A LAMENTACION (By one of Englands Prophets) Over the Ruines OF this oppressed Nacion, To be deeply layd to heart by Parliament and Army, and all sorts of Peeple, lest they be swept away with the Besom of Destruction, in the Day of the Lords fierce wrath and Indignation, which is near at hand.
Written by the movings of the Lord in James Nayler.
AND A WARNING TO the Rulers of England Not to usurp Dominion over the Conscience, nor to give forth Lawes contrary to that in the Conscience.
Written from the Spirit of the Lord in George Fox.
Printed for Tho: Wayt at his house in the Pavement in York. 1653.
A LAMENTACION By one of Englands Prophets, over the Ruines of this oppressed NACION, to be deeply layd to heart by Parliament and Army, and all sorts of People, lest they be swept away with the Besom of Destruction, in the day of the Lords fierce wrath and indignation, which is near at hand.
OH England! how is thy expectation failed now after all thy travails? the People to whom Oppression and Vnrighteousness hath been a Burden, have long waited for Deliverance, from one year to another, but none comes, from one sort of men to another.
Hast thou looked for Reformation, but all in vain! for as power hath come into the hands of men, it hath been turned into violence, and the will of men is brought forth instead of Equity, and this they seek to establish by a Law, to which all must bow that are under them, or they must be judged as Offenders, so that which should be for Deliverance of the simple from the hand of the oppressour, is turned into a snare to entrap the righteous, and he that turns from iniquity is made a prey to the wicked, and none lays it to heart through the Nation, for all hearts are full of oppression, and all hands are full of violence, their houses are filled with oppression▪ their Streets and Markets abound with it, their Courts which should afford remedy against it, are wholly made up of iniquity and injustice, and the Law of God is made altogether void▪ and truth is troden under foot, and plainness is become odious to the proud, and Deceit set on high, [Page 4] and the proud are counted happy, and the rich are exalted above the poore, and look to be worshiped as God, which if any refuse a snare is layd, and Bonds and Imprisonment is appointed for them, as not worthy to breathe in the ayer, and no Law, Equity, nor Iustice can be heard for their freedom: and this is not done by an open Enemy, for then it had not bin so strange unto thee, but it is done by those who pretend to be against oppression; and for whom under that pretence thou hast adventured all that is dear unto thee, to put power into their hands; and now thou cryest to them for help, but findest nøne that can deliver thee; Oh foolish People, when will ye learn wisdom? when will ye cease from man, who is vanity, and the sons of men who are become a Ly?
Are not these the choicest of thy Worthies, who are now in power? Hath it not been the top of thy desires and labors to see it in their hands? and are not they now becom weak as other men, and the Land still in travel, but nothing brought forth but winde? How is the wisdom of the wise turned into folly, and the understanding of the prudent hid! How is he who seemed valiant for general freedom fallen into a particular earthly interest, and hath no power to help himself! Would any have believed that these should have fallen in the Pit, and stuck in the Mire, as they who were before them, whose names are made a reproach in the Nation! how have these cryed out for the Kingdom of Christ, to bear rule in his Church, and consciences of his own, above the wils of proud oppressing Tyrants, yea and have been Instruments to execute Gods decree upon such as have withstood the freedom of the righteous seed; but now what is brought forth by them more than words! do not the members of Christly still under the power of the oppressor, cast into holes and Prisons for the Truths sake, and are denyed that liberty they allow to thieves and murderers, though the breach of no just Law can be layd to their charge, neither will they let them come to tryall, left by their own Law they should be forced to free them; and how long some have layn upon this account you are not ignorant.
Wo is me for you Rulers, how are you fallen from what you have professed, when you your selves were sufferers under such [Page 5] bondage! and now is it nothing to you that your Brethren who have been one with you against oppression, now perish under the hand of the same men, from whom you are set free! and do not the same men judg us now for offenders, and doth it not concern you to see what is the cause why they thus vent their envy against the innocent, and their Lives and Libertyes are taken away in close holes and dungeons, when it is your duty and in your power to see them have justice, according to the Law of God which you profess, and not after mens wils: and if you know the offences for which they thus suffer, how is it that that which Christ doth command and the Saints did practice is now become so heynous offences that nothing will serve but perpetual Imprisonment in close holes without hearing or tryal! and that you may see for what these despised ones do suffer under you, consider their crimes, whereof the greatest of them is, that some of them are moved to go into the Idols Temples, to dispute and reason with them who uphold the Idols worship, and to call the People out of it, unto the worship in Spirit; and though this seem a heinous crime to you, yet it was the practice of the Apostles and Saints as is plain in Scripture.
Others suffer because they cannot break the express commands of God, to give that worship to proud men, which God Almighty hath forbidden to give to any Creature in Heaven or in Earth, but onely to himself; and here may all the heathen Rulers condemn you, who never imprisoned nor fined Christ nor his Saints for this, though the Scripture sayth, they respected no mans person, nor did they bow down nor give worship to the Creature, though the Devil the father of pride tempted to it then as well as now.
Others suffer for confessing the Name of Christ, and witnessing him in them in their measure, as they finde him manifest in them to overcome sin, the world, and the Devil, and reconcile them to God, and this is called Blasphemy, and so proceeded against, though the Saints have always witnessed the same, and it stands in Scripture for a witness against you▪ and sayth Christ, He that denyes me before men, him will I deny before my Father; and thus the practice of the Saints was and is counted Blasphemy by the professors of the world.
[Page 6]Others suffer for denying to swear at the commands of men, after the customs of the world, when Christ sayth, Swear not at all, for what is more than Yea and Nay cometh of evil; and the Apostles warneth the Saints above all things not to swear by any Oath whatsoever, which all that have entered into Christ have denyed, for he is the Oath and Covenant of God forever.
Others suffer because they are moved of the Lord to go into the Streets and Markets to declare against all manner of sin which abounds there, and to call all to repentance, and to declare the great day of the Lord at hand, and his wrath to be revealed upon such abominable practices: and a snare is layd for him that reproveth in the gate, and they suffer as disturbers of the Peace, but what Peace is this which is disturbed by the crying out against sin? but Drunkards, Swearers, Lyars, Ballad-sellers, are suffered in the streets and markets, and are not counted Disturbers of the Peace: Is this the Saints Peace which stands in Righteousness, or the Worlds Peace, upholden by man of sin?
Others whom the Lord hath called to leave houses and land, wives and children, fathers and mothers, and hath in love to poor souls sent them out, to declare his love to the world, and the glad tidings of the Gospel freely, these are taken under the name of wanderers and strangers, because they have no earthly possessions amongst you; some of them by your Law you imprison, some you whip out of your Towns, some are beaten, stoned, and shamefully intreated, though they ask you nothing, neither are free to receive any thing from the world, if they would give them, but do wait on their Father for food who sends them their journey, and thus you entertain strangers, contrary to the practice of all the Saints in all Ages, and the commands of God and the Apostles, who warned not to forget to entertain strangers, for some thereby have entertained Angels unawares, but as the men of Sodom did compass Lots house, who had entertained strangers, so do these compass the houses where these are, threatning to pull down the houses and dash their brains against the stones in the wall, and this is done when such are with them, who go under the name of Magistrates and Ministers, and the innocent are haled out and sent to Prison, though nothing can be charged against them but as strangers, who have no habitation [Page 7] among them. And for such offences as these do the poor despised little ones of Christ suffer the worst sort of Imprisonments that can be invented, in dark holes, under Tyrants, who will not suffer their Brethren to visit them, and all this while all manner of sin at liberty, and Drunkards, Swearers, Lyars, and Whoremongers, and such like men of Belial, are become the fittest men to be set up to witness against the innocent, and many of those who sit to judg them are guilty of divers of the foremencioned crimes themselves; and thus the wicked are set up to make the Righteous offenders for a word, who are none in deed, nor can they be convinced of the breach of any just Law; and this is not done in secret that you know not of. Oh you that bear rule in the Nation, and ought to relieve such, for then might you have an excuse, but it is done in the Cityes, County, Towns, and Courts, where Justice ought to relieve such; and you know this and are silent, but it is that you may be left without excuse, at the great Day of Account, which is near at hand, even the Day of Sions recompence, which hath long been troden under foot by the earthly powers! and now will you profess your selves to be Christians, the Scripture your Rule, or so much as talk of the practices of the Saints, when such works as these are found amongst you, which were acted by the Heathens, and formal Professors against the Saints, but never practiced by the Saints against any; neither have you any ground for them in Scripture: O how will you appear before the Almighty, whose professions and practises are so unsutable, and justice and mercy is talkt of, but not brought forth.
Wo, wo, wo unto you, who have not used your power to relieve the oppressed, do you thus requite the Lord, who hath set you free from your Enemyes, and hath set you to rule for him over his People! Is this according to your promises made to him in the day of your fears, when you were little in your own eys, and now that he hath set you free, and you are exalted, shall his poor simple little ones suffer in bondage under you, as under the Tyrants and Bishops before you, and you not once say they are our Brethren▪ nor your hearts pity them! Are you building your Houses, and setting your Nests on high, and Sion lyes waste, troden upon!
[Page 8]Wo is me for you, you high ones, how are you fallen from that tenderness I have seen in some of you, when you were sufferers with the People of God! but now the sufferings of the Saints are made a talk at your feasts to fill your mouths with laughter; and you can eat and drink and rise up to play, and stretch your selves upon your Beds of ease, but the afflictions of your Brethren are not layd to heart. Wo to you that are at ease while the simple are ensnared by their Enemyes, God is highly displeased with you and he will not establish you, who have neglected mercy and justice. Hearken O ye Priests, and give ear O house of the King, for judgment is towards you, who have been a snare upon Mispah, and a net spread upon Mount Tabor, to catch the innocent, you have not been carefull to relieve others when you had power, neither shall you deliver your own selves at that day: You are seeking to be high, but you shall finde one above you who is angry with the proud, and will bring down the mighty from their seats, that he may relieve the oppressed, and let the Prisoners go free, and the Lamb shall take the Kingdom. How are you deceived who have somtimes been the wisdom of the Nations; in that you have pulled down others, and set your selves in the same heigh! how is your judgment failed you, to think that all this shaking and overturning hath no further end but to set up flesh, and to exalt one man to rule over the conscience of another by his own will, where Christ should reign as King for ever! do you here as you would be done by, do you not act contrary to the Scriptures, and practice of all the holy men of God, who durst never sit in the Throne of Christ, persecute or imprison any for Conscience. Oh that you had taken councel at the fear of God, then had you stood in your places, and should have known his secrets, and that his intent is onely to exalt his Son in Spirit, in the fall of proud flesh, so should you have used all your power to make way for his Kingdom, and you also to have cast down your Crowns at his feet, so should you have been established in his power, a terror to the wicked, removers of oppression, and makers up of the breach, and your names a blessing to generations: but now that oppression is found with you in as much as the poor despised little flock of Christ hath suffered under you, as under those whom the Lord [Page 9] removed before, when it hath been in your hands to relieve them, and you have not done it, and you that have so much cryed up the Kingdom of Christ in words, and yet have been bold to limit him in his Kingdom, (the Consciences of his Saints) therefore above all the rest you shall not escape unpunished, for the Lord looked that you who have seen his love and pity to you, in setting you above your Enemyes and Fears, should now have had pity on your Brethren, and walked humbly before him; and for that end he put power into your hands, and removed those that were before you, and left none to oppose you, that you might freely act in mercy and judgment and righteousness, but seeing you have forgotten the Lord and his work which to you▪ ward was good, and are become exceeding high, and cruel as others, and the poor are not delivered by you from the hand of the oppressor and him that is too strong for him, neither have you chearfully gone on in unity, in the work of the Lord and his will but stand up in your own wills, opposing the deliverance of the righteous seed. Therefore now will I arise, sayth the Lord, who have long holden my peace, for I am full of jealousie for Sion who is troden upon, and I will appear for her in the midst of her Enemyes, and I will gather the outcasts thereof, who have not been regarded, but have been scattered by you, as the offscouring of the world, and as you have scattered and not pityed, so shall you be scattered, and none shall pity you; for the worlds outcasts are my jewels, and I will bring them to possess the gates of their Enemyes: Even by the word of the Almighty shall this be accomplished, the Day is near at hand.
Wherefore awake all you to whom oppression is a burden, whom the proud have troden upon, and you have been as people without hope, neither have known any way to look for help, for every man hath become vain: Now arise up out of all your earthly expectations, and stand up to meet the Lord our Righteousness, who is risen to deliver his people, the promised seed who is in Covenant with him, and to gather them from among the heathen and them that have made prey upon them, because they have not known him who will save them. And now look no more to the Arm of Flesh for Freedom, for therein hath been [Page 10] your wo, but wayt for the Deliverer out of Sion, the Ancient of Days, and God of Israels seed, who hath letten you see the emptyness of all created helps to which your eys have been looking that you might return, and complain to him onely, who is the Fountain from whom all his finde pity.
And now a word to the wise amongst you, for as much as the Lord hath shewed me that there is a Seed amongst you, whose hearts are not wholly hardened, nor have wilfully stoped your ears against the Cry of the oppressed, nor have been consenting to the cruelty that hath been acted and is intended against the innocent; to you I say arise and deliver your selves from the guilt of Oppression, and Cruelty of these men, and humble your selves before the Lord, that you may receive wisdom from him, and boldness to declare against all violence and injustice, and set your selves to deliver the oppressed to the utmost, that you may be hid, and have a sure house, and be established: take heed that you walk not by example of others, but in the light of Christ which guides the conscience, and that will keep you tender-hearted in bowels of mercy to all, and let it not seem strange to you to see others wholly set on mischief, but consider, could ever any of your cruel oppressors believe, though God hath always sent to warn them before the judgment come, that thereby he might leave them without excuse, and be clear when he comes to take vengeance, but they have hardened themselves against all reproof: and marvel not to see it so at this day, for the seed of the proud is but one in all ages. Wherefore minde the fear of God and his Law, and consent not to any thing because of a multitude, but for Righteousness and Equityes sake; and having Righteousness before you fear not the face of any, nor the reproach of men, but be valiant for the truth, the glory of God, and freedom of every oppressed one, and victory is before you, if you be faithfull; and the Lord God Almighty bless, prosper, and guide all the faithfull among you, to keep clear out of all the consultations of the wicked, that you may never consent to any thing but what is of God, warranted in Scriptures, and practiced by the Saints, that you may no longer rest in a Profession of what the Saints were, [Page 11] and act to the contrary but that you may come to be guided in all things by the same Spirit, kept out of all the wisdom of the world, and the fear of God be amongst you.
A Warning to the Rulers of ENGLAND. Not to usurp Dominion over the Conscience, nor to give forth Laws contrary to that in the Conscience.
THe Law it was added because of transgression, it came not by the will of man, but was revealed to Moses of God, and is perfect according to that in the conscience, it was added because of transgressors, who walk contrary to that in the conscience, which is pure of God, there is the seat of blasphemy, he speaks what he is not, and what he doth not, and speaks evil of those things he knows not, and he that acts contrary to that in the conscience acts contrary to the perfect Law of God, and there he lives in the lust, when the Law sayth thou shalt not lust; he that lusteth goeth forth, he steals, he covets his neighbours wife, and his neighbours goods, he kills and doth murder, and he goes forth and breaks the Sabboth, and he that breaks one breaks all; and heer the righteous Law takes hold upon him, that is perfect, and slays him.
But he that dwels in that which is pure, exercising the conscience towards God and man, the Law takes not hold upon him, it was not made for such the righteous, but for the sinners: and who are without the fear of the Lord casts this Law behinde their backs, and who respects persons, and his minde that lusteth and goeth forth from the pure in this conscience, there the spirit is erred into the earth and for the earth, as Balaams was, then that minde speaks evil of the truth.
And this Law is made already, which is the Law of God, & need not be made again; but all are to wait to receive it, which is perfect and is a ground against all unrighteousness and Sinners: where it is received it is understood, what it takes hold upon, which was added because of Transgressors, not for the Righteous, but it preserves the Righteous, and gives way for the Truth, it meddles not with the Righteous as laying any thing upon them, for it doth [Page 13] not respect any mans Person, it takes hold upon all who act contrary to that in the Conscience: it doth not meddle with that in the Conscience which is pure, which is perfect, that is its own, and that saith the Law is holy, just, and good, in its place, but it is for them which are without, and it doth not speak evill of the Magistrates which are in this Law and have received it which is perfect, but of the Evil the Law judgeth, which is perfect, but it exalts justice, and dominion; Dominion which is according to the Soul, and that in the Conscience, it is for the keeping them who act contrary to that in the Conscience in order, a limit to the Lust, for it sayth, Thou shalt not Lust, (for who act contrary to that in the Conscience run out of Order) that there shall be none that abuse themselves with mankinde, no Fighter, and how full is the Land of them! nor no respecters of Persons, and all who acts according to this in the Conscience: that in the Conscience is but one, in it there is no damnable Heresie, nor no Blasphemy, nor no licencious practises, for they arise out of that nature that acts contrary to that in the Conscience, without the fear of the Lord, and that speaks evill of Magistrates and Magistracy, and destroyes the Common-wealth, for this in the Conscience guids into the fear of the Lord.
Now you not having received this perfect Law, but makeing Lawes in your wils and mindes contrary to this in the Conscience, and above this in the Conscience; who acts according to that in the Conscience cannot submit to them, for those Lawes are changable, but this is for ever, which was added because of Transgressors, and takes hold upon the Sinners and Transgressors outward, to the hewing down of such.
But you that go to make Lawes in your wils against the Righteous, and meddle with the Righteous, and them that act according to that in the Conscience, which is according to the Law, of God, which is perfect, and for ever, the Law of God will hew you all down, which is for ever, as it has done many generacions before you: and the righteous Seed suffered in all generacions by such Lawes, therefore to that in your Consciences I speak to wait upon the Lord, that you may receive the Law of God, which is pure, which is just, which is perfect according to that in the Conscience, for there is Woes and Plauges gone out against [Page 14] this Nacion, lest you be swept away with the seed of evill doers and in the way as your Fathers who have transgressed the pure Law, and that in the Conscience, and stroven with the Law which is in the will, to keep down that in the Conscience; for there At the second Session of Parliament, in the [...]irst year of Mary, Chap. [...]. has been a Law & an Act made, which Act did the Martyrs suffer by in Queen Maryes dayes, who was the maintainer of Popery: this has the English Ministry who profess the Ministry of Christ got to limit the Spirit of the Lord, to keep them in their Pulpits and it has been their Guard; and they cry against Popery, and themselves maintain the Popish Law, to prison and to persecute them that have the Life of the Scriptures made manifest in them.
Oh never profess Christ, and guard your Church and Ministry as you call it, with a Popish Antichristian Law, let this never be mencioned in Ages to come as it is mencioned in this Age, how many have suffred by her Law, and suffers now, and yet you cry up the Gospel, and cry against such as act according to that in the Conscience; but this is a shame to those who have received the Gospel of Christ, and walk in the Spirit that gave forth the Scripture, and have the pure Law of God, whereby many have been imprisoned, and are Prisoned.
Now consider and see your selves, if you have not made and maintained this Act against the Scripture, when the Scripture sayth, If any thing be revealed to another that sits by, let the first hold his Peace, for yee may all speak one by one, and the Teachers of the World, put up Peticions to you, against them who have been moved of the Lord to speak his word; so here Teachers and you who be in Authority you both act against Scripture, your Law it is against the Scripture, and their Teaching is against the Scripture, and so its just with God to hew you all down together, for the Minister of God sayd, You may all Prophesy one by one: if any thing be revealed to him that sits by, let the first hold his Peace: and Moses gave that Liberty, who had received the Law from God: and that was in all the Churches of the Saints, that they might speak one by one,
Now here you that make a Law contrary to that in the Conscience, and you that put up Peticions for a Law, have cleared your selves, both makers of the Law, and seekers for the Law, [Page 11] not to have the Spirit of Moses, and his Lawes which are perfect, and not to have the Spirit of the Minister of God, of Paul, who gave that Freedom, that all may speak one by one, and here yee do limit the Holy One and the Spirit of the Lord God; and so ty People up in Forms and Sects, and bring up damnable Heresies, and Blasphemies, who bring People contrary to that in the Conscience, for that is but one in ten-thousand, and is according to the Law of God, which is perfect, and the Law of God takes not hold upon that, (A warning to you all, and be warned and fear God)
Now in the Church of God, where they spoke one by one, there was no disorder nor distraction, where all were guided by one Spirit; the Law has nothing to do with the Church of God that is the Pillar and Ground of Truth, and they are in Peace and Unity, and the Law was never made for such, Christ is the Head of the Church, the Head of the Body, who is the end of the Law, and therefore silence all Flesh (who would make a Law upon Christ) from making Lawes for the Church of Christ: The perfect Law of God takes hold upon such who are Murtherers, who act unrighteousness, them that abuse themselves with Mankinde, them that are without, and act without, and you that meddle with the Church of Christ, and that in the Conscience; the Law you have not received from God, but the Plauges will be poured upon you: The Law of God is contrary to that in your Wils, according to that in the Conscience, and they are both perfect, and it is not known but as it is revealed, and the minister of God is perfect, according to that in the Conscience, and it owns the perfect Law, for the Minister of God is to bring from under all Sin, and the ocasion of all Lawes, and this we witness, yea Thousands! Praised be the Lord for ever.
They that fear the Lord they have mutuall Peace among themselves, you need not make a Law for them; for the Law is upon them that are without the fear of God, and there is the disturbance, and such the Law takes hold upon,
And as touching preventing the abusing and evil speaking of Magistrates, there need not be a Law upon them that fear the Lord, for they are taught by the Spirit of the Lord, that in the Conscience, to fear the Lord and own the perfect Law which [Page 16] is holy, just, and good in its place; and own justice and the Dignity and Dominion; but as it was in the time of Iude, such Teachers as went in the way of Cain to envy and after the error of Balaam, who perish in the gainsaying of Core, what they spoke they knew naturally, and in those things they corrupted themselves, as England has many of such who have told us that Hebrew and Greek has been the Original, and the Steeplehouse has been the Church and the Temple, and sprinkling Infants has been the Baptism, and the Letter has been the Light, and the Letter has been the Word, and those are the Teachers that were made Ministers at Oxford and Cambridg, by the will of man; but we finde these things all natural, and the natural man knows not the things of God, but they are known naturally, and keeps People natural, and knowing these things are contrary to the Scripture, therefore do we trample upon them, and deny them; and the Magistrat having his Law changeable, (not receiving the Law from God which is perfect and endures for ever) and not according to that in the conscience, and according to the Scripture, but would limit the Spirit of the Lord, we deny them & that which is contrary to the soul, and contrary to that in the conscience, but that which is according to the soul and that in the conscience we own and honour in our souls, for that is perfect and endures for ever, and does not speak evil of Dignity nor of Dominion, and to that the soul must be subject: but as touching the Ministry which I sayd we trampled upon, which is natural, we having received the same spirit according to the measure that gave forth the Scripture, by which we are baptized into one Body, so with that we deny their sprinkling of Infants, which they call Baptism, because there is no example for it in the Scripture; and that spirit that gave forth the Scripture sayd, the Church is in God, and therefore we deny the Church of the world which is natural, and they that were made Ministers were made by the will of God and not by the will of man, and so do we; and the Letter sayth Christ is the Light, and they that say the Letter is the Light would disthrone Christ, and they that say the Letter is the Word sets it up before God, and denyes God, for the Letter sayth God is the Word, and they that say the Hebrew and Greek are the Original, they who were the [Page 17] Ministers of the Word, which was in the beginng, before many Languages were, spoke the Word among the Hebrews and were persecuted; now if the Hebrew had been the Original they would have received them; and the Apostle he spoke among the Greeks and they counted the Cross of Christ a foolish thing: now had that been the Original Hebrew and Greek they would have embraced it: the Eternal Word which was in the beginning before all Languages were, breaks in pieces all Languages and tramples upon them, and brings all into one Language, for that which keeps in many Languages keeps in confusion, and always learning, therefore with the Word which ever was, which is made manifest, which gathers our hearts together to God, we deny their Original; for the Apostle he denyed all his Learning when he came to know the Word which was and is the Original which endures for ever. And as touching giving fitting liberty for them that fear the Lord, for that you have no ground in the Scripture, for if you go to meddle with them that fear the Lord with your Law, you busie your selves with those things that you have nothing to do withall; to that in your consciences I speak, for you have nothing to do to meddle with them that act according to that in the conscience, and act in righteousness; and as giving liberty for such, you are them that would limit the holy One, and ty up and prison that in the conscience; he that meddles with that in the conscience goes about to search the heart, and where it acts forth you will have a Law to act upon it, when it acts contrary to your wils for that in the conscience is perfect, is pure, it testifies against all opinions, and all Sects, and all Heresie, and all Blasphemy, and all false Ministry, and all popish ways, for they all arise out of that nature which acts contrary to that in the conscience, and that in the conscience is according to God, and he that makes a Law upon that makes a Law against God, and he that is guided by this in the conscience to walk towards God and man, the flesh is not defiled; he speaks not evil of Dignity; and there is no man with his will has any thing to do to restrain or give liberty for this; and where have you an example for this in all the Scripture, or Moses who was a Minister of the Law, who had received it from God, that restrained any mans conscience, and he wished that all the Lords [Page 18] people were Prophets; and the Minister of God sayd, Ye may all speak one by one; and ye need not care for an Act or Declaration as touching them, and for shame let it never be mentioned that there should be a Law for them that fear God as if there were disturbance among them, or as if they were not in a mutual peace; but these are such Teachers that desire such things that have the likeness of a Church, the likeness of a Baptism, the likeness of a Ministry, and the likeness of a Communion, and when any has been moved of the Lord to go speak against them, they have openly shewed themselves to be quite without the fear of the Lord, and strangers to the life that gave forth the Scriptures, Priests, Magistrats, and People; for Moses sayd, he would that all the Lords people were Prophets; and the Apostle sayd, Ye may all prophesie one by one; and when these things have been practised according to the Scripture, they who have been moved by the Spirit that is unlimited, to speak the Word of the Lord as it was revealed, this the Magistrat he hath limited with his Law and sent them to Prison; heer the Law is against Scripture and that Spirit that gave it forth: I charge you in the presence of the Lord, and against the Ministers of God that had the Law of God, and sayd, Ye may all prophesie; and heer you Minsters that desire this Law are against Scriptures and the Apostles, and clear your selves from having the Spirit, and your Churches to be no Churches; for when the Word of the Lord is spoken, some fall a striking, some a punching, beating, haling, throwing down, and lays for dead, and the Law of God is perfect, and gives freedom to speak what is revealed from God, and it hears with patience, and the Minister of God gives freedom to speak what is revealed.
And you that say you will make Laws according to the patern of Moses, for you to go act according to Moses Law word by word, and to take up the Form and not have it revealed to you, as it was to him, you are to be denyed, as having the Form without the power, and to be turned away from; Oh therefore fear the Lord God and minde that in the conscience, which is pure, which will teach you the fear of the Lord, and bring you to receive the Law from God, and the power, then you may give it forth to others, but not till then; would you have a Law now [Page 19] made contrary to your wils upon you, the Law of God is upon you, and will be for ever, who acts contrary to that in the conscience, the Law of God is to keep perfect, it takes hold upon that which acts contrary to that which is perfect, and the Minister of God is to present every one perfect, and to bring from under the occasion of all Laws.
A word from the Lord. Friends, take heed of making any Law contrary to that in the conscience, for if you do, it will be against God▪ and God will hew down it and you with his Sword, for it is drawn out of the sheath and furbished, and fit to slay Noblemen and great men, Captains beware, be low, minde that in your consciences which is of God, to guide your mindes up to God; fear and beware of the Sword, for its drawn out against you, lest it come upon you, and wait in that which is pure in your consciences to rise and guide your mindes to God, and cry for justice, and walk in it, for whatsoever is not just and justice, must be hewen down, that justice may stand up, which is according to that in the conscience which is pure of God, for now God alone will be exalted, and that which is exalted must be thrown down and all the loftiness of men shall be layd low, and the haughtyness of men shall be brought down, and the glory of man, and his honor and renoun shall be layd in the dust, and the glory of the Lord shall arise, and his Majesty, to shake terribly the earth, and the Idols of Gold and Silver shall be cast away, as the carnal part is destroyed, all your Idols will cease, and the pure God be exalted and loved.
Oh Friends, make not Laws in your own wils for they that did, ever slew the just, and had a Prison for Christ, where he was made manifest, and the Prophets and Apostles suffered by their Laws who were made in their wils, for witnessing forth a good conscience many suffered death, for they sayd they had a Law, if any one sayd he was the Son of God, he might die, and so the Law in the wil doth persecute the Son of God now where he is made manifest, as the North part of this Nation doth witness, who has fulfilled that Law in persecuting and imprisoning the Son of God where he is made manifest. And Paul when hee was brought from the Temple outward, and the Priests outwardly, for that Seperacion and witnessing a good Conscience towards [Page 20] God and man, he suffered, so their Lawes being in their Wils, took hold upon him for acting from a pure Conscience, so it doth now upon the same: O therefore wait upon the Lord for directions, that your Lawes may be according to that in the Conscience, and against that which is contrary to a pure Conscience; as the Law of God was added not for the Righteous, but for Sinners: the just Law takes hold upon them, and this Law is not according to the Will of man, neither is Christ according to the will of man, who fulfils this Law in man, and takes away the ground and the occasion of the Law, which the Law is upon, therefore minde that which is contrary to your Wils, to receive the Law of God, which is contrary to mans will, which is perfect and received from God, and hath power over a man as long as he lives.
Written from the Spirit of the Lord; a friend to your soules and your eternall good, and the establishing of Righteousnesse, and the pefect Law of God, to the intent of cleansing the Land of Evell-doers, and the Transgressors of the perfect Law of God: And who knows this, are come out of Egypt, Pharaoh nor none of his Hoast knoweth it, nor the Egyptians, but who are brought out of Egypt: So God Almighty blesse & direct you all, who have a fear and thirst towards him, for this is the Day of your visitacion, while you have time prize it,
These Papers were prepared and intended to have been delivered to every member of Parliament, but before they could be got out the Parliament dissolved.