the most high God, who are turned from the ways and vanities of the World, and who are brought to wait upon the Lord in patience and singleness; be∣ing begotten to a lively Hope, by the Resurrection of the Dead, Grace, Mercy and Peace from God be mul∣tiplied in you, and among you, that you may grow up in the eternal Unity and fellowship of the Spirit, to walk in the Spirit, and to wor∣ship God in Spirit, and by it you will see and discern all the wayes and vanities of the World, and all the worships of the World to be with∣out

God, in the heathenish nature, strangers from the life of God with∣out the Covenant of peace, and in the Covenant with Death and Hell, unto which there is no peace: But the Lord God of life and peace is arising, and risen to hew down all deceit, and false ways, and to set up Righ∣teousness and Purity, and to establish his Covenant unto his People; and to bring in everlasting peace by Jesus Christ, who is come to Preach Peace to the Captives, to open the Prison Doors, to set free the oppressed; and to visit the desolate, and to inlarge the Borders of the Barren: and his day is dawning among you, and the day-Star is appearing in you, which will lead to the man-Child, and to the Son of righteousness, which is eternal Life to know him, and be in him; and who are not in him death reigns and rules, and the Bond of Iniquity, and the Chains of Darkness stands, and Binds and Prisons the Just; which

is for condemnation, when he ap∣pears, who will judge the Secrets of all mens Hearts: And this is the day of the Lord God wherein he is bringing back the Captivity of his People. And you whose minds are turned to him, wait upon him in patience, having your minds guided up unto him, growing together in Love and Unity, that the Head and Husband may be exalted in all▪ and then the Bed is not defiled, but the Marriage is honourable; but the Adulterer God will judge and con∣demn, and such who wander abroad changeth their way, and sets up I∣dols and strange Gods, and other Lovers, and joyns to strange Flesh, and feeds that which is for Judgment, and to be fed with Judgment. But dear and precious Ones, and well-be∣loved in the Lord Jesus Christ, dwell in Judgment; the Just delights in it, and the unjust comes to be cut down by it, and through judgment Sion

come to be redeemed, and the filthy is destroyed, and Purity and Holi∣ness comes to be witnessed; the Light is that which condemns the unjust: and all waiting in the Light ye have fellowship one with another, and your Unity stands in that which is the Worlds condemnation: and so against all the World ye stand and bear witness by that which is not of the World; but is from above, and leads up into that which is above, and condemns all that which is below, and from below, which is contrary to the Light of Jesus Christ, which Light shews the Door, and guides into the entrance of the eternal In∣heritance, and shews you the In∣heritance which is incorruptible, which nothing must inherit that is corruptible; so in the Light abide, which leads up to the perfect Day, that you may all walk as Children of the Day, growing up in the true Vine, and abiding in the Vine, that

your Fruit may appear, not as the untimely Figs which fall away; but as that which is founded upon the true Foundation; and will stand and abide in the Day of Tryal; so dear and tender Ones, grow in Love, and let Love be multiplyed among you, and wait upon the Lord in the daily Cross that you may be cruci∣fied to the World, and the mighty Power of the Lord will apear a∣mongst you, meeting often together; and faint not, neither be weary, the Lord God will appear amongst you, and terrour shall smite your Enemies; so in the Name of the Lord do we ex∣hort you and charge you, to abide in that which you have received from the Lord, waiting upon him in meek∣ness and lowliness; and the humble shall know his way. So keep low and learn, and Grace will be given un∣to the humble; my Life reacheth to you, my Soul is poured forth to the Lord for you, that you may

grow and increase in the unsearch∣able Riches of Christ, and the mighty Power of the Lord God be among you, and in you, to carry you through, that you may Inherit all things.

I Salute you all in the Bowels of love, and am your Servant for Jesus sake, and am with you in Joy and in Tribulation.

John Audland.

John Audlands Letter from Kendal, to Friends at Bristol, June, 1655.

DEarly beloved in the Lord Jesus Christ, Grace, Mercy and Peace be multiplied in you, and among you, that in it you may all be established, and grow as living Plants, and be fruitful in him that hath called you to Grace and Vertue, that you may live in it, and abound in every good work to the praise of the Lord, whose love hath been ma∣nifested amongst you, and you have heard his Voice, and been Witnes∣ses of his Power, and his eternal Love hath been abundant towards you: Therefore all Friends, of your high calling walk worthy, and press hard after the Mark, so runing that ye

may obtain, every one of you in particular, abiding in the strait way, and in the Cross daily, which is the delight of the Just, and peace and refreshment to the Just in you all, that in the Just you may all dwell, and then the earthly comes to dye, and judgment is executed upon the wicked, and the Famine comes on all the Gods of the Earth, and the day of separation and sorrow upon all the Lovers, and the Mortification of the old Man, and as that dies the Spirit is quickned, and waiting on the Lord every one, your strength comes to be renewed, and your Life refreshed. So, to you all Friends, Lambs and Babes of God, whose minds are staid upon God, their Food you will receive from the living God, and grow every one in your Measure, walking as you have received, and prising the love of God unto you, which hath been and

is large and bountiful, who hath searched you out, who was scatter∣ed in the cloudy dark day, and found no rest to your Souls, but wander∣ed from Mountain to Hill, and laid dissolate and barren in a waste how∣ling Wilderness, and no eye pitied, but he alone who is mighty to save, hath visited you, and your time was the time of love, and he hath loved you with an everlasting love, and drawn you in much tender mer∣cy, and given his Son for a Light, that you might all walk in it, and have fellowship in it: And now my dearly beloved ones, stand fast in that which brings eternal Free∣dom, and makes free; and be faith∣ful every one in your measure; to you all I speak as to one, that you may grow in love, and walk in love, and in it be established, for it will endure for ever; oh! let it be your joy to do the will of God in

all singleness, and to dwell in his fear, and abide in the daily Cross, rea∣son not, nor consult not, for the mystery is hid from that eye; but dwell low, and learn there, that subject to the Yoke every one of you may be, and wait upon the Lord, meeting in his fear, watching one over another, and abiding in the Light, that your fellowship may stand in that which is the Worlds condemnation; my Soul is poured out to the Lord for you, and my Bowels runeth freely to you, in pure love and singleness, that you may all be preserved in the pure fear of the Lord, out of the snares of the Enemy, that in the eternal Counsel of God you may abide, and be sted∣fast in the hour of Temptation: Dear Hearts, keep every one to your own measure, which from the Lord is given unto you, that you may witness the presence of the Lord a∣mongst

you, and find his Power, and hear his Voice, that your Hearts may be kept open to receive the liv∣ing Mercies from the living God, that in the day of tryal you may stand, and in the time of Famine your Soul's may be kept alive: and when the Lord takes account of you, you may give it with joy, and be found faithful and fruithful in him; This charge do I lay upon you from the Lord, that you dwell and abide low in the Fear of the Lord, in love to God, there walking every one in the living, as examples, that the Lord alone may be exalted, no Pride, no Strife, but in the Cross abide, which judgeth that, and takes away the occasions of Wars; and the eternal everlasting power∣ful Presence of the Lord keep you all, and be amongst you, and go along with you, for evermore.

I am your dear Friend and

Companinon in joy and Tribula∣tion.

John Audland.

My dear Brother John Camm, doth dearly Salute you all in that which is eternal and never, chang∣eth, he is pretily recovered, and to you his love is exceeding great.

The School-Master Disciplin'd: Or, a Reply to a lying Paper, En∣titul'd, the Gadding Tribe reproved: Put forth under the Name of George Willington, School-Master in the City of Bristol; in which he is proved to be the gadder and lyar, which with the Light is for condemnation.

Also, an Answer to a Scandalous Paper, put forth by William Prynne, entitu∣led, The Quaker unmasked, and clear∣ly detected; wherein his Slanders are made to appear, and he clearly detect∣ed, being taken with a lye in his mouth.

Whereunto is added a Reply to an additional Pa∣per, put forth by William Prynne, in his lying inlarged Edition of his scandalous Paper afore∣mentioned; in which he is more unmasked, and proved to be spawned from the father of Lyes, whose refuge is sweeping away.

WHereas there is a Paper late∣put forth, intitul'd, The gadding Tribe reproved by the Light of the Scriptures, by one who writes

himself George Willington, School-Master in the City of Bristol, whose Book is very silly and vain; but that Fools love to be medling: and in it there is much railing, lying, and false accusing▪ against those people, called by the Scorners, Quakers: I shall say something as to it, for the Truths sake, that the lyes may rest upon his own head, from whence they came: Whereas thou sayest, A word from the Word to the Serpent generation, called Quakers, especially to the conniving Seducer, John Aud∣land, and the rest of his Brethren in iniquity, who have of late set forth a malicious Pamphlet against our godly Magistrates, and faithful Ministers, intituled, The innocent delivered out of the snare, and the blind guide fallen in∣to the Pit.

Reply, The innocent delivered out of the snare, is not malicious; and in this thou art a false accuser; and in saying I am a Seducer, thou

art a Slanderer, I charge thee to prove it, and in what? which thou hast not yet done, though thou rail upon me; and I did not write mali∣ciously against any, much less against Godly Magistrates and faithful Mi∣nisters; but Godly Magistrates I own, and honour in the Lord, and faithful Ministers I have unity with∣al, and brethren in iniquity are deni∣ed; therefore thee I do deny, who a worker of iniquity art found, and from the presence of the Lord shut among the Serpent Generation, who in scorn calls us Quakers; and the word is against thee, who art feed∣ing upon dust, and going upon thy Belly, and the Word of the Lord, even the word of Truth is against thee, who art an accuser of the Bre∣thren, and rewarded must thou be according to' thy deeds; and though thou hast named that Book, the In∣nocent Delivered, yet let all take no∣tice, who reads thy filthy Paper, that

thou hast not answered any one thing there demanded, neither con∣futed any one answer in that Book; so the snare remains broken, and the Innocent is delivered, and he that digged a pit, into it himself falls, and the Scripture is fulfilled, they that help, and he that is holpen, both fall together.

And whereas thou sets down many Scriptures, as of blind guides, Ser∣pents; Scribes, Pharisees, Hypocrites, whited Sepulchres, and writest, Ye Serpents, ye Vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of Hell? ye are they that justifie your selves before men, but that which is highly esteemed amongst men, is an abomination to the Lord.

Relpy; In that which is an abomi∣nation to the Lord thou art, which is esteemed amongst men, and these Scriptures were spoken to thy Gene∣ration; and upon thy own Head they are returned; for we seek not

the praise of men, neither have we the praise of men, and therefore it is that the Blind guides, Vipers, Ser∣pents gather themselves together a∣gainst the Truth, which by the Power of God is now spreading a witness against all deceit and de∣ceivers.

Thou sayest thou writest directly to thee, John Audland, and usest these words, thou hypocrite, why hath Satan filled thy heart to lye against the Holy Ghost? why boastest thou thy self in mischief? O mighty man! thy Tongue deviseth mischief like a sharp Rasor, thou lovest evil more then good; thou lovest all devouring words: O thou deceitful Tongue! God shall destroy thee for ever: And sayest, Paul set his eyes on Elimas the Sorcerer, and said (as I may say to thee John Audland) O full of subtilty and all mischief, thou Child of the Devil; and sayest, re∣pent of this thy wickedness, for I per∣ceive thou art in the gall and bitter∣ness,

and in the Bond of iniqui∣ty, and many such works thou wri∣test.

Reply; Take it to thy self who art of the Generation to which it was spoken, for home to thee do I return it, who art in the bitterness, and in the gall, loving all devouring words, these things comes not neer me, but over thy head do I rejoyce, the mise∣ry will fall upon thy self, and thy unclean Spirit the Lord rebuke, a false accuser thou art, and a Slan∣derer; I do not love evil more than good, if I had, I should not have become thine Enemy; neither am I in the gall of bitterness, or bond of ini∣quity; thou hast uttered that which thou knowest not, for if thou hadst known what this means (I will have Mercy and not Sacrifice) thou wouldst not have condemned the in∣nocent.

And whereas thou sayest, judge not, that thou be not judged, and judge no∣thing

before the time; and with what measure thou meetest, it shall be mea∣sured to thee again, and writest a∣gainst others for railing and judg∣ing.

Reply; Thou art inexcusable, who judgest another, and dost the same thing; thy Mouth is full of railing, lying, false accusing, which proceeds out of the abundance of thy Heart, as in thy Book appears, and out of thy own Mouth thou art condemned; and this I demand, whether calling others Serpents, Vipers, full of all mischief, Chil∣dren of the Devil, be not judging? and if this be not, then shew the dif∣ference between this and judging; thou hast gone about to confute that the Saints are not to judge, and that confutes thee, who yet knows not a Saints Life, and art so blind thou cannot behold that thou alloweth thy self in the thing which thou condemneth, and with what mea∣sure

thou measurest, it shall be mea∣sured to thee again: good weight shalt thou receive from the hand of the Lord, who art weighed, and found as Chaff which the Wind drives to and fro.

In thy 7th page, thou beseecheth all who shall read thy Book, upon consider∣ation of the premises (which is these things before mentioned) to avoid, and abandon the Meetings, Books, errone∣ous Doctrines, and hellish Blasphemies, of this new upstart impious Generation.

Reply; All who knows the Lord, and reads thy Book, will avoid thee and it, and have no fellowship, with such unfruitful works of Dark∣ness: thou hast forgotten, judge not; and thou Hypocrite, first cast out the beam, thy envious Spirit which fomes like the Sea, casting up filth, swells beyond its bounds, but thou art limited, as all thy impious Gene∣ration have been; and by the Power of the Lord are we preserved from

thy errors and hellish Blasphemy; and thy railing and slandering return up∣on thy self, fruitless Tree, upon which no Grapes are gathered.

Thou sayest, what Paul said to the Galatians, the same thou wilt say to the giddy-headed People of the Church of England.

Reply; The true Church is in God, builded upon the true Rock, and is not giddy-headed; here thou manifests the fruits of the Teachers, who so long hath taught, and had so much for teaching, and the Church of England yet giddy-headed; but the Lord is coming to gather his people into the true Fold, from the mouths of all Idol Shepherds, and to teach his People himself, that they may be established in righteousness.

Thou sayest, Paul taught the Ro∣mans, and in them us; first, that it is the imputed Righteousness of Christ only, that makes us just in the sight of God. Secondly, that our election

is of Gods free Grace. Thirdly, that me are justified only by faith in the Sight of God, without good works: Fourthly, that the Scriptures are of di∣vine authority.

Reply; Silence flesh before the Lord, upon the Children of disobe∣ience, shall the Wrath of God be revealed; own thy Portion what Paul said to such as thee, thou must witness a change before that which Paul wrote to the Romans be to thy condition; the Lord is our Righte∣ousness, and our Justification, and by his Grace we are saved, who hath elected us, and chosen us in Christ Jesus, who hath all power and au∣thority committed unto him, and upon whose Shoulders the Govern∣ment is laid, but from thy earthly wisdom is the Election and the Faith hid, who art without good works, and belyes the Apostle, and ignorant art of the Letter which kills.

Fifthly, Thou sayest, no man since the fall of Adam can perfectly fulfil the Law of God in this Life, and therefore cannot merit, except it be wrath.

Reply; For meriting the wrath, its thy own, but Christ Jesus since the fall of Adam hath perfectly ful∣filled the Law of God, and there is Salvation in no other, and the righ∣teousness of the Law is fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit, but by the works of the Law no flesh shall be justi∣fied, for the Commandment which was ordained unto Life, wrought Death; if thou can here thou may.

In thy sixth and seventh thou sayst, that he that hath received a Ministry should wait on his Ministry, and take heed to fulfil it, and that every Soul must be subject to the higher Power, and yeild obedience to eve∣ry Ordinance of theirs, if not con∣trary

to Gods Word. Reply; Thou slanders us, and rails upon us who hath received a Ministry from God, and waits to fulfil it, and thou re∣ceives such as come in their own Name, who are made by the will of man, and against such do we bear witness by the Power of God, unto which our Souls is subject for Con∣science sake, and to every ordinance for the Lords sake, which is not contrary to Gods Word. Thou sayest thou art afraid that the Lord hath a controversie with the Church of England.

Reply; Fearfulness surprizeth the heart of the Hypocrite, and a con∣troversie hath the Lord with you, be∣cause of your iniquities; misery is coming upon you fearful ones, and unbelievers, who are no Church of Christ, but a Synagogue of Satan, who say, they are Jews, and are not, but are a giddy-headed Church, as thou con∣fessest.

Thou sayest, Make not the Light within a rule to walk by, and yet saith, follow the Light within, and Teacher within; what else?

Reply; The Light discovers thee to be in confusion, they that walk in the Light stumbles not, and they who love the Light bring their deeds to it, and believes in the Light; but their deeds are evil who hate it, and walk not in it, and there is thy con∣demnation.

Thou sayest, He that entreth not in by the door, (to wit, a true and lawful call) but climbeth up some other way, the same is a Thief and a Robber, and such are the Quakers; but he that entreth in by the door is the Shepherd of the Sheep, and such are your ancient Divines.

Reply; Here thou (as in other places) art a false accuser, and a perverter of the Scriptures, your Divines are not the Shepherd, there thou are a Blasphemer, who would

set up false Christs the true She∣pherd laid down his Life for the Sheep, and he is the Door, and them whom thou slanderest, enters in at the Door where no Thief, nor no Diviner can enter, nor no Hireling, which the true Shepherd cryed a∣gainst.

And as thou sayest, Thou will speak something to our Principles; first, for judging.

Reply; Thou hast judged us to be Deceivers and Seducers, and false Accusations against the Truth thou hast brought, and against some in particular, naming, that John Aud∣land was a Child of the Devil, and yet thou hast confessed thou never saw me, nor heard me, but thou hast not proved wherein, which I charge thee to do publikely, or own thy condemnation for thy slandring, ly∣ing, and backbiting, thy saying that it is so, doth not make it to be so, and that which thou calls confu∣tation

confutes thy self but proves nothing against the Saints judging them whom they saw and discerned to be unlearned; for when an Un∣believer came in, or one that was unlearned, he was judged of all, and the thoughts of his heart made ma∣nifest, and this honour have all the Saints, to execute upon the Heathen all the judgments written; and the Scripture we own, and the Saints Life, by which thou art judged, and with the Light condemned, who judgest and acts against the Saints with that mind that is for judg∣ment.

The Second is, that they are not true Ministers, which are called by mans Ministers, or by a mediate call from man, and this thou goest about to confute, by saying that Christ ordained Apostles and Dis∣ciples: And the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas, and Saul, for the work of the Ministry, and that

there was Elders ordained in the Church, and the like.

Reply; These things proves no∣thing to thy mediate call, or mans Ministry; Christ is not born by the will of man, and holy men spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost, and no Prophesie came by the will of man; Paul a Minister and Apo∣stle, not by the, will of man; and that which is highly esteemed a∣mongst men is abomination in the sight of God: and there is thy me∣diate call, and mans Ministery, which the Scriptures speaks not of; what Christ did, and the Saints did, was by the Power of God, and the Holy Ghost spoke to them, no Voice of that is heard in thy mediate call▪ or mans Ministry, therefore denied by them who are guided by the Spi∣rit of the Lord, who receives not the Ministry of man, but by the Reve∣lation of Jesus Christ, and that's not mans Ministry.

The Third is, that we are to salute no man.

Reply; this is thy own, and in thy confutatiou thou answerst thy self; for the Saints Salutation we own, and honour all men in the Lord, which is more than the Hea∣then do; but we have learned not to fashion our selves according to the World, and to deny the customs of the Heathen and their flattering Ti∣tles, and vain fashions, which is without the fear of God, who have mens persons in admiration because of advantage, and respects mens persons, and commits sin; and a difference do we put betwixt the Saints Salutation, and the vain fashions and customs of the Heathen, which Israel was not to observe.

The Fourth is, that the Scripture oughe not to be expounded, and that ex∣pounding of Scripture is an adding to Scripture, and if we add, then God will add to as all the Plagues that are

written therein, and in thy confutati∣on, saith, Christ expounded Scrip∣ture.

Reply; He that adds the Plagues is to be added to him, as it is written; but thy other words is false, and thy own, it is your own Imagination of the Scripture which we deny, wrest∣ing it as thou hast done, and adding with thy Envious Spirit against the Truth; but that Christ expounded the Scriptures was never denied by us, and that he opened their understand∣ings to understand the Scriptures, we own and witness, and the Spirit of Christ is one in all his Saints; and for the lye, let it return upon thy own Head.

Thy Fift is, That it is not lawful to use the title of Master to any, and in thy confutation thou saith, Christ was called Master; and where it is said, Be ye not called Masters, for one is your Master even Christ, thou sayest, the

meaning is not, that it is unlawful to be called Master.

Reply; thou shews thy self to be none of Christs Servant, who pleads against his command, and saith, he bad them avoid a thing which was not unlawful, if it be not un∣lawful, its lawful; thou hast forgot∣ten now to make Scripture thy rule, as for Christ being called Master, he was and is so, and whom he made Ministers, he made them not Ma∣sters, for they had one Master, and him we own to be Master; and in this thou art a Lyar, and of the De∣vil, who saith, we say it is not law∣ful to use the title of Master to any; and we likewise say, and exhort thereto, that Servants should be Obedient to their own Masters, not as Men-pleasers with Eye∣service, but serving the Lord.

Thy sixt is, That Infant-Baptism is no Ordinacne of Christ, and therefore of no use in the Church

of God; and thou saiys, an ex∣press command thou grants is not to be found; but thou saith In∣fants were Circumcised, and Bap∣tisin is ordained in the room of that.

Reply; We deny it to be an Or∣dinance of Christ, or that it came in the room of Circumcision; the Scripture speaks of no such thing as Infant-Baptism, and till thou prove it came in the room of Circumcisi∣on, thy saying proves nothing: the Male-Children were Circumcised, In room of what came in your Fe∣male Children to be Sprinkled? thou speaks thou knows not what, he is a Jew who is one inwardly, and Baptism is by the Spirit, and Cir∣cumcision is that of the Heart, he that is in Christ is an new Creature, born again of Water, and of the Spi∣rit, such are Partakers of the Ordi∣nance, and are Members of the Church, and that which is no Ordinance of

Christ is of no use in the Church of God, but is by the Children of Light denied.

Thy Seventh head is, That we say, that the Lords Supper is of no use in the Church of God, since the Resurrection of Christ.

Reply; This is an absolute Lye, never spoken or owned by us; I charge thee to prove it either by our words, or writings, or let shame cover thy Lips, Lyar for the Lake, and own thy Condemnation for thy Slandring, Lying, and false accusing.

Thou sayst, It was not thy purpose to have writ a Treatise of this subject till of late, finding that none answered the Book before mentioned.

Reply; Thy Treatise is Lyes and and Rayling Language against the Servants of God, but the Book is yet unanswered; the filthy fily lying Paper, is not taken for answer to that Book; and of-late thou begin∣ness

to vent out thy mischief and thy ignorance, old rotten dull stuff it is; like the evil treasure it proceeded from, and they who read thy Paper, whose understanding is opened, will discern thy ignorance and malice, and deny thy unclean spirit, for a∣mong the Children of Light thy un∣fruitful works of darkness is denied, and cast out, and thy formed Wea∣pon cannot prosper; but the Lord will wound the head of the wicked, he will bruise thee as with a rod of Iron, and dush thee in peeces like a Potters Vessel: this is answered, not because it was particularly against me, but for the Truths sake, that the lies which he had raised against it, may return up∣on his own Head.

John Audland.

An Answer to a Scandalous Paper, Entituled, The Quakers unmasked, put forth by▪ William Prynne, where∣in his Slanders are made to appear, and he is found with a Lye in his Mouth.

I Meeting with a Paper, Entituled, The Quakers unmasked and clear∣ly Detected: Put forth by William Prynne, wherein he slanders and falsly accuseth those People scorn∣fully called Quakers, and saith they are sent from Rome to seduce the in oxicated, giddy headed English Nation; his ground being an infor∣mation (he saith) taken upon Oath in the City of Bistol, which he sets down, as followeth; The Informa∣tion of George Cowlishaw of the City

of Bristol aforesaid, Iron-monger, taken the two and twentieth day of January, 1654. who informeth up∣on his Oath, that in the Month of September last, this Informant had some discourse in Bristol, with one he calls Mr Coppinger an Irish man, formerly a School-fellow of his, that came thither purposely for his pas∣sage into Ireland, who told this Informant, that he had lived in Rome and Italy eight or nine years, and had taken upon him the order of a Fryer of the Franciscan Company; and he told this Informant that he had been at London lately, for some Months, and whilest he was there he had been at all the Churches and meetings publike and private that he could here of, and that none came so neer him as the Quakers, and being at a meeting of the Quakers, he there met with two of his acquaintance in Rome, the which two persons were of the same Franciscan order and

company that were now become chief Speakers amongst the Quakers; and he himself had spoken amongst the Quakers in London, about thirty times, and was well approved of a∣mongst them; and this Informant further saith, that rhe said Coppin∣ger asked him, what kinds of Opini∣ons in Religion there was in Bristol, and this Informant told him, that there were several opinions and judgements, and not naming any Opinions of the Quakers; the said Coppinger asked him whether there had been any Quakers in Bristol; and the said Informant answered him no; whereupon the said Coppinger told him (the said Informant) two or three times, that if he did love his Religion and his Soul, he should not hear them, whereupon this In∣formant told him, that he thought none of them would come to Bristol, who expresly replyed, that if this In∣formant would give him five pound,

he would make it five Hundred Pounds if some Quakers did not come to Bristol within three weeks or a month then following; and on the morrow following, the said Coppinger departed from this City for Ireland, his Native place, and about eighteen dayes after, there came to this City two Persons, that bare the name of Quakers: This is a true Coppy of the Information ta∣ken upon Oath at Bristol.

This Being the ground of that scandalous Paper, put forth by thee William Prynne, to it I shall answer, and clearly make appear, that these scandals are false and full of confusi∣on: First, that they are false, it will appear two of us (whom the World reproachfully calls Quakers, came from the North (being moved of the Lord to come to the City of Bristol) our birth and being according to the Flesh, was in Westmoreland, not far from Kendal, and there at this pre∣sent;

is our outward Habitations and Families: We came from thence in the Month called June, and we came into the City of Bristol the 12th day of the Month, called July, and on the morrow (being the 13th day) we were at two Mee∣tings, the one was with the People called Anabaptists, the other with the People called Independants, and were moved by the Lord to speak at both their Meetings, which we did, and this was the thirteenth day of the Month, called July, which was a little before the Fair at Bristol, called Jame's-Fair, as several of those People can bear witness. Then further thou saith, it being in September, George Cowlishaw, being asked by the said Coppinger, if there had been none of those People called Quakers at Bristol, he answered no: now this is false, some of us (who is so called) was then at Bristol, and here I shall take many People to

witness against thee, for we had Meetings then in Bristol, the tenth day of the Mouth called September, we had a Meeting at the Fort, the thireenth day of the same Month, a Meeting at the Red-Lodge in Bristol, and at both Meetings there were several Hundreds of People: and likewise a Meeting at Fieltin, the fifteenth day of the same Month, and the seventeenth day we had a Meeting at Bishford, and Hundreds went out of the City of Bristol to that Meeting: the nineteenth day we had another Meeting at the Red-Lodge; and several other Meetings we had in about Bristol in the same Month, called September, which will all bear witness against thee, that thy slander is false, and thy Oath false, who saith we were at Bristol in September, which he hath said on his Oath we were not; and here I have proved thy informa∣tion false; again, it is full of confusi∣on,

who saith that Coppinger said that none came so near him as the Quakers, and that he met with two in London of his own order, and yet he saith to the Informant, if that he loved his Religion and his Soul, he should not hear them, and yet saith they came near him, and was of his own order, which is false, we deny such Lyers, and their Order, and here he is proved to be in confusion, let all that can discern judge.

Again, the man that took the Oath (as thou sayest) said that Cop∣pinger was one of the Franciscan company, and had taken upon him the Order at Rome or Italy; here the Informant hath made himself guilty of, and liable to the Law in such cases provided, who was pri∣vy to him, who said he had taken up that Order, and did not discover him (but let him go) and then accuseth those that are Innocent, which bear

the Name of Quakers. Now here thou art made manifest, to be a false Accuser, and a Slanderer, I have proved that we came to the City of Bristol in the Month called July, be∣fore the Fair, and likewise that we were at those Meetings before-men∣tioned, and several other Meetings we were at, in and about Bristol, in the Month, called September, and this Oath before-mentioned, being the ground of a Warrant given forth by the Magistrates of Bristol, and several of our Names therein expres∣sed, we who had been at Bristol, whose names were there mentioned, came all forth of Westmoreland, near unto Kendal, none of us having ne∣ver been out of the Nation, but we lived and walked in and at our own Habitations, as that Country can bear witness to our Places, and Be∣ings; and here your Lyes and Slan∣ders are made to appear and utterly denyed; and William Prynne, here

thou art clearly detected, who slan∣derest the Innocent, living in the Spawn thou speaks of, the Poison of Asps being under thy Tongue, and spuing out thy Venom against the harmless, and thy Informant is proved to be guilty, in not discover∣ing the man he speaks of, which he hath on his Oath said that he con∣fessed to him he had been at Rome, and taken upon him the order of a Fryer of the Franciscan company. Now here let all people take notice of the dealings of the Magistrates, who gave out a Warrant against the Innocent, whom they cannot justly prove any thing against whereof they do accuse them, and yet lets him go free, who concealed the said Coppinger, which on his Oath de∣clared; that the said Coppinger con∣fessed himself to be one of that Order; and we deny all of his Order, who lives in lyng and confusion, or any such to speak amongst us, for we

know the Voice of Christ from the Voice of the Stranger▪ so the Devil being the Father of Lyes, and a Lye being thy Foundation, thou art taken with a Lye in thy Mouth, and so adds Lye unto Lye, and builds one Lye upon another; and then thou cryes against thy own Lyes, for thou canst prove no such thing by us, as thou accusest us of, saying▪ that the Quakers use inchanted Potion, Brace∣lets, Ribbands, Sorcery, and Witch∣craft, which is false; and thou like the raging Sea casts up thy mire and dirt; O! thou full of all mis∣chief, and Enemy to all Righteous∣ness, I charge thee, or any of thy Companions of the same Order, who lives in lying, to prove any such thing by us, and make it appear publickly as thou hast accused us, or let thy Mouth be stopped, and own thy condemnation, and confess thy deceipt, and call in thy filthy Paper, and take shame to thy self,

for know this, that the Lord God will plead with thee for all thy hard speeches, and justly by him shalt thou be rewarded; and we utterly deny, and do bear witness against all such filthy wayes and practises of all such Frogs as thou mentions, and against thee who prints Lyes, as I have already proved, and Lyars must be cast into the Lake; and here I have found thee, and proved thee in the intoxicated, giddy-head∣ed condition thou speaks of, who art already deceived, and need be deceived no farther, and thou art fallen into the Pit thou digged, and they for whom thy Net was spread (being Innocent) are escaped, and thy folly is unmasked, and thou art clearly detected, and proved to be in error in thy very Foundati∣on, and so all thy building is made void, and if thou cannot begin up∣on better evidence, let thy Mouth for ever be stoped, and let shame

cover thy Lips, and repent of the evil of thy wayes, lest the Wrath of the Lord break out against thee, and there be no remedy; to the Light in thy Conscience I speak, and remember that thou are warn∣ed.

Friend, thy Spirit is savoured and tryed, and now this is the end of thy zeal, who art become a Persecutor of the Life which thou hast professed in words, and now thy zeal appears without the knowledge of God, and so there is many unsavoury speeches in thy Paper, put forth by thee Wil∣liam Prynne, which (worth the mentioning) are not; but thou hast manifested the end of thy Profession, who appears now to be one of those giddy, headed English men thou speaks of: and as touching leading, silly Women Captive, laden with sin, and led away with divers lusts, ever learning, and never able to come to

the knowledge of the Truth, to thee this home shall I return who ap∣pears to be in this state, learning al∣wayes, and silly, for how many years hast thou been learning, and now dost resist the Truth with thy unclean Spirit, as Jannes and Jambers did the Children of Israel, which was comming out of Egypt, with their corrupt Spirits? So with what Measure thou measurest, it shall be mea∣sured to thee again, good weight, run∣ning over, pressed down: And Friend, in the day of thy calamity, remem∣ber whom thou hast despised in the day of thy prosperity, and what thou hast rejected with thy full Stomack, and now loaths the Hon∣ny-Comb, and the precious, and the vile chuseth, and so one with the Harlot art become, the Light doth thee comprehend; thou sayst there was trembling or quaking in the Host in the field, and among all the People, the Garrisons and

the Spoylers, they also trembled, so it was a very great trembling, or quaking: this for thy self shall stand, when thou thy self canst read a Spoyler, and see thy self in the field, the strong man that must bow himself, and thy fenced Cities must be broken down, and thy Garrison, with all thy carnal Weapons, then the Host shall thee fail, and then trembling and quaking will not be despised, which stands with a pitti∣ful compassion to all Souls, and quaking and trembling doth not despise, for thou unmasked thy self in this Paper hast, to be a Scorner and Scoffer at Gods righteous Seed, which he upholds with his Arm, for which thou shalt give an ac∣count; to the Light in thy Consci∣ence, which changes not, is it spoken.

And whereas thou, William Prynne, saith that Coppinger confessed that he speak about thirty times at London

among them called Quakers; it is false, he did not speak amongst us who are so called, but them that have spoken a∣mongst us, their Names we know, and so we (whose Names are subscribed) bear witness against that untruth thou hast published in Print, Amors Toddert, Simon Dring, John Bolton, William Creake, Gervase Roberts, Henry Clerk, Robert Dring, William Kaymond, Richard Davies, William West.

A Reply to an Additional Pa∣per, put forth by William Prynne, in his Lying En∣larged Edition.

FRiend, thou pretending a reply to that which is before printed, in a Paper put forth by thee, bear∣ing the same title, which thou saith is the second Edition, enlarged; to thee I shall reply, that the things which I proved stands good, and not detected by thee, but thou art clearly detected; and proved to make a Lye thy Foundation, and now in thy lying enlarged Edition, thou hast gathered up more Lyes, and sent them abroad into the World, and full of Venom thou art, spawned from the Serpent, craw∣ling in the mire like the Frogs thou

speaks of, casting up thy filth, and foaming like the Sea, and when thou hast gathered up a heap of Lyes to∣gether, thou wouldst cast them up∣on the Children of Light, who in scorn are called Quakers, who de∣nies thee among the rest of the Ver∣mine, and giddy-headed, brain-sick Generation; and were thou not blind thou would not uttet forth such confusion, Babylon is thy Habitation, the destruction of thy City is hast∣ning apace, Misery and Lamen∣tation from the Lord God is comming upon you, the burthen∣some Stone will Grind you to Pieces.

Thou saith the chief exception is a∣gainst Cawlishaw, his Oath is untrue, for sayest thou, though we were in Bristol, and went to two Meetings, yet that was unknown to Cowli∣shaw.

Reply; Here thou hast confessed that the Oath is untrue, in that he

swear the thing he knew not, which thing proves contrary to what he swear, and this again proves thy Foundation false, who saith we had not been at Bristol, and swear the thing he knew not, as is before ex∣pressed.

Thou sayst, we spoke to those People then, not under the notion of Quakers, but only of Anabaptists, and Indepen∣dants.

Reply; This is false, Lye to Lye thou adds, take them away, and thy refuge is gone; we did not speak to them as Anabaptists, or as Indepen∣dants, and this many of the People will witness for us, and against thee; and there was several in that City that knew us to be of those People that were called Quakers, which proves another Lye upon thee.

Thou sayst, when the Meetings were in September, we began to take upon us the Name and Title of Quakers,

and thos Meetings was after Cow∣lishaw's conference with Coppinger, who adds that about eighteen dayes after.

Reply; Thy covering is too nar∣row, by the Light thou art disco∣vered, for the Information saith it was in September, and then were we in Bristol, and the words about eighteen dayes after, which still proves the things false, we being at Bristol then at those publick Mee∣tings before-mentioned, and that we began to take upon us the title of Quakers then, is false; and with such filthy stuff thou makes up thy enlar∣ged Edition.

Thou saith, this convinceth Aud∣land of a slander, and double lye: First, in accusing Cowlishaw for making a false Oath, which his own answer to it justifieth it to be true.

Reply. This is a double lye, for plainness of speech I use, and gives a Lye the name of a Lye: first, I

am not convinced that he is slandered, for the Oath is proved to be false, in affirming that wich he knew not, and that which was not; and that the an∣swer justifies it to be true, is false a∣gain, for the Answer proves it abso∣lutely untrue. Secondly, thou saith in averring, that he (and his Com∣panions) were moved by the Lord, and his eternal Spirit, to leave their own Habitations and Callings in the North, to come to seduce the People of Bristol.

Reply; Let shame cover thy lips (if thy heart be not hardned) thou wilt blush, are these my words, or thy own I charge thee to be a Slanderer, and a false Accuser of the Brethren, these words was never uttered by me, all seducers and seducing by the Spirit of God is denyed, and witnessed a∣gainst, and thou art witnessed against by the Spirit of God, that thou art full of Venom, froth, and filth, which is not worth raking up after

thee; thy Heart is overcome with it, let it return into the Pit from whence it came, where the Frogs lodge, who are thy companions. Again, that which is spokn, as tou∣ching the breach of the Law in not discovering Coppinger, but concealing him, and letting him depart, is true, according to the Law, and thy evading it, by seeming to cover it, by Coppingers hasty departure, and the suspension of the Laws, thou saith, to that purpose, doth no whit prove the contrary; and had not your envy transported you beyond the bounds of equity, you would be ashamed to publish such a thing, but it's clearly seen whom you shout at, and whom you would devour, though you pretend the Jesuits, they are so near of kin to you, you can let them go, and after conference with them (as thou saith Cowlishaw had with Coppinger)

who confess themselves to be such, thou concealest them, and bringst in their words to slander the Innocent; and Truth ever suffered under re∣proachful Names and Tongues, in which thou hast not a little share, thou fils up thy Measure, and accordingly shall thou be rewarded.

Thou saith, I except against thee for averring that the Quakers are but the spawn of Romish Frogs, Jesuits, and Franciscan Fryers, and to deny this, is alledged that they came out of the North▪ and thou saith to come out of the North is a shrew'd sign ••f their bad∣ness, for the Scriptures speaks, that out of the North an evil shall break forth.

Reply; To prove that we came out of the North, and had never been out of the Nation, & of our birth and Habitations, doth sufficiently con∣fute thee, who made that thy ground to have proved by the Information, that we were Coppingers acquaint∣ance in Rome, for sayst thou, those

two persons which came to Bristol, was most likely his two fellow Franciscan Fryers; and here thy like∣ness is another Lye, and the Scrip∣ture doth not prove thy shrew'd sign, neither doth it cover thee, nor hide thee, but upon thee will evil break forth, who the evil hast com∣mitted; a grievous Storm and Whirl-Wind will fall upon the wicked, and sweep away the refuge of Lyes and Lyers into the Lake: read thy Portion, and put it not from thee.

Secondly; Thou sayst for affirm∣ing that the Quakers use inchanted Potions, Bracelets, Ribbands, Sorce∣ry and Witchcraft, to intoxicate their Disciples; and thou savst, this is evidenced in the Premises, and apparent in most places where they ramble; and thou shalt prove it no farther, but close up all with two Scripture exhortations.

Reply; I demanded of thee before to prove any such thing by us, or let thy Mouth be stopt; and as touch∣ing proving any such thing, thy Mouth is stopt, and thy Premises proves it not by us, but is made up of Lyes and Slanders, and false Re∣ports, which thou hast gathered where thou hast rambled up and down in thy Imaginations, sending out a pack of filthy Lyes, spawned out from the old Serpent, the De∣vil, and Satan, out of whose Mouth proceeds the Frogs, and there mayst thou read thy self apparently his Disciple, intoxicated; and thee with all the rest of the spawn of Romish Frogs, Jesuites, and Franciscan Fryers is denyed and cast out from a∣mongst the People of God, scornfully call'd Quakers; and if thou canst prove no better then to close up as thou dost, the Lyes will rest upon thy own head; but wilt thou turn back

a little, and take one Exhortation where thou art giving two if there be any spark of honesty, in thee or any remembrance of thy lat∣ter end, or any consideration that Lyars must be cast into the Lake, repent of the evil of thy doings, and cease lying and slandering the Innocent, which thou canst not prove to be Offenders, and lay thy Mouth in the dust, if so be there may be hope; so here in plainness thy Lyes is turned upon thy own Head, and the former answer is just, and stands a witness against thee, and thou art more unmasked, and clearly detected; and till thou canst begin upon better evidence, silence best becomes thee: Re∣member again thou art warned, cease thy gain-saying, lest thou pe∣rish in thy rebellion, and go down alive into the Pit.

By one who is a Witness against the prophaneness of Priests and People; called, John Audland.

Luke 11, 52.

Wo unto you Lawyers, for ye have taken away the Key of Knowledge, ye entred not in your selves, and them that were entring in ye hindred.

John Audland's Epistle to all who love the Truth: Given forth from Oxford∣shire the 12th Month, 1656.

DEarly beloved Friends, unto whom the large Love of God hath been made manifest, in visiting you from on high, with his marvel∣ous Light, which hath clearly shi∣ned in the midst of you, by which you have seen your way to the eter∣nal Rest and Peace, and have tasted of the Power of the Lord, and been often refreshed with his Love and Life, being shed plentiously amongst you; so that you have found (in some measure) Redemption from the bondage of Corruption, and the way is plain before you, which leads to

perfect Freedom, in the pure and precious Truth of the living God, which as you stand in it, and walk in the undefiled way, in the pure Fear and Counsel of God, you will be kept in the pure Unity, in the Love unfeigned, to grow together in the Life of Truth in the Power of God, in which is your beauty, your comliness, your strength, your order, and your peace, every one in particu∣lar, and one with another, all glori∣fying the Lord in your uprightness and obedience in your holy calling, in the measure of the Grace of Life, in which every one abiding, you re∣ceive power from the Life, which gives Dominion over the World, and the powers of Darkness and the wick∣edness in the high places; you dwel∣ling in the Life and Power of God, are kept in subjection to the higher Power, which is the Ordinance of God, which throws down the man of Sin, the deceitful works, and

raiseth up the dead to Life, quick∣ning the slain, and opening the Pri∣son Doors, which brings Joy and Peace, and the Oyl of Gladness and the Garments of Praise, and the ac∣ceptable Year, where the meek come to be beautified with Salvati∣on; there the Treasures of Life is seen, of Wisdom, and of Love, which reached to the Poor to raise him up, and there the weary finds rest, and the hungry Soul comes to be satisfied, with the unsearchable Riches of the Lords Love, of which there is no End, unto them who wait upon him in faithfulness: Dear Hearts, other Foundation can no man lay, then that which is laid al∣ready, which is Christ Jesus, the Light of the World, the Way to Life and everlasting Rest, and those that believe enter into the pure and peaceable Kingdom, which is prepared for the little Flock, who follow the Voice of the true Shep∣herd,

who leads into the fresh and pleasant Pasture, where the Lambs feed in peace and lie down in safety, in the sure Habitation, grounded on the Foundation of God, which stands firm and unmoveable forever, against which the Winds, nor the Storms, nor the Floods can never pre∣vail; blessed for ever are all you who are on it builded, and established, for the day will manifest every ones work, and he that is not rooted in the Life, and stands not in the Power of God, will suffer loss; but you abiding in the Power of God, which is the Cross of Christ, you receive a Kingdom which cannot be shaken, and a Crown which doth not cor∣rupt, and an Inheritance which fades not away; and in the Light of God every one walking, you read your part in the Resurrection unto Life, which is a blessed Condition, and to seed upon the Life, which makes you grow in the heavenly Image, the

new man, which is after God, in Righteousness and true Holiness, which is perfected in the Fear of the Lord: All being kept watchful and diligent, your Garments are kept clean, and you are found covered with the Spirit in the day of the Lord which comes suddenly upon the Sloathful and Careless, in which day the Hypocrite can never stand, nor the foolish Virgin cannot enter, but is shut out of Gods Kingdom, wanting the Garment, which gives an entrance in the Marriage-Cham∣ber, where the faithful rejoyce, and praises the God of their Salvation: And verily Friends, it is the Gold try∣ed in the Fire, that makes truly Rich, and everlasting happy, and Truth in the inward parts the Lord loves; and every one to speak the Truth from his Heart, to his Neigh∣bour and to his Friend, watching over one another for good in Truth and Uprightness, then there will be

no treacherous dealer in the Assem∣bly, nor none that lies in wait, to hurt the Poor and Harmless, nor none to Exalt themselves above their measure, in the knowledge which puffeth up (and despiseth the Lowly, and the Poor) such will the Lord God throw down; therefore all fear before the Lord, and none be high∣minded; if any man boast, he bear∣eth not the Root; every one keep in the Pure life, in the true love, and fellowship of the Gospel of Peace, and all look to the Author and the Finisher of your Faith, which in Truth stands in the Power of God, then you all keep your Habitations, your walking is in steadfastness, and your going comes to be established; Let all be warned and awaked, for the Lord is at hand, who will bring every mans work to the tryal, and happy for evermore are all they who are found faithful, when they are weighed in the Ballance of Equity

and true Judgment: Sow in Pati∣ence, press on in the way of Righ∣teousness, serving the Lord with one consent, calling upon his Name with one accord, keeping the Unity of the Spirit, in the Bond of Peace; so will you rejoyce in the Lord alone, who is the Succourer of the Poor, and the Refuge of the Needy, in the Day of distress: Let all that know him praise him, and fear him, and in singleness of heart wait upon him, whose Mercy endureth for ever∣more. Let nothing draw you from your holy calling, and stedfast wait∣ing upon the Lord, nor separate you from the Love of God in Christ Jesus, our Light, our Life, and our Redeemer: So the Lord God Al∣mighty multiply his Grace, Mercy and Love, his Life, Light and Power in you, and amongst you, that you may be grounded, rooted, builded, established, and in the ever∣lasting Covenant of Life find Peace,

where you may rest in the City of God, whose Gates is Praise, and hath Salvation for Walls and Bulwarks, where no Weapon can prosper that is formed against you; glory and ho∣nour, and living Praises be unto the Lord our God (from all who know him) now and for evermore.

I am your Friend, who truly de∣sireth after your Prosperity in the Life that shall never dye.

John Andland.

To Friends in Westmorland, who Love the Truth, and in Cumberland, Bishoprick, &c.

An Epistle to Friends.

DEarly beloved in the Lord Je∣sus Christ, Brethren and Sisters in the Eternal Spirit, Mem∣bers of the Body of Christ, Grace, Mercy and Peace from our God be multiplied in you, that every one of you in particular may grow in your measure, and encrease in the un∣searchable Riches of our God: Oh! ye Plants of Gods renown, planted into the true Vine by the true Husband∣man; dear and precious are you to us, as you abide in the Vine, and grow in the Vine, there you are our joy, and we are refreshed continually in the Unity of the Spirit, for in it are you present in us, and we in you; in our Hearts are ye written, by the Spirit of the Living God, and we

read you daily, our Life is one, our Joy is one, our Sufferings are one, and our Victory is one: Oh! Dear Hearts, our love reacheth you, and our Bowels are shed towards you, our Hearts are broken, when we know of your faithfulness, and stedfastness in the work of the Lord, waring against all Deceipt, and watching every one in your measure, to be serviceable in the calling where∣unto you are called; we speak the Truth in Christ, we lye not; it is like precious Ointment shed abroad in us, which gives a sweet smell unto us, that we are much refreshed by it, to know of your faithfulness and boldness, to know of your labour and carefulness, and tenderness to∣wards one another in the Lord, it is like Balm upon our Head in remem∣berance of you, our hearts are broken, and we rejoyce to behold your or∣der in the Lord, dwelling and abi∣ding

in him, who is our Head; and therefore in the Name of the Lord Jesus do we exhort, charge and com∣mand you, every one to abide, in your measure in the true Vine, and to dwell and walk in the Light which is Eternal, by which you will judge all double minds, who talk of the Unity of the Light, but do not walk in the Light, and abide in the Unity, such are not of the Body, who do not abide in the Vine, but you who do abide in the Vine, try all such, and have no fellowship with unfaithful Workers, for such are unfruitful who do not abide in the Vine, such are they who mind earthly things, who are Ene∣mies to the Cross of Christ, who walk not in the Light, with the Light of God all such are seen; abi∣ding in it, you will separate the clean from the unclean, and true Judg∣ment from the Life which is pure will be given upon the impure, none

can judge but he that is pure, thou that judgest another and dost the same things, thou art for Judgment; let all Flesh be silent before the Lord God, and dwell all in the Life of the Son of God, in which you will comprehend all busie minds, and for∣ward minds, who abide not in the Life, who are not to judge, but to be judged with the Life; so in the Life dwell every one, and there you have all one Life; and we are with you in the Life which was before the World was, in that which was before time, which in time was made manifest, which brings up out of time, in that have we Unity, and there we behold you, ye faith∣ful Ones, ye Sons and Daughters of the Lord, unto whom the Promise is made manifest, which is Yea and Amen to the Seed, which Seed is but one, unto which shall all Nati∣ons bow, and they that set them∣selves

against you shall surely fall before you, the Lord hath blessed you, and you are blessed, by his own right hand hath he planted you, and the shout of a King is heard amongst you, and his Voice is terrible to the Nations, and dread∣ful to the Heathen round about, cursed are they that curse thee; hap∣py art thou, O Israel, a People saved by the Lord, the Lord of Hosts is with you, and there is no Inchantment against you, no Wea∣pon formed against you shall prosper, the Mouth of the Lord hath spoken it: Therefore in the Name of the Lord and in his fear abide every one, for the Voice that is heard a∣mongst you, gives Alarm to the Inhabitants of the Land, and because of the Man-Child that is born in you, are the Nations troubled; re∣joyce for evermore ye Saints of the most high God, for Power is given

you to be avenged of all your Ene∣mies, yea, even to War against the Beast, and to make the Whore De∣solate, the Fire that is kindled a∣mongst you torments all her Lovers: Praises, Praises Eternal to the Living God who appeareth for us, and gives us Victory over our Enemies: Dear ones, the mighty Power of the Lord is with us, and our Bow abides in strength, and terror takes hold upon our Enemies; here are multi∣tudes Convinced of the Etornal Truth, and the Witness of God is raised, and judgment is begun to the terror of many; this is the Day of Sions deliverance, Glory to our God for ever, for he spreads my Ta∣ble, and makes my Cup overflow; the Mighty God of Power keep you, my care is for you, and God is my Witness, I cease not daily to make mention of you in my Prayers; O! prize his Love for evermore, you

who were sometime afar off, but now are made nigh by the Blood of Christ, walk in his Fear, Holiness becomes the House of the Lord for ever; Farwell.

Your Dear Brother in the Eternal Spi∣rit of God. John Audland.

John Audlant's Letter to Friends.

DEarly beloved in the Lord Jesus Christ, Grace, Mercy & Peace, be multiplyed in you, and among you, that in it you may all be Established, and grow as living Plants, and be fruithful in him, who hath called you to Grace and Vertue, that you might live in it, and abound in every good Work to the praise of the Lord, whose Love hath been manifest a∣mogst you, and you have heard his Voice, and been Witnesses of his Power, and his Eternal Love hath been abundant towards you; there∣fore all Friends of your high Calling, walk worthy, and press hard after the mark, so runing, that ye may obtain every one of you in perticular,

abiding in the straight Way, and in the Cross daily, which is the de∣light of the Just, and Peace and Re∣freshment to the Just in you all, that in the Just you may all dwell; and there the Earthly comes to dye, and Judgment is executed upon the wicked, and the Famine comes upon all the Gods of the Earth, and the day of Separation and Sorrow upon all the Lovers, and the Mortificati∣on of the old man; and as that dyes the Spirit is quickned, and waiting upon the Lord, every one, your Strength comes to be renewed, and your Life refreshed. So to you all Friends, Lambs and Babes of God, whose Minds are stayed upon God, there Food you will receive from the living God, and grow every one in your Measure, walking as you have received, and prising the Love of God to you, which hath been, and is large and bountiful,

who hath searched you out, who was scattered in the cloudy dark day, and found no Rest to your Souls, but wandered from Moun∣tain to Hill, and laid desolate and barren in a waste howling Wilder∣ness, and no Eye pittied; but he alone who is mighty to save hath you visited, and your time was the time of Love, and he hath loved you with an Everlasting Love, and drawn you in much tender Mercy, and given his Son for a Light, that you might all walk in it, and have fellowship in it. And now my Dearly beloved Ones, stand fast in that which brings Eternal Freedom, and makes free, and be faithful eve∣ry one in your Measure; to you all I speak, as to one that you my grow in Love, and walk in Love, and in it be Established, for it will indure for ever; Oh, let it be your Joy, to do the Will of God in all Singleness,

and to dwell in his Fear, and abide in the daily Cross: Reason not, nor consult not, for the mystery is hid from that Eye, but dwell low, and learn thee that Subject to the Yoke, every one of you may be, and wait upon the Lord, Meeting in his Fear, watching one over another, and abiding in the Light, that your Fellowship may stand in it, which is the Worlds Condemnation; my Soul is pouned out to the Lord for you, and my Bowels run freely to you in pure Love and Singleness, that you all may be proserved in the pure Fear of the Lord, out of the Snares of the Enemy, that in the Eternal Counsel of God you may abide, and be stedfast in the time of Tempta∣tion. Dear Hearts, keep every one to your own Measure, which from the Lord is given unto you, that you may witness the Presence of the Lord amongst you, and find his

Power, and hear his Voyce, that your Hearts may be kept open, to receive the living Mercies from the living God, that in the Day of Try∣al you may stand, and in the time of Famine your Souls may be kept alive, and when the Lord takes ac∣count of you, you may give it with Joy, and be found faithful and fruit∣ful in him; this Charge do I lay up∣on you, from the Lord, that you dwell and abide low in the Fear of the Lord, in Love together, walk∣ing every one in the Living, as ex∣amples, that the Lord alone may be exalted; no Pride, nor Strife, but in the Cross abide, which Judg∣eth that, and takes away the occa∣sion of Wars; And the Eternal ever∣lasting Powerful Presence of the Lord keep you all, and be amongst you, and go along with you for evermore. I am your Dear Friend

and Companion, in Joy, and in Tri∣bulation.

John Andland.

My Dear Brother, John Camm, doth Salute you all in that which is E∣ternal, and never changeth; he is pretily recovered, and to you his love is exceeding great▪

John Audland's Letter to a Priest concerning Tythes.

INstance if thou canst, of one out of the Scriptures, that ever came in at the door, that did ever sue Men at the Law for Tythes, Wages or Easter-Recknings; if thou canst not prove it by the Scriptures, thou art Antichrist that doth not a∣bide in the Doctrine of Christ, and no Minister of Christ, but one of Baal's Priests; if thou be a Minister of Christ, and come to my House, what I have I will set before thee, and thou shalt freely Eat; but to give my Corn and Hay, Calves and Foles, Wooll and Lambs, Geese, Hens, Piggs, Eggs, and other things, to be carried to thy House, Christ gave no such Command, that Peo∣ple should bring such things to his

Disciples, but said, Freely you have received, freely give, Eat and Drink such as they set before you: And so, if you be sent out by Christ to Preach the Gospel, which Gospel thou canst not receive of Man, but by the Revelation of Jesus Christ, and if thou come to my House, and freely minister unto me Spiritual things, I will freely minister unto thee Car∣nal things; But the Apostles, who were sent into the World to Preach the Gospel, (which Gospel they re∣ceived not at Oxford and Cambridge, nor by Studying Authors, but spoke forth that which they were partakers of, which was con∣trary to the Will of Man) they did not enquire out a great Benefice, or a Personage, and there set them∣selves, but went up and down, Preaching the Gospel freely, and did not make it Chargable to any, but said, We have coveted no Mans Silver nor Gold, God is our Witness,

and you your selves know it: But I know thee to act contrary to them, who would take from me, who have received nothing from thee: And here let the practice of the Ministers of Christ bear Witness against thee, that thou art no Minister of Christ, from the Lord God do I charge thee, that thou art no Minister of Christ, who art out of the Doctrine of Christ, and doth not live the Life as they did who was sent of Christ, for they never Sued any at the Law for Earthly things whatsoever; shew me one Example out of the Scriptures of any of the Prophets, or Apostles, or any of the Ministers that ever did any such thing, then take it, and follow their Example, other∣wise thou shewest thy self openly to walk contrary to all that ever Christ sent, and to Christ himself and his Commands, and art found in the steps of the false Prophets & false Shepherds, who sought for their Gain,

from their Quarters, as they do that taught for the Fleece, as thou makest it appear thou do'st, and held up the filthy horrible thing which thou hold'st up, the Priests bearing Rule by their Means, which is a filthy thing; and the false Prophets pre∣pared War against them that did not put into their Mouths, as thou do'st against me, because I do not put into thy Mouth; and here be witness against thy self, that thou art in the steps of the false Porphets, and the false Teachers, which loved the Wages of Unrighteousness, and fol∣lowed the Error of Balaam, which thou followest; and to take Wages from me, for whom thou hast done no Work, neither did I ever hire thee or set thee to work: This can∣not but be Unrighteous Wages, to the Light in thy Conscience I speak; & here let the Life that they lived in, that gave forth the Scriptures, judge thee, and condemn thy practice,

for the Holy Men of God did not so; therefore give over calling thy self a Minister, and either make proof of thy Ministry, and walk according to the Example of them that were sent of God, otherwise I do deny thee; and I may not put in∣to thy Mouth, although thou pre∣pare War against me, for I must walk according to the Commands of Christ and his Apostles, though thou wilt not. Now blame not me, that I walk according to the Scrip∣tures, and turn away from proud and Covetous Men, such as thee; for if I should uphold thee in thy ways, which is contrary to the Way of God, I should be guilty of thy Sins, and might pertake of thy Plagues: Now thou art warned, if thou goest on in thy Deceit, I am clear of thee, thy Blood be upon thy own head.—And now Friend, seeing thou professest thy self to be a Minister of Christ, thou ought'st to

convince me by sound Doctrine; and in plain Words, I desire thee to shew and prove, how I became in∣debted to thee: For no Man would I hinder of his Right, neither would I owe any thing to any Man, but love: This I do acknowledge, that the Labourer is worthy of his Hire, and the Work-man is worthy of his Meat: Now shew when I hired thee, or what Work thou hast done for me; no Trades∣man in the Nation can force their Wares upon me, contrary to my mind, much less take my Goods from me, when I have none of their Ware: When did'st thou Plow for me? When did'st thou Thresh for me? When did'st thou tread out Corn for me? Art thou the Ox that treads out the Corn, whose mouth must not be muzled; Or art thou one of the evil Beasts, and slow Bellies, who for fi thy Lucre subverts whole Hearts, whose

Mouth must be stoped.—Shew me by what Scripture-ground thou claim'st Tythes to be thine; and whether ever the Ministers of Christ took Tythes of the People? And where ever they took by force from them for whom they did not work, and whether the Priest-hood be not changed which received Tythes? and whether the Commandment be not disanulled by which the Priests recei∣ed Tythes? and whether Christ be not the end of the Law, which Law made many Priests? and whether is not the Law changed as well as the Priest-hood? and where did ever Man provide maintenance by a Law for the Ministers of God? or whe∣ther did not the Lord provide for them, and opened the Hearts of People to receive them? and where did any Minister of God take by force from them whose Hearts were not opened to receive them?

Give me a reasonable Answer con∣cerning these things; for I would owe nothing but love to any Man, and that which is right according to Gospel Order, and maintenance allowed by Christ, thou shalt have povirded if thou prove thy self a Mi∣nister of Christ, and abide in his Doctrine; now shew thy self whose Servant thou art; for he that abides not in Christ's Doctrine hath not God; and such I may not follow nor receive into my House.

Read this to the People, which thou profestest to be a Teacher unto; and either clear thy self from these things, or else stop thy Mouth and confess thy self to be a Hire∣ling.

John Andland

The Suffering Condition of the Servants of the Lord at this day, Vindicated: And some Reasons given why the People called Qua∣kers do own the Doctrine of Christ, to continue in it, and to meet together in the Name and Fear of the Lord, to wait upon him, and Worship him in Spirit and Truth, notwith∣standing they meet with sufferings in this present time for so doing.

THe good and blessed Day of the Lord is come, and the Hea∣venly Visitation of Life, wherein

the Light of Righteousness is spring∣ing up unto many People, and ma∣ny have received the Blessed Visita∣tion of the Lord, and are made par∣takers of his Heavenly Power, by which they are quickened and rai∣sed up unto newness of Life, to serve him, and to follow him in Truth and Righteousness; and the blessed Day wherein the Lord Visi∣ted us, and the notable Works which the Lord hath wrought, and his noble Acts which he hath done, are not by us to be forgotten, but are recorded in our Hearts, as things remarkable and considerable, to be remembered by us while we have a being upon the Earth, and that with fear and reverence in our Hearts unto the Lord our God, who is great and mighty, whom we have known to execute Judgment in Righteousness, to the judging and bringing down of that which was once exalted; for when the accepta∣ble

Year of the Lord came unto us, Judgement was laid to the Line, and the Lord did arise to shake terri∣bly the Earth, the loftiness of man was bowed down, and the haughti∣ness of man was laid low, that the Lord alone might be exalted; and the Earth reeled to and fro, and was removed like a Shepherd's Tent, and the Light of Israel was as a Fire, and the Holy One as a Flame, to burn up the Thorns and the Thickets in a Day; many Faces ga∣thered paleness, and Hearts grew weak, and Knees feeble, and many had their Hands upon their Loins, because of the great Travel that was upon them, because of the mighty Power of the Lord which was made manifest in them, for the bringing down of that which had been exal∣ted against him, and for the resto∣ration of the oppressed Captive, that deliverance might be known from the power of Satan, and from

the bondage of Corruption, that we being set free, wherein we were held, might serve the Lord in Truth and Singleness of Heart, and wait upon him, and follow the leadings of his Spirit, in the exercise of our Hearts and minds in Serving and Worshiping the Lord our God; And so the God of Heaven hath revealed and made manifest the Way of Life and Peace, the Way wherein Comfort and Satisfaction to the Soul is found, the Gate of Mer∣cy, even the entrance to the ever∣lasting Kingdom of Rest and Joy for evermore; which although it be strait and narrow, and a cross to the fleshly part, and earthly ground and wisdom, yet it is easie, pleasent and delightful, living in the Spirit, and becoming little, even as a Child, for so must he become that enters in at the strait Gate, to eat of the Tree of Life which is in the midst of the Paradise of God: So we

have found the way of everlasting Peace, (through the rich Mercy, and tender Visitation of the Lord) walking in the Spirit, and living in that which mortifies the deeds of the Flesh, being subject to the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Here is rest to the Soul; here is the sweet Visitations of the Lord known, which are as the former and latter Rain, to refresh the lowly in Heart, and Poor in Spirit: Here waiting upon the Lord, the strength is re∣newed, and here the Lord speaks Peace to People, even as they are in Christ the Power of God, growing up in him, who is the Truth and the Life, they are possessors of last∣ing Peace (which God speaks not to the wicked) which is the Portion of the upright in Heart; and as the Lord hath made manifest the way of Peace, Life and everlasting Hap∣piness, he hath also discovered the contrary, even the way of misery,

darkness and destruction, the way which is broad, and many in the lusts of the Flesh take pleasure in it, following the motions of the Flesh, and the desires of the carnal mind, resisting the motions of Gods good Spirit, and hating the blessed Light of the Lord Jesus Christ, and so spend away their precious time; and in this state, that is to say in the Flesh, resisting the Spirit of the Lord, they cannot serve God, nor please him, nor worship him in Truth, though they may profess him in words, and draw near him with their Mouth; yet being in the Flesh contrary to the Spirit of Truth, the Ear turned away from hearing of God's Law, their Prayers are A∣bomination, their plowing is Sin, their sacrifice is as Cain's, not ac∣cepted by the Lord, no Peace from God, no ture Rest, no Satisfaction, no beholding the Countenance of the Lord, nor no assurance of the

Eternal Inheritance which never fades away, but an earnest of wrath, pain, misery, anguish and trouble, which will come upon all who live and dye in Disobedience of the Glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ.

And so we see the Way of Life to all that believe in the Name of the Lord Jesus, and the way of death to all who live in unrigh∣teousness, and are not changed by the power of God, and translated from Death to Life, and from the Kingdom of darkness, into the Kingdom of the dear Son of God.

And these things are of great concernment unto us; and we see it is very needful to wait upon the Lord, and to follow the mo∣tions of his Spirit, that we may feel his Power to preserve us in his Will, out of the evil of the World, that so in the Power of the Lord

our God we may war a good Warfare, and finish our Course with joy.

And verily this a matter of great weight unto us, even to have our hearts exercised towards the Lord in obedience to his Will, in what he requireth of us, that we may have a Conscience void of offence towards him: And so the Day of the Lord God being come, and his Eternal Power made known in many hearts, by which many are raised to serve him, and obey him, yea, to worship him according to his own Will, and the leadings of his good Spirit; We are even constrained by the Power of the Lord to meet together in his Name and Fear, to wait upon him, and to worship him, and also to exhort one another in his holy Power, as the Spirit of the Lord directs; yea, and so much the more as the day appeareth: And this we find also

to be according to the Scriptures of Truth, and practice of the Servants of the Lord in former dayes, who did not forsake the assembling of themselves together, but met often, and sometime in one place, and sometime in another, as they were directed in the fear of the Lord: And they that feared the Lord spake often one unto another, and the Lord hearkened and heard it, and a Book of Remembrance was written for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his Name: And they shall be mine, saith the Lord, in the day that I make up my Jewels, and I will spare them as a man spareth his own Son that serveth him: And this was in a time when the proud were called happy, and they that wrought wickedness were set up, and they that tempted God were delivered; yet even in such a time did they that feared the Lord speak often together, and also in the time

when the Gospel of Christ was pub∣lished by the Apostles and Ministers of Jesus, many were brought into the obedience of the Truth, and were gathered from the Jews Wor∣ship and way of service, [and they, to wit, the Jews, could plead more justly for the Antiquity of their way of Worship, and their order in their Worship, then many who this day profess themselves to be Christians, and a reformed Church] and in that time did they meet together, some∣time in a Chamber, sometime in an House, and sometime in an upper Room, as the Lord directed them, and as they had opportunities; and gathered Churches which met at Houses, and waited upon the Lord, and exhorted one another, and might all speak one by one, as the Spirit of the Lord led them, that all might hear, and all be com∣fored.

And we do not read that the Jews

made a Law, (or the Romans either, who at that time had the Principality) that they should not meet above four together, or if they meet five, or above, they should be fined.

Indeed the Jews who believed not, were bad enough, and perse∣cuted the Saints from City, and haled out of Houses they that professed the Name of Jesus, and sometimes scourged them; but they are evil examples to be followed, and its pitty that any who profess themselves Christians, should do the like to any that meet together in the Fear of the Lord, to serve him, and walk peaceably in Godliness & Fear.

And why may not more than four meet together lawfully to Wor∣ship God, in the account of God and all just men? why may not Ten? Yea, and Why may not a hun∣dred, and more? Provided still it be to Worship God, and serve him. And why may not also some come

in amongst them who are Unbeliev∣ers, that are ignorant of the way of Truth, that they may come to hear, and learn, and be convinced of all; and go away, and confess that God is there of a Truth; and if there be more that come upon the same account, it is also appro∣ved.

Sure that was a great Concourse of People, when the Disciples were met in one place, where three Thou∣sand were pricked to the Heart at one time. Had it been justifiable in the Jews at that time to hinder such gatherings of People together, or such Speakers as were, who spake as the Spirit of the Lord gave them utterance? The Jews were very an∣gry with them, and commanded them to speak no more in the Name of Jesus; but they obeyed God ra∣ther than man, and spoke boldly the Word of the Lord, and the Lord was with them, yea, and filled

their Hearts with joy and comfort, though sometime they were put in the Stocks, and sometime in Prison.

So we do verily find both by the the Testimony of the Spirit of God in our Hearts, and also by the Testi∣mony of the Scriptures, That our meeting together to Worship the Lord, and to wait upon him, is ac∣cording to the mind of God, and also to the practice of the Saints in former days; and although we be of the suffering-side, as the Saints were in times past, yet we are con∣tent in the Will of the Lord to give up unto him in all these things: And surely if they that cause us to suffer, did but diligently mind and consider their way and Wea∣pons which they go on in, and war with, they may find themselves to be on the persecuting-side, and see the Saints did not so, neither War with such Weapons; for the Saints Wea∣pons

were not Carnal, but Spiritual, and mighty through God, to the pul∣ling down of strong holds; for 'tis the spiritual Weapons that can and doth conquer the man of sin within, and can subdue every high thought and imagination, and bring under what∣soever is contrary to the Will of God: 'Tis the Eternal Word of the everlasting God that is quick and powerful, sharper than any two∣edged Sword, which divides within, where no carnal Weapon can divide: And if any think we be not in the Way of the Lord, let them come forth with spiritual Weapons, or with the best they have, laying aside all carnal Weapons, Club and Staff, Force and Compulsion, for that will never overcome a spiritual Enemy; it may kill outwardly, but cannot kill spiritual wickedness; and com∣ing forth with these Weapons, this is like men that profess Christiani∣ty, and would be far more comely

amongst the sober and honest-heart∣ed People, and far more like to the Saints, then haling out of Houses by force with earnal Weapons, and casting into Prison for no other thing but owning the Doctrine of Christ, and meeting together to Worship God.

And then this is offered as the pre∣vailing Argument; There is a Law made lately, that will not allow you, and if you do, we must fine you, or we must take your Goods, or commit you to Prison, or cause you to forfeit your Estates: Therefore we charge you give over, if not, we must proceed against you, and break your Meetings with car∣nal Weapons.

Oh! where is the Spiritual Wea∣pons, the Power to convince gain-Sayers, Gospel-Ministers that went forth without Club or Staff; for say we, convince our Consciences, or else we dare not do it; for we may not

disobey the Lord because of these things.

Obj. Well, then (say they) you will be ruinated; have you no Wisdom? will you spoile your selves with these things?

Ans. More is the pity, (say we) that we may not serve the Lord, and Worship him; but such suf∣ferings will he exercised upon us by a people that profess themselves Christians, and reformed ones too: Well, we say we must commit our cause to the Lord, and even give up all to him, who knows how to deliver the righteous out of all their trou∣ble.

Obj. Ay, but (say they) cannot you meet four, and no more?

Ans. We say, We may not limit the Lord, neither in the things of God must we order our selves. And again, if some could stoop to that, it would not serve nei∣ther.

Obj. Then (say they) you must be forced, and then you, or some of you will yeild, and then we will boast ever you with those.

Ans. But we say, that force with carnal Weapons, by pains and penalties, as it was not the way of the Lord, nor the practice of the true Christians, so neither doth it effect the end, for it will never make men truly religious, neither will it be for the better in the end to them that go about so to compel; no, nor yet any comfort in the mean time; for there is a Prick that meets with the Presecutors now and then, which stops their furious driving, and gives them no ease in their Way; as it was with Saul while he Persecuted the Saints, and brought them bound, both Men and Women, that believed in the Lord Jesus; and he is not a good example in that to be followed; for he made havock of the Church;

entering into every House, and haling men and women, committing them to Prison, having Authority from the Chief-Priests, and being exceedingly mad against them. (Acts 8. 3. and Chap. 26. 10, 11▪) as he after wards confessed; and as he went to Damascus with Authority and Commission, he was struck down, for all his Authority, and heard a voice saying to him, Why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to ki••k against the pricks. And it will be very hard for all such who persecute the Children of the Lord, the Lord will smite them one way or another, if they be not smitten to their Con∣version: But if the Lord smite them often, and they still go on to sin more and more, he will ease him of his Adversaries, and avenge him of his Enemies, and smite with an irreco∣verable stroke.

Obj. And if it be objected That these were Jews that aid not profess

Christ, that thus persecuted the Christians, and it was evil done of them; but we are a Reformed Church, and we do it in zeal to Christ, that people might be all of one way and the Law doth allow us to it.

Ans. 'Tis answered thus: The Jews had a zeal for God which was not according to knowledge; and they had a Law also, by which they judged the Holy One that he ought to dye; but although they supposed they did God service, and for the defending of the Law, yet indeed they fought against God, and they had as much to say for their way of Worship, it being ancient, and they which differed from them, their way was but new in appearnce: I say, the Jews might plead for their Way far more groundedly, than many now; especially people who neither Live in their Way of Worship, according to the Jews under the Law, no

not yet according to the Saints in the Primitive times; And those that profess themselves Christians, and yet persecute the Innocent, they are far more guilty than the Jews were, inasmuch as they both profess more Light, and also walk so quite contrary to their own Profession; yea and to the example of Christ, whom they profess (and the true Christians) who said, Love your Enemies, pray for them that per∣secute you; not persecute them that pray for you: Neither had the Saints such Weapons to bring people into their Church, as is now used, but spiritual Ones, mighty through God, and went forth in his Power; this brought People to be of one Heart, and one way, and to serve the Lord with one mind, which force, with carnal Weapons, will never accomplish, to bring people to be of one way.

Obj. And as its said, But some

will yeild, and then we will rejoyce in that.

Ans. 'Tis answered, That's a bad Work to force People, and compel them to deny that which God hath made manifest to them to be Truth, and the greater is their Sin that so do. 'Tis said, that Saul compelled some to blaspheme against the Name of Jesus, when he raged so against them; but he afterwards confessed it as a great Sin: And though some did so, or do so, yet that is no confirmation to the Persecutors, that they are in the Way of God, no, nor yet a true Testimony against the persecuted, that they are not in the Way of God▪ neither doth it truly convert men at all: Indeed force and compulsion may make some men conform to that outwardly, which otherwise they would not do; but that is nothing of weight, their Hearts are never the better, but are rather worse, and more Hypocrites than before, for

force doth but make Hypocrites at the most; for it is God alone by his Powerful Word of Life operating in the Hearts of People; that chan∣geth them, and reneweth them in the Spirit of their minds, and brings them into the true Service and Wor∣ship, even to draw near him with their Hearts, and to Worship him in Spirit and Truth, and it's out of man's power, and that which God doth not require of men at this day, to force by penalties and carnal Wea∣pons to this or that Worship, and is absolutely against the Practice of the Saints, and the Spirit of Jesus, as also against Christ's Royal Law, which is, Whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, even so do ye unto them: Now let every man make it his own case, He saith his way is the way of God, and anothers is not: Well then, would he be forced to leave his own way, and to go to the other, which he is not satisfied of to

be occording to the mind of God, especially when nothing is offered to convince his Conscience, or per∣swade his mind and understanding but Force and Compulsion: Surely no man would be so dealt with in his own case.

Obj. But if it be said, We have Power and a Law, and we are wise and learned men, and we would not be force∣ed from our Religion, but we would force people to ours.

Ans. This hath no weight in it at all; for you ought to put your selves in the same capacities as them you deal with are; and to consider your selves in their condition; they are as strongly (it may be more) per∣swaded in their Consciences by the Spirit of God, that their Way is right, than you are of yours. Well then, (weighing these things) would you be forced? Would you have others to deal so with you, if you were in their condition, and they

in yours? Let God's Witness answer in all Consciences, and see if these ways of forcing, in matters of Con∣science to God wards, be not quite contrary to the practice of the Saints, and to the Royal Law of Christ.

Obj. Besides, though it be said, But we judge we are in the right, and our way is the true way.

Ans. It's answered. You may be mistaken, many hath, that have had thoughts their way was right; and while you have not the infallible Witness of God's Spirit with you, to testifie to your way, peradventure you may err as the former Forcers have done; and then you cause peo∣ple to Sin, if you could force them to Blaspheme, and to deny, as Saul did; for if he that turneth a Sinner from the error of his way, (who hath er∣red from the Truth) doth save a Soul, and hide a multitude of Sins, then they that force people from the

Way of God, and cause them to err, doth bring Souls into death, and so bring Innocent Blood upon them∣selves, yea, the Blood of Souls, which will be a great weight in the Day of God's account.

Obj. But if it be further said, How then? How must we do (there is so ma∣ny ways) that People might be brought to one way to serve God?

Ans. Do what God requireth of you, and no more, and then we shall never suffer by you, nor under you; Do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God, this is better than the f••t of Rams: 'tis better than all the outward Sounds and Ceremonies, and bodily exercise, while the heart is far from the Lord▪ And if you judge you are in the right, and your way is right, come forth then with spiritual Weapons, mighty ones; in the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ; and let us see you shine forth in his Image; let

this be your covering, your white Robes, even the Righteousness of Christ, which is the Righteousness of the Saints, and let us see your meek∣ness, patience, gentleness, and good example, your readiness by word and deed to convince Gain-sayers in the Power and Gospel of Christ; your love to Enemies, your self∣denial, your subjection to the Cross of our Lord Jesus; Oh, this would reach our hearts, then God's Witness would answer to you, and this would answer the good part in all; and this is the way to bring people, to be of one mind in the Truth; this is God's way, this is the way the Saints walked in; this is the way we love and desire; and this also would be of good report amongst all good people; but the contrary force and compulsion, with a hasty, froward, proud, envious Spirit, with Staff and Club, and carnal Wea∣pons, and Stocks, and Prisoning of

People, against whom there is no oc∣casion, but concerning the Law of their God, and matters which are really of Conscience to God-wards; We say, this will never be justified by the Lord, nor effect the end neither, nor be of good report amongst sober People, nor answer the good part in people: And moreover, the Lord God of Life will turn his hand and power against them, that so turn their hand and power against his people for o∣beying him, and exercising their Con∣sciences towards him, in waiting up∣on him, and worshipping him accord∣ing to that which he hath made ma∣nifest to them; and such will be more inexcusable for persecuting now, than the Jews were in former dayes; for then the Saints met together, and pro∣fessed the Name of Jesus, which the Jews did not say they believed in. Be∣sides, it was in appearance such a new way, and so different to the Law and manner of Worship which the Jews

had, that they had some seeming co∣lour in their way; but now, for they that profess the Name of Christ, and the Sicrptures of the New-Testa∣ment, and the Saints Practice, and Christ's Commands to be obeyed, for these (all things considered) to perse∣cute people for owning the Com∣mands of Christ, & for practising the same things (which they cannot but read) the Saints practised, and to hale people, and commit them to Prison for meeting in the Name of Jesus to Worship God, and to wait upon him; yea, and to be so far from cherishing such, as to act the very parts of them that made havock of the Church, and haled out both Men and Wo∣men, and was exceedingly mad, and caused some to Blaspheme, and com∣mitted to Prison for the same things; it doth appear to be great evil, and to be even Sin against knowledge, against their own Prefession as Christans, and cannot be parallel'd

with any of the Saints, but with the Persecutors, who hated and evilly entreated the Servants of the Lord in former Ages, who never could ac∣complish their end, though they caused many to suffer; and now to put all out of doubt, and to give all who opposeth the People of God in the way of God, an absolute answer, that they shall not be able to accom∣plish their end, and therefore it would be far better to be quiet, and to mind the Royal Law of Christ, lest they by acting contrary, do bring innocent suffering and Blood upon their own Heads, and incur God's heavy Yoke of displeasure against them, yea, and a Fire be kinded in their own Bowels, and a Worm which shall not dye, and a dart strike through the Heart and Liver, and so the end be as bitter as Worm-wood, and as sharp as a two▪edged Sword; these are Instruments of War which the Lord hath in his Quiver, which

is reserved for the Day of Battel, when God pleads with all Flesh by Fire, and by his Sword, when the slain of the Lord shall be many, when he will rain Snares upon the wicked, Fire and Brimstone, and grievous Tempests; this is the Po∣tion of their Cup: But indeed we do desire the Conversion and Salvation even of our Persecutors; and there∣fore to put all out of doubt, as is be∣fore said, that there is no prevailing against the Lord, nor against the Si∣on of the Holy One, in whom the Lord is: We say, the living God of Hea∣ven and Earth hath made manifest unto us the Way to Life, and called us to walk in it, and united our Hearts together, (as many as live in his Power) to serve him, and to wait upon him, and to meet toge∣ther to Worship him in Spirit and Truth; and we are perswaded to obey the Lord, and believe in the Lord, that he will strengthen us in

his Way and Will unto the end: For our strength is in the Lord (and not of our selves) who hath called us to follow him through good report and bad report, and not to deny his Way because of sufferings, but to endure in patience, and let the Lord plead our cause in the Hearts of his Enemies.

Obj. And if any say, Why will you not swear? And why will you meet, see∣ing there is a Law against you?

Ans. For these two things, we say, We dare not disobey the Lord for fear of punishment or suffering outwardly; and we meet together in the Name and Fear of the Lord, Because the Lord God of Life re∣quireth it of us, that we should meet in his Name and Power, and wait upon him, and edifie one another in his Love and Life, and in our Meet∣ings waiting upon the Lord, we have the presence of the living God of Life with us, and the feeling of

the vertue of his Love in our Hearts; and he lifts up his Countenance up∣on us, yea, and comforteth us by his free Spirit, whereby we know and are assured, that it is according to the mind and will of the Lord, and that he speaks Peace unto us: And this being the real Truth, let all the honest-hearted judge how we can in Conscience leave that which God requireth of us, in obedience to which we have God's presence with us and do that which Man requi∣reth of us, contrary to the Truth, in observing of which we should fall into Condemnation, and feel God's anger, and the Testimony of his Spirit against us, to judge us, which would be greater sufferings in the inward Man, then all the outward sufferings which we may meet with; for in these being faithful, the Lord comforteth our Hearts.

2. Again, We meet together to wait upon the Lord, because we fear the Lord God, he hath placed his Fear in our Hearts, and we know him to be great and mighty, a great King above all Kings, and a great God above all God s, that is able to do whatsoever he will in Heaven and in Earth, and in the Kingdoms of men, and we know he is worthy to be Worshipped, and to have the Heart given up unto him, for he hath Power to change the Heart, (which Men by all their force cannot do) and to give true and lasting Peace, which the World can never take away; and his Fear being in our Hearts, we account him Lord and Ruler in our Consciences, and worthy to be o∣beved in Heart, Soul and Spirit: And because we fear him more than Man, we are bound in Duty to o∣bey him, for he hath power over both Soul and Body, which Man

hath not; for Man can but kill the Body, he hath not power to kill the Soul, neither hath he power to re∣deem the Soul; neither can Man convert the Soul by any force or pe∣nalty outwardly; therefore Man doth but labour in vain, for he can neither kill nor cure the Soul; but the Lord whom we fear, hath Power, and is able to kill and to make alive: And because we fear him more than Man, therefore we chuse to obey him rather than Man, and to meet in God's Fear. And this being our Condition, let the sober-hearted judge, How can we deny the Lord who hath all Power, and hath quick∣ned us, and redeemed our Souls from Death, and go to obey Man (con∣trary to Christ's Doctrine) who hath no power over the Soul. Sure∣ly as we stand in God's Fear and Counsel, we may not do this Evil, and Sin against our God.

3. Again, we meet together to wait upon the Lord, because God hath made it manifest to us, and perswaded us, that the Way in which we walk, is according to his Mind and Will, and we look not for direction in our Religion, by Mans wisdom or will, how we shall serve and worship God, for we know its God alone by his Spirit, that leads people in the Exercise of the true Religion, as it is written, I the Lord teacheth thee to profit, and leadeth thee in the way in which thou shouldest go; and lo we are content with our Re∣ligion which the Lord hath led us in∣to, and in the exercise of it we have Gods Blessing, filling our Hearts with Love and Joy, Peace and Satisfacti∣on, in which our Souls are comfor∣ted, and we look not for another Religion contrary to that which we are in; but our hearts are fixed, waiting upon the Lord, and we re∣ceived

it from the Lord, and not up∣on any such terms, as to continue in it till Man made a Law against it, or speak against it, and no longer; but even as the Way of Truth was made manifest to us, so to press on in it unto the end: And we see the Ways and Religions of Men to be so changable, sometimes one way, and sometimes another, that it appears to us, as if Men received their Religion but till Orders of another sort of Men to the contrary: And we see many people so ready to part with their Re∣ligion, and take up another, that gives us just ground to believe they found not the Presence of God with them in their Way and Exercise: And so its but loose with them, and they can leave it upon occasion, rather than suffer the loss of any thing for it; and this makes us prize that which God hath made manifest to us, the more, because we receive Refresh∣ment

from the Lord, in the Exer∣cise of our Religion; besides, if we had been void of the true Religion till this day, we should have been as unstable as others, tossed about with winds of Doctrine, and have known no true Rest to our Souls, but it is well known that we were of the same mind, that we are now, in the time of the former powers, and we received not our Religion from them neither, but from the Lord our God, neither was our Religion or we in the Exercise of it, confirmed by any Law or Decree of theirs, but on the contrary, did suffer much hard∣ship under them, and by them, whom they cherished at that time in the Religion which they allowed, and they then said, Theirs was the right Way, and they Stockt and Prisoned ma∣ny who were contrary to them; And now others say they are in Way, and useth force, and such like, to them that

differ from them. One said the Law is on our side, and we are in the right; the others say. The Law is on our side, and we are in the right, and you must conform, or suffer deeply. We say, None of these things can perswade our Consciences; but come forth in the Power of the Lord, as good Ex∣amples, with spiritual Weapons, if you will perswade us; for we can∣not with a safe Conscience leave our Religion, which the Lord hath led us into by his own Power, upon these things, but must rather give up to suffer in the Will of the Lord; for we know plainly, it is God alone by his Power, that doth bring people into the true Worship: And this is according to the Scriptures of Truth, and also to the Service which is now allowed; for 'tis said in the Collect for that which is called the thirteenth Sunday after Trinity, Almighty and most merciful God, of whose only Gift it cometh, that thy faith∣ful

ful People do unto thee true and lauda∣ble Service: Now then, if it come on∣ly by the Gift of God that the faith∣ful do true Service unto God, then they that would force people from serving God according to his Gift gi∣ven them, would force them from the true and laudable Service of God, and do make them act contrary to the Gift of God, and unavoidably lead and force people from the true Worship of God, into hypocrisie, and a false, feigned, lifeless and heart∣less Worship, in which the Lord takes no pleasure. And so this be∣ing truly considered, we can put it to the Consciences of all that fear the Lord, to judge whether he can with a safe Conscience leave our Religion which God hath led us into, and and the exercise of it, according to the Gift of God, by which only true Service is done to God, in which al∣so we find acceptance with God through Jesus Christ, and go to a

Religion in the will of Man, con∣trary to the Gift of God, by Force and Compulsion, where we could not act affectionately with our Hearts, nor yet find the Blessing and Presence of God with us, acting con∣trary to the Gift of God: Truly it is in our Hearts and Consciences, as the Truth of the Lord, that we may not falsly do it.

But if any should object and say, Your Religion is but new, or of a late standing, Ours is a Hundred Years old, or thereabouts, since Popery was brought from having the upper-hand in this Na∣tion; for they forced, but they were out of the way; but ours is a Reformed Church.

'Tis answered, That though the Name or Denomination by which we are distinguished from other peo∣ple, be but of late Years, which was cast upon us by some that mocked us, because of the Power of the Lord, which caused many to quake

and tremble; yet the Life in which we live, and the Truth which we profess, is ancient, and the Practice in which we are exercised in the Worship of God, is according to the Truth and Practice of the Saints of old: And so it might be said of the Saints, and of Paul when he was converted, and turned from the Jews Worship, that it was a new Religi∣on; but it was the mighty Power of God that changed them, though many in that day opposed them. And so we say, Force now, with Prisons and carnal Weapons, is of the same nature as it was formerly, in the Papists and others, for they said they had a Law, and they were the true Church, and they forced about Religion, and killed many; and now here is but the same Argument, The Law saith so and so: There∣fore we see the same Nature forcing now, as formerly, as it's said, He that was born after the Flesh, persecu∣ted

him that was born after the Spirit; even so it is now.

And for being of a Hundred Years standing, this adds no strength to it at all, for the Jews Religion was far more ancient, and yet being in the Persecuting nature, and resisting the Holy One and the Just, though they professed God with their Mouth, yet that would not cover them, nor will it cover people now, to profess God with their Mouth, while they are found in the Nature, Steps and Practice of them who Persecuted the Saints and Servants of God in Ages past.

And for that which is said, That we are but of late Years; We say, Men are not true Christians by Ge∣neration, neither by an outward Profession, but by an inward Change in the Heart, wrought by the Power of God in the Regeneration. And so if it be but a few Years in compa∣rison, since we, or any of us were

changed and turned to the Lord, yet it was in the time when the Lord was pleased, and saw good to visit us, and we can truly say it was an acceptable day and time when we were turned from Darkness to the true Light, and from the power of Satan to God: And we are glad of it, and can say, Blessed be the Lord for it, if it had been but yesterday, that any of us were renewed in the Spirit of our minds to God; for it is matter of Joy to us, that the Lord hath gathered us in our day and time, from off the barren Mountains, into his Fold, to wait upon him, and to receive teaching and satisfaction from him: This is far more to us to know the Lord changing us in our day, and bringing us to know the things that pertain to our ever∣lasting Peace, than to have a large Profession of the Saints Words, and yet to be out of the Saints Life, and out of the way where true Peace and

Rest is found to the Soul; and so the Lord having manifested his Truth to us, and brought us into the Religion, in which he manifests his Presence to us, we are content to wait in the Will of the Lord, and may not for∣sake our Religion, nor the Assem∣bling of our selves together, because Man saith to the contrary, but walk according to the Gift of God, by which only it is that true and faith∣ful Service is performed unto him.

4. Again, we meet together to wait upon the Lord; that our Con∣sciences may be kept clear towards him, that we may have the answer of a good Conscience towards God▪ which if we should walk contrary to that which the Lord hath made manifest, here would be shipwrack of Faith and a good Conscience; for so it was formerly, if any forsook the Lord and his Truth after they had tasted of his good Word, if they fell away from that which they had once

known and professed of the Truth and Gospel of Jesus, they made ship∣wrack of Faith and a good Consci∣ence, and then they could not have the answer of a good Conscience, nei∣ther had they Peace with God, and what remained if they continued so, but a certain fearful looking for of Judgement and fiery Indignation, which will devour? And therefore we knowing the preciousness of the answer of a good Conscience to∣wards God, do prize it, and esteem it as a Jewel of great worth; and we may not forsake the Way of the Lord, wherein we have the answer of a good Conscience (because of out∣ward Force) and go into that in which we should suffer Anguish, and have a certain fearful looking for of Judgment, and a sting in our own Consciences; therefore we can put it to all who fear the Lord to judge of, if it be not safe for us to abide in the Way of the Lord, and to be faith∣ful

to him, though we may meet with Sufferings in this World.

5. Again, we meet together in the Fear of the Lord, and own the doctrine of Christ to live in it, because we are perswaded in the Fear and Power of the Lord God of Life; who is our strength, that nothing shall be able to separate us from the Love of God which we have in Christ Jesus our Lord: the Love of God is so Comfortable, and his Favours is so refreshing to us, and the Testimony of his Spirit is so satisfactory in our Hearts, that we are perswaded, nothing will be able to separate us; our Strength is in the Lord, and he is all-sufficient to keep us through all, by his mighty Power, unto the end; waiting upon him, and abiding in his Power, he is able to save to the uttermost; and this were the Saints formerly per∣swaded off, that nothing should be able to separate them from the Love

of God, and they met with many hardships, and were oftentimse cruel∣ly intreated, and shamefully handled, as the Scriptures declare; yet through all the Lord was with his people, and comforted their hearts in their following of him, and the Love of God abounded to them and in them, and they were Conquerors through him that loved them. Now if any at that time denyed the Truth for fear of man, or any other thing, they came to suffer in their hearts, and to feel sorrow in their inward man; for when iniquity enters into the heart, it darkens the un∣derstanding, and also the creature loseth the sence of the Love of God; and if there be not Repentance, and a returning unto the Lord, Iniquity grows more strong, and love grows cold in such, and the heart grows worse and worse, and is hardned by degrees against the Lord and his peo∣ple, and then there is a separation

from the Love of God, and the feel∣ing, and earnest of sorrow and tribulation upon every one that doth evil; therefore we are perswaded that it is safe for us to wait upon the Lord in the way which he hath made manifest unto us, that so we may receive the Power to renew our strength, that we may walk on in the Path of Life, and nothing sepa∣rate us from the Love of God which we have in Christ Jesus. Shall tribulation, or affliction, or Princi∣palities, or Powers separate us from the Love of God? Shall force by carnal weapons, or Prisons cause us to deny that which God hath made manifest unto us; Is there Powers against us, Thrones against us? well, this is safe for us, to abide in the counsel of God, that we may al∣ways feel his Love in our hearts; and if we suffer, let us suffer here, because of our faithfulness to the Lord: If we must go to Prison, let us stand in

the Power of God, that his Love and Life, blessing, and heavenly Presence may be with us: Better to suffer out∣wardly in Prisons, and Holes, and have the Love and presence of the Lord with us, then to disobey the Lord, and walk contrary to his gift, and so suffer inward anguish and sorrow of heart, and some thing separate us from the Love of God, and then who can speak peace to us, if the Lord speak trouble? but if the Lord speak peace, it's no matter though man may speak trouble; though the wrath of man may rise high, yet he that doth whatsoever he will in Heaven and in Earth, he can make it to turn to his Praise, and the rest of it he will restrain; and blessed are they that have the Lord with them, on their side; he speaks peace to them in the midst of all, his love refresheth our Hearts, and so to put all out of doubt, we are perswaded in the Power of the

Lord, that nothing will be able to separate us from the Love which we have in our Saviour; and here it is good to abide, and not to give one Foot back, to give any ground unto the Enemy, but to continue where the Love of God is with us, and his blessed Presence with us comforting our Hearts, which people do not find with them in disobedience, walking and acting contrary to what the Lord hath made manifest to them; and so we can put it to the Consciences of all People who have any sence of the Love of God in their Hearts, Whether it can be safe for us to forsake the Way of peace and rest which God hath made manifest unto us, and in which we have the Love of God with us, and to go into a Way by force, into which the Spirit of the Lord doth not lead us, where we shall find an∣guish and sorrow, and something separating us from the Love of God,

and where God would not speak peace to us, but trouble; surely we are perswaded to abide in that which the Lord hath made manifest to us, and our faith is in the Power of God, that nothing will be able to separate us from the Love of God.

6. Again, we are perswaded to continue in the Way of Truth, mee∣ting together in the Fear of the Lord, to serve him, because we find the Lord requireth of us to bear a faith∣ful Testimony, and witness to his Name and Truth, which he hath made known to us at this day; and though man require the contrary, and would force us to yeild, yet we may not deny the Lord and his Truth, but must bear witness to his Name in obedience to his Will: for we are not our own, but the Lords; neither▪ must we serve our selves, nor do our own will, nor the wills of others, whose will is not

according to the Will of God, but we must serve the Lord, and be faithful to him; and we see we cannot serve two Masters, nor cannot be parta∣kers of the Love of God, if we be in the love of the World, and f••l∣low after the lusts of it; and if we love any thing more than Christ, we should not be true Disciples and Followers of him.

And if it be objected, Why can∣not you do as men would have you? What, God knows your Hearts▪ and you may keep yuor Hearts to your selves, and conform outwardly for all that.

It's answered, Nay, we cannot, be∣cause God requireth it of us, to bear witness to his Name and Truth, and we may not deal doubly or deceit∣fully, in shewing that before men, which we are not in our Hearts to God, for the People that God hath formed to himself, must shew forth his praise. And though it be true,

that God knows the Heart of every one, yet lie looks for Fruit also to be brought forth, that we may be glo∣rified. It is recorded in the Scrip∣tures, that there were many occa∣sions sought against Daniel, but they could find none against him, except it were concerning the Law of his God, and they that hated him, consulted to get a Decree, that none should ask any Petition of God or man for thirty dayes, save of the King; if he did, he was to be cast into the Den of Lyons: and the Decree was sealed according to the Law of the Meades and Persians. Now it cannot be denied but Daniel might have prayed to God in his heart, and his evil-wishers have known little of it; but he was taught by the Lord to pray openly, and to confess unto him, that he was great, mighty and powerful. And so though the Decree was sealed, he (as if he regarded it to not) went

and prayed to his God three times a day upon his knees, with his Window open, and his face towards Jerusalem, and so held forth his Testimony, and bore witness to the Lord, that he was worthy to be sought unto, and that he was not to be limited (by an outward Decree, though a strong one) from praying and calling upon the Name of the Lord, and the Lord vvas vvith him; and though he suffered the adven∣ture of being cast into the Lyons Den, yet the God of Heaven was his Pre∣server, and he held forth a precious Testimony, and God was much glorified; for it was said, yea, and proclaimed through many Nations, that all should fear and worship the God of Daniel, for there was no other God that could save in such sort.

And also the three Children that would not bow, though the King had commanded it, that when the

Voice of the Musick was heard, all should bow to the Image which he had set up; yet they would not o∣bey, for it was contrary to the Law of their God, and great Wrath was against them, and the Furnace was very Hot, yet the Lord saved them, and they bore a precious Testimony to the Lord in Obedience to his Law, and the Lord was much Glorified, and was proclaimed through many Nations to be the onely and true God; and the King himself did praise and honour, and extol the God of Heaven all whose Works are Truth, and his Wayes Judgement, and those who walk in Pride, he is able to a∣base.

But now if any should say, These were Heathen Kings, and so not to be obeyed.

It's answered, They are more ex∣cusable therefore than those that in words prosess themselves Christians, and own Scriptures, and the Saints

practice, and yet are found persecut∣those who live in the Power of the Lord, and forcing by pains and pe∣nalties, not according to, but quite contrary to the Practice of the Saints, whose Words they profess, and are found in the very steps of them who persecuted the Saints and Servants of God, as the Scriptures testifie; and are so far from the Doctrine of Christ, as to forgive Trespasses and to do as they would be done unto, and to love Enemies, and to pray for them that Persecute them, that they do absolutely Trespass against them who give them no just occasion, and do to others as they would not be done unto, were it their case, (and let God's Witness judge) and doth even hate and cruelly handle their Friends, who wish them well from their Hearts, and presecute them who pray for them. And surely, for these things will the Lord Visit, and in the mean time we find that

the Lord requireth it of us, to be faithful to him in what he hath made manifest unto us, that we may bear a true Testimony, and faithful Wit∣ness to the Truth, and for the Lord, that he may glorifie himself by us; for we are not our own, but his, who hath formed us, and called us to follow him.

And therefore let the wise in Heart judge; Can it be safe for us to lose our Testimony, and to cease following the Lord, and living in that which he hath made known un∣to us to his mind and will concerning us, in which we have the Arm and Power of the Lord with us, and him to take our parts, and to go to that which he hath not called us unto, where we could bear no Testimony for him, (for he that goes from the Truth which God hath made mani∣fest, l••seth his Testimony) where fruits would be brought forth unto Death, and not unto Life, and the

Hand of the Lord will turn against such; for them that honour the Lord, he will honour; but they that slight his Counsel, and despise his Will, shall be lightly esteemed; all which duly considered, we cannot (as we live to God) but bear witness to his Name, and hold forth that Testi∣mony which the Lord hath commit∣ted unto us.

7. Again, We are given up to o∣bey and serve the Lord according to that which he hath made known un∣to us, because no man must give an account unto God for us, or answer for us in his day, when the secrets of all Hearts shall be manifest, and he will reward every one according to their deeds: B••t we must stand be∣fore the Judgement-Seat of Christ, to receive a Portion from him, and not others for us: Therefore we may not deny the Lord because of Force, Pains, Prisons or Penlties, because they that so force us, will

not answer for us, though weight enough may be upon themselves; yet that would not free us if we should forsake the Way of the Lord made known to us: And let all people in soberness judge what reason there is that others should force us from that which we believe, to that which they believe, and yet if we perish by that means, they can neither help us, nor answer for us: Is it not therefore meet, that we should live in that Way in which we dare dye, and give up all unto the Lord in, and not be forc'd out of that Way in which vve have Peace and Love, and the presence of the Lord vvith us, into a vvay vvhere pain and anguish would fill our hearts, and leanness and emptiness would be upon our souls? and yet they that forced us from our good Haven and safe Harbour, where vve lay at Anchor safe from the storm, vvould neither bring us to any sure

resting place, nor yet preserve us from Winds and Storms, and terrible Tempests; but vve must by reason of such a force, unavoidably suffer shipvvrack: We say, We may call Heaven and Earth, yea, Angels and all just men, to bear vvitness to our Cause; yea, and the Eternal God of Life, in vvhose hand is the breath of all living, to judge between us and our Persecutors in this matter.

Hearken unto me, ye that know righte∣ousness, the People in whose heart is my Law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings; for the Moth shall eat them up like a Garment, and the Worm shall eat them like Wool; but my Righteousness shall be forever: and my Salvation from Generation to Generation, Isa. 51. 7, 8.

J. A.

A Question Answered, which was proposed by the Bi∣shops Official, at several Places in Westmoreland, to the people called Quakers, in his Visitation (so called) about the 7th Month, 1663.

Question, WHY do you not come to your Parish Church, or to the place of publick Wor∣ship appointed by the Laws of the Land, to hear Divine Service, and to join in Prayer with the Congregation; and to perform other Rites and Cerimonies of according to the Church of England.

Answ. First the ••postle saith, Let every Man be fully perswaded in his own mind. Now we are not perswaded in our minds, either that God re∣quireth it of us, to come to these Places to Worship him, or that it

can be proved by the holy Scriptures, according to the Practice of the Saints, that we ought to come to these Places. Secondly, because we are not perswaded in our minds, and that upon good Grounds and Rea∣sons, according to the holy Scrip∣tures, That the Priests which there serve the Cure (so called) are Mi∣nisters of Jesus Christ, sent of God: But much perswaded in our minds that God never sent them; And that for these four Reasons,

First, Because their Call to the Ministry, is not the same, as were the Call of the Ministers of Christ: Theirs was by the Spirit of Christ, not of Man, nor by Man; Theirs are of Man, and by Man: Time servers, Men pleasers, Covenan∣breakers, having a face to serve eve∣ry turn and time, not serving the Lord, but their own Bellies; and they used to say, before they ab∣jured the Covenant, that they had

not the infallible Spirit which the A∣postle▪ had; and what Spirit is en∣tered into them since, let all that fear the Lord judge.

Secondly, Because we are not per∣swaded, that their Practice in their Ministry, is not according to the Practice of the Ministers of Christ, but according to the practice of the false Prophets, and false Apostles which the Scripture testifies a∣gainst.

Thirdly, Because their Mainte∣nance in their Ministry, is not ac∣cording to the Maintenance of the Ministers of Christ, but like the false Prophets, and them that went in Cain's way, and Balaam's way, gree∣dily after Gifts and Rewards; yea, and preparing War against them that puts not into their Mouths.

Fourthly, Because we are per∣swaded, that their Doctrine is not according to the Doctrine of Christ, and his Apostles, but the contrary,

for they deny the Light of Christ, which lighteth every Man that com∣eth into the World, to be spiritual and sufficient to guide in the ways of Peace; and this is contrary to Christs Doctrine and his Apostles; again they say, all that ever people do, is Sin, while they are here, (though Saints) and people must never have freedom nor victory, over Sin while they live upon the Earth; and this is contrary to the Doctrine of Christ and his Apostles: They say all they do is Sin, their best Actions are Sin, their Prayers are Sin, (to this we con∣sent) therefore they are not the Prayers of the Upright, which God delights in, nor were they ever sent of God, whose Prayers and best Acti∣ons are Sin, ••nd therefore being the Hirelings and Strangers which Christ never sent, we are perswaded we ought not to hear them, nor go af∣ter them. Again, Thirdly, we come not to these places, because we are

not fully perswaded in our minds that the people there met together, are the true Church of Christ, or his Members; And that for these three Reasons;

First, Because they are a Compa∣ny of miserable Sinners, that err and stray like lost Sheep from the ways of God, and are grievous Offenders of Gods holy Laws, as that them∣selves confess, therefore say we, un∣redeemed yet; in the way of Death, not in the way of Life; yet we do not deny, but confess, that there is a time when people do so err, and are out of the right way, but this in the Unconverted state, such are not the Church of Christ, nor Mem∣bers of his Body, while they are dead in Sins and Trespasses; for the Saints, who are Members of the true Church, are quickned by the Power of God, and ate raised up to sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

Secondly, The people there met

together, do that which they ought not to have done, and leave undone that which they ought to have done, so are breakers of their Covenants and Vowes made in their Baptism, which promised that they would for∣sake the Devil and all his Works, the Pomps and Vanities of this wicked World, and all the sinful Lusts of the Flesh, &c. And that they would keep Gods holy Will and Com∣mandments, &c. But now they of∣fend grievously Gods holy Laws, and leaves that undone which they should do, &c. And their Teachers tell them, they connot forsake the Devil and all his works, but their best Actions and their Prayers are Sin, while they live; and all Sin is of the evil One: Therefore we dare not joyn with them to commit Sin: But if it be said, these are but humble Confession to God▪ laying our selves low, and confessing our Sins which we ought to do, when we pray to

him. Answer, either your Confessi∣ons are true, or a lye: If true, then you are breakers of your Vows, and in the Unconverted state yet, there∣fore not the true Church; Know ye not, that the unrighteous shall: not Inherit the Kingdom of God, 1 Cor. 6. 4, 10, 11. Be not deceived, nei∣ther Idolators, nor Thieves, nor Covetous, nor Drunkards, nor Revi∣lars, nor Extortioners can Inherit it (in that state) And said the Apostle to the Saints; Such were some of you, but you are Washed, but you are Sancti∣fied but you are Justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God, And if your Confession be a lye, then you are also manifest to be a Company of Dissembling Hypocrites, and to be of him who was a Lyar from the Beginning and not Members of the Church of Christ.

Thirdly, because the People there met together, have no health in

them, therefore we are not perswa∣ded in our Minds that we ought to joyn with them; no health in them, Christ is the saving Health of all Nations who believe in him; there∣fore Christ is not in them, so Re∣probates concerning the Faith, and not the Church of Christ, nor Con∣gregation of the faithful People, but are disorderly, out of the order of the Gospel, and we are command∣ed to withdraw from all such as walk disorderly. So we meet toge∣ther in the Fear of God according to the Practice of the Saints; and come not to these places which were the old Mass-Houses, to Wor∣ship amongst those People which have no health in them; and these are three Principal things, upon which many more things will fol∣low, wherefore we do not go to these Places aforenamed.

J. A.

The Coppy of a Letter sent unto two or three Persons in a Family.

Dear Hearts,

IN the Light of the Lord, wait upon the Lord in his Fear, to have your Minds stayed in his Will, that you may walk in Obedience & Uprightness in the Presence of the Lord, to see him amongst you, and in his Counsel abide every one faith∣ful, in the Calling and Measure which you have received and are cal∣led unto, that orderly, and in order you may wait and walk every one in particular, and one towards ano∣ther in Soberness and Wisdom, that in Love you may be preserved, and Truth adorned which you pro∣fess, that God alone may be exalted: I warn you and charge you, that

in Faithfuluess every one of you walk, and in Diligence and Love, that there be no Disorder, Sloathful∣ness nor Carelessness, but every one mind the Presence of him, whose Eye is over you, before whom all is naked and bare, that you may walk in the Light and the pure Fear of God, which will keep you Watchful and Sober in all diligence as unto the Lord, knowing you must give an account to him: And none be high minded, but fear, and be Low, and Humble, and take up the Yoke of Christ, and learn there; And take heed of your own wills, which would lead you into the by-Parths, But stand single in the Will of God, waiting upon him continually, that you may receive the living Mercies from him, that your Souls may be nourished with the Food that is Immortal; and this I lay upon you all that you be faithful and Diligent, that all may be kept in Order and Love,

that the Family may be guided in Wisdom.

So my Dear Hearts, in Love do I Salute you all, and I remain your Dear Friend, in that which endureth forever.

John Audland.