A Separation betwixt the people of God, the righteous seed, that ever suffered with the seed of evil doers, that each may know that witness, and see ye have a cloud of wit­nesses, who are the seed of the righteous; and you may see you have a cloud of witnesses who are the seed of evil doers, per­secuting the righteous seed. Priests, People, and Rulers, you know the letter speaks, and you may read it in Matthew, and all along the Scriptures, how the Priests, People, and Rulers [Page 6]were against Christ: in which generation you shew your selves to be; and clear your selves for the generation of the feed of the righteous. Do not you hale out of your Synagogues, and hale before Magistrates? Do not you here fulfil Scripture, which Christ prophesied of? Do not you imprison, which Christ speaks of? Do not you stone with stones, shewing your selves to be in the generation that stoned Steven, that cryed against the Tem­ple? Acts 7. And do not you hale and beat them that come to speak the truth freely in your Temple, shewing your selves openly to be in that generation that beat the Apostles, and ha­led them out of the Temple? And do not your Teachers go in the way of Balaam, for gifts and rewards, who had the spirit of errour, shewing ye have erred from the truth? Do they not go in the way of Cain, to envie, who would murder? And do you not scorn, and mock, and wonder, and despise, as they did against David, and Paul, and the rest of the servants of God? Are not your Teachers they that Christ speaks of, which said, Beware of the Scribes and Pharisees, which stand praying in the Sy­nagogues, and have the chiefest places in the assemblies, called of men Masters, devouring widows houses? Are not all your Teachers such which Christ cryed wo against? Are not you such, and your generation, that ever persecuted the righteous seed, who had the form and the colour, but not the power? That generation persecuted Christ and the Prophets, which is the seed of evil doers, a generation that is wise in their own eyes, a generation that is swift to shed blood; the same generation that persecu­ted the Martyrs in nature. You cry out of your fathers mar­tyring, how Queen Mary imprisoned and burned: you are in the same nature. It was the generation that held up the out­ward Temple, the outward Worship, that ever persecuted. Priests and People, Where did any of the Apostles stone any, persecute any, or imprison any, or cause any to be impriso­ned, or haled before a Magistrate? Oh horrible! how dare you profess Christ, and walk in the doctrines of devils? Where did Christ give any such command to act any such thing? You take him for your cloak, and talk of his blood, who are mur­derers, blood-suckers, hunting after blood, to devour the righ­teous seed, as all your fathers did in all ages, in the time of Ie­remiah, [Page 7]in the time of Isaiah; in the time of David, in the time of the Apostles: they stoned, they imprisoned, punched, and beat, &c. And these be all your witnesses, and they be your fathers who acted before you, who had gotten the form of words, as you have. Here be ye witnesses that ye are the same generation in nature, and have your cloud of witnesses which ever persecuted the righteous seed, as you daily make it manifest. Both Priests, Rulers, and People, this I am moved of the Lord to write unto you, to let you see your selves: for you have not learned Christ at all. For we have a cloud of Witnesses which were stooed by your generation, as you may read in the Hebrews, and in divers places; they were stoned, mocked. Paul was stoned for denying the outward Temple; Steven was stoned to death, who denied the outward Temple: John was banished: they took up stones to stone Christ the righteous seed: And where Christ is made manifest, you do so now. Christ to day, yesterday, and for ever. Praises, praises be to the Lord God Almighty for ever. Our suffering is our joy, our reproach is our riches. Search the Scriptures, and you will finde it to be so.

Do not your Priests cry, Murder them? Do not your People cry, Stone them? Do not you wag your heads at them? Do not you gnash your teeth at them which you call Quakers? Moses quaked, David quaked, Jeremiah shaked, who cryed a­gainst the Priests. You may as well cry, Stone Moses, Paul, David, Jeremiah, and the rest of the holy men of God who quaked and trembled, as they who witness quaking, who quaked and trembled as they who witness quaking now, as they did then. Here you shew your selves to be the seed of blood-suckers thirsting after blood.

O Ye blood-suckers, which hunt after blood, which lay traps and snares to slay the righteous! Oh what a pro­fession is this you live in, that are so full of fury and rage! some mocking, some beating, some plotting and lying in wait to shed the innocent blood: and yet you dare make a profession of God and Christ. Christ never taught that doctrine. And there you show your selves to be as bloody persecutors as ever the Jews were, who crucified Christ, and sought to slay the Apostles. Oh England, England, is this the fruit of thy Mini­stery, that your vineyard bears which you have planted? How, ye vine-dressers; how is the vine yard full of briers and thorns! Oh how is the vineyard full of dead trees, which cumber the ground, and bring forth no fruit! Oh how are the Springs stopped, which should water it, with the Philistims! Oh how full is the vineyard of Serpents! Oh how full is the vineyard of thistles and nettles! Oh how full is the vineyard of weeds? Oh how full is the vineyard of wilde beasts, and of trees that bear wilde grapes, and sowre grapes, which set the childrens teeth on edge! Oh, time hath been, and now is, that the pretended Dressers and Lookers to the vineyard are blinde, and do not know one tree from another, and cannot distinguish a Lamb from a Dog, a Sheep from a Goat, a Dove from a Kyte. Full is the vineyard of wolves, strong horses neighing, and the horses of Pharaoh and his chariots whirring up and down: and the vineyard is full of theeves and robbers, and full of drun­kards, drunk with the wine of the sowre grape. The Land is full of Oathes, and mourns because of such. The flesh hath been defiled: the Land is full of respecting of persons. But now is the Lord arising, and risen, which respects no mans per­son, and lays the ax to the root of the trees; every one that brings not forth good fruit, must be hewn down, and cast into the fire. For now is the Lord sending his sons, and daughters, and servants into the vineyard. Spears are broken, and turned into mattocks and plow-shares, and swords into pruning­hooks. Some are plowing up, and some are hacking up, and [Page 9]some are pruning, and some are dividing the sheep from the goats, and the lambs from the wolves, making a distinction, putting a difference; and some are bridling their horses which have been wilde: some are distinguishing the Kytes from the Doves, and putting a difference between the precious and the vile, betwixt the holy and unholy. Tremble, ye mountains and hills, before the Lord: for out of Sion doth the Lord ut­ter his voice. Wo, wo to all you who inhabit the earth: you will be scattered as the winde scatters the chaff; you will be consumed as the fire consumes the stubble: for the mighty day of the Lord is coming, that shall burn as an oven: look upon an oven when it is burning, and you are afraid to go into it: but the fire of the Lord is coming, which will burn you all up, root and branch. The mouth of the Lord hath spoken it, who will perform his word, and none of you that are proud and wicked can escape it: whether you will hear, or whether you will for­bear, the Word of the Lord shall stand.

TO all you who profess the Scriptures to be your Rule and Touch-stone to try withal, who fine men because they will not put off their hats at your Sessions, at your Assizes, at your Courts. When did any of the heathenish Kings or Ma­gistrates in any Age set up such a Law? Read the Chronicles thorow, and give an example, else you shew your selves to out­strip all the heathenish kings. When did ever Moses, who was a Judge over all Israel, command any people that came before him to put off their hats, and fine them if they would not bow to him? Or where did ever David or Solomon, who were Kings, command any to put off their hats which came before them, and fine them if they would not do it? Here you shew your selves, that you outstrip all the heathenish Kings, who had not recei­ved the Law from God; and the righteous Kings, that had re­ceived the Law from God. The Law saith, Thou shalt not bow down to any but the Lord God: though there was a time when Jacob bowed to Esau, and there was a time when Israel bowed [Page 10]to Pharaoh; and there was a time when Pharaoh was destroyed and his host, and Israel sung over Pharaoh: must Israel then bow to Pharaoh when he is destroyed? Then came the com­mand from God, when Israel was brought out of Egypt, saying, Thou shalt not bow down to any creature. For he that re­spects persons, transgresseth this Law. Many will bow to great men, that have a great deal of earth, and fine apparel; but not to a poor man, that hath not fine apparel: and there he is a transgressor of the righteous Law: for who respects persons, commits sin. And there was a time when Haman made a gal­lows, and who would not bow to him might be hanged: and the true Jews, who had received the righteous Law of God, could not bow to him. And there was a time when Haman was hanged upon his own Gallows. And there was a time when Nebuchadnezzar made an Image, and all that would not bow to it, were cast into the firy furnace: and there was a time his kingdom was rent, and the Image, whose head was gold, whose brest was silver, whose belly and thighs were brass, whose legs were iron, whose feet were part iron and part clay, the Stone cut out of the mountain without hands, strikes at the feet of the Image, and he comes to be hewn down. But Nebuchadnezzar cannot understand this dream, but Daniel, who was a trembler, understood the stone, and the watcher, and saw the Kingdom and Dominion that endures for ever: he saw Nebuchadnezzar's kingdom, who would have all bow to him, become as the grass that withers away. So adieu all car­nal ones, who stumble at this corner-stone.

WE are accused to deny the Scriptures. The Scriptures do we not deny: the holy men of God spake them forth as they were moved by the holy Ghost: and they were given forth by inspiration of the Spirit; and they are of no private interpretation: they were not given forth by the will of man. They that gave forth the Scriptures, were such as ever suffered [Page 11]by the seed of evil doers, and testified against them: therefore the seed of evil doers must be kept out of the Scriptures, judg­ed cut: They that spoke them forth, judged the seed of evil doers, and kept them out. All who had the life of the Scri­ptures, and set them forth, cryed against such as bare rule by their means. The Scripture speaks against them: they must be kept out of the Scriptures. Such as jangle about the Saints conditions, such as seek for gain from their quarters, and are hirelings, and seek for the fleece, they did not give forth the Scriptures; but such as cryed against these, gave forth the Scri­ptures; and all who have the life of the Scriptures, as they had who gave them forth, testifie against such now, as they did then: and such must be kept out of the Scriptures. And such as go in the way of Cain, and after the errour of Balaam in covetous­ness, did not give forth the Scriptures: who had the life of the Scriptures, testified against such, and kept them out of the Scri­ptures: and so all who have the life of the Scriptures now, must keep such out of the Scriptures now. Israel slew Baal. And all such as were called of men Master, stood praying in the Syna­gogue, had the choicest places in the Assemblies, uppermost rooms at Feasts, laid heavie burdens upon the people, gave not forth the Scriptures: keep such out of the Scriptures: for who had the life of the Scriptures, testified against such. And all such as deny perfection, and overcoming of sin, are Ministers of Antichrist; they di [...] not give forth the Scriptures: keep such out of the Scriptures: for who had the life of the Scri­pture, testified against such, and kept them out. Holy men of God spake forth the Scripture, and testified against all sin and imperfection. All such as buy and sell the Saints words, and make a trade of the Prophets, Christs, and his Apostles words, must be kept out of the Scriptures; for they wrest and pervert it, and make people believe they are gifted, whenas the gift of God is not to be bought and sold for money: keep such out of the Scriptures; for they are lyers, evil beasts, and slow-bellies, false prophets, and such as deny the light, that say Christ hath not enlightned every one that cometh into the world; who go about to make Christ a lyer, and a false Prophet: such keep out of the Scripture; for they are lyers, and false Prophets, and [Page 12]Dreamers: who had the life of the Scriptures, kept such out; and who have the life of the Scriptures, keep out such now. Here you dwell clear and pure, in true judgement, and know what to receive. The life which gave forth the Scriptures, that life must speak them forth again. All subtil Serpents keep out of the Scriptures: who had the life, kept them out, testifies a­gainst them, though they applied Abrahams words, who were not of Abraham: he who was the life, kept them out of the Scripture: and now, all who apply the Prophets and Apostles condition, Christs words, and have not life, such must be kept out for ever. All such who have the life of the Scriptures, re­ceived the simplicity and innocencie, and they put a diffe­rence betwixt the holy and profane, clean and unclean, and what was polluted, and what was not polluted; and what was torn, and what was holy: they were not to eat what died of it self. All who are in the first birth, born of the flesh, gave not forth the Scriptures: such were persecutors of them who are born of the Spirit: such keep out of the Scripture, for they are enemies to that which gave out the Scriptures, so are to be kept out of the Scriptures.

OH doth not something in you cry a voice for equity, for equity, to set open the door of equity? The Innocent cries for the law of equity, which respects no mans person, how much of the earth he hath, or how little; equity respects neither, but equity: for, the earth is the Lords, and the fulness of it. When the door of Equity is set open, then mercy re­joyces the simple ones. Oh therefore hearken to Equity, and that which cries for it in your hearts and consciences, and so break the bands by shewing mercy. And while Iniquity rules, Equity is oppressed and prisoned, and the lustful nature rules, which crosses Equity for its own ends, to gather in riches to­gether on heaps, some by cozening, or lying, or cheating. And [Page 13]all these things Equity cries out of thee, and tells thee of all thy actions privately, when thou art by thy self, and when thou art publike. Equity cries for justice and righteousness, and against all sin, and swearing, and lying, and adultery, and co­vetousnes, and drunkenness: for this destroys honesty and reasonableness. And Equity cries in all your hearts and con­sciences for equity: for it is burdened with deceit, and unjust dealings, and corruptions. Hearken, hearken in your consci­ences, how it cries for equity, and with sighs and groans cries upon the Lord for mercy and equity, and the Lord doth often send his Angel to relieve the simple: for lust and pride oppres­seth it, and it is burdened with it, and often tells thee All is vanity, which thy lustful will and minde delighteth in, which is without, and which is in the first birth; and would have thee to hearken to equity, and within, and not to thy lust, that thou mightst have unity with God, and not with the world: for the whole world lies in wickedness, where equity cannot enter; it cry­eth up and down the streets: but hard hearts, and drunkards, and cursed speakers, cozeners and cheaters, and thou high and lofty one, and whoremongers, and idolaters, and oppressors, and dissemblers, ye all shut the door of Equity: when it cries to enter, there is no room for it amongst these theeves: for ye all must be brought before the great Judge of heaven and earth, which despise Equity: The great Judge is coming, to render vengeance upon all that act contrary to Equity, and in your own knowledge, and out of your own mouthes shall ye be judged, in righteousness: for he is righteous that judgeth, and hath spoken.

MEn bring up their children in natural Learning, to have natural Books, and Languages, as He­brew and Greek; and have the Schools of Oxford and Cambridge, which they call the two Mothers of [Page 14]Divinity, which is Divinity: and so training up in the natural, lives up in the natural man, both in pride, in knowledge, in person, set up, called of men Master; and so with his books, and Learning which he got at Oxford and Cambridge, he trades with others, and na­tural Languages, and tells people it is the Original, and saith he is sent of Christ; which is the Whore and the Beast upon the waters, that is the people; and so all this is Witchcraft, Whoredom, Sorcery, Divining and Conjuring, Hypocrisie and Dissembling, and was never sent of Christ; for the Gift of God cannot be bought and sold, but the letter; and Carnal sells the Carnal, but the Word cannot be sold, by which all things stand and remain.

Another he stands up, and saith he is the Minister of Christ, which never was at Oxford and Cambridge, but hath had some experience of the Truth tasted: and he is got up into notions, and fleed the Cross: he goeth out and trades, and sells his experiences, and saith he is gifted; which is false, for the gift of God is not to be bought and sold for money. Now the Truth is not to be bought and sold for money; but, Freely ye have received, freely give. Truth was sent forth without bag, or purse, or silver, or scrip, or two coats, or a stick to defend it: for their weapons were spiritual; and all the others, which Christ hath not sent forth, their weapons are carnal, they ride with their carnal swords, and run to a carnal Magistrate to defend them, and to get their carnal means of the poor people, which do not pay them: and those Jesus Christ never sent forth. Where the pure light Christ is made manifest in Magistrate or People, it doth dis­cover them, and deny them. And the one he preach­eth [Page 15]a Christ without, and the other he preacheth a Christ within. And he that preacheth Christ within, and he that preacheth Christ without, are both with­out; for they both have him in the notion; for he must be within, and not speak. For where Christ is risen and speaketh, he denies him that speaks a Christ with­in in the notion, and him that speaks of him without in the notion, and all the earthly powers to uphold them, and none but God alone to uphold him in his strength and power, by his own Spirit. And he that preacheth Christ without, he knows him not, but one­ly takes him for a Clack, and the Prophets and Apo­stles to trade with them; like a Stage-player, which acts a Stage-play aloft, with Points, and Reasons, and Uses, and Authors, and old Fathers, and Tryals, and Mattens, and singing David's quakings, cryings, pro­phecies, prayers, and praises; and so act a Stage-play for money; and he that will give the most, thither he goes; and where they will not give him money, he will not act his Play there. And he that preacheth and saith Christ is within, he must be dumb, and not speak; and the reason and the carnal part must speak him, and the dumb is crucified. And he that speaks him within, and he that speaks him without, know him not with their carnal reason. Where he is risen, and comes to be King, there he denies all the worlds ways, Diviners and Conjurers, and denies all the world, and reigns o­ver all the corruption of man. To him alone be all glory, who reigns over all, and is King of Saints, King of Kings, Lord of Glory, blessed for ever. To whom be all Glory for ever. Amen.

Written by a friend of the Truth of the living God, to all whom it may concern.

THe Lord God of power is thundering, and uttering them forth against all you, and upon the top of all your Powers of Witchcraft, Charmers, and In­chanters, who live in your Sorcery, and Whoredom, and Witchcraft, and Mystery of Iniquity. The Lord is risen and rising to thresh you down with an Iron rod. The weight of the Lords hand is upon you, and stretched over you; which goes to the Popes head. All bag and baggage must be taken. The Sword of the Almighty is drawn against all your Popish ways. Your Witchcraft and Whoredom is come up before the Lord, to hew down and trample. The Horse is gone forth, Death, Death: All your Idols, all your Jewels, all your Pictures, all your Beads, earth to the earth. All your Chanters, and all your Charmers, will stand you in no stead. All your Counsellors will not hide you in the day of the Lords wrath. All your outside knowledge of Angels, of the Apostles, of Christ, of Mary, will not save you, nor stand you in any stead. For the day of the Lords wrath is come among you; a day of Vengeance: the fire is kindling. All your Pictures, all your Crosses and Crucifixes, must make a fire to burn you. The Lord hath stretch­ed his hand against you.

Wo unto Rome, and all her Popish ways. Wo un­to all the Priests in England, who had the Popish Law. Ye Jesuites, ye Inchanters, Mystery of Wratchcraft; [Page 17]the Sword is drawn out against you, to cut you down. Ye high Ekens, which thought none had been able to make War against you; now is the hand of the Lord of hosts upon you all, and his Army is gathering, and his Sword is drawn, which hath two edges, that be­fore him none should escape. The Land shall be plain before his host. The Lord hath spoken it. To you all, this is the word of the Lord. The hand of the Lord is stretched out against all the Adulterers and Idolaters; and the Sword of the Lord lies upon the Popes neck.