Judas and the Jews combined against Christ and his followers being a re-joynder to the late nameless reply, called, Tyranny and hypocrisie detected, made against a book, entituled The spirit of Alexander the Coppersmith rebuked, &c. which was an answer to a pamphlet, called, The spirit of the hat, in which truth is cleared from scandals, and the Church of Christ, in her faith, doctrine, and just power and authority in discipline is clearly and fully vindicated against the malicious endeavours of a confederacy of some envious professors and vagabond, apostate Quakers / by ... William Penn ; to which are added several testimonies of persons concern'd.

Isaac Penington's Testimony.

A brief Account concerning the Queries relating to Keeping on the Hat in time of publick Pray∣er, mention'd in a Book, called, Tyranny and Hypocrisie Detected, pag. 61.

AFter it pleased the Lord to give me a Sense of his preti∣ous Truth in the Inward Parts, and to turn my Mind thereto, I met with great Opposition, both Inward and Outward; and how hard and long my Travel was, God only fully knoweth. Every day the Lord visited me, and the Enemy was daily tempting me, and I felt the Bitterness of his Temptations, and was often sore wounded through my not un∣derstanding the Appearances of the Lord, and through Un∣belief. God knoweth, I did earnestly desire to know the Mo∣tions of God's Spirit, from the contrary Movings and Stir∣rings of the Enemy of my Soul (who moved in the Reasoning Wisdom, out of the True and pure Simplicity) but was many times filled with Doubts and Fears, till the Season of the Ser∣vice was over, and the Opportunity of keeping out the Enemy was lost.

When the Business of the HAT fell out; I being acquainted with several of them, and looking upon them as tender to the Lord, and that they did scruple it only in Conscience to him, was perswaded in my heart they were to be born with, and thought the positive Testimony against it in others too severe, and that a thing of that Nature was not to be con∣tended about, but every one left to their Liberty; yea, and somewhat farther did I go in the Sense of my Heart, as if possibly the Lord might require such a thing of them. In this Frame of Spirit did I give forth those Queries, not at all intending (the Lord knows) to strength••n that Practice thereby, but that no tender thing might be hurt, but the Unity of Life kept unviolabe, notwithstan∣ding such an Outward Difference: But at that time I did not discern, that the thing came from the Enemy; nor was I sensible, that the Ministers of the Truth, and such as stood in God's Light and Authority, and saw the thing coming from the Enemy, with the Evil, Hurt, and Dangerous Con∣sequences of it to many, yea, and the Grieving the Church of God, I say, I did not then see and seriously consider, that they were Watchmen, appointed by God, and had Discerning given them for the Good of the Body, and that by those Queries I did weaken the Testimony of God's Spirit through them, as to others, and give Strength thereby to that Spirit, which had prepared and was draw∣ing this Snare over many. So soon as ever the Lord shewed me this in the inwards of my Spirit, I smote upon my Thigh, and said, What have I done? and was willing to take Shame upon my self, and to give Glory to the Lord. How hard it went with me inwardly, none knows: And he that knows how easie it is to let in a Snare and Temptation, and to have the inward Eye blinded thereby, will not wonder, nor think too hardly of me; but his Bowels will rather rowl in the Sense of the Misery I under∣went. God knows, I did not mistake willingly: Nay, truly, The Power was upon me when I wrote those Queries, but I did not understand the Signification thereof, which would rather have led me then (as it hath since) against that Spirit, which brought up that new, Ʋnprofitable and Ʋnseemly Practice of keeping on the Hat in time of Publick Prayer, in the Assemblies of God's People.

Now, the making use of this, against the Infallible Teach∣ings

of God's Spirit, and the Infallible Way in which he leads his People, is not Just, True and Equal. What! Was I ne∣ver Infallibly led, because the Enemy once blinded my E••e, and de∣ceived me? Did not the Apostle Peter receive the Infallible Spirit, and was not he led thereby? And did he not walk in the infallible Way, because once he did that which was justly to be blamed, and doubtless erred in Judgment concerning the Practice? (Gal. 2.11.) I do not desire that Men should judge me In∣fallible, or hearken to me, as to one Infallible: but this I de∣sire, that I may alwayes understand and follow the Voice and Guidings of God's Holy Spirit, and then I am sure I shall alwayes walk in the Certain, Ʋnerring, Infallible Way (besides which, indeed, there is no safe Way) And I desire also, that others, with Ears and Eyes opened by the Lord, may hear that Living Sound and Testimony, which cometh from the Spirit of the Lord, in those whom he sends; that the Gathering may be to him, and the Walking with him in the Spirit of his Son, in the Light which is Eternal, which ever was, and ever will be Infallible, which is the Path of the Living, in this Day of the Breaking forth of God's Pure Pow∣er and Love, in the Heats of many; Oh Glory, Oh fresh, living Praises to his Name forever!

Isaac Penington.