A brief relation of some part of the sufferings of the true Christians, the people of God, in scorn called Quakers, in Ireland, for these last eleaven years, viz, from 1660 until 1671 with an occasional treatise of their principles and practices briefly stated, whereby the innocency of their cause, for which they so suffer, is not only plainly demonstrated, but also from all false asperations and causeless pretences sufficiently vindicated / collected by T.H. and A.F.

Fifthly, Concerning our not Swearing, not taking off our Hats, and for Working on dayes (by some called Holy-days) we have also good Ground and Scripture Authority.

First, AND first, for our refusing to Swear, we have plain and undeniable Scripture Proofs; 1st, from Christ Jesus, the Son of God, in whom we believe, Joh. 14. 1. who in his Sermon to his Disciples, preached and opened the glorious Work and Worth of the Gospel above the Law (though he came not to destroy the Law, but to fulfil it) You have heard, said he, that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not Forswear thy self, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine Oaths; but I say unto you, Swear not at all, neither by Heaven, &c. but let your Communication be Yea, yea, Nay, nay; for whatsoever is more then these cometh of Evil, Mat. 5. 17, 33, 35, 36, 37. And if men were not wilfully bind, and hardned against Truth, how could a Mouth be opened, much less a Hand lifted up against us (by the Professors of Christianity) for our Principles herein, seeing Christ (the Gospel-Law giver) bids us not Swear at all, and him we are to hear and obey: And as they under the Law were to Swear truly, so we under the Go∣spel are to speak truly; for true Christians are as far to exceed the Jews, as the Gospel doth the Law, because of that Noble and Just Principle in them, which is to lead them and guide them into all Truth, (John 16. 13.) to speak and act truly al∣together

at all times and in all places; and then a Testimony to speak the Truth answereth unto, and is (in the Ground) as valid as Swearing truly; & that which might be sworn unto in the time of the Law, is now only to be confirmed by Confession, Yea, yea; or Negation, Nay, nay: And as the Jews under the Law confirmed their Testimony to end Strife, Controversie, &c. by Swearing, and bound themselves by an Oath, some∣times by Vows and Curses; so the Christians in the Gos∣pel and New Covenant, are bound in Conscience by the Power and Law of Christ in them (which is a far greater Bond then Swearing) To do to all Men as they would be done unto, and to perform Equity and Righteousness (in that Love which is the fulfilling of the Law) in the Sight of God and Man, without Swearing Oaths, which were but Figures of this inward Bond or Covenant, confirmed by the Oath of God to the Seed of Abraham, which the True Christians are of, who witness the Substance and End of all Oaths without, and of Strife, Doubts and Variances that occasioned the Oaths; for the requiring of an Oath suppo∣seth Doubt or Unbelief in the one Party, which is no more to be pleaded for, then it is to be practiced in a true Christian.

And we do affirm further for our Principle in this matter, That to Swear at all is against the Law of the Spirit of Truth that dwells in us, and is against the positive Command of Christ Jesus herein, who said, Swear not at all; and this fully and plainly excludeth all the Glosses and Pretences of all men whatsoever, who would take upon them to interpret Christ's Words and Meanings (as they say) in this, as if he meant not to bar taking an Oath before a Magistrate, or to end a Controversie in a Suit of Law betwixt two Parties, &c. but as if he meant on∣ly forbidding Vain, Accustomary, and Unlawful Oaths, or Swearing; and such like imagined Stuff many have writ about and pleaded for, which (if well considered) is no great marvel; For if they cannot believe in the Light that lighteth them, the Son of God, and his Covenant, how can they own his Doctrine and Principle in this or other things published by him, or by his Spirit and Authority. 2dly, From the positive Precept of the Apostle, Jam. 5. 12. who preached his Lord and Master Christ Jesus, his fame Doctrine against Swear∣ing,

when he wrote to the Twelve scattered Tribes of the Jews, who by the old Law were allowed or commanded to Swear truly; but when they were converted to the Faith, and come to own and believe in Christ and his Doctrine, then they were oblieged and commanded not to Swear at all, no not to Swear truly it self, but to speak the Truth, their word Yea to be Yea, their word Nay to be Nay; for the Apostle seeing (may be finding) and foreseeing, that these converted Jews and Israelites, because of former Precepts & Customs in the Law (which they had been under) might use or plead for some sort of Swearing (like People now, who argue for Swearing before a Magistrate) contrary to Christs Command, therefore he puts a greater weight then ordinary upon this Doctrine, as if the concernment thereby had exceeded his other Doctrine, in saying, But above all things, Swear not—by any Oath—Neither do we read that any of the other Apostles used the like Doctrine to the converted Gentiles at Rome, Corinth, Ephesus, Galatia, &c. against Swearing, there being no such need to them that were not oblieged by the Law to Swear in a∣ny respect. So here are two plain Scripture Proofs for our Principle and Practice herein; and when any can produce Scripture in the New Testament, to prove (so plainly) their Practice of Swearing▪ in Gospel-dayes, before a Magistrate (which they call a lawful Oath) or yet before any other, or upon any occasion whatsoever, to be lawful, and allowed of, or commanded by Christ or his Apostles, who are the Authors of the Book called the New Testament, then we may give further Answer, or write more about it; but till then, they (especially they that profess Christ, and ought to obey his Command) ought not to blame us, much less to persecute, fine, or imprison us for obeying the Command of Christ, and observing the Doctrine of his blessed Apostle James.

3dly, As Swearing was thus forbidden by Christ and his Apostle, so the primitive Christians observed the same accor∣dingly: For the Bishop of Smyrna (a Martyr for the Truth) refused to Swear, saying, That he was a CHRISTIAN; so it seems the Primitive True Christians did not Swear; and as his Answer importeth, when they urged him to Swear, he used no other Argument to respond or shew his refusal, but to say, He was a Christian, that thereby his Persecutors

might know, That he would not Swear because he was a Christian, as by that Profession, bear∣ing* 1.1 Testimony against Swearing, or breaking the Command of Christ: Hereto agree several old and eminent Writers; as also, the Testimony of divers Martyrs and Sufferers under the Papal Pow∣er in Peiedmond, England, &c. who bore witness to our (and the true old) Christian-Principle herein. Bishop Gawden bore the like Testimony, and said,* 1.2

Amongst false Christians Oaths are not to be regarded, and amongst true Christians there was no need of them.

William Thorp, his Testimony* 1.3 herein was, said he,

It is a Sin to Swear well.

W. Brute also testified and affirmed,

That no Chri∣stian* 1.4 ought to Swear.

And so discend to our Times, since the Lord hath called us to be his People, our Principle in this (as in all other things) agrees with the pri∣mitive Christians, being like-minded with them; for if we should Swear, and break Christ's Command, his Light would condemn us, as the Apostle James said, lest ye fall into Con∣demnation. Hereby it appeareth, That our refusing to Swear proceedeth from sufficient Ground, Christ's Command, the Apostle's Doctrine, and the Primitive Christians Practices; so that it is Matter of Conscience to us, not to Swear at all. And because it is urged against us, That hereby we are incapable to serve the King & our Country. To which we say, we make not our selves inca∣pable, but we are made incapable by the Law of the Land, that re∣quires that of us which Christ has forbid us to give; and see∣ing we live under such Rulers and Magistrates as profess Christianity, and the Scriptures to be their Rule to believe in, and to walk by, we desire them to excuse us in this mat∣ter, and well to mind Peter, and the Apostles Answer to the Persecuting High Priest and his Council at Jerusalem (who had imprisoned the Apostles, and streightly* 1.5 charged them, to Preach no more in the Name of Jesus We o••ght to obey God, rather then men, said they; and not seek to compel or persecute us because we cannot, we dare not Swear, nor take an Oath, either to serve in Of∣fices, or upon Juries, or giving Evidence; though we are

willing and ready to serve in any Office or Place meet for us, and which we are capable of, & faithfully to perform the same, as also, to give in Evidence by speaking truly, so as that we may not break Christ's Command, or stain our Consciences through Disobedi∣ence. And for a further Testimony of our Sincerity herein, we further say and declare, That we are content to suffer as much for not Serving truly, and for not Speaking and Evi∣dencing truly, as those that are Perjured or Forsworn; for we hold our selves as much (yes more) oblieged by affirm∣ing or speaking Truth by our word Yea, and Nay, as o∣thers do by Swearing truly, or performing their Places by an Oath. And if this sufficeth not, then we must needs say, Its hard to perswade men of a contrary mind to us herein (until they come to own and believe in the Truth, Christ the Light, and then they will (with us) be like-minded with us) that what we say, affirm and witness is really Truth, or truly said and done; seeing they themselves are often doubtful of the verity of what is sworn or testified upon Oath, by such, as wor∣ship with them, and are of the same Opinion with them, and hold it (as they do) lawful to Swear; for several times, nei∣ther the Swearers, nor the Matter sworn, is believed by the Magistrate; for men of good Fame are called and depended on for the truest Evidence: So that it appeareth, That its not the taking of a bare Oath (simply considered as an Oath) which oblieges to perform or evidence and swear truly, but rather the Honesty and good Conscience of the Party; which proves the Performance from a Principle within, and not from a formal Oath: & then we say, Why should not a man as well be be∣liev'd in speaking truly, as swearing truly; seeing all that swear cannot be believed, there being so many Perjured & False-sworn?

Secondly, For not taking off our Hats (which are part of our Bodily Garments, and put and placed upon our Heads, to keep them warm and dry, as the rest of our Garments are for the other parts of our Bodies) and so not Honour∣ing mens Persons, with pulling them off, which (it seems) troubleth and distasteth the minds of some men, that seek the Honour below, in order to content and satisfie the Pride and Ambition; for curreous and good-natured men contemn and disregard it, looking upon it (at best) but an Alamode

Complement of a late Edition, and rather become a Fashion in our Country, a National or general Custom, then any absolute matter of Duty or Necessity: And besides, it would be no hard thing to prove the use of National or general Customs to be incongtuous with and dissonant unto the Life of a true Christian, who is not to be fashionedunto the World: 1 Pet. 1. 14. so that the not putting them off (to answer the Will, a lofty part in man) is also Matter of Conscience to us; for God knows our hearts, that its done in the Cross of Christ Jesus, and not in Contempt of Authority, or mens Persons bearing Rule; For we dare not Respect Persons, & act contrary to the Apostles Do∣ctrine, who said, Jam. 2. 1, to 11. If ye have Respect to Persons, ye commit Sin, and are convinced of the Law as Transgressors: to this a∣grees Christ's Saying to his Hearers, John 5. 41, 44. How can ye be∣lieve which receive Honour one of another, and seek not the Honour that comes down from God only? and we do not read in the Scriptures, that of all that were brought, or voluntarily went before Kings, Dukes Governours and Magistrates, that any were commanded to put off their Hats or Bonnets; nay, Nebuchadnezar was not offended (as we read) with the three Children for their Hats, Dan. 3. 21. for they were cast into the Fire with their Hosen and Hats—Doth not the Turk mock it Christians for putting off their Hats, & shew∣ing their bare Heads? Is not this a Reproof to Christians, that Persecute, Fine and Imprison for not putting off the Hat to them, because they have not the Hat-Honour, and Hat-Respect, which they cannot say is the Honour from above, which Christ commendeth to seek?

Thirdly, For Working or Opening our Shops on the Week∣dayes, called Holy-dayes, we have this to say, which, though little, yet may suffice a moderate man, and will a true Christi∣an; We find (Exod. 20. 6.) the Law allowed Six Dayes in the Week to Work or Labour on, and neither Christ nor his Apostles did ever forbid it, nor yet ordained any such dayes as Holy-days to be kept and observed, by the Churches in the Primitive Times. And the Apostle Paul in his Epistle to the Romans, saith, Rom. 41. 5, 6.

One Man esteemeth one Day above another, another estee∣meth every Day alike; let every man be fully perswaded in his own Mind: he that regards a Day, regards it unto the Lord; and he that regards not the Day to the Lord, he doth not regard it.

And he also said, They should not judge one another about such things. And seeing that neither the Apostles, nor the Councils, in their dayes, made any such Decree or Law, for observing such dayes; have not therefore these Decrees and Laws been made by the Pope and his Councils since the Apostles dayes? And who shall be observed, the Apostles, or the Pope, judge ye? So that there being no Institution of such dayes by Christ, his Apostles, or Primitive Councils; why should we suffer or be persecuted, for following our lawful Labours and Callings thereon, especially by such as are called Christians.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Jerom, Chrysoft. Ambr. Origen. Act. and Mon.
• * 1.2

  Bish. Gaw∣den.
• * 1.3

  Wil. Thorp,
• * 1.4

  Wil. Brute.
• * 1.5

  Acts 5. 29.