TO THE MASTER OF THE HOUSE OF CORRECTION IN DARBY, GREETING.
We have sent you herewithal the bodies of George Fox late of Mansfield in the County of Nottingham, and John Fretwell, late of Stainsby in the County of Darby, husbandman, brought be us in this present day, and charged with the avowed uttering and broaching of divers blasphemous opinions, contrary to a late Act of Parliament, which upon the examination before us, they have confessed. These are therefore to require you, forthwith sight hereof, to receive them, the said George Fox and John Fretwell into your custody, and them therein safely keep during the space of six months, without bail or mainprize, or until they shall find sufficient security to be of the good behavior, or be thence delivered by order of ourselves. Given under our hands and seals this 30th day of October, 1650.
Ger. Bennet,
Nath Barton.
Now did the priest bestir themselves in their pulpits to preach up sin for term of life; and much of the work was, to plead for it: so that people said, never was the like heard. Then after some time, he that was committed with me, not standing faithful to his testimony, got in with the jailer, and by him made way to the Justice to have leave to go see his mother; and so got his liberty. And then they reported, that he should say, I had bewitched and deceived him: but my spirit was strengthened, when he was gone. Now the priests and professors, the justices and the jailer wee all in a great rage against me. They jailer watched me words and actions, and would often aks me questions to ensnare me; and sometimes would asked me such silly questions, as, whether the door was latched, or not? Thinking, to draw some sudden, unadvised answer from me, from whence he might take advantage to charge sin upon me: but I was kept watchful, and chaste, so that they could get no advantage of me; and they admired in it.
Not long after my commitment, I was moved to write both to the priests and magistrates of
Darby. And first I directed these follow lines to the priest.
Oh friends, I was sent unto you to tell you, that if you had received the Gospel freely, you would minister it freely without money or price: but you made a trade and sale, of what the prophets and apostles have spoken; and so you corrupt the Truth. And you are the men, that lead silly women captive, who are ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the Truth: you have a form of godliness; but you deny the Power. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do you resist the Truth; being men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. But you shall proceed not further; for you folly shall be made manifest to all men, as theirs was, Moreover the Lord sent me to tell you that he does look for fruits. You asked me, if the Scripture was my rule: but it is not your rule, to rule your lives by; but to talk of in words. You are the men, that live in pleasures, pride and wantonness, in fulness of bread and abundance of idleness: see if this be not the sin of Sodom. Lot receive the angles: but Sodom was envious. You show forth the vain nature: you stand in the steps of the, that crucified MY SAVIOR, and mocked him: your are their children; you show forth their fruit. They had the chief place in the assemblies; and so have you: they loved to be called Rabbi; and so do you.
G.F.
That which I wrote to the Magistrates, who committed me to prison, was to this effect:
Friends,
I am forced, in tender love to your souls, to write unto you, and to beseech you to consider, what you do, and what the commands of God call for. He does require justice and mercy, to break every yoke, and to let the oppressed go free. But who calls for justice? or loves mercy? or contends for the Truth? Is not judgment turned backward? and does not justice stand afar off? Is not Truth silenced in the streets? or can equity enter? And do not they that depart rom evil, make themselves a prey? Oh! Consider what you do, in time, and take heed, whom you do imprison: for the magistrate is set for the punishment of evil doers, and for the praise of them that do well. Now, I intreat you, in time take heed, what you do: for surely, the Lord will come, and will make manifest both the builders and the work: and if it be of man, it will fail; but if it be of God, nothing will overthrow it. Therefore I desire and pray, that you would take heed, and beware what you do; lest you be found fighters against God.
G.F.
Now, after I had thus far cleared my conscience to them, I waited in the holy patience; leaving the
event to God, in whose will I stood. And after some time I was moved to write again to the
Justices, that had committed me to prison, to lay their evils before them, that they might repent.
One of them, that signed the mittimus, to wit, was Nathaniel Barton, was both a colonel, a justice,
and a preacher: so I write to them, as follows:
Friends,
You did speak of the good old way, which the prophet spoke of; but the prophet cried against the abomination, which you hold up. Had you the Power of God, you would not persecute the good way. He that spoke of the good way, was set in the stocks: the people cried, away with him to the stocks, for speaking the Truth. Ah! foolish people, which have eyes and see not, ears and hear not, without understanding! Fear you not me, says the Lord,, and will you not tremble at my presence! Oh your pride and abominations are odious in the eyes of God! You (that are called preachers) have the chiefest place in the assemblies, and all called of men Master; and such were are against my Savior and Maker: and they shut of the Kingdom of Heaven from men, neither go in themselves, not suffer others. Therefore you shall receive the greater damnation, who have their places, and walk in their steps. You may say, if you had been in the days of the prophets, or Christ, you would not have persecuted them: wherefore be you witnesses against yourselves, that you are the children of them, seeing, you now persecute the way of Truth. Oh consider, there is a true Judge, that will give every one of you a reward according to you works. Oh mind where you are, you that hold up the abominations, which the true prophet cried against! Oh come down, and sit in the dust! The Lord is coming with Power; and he will throw down every one that is exalted, that he alone may be exalted.
And as I had thus written unto them jointly; so after some respite of time, I wrote to each of them
by himself. To Justice Bennet thus:
Friend,
Thou that does profess God and Christ in words, see how thou do follow him. To take off burdens, and to visit them that be in prison, and show mercy, and clothe they own flesh, and deal thy bread to the hungry; these are God commandments: to relieve the fatherless, and to visit the widows in their afflictions, and to keep thyself unspotted of the world; this is pure religion before God. But if thou do profess Christ, and follows covetousness, and greediness, and earthly mindedness, thou denies im in Life, and deceives thyself and others, and takes him for a cloak: woe be unto you greedy men, and rich men; weep and howl for you misery, that shall come. Take heed of covetousness and extortion: God does forbid that. Woe be to the man, that covets and evil covetousness, that he may set his nest on high, and cover himself with thick clay. Oh do not love that, which God does forbid: his servant thou are, who thou does obey, whether it be of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness. Think upon Lazarus and Dives: the one fared sumptuously every day; the other was a beggar. See, if thou be not Dives? Be not deceived; God is not mocked with vain words: evil communication corrupts good manners. Awake to righteousness, and sin not.
G.F.
That the Justice Barton was in these words:
Friend,
Thou that preaches Christ, and the Scriptures in words, when any come to follow that, which thou has spoken of, and to live the Lie of the Scriptures, then they, that speak the Scriptures, but do not lead their lives according thereunto, persecute them that do. Mind the prophets, and Jesus Christ, and his apostles, and al the holy men of God: what they spoke, was from the life: but they that had not the life, but the words, persecuted and imprisoned them that lived in the life, which they had back slidden from.
G.F.
Now, as I had written to the justices and the priests, so it was upon me to write to the Major of
Darby also; who (though he did not sign the mittimus) had a hand with the rest in sending me to
prison. And to him I wrote after this manner:
Friend,
Thou art set in place to do justice; but in imprisoning my body, thou has acted contrary to justice, according to you own law. Oh take heed of pleasing men more, that God, for that's the way of the scribes and pharisees: they sought the praise of men more than God. Remember who said, I was a stranger, and you took me not in; I was in prison, and you visited me not. Oh friend, thy envy is not against me, but against the Power of Truth: I had no envy to you; but love: Oh take heed of oppression; for the Day of the Lord is coming, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, and all that do wickedly, shall be as stubble; and the day that comes, shall burn them up, says the Lord of Hosts; it shall leave them neither root not branch. Oh friend, if the love of God were in thee, thou would love the Truth, and hear the Truth spoken; and not imprison unjustly: the Love of God bears, and suffers, and envies no man. If the love of god had broken your hears, you would show mercy; but you do show forth, what rules you. Every tree does show forth its fruit: you do show forth your fruits openly. For drunkenness, swearing, pride and vanity rule among you, from the teacher to the people. Oh friend, mercy, and true judgment, and justice are cried for in your streets! Oppression, unmercifulness, cruelty, hatred, pride, pleasure, wantonness and fulness is in your streets; but the poor is not regarded, Oh take heed of the woe: woe be to the crown of pride! Woe be to them that drink wine in bowls, and the poor is ready to perish. Oh remember Lazarus and Dives. One fared deliciously every day; and the other was a beggar. Oh friend, mind these things, for they are near; and see, whether thou be not the man, that is in Dives his state.
I wrote also to the Court at Darby thus:
I am moved to write unto you, to take heed of oppressing the poor in your courts, or laying burdens upon the poor people, which they cannot bear: and of false oaths, or making them to take oaths which they cannot perform. The Lord says, I will come near to judgment, and will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, against the false swearers, and against the idolaters, and against those that do oppress widows and fatherless: therefore take heed of all these things betimes. The Lord's judgments are all true and righteous, and he delights in mercy: so love mercy, dear people, and consider in time.
Likewise to the ringers, who used to ring the bells in the steeple house, call S. Peter's in Darby, I
sent these few lines:
Friends,
Take heed of pleasure, and prize your time now, while you have it; and do not spent it in pleasures, nor earthliness. The time may come, that you will say, you had time, when it is past. Therefore look at the Love of God now, while you have time; for it brings to loath all vanities and worldly pleasures. Oh consider! Time is precious: fear God and rejoice in him, who has made heaven and earth.
Now, while I was there in prison, divers of the Professors came unto me to discourse with me; and I had a sense, before they spoke, that they had come to plead for sin and imperfection. And I asked them, whether they were true believers, and had faith? and they said, yes. Then I asked them, in whom? and they said, in Christ. Then I replied; if you are true believers in Christ, you are passed from death to life; and if passed from death, then from sin, that brings death: and if your faith be true, it will give you victory over sin and the devil, and purify your hearts and consciences (for the true faith is held in a pure conscience) and it will bring your to please God, and give you access to him again. But they could not endure to hear of purity, and of victory over sin and the devil: for they said, they could not believe, that any could be free from sin on this side of the grave. Then I bade them, give over babbling about the Scriptures, which were holy men's words; whiles they pleaded for unholiness. And at another time another company of professors came; and they also began to plead for sin. And I asked them, whether they had any hope? And they said, yes: God forbid but we should have hope. Then I asked them, what hope is it that you have? Os Christ in you the hope of your glory? Does it purify your, as he is pure? But they could not abide to hear of being made pure here. Then I bid the, forbear talking of the Scriptures, which were holy men's words: for the holy men, that wrote the Scriptures, pleaded for holiness in the heart, life and conversation here; but since you plead for impurity and sin, which is of the devil, what have you to do with the holy men's words?
Now the keeper of the prison, being a high professor, was greatly enraged against me; and spoke very wickedly of me: but it pleased the Lord one day to strike him so, that he was in great trouble, and under great terrors of mind. And as I walk walking in my chamber, I heard a doleful noise; and standing still, I heard him say to his wife: Wife, I have seen the day of judgment, and I saw GEORGE there, and I was afraid of him: because I had done him so much wrong, and spoken so much against him to the ministers and professors, and to the justices, and in taverns and alehouses. After this, towards the evening, he came up into my chamber, and said to me; I have been as a lion against you; but now I came like a lamb, and like the jailer, that came to Paul and Silas trembling. And he desired, that he might lie with me: I told him, that I was in his power; he might do, what he would; but he said, Nay, he would have my leave; and he could desire to be always with me, but not to have me as a prisoner. And he said, he had been plagued, and his house had been plagued for my sake. So I suffered him to lie with me; and then he told me all his heaert, and said, he believe, what I had said of the true faith and hope, to be true: and he wondered, that the other man, that was put in prison with me, did not stand to it; and said, that man was not right, but I was an honest me. He confessed also to me; that at those times, when I had asked him to let me go forth, to speak the Word of the Lord to the people, and he had refused to let me go, and I had laid the weight thereof upon him, that then he used to be under great trouble, amazed and almost distracted for some time after; and in such a condition, that he had little strength left him. When the morning came, he arose, and soon after went to the justices, and told them; that he and his house had been plagued for my sake: and one of the justices replied (as he reported to me) that the plagues were upon them too, for keeping me. This was Justice Bennett of Darby, who was the first that called us Quakers, because I bid them, Tremble at the Word of the Lord. And this was in the year 1650.
After this the justices gave leave, that I should have liberty to walk a mile. I perceived their end; and I told the jailer, if they would set down to me, how far a mile was, I might take the liberty of walking it sometimes: for I had a sense, they thought, I would go away. And the jailer confessed afterwards, that they did it with that intent, to have me go away, to lease them of their plague: but I told him, I was not of that spirit.
This jailer had a sister, who was a very sickly young woman; and she came up into my chamber to visit me; and after she had stayed some time, and I had spoken the Words of Truth to her, she went down, and told them; that we were an innocent people, and did none any hurt, but did good to all, even tho them that hated us: and she desired them to be tender towards me.
Now forasmuch as, by reason of my restraint, I had not the opportunity of traveling about, to
declare and spread Truth through the counties; it came upon me to write a paper, and send it forth
to be spread abroad both amongst Friends, and other tender people, for the opening of their
understandings in the Way of Truth, and directing them to the true Teacher in themselves. And it
was as follows:
The Lord doth show unto man his thoughts, and discovers all the secret workings in man. A man may be brought to see his evil thoughts, and running mind, and vain imaginations, and may strive to keep them down, and keep his mind in; but cannot overcome them, nor keep his mind within to the Lord, Now, in this stat and condition submit to the Spirit of the Lord, that shows them, and that will bring to wait upon the Lord; and he that discovered the, will destroy them. Therefore stand in the faith of the Lord Jesus Christ (who is the author of the true faith) and mind him; for he will discover the root of lusts, and evil thoughts, and vain imaginations, and how they are begotten, conceived and bred; and then how they are brought forth, and how every evil member does work,. He will discover ever principle from its own nature and root.
So mind the faith of Christ, and the anointing, which is in you, to be taught by it, which will discover all workings in you: and as he teaches you, so obey and forsake; else you will not grow up in the faith, nor in the life of Christ, where the Love of God is received. Now Love begets Love, its own nature and image: and when mercy and truth do meet, what joy there is! And mercy does triumph in judgment: and love and mercy does bear the judgment of the world in patience. That wich cannot bear the world's judgment is not the Love of God; for Love bears all things, and is above the world's judgment and practice, to cast all the world's filthiness, that is among themselves, upon the saints; yet the judgment is false, Now the chaste virgins follow Christ, the Lamb, that takes away the sins of the world: but they that are of that spirit, which is not chaste, will not follow Christ the Lamb in his steps; but are disobedient to him in his commands, So the fleshly mind does mind the flesh, and talks fleshly, and its knowledge is fleshly, and not spiritual; but favors death, and not of the Spirit of Life. Now some men have the nature of swine, wallowing in the mire; and some men have the nature of dogs, to bite both the sheep and one another: and some men have the nature of lions, to tear, devour and destroy: and some men have the nature of wolves, to tear and devour the lambs and sheep of Christ: and some men have the nature of the serpent (that old adversary) to sting, envenom and poison: he that has an hear to hear, let him hear, and learn these things within himself, and some men have the natures of other beasts and creatures, minding nothing, but earthly and visible things, and feeding without the fear of God. Some men have the nature of a horse, to prance and vapor in their strength,, and to be swift in doing evil, and some men have the nature of tall sturdy oaks, to flourish and spread in wisdom and strength; who are strong in evil, which must perish, and come to the fire. Thus the evil is but one in all, but works many ways; and whatsoever a man's or woman's nature is addicted to, that is outward, the evil one will fit him with that, and will please his nature and appetite, to keep his mind in his own inventions, and in the creatures from the Creator. Oh therefore let not the mind go forth from God; for if it do so, it will be stained, and venomed and corrupted: and if the mind go forth form the Lord, it is hard to bring it in again. Therefore take heed of the enemy, and keep in the faith of Christ. Oh! therefore mind that which is eternal and invisible, and him who is the Creator and Mover of all things: for the things that are made, and not made of things that do appear; for the visible covers the invisible sight in you. But as the Lord, who is invisible, does open you by his invisible Power and Spirit, and brings down the carnal mind in you; so the invisible and immortal things are brought to Light in you. Oh therefore you, that know the Light and walk in the Light! For there are the children of darkness, that will talk of the Light, and of the Truth, and not walk in it; but the Children of the Light love the Light, and walk in the Light. But the children of darkness walk in darkness, and hate the Light; and in them the earthly lusts, and the carnal mind choke the Seed of Faith, and that brings oppression on the seed, and death over them. Oh therefore mind the pure Spirit of the Everlasting God, which will teach you to use the creatures in their right place; and which judges the evil,. To thee, Oh God, be all glory and honor, who are Lord of all visible and invisibles! To thee be all praise, who brings out of the deep to they self; Oh Powerful God, who are worthy of all glory! For the Lord, who created all, and gives life and strength to all, is over all, and merciful to all. So thou, who hast made all, and are over all, to thee be all glory! In thee is my strength, refreshments and life, my joy and my gladness, my rejoicing and glorying forevermore. So to live and walk in the Spirit of God, is joy, and peace, and life; but the mind going forth into the creatures, or into any visible things from thte Lord, this brings death. Now when the mind is got into the flesh, and into death, then the accuser gets within, and the law of sin and death, that gets into the flesh; and then the life suffers under the law of sin and death: and then there is straightness and failings. For then the god is shut up, and then the self-righteousness is set atop; and then man does work in the outward law, and he cannot justify himself by the law; but is condemned by the Light: for hie cannot get out of that state, but by abiding in the Light, and resting in the mercy of God, and believing in him, from who mercy does flow: for there is peace in resting in the Lord Jesus. This is the narrow way, that leads to him, the life; but few will abide in it: therefore keep in the innocency, and be obedient to the faith in him. And take heed of conforming to the world, and of reasoning with flesh and blood, for that brings disobedience; and then imaginations and questioning do arise, to draw from obedience to the truth of Christ. But the obedience of faith destroys imaginations, and questionings, and reasonings do arise, to draw from obedience to the Truth of Christ. But the obedience of faith destroys imaginations, and questionings, and reasonings, and all the temptations in the flesh, and buffetings, and lookings forth, and fetching up things that are past. But not keeping in the Life and Light, and not crossing the corrupt will by the power of God, the evil nature grows up in man; and then burdens will come, and man will be stained with that nature. But Esau's mountain shall be laid waste, and become a wilderness, where the dragons lies: but Jacob, the second birth, shall be fruitful, and shall arise. For Esau is hated, and must not be Lord: but Jacob, the second birth, which is perfect and plain, shall be Lord; for he is beloved of God.
G.F.
I wrote another paper also, much about the same time, and sent if forth amongst the convinced
people, as follows:
THE LORD IS KING OVER ALL THE EARTH! Therefore all people, praise and glorify your King in true obedience, in the uprightness, and in the beauty of holiness. Oh consider, in the true obedience the Lord is known, and an understanding from him is received. Mark and consider in silence, in the lowliness of mind, and thou will hear the Lord speak unto thee in thy mind: his voice is sweet and pleasant; his sheep hear his voice and they will not hearken to another: and when they hear his voice they rejoice, and are obedient; they also sing for joy. Oh, their hearts are filled with everlasting triumph! They sing, and praise the eternal God in Sion: their joy shall never man take from them. Glory to the Lord God forevermore!
But many, that had been convinced of the Truth, turned aside, because of the persecution that
arose: whereupon I wrote a few lines for the comfort and encouragement of the faithful, thus:
Come ye blessed of the Lord, and rejoice together! Keep in unity and oneness of Spirit; triumph above the world! Be joyful in the Lord; reigning above the world, and above all things that draw from the Lord; that in clearness, righteousness, pureness and joy, you may be preserved to the Lord. Oh hear, Oh hearken to the call of the Lord, and come out of the world, and keep out if it forevermore! And come, sing together, you righteous ones, the song of the Lord, the song of the Lamb; which none can learn, bu they, who are redeemed from the earth, and from the world.
Now while I was in the house of correction, my relations came to see me; and being troubled for my imprisonment, they went to the justices, that cast me into prison, and desired to have me home with them; offering one hundred pounds, and others of Darby in fifty pounds apiece with them, that I should come no more thither to declare against the priests. So I was had up before the justices; and because would not consent, that they, or any should be bound for me (for I was innocent from any ill behavior, and had spoken the Word of Life and Truth unto them) Justice Bennett rose up in a rage: and as I was kneeling down to pray to the Lord to forgive him, he ran upon me, and struck me with both of his hands, crying; away with him jailer: take him away jailer. Whereupon I was had back again to prison, and there kept, until the time of my commitment of six months was expired. But I had now the liberty of walking a mile by myself; which I made use of, as I felt freedom. And sometimes I went int o the markets, and streets, and warned the people to repent of their wickedness; and so returned to prison again. And there being persons of several sorts of religion in prison, I sometimes went, and visited them in the Meetings on the first days.
After I had been before the justices, and they had required sureties for my good behavior (which I
could not content should be given , to blemish my innocency) it came upon me to write to the
justices again; which I did as follows:
Friends,
See what is in you, that does imprison; and see, who is head in you: and see, if something do not accuse you? Consider, you must be brought to judgment. Think upon Lazarus and Dives: the one fared sumptuously every day; the other a beggar: and now you have time, prize it, while you have it. Would you have me to be bound for my good behavior? I am bound to my good behavior; and do cry for good behavior of all people, to turn for the vanities, pleasures, and oppression, and from the deceits of this world: and there will come a time, that you shall know it. Therefore take heed of pleasures, and deceits, and pride; and look not at man, but at the Lord: for look unto me, all ye ends of the earth, and be ye saved, says the Lord.
Some little time after, I wrote to them again, thus:
Friends,
Would you have me to be bound to my good behavior from drunkenness, or swearing, or fighting, or adultery, and the like? The Lord has redeemed me from all these things; and the love of God has brought me to loath all wantonness, blessed by his name. They who are drunkards, and fighters, and swearers, have their liberty without bonds: and you lay your law upon me, whom neither you, nor any other can justly accuse of these things; praised be the Lord! I can look at no man for my liberty, but the Lord alone; who has all men's hearts in his hand.
And after some time, not finding my spirit clear of them I wrote tho them again, as follows:
Friends,
Had you know, who sent me to you, you would have received me: for the Lord sent me to you, to warn you of the woes, that are coming upon you; and to bid you, look at the Lord, and not at man. But when I had told you my experience, and what the Lord had done for me, then your hearts were hardened, and you sent me to prison; where you have kept me many weeks. If the Love of God had broke your hearts, then would you see, what you have done: you would not have imprisoned me, had not my father suffered you; and by his power, I shall be loosed: for he opens and shuts; to him be all glory! In what have I misbehaved myself, that any should be bound for me? All mens words will do me no good, nor their bonds neither, to keep my hearts, if I have not a guide within, to keep me in the upright life to God,. But I believe in the Lord, that through his strength and power I shall be preserved from ungodliness and worldly lusts. The Scripture says, receive strangers; but you imprison such. As you are in authority, take heed of oppression and oaths, and injustice and gifts, or rewards; for God does loath all such. But love mercy, and true judgment and justice; for that the Lord delights in. I do not write with hatred to you; but to keep my conscience clear: take heed, how you spend your time.
I was moved also to write again to the priests of Darby, which I did after this manner:
Friends,
You do profess to be the ministers of Jesus Christ in words, but you show forth by your fruits, what your ministry is. Every tree does show forth its fruit: the ministry of Jesus Christ is in mercy and love, to unloose them that be bound, and to bring out of bondage, and to let them that are captivated, go free. Now friends, where is you example (if the Scriptures be your rule) to imprison for religion? Have you any command for it from Christ? If that were in you, which you do profess, you would walk in their steps, who spoke forth those words, the Scriptures, which you do profess. But he is not a Jew, who is one outward, whose praise is of men; but he is a Jew, who is one inward, whose praise is of God, but if you do build upon the prophets and apostles in words, and pervert their life, remember the woes, which Jesus Christ spoke against such. They that spoke the prophets' words, but denied Christ, they professed a Christ to come; but had they known him, they would not have crucified him. The Saints, who m the Love of God did change, were brought thereby to walk in love and mercy; for he that dwells in love, dwells in God. But where envy, pride and hatred does rule, the nature of the world does rule and not the nature of Jesus Christ. I write with no hatred to you; but that you may weigh yourselves, and see, how you pass on your time.
Thus having cleared my conscience to the priests, it was not long, before a concern came upon me
again, to write again to the justices, which I did as follows:
I am moved to warn you to take heed of giving way to your own wills. Love the Cross, and satisfy not our own minds in the flesh; but prize your time, while you have it, and walk up to that your know, in obedience to God: and then you shall not be condemned for that you know not; but for that you do know, and do not obey. Consider betimes, and weight your selves, and see where you are, and whom you serve, for if you blaspheme God, and take his Name in vain; if you swear and lie; if you give way to envy, hatred, covetousness and greediness, pleasure and wantonness, or any other vices, be assured then, that you do serve the devil: but if you fear the Lord, and serve him, you will loath all these things. He that loves God, will not blaspheme his Name; but where there is opposing of God, and serving the devil, that profession is sand and miserable. Oh prize your time, and do not love that which God does forbid; lying, wrath, malice, envy hatred, greediness, covetousness, oppression, gluttony, drunkenness, whoredom and all unrighteousness God does forbid. So consider, and be not deceived; evil communications corrupts good manners. Be not deceived; God will not be mocked with vain words: the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness. Therefore obey that which does convince you of all evil, and tells you, that you should do no evil: it will lead to repentance, and keep you in the fear of the Lord. Oh look at the mercies of god, and prize them; and do not turn them into wantonness. Oh eye the Lord, and not earthly things!
Besides this, I wrote the following to Colonel Barton, who was also a justice, and a preacher, as
was hinted before.
Friend,
Do not cloak and cover thy self; there is a God, who knows thy hearts, and will uncover thee: he sees thy way, woe be to him, that covers, and not with my Spirit, says the Lord. Do thou contrary to the law, and then put it from thee? Mercy and true judgment thou neglect: look what was spoke against such. My Savior said to such, I was sick and in prison, and you visited me not; I was hungry, and you fed me not; I was a stranger, and you took me not in, And when they said, when saw we thee in prison, and did not come to thee, &c. He replied; inasmuch as you did it not to one of these little, you did it not to me. Friend, thou has imprisoned me for bearing witness to the Life and Power of Truth; and yes professed to be a minister of Christ: But if Christ had sent thee, thou would bring out of prison, and out of bondage, and would receive strangers. Thou has been wanton upon earth, thou has lived plenteously, and nourished thy heart, as in a day of slaughter; thou has killed the just. Oh look , where thou art, and how thou has spent the time! Oh remember thy self, and now, while thou has time, prize it; and do not slight the free mercy of God, and despise the long suffering of God, which is great salvation: but mind that in thee, which does convince thee, and would not let thee sear, nor lie, nor take God's Name in vain. Thou knows, thou should do none of these things; thou has learned, that which will condemn thee: therefor obey the Light, which does convince thee, and forsake thy sins, and look at the mercies of god; and prize his live in sparing thee, till now. The Lord says, look unto me, all ye ends of the earth, and be you saved; and, cease from man, whose breath is in his nostrils. And friend, prize the time, and see whom thou serves: for his servant thou are, whom thou does obey, whether of sin unto death, or obedience unto righteousness. If thou serves God, and fear him, thou will not blaspheme his name, nor curse, nor swear, nor take his Name in vain, nor follow pleasures and wantonness, whoredom, and drunkenness, or wrath, or malice, or revenge, or rashness, or headiness, pride or gluttony, greediness, oppression or covetousness, or foolish jesting, or vain songs; God does forbid these things, and all unrighteousness. If thou professes god; and act any of these things, thou take him for a cloak; and serve the devil. Consider with thy self, and don not love that which God does hate. He that loves God, keeps his commandments. The devil will tell thee, it is a hard thing, to keep God's commandments: but it is an easy thing, to keep the devil's commandments, and to live in all unrighteousness and ungodliness, turning the Grace of God into wantonness. But let the unrighteous man forsake his way, and turn unto me, says the Lord, and I will have mercy: turn you, why will you die? says the Lord.
Howl, you great ones, for the plagues are pouring upon you! Howl, you oppressors, for recompense and vengeance is coming upon you! Woe unto them that covetously join one house to another; and bring one field so nigh unto another, that the poor can get no more ground, and that you may dwell upon the earth alone: these things are in the ears of the Lord of Hosts. Woe unto him that covetously gets evil good into his house, that he may set his nest on high, to escape the power of evil.
While I was yet in the house of correction, there came unto me a trooper, and said; as he was sitting in the steeple house, hearing the priest, exceeding great trouble came upon him; and the voice of the Lord came to him saying, Do thou not know, that my servant is in prison? Go to him for direction. So I spoke to his condition, and his understanding was opened, And I told him; that which showed him his sins, and trouble him for them, would show him his salvation: for he that shows a man is sin, is the same, that takes it away. Now, while I was speaking to him, the Lord's Power opened him, so that he began to have a good understanding of the Lord's Truth, and to be sensible of God's mercies; and began to speak bolding in his quarters among the soldiers, and to others, concerning Truth (for the Scriptures were very much opened to him) insomuch that his said; his colonel was as blind as Nebuchadnezar, to cast the servant of the Lord into prison. Upon this his colonel had a spright at him; and at Worcester fight, the year after, when, the two armies lying near one another, two came out form the King's army, and challenged any two of the Parliament army to fight them; his colonel made choice of him and another, to answer the challenge. And when in the encounter his companion was slain, he drove them his enemies within musket shot of the town, without firing a pistol at them: theism when he returned, he told me with his own mouth. But when the fight was over, he saw the deceit and hypocrisy of the officers; and being sensible, how wonderfully the Lord has preserved him, and seeing also to the end of fighting, he laid down his arms.
Now the time of commitment to the house of correction being very near out, and there being many new soldiers raised, the commissions would have made me a captain over them: and the soldiers cried, they would have none but me. So the keeper of the house of correction was a command to bring me up before the commissioners and soldiers, in the market place; and there they proffered me the preferment (as they called it) asking me, if I would not take up arms for the Commonwealth against Charles Stewart? I told them, I knew from whence all wars did arise, even from the lust, according to James his doctrine: and that I lived in the virtue of that life and power, that took away the occasion of all wars. But they courted me to accept the their offer, and thought, I did but compliment with them. But I told them, I was come into the covenant of peace, which was before wars and strife were. They said, they offered it in love and kindness to me, because of my virtue; and such flattering words they used, But I told them, if that was their love and kindness, I trampled it under my feet. Then their rage got up, and they said; take him away jailer, and put him into the dungeon amongst the rogues and felons. So I was had away and put into a lousy, stinking place, without any bed, among thirty felons; where I was kept almost half a year, unless it were at times: for they would sometimes let me walk in the garden, having a belief of me, that I would not go away. Now, when they had gotten me into Darby Dungeon, it was the belief and saying of people, that I should never come out. But I had faith in god, and believed, I should be delivered in his time: for the Lord had said to me before, that I was not to be removed from that place yet, being set there for a service, which he had for me to do.
After it was bruited aborad, that I was in Darby Dungeon, my relations came to see me again; and they were much troubled, that I should be in prison: for they looked upon it, to be a great shame to them, for me to lie in jail. It was a strange thing then, to be imprisoned for religion: and some thought I was mad, because I stood for purity, and righteousness, and perfection.
Among others that came to see me, and discourse with me, there came a certain person from Nottingham, a soldier, and that had been a Baptist (as I understood) and with him came several others. And in discourse this person said to me, your faith stands in a man, that died at Jerusalem, and there was never any such thing. I was exceedingly grieved, to hear him say so; and I said to him: How! Did not Christ suffer without the gates of Jerusalem through the professing Jews, and Chief Priests, and Pilate? And he denied, that ever Christ suffered there outwardly. Then I asked him, whether there were not Chief Priests, and Jews, and Pilate there outwardly? And when he could not deny that, then I told him: as certainly as there was a Chief Priest, and Jews, and Pilate there outwardly; so certainly was Christ persecution by them, and did suffer there outwardly under them. Yet from this mans words a slander cast upon us, and occasioned by this person's words. The same person also said; than never any of the prophets, nor apostles, nor holy men of God suffered any thing outwardly; but all their sufferings wee inward. But I instanced to him many of the prophets and apostles, how they suffered, and by whom they suffered: and so was the Power of the Lord brought over his wicked imaginations and whimsies.
There came also another company to me, that pretend, they were triers of Spirits: and I asked them; what was the first step to peace? And what it was, by which a man might see his salvation? And they were presently up in the airy mind, and said, I was mad. Thus they came to try spirit, who did not know themselves, nor their own spirits.
In the time of my imprisonment, I was exceedingly exercised about the proceedings of the judges
and magistrates in their courts of judicature. And I was moved to write to the judges, concerning
their putting men to death for cattle, and money, and small matters; and to show them, how
contrary it was to the Law of God in old time: for I was under great suffering in my Spirit because
of it, and under the very sense of death; but standing in the Will of God, and heavenly breathing
arose in my soul to the Lord,. Then did I see the heavens opened, and I rejoiced, and gave glory
to God. So I wrote to the Judges, as follows:
I am moved to write unto you to take heed, of putting men to death for stealing cattle, or money, &c. for the thieves in the old time were to make restitution; and if they had not wherewith, they were to be sold for their theft. Mind the laws of God in the Scriptures, and the Spirit that gave them forth; and let them be your rule in executing judgment: and show mercy, that you may receive mercy for God, the Judge of all. And take heed of gifts and rewards, and of pride; for God does forbid them, and they do blind the eyes of the wise. I don not write to give liberty to sin; god has forbidden it: but that your should judge according to his laws, and show mercy: for he delights in true judgment, and in mercy. I beseech you to have these things, and prize our time, now that you have it; and fear God, and serve him: for he is a consuming fire.
Besides this, I wrote another letter to the JUDGES, to this effect:
I am moved to write unto you, that you do true justice to every man, and see, that none be oppressed, nor wronged; nor no oaths imposed: for the land mourns because of oaths, and adulteries, and sorceries, and drunkenness, and profaneness. Oh consider, you that be men set in authority: be moderate, and in lowliness consider these things. Show mercy to the fatherless, and to the widows, and to the poor: and take heed of rewards or gifts; for they do blind the eyes of the wise: the Lord does loath all such. Love mercy and true judgment, justice and righteousness; for the Lord delights in such. Consider these things in time and take heed, how you do spend your time. Now you have time, prize it; and show mercy, that you may receive mercy from the Lord: for he is coming to try all things, and will plead with all flesh, as by fire.
Moreover, I laid before the judges, what a hurtful ting it was, that prisoners should lie so long in jail; showing, showing, how that they learned badness from one of another, in talking of their bad deeds: and therefore speedy justice should be done. For I was a tender youth, and dwelled in the fear of God; and I was grieved to hear them their bad language; and was often made to reprove them for their wicked words, and evil carriage towards each other. And people did admire, that I was so preserved and kept; for they could never catch a word or action from me, to make any things against me, all the time, that i was there: for the Lord's infinite Power upheld and preserved me all that time; to him be praises and glory for ever!
Now, while I was here in prison, there was a young woman in the jail for robbing her master of some money: and when she was to be tried for her life, I wrote to the judge and jury about her, showing them; how contrary it was to the Law of God in old time, to put people to death for stealing: and moving them to show mercy. Yet she was condemned to die, and a grave was made for her; and at the time appointed, she was carried forth to execution. Then I wrote a few words, warning all people to beware of greediness or covetousness, for it leads from God; but that all should fear the Lord, and avoid all earthly lusts, and prize their time, while they have it: this I gave to be read at the gallows. And though they had her upon the ladder, with a cloth bound over her face, ready to be turned off; yet they did not put her to death, but afterwards brought her back again to prison; and in the prison she afterwards became to be convinced of God's everlasting Truth.
There was also in the jail, while I was there, a prisoner, a wicked, ungodly man, who was reputed a conjurer; and he threatened, how we would talk with me, and what he would do to me: but he never had power to open his mouth to me. And on a time, the jailer and he falling out, he threatened the jailer, that he would raise the devil, and brad his house down; so that he made the jailer afraid. Then I was moved of the Lord, to go in his Power, and rebuke him for it; and to say unto him, come let's see, what thou can do; and do thy worst. And I told him, the devil was raised high enough in him already; but the Power of God chained im down: so he slunk away, and went from me.
Now the time of Worcester Fight coming on, Justice Bennett sent the constables to press me for a
soldier, seeing I would not voluntarily accept of a command: and I told them, that I was brought
off from outward wars. They came down again to give me press money; but I would take none.
Then I was brought up to Sergeant Holes, and kept there a while; and then I was taken down
again. Then, after a while, the constables fetched me up again, and then I was brought before the
commissioners; and the said I should go for a soldier: but I told them I was dead to it, They said, I
was alive: I told them, where envy and hatred is, there is confusion. They proffered me money
twice; but I would not take it: then they were wroth, and I was committed close prisoner, without
bail or mainprize. Whereupon I wrote to them again, directing me letter to Colonel Barton (who
was a preacher) and the rest, that were concerned in my commitment: and I wrote thus:
You, who are without Christ, and yet use the words, which he and his Saints have spoken, consider, neither he nor his apostles did ever imprison any; but my Savior is merciful even to the unmerciful and rebellious. He does bring out of prison and bondage: but men, while the carnal mind does rule, do oppress and imprison. My Savior says, love your enemies, and do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully use you and persecute you: for the Love of god does not persecute any: but loves all, where it dwells: he that hates his brother, is a murderer, You profess to be Christians, and one of you a minister of Jesus Christ; yet you have imprisoned me, who am a servant of Jesus Christ. The apostles never imprisoned any; but were imprisoned themselves: take heed of speaking of Christ in words, and denying him in life and power. O friends, the imprisoning my body is to satisfy your wills; but take heed of giving way to your wills, for that will hurt you. If the Love of god had broken your hearts, you would not have imprisoned me; but my love it to you, as to all my fellow creatures: and that you may weigh your selves, and see, how you stand, is this written.
About this time I was moved to give forth the following lines, to go amongst the convinced and
tender people, to manifest the deceits of the world, and how the priests have deceived the people:
To you, that love the Lord Jesus Christ with a pure and naked heart, and the generation of righteousness.
Christ was ever hated; and the righteous for his sake. Mind, who they were, that did ever hate him: he that was born after the flesh, did persecute him, that was born after the Spirit; and so it is now. And mind, who were the chiefest against Christ; even the learned men, the heads of the people, rules and teachers, that did profess the Law and the Prophets, and looked for Christ. They looked for an outwardly glorious Christ, to hold up their outward glory: but Christ spoke against the works of the world; and against the priests, and scribes, and pharisees, and their hypocritical profession. He that is a stranger to Christ, is a hireling: but the servants of Jesus Christ are free men. The false teachers always lay burdens upon the people and the true servants of the Lord did speak against them. Jeremiah did speak against the hirelings, and said, it was a horrible thing; and said, what will you do in the end? for the people and priests were given to covetousness. Paul did speak against such, as did make gain upon the people; and exhorted the Saints to turn away from such, as were covetous men and proud men, such as did love pleasures more than God; such as had a form of godliness, but denied the power thereof. For of this sort (said he) are they, that creep into housed, and lead captive silly women, who are ever learning, but never able to come to the knowledge of the Truth; men of corrupt minds, reprobates concerning the faith: and as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so (said he) do these resist the Truth: but they shall proceed no further, for their folly shall be made manifest unto all men. Moses forsook all honors and pleasures, which he might have enjoyed. The apostle in his time saw this corruption entering, which now is spread over the world, of having a form of godliness, but denying the Power. Ask any of your teachers, whether you may ever overcome your corruptions or sins? None of them do believe that; but as long as man is here, he must (they say) carry about with him the body of sin. Thus pride is kept up, and that honor and mastership, which Christ denied; and all unrighteousness: yet multitudes of teachers; heaps of teachers; the golden cup full of abominations! Paul did not preach for wages; but labored with his hands, that he might be an example to them that follow him. Oh people, see who follow Paul! The prophet Jeremiah said, the prophets prophecy, and the priests bear rule by their means; but now the priests rule by the means they get from the people: take away their means, and they will bear rule over you no longer. They are such, as the apostle said, intruded into those things, which they never saw, being vainly puffed up with a fleshly mind; and, as the Scriptures declare of some of old, they go in the way of Cain, (who was a murderer) and in the way of Balaam, who coveted the wages of unrighteousness. The prophet Micah also cried against the judges, that judged for reward; and the priests, that taught for hire; and the prophets, that prophesied for money; and yet leaned on the Lord, saying, is not the Lord among us? Gifts do blind the eyes of the wise: and the Gift of God was never purchased with money. All the holy servants of God did ever cry against deceit: and where the Lord has manifested his Love, they do loath it, and that nature, which holds it up.
Again a concern came upon me to write to the magistrates of Darby, which I did as follows:
Friends,
I desire you to consider in time, whom you do imprison: for the magistrate is set for the punishment of evil doers, and for the praise of them that do well. But when the Lord does send his messengers unto you, to warn you of the woes, that will come upon you, except your repent; then you persecute the, and put them into prison, and say; we have a law, and by our law we may do it. For you indeed justify yourselves before men; but God knows your hearts: he will not be worshiped with outward forms and professions, and shows of religion. Therefore consider, you that talk of God, how you are subject to him; for they are his children, who do his will. What does the Lord require of you, but to do justice, to love and show mercy, and to walk humbly before him, and to help the widows and fatherless to their right? But instead thereof you oppress the poor, do not your judges judge for rewards, and your priests teach for hire? The time is coming, that we who sees all things, will discover your secrets. And know this assuredly, the Lord will deliver his servants out of your hands, and he will recompense all your unjust dealings towards his people. I desire you to consider these things, and search the Scriptures, and see, whether any of the people of god did ever imprison any for religion; but were themselves imprisoned. I desire you to consider, how it is written, that when the Church is met together they may all prophesy, one by one; that all may hear, and all may learn, and all may be comforted: and then, if anything be revealed to him, that sits by, let the first hold his peace. Thus it was in the true church; and thus it ought now to be. But it is not so in your assemblies: but he that teaches for hire, may speak, and none may contradict him. Again, consider the liberty, that was given to the apostles, even among the unbelieving Jews, when after the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the Synagogue said unto them: ye men and brethren, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, say on. I desire you consider in stillness, and strive not against the Lord: for hie is stronger than you. Though you hod his people fast for a time; yet when he comes, he will make know, who are his: for his coining is like the refiner's fire, and like fuller's soap. Then the stone, that is set at naught of you builders, shall be the head stone of the corner. Oh friends, lay these things to heart, and let them not seem light things to you, I wrote unto you in love, to mind the laws of God, and your own souls, and do, as the holy men of God did.
Great was the exercise and travail in spirit, that I went under during my imprisonment here,
because of the wickedness that was in this town: for though there were some convinced there, yet
for the generality the were a hardened people. And I saw the visitation of God's love pass away
from them. And it came upon me to give forth the following lines, as a lamentation for the:
Oh Darby! As the waters run away, when the flood gates are up; so does the visitation of God's love pass away from thee, Oh Darby! Therefore look, where thou are, and how thou are grounded; and consider, before thou are utterly forsaken. The Lord moved me twice, before I cam to cry against the deceits and vanities, that are in thee; and to warn all to look at the Lord, and not at man. The woe is against the crown of pride, and the woe is against drunkenness and vain pleasures, and against them that make a profession of religion in words, and are high and lofty in mind, and live in oppression and envy. Oh Darby! thy profession and preaching stinks before the Lord. You do profess a sabbath in word, and meet together, dressing yourselves in fine apparel; and you uphold pride. Thy women go with stretched forth necks, and wanton eyes, &c. Which the true prophet of old cried against. Your assemblies are odious, and an abomination to the Lord: pride is set up, and bowed down to; covetousness abound; and he that does wickedly, in honored. So deceit does bear with deceit, that is within thee! It does even break my heart to see, how God is dishonored in thee, Oh Darby!
There was a great judgment upon the town; and the magistrates were uneasy about me, and could
not agree, what to do with me. One while they would have sent me up to the Parliament: another
while they would have banished me to Ireland. At first they called me a deceiver, and a seducer,
and a blasphemer: afterward, when God had brought his plagues on them, then they said, I was an
honest, virtuous man. But their good report, and bad report, their well speaking or their ill
speaking was nothing to me: for the one did not lift me up, nor the other cast me down : praised
be the Lord! At length they were made to turn me out of jail, about the beginning of winter in the
year 1651; after I had been a prisoner in Darby almost a year; whereof six months in the house of
correction, and the rest of the time in the common jail and dungeon.
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