The prisoners vindication with a sober expostulation and reprehension of persecutors / by John Gratton. Gratton, John, 1641-1712. 1683 Approx. 59 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 18 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2003-11 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A41823 Wing G1585B ESTC R28044 10334258 ocm 10334258 44899 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A41823) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 44899) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 1385:7) The prisoners vindication with a sober expostulation and reprehension of persecutors / by John Gratton. Gratton, John, 1641-1712. 32 p. Printed and sold by Andrew Sowle, London : 1683. Reproduction of original in the Harvard University Library. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. 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Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements). Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng Society of Friends -- Apologetic works. Freedom of religion -- England. 2003-08 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2003-08 Aptara Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2003-09 Judith Siefring Sampled and proofread 2003-09 Judith Siefring Text and markup reviewed and edited 2003-10 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion THE Prisoners Uindication WITH A Sober Expostulation AND REPREHENSION OF Persecutors . By Iohn Gratton . What mean ye , that ye beat my People to pieces , and grind the faces of the Poor , saith the LORD God of Hosts ? Isa. 3. 15. Lord , how long shall the Wicked Triumph ? How long shall they utter and speak hard things ? They break in pieces thy People , O Lord , and afflict thy Heritage ; they slay the Widdow and the Stranger , and murder the Fatherless , Psal. 94. 3 , 4 , 5 , 6. LONDON : Printed and Sold by Andrew Sowle , at the Crooked-Billet in Holloway-Lane , near Shoreditch , 1683. To all Persecutors , both by Words and Actions . A few words for the clearing of my self , and the Truth I profess in real Love ; from him that seeks the good of all Mankind in general , having real Love to all , especially the Houshould of Faith , who are redeemed to God , out of the Vncleanness of the World , who are in Scorn called Quakers . UPon the 16th day of the 6th Moneth , ( called August ) 1680. I being at Backewell about my trading ( it being a Fair ) was by two or three Bailiffs arrested , by virtue of a Writ of Excommunicato Capiendo , for not coming to the Parish Church ( so called ) and not appearing at the Spiritual Court , though I had appeared several times , and had offered to the Parish Priest , that if he could make it appear , that I was in an Error , by clear Scripture , I would take him for my Friend ; And further , That if he could make it appear from clear Scripture , that it was my duty in the sight of God , to come to the Parish Church and conform to them , that I would do it ; but did not find it his business to seek to inform me at that time , or any other , being not so charitable as to bid me come another time and he would discourse with me : But being after this never cited to the Court again , was upon the day aforesaid taken and sent to Darby Goal ( a very strange way to convince me of any Error , if I be in any ) where I remain a Prisoner . After I was sent to Prison , many false charges were flung after me , to render me and Truth odious to the Country-People , who were ready to wonder why they should send such a peaceable man to Prison ; and I was by my Persecutors so highly accused to be An Heretick , A Factious Fellow , The Ringleader of a Factious People , yea , a Blasphemer , an Enemy to Caesar , and a dangerous Fellow , and a Spreader of dangerous Principles , and what not ? and all to make the People think hardly of me , and believe , if they could , against their Belief , that I was some dangerous man , insomuch , that they said , I was not fit to live , especially not fit to be loose in a Country ; for by keeping me in Prison , they had hopes to scatter the rest : At the hearing of these strange and malicious false Calumnies , I was not a little grieved , not for my self , but others , who I heard , were ready to think hardly of me , because such Reports had gained some Credit with some , that were thought both wise and sober ; they believed them , because others believed them ; those others believed them , because my Persecutors ( who are looked upon by most to be spiritual men ) reported them amongst these black-Mouth'd uncharitable men . I could not have one to come at me to shew me my reported sad Condition , but in Prison I must lie , come what will come of Wife and Children ; so that then my Wife went , with two Friends more , to the Arch-Deacon , ( so called ) and shewed him the unreasonableness of my suffering , and the need of my liberty ; but his words were great Charges , as aforesaid , though he never discoursed me about Religion in his life ; its true , he also said , That he would come to me , and discourse me , and if I was in the right , and he in the wrong , I should come out of Prison , and he would go in for me ; but he yet fails to make his words good ; And I do declare to all that may see these Lines , that if I cannot make it appear , that he is wrong and I right , I then will be content to stay where I am ; only I would be judged by unprejudiced men to the Truth , and such as are not partial , nor make no outward Gain of the Scriptures : Many others have desired my Enlargement , some by Letters , and some have gone in Person , but all fails , except I will conform , and pay the Charges they have been at in laying me in Prison ; which thing I cannot , or dare not do ; For , First , I believe I ought not to conform to the Worship that now by the Priests of this Nation is maintained by their preaching and practice ; I do not mean by their Purses ; for both they and it cost the People dear . 2dly , I believe , that though it be after the way which they call Heresie , yet that the Worship I now own , is the true Worship of God , and do find by good and great experience , that the Lord God of Heaven and Earth , who is a Spirit doth approve and own it so to be ; for the Worship I own and believe is the true Worship of God , is that spoken of in Iohn 4. 23 , 24. They that Worship God aright , worship and serve him in Spirit and in Truth ; and saith our Saviour , The Father seeketh such to worship him . 3dly , Seeing our Lord Christ Jesus , did set up , appoint and command this Worship , therefore I believe I ought not to leave it , and run to another Worship , that is no where commanded , either by Christ , or any of his Apostles , thinking thereby to save my Estate , and to live at liberty in the World , and enjoy those natural Rights and Priviledges I am free-born Heir to , which I see the Drunkard , Swearer , Curser and Proud Wicked Person is not deprived of , though he be so Wicked . Lastly , Seeing I do those things I believe I ought to do , and have not given any just occasion of Offence , or done wrong to any man , therefore can I not own my self in a fault , and give Moneys for a Pardon to them , that while they are pardoning others , are therein committing the highest Sins they can approach unto ; for if I have sinned it is against God , and to him I look for Mercy ; but in this I am not by him accused or judged as a sinner , but owned and justified by him , and can say , Its God that justifies me , who shall condemn me ? Now should I come to my Persecutors , and own my self an Offendor , and buy their Absolution , and conform to their invented Ceremonies , then should I by so doing give God's Spirit and my own Heart and Conscience the Lye ; from which I hope without offence I may take liberty to say , Good Lord preserve me . But seeing I must have no better treatment from my Persecutors than a Prison , which indeed hath alwayes been the way of argument that the false Prophets in all Ages have taken , with things of the like Nature , as Fines , Whips , Lyons Dens , Firey Furnaces , Faggots , and such like . I desire they will be pleased to suffer me to treat them a little with a few Arguments , which are in my mind , and when I have done , I shall leave them to do , as it shall please God to suffer them , as to me , and desire they may consider and consult their own profit Eternally , and not forget , that e'er long both them and I must appear before the Judgment seat of Christ , to give an Account of the deeds done in the Body , whether they be good or evil . And first , I enquire of you , that persecute me and others , whether , if it was so , as you say falsly it is , That I was a Heretick , a factious Fellow , &c. what command , precept or example you have from Christ or his Apostles , to lay me in Prison , seeing I am a peaceable man , and just in my dealing , & pays to Caesar his Due , as many that know me will witness ? But instead of a command for Persecution , doth not our Lord Christ prohibit it several times ? It may be you will say , It s no Persecution that 's done in this kind to an erronious Person , &c. Though may be , for all that he is so called by you , who call Light Darkness , and Darkness Light , is a true Christian , and Servant of Jesus Christ , but by his Persecutors adjudged to be otherwise , and said , and thought to be that he is not , which indeed is my case at present ; Yet I say again , doth not Christ prohibit all manner of Violence , Cruelty , Imposition , and the like , when he bids his Followers , to love their Enemies , not Persecute their Friends ; and whatsoever they would that men should do unto them , to do so unto men , saying , This is the Law and the Prophets ; and said , With what measure you mete , it shall be measured to you again ? Is this obeying Christ's command , in laying men in Prison ? For you would not be so done unto for your faithless Faith , and worthless Worship ; and though you profess to love God , yet while you in Works deny him , I shall not much heed your Profession ; for he is a true lover of him that keeps his Commandments , it will be so found one day , when those that pretended to Preach & Prophesie in his Name , and in his Name cast out Devils , shall be bidden , depart from him , workers of Iniquity : And if those that preach in his Name , and prophesie in his Name , and in his Name cast out Devils , be sent away from him , because they , for all that , were workers of Iniquity , what do you think will be the Portion of those that come in the Name of Man , and Preach and Prophesie in Man's Name , and by Man's Authority only are held up ; and instead of casting Devils out , tell People , They must live in Sin all the dayes of their Lives , & make People content to let the Devil keep the House , hurry them on into Iniquity , Transgression and Sin all the dayes of their Lives ; and for all this , tell those very People , that they are Christians , and though they do those things they ought not , and leave undone those things they ought , and are miserable Offenders , in whom there is no Health ; yet while they put into the Priest's Mouth , are owned as a dear Brother and Sister , and so called when they are buried by him , though may be they have killed themselves by a drunken-bout : Oh! how dreadful will the end of these things be ! It s a grief to my Spirit to think of it . But farther , did not Christ command that both Tares and Wheat should grow together ? And doth not these two Words , Wheat and Tares comprehend all mankind ? What can you make for your Practices here ? If I be a Tare , you should let me alone till the day of the Harvest ; For what hast thou to do , saith the Apostle , with another man's Servant , to his own Master he stands or falls . And Christ Jesus shewed a Reason also , why he would have men to let them alone , and both grow together ; For , saith he , lest while you pluck up the Tares , ye root out the Wheat also : Which clearly shews that men may be mistaken , especially those that have not an infallible Spirit ; for its the Spirit of God that 's infallible , which searcheth and makes all things manifest , even the deep things of God. And we have had sufficient experience , that under pretence of plucking up the Tares , which is contrary to Christ's command , the Devil hath laboured with all his Might , to root the Wheat out of the World ; and though Christ saith , He came not to destroy mens Lives , but to save them , yet the Devil came to kill & destroy mens Lives , not to save them : But we find Christ rebuked his Disciples , when they would have had Fire from Heaven , and told them , They knew not what Spirit they were of ; My Kingdom is not of this World : He did not come to be Lord & King in an outward manner , and make men yield to him by outward force , for if so , then would his Servants fight ; but he came to set up his Kingdom within in the Hearts of men ; so that it was promised by the Lord , that he would give him for a Covenant to the People , and would create new Hearts in them , and write his Law in them , and put his fear in their inward parts , and be their God. So when Christ came , he said to them , The Kingdom of Heaven is within you ; and said the Prophet , He shall sit as a refiners Fire , and fullers Sope , to purifie the Heart , that it may offer an Offering in Righteousness . It s true , the Apostles in their weakness , forbad those that they found casting out Devils in his Name , because they did not follow him ; but did Christ approve of it ? nay , he rebuked them , saying , He that gathers with me , scatters not : He that is not against me , is for me . Methinks this might be taken notice of by you Priests , that persecute me and others ; you have seen some of your drunken Hearers become very sober men , after they have come to hear the Quakers ( as you call us ) preach ; some of your Swearers , Cursing , Proud , Prophane Hearers become very Careful Livers , both in Words and Deeds ; And what ! doth this grieve you ? Methinks you should think such men as these , that prevail so upon Peoples Hearts to be good men , men of your side , if you be for God , and should , like Christ , who you call your Lord and Master , rather rebuke such as forbid us , than forbid us your selves ; and when like Peter and Iohn , we dare not but speak the things we hear and see , and are commanded , not then to take us and put us in Prison ; and so stop up the Mouthes of them God hath opened , and be angry with them , though they do what they do freely , and look for no part of your great Revenues neither : Remember , you do not desire to be so done by ; and also its worth your notice taking , that those our Saviour Christ whipt out of the Temple , were Buyers and Sellers : What would you think , if such must be whipt out of your Steeple-houses now , and such only be admitted to Preach as would do it freely in them ? But though he did whip such out , as aforesaid , yet we never read that he whipt any in ; or that if any would not come to that place , that then he imprisoned them , or fined them , or the like ; no , he was a Shepherd , tender and loving unto them ; if one went astray , his way to fetch them in hath been , and is ever by his gentle calls unto them , and reproving , rebuking and checking of them in their Hearts by his Spirit , and following of them with his righteous Judgments in their inward man : So that for want of true peace with God , many have returned again to him , who shews them wherein they offend , and when they return , there is more Joy in Heaven over one Sinner that repents , than ninety nine Just Persons that need no Repentance . Iust Persons , [ mark that ] these are none of your Church of miserable Offenders : But let me ask you , Is not Faith the gift of God ? And that which is not of Faith is Sin , is it not ? If so , then I ask , what you had gained if you could make a man chuse rather to conform to your Worship , ( yours I call it ) contrary to his Faith and Conscience , than lose his enjoyments of Wife , Children , Liberty and Estate , any more then a Hypocrite , one that seemed to be that he is not ? nay , may I not say any better than a plain Heretick ; for I take him to be a Heretick that is condemned of himself , that allows himself to do that he condemns himself for . And truly , this way of persecuting men for their Faith and Conscience , is the only way to bring them to become Hypocrites and Hereticks , and is the way such men have gone in , to hold up their Idolatry and Superstition in all Ages , witness Baals Prophets ; and the old Serpent knows it well enough ; therefore it was said in the Revelations , That the Devil should cast some of you into Prison : Some of whom ? some of the Servants and faithful Witnesses of Jesus , who would not , could not worship the Beast . But further , suppose I wanted Faith and a right understanding of the things that belong to my everlasting Peace , do you think that a Prison will be a means to bring me into the true Faith ? Can the Prison Walls rectifie my understanding , or give me Faith and Wisdom ? Did ever Christ command the use of a Prison or Fine , or any thing of that nature , to men that would not hear him , nor believe him ? What ground have you for this ? shew us your Foundation for these Actions , and bring Command , Precept or Example for them from Christ or his Servants , and then I shall think better of you ; but if not , let me tell you , one Day you may find your portion to be what the Prophet said , Wo to him that spoils , and is not spoiled . Therefore I could gladly desire , even in pity to your own Souls , that you would consider your doings ; not that I am so much grieved for my own suffering for Truth 's sake , no , though my poor Wife and Children are near and dear to me , yet blessed be the Lord , I have Faith in God concerning them , and believe he will take care for them and me too , and can trust the Lord upon all accounts , blessed be his Name forever ; though it is hard , and will be so found one Day to you , that part me from them , to be stript from them for my obedience to God , and laid in Prison , and by you reported to be one of the worst of men : Oh! this hath been the old way and manner of Old the Serpent and his Instruments have taken with the Servants of Jesus Christ , witness Paul's Accusers and Persecutors ; We , said they , have found this Man a pestilent Fellow , a mover of Sedition , a Ring-leader of the Sect of the Nazareans , &c. And the great Rabbies of those dayes , the Scribes , Phrisees , High Priests and Rulers , that persecuted our great Lord and Master Jesus Christ , accused him to be an Enemy to Caesar , a Blasphemer , and a Deceiver , &c. And you that are my Persecutors , are you not much like these men aforesaid , who persecuted Christ and his Apostles , and cryed to the Rulers for help , in your proceedings against me ? And though some of you never saw me as I know of , and none of you ever came to discourse me , or see wherein I was mistaken , as to my Faith and Principles ; yet you can fling it out , That I am a dangerous Person , and a Deceiver , and runs up and down the Country to delude People : Oh! these your Lyes and False Charges will one day be remembred , except you Repent , which I desire you may . And as I said before , consider your doings , and see who you run parallel with ; you are but Men , you may be mistaken , seeing you are not led by an infallible Spirit , and therefore cannot be sure your selves are in the right ; but you go by conjectures , and rest upon the Judgment of ancient Fathers , reverend Divines , Heathen Authors , or your own Conceivings , or the like , and are uncertain , and leave the People unsatisfied , and so manifest your selves to be such as are not sent with the Lord's Message , received from God himself , as by all your uncertain beating the Air is manifest to every one whose Eyes the Lord hath opened : So that here is great danger , if I should leave Christ the true Light and teacher of men , who now appears by his pure Spirit in my Heart , and shews me the things that do belong to my Peace , and follow you , that I should then be led to act both in Principle and Practice , and do those things I ought not , and leave undone those things I ought to do ; and then I could not escape being a miserable Sinner and Offender , in whom there is no health . Now suppose I should , contrary to my Faith and Knowledge , come to you , and live and dye in Error , for fear of being here kept in Prison , and brought to Poverty in the World , which , blessed be the Lord , I value not in comparison of my Peace with him , the God of Peace , and think to plead with God , and say , I did what I did in submission to man's Will , who said , they were the Ministers of Christ , and was forced to it by the chief Priests of our Country , and must either submit to their Wills , or lie in Prison , my Goods spoiled , my Wife and Children impoverished ; so that I did what I did only to save my Estate , and have my Liberty , &c. or else I would not have done it , for it was against my Faith and Conscience , and because of the fear of Man : Will this excuse me ? If not , then I ask you , Can you excuse me to God , and assure me of it , that if I will conform to your Worship , and give you Monies for a Pardon of my true obedience to God in disobedience to you ? For so indeed the case lieth ; if not , that you cannot excuse me , if you should or could force me to sin against God , then why should not I , who am a peaceable man , and wrongs no man , but loves all men , have my liberty to live , as I dare dye ? Seeing I must answer for my self , and stand or fall to my own Master , what have you to do to judge me , who am the Lord's Servant ? And if not , must stand or fall to him I serve : Or how dare you smite your fellow Servants , and fling them in Prison that have done you no wrong , nor owe you nothing but love , when he that put in his fellow Servant in Prison , that owed him a hundred Pence , was so severly judged of his Lord , who had forgiven him a greater Debt ? And has taught to use those words in Prayer , Forgive us our Trespasses , as we forgive them that trespass against us : And would you not have God answer your own desires ? Consider these things , and learn to do as you would be done unto ; for with the same measure you mete , it shall be measured unto you again : And remember what our Saviour layeth down as great offences at the last day to those on the left Hand , Go you Cursed into everlasting Torment with the Devil and his Angels ; Or , Depart from me , ye workers of Iniquity , I know you not ; for I was an hungry , and you gave me no Meat ; thirsty , and you gave me no Drink ; Naked , and you cloathed me not ; Sick , and in Prison , and you visited me not . And when they answered , When saw we thee an hungry , thirsty , naked , &c. and did not minister unto thee ? He told them , Inasmuch as you did it not to one of the least of these that believe in me , you did it not to me . By which its clear , he takes that which is done to his Followers as done to himself ; for indeed it is for his sake , who teaches us to live Righteously , Soberly and Godlily in this present evil world ; and because we obey him , and keep his Commands , therefore are we hated of all men for his Name 's sake ; but the Wicked are not thus treated by you , the Swearer , Lyar , Drunkard , Proud Person , &c. are set at Liberty , and in these dayes the men in Fashion : But if it be so great an offence not to visit the Servants of Christ , when in distress ; what will it be to those that layeth them in Prison , and keep them there , which is a means to bring them into Nakedness , Hunger , Thirst and Sickness ? Was it not said , That it was better a Mill-stone was hanged about his Nick , and he cast into the Sea , that offended one of those little Ones that believed in Christ , than he should have done so ? If so , then what will his portion be that not only offends them , but persecutes them , imprisons them , spoils their Goods , belyes and slanders their Person , and misrepresents them to the World , takes the Righteousness of the Righteous from him , and strips him from dear Wife and Children , and causeth them to suffer also ; though it s said , Cursed is he that parts Man and Wife . Oh! what excuse can you make at the last day for these things ! How unlike are you to him , that is good to all men , and laid down his Life a ransom for all , and doth cause his Sun to shine upon all , and his Rain to descend upon all , and his Grace that brings Salvation appears in all , and strives with all . And this also you might consider , that it hath never been the practice of any Prophet or Apostle , or Servant of Jesus Christ , to persecute any man for Conscience sake , or for his Faith ; but on the contrary , it hath ever been the practice of the false Prophets , that run on in the way of Balaam , for Gifts and Rewards , greedy Dogs that can never have enough , blind Guides , that love Darkness , and hate the Light , Serpents that have perfect Enmity against the Children of God ; and so are Enemies to Christ Jesus , Babylon's Merchants , who come in the Power of the Beast , these in all Ages persecute the Lambs followers , and hate the appearance of him , where-ever it is ; so that the Apostle saith , He that 's Born after the Flesh , persecutes him that 's Born after the Spirit : Even so it is now , and hath been in all Ages ever since Cain's time , who slew his Brother Abel , because Abel's Works were righteous , and his own were evil : So Cain was the first Persecutor , and the Lord was displeased with , and avenged the Blood of Abel upon him in Righteousness . Now I might mention many after Cain , that were Persecutors , as the Sodomites , who said concerning Lot , This one fellow came in to sojourn , and he will needs be a Iudge ; because he entertained the Angels of the Lord , they pressed sore upon him ; but the Lord delivered him , whose Righteous Soul was grieved with the filthy Conversation of the wicked Sodomites , and brought down his Righteous Judgments upon their heads in a dreadful manner : And the Aegyptians , who refused to let Israel have liberty to go and serve the Lord , persecuted them very sore ; but the Lord wrought their Deliverance , and rendered unto Pharaoh and his People according to their deeds , as you may read at large in Exodus . Likewise Iezabel that persecuted them that would not worship Baal , God Almighty brought down his heavy Judgments upon her , and the false Prophets of Baal that fed at her Table . Remember Proud Haman that was full of Indignation against Mordecai , because he stood not up nor moved for him ; and how hot he was in his mind to have Mordecai and all the Iews young and old , destroyed and killed in one day , charging them to the King , ( to whom they were very good Subjects , as appeared by Mordecai , who discovered the Treason of two of the King's Chamberlains , Keepers of the Door , who sought to lay hands on the King ) That there were a certain People scattered and dispersed among the People in all the Provines of his Kingdom ; and their Laws , saith he , are divers from all People , neither keep they the King's Laws ; therefore it is not , saith he , for the Kings Profit to suffer them ; though we do not hear , but they were all peaceable , and hurt no man , only in matters of Worship and Conscience they differed from the People of the Land , that could bow to proud Haman , who digged a Pit for another , and fell into it himself , and was taken in the Net which he spread for others ; glory unto God forever , whose Eyes are over the Righteous , and his Ears open to their Prayers . Remember it was Pashur , the son of Imer the Priest , that smote Ieremiah the Prophet , and put him in the Stocks , Ier. 20. 12. For what ? for obeying the Lord. Also , in chap. 26. when he spoke the Word of the Lord in the hearing of the Priests , and of the Prophets and People , then the Priests and the Prophets and all the People took him , saying , Thou shalt shurely dye ; and the Priests and Prophets spoke unto the Princes , and to all the People , saying , This man is worthy to dye , for he hath prophesied against this City : What Priests and Prophets were these ? Such as could flatter , dissemble and lye , and turn to any thing the people fancied to make themselves rich ; see chap. 5. 26. &c. These were they that lay in wait , that set Snares and Traps , and catched men , whose Houses were full of deceit , therefore they are become great and waxen rich ; they are waxen fat , they shine , they overpass the deeds of the Wicked , they judge not the Cause of the Fatherless , yet they prosper ; and the Right of the Needy do they not judge ; but the Prophets prophesie falsly , and the Priests bear rule by their Means , and my People love to have it so ; and what will you do in the end ? Shall I not visit for these things , saith the Lord ? shall not my Soul be avenged on such a Nation as this ? A wonderful and a horrible thing is committed in the Land , &c. the false Prophets , and the great rich fat Priests bear rule , &c. yea , from the least of them , even to the greatest of them , every one is given to Covetousness ; and from the Prophet , even to the Priest , every one dealeth falsly : They have healed also the hurt of the Daughter of my people slightly , saying , Peace , Peace , when there is no peace , Ier. 13. 14. & 8. 10 , 11. And because Ieremiah prophesied truly to them what the Lord commanded , he was put in Prison , chap. 32. 2. and 37. 5. and 38. 6. yea , into a Dungeon , where his feet stuck fast in the Mire , but the Lord preserved him , and wrought his deliverance . And shall I forget to mention Shadrach , Meshach and Abednego , who would not obey the Kings Law concerning Worship , whom God preserved in the hot firey Furnace , but those that cast them in were slain with the flame : Likewise Daniel , who ceased not to pray , and give thanks before his God three times a day , when the King had given out a Law to the contrary , and the Lord delivered him out of the Lyons Den , and those that accused him and informed against him were cast into the Lyons Den , with their Wives and Children , and the Lyons had Mastery over them , and brake all their Bones in pieces , or ever they came at the bottom of the Den. So its clear thorow all the old Testament , that the words of the Apostle are true , He that is born after the flesh always persecuted him that was born after the Spirit ; and so it is still ; for Iohn Baptist and our Saviour had no better entertainment than the Prophets had had before them ; for as Christ tells us by way of Parable in Matth ▪ 21. When the Lord had sent his Servants to those Husband-men , unto whom he let out his Vineyard , and they beat some , killed some , and stoned some ; last of all he sent his Son , and him they took and slew also ; and to this day are the high-Priests and Rulers slaying , crucifying and murdering the holy One and the Just , in his Apostles and Servants , in whom he appears , telling the World , This Light within , which shines in the Hearts and Consciences of men , is a Deceiver , a Delusion of Satan , a dark Lathorne , and what not ? though it is only this that discovers the thoughts and intents of the heart , and makes all things manifest of what sort it is ; so that the Apostle saith , This is the Condemnation , that Light is come into the World , but men love Darkness rather than Light , because their deeds are evil ; for every one that doth evil hateth the Light , neither cometh to the Light , lest his deeds should be reproved ; but he that doth Truth cometh to the Light , that his deeds may be made manifest that they are wrought in God. This is very clear , Light and Darkness cannot agree ; so that it hath ever been the works of Darkness that the Light hath condemned , and judged and made manifest to be Evil ; and therefore the old Serpent brings his false Accusations of the Light , & calls it Deceit , &c. and is the Deceiver himself , and yet will not abide to hear Truth spoken of himself ; no more will his Children who are acted by him , & in whose hearts he reigns , and fills them full of Pride , Covetousness , Envy , Hatred and Malice , Cruelty and Filthiness ; so out of their Hearts proceed these things ; and they cry to the Rulers for help against those that preach the Gospel boldly and freely ; as they did by Stephen , ( so they are doing still , or would do , had they power ) when they gnashed on him with their Teeth , cast him out of the City , and stoned him , having charged him falsly , That he spake Blasphemous words , &c. These have their blind Saul's to run them Errands , to whom they give power to take them bound that are walkers i● the Light , whether they be men or women ; These command the ignorant and unlearned men ( as Peter and Iohn were ) that preach boldly in the Name of Jesus , That they preach no more in that Name : But we must obey God rather than Man , and cannot but speak the things that we have seen & heard . Now when the Apostles could not but preach the things they had heard and seen , and continued in the Power of God , working mightily , to the healing of the sick , and such as were vexed with unclean Spirits , then the high Priest , and those that were with him , were filled with Indignation , and laid their hands on the Apostles , and put them into the common Prison ; but the Lord brought them out , and sent them into the Temple early on the next morning , where they taught as the Lord commanded them ; and there went an Informer to the high Priest , the Captain of the Temple , and the chief Priests , and told them , That the men they had put in Prison , were standing in the Temple , and teaching the People ; then went the Captain with the Officers , and brought Peter and Iohn before the Council , and the high Priest said , Did not we straitly command you , that you should not teach in this Name , & c ? Then Peter & the other Apostle answered , We ought to obey God rather than man , Acts 5. ( read it . ) How like those Priests and Officers are these in our days ? And how plainly walk these in the steps of those , and practise the like things against those that walk in the Spirit and Practice of the Apostles ? And how clear is it , that in all Ages it was those that were born after the flesh , that persecuted those that were born after the spirit ? to whom it s given , not only to believe , but to suffer for his sake ; not to persecute any for his sake , no , nor for reflecting him neither ; but its evident the Persecutors are such as seek to please men , not God ; this is clear from Herod , who after he had killed Iohn the Baptist , grew more vile , and stretched out his hands to vex certain of the Church , after Christ was mightily manifested in his Apostles ; and he killed Iames , the Brother of Iohn , with the Sword ; and because he saw it pleased the Iews , he proceeded further to take Peter , and apprehended him , and put him in Prison , but the Lord sent his Angel , and delivered him out of Prison , and from the hands of proud Herod , whom the Angel of the Lord smote , and he gave up the ghost , and was eaten of Worms , because he gave not God the glory . This also is clear from Pilate , who knew ( its said ) That for Envy they had delivered him ; yet it s also said by Mark , That Pilate being willing to content the People , released unto them Barabbas , and delivered Jesus , ( when he had scourged him ) to be Crucified . Paul also met with the same Spirit , when the Iews saw him in the Temple at Ierusalem , and stirred up all the people , and laid hands on him , and cryed out , This is the man that teacheth all men every where against the People , and the Law , and this place ; and they went about to kill him , but he was delivered out of their hands by Lysias the chief Captain , and sent him to Felix , where he was accused by Tertullus , ( the high Priest Ananias being present ) To be a pestilent Fellow , and a mover of Sedition amongst all the Jews throughout the World , and a Ringleader of the Sect of the Nazareans , & that he had gone about to prophane the Temple : Paul makes his defence before Felix , and Felix perceived the matter , discoursed Paul afterwards , and the Power of God reaching him , he trembled , yet was so bent for to get Monyes ; for it s said , he hoped that Money would have been given him of Paul , that he might loose him , sent for him the oftner and communed with him ; yet when Festus came into Felix 's Room , Felix willing to shew the Jews a pleasure , left Paul bound : Festus being come into the Province , the high Priest & the chief of the Jews informed him against Paul. After that Paul was brought before the Judgment-seat , where the Iews laid many and grievous Complaints against Paul , which they could not prove , Paul answered for himself ; but Festus willing to do the Iews a pleasure , answered , Paul , wilt thou go up to Jerusalem , and there be judged ? for that the Iews desired , and thought to lay wait in the way to kill him ; but Paul appealed to Caesar , and afterward declared before Agrippa , and Bernice his Wife , and Festus , How he had been a Persecutor of the Church himself , and went to Damascus with Authority and Commission from the chief Priests ; & how the Lord met with him by the way , saying , Saul , Saul , why persecutest thou me ? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks , &c. See here how hot in their spirits these professing Iews were , and in their blind zeal how cruel they were in their hearts , and how the Rulers looked more at their own Interest , to keep in favour with the people , than to do justly to them who were maliciously and falsly accused to them ; and how clear is it that they have always been a Generation of Cain's Children , that quenched the Spirit of God , and set at nought all his counsel , which persecuted them that were born of it , and lived in it , and were never Persecutors of any for Conscience sake ? So that persecution is an evident sign of perdition , where-ever it appears , and suffering for Christ an evident sign of salvation , and that of God ; and therefore many have taken joyfully the spoiling of their goods , & rejoyced they were thought worthy to suffer for his sake ; and though they have walked about in Goat-skins and Sheep-skins , and have been destitute , afflicted and tormented , yet it s said , The World was not worthy of them ; and they plainly declare , That they seek a better Country , a City that hath a Foundation , whose Builder and Maker is God : And though they go through great Tribulation , yet they have their Robes wished , and made white in the Blood of the Lamb , and follow the Lamb whither soever he goeth , having an Eye to him that is invisible , and respect to the recompence of Reward ; for the Lord takes that which is done to them as done to himself , and therefore said he , Saul , Saul , why persecutest thou me ? Oh! that you would consider these things , you that can cry to the Rulers for help against those that cannot hurt you , and Persecute them that are your greatest Friends , and all mens : Cease your Cruelties , and yield Obedience to the commands of him , who is Lord of all , and hath bidden you do as you would be done by , and commanded you to love all men , and do good to all men , and to hurt no man , injure no man , defraud no man , &c. For we read not of any that were Servants of Jesus Christ , that ever persecuted any for Conscience sake ; for Conscience is God's Throne in man , and he only hath power over it , and it is no less than usurpation to offer to impose upon it . You pretend to be Protestants , and that that Name first came up by protesting against Imposition ; and what , is it now to be practised ? They condemned it , and so doth God and good Men through all Ages . And it is hard that men cannot live under the Government , except they submit their Consciences to every Edict , and ask you what Religion they must be of ; though it s well known , we are peaceable men , and also sober , just , neighbourly and friendly as any men in the Nation ; neither do we make spoil of the Creation , either in Meat , Drink or Apparel : And so , why shall not we have liberty to live as we dare dye ? Truly it is very Unchristian dealing , either to compel us to believe against our Belief , or else to Imprison us and spoil our Goods for practising what we believe , when it is not in the least contrary to the moral Law of God : Methinks you might afford us better entertainment ; the Apostle exhorts to entertain Strangers ; for so did the good men of Old , and so entertained Angels unawares sometimes . And what , shall I say you do not know us , who you in scorn call Quakers ? for if you did , I hope you would not persecute us ; and though you do not know us , yet as Strangers you might afford us better entertainment than you do ; all we desire of you , is but Liberty to serve our God according to his mind , without being Persecuted for it . Remember what Edom did of Old , they refused to let Israel pass quietly through their Land , on the King's High-way , though they would have eaten their own Bread , and not have been injurous to any man ; Edom refused to let his Brother Israel go . And is not this like our case ? We eat no man's Bread for nought ; we covet no mans Silver , Gold or Apparel ; we injure no man , hurt no man , defraud no man ; we love all men , and do good to all men ; and all we desire , is to pass quietly through the World unto the Kingdom of Promise : And we heartily desire you did know us , and then you would know your selves better ; and however , one day you will know us , and be ashamed that your entertainment of the true Servants of Jesus Christ , hath been Fines , spoiling of Goods , Imprisonments , Beatings , Stonings , false Accusations , Slanders and Lyes , calling us Cheats , Hereticks , false Prophets , and what not ? this is , and hath been our entertainment amongst you , and is mine at this day in Prison , because I cannot , dare not play Hypocrite , and go contrary to my Faith : But you will say , may be , That my Faith is not true Faith , but I believe an Error . I answer ; you cannot prove your Charges against us from clear Scripture , which saith , That it is not only given unto us to believe , but also to suffer for his sake we believe in : But it no where saith , it s given us also to make others suffer that do not believe . And suppose I did want a right understanding and true Faith , ( I say again ) do you think that a Prison will help me ? Can a Prison give Faith ? Can Prison Walls rectifie mens Understandings ? Lay aside these Carnal Crutches , and bring Spiritual Weapons ; Truth is sufficient to plead its own cause ; and Faith is the gift of God : It s only base Cain's salfe Worship that forceth : He that will not worship the Beast , or receive his mark in his Forehead , or in his Hand , must be killed , or no man must Buy or Sell with him at least : So Error and Enmity , Envy and Cruelty alwayes go together ; but the Truth is received for its own worth ; and it s the manner and nature of true Faith to work by Love ; pure Religion and true , is loving God above all , and our Neighbours as our selves ; and in this love we should visit the Fatherless and Widdows , and not make Widdows and Fatherless ( in a sence ) by casting the Father and Husband in Prison ; this is not to keep unspotted from the World ; For it s said , the World should hate us , ( who are true followers of Christ ) and persecute us , and excommunicate us out of their Synagogues , and say all manner of Evil falsly against us ; yea , our Saviour tells us , They shall bring us before Kings and Rulers for a Testimony against them : But Christ Jesus no where bids his Disciples excommunicate those out of their places of Worship that would not believe , nor bring them before Kings and Rulers , or cry to Rulers for to put them in Prison , Fine them , and spoil their Goods ; Its true , he bids them shake the Dust off their Feet for a testimony against them that would not receive their Testimonies ; but when they would have had Fire from Heaven to have destroyed those that did not receive him , Christ rebuked them , and said , Ye know not what manner of Spirit you are of ; the Son of man is not come to destroy mens Lives , but to save them : It s true , he tells them , The Rulers of the Gentiles exercise Lordship over them , and their great Ones exercise authority upon them ; But , saith Christ , it shall not be so amongst you , &c. Remember what he compared the angry Scribes and Pharisees to , who took offence at both Iohn Baptist and himself , and indeed almost all that God sent amongst them ; saith he , They are like unto Children sitting in the Market-place , and calling one to another , and saying , We have Piped unto you , and you have not Dan●ed ; we have Mourned unto you , and you have not Lamented , &c. And is not this like you ? who are still so Childish to be angry with us , because we do not Dance after your Pipe , nor Lament after your Mourning ; Why will you not do as you would be done by ? You would not take it well to be forc'd to Conform to us , would you ? Then I ask you , why will you not be Merciful , ( as Christ commands you ) As your Father ( saith he ) is Merciful , who is kind ( saith he ) to the Vnthankful , and to the Evil ? Let your Fruits declare you to be Branches of the true Vine , and Children of God : Have you forgot what 's said of the man that fell among Thieves , as he went from Ierusalem to Iericho ? the Thieves stripped him , and wounded him , and left him half dead ; now the Priest passed by , and the Levite looked on him also , passed by and left him ; but the good Samaritan took pity on him when he came by , and bound up his Wounds , poured in Oyl and Wine , and set him on his own Beast , and brought him to an Inn , and took care of him ; And ( saith Christ ) go thou and do likewise . Alack ! how many lie wounded in Sin and Iniquity , and naked of all that 's good ! And must none take pity of them ? What! though it be a man of another City or Society , if he hath Oyl and Wine , and will lend a Hand of Help , and do good to the Wounded , and help the Naked to a Garment , why should you be offended ? It was ill in the Priest and Levite , that would not help him themselves , and shewed a churlish , idle , easeful , selfish Spirit in them , that care not what comes of men , so they can eat the Fat , and clothe themselves with the Fleece , and live at ease : But it would have been much worse in them if they would neither a help'd him themselves , nor suffer another to help him ; but if he did , take him and cast him in Prison , spoil his Goods , or put him to Death . And Christ saith , Wo unto you Scribes , Pharisees and Hypocrites , for ye shut up the Kingdom of Heaven against men ; for you neither go in your selves , neither suffer ye them that are entring , to go in : Wo unto you Scribes , Pharisees , Hypocrites ▪ for ye devour Widdows Houses , ( yes , in our dayes , leaves her not a Cow to give her Milk , nor a Bed to lie on ) And for a pretence ( saith he ) make long Prayers ; therefore you shall receive the greater Condemnation : Wo unto you blind Guides , who lay heavy Burdens , and grievous to born upon men , but will not touch them with one of your Fingers : But ( saith Christ ) they walk in long Robes , love the uppermost Rooms at Feasts , and the chief places in the Synagogues , and Greetings in the Markets , and to be called of men Rabbi , Master ; But ( saith he to his Disciples ) be not ye called Master , for one is your Master , even Christ , and all you are Brethren . But perhaps you may say , We are not your Brethren . Well , suppose we were not , you ought to love us , if we were your Enemies ; But if we be not your Brethren , why do you take Tythes from us ? For it was never known that the Children of Israel took Tythes of any , but only their Brethren ; see Heb. 7. 5. However , you ought to do all things in Charity ; for the Wrath of man worketh not the Righteousness of God : It s said , Mercy rejoyceth against Iudgment ; for he shall have Iudgment without Mercy that hath shewed no Mercy ; for if ye have bitter Envying & Strife in your hearts , glory not , you are no better than Vnbelievers ; therefore Lye not against the Truth : For , saith the Apostle , this Wisdom descendeth not from above , but is earthly , sensual , devilish : For where Envy and Strife is , there is Confusion , and every evil work ; but the Wisdom that is from above , is pure , peaceable , gentle and easie to be intreated ; full of Mercy and good Fruits , without Partiality , and without Hypocrisie ; and the Fruits of Righteousness is sown in peace in them that make Peace . But say you , I am a sower or mover of Sedition . So said the Iews by Paul ; but they accused him falsly , and so do you me ; for I fear God , and love all men , and herein do I exercise my self , to have alwayes a Conscience void of offence towards God and Men , and as much as in me lieth , endeavour to live peaceable with all men ; and do know assuredly that I seduce no man , for the Lord hath given me in his endless Mercy an understanding to know him that is true : And the true Light that enlightens every man that comes into the World , doth not lead us to seduce any , but reproves and condemns Seducers and Sedition , and makes all things manifest of what sort it is . But if I did , or any of us did move Sedition , then it would be seen by our Fruits , Lives and Conversations , and we should not have that presence of God with us , which we have ; and besides , you would do well to shew us wherein ; ( as the Apostle did them of Old ) and shew us our Errors , which are not to be found in a Prison , nor indeed in us , who believe and walk in the Light , and are Children of it . But perhaps you may say , We walk disorderly . Suppose we do , what then ? If you will take the Apostles advice , you should withdraw from us ; and if we observed not , or obeyed not the Gospel-order , do as the Apostle bids you ; For ( saith he ) if any man obey not our Word by this Epistle , note that man , and have no company with him , that he may be ashamed ; Yet count him not as an Enemy , but admonish him as a Brother . [ But not one Word of a Prison or Fine . ] No , ( saith he elsewhere ) the Servant of the Lord must be gentle unto all men , apt to teach , patient ; in Meekness in structing those that oppose themselves , if God peradventure will give them Repentance to the acknowledgment of the Truth ; and that they may recover themselves out of the Snare of the Devil , who are taken Captive by him at his Will : Oh , that you would take notice of this great piece of Advice ! And further concerning those that have a form of Godliness , but deny the Power thereof , from such turn away , saith he . And so , you would shew your dislike of such , and disown them to be none of you ; but alas ! where is the Power of Godliness to be seen , if not in the sober , honest Quaker , as you call us ? who dare not speak his own Words , nor do his own Will , but lays down all to follow the Lamb , in true Obedience to what he requires and commands , though for the same they suffer the loss of all outward things : And truly it is seen fulfilled , that he that will live Godly in Christ Jesus , must suffer Persecution ; and he that departs from Iniquity makes himself a Prey . But the end of the Commandment is Charity out of a pure Heart , and of a good Conscience , and Faith unfeigned ; And saith he thus , Warn them that are Vnruly , Comfort the Feeble-minded ; Support the Weak ; be Patient towards all men ; see that none render Evil for Evil unto any man , but ever follow that which is good , both amongst your selves , and to all men : And then what follows ? Rejoyce evermore : And truly so they might with good cause , if this counsel were observed : Pray without ceasing , ( saith he that spoke in Charity ) In every thing give Thanks , for this is the Will of God in Christ Iesus concerning you ; quench not the Spirit , despise not Prophecying ; prove all things , hold fast that which is good ; abstain from all appearance of Evil. Oh , what tender Counsel this is ! And what need have we to take notice of it here in England ! Nay , he tells you elsewhere , Though he speak with the Tongue of Men and Angels , and have not Charity , I am become as sounding Brass , and a tinckling Simbal . And though I have the gift of Prophecy , and understand all Mysteries , and all Knowledge ; and though I have all Faith , so that I could remove Mountains , and have no Charity , I am nothing ; and though I bestow all my Goods to feed the Poor ; and though I give my Body to be burned , and have not Charity , it profiteth me nothing : Charity suffereth long , and is kind ; doth not make men suffer long , for that 's unkind . And truly the Apostle is so full in this matter , that all Profession or Religion without Charity , is nothing worth ; Charity , saith he , envieth not , beareth all things : Compare but this with Peter's words ; Add ( saith he ) to your Faith Virtue , to Virtue Knowledge , to Knowledge Temperance , to Temperance Patience , to Patience Godliness , and to Godliness Brotherly Kindness , and to Brotherly-Kindness Charity ; if these things be in you , and abound , they make you that you shall neither be Barren nor Vnfruitful in the Knowledge of our Lord Iesus Christ ; but he that lacketh these things , is Blind , and cannot see afar off . And now , if you would judge the Tree by its Fruits , what can you find of these things in Persecution ? And if you believe Scripture , methinks you may see the very current of it runs continually against Persecution , Violence , Oppression , Cruelty , Uncharitableness , and the like . Perhaps you may say , It s not worthy to be called Persecution that 's done to a Heretick . Let me Answer you once more ; Suppose you , that the Scripture is to be taken notice of , and the Precepts therein to be minded ? then see what it saith ; A man that is a Heretick , after the first and second Admonition , reject , knowing that him that is such , is subverted and sinneth , being condemned of himself . So here he must be admonished to obey what he knows ; for if he did not sin knowingly , he would not condemn himself : But if he persist and reject Counsel , then reject him , disown him , and have no Society with him , &c. [ But not one word of putting him in Prison , Fine him , or spoil his Goods . ] But though I thus speak , be it known to you , I am no Heretick , ( as you have been pleased to call me ) for I am not in the least condemned of my self for what I do , in things relating to Faith and Worship ; no , God is my witness , I do what I do in Obedience to him , and do know him to justifie me , and comfort me in my Bonds for the same ; and it is a light matter to be judged at mans day ; yet I for Truths sake , was free to clear my self of your false Charges . But perhaps you may still say , If I be no Heretick , I am one that causes Divisions and Offences contrary to your Doctrine . Well , suppose I be ; nay , suppose I was one that caused Divisions and Offences contrary to the Doctrine of the Apostles , yet see what must be done to such ; Why , saith the Apostle , I beseech you Brethren , mark them that cause Divisions and Offences , contrary to our Doctrine , which ye have learned , and avoid them . Avoid them , what is that ? All flee their Company : But let me tell you , we are none of this sort , for we cause no Divisions from the Truth ; it is our travail and labour in the Lord , that men may be truly joyned unto the Truth , and live in it ; and it s those that serve not our Lord Jesus Christ , but their own Bellys , who by good Words and fair Speeches deceive the Hearts of the Simple ; but these goods Words and fair Speeches the People must pay them well for too , else they must not have them : But for good Works and fair Conversations , those are not to be found amongst the BELLY-SERVERS . But may I not here venture to say by the People called Quakers , as Paul did by the Romans , Your obedience is come abroad unto all Men ; yea , and I believe God will bruise Satan under our Feet shortly , though he be suffered to cast some of us into Prison now , for the tryal of our Faith , and accuse us falsly of many things , as he did Iob , and makes Lyes his Refuge , yet his time is short ; and God , even our God , will over all Exalt his own Name and Truth , to the Joy of all the Upright-hearted . Written in Derby Goal in the Year 1682. where I yet remain a Prisoner . JOHN GRATTON . Matth. 10. 7. Go Preach , saying , the Kingdom of Heaven is at Hand . Luke 10. 10 , 11. But into whatsoever City ye enter , and they receive you not , go your ways into the Streets of the same , and say , Even the Dust of your City which cleaveth on us , we do wipe off against you ; notwithstanding , be ye assured of this , that the Kingdom of God is come nigh unto you . THE END .