A collection of the several writings and faithful testimonies of that suffering servant of God, and patient follower of the Lamb, Humphry Smith who dyed a prisoner for the testimony of Jesus, in Winchester common-goal the 4th day of the 3d moneth in the year 1663.

A Sad and Mournful LAMENTATION For the People of these Nations, but especially for the Priests and Leaders of them; and the more because of that which is coming to pass.

And let all People read it (and let it have entrance into their Hearts) in the fear of God; for it is of much Concern∣ment both for Priests, Rulers and all People, it being the deep Meditations of my Mind, and the true Openings with the Light, and Revelation of God in my Heart, sundry times when my Spirit hath had secret conference with the Lord, at such times as I have been absent from men, or in the Night season, in a true Mournful state of Pity towards the Souls of all Mankind, for the Eternal good whereof this is written.

In Winchester-Prison, and House of Correction, being a colse Prisoner in a filthy Hole, the 16th day of the 11th Moneth, 1658.

by me that have him to be my Life, who is a man of Sorrows; that of men am called, Humphry Smith.

MAny Dayes and Nights, and Times, and Seasons, for many Weeks and Moneths, of late Years, have ma∣ny deep and serious Considerations been in me, and many Meditations in my Mind and Heart, in the true fear of the living God, and often times in quietness (waiting on the Lord God of Abraham) hath my Spirit had secret and private, yet plain Conference with the Lord, concerning the Teachers and Leaders of the People, even the Hireling Priests of England (and other Nations) and the Followers of them. And when I have weighed all in an equal Ballance, I have found that it hath been

in pure Love to the Souls all Mankind, and without Prejudice or Envy to them, their Bodies or Persons, as they are the Crea∣tures of God; and the eternal Witness of God, in his Covenant of Life, hath, and doth, and will justifie me herein forever.

And when I have looked back upon the Teachers, and seen what a stir and a noise is made among them about God and Christ, and Faith in his Blood, and Redemption and Justification by him, and all proceeding from that nature in them, which is at Enmity with God: And when I have seen how many Thousand Thousands, and Hundreds of times ten Thousands following of them, and Contending, Fighting, Stoning, Whipping and Imprisoning for them, and are guided, or rather blinded by them: And when I have seen what care is taken for them, and to uphold them, by the great Rulers of the Nations, even Protector, Coun∣cil, Parliaments and Justices (besides many Thousands of bruitish People that are stoning and fighting for them) that they might be upheld and maintained, yea, even in Excess and Fulness, from the Peoples hard Labours: And when I have seen how many Hundred Thousand Pounds every year, they have received from the People: And when I seen, that notwithstanding all this, the People are still in Transgression, and so under the Wrath of God, and yet know not how to come out of their Sin, which se∣parateth from God, but that many Thousands dye in their Sins, and many more are pleading for Sin, and many end their dayes in a Bed of Torment, gasping, strugling, grovelling and raig∣ing in unquietness, under the horrible Terrors of the unutter∣able fierce Indignation of the Wrath of the Almighty, and so go down into the Pit forever, as many have done, not knowing a resting place in the peaceable stillness of God's Covenant of Life and Peace.

Oh! when (I say) I have beheld, and deeply considered these things, and many more which might be named, and seri∣ously pondered them in my Heart, from a true sense of God's Pity to the precious Souls of all Mankind; and from a true Un∣derstanding of the Terrible Wo••s, VVrath, Horor and Perplerity of Spirit that then comes upon such who thus due in their Sins, not reconciled to God, even then hath my heart been broken within me, and mine Eyes as Fountains of Tears,

and a sad Lamentation night and day hath come upon me, and a true M••••rning for the slain of the People, who thus are cut off from God, and separated from the Land of the Living. O Wo is me! because of these things my Soul hath been oppressed, and my Spirit grieved; and to the Lord alone hath a grievous Cry ascended up, and I have said, Oh that I could Mourn and Weep yet more in secret because of these things!

And when I have looked upon the Priests and People, I have seen plainly and truly from the Lord God, That the Spirit of Error and Ignorance in them, hath been and is the very cause of all this Disorder, & Soul-Perishing state, that is in and upon the Sons of men, and their continuance therein; then hath my Spirit said within me, The Soul that sinneth it must dye, but the Lord will re∣quire their Blood at the hands of those that have caused them to Err: And the Lord hath said unto me concerning these Priests and Teachers, My hand is against them.

And when I have looked farther back, and considered them who were made Ministers by a known Law of God, that they were declared against by the Spirit of Prophesie, and that they were such Shepherds that could not understand, being greedy, and could never have enough, Isa. 56. 10, 11. and that they were bruitish Pastors, Jer. 10. 21. and as Murderers, and Troops of Robbers; and that the Lord had cursed their Blessings, and made them base and contemptible in the Eys of the People, Mal. 2. Then said I, Ah! what state then are these men in, who are not made Ministers by a Law of God, neither yet sent forth by Christ, Mat. 10. but are out of his Doctrine, Mat. 23. and so Enemies unto him, being known by their Fruits, Mat. 7. 15, 16. and are made Ministers by the Will of men, and upheld by carnal corrupt Laws, and the Imprisoning of hundreds that are come out from them, that we may not partake in the Plagues with them, who are seen to be of Babel, Rev. 18. 4. in whom is found the Souls of men, and the Blood of all the Saints, from Abel unto this day; and they have been upheld by the devouring of Widdows Houses, the robbing of the Fatherless, the spoiling of the Goods of Hundreds, the Imprisoning of many until Death, the Rifling, and Robbing of whole Houses, as may be witnessed in the Coun∣ty of Kent (by a Paper entituled, A Horrible thing, and the Re∣cord

of Sufferings for Tythe and many other parts in the Nation: And when I have beheld these things, I have said in mine Heart, Those Ministers (or rather Deceivers) are far short, and much worse than them in the Prophets dayes, who were made Mini∣sters by a Law of God, though they became as Robbers and Murtherers.

And then have I also lamented the hard hearted blindness of many Rulers, in these dayes, who have been worse in their per∣secuting of those, who from the Spirit of God do declare against these Ministers made by the Wills of men, than the Rulers in the dayes of the Prophets, who did not so Persecute them, that declared against those who were made Ministers by a Law of God: And surely, I have said, did not these Priests bewitch the Rulers that they cannot obey the Truth? Gal. 3. And so cause them to obey them, or be as it were Slaves or Pack-horses to them, even making their boast in Print, that they are still spurring on the Magistrate, as Richard Baxter, Priest of Kidderminster, hath written. But I say, were not the Magistrates blinded by them, and therefore uphold them by their corrupt Laws, even giving them Treble Damages, they would soon fall and come to nought; for they are already fallen under the Magistrates, and come creeping to them in the Serpents Wisdom, upon their Bellies, which is their God, for more Dust, or Earthly Trea∣sure, Money, Goods, and Earthly things: But the Bishops and the Priests in their dayes, were exalted above the Magistrates; and the Priests have yet that Spirit of Pride, from which they write, as if they rid upon the Magistrates, and spurred them like Horses; and this hath been so, but it may be otherwife: And I have seen how the Beast, the Whore and the false Prophet uphold one another, and ride one upon another, and the Priests spurring up the Magistrates (its their own words) and all making War with them that are sanctified, rising up against them that are anointed, who need none to teach, and compassing about them whom God hath loved, who are of the City where the Lamb is the Light, and need not the light of the Sun nor the Moon.

And when I have thus pondered the state and condition both of Priests, Rulers and People, and compared them and their state with the Priests, Rulers and People in the dayes of the

Prophets, and seeing the condition of these to be much worse, and many things more that might be named, and that the latter end of many is like to be miserable; and that the Name of God is blasphemed by such, who say they are Christians, and are not, like them, Rev. 2. 9. and that they are in the Blasphemy, though Rich men, who do oppress the Poor in Spirit, and cause them to be drawn before the Judgement-Seats, James 2. 6, 7. even then hath the consideration of these things often times brought a deep Mourning upon me, and Sorrow hath filled my Heart. But when on the other hand, I have seen the Work of the Lord secretly going on in a hidden manner, opening the Eyes and Understand∣ing of many Rulers in the Nation; and that many who are, and have been in Authority amongst Men, and in the Army (have al∣ready, and) are believing in him who said, I am the Light, and is the Lord of Glory, though as a Lamb dumb, and a man of Sorrows, not pleading his own Cause, nor having whereon to lay his Head, but Sick and in Prison; and that many devout and honourable Women, (as in Acts 17. 12.) are also coming, and come to the Faith which purifies the Heart, and Respects no mans Person, without which Faith in the Heart walked by, its impossible to please God.

And when the Eye of my Mind hath been fixed upon that Object, then hath my Soul magnified the Lord therein, and my Spirit hath rejoyced because of him that bringeth, and is bring∣ing Salvation; and because of Righteousness, Peace and true Judgment that the Lord is setting up over all, in the Hearts of many Rulers, and Devout and Honourable among the People, that in Righteousness, throught Humility, they may come to be renowned with Honour forever.

These things on that hand (and much which is coming to pass for an Everlasting Good among the People, and is revealed in the Light and Fore-knowledge of God) hath given some ease to my Wounded and Troubled Spirit, and the Refreshings of my Father's Love hath bound me up in the Covenant of Life, with the tender Seed in those whom the Lord is drawing by his Love, through Humility, to the durable Honour and Riches which will never fade: Surely herein hath my Soul been made as a watred Garden, with the Influences of my Father's Love, so that living

Praises over all hath ascended up to him, whose Name is blessed for evermore, because he worketh, and none can let him.

But when I have looked back again upon the Priests, and the many hundred Thousand Souls, that are kept in the Witchcraft (Gal. 3.) Rebellion, (Job 24. 13.) gain-saying, blindness and ignorance, and the daily murthering of the Souls of so many, then because of the Shepherds, who destroy the Flock, there hath been in me a Lamentation, and a Cry: Oh the Priests, the Priests! surely Vengeance is prepared of God for them, Wrath, Indignation, Cursing, (Mal. 2. 2. 2 Pet. 2. 14.) Bitterness, Tor∣ment, Perplexity, Astonishment of Heart, Endless Misery and Shame amongst men, from the wrathful Vengance of the wrath∣ful Terrors of God, will come upon them in a Day unaware, and their Houses shall be left unto them desolate; and they shall become a By-word among the People, as I have already writ∣ten, from the dreadful Indignation of the Lord God of Hosts, in a Book entituled, An Alarum, even so shall it come to pass upon them; behold, it is hastning the Lord God of Hosts hath spoken it, and his Word shall not fail, neitheir shall his Decree be changed.

And when these things have come upon me, even as a Flood of mighty Waters, then have I said in the Grief of my Heart, alas for the Priests! The Priests, even the Leaders of the Peo∣ple, where will they hide themselves in this day of sierce Wrath, and siery Indignation from the Jealous God of Majesty that is near at hand? Oh! how will Shame cover their Faces? and how will their Countenances fall like Cain? and how will they Curse like Shimei, even their God (and their King) who is the God of the World (and their Belly is their God?) and how will they seek Repentance with Tears like Esau, who might have said, He was of Abraham? And how will they Repent too late like Judas, who had obtained part of the Ministry, Acts 1. 17. and yet denyed him that was the Light, and betrayed him who comes to make an end of Sin, and was a Devil, and hanged him∣self, and yet had obtained part of the Ministry. Alas for the Priests of England! Are not they worse then Judas? Did not he bring again and restore the Silver which he had taken? And can the Priests of England do so? Nay, they have wasted it up∣on

the Lust and Pride, even abundance; so that if they them∣selves, and all that they have left, with their Wives and Chil∣dren, should be sold at the utmost value (though I not desire it should be so) yet thereby could they not restore the tenth part, nor one part in a hundred, of the Silver which they have taken; nor bring again the Money, as Judas did, which they have gained.

Therefore have I said, Surely a sad Day will come upon them, when they become a By-word, and a hissing to all People, and are turned out of their Parsonages, Glebe-Lands, Tythes, Treble Damages, and old Mass-Houses, as their Fathers the Bishops, and Deans, and Quiresters, and Singing-Men and Boys, were turned out of their Pomp and Pride, vain Glory, Covetousness, Exaction and Tyranny, and out of their Bishop∣ricks, Denaries, and the like: And when also that Gods Wit∣ness shall arise in them to confound them within, and the Light of Christ condemn them for their Deceit and Hypocrisie, Ty∣ranny, Pride, Idleness, fulness of Bread, Extortion, and all manner of Wickedness; Oh the Priests, the Priests have said, What a Day will this be unto them! Surely then, as I said, and say again, That the Shepherds shall Howl, and a bitter Lamenta∣tion of the Priests shall be heard in all the Land, yea, the noise of their bitter Cry soundeth already in my Heart; and behold, I have seen their Wo, which is near at hand, their Wives also shall be left as Widdows, and their Children as Fatherless, and from the pitiful Benovelence of the People must they be kept from Perishing in their Bodies; but alas for their Souls! who shall deliver them? And herein moreover is their State and Condition the more Miserable, because they will not regard this, neither would they at all be warned by them whom the Lord hath sent amongst them; and because they will not see when the hand of the Lord is lifted up, neither regard the Word of his Power, therefore for their Envy to the Lords People shall they be ashamed, Isa. 26. 11. that upon them it may be fulfilled, which is written, Behold, I work a Work in your days, ye Despisers, which you shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you, Acts 13. 41.

Therefore have I considered, in the very depth of my secret Meditations, what shall be said or done in these things, when

the Priests have violated the Law, and made void that which is Perfect, and the Leaders of the People rebel against the Light, Job 24. 31. and harden their Hearts against Reproof, and will not be warned, that they might escape the Dreadful day at hand; therefore have I said, Ah! surely the Lord will root them up, Head and Tail, Branch and Root in one day: Ah! fruitless Trees, said I, have not you your selves yet brought forth the first Fruits of the Spirit, which is Love? And are not ye your selves yet come to that which fulfills the Law of God, to wit, Love? And are not all without it as sounding Brass, having the Tongues, and the like, making a Noise among the People, like sounding Brass, and pleasing their Fancies as tinkling Cimbals, 1 Cor. 13. And have you been all this while sowing to the Flesh? And are you the men who deny him that makes an end of Sin, and his Blood which cleanseth from all Sin, and the Faith which purisieth the Heart? And are you the men who deny the true Light of him, who said, I am the Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the World? Are you the men that deny the Son of God, and will ye not that he should reign, that is of the Seed of Abraham who wandered up and down? And is it you that are saying one to another, and to the Rulers of the Earth, concerning him that is the Light, This is the Heir, come let us Kill him? And would you not that he should Rule, who condemns Sin, and saveth his People from thir Sins, and maketh an end of Sin? Surely, have I said, even therefore will the Lord reward you, according to the Fruit of your own Ways; and as you have denyed him, so must you be condemned by him that is the Light, Job. 3. 19. And as you have been, and yet are (with Pilate, and others) of Babel, in the many Languages and Tongues, upon which the Whore sits; and as you have been, and yet are of the Nations, which are drunk with the Wine of the Fornication of the Whore, the great Whore, Mystery Babylon, that sits upon many Waters, and hath corrupted the Earth; and as you have been drunk with the Blood of the Saints, and made rich by the Robbing and Spoiling of the Houses and Goods of many (even as Troops of Robbers, Hos. 6. 9. Forty in one Troop lately at Dorchester, feeding their Belly, their God.) And as you have devoured Widdows Houses, and been drunk with the Wine of the Fornication of the Whore,

and the Blood of Saints; even so shall you have Blood to drink, and even so must you drink the Cup of Astonishment, and fierce Indignation of the Lord God Almighty, and he will plague you false Prophets, with the Whore together, and the Beast and you must be taken alive, and cast into the Lake of Fire which burn∣eth forever and ever.

And when I have waited to see the end of these things, and pondered this in my Heart, in the Uprightness of Innocency and pure Simplicity of God; then hath it been said in me, Where then will the Memorial of this Priesthood of these Nations, who came up since the Apostles days, and were descended from the Bishops, that were commissionated by the Pope, and established by the See of Rome! And what a Howling, and a bitter Lamen∣tation will come upon many in that day, when Mystery Babylon, the Mother of all these painted Harlots, comes to be overturned forever? How then will the Great men, and the Rich men, and the Mighty Ones of the Earth, Mourn and Lament, because of the Desolation of the Whore (with whom they have all along committed Fornication) and to see these her Children (the painted Harlots, the Priests of England, who are covered with Saints words) even dashed to pieces with the Light, which is the Stone that is falling upon them, to grind them to Powder? Alas! alas! say they, how many were made Rich? And how many of our Children were like to be made Rich by being bred up under the Skirts of this Woman, who hath a Golden Cup in her Hand, holding it forth to all that will come to her? And how many young men began to love her? Pov. 7. Alas! say they, were not many of our Children looking at the Golden Cup, and and growing up under her Wing at Oxford and Cambridge, and in divers other Schools and Nurseries, where the Languages and Tongues are, even Multitudes, upon which the Whore sits, Rev. 18. 1, 15. who hath the Golden Cup, at which the Kings, and the Great Ones of the Earth have drunk abundantly! And must this Woman be laid Desolate? And must her Children be dash∣ed to pieces against the Stone? (the Light) therefore is the Cry great, and the Lamentation will be grievous, when the Ini∣quity is come to the full, the Sin ripe unto Judgment, the Beast fully fatted for the Day of Slaughter, and that come to pass,

which is ha••••ning suddenly, though few can receive these things (unexpected by many) revealed in me, and the more are they, and many other People hardened and blinded herein, because the Priests are so high, so great, and so strong, and upheld by the strength of such Laws, even exceeding and doubling in their Power and Authority, the Laws that were made for the upholding of their Predecessors, the Jesuites and Popish Priests, in the dayes of Queen Mary, whose Law was but three Moneths Imprisonment, and now it is six; and then the Law was but for the Tythes, and now it is three times as much, and so they are more higher exalted than ever, and our Task is doubled and trebled upon us; and besides, they cry out, We are Idle, and wander up and down.

But let me Reason a little; Was it not suddenly after their Bon∣dage in Aegypt was doubled, that the Lord overturned the migh∣ty strength of the Oppressors forever? and was not the cry of the oppressed great, because the Task was doubled upon them, who were in Bondage before? And were we not before in Bondage, under Bishops, and Priests, and Kings, and Tythe, and is it now double and trebled? And is the little finger of the Priests be∣come heavier then the Bishops loyns? And will not God visit for these things? And doth not this shew that the day of Over∣turning is at hand? But say people, How can these things be, they seeming to be established more then ever? Yet I reason again with such; Who would before-hand have believed, that the Bishops, who were far greater then they, should have come tumbling down so soon, with perpetual Shame and Reproach; and their Common-Prayer-books taken away, with the Priests Idolatrous Surplices, and manv such things? And hath the Lord began with them the Head? And will he not go on to finish his Work, in Confounding, and utter Overturning the Tail and Dreggs of them which are yet left behind, and are like unto unnatural chil∣dren, denying their Parents, the Bishops and the Pope; and yet creep into their Mass-houses, and live upon the same Main∣tenance, which their Parents provided for them, and yet call the Pope, Antichrist, (and he is so) their great Father, who set up the Bishops, that established them in their Tythe, 'Parsonages and old Mass-houses; and so the Pope being an Antichrist, and

they come from the Bishops, set up by the Pope, then it follows, that they are the Dreggs of Antichrist; and if their own words, Writings, Way, Maintenance and Practices be but as it is, and doth appear, then herein I do them no wrong: And these things have I also thus considered, and leave to the consideration of such, who are not willing to remain in blindness, that seeing the Bishops are overturned, though they were above the Magi∣strates, the Priests may also soon be turned down by the Magi∣strates, seeing they are fallen under the Magistrates already; and they set them up, and put them in, and turn them out at their pleasure, and may soon turn them down when they are weary of being spurred by them.

And as I have considered these things in the meditations of my Mind, so have I also considered the Words and Wayes of these Priests of England, Ireland, Scotland, and other Nations, and what ado and a stir they have kept, against those Priests that caused Christ to be crucified; and how he suffered by them: And when I have weighed and considered the Actions of them Priests that did so, and the Words and Actions of these Priests, against them Priests, and the Ways of one and the other, I have then found, that these, in many things, are worse then them, though they were very bad; and so both to be denyed, as I have considered according to Scripture: Thus;

The Priests, the Readers of the Law, which discovers Sin, but makes nothing Perfect, and the Scribes and Pharisees had the Scriptures, and a large zealous Profession thereby, but when Christ the living Minister came, who was the thing, or the Sub∣stance of which the Scripture declared, from which they had the Profession; he being come, they knew him not; and therefore for a time the Scribes, Pharisees and Priests disputed, reasoned and contended with him, and sought to entangle him in his words, and did seek occasion against him, that they might de∣liver him to the Rulers, and he disputed among the Doctors; but when much People believed on him, they cryed out, The whole World is gone after him, John 12. 19. Mat. 22. 15. But when he, who is the Power of God, had raised Lazarus from the dead, and out of the Grave, then the chifest of the Priests and Phari∣sees held a Council against him; then they began to stir, and the

Beast began to rage; and they said, This man doth many Miracles, and if we let him alone, all men will believe on him, and the Romans will come, and take away both our Place and Nation, John 11. 47, 48. And so saith the Priests now; If we let him alone, who is the Light, all men will believe on him, and we shall loose both our Place and Nation; for who will fight for us (say they) if all men come to believe in the Light? which lets men see that Wars and Fighting comes from the Lust, which Lust wars against the Soul, James 4. But one of their own Generation, even a chief Priest, told the rest, They knew nothing at all, John 11. 49. (the Priests who deny the Light know nothing at all) and so these chief Priests and Pharisees, who knew nothing at all, sought the Life of the Lamb, and to take him, verse 57. And the chief Priests also consulted to put Lazarus to Death also, John 12. 10. And so, the Priests now seek to kill that which Christ the Light, the Power of God, hath raised from Death, out of the Grave; for now the very thing it self is come to Life out of Death, and this Torments them exceedingly, even more then all the Words, Forms, Dis∣puting and Professions whatsoever that was before it.

And it was at the Passover, the Worship and Feast of the Jews that the Priests sought to kill him that had raised the dead. And when Jezabel, whose blood the Dogs must lick, at whose Ta∣ble the false Prophets feed, when she intended to murther the Just, and take away the Life of the Innocent, and give his Pos∣session to another, she made a Feast, and that which feasteth the one thing, Murthers the other: And at the Jews Feast, the one or the other was to be releast; and at the time that they keep the Passover, who are the Jews outwardly, then he suffers who is the end of the Law and the Prophets; and so at the Feast of their Passover the chief Priests sought to kill him that was led as a Lamb dumb, and Satan entered in Judas, and after that, then Judas went out from Christ the Light; and when he went out it was Night, and then was the Son of man to be glorified; but Judas who went out from him that is the Light, went to the chief Priests and Captains; and they were glad when Judas was come among them, who was a Devil, and the chief Priests made a Covenant with him that was a Devil, and gave him Mo∣ney to betray him who is the Light; And he that took the Mo∣ney.

had obtained part of the Ministry, and he was a Devil; and now such Ministers that take both the Money, Body and Goods, are worse then Judas, whom the Priests say, was a Bishop, (or a chief Priest) because it is written, His Bishop-rick let another take, Acts 1. 20. And suddainly after the chief Priests, had made a Covenant with him that was a Devil, was the Jews Passo∣ver, at which time, he that comes to make an end of Sin was betrayed, and then Judas (who departed from him that is the Light, and was become a Devil) betrayed the Son of God, and had him led away to Ciaphas the High-Priest, and the chief Priests and Elders, and all the Council sought false witness to put him to death, Mat. 26. 59. And the chief Priest rent his Clothes, and accused him of Blasphemy, in whom there is no Sin, and they all said, He is worthy of Death, who said, God was his Father. And when the chief Priests had caused him to be brought before Pilate, and Vehemently accused him of many things, yet Pilate would have released him; and when the chief Pirests and Elders saw that, and that one should be released at the Feast, and that it might not be the man of Sorrows, that is not of the World, but the Murtherer and Thief, that had stole, therefore the Priests and Rulers then perswaded the Multitude, That they should ask Barrabas the Thief, the Murtherer, and destroy Jesus the Image of God, that comes to condemn for Sin, Mat. 27. 20. And so to this day, at the time of the Feast, the Thief, and that which Murthers is at Liberty, and that is destroyed which comes to save from Sin.

But the Govenour said, Why, what Evil hath he done? And Pilate washed his Hands, and confessed him to be a Just Person; but the chief Priests and Scribes stood and vehemently accused him, Luke 23. 10. But Pilate said the third time, Why, what Evil bath he done; I have found no cause of Death in him: And yet the Priests even forced Pilate, to do that which was Unjust. And do not the Priests now even force the Magistrates, to persecute those that they find nothing in them worthy of Death or of Bonds? And so the Priests having provoked and instigated the People thereunto, they cryed, Away with him, (that is the Light) and Crucifie him, (that makes an End of Sin) and the chief Priests also gave their Voice with them against him; and so the Voices

of them, and of the chief Priests prevailed to have him slain, murthered and crucified, who is the Power of God, that had raised the Dead, in whom Pilate could find no fault, neither yet Herod; and when he was crucified, who is the Light, that condemns for Sin, then the chief Priests and Professors kept their Feast, and their Passover with the Shew-Bread, or Unleavened-Bread, which the carnal Eye might see, and the murthering Priests feed upon, and then they may talk of their Ordinances, having slain him that is given for a Witness, Isa. 55. 4. And so, such as slay the Witness within, are talking of the Ordinances without; and they cryed, Away with him, (that is the Bread of Life) and they Crucified him (at whose presence the Devils were tormented) and in the time of their Feast and Passover (who had the Oracles of God) the Witness of God lay slain; this may be read with∣in; and upon their Sabboth-Day, even the Day of their Wor∣ship (who worship in the High Places) that which came to save from sin, lay in the Grave, and they were reading that which discovered sin, but make nothing Perfect, and him in whom there is no sin, was in the Earth, in the time of their Worship, and he that was the Light in the Earth, was Perfect, but that which they read in the high Place made nothing Perfect; and the place of Holy Worship is to be laid desolate, and where Christ (the witness) is not risen, the Sin is not taken away, and there the Faith is vain. He that can receive it, let him.

But after the Feast, he that is given for a witness arose again, and so before the Feast of the Passover of the Jews and Pro∣fessors, they murthered the Witness; and for a time, while the Witness lay slain, they kept the Passover with outward Bread, in an outward Temple, offering the outward Sacrifices, but af∣ter the Feast was over, and their outward Worship for a time ended; then he that is given for a Witness unto the People, arose again; and so that which leades to Feasting, murthers the witness of God, yet when the feasting is over, and the outward Profession and Worship ended for a time, then he that is the Witness ariseth, even the Light of Christ in the Conscince and condemns for sin, and then the Priests and Professors were, and are worse then before: And when some of the Watch came, and declared that he was risen, who is given for a Witness [Mark,

they that are upon the Watch, are the first that know the rising of the Witness] then the chief Priests, who had mocked him, Mark 15. 31. (the chief Priests were Mockers) assembled with the El∣ders, and took counsel again; for then they were more tormen∣ted than before, and that which they feared, came upon them; for they said, this would be worse than that before, therefore they said of him, This Deceiver said, After three dayes I will rise again; Therefore, said they, let a Watch be set, lest his Disciples steal him away, and say, He is risen, and so the last Error be worse than the first. And so the Priests called the Resurrection of Christ Error, and Christ the Light, a Deceiver; and these Priests now say, The Light deceiveth, or, is Natural, and not sufficient. But Christ the Witness being risen again, the chief Priests gave large Money to the Souldiers, to tell Lyes of him and his Disciples, and caused them to deny the rising of the Witness, as the Priests do now; for the Witness is in Man, 1 John 5. 10. And said the Priests, If this come to the Governour's Ear, we will perswade him, and secure you, Mark 27. 62, 63, 64. Chap. 28. 11, 12, 13. And so, the chief Priests gave some Money to have him betrayed and crucified; but they gave large Money to have the rising of him, who is the Witness, the Resurrection and the Lite denyed, after he was be∣trayed & crucified; and so them Priests gave their Money to have him betrayed, by him that is a Devil, and gave large Money to the Souldiers, to deny the Resurrection of him, and to tell Lyes, and the Devil is a Lyar from the beginning, and the Father of it. O horrible Abomination and Cruelty! that ever the Priests, the Leaders of the People should do such things as these, and to be found themselves the worst of Men, or rather as Beasts! as it is written, I said in my Heart concerning the state of the Sons of Men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they them∣selves are Beasts, Eccles. 3. 18.

And these things may be a warning both to all Governours, Offi∣cers, Souldiers & People, that they may never more be deceived by, nor joyn to have a hand with the Subtil, Treacherous, Deceit∣ful Priests, (against the Innocent) who by their subtilty did and do overcome both Governours, Judges, Rulers, Souldiers and People, and so crucified the Lord of Glory, and make it their business ever since to keep People from believing in him, who

said, I am the Light, believe in the Light, John 8. 12. ch. 12. 35, 36, 46.

But mark and consider; Were those Priests Wicked herein? And were they Murderers and Abominable? Then have I con∣sidered, how much worse, and how far more Abominable are these Priests of England, and other Nations thereabouts, who do seldom give People large Money to tell Lyes, after they have taught them so to do (unless it be when they hire them to tell Lyes and Swear too, in bearing false Witness for them, against the Innocent) but they commonly force People to give large Money to them for teaching them to tell Lyes, and to deny and murder the Witness in themselves, which Witness comes to be received by believing in the Light, John 12. 36. ch. 1. 11, 12. 1 John 5. 10. And seeing these Priests do now get large Money, or take it by Force, for telling the People many large Repititions in their Pulpits, one year after another, How Christ was caused to be crucified and murdered by the other Priests, who gave Money to have it done; and the People know that already.

And when I have considered, how many Hundred Thousand Pounds a year these Priests do receive, and take by force, for telling the People, how Christ the Light suffered under the other Priests; and how he that condemns sin in the Flesh, and saves from Sin, was called a Deceiver by the other Priests, then have I said, surely these Priests are worse than the other; for they gave their Money, even large Money, but these take Money, and Money that is much more large, and take it by Force too, even Treble Damage, or three times Treble what they demand, and Rob whole Houses, and have got the Rulers to uphold them in it, (never such Robbers!) and take Tythe by force from such as hear them not: And the first Priests that I read of in Scripture, who would take the Tythe or Offerings by Force, were the Sons of Belial, and knew not God, 1 Sam. 2. 12, 16. and they said, If you will not give it us, we will take it by force. And so, they that took the Tythe or Offerings by force, were Sons of Belial: And such Sons of Belial now, who know not God, do not only take the Tythe and Offerings, but they take even Three times, or Sixteen times as much in some places, and sometimes the Per∣sons of men besides. And those Priests formerly did give their

Money; and Simon Magus would have given Money for the holy Ghost, but now these Priests force People to give them Money for their Meanings of the Letter: And when I have seriously considered these things, I have even stood as a man amazed, say∣ing, Who would, or how could I formerly have believed, that these Priests of England were so far worse than them Priests that made a Covenant with a Devil, and that caused Christ to suffer? Or who would have believed, that they were worse than Simon Magus, in compelling People to give them much Money for their Meanings from the Letter? whereas he would have given his Mo∣ney freely for the Spirit; but the Spirit they have not to sell, but if they had, what would they not do for the love of Money, which is so rooted in their Hearts? would they not do as Judas did, who sold him that was his Master? but I do not believe they would bring again the Money as Judas did, though he was a Devil.

And who could have believed, that these Priests of England were so far worse than the Sons of Ely, who were Sons of Belial, and knew not God; for they would take but the Tythe and Of∣ferings by force, but these Priests take the Tythe and Offerings, and much more, and the Bodies of Men and Women also, and keep them in Prison until Death, for whom they do no Work, and who desire none of their Ministry? And if they herein be not worse than the Sons of Belial, let all sober-minded judge, and consider this thing with me, that the first Priests that caused their Servants to take the Offerings by force, knew not God; then say I, Alas! alas! for the Priests of England! are they so much worse than those that knew not God? How doth their Shame appear? And who could have believed, that these Priests were worse than Judas, that was a Devil, who brought the Mo∣ney again that he had received? But when do these Priests bring again the Money and Goods which they have received and taken away by force? (though Judas did not take his Money by force) And how hard are these words to be received by such who have not yet come to see and understand these things? And how un∣willing will the Priests themselves be, to believe the truth of this which I have thus weighed, and considered, and pondered in the Meditations of my Mind? What horrible things from the Pit

of Darkness are these, that the Priests should be worse than Judas! for after he had betrayed the Innocent, he confessed, He had sinned, and brought back the Money, but the Priests said, What is that to us? And are not these Priests worse than they; for these do not only cause the betraying of the Innocent, and say, What is that to us? but they take Money, and force People to give them large Money, for betraying that which is Innocent in them, by their Subtilty and Craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; and when they have betrayed the Innocent Principle of God in People, by telling them, It will deceive them, yet they will not bring the Peoples Money back, as Judas did, nor so much as con∣fess they have sinned therein, but are Impudent: O hard hearted and unreasonable Men! (have I said) What shall be said unto them? Surely they are the worst of men, and it had been good for them they had never been born, or had a beeing upon the Earth. Did the Prophet Mourn over, or Cry aloud unto them that spent their Money and Labour for that which satisfieth not? Oh! what shall I then say or write, or how shall I cry loud enough or mourn enough yet more in secret, or sound a Trumpet to these dead sleepy Priests, who compell People to give them so much Money, or spoil their Goods, or imprison their Bodies till Death, for that which is so far from satisfying them, that their Souls are murthered thereby, and the innocent meek thing in them betrayed, and the Witness denyed? Oh! who can with∣hold from declaring this? And who can but write it in a Book, that they may see the State which they are in, and that People may know them by their Fruits, which did never so plainly ap∣pear as now?

And when these things came upon me, in the deep Meditation of my Mind, and Conference in my Spirit, what a Condition was I often in! and how was my Soul overcome with Sorrow, my Spirit with Heaviness, and mine Eyes with Tears? When did the Prophets ever see such a Generation of Priests as these? And what manner of Lamentaion shall I take up because of these things? Surely I will cry aloud unto the Lord in secret, and my Soul shall pour forth Intercession to my Maker, and with Tears, as streams of Water, will I beg at the Throne of the Most High for the slain of the People that are killed all the day long; and

in this have I believed, that the Lord will hear my Cry, and pity the People that are destroyed for lack of Knowledge, that the Witness of God in them may arise, and that the Prisoner of Hope may come to Deliverance.

And in this have I not been hasty as to utter their Shame (for I was my self a Preacher in the Pulpits) but in a Mournful state oft times many Moneths or Years, have I born this Burden; neither have I now uttered or written this out of Prejudice towards the Persons of any men, but in the Mournful state of my long burdened and grieved Spirit, from the true sence of the Sad, Shameful and Miserable state that is coming upon them, and the Eternal Wo and Misery that is like to follow after for evermore. The which I desire they may escape by speedy re∣turning from the Way that they are in, now it is so plainly made mani∣fest to be so exceeding Evil.

H. S.