To the king and both houses of Parliament, (who have made laws and decrees, and caused them to be put in execution, to restrain and prohibit people from having the liberty of their consciences in the exercise of the worship of God) : this is sent as a warning from the Lord.
         Coale, Josiah, 1632?-1668.
      
       
         
           1664
        
      
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         172558
         
           
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             To the king and both houses of Parliament, (who have made laws and decrees, and caused them to be put in execution, to restrain and prohibit people from having the liberty of their consciences in the exercise of the worship of God) : this is sent as a warning from the Lord.
             Coale, Josiah, 1632?-1668.
             England and Wales. Parliament.
             England and Wales. Sovereign (1660-1685 : Charles II)
          
           1 sheet ([1] p.)
           
             s.n.,
             [London :
             1664]
          
           
             Signed: ... Kingstone upon Thames the 5th of the 9th month, 1664 ... Jo. Coale.
             Appears at 2639:12 as Wing (2nd ed.) item C7214A.
             Reproduction of original in: Friends' Library (London, England).
          
        
      
    
     
       
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           Liberty of conscience -- England -- Early works to 1800.
           Persecution -- England -- Sources.
           Broadsides -- England -- 17th century.
        
      
    
     
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           To
           the
           KING
           and
           both
           Houses
           of
           Parliament
           ,
           (
           Who
           have
           made
           Laws
           and
           Decrees
           ,
           and
           caused
           them
           to
           be
           put
           in
           Execution
           ,
           to
           restrain
           and
           prohibit
           People
           from
           having
           the
           
             Liberty
             of
             their
             Consciences
          
           in
           the
           Exercise
           of
           the
           
             Worship
             of
             GOD
          
           )
           This
           is
           sent
           as
           
             A
             WARNING
             from
             the
          
           LORD
           .
        
         
           
             FRIENDS
             ,
          
        
         
           WHat
           do
           you
           mean
           by
           these
           Practices
           ?
           or
           what
           do
           you
           expect
           to
           bring
           to
           pass
           by
           these
           your
           Undertakings
           and
           Proceedings
           ?
           Do
           you
           think
           thereby
           to
           root
           out
           the
           Holy
           Seed
           and
           Royal
           Off-spring
           of
           God
           ,
           which
           he
           hath
           raised
           and
           brought
           forth
           in
           these
           North
           parts
           of
           the
           World
           ,
           to
           rule
           and
           reign
           (
           according
           to
           his
           Promise
           made
           by
           the
           Mouths
           of
           his
           Prophets
           in
           Ages
           past
           )
           to
           which
           Nations
           must
           bow
           and
           bend
           ,
           and
           become
           subject
           ;
           I
           tell
           you
           plainly
           and
           truly
           ,
           that
           if
           this
           be
           your
           Expectation
           (
           which
           your
           proceedings
           give
           me
           cause
           to
           believe
           it
           is
           )
           you
           will
           certainly
           fail
           therein
           ;
           And
           God
           will
           assuredly
           frustrate
           these
           your
           Expectations
           ,
           and
           by
           this
           very
           way
           and
           means
           that
           you
           take
           to
           suppress
           and
           root
           out
           the
           People
           of
           God
           from
           having
           a
           being
           amongst
           you
           ,
           even
           thereby
           you
           will
           provoke
           the
           Lord
           to
           root
           you
           out
           ,
           if
           you
           persist
           therein
           :
           Wherefore
           beware
           ,
           lest
           that
           which
           you
           think
           (
           and
           expect
           )
           to
           bring
           upon
           the
           People
           of
           God
           ,
           be
           by
           the
           Hand
           of
           God
           brought
           upon
           your selves
           .
           For
           (
           be
           it
           known
           unto
           you
           )
           the
           Lord
           God
           Almighty
           is
           with
           his
           People
           of
           a
           truth
           ,
           whom
           you
           have
           turned
           your
           Sword
           and
           Power
           against
           ;
           and
           what
           is
           done
           unto
           them
           ,
           he
           certainly
           takes
           as
           done
           unto
           himself
           ;
           and
           in
           as
           much
           as
           you
           go
           about
           to
           suppress
           his
           People
           ,
           or
           to
           limit
           them
           in
           the
           exercise
           of
           their
           Consciences
           towards
           God
           ,
           you
           therein
           are
           found
           fighters
           against
           God
           ,
           and
           thereby
           you
           go
           about
           to
           stop
           and
           hinder
           the
           work
           of
           God
           ;
           which
           will
           be
           as
           hard
           for
           you
           to
           do
           ,
           as
           it
           was
           for
           Saul
           to
           kick
           against
           the
           pricks
           of
           the
           Witness
           of
           God
           in
           his
           own
           Conscience
           :
           Wherefore
           consider
           these
           things
           ,
           and
           remember
           that
           many
           Warnings
           and
           tender
           Visitations
           of
           Love
           the
           Lord
           hath
           sent
           unto
           you
           in
           times
           past
           (
           which
           you
           have
           little
           regarded
           hitherto
           ,
           but
           go
           on
           exercising
           Cruelty
           towards
           the
           People
           of
           God
           )
           And
           now
           at
           this
           time
           also
           I
           am
           moved
           (
           and
           it
           is
           upon
           my
           heart
           )
           by
           the
           Spirit
           of
           the
           Lord
           ,
           to
           lay
           these
           things
           before
           you
           ,
           and
           do
           tell
           you
           in
           plainness
           what
           the
           Lord
           will
           do
           and
           bring
           to
           pass
           in
           despite
           of
           all
           that
           you
           can
           do
           who
           seek
           to
           oppose
           him
           :
           For
           ,
           notwithstanding
           the
           many
           Laws
           and
           Decrees
           which
           you
           have
           made
           or
           shall
           make
           ,
           yet
           the
           Work
           of
           the
           Lord
           which
           he
           hath
           certainly
           begun
           ,
           that
           shall
           go
           on
           and
           increase
           ,
           and
           the
           Truth
           must
           flourish
           and
           prosper
           ,
           and
           spread
           forth
           its
           self
           ,
           and
           the
           Kingdoms
           of
           the
           World
           must
           become
           the
           Kingdoms
           of
           our
           Lord
           and
           of
           his
           Christ
           ,
           according
           to
           his
           Promise
           ;
           and
           they
           that
           will
           not
           bow
           unto
           his
           Throne
           and
           Government
           ,
           who
           is
           KING
           of
           Kings
           ,
           (
           whose
           right
           it
           is
           to
           rule
           in
           the
           Consciences
           of
           people
           ,
           and
           to
           bear
           the
           Government
           there
           ,
           and
           to
           exercise
           them
           in
           matters
           of
           Worship
           towards
           God
           )
           but
           will
           seek
           to
           stop
           and
           limit
           him
           and
           his
           Government
           there
           ,
           even
           such
           must
           and
           shall
           be
           broken
           by
           him
           ,
           and
           bruised
           under
           by
           his
           eternal
           Power
           ;
           the
           Lord
           hath
           said
           and
           spoken
           it
           ,
           and
           it
           must
           come
           to
           pass
           .
        
         
           Wherefore
           Friends
           ,
           be
           you
           once
           more
           warned
           that
           you
           meddle
           no
           more
           with
           the
           Consciences
           of
           People
           ,
           so
           as
           to
           go
           about
           to
           limit
           them
           in
           matters
           relating
           to
           the
           Service
           of
           God
           (
           for
           it
           's
           not
           the
           place
           of
           a
           Civil
           Magistrate
           to
           meddle
           or
           have
           to
           do
           with
           those
           things
           )
           but
           leave
           them
           free
           in
           those
           things
           to
           do
           as
           they
           are
           perswaded
           in
           their
           own
           Consciences
           by
           the
           Light
           of
           the
           Spirit
           of
           the
           Lord
           ;
           for
           you
           cannot
           give
           an
           account
           unto
           God
           for
           them
           if
           they
           do
           amiss
           ,
           but
           they
           must
           all
           (
           and
           so
           must
           you
           also
           )
           give
           an
           account
           unto
           God
           ,
           every
           one
           for
           himself
           :
           And
           this
           is
           just
           and
           equal
           that
           (
           in
           things
           of
           this
           nature
           )
           every
           one
           should
           be
           left
           to
           the
           exercise
           of
           the
           Spirit
           of
           the
           Lord
           in
           his
           own
           heart
           ;
           because
           that
           Spiritual
           Worship
           consisteth
           in
           obedience
           to
           the
           Spirit
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           you
           your selves
           would
           not
           be
           willing
           to
           be
           prohibited
           from
           ,
           or
           denied
           of
           this
           Liberty
           ;
           but
           (
           I
           dare
           say
           )
           you
           would
           look
           upon
           it
           to
           be
           a
           very
           great
           Oppression
           unto
           you
           ,
           to
           be
           restrained
           (
           by
           any
           Civil
           Power
           or
           Goverment
           )
           from
           that
           ,
           which
           by
           the
           Spirit
           and
           Power
           of
           God
           you
           were
           perswaded
           in
           your
           Consciences
           you
           ought
           to
           do
           ;
           and
           you
           could
           not
           but
           judge
           that
           those
           (
           who
           should
           go
           about
           to
           lay
           or
           impose
           such
           a
           Restriction
           upon
           you
           )
           did
           do
           unto
           you
           as
           they
           themselves
           would
           not
           be
           done
           by
           ;
           and
           so
           ye
           might
           wel
           conclude
           that
           it
           were
           unrighteousness
           in
           them
           so
           to
           do
           :
           wherefore
           if
           you
           seriously
           consider
           whether
           this
           Unrighteousness
           and
           Oppression
           be
           not
           found
           in
           you
           ,
           I
           know
           you
           cannot
           but
           lay
           your
           hands
           upon
           your
           mouths
           and
           confess
           ,
           Guilty
           .
        
         
           So
           let
           my
           Counsel
           be
           (
           at
           this
           time
           )
           received
           by
           you
           ,
           and
           take
           my
           Advice
           (
           as
           from
           one
           that
           hath
           received
           the
           Counsel
           of
           the
           Lord
           ,
           and
           (
           in
           measure
           )
           knows
           the
           mind
           of
           the
           Lord
           by
           the
           revelation
           of
           his
           Spirit
           as
           touching
           this
           matter
           )
           that
           is
           this
           :
           Shake
           your selves
           out
           of
           these
           cruel
           practices
           of
           persecuting
           about
           Religion
           and
           Worship
           ,
           and
           lay
           aside
           these
           cruel
           Impositions
           ,
           which
           are
           and
           have
           been
           laid
           upon
           the
           People
           of
           God
           ,
           by
           reason
           whereof
           many
           (
           who
           are
           dear
           unto
           the
           Lord
           )
           have
           suffered
           very
           greatly
           ;
           some
           the
           loss
           of
           their
           Liberties
           ,
           and
           some
           the
           loss
           of
           their
           Lives
           ,
           occasioned
           through
           being
           thrust
           together
           in
           noisom
           Holes
           and
           Prisons
           ,
           and
           others
           are
           obnoxious
           to
           Exilement
           from
           their
           Wives
           and
           Children
           ,
           and
           from
           their
           Native
           Country
           &
           dearest
           Relations
           ,
           and
           no
           evil
           at
           all
           justly
           charged
           against
           any
           of
           these
           ,
           for
           which
           these
           cruel
           Sufferings
           are
           inflicted
           upon
           them
           ;
           't
           is
           only
           for
           worshipping
           God
           in
           Spirit
           that
           these
           Sufferings
           are
           sustained
           by
           them
           ,
           that
           is
           the
           greatest
           Charge
           that
           hath
           been
           by
           you
           at
           all
           proved
           against
           them
           ;
           and
           for
           these
           things
           sake
           the
           Lord's
           Controversie
           is
           certainly
           great
           with
           you
           ,
           and
           will
           you
           continue
           in
           these
           things
           through
           which
           you
           have
           provoked
           the
           Lord
           to
           anger
           ?
           His
           Wrath
           will
           not
           be
           appeased
           towards
           you
           ,
           neither
           can
           your
           Government
           be
           established
           in
           safety
           ,
           nor
           you
           cannot
           establish
           your selves
           in
           safety
           and
           security
           ,
           for
           fear
           will
           surprize
           you
           (
           while
           you
           go
           on
           in
           these
           practices
           )
           because
           of
           the
           guilt
           that
           is
           upon
           your
           Consciences
           ;
           and
           although
           we
           cannot
           ,
           neither
           do
           we
           desire
           to
           make
           outward
           opposition
           against
           you
           by
           Plottings
           and
           Insurrections
           ,
           &c.
           
           (
           Out
           of
           which
           things
           God
           Almighty
           hath
           redeemed
           us
           ,
           and
           hath
           brought
           us
           into
           his
           Covenant
           of
           Peace
           ,
           and
           unto
           his
           Mountain
           of
           Holiness
           ,
           where
           nothing
           hurts
           nor
           destroyes
           )
           yet
           we
           know
           that
           the
           Lord
           is
           with
           us
           ,
           &
           on
           our
           side
           ,
           and
           takes
           our
           part
           ,
           will
           plead
           our
           Cause
           and
           fight
           for
           us
           ,
           and
           he
           is
           stronger
           ●han
           you
           all
           ;
           and
           his
           Power
           is
           above
           yours
           ,
           and
           our
           trust
           and
           confidence
           is
           in
           him
           alone
           ,
           and
           not
           in
           the
           arm
           of
           flesh
           :
           and
           it
           s
           in
           vain
           for
           you
           to
           strive
           against
           him
           ,
           or
           to
           oppose
           or
           resist
           him
           ;
           for
           he
           will
           in
           the
           end
           be
           too
           hard
           for
           you
           ,
           and
           will
           break
           you
           to
           pieces
           as
           a
           Potters
           vessel
           of
           clay
           ,
           except
           you
           repent
           .
        
         
           And
           now
           Friends
           ,
           there
           is
           but
           one
           only
           way
           by
           which
           you
           may
           or
           can
           possibly
           escape
           and
           prevent
           the
           dreadful
           Judgments
           of
           the
           Lord
           ,
           or
           by
           which
           his
           Anger
           may
           be
           appeased
           which
           is
           kindled
           against
           you
           ,
           and
           that
           is
           this
           ;
           
             To
             humble
             your selves
             before
             the
             Lord
             ,
             and
             to
             repent
             of
             the
             Evil
             of
             your
             Doings
             ,
             and
             to
             loose
             the
             Bands
             of
             Iniquity
             ,
             and
             to
             undo
             the
             heavy
             Burdens
             ,
             and
             let
             the
             Oppressed
             go
             free
             ,
             and
             turn
             the
             Sword
             against
             the
             Evil-doers
             ,
             and
             suppress
             Vice
             and
             Profaneness
             ,
             and
             do
             not
             tolerate
             Licentiousness
             and
             those
             wicked
             Practices
             (
             as
             Rioting
             ,
             Drunkenness
             ,
             Stage-playes
             ,
             and
             the
             like
             )
             which
             day
             by
             day
             even
             greatly
             abounds
             in
             your
             Streets
             ,
             while
             the
             Servants
             of
             the
             Lord
             lie
             in
             noisome
             Holes
             and
             Prisons
             ;
             And
             give
             Liberty
             of
             Conscience
             unto
             the
             People
             of
             God
             to
             worship
             him
          
           (
           which
           is
           the
           main
           thing
           that
           I
           contend
           with
           you
           for
           )
           
             that
             the
             Servants
             of
             the
             Lord
             may
             have
             free
             Liberty
             to
             labour
             for
             the
             reducing
             of
             People
             from
             those
             afore-mentioned
             ,
             and
             all
             other
             Vices
             ,
             which
             tend
             to
             the
             destruction
             of
             Youth
             ,
             and
             to
             the
             destroying
             both
             of
             soul
             and
             body
             :
          
           And
           this
           is
           the
           way
           for
           you
           (
           if
           there
           be
           any
           )
           to
           purchase
           the
           good-will
           and
           favour
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           to
           be
           established
           in
           safety
           and
           security
           in
           your
           Government
           ;
           and
           if
           any
           (
           who
           are
           self-seekers
           and
           time-servers
           )
           shall
           (
           for
           self-ends
           )
           counsel
           you
           otherwayes
           ,
           such
           (
           you
           shall
           know
           in
           the
           day
           of
           the
           Lord
           )
           are
           evil
           Counsellors
           ,
           and
           ought
           not
           to
           be
           received
           by
           you
           ,
           but
           denied
           .
        
         
           And
           Friends
           ,
           one
           thing
           more
           I
           would
           present
           to
           your
           Consideration
           ,
           which
           hath
           been
           oft
           laid
           before
           you
           in
           times
           past
           ,
           and
           as
           oft
           forgotten
           by
           you
           ,
           that
           is
           this
           ;
           
             What
             hath
             been
             the
             ground
             and
             original
             cause
             of
             all
             the
             late
             Overturnings
             which
             have
             been
             in
             this
             Nation
             ?
             if
             it
             be
             rightly
             weighed
             and
             considered
             ,
             will
             it
             not
             appear
             that
             Cruelty
             and
             Oppression
             of
             mens
             Consciences
             in
             matters
             relating
             to
             the
             Service
             of
             God
             ,
             was
             the
             main
             original
             Cause
             thereof
             ?
          
           I
           confess
           I
           cannot
           but
           marvel
           that
           you
           should
           be
           so
           blinded
           (
           with
           your
           present
           prosperity
           )
           that
           you
           cannot
           see
           and
           consider
           these
           things
           ,
           and
           labour
           to
           avoid
           that
           which
           was
           the
           cause
           of
           their
           overthrow
           and
           ruine
           that
           are
           gone
           before
           you
           ,
           but
           to
           run
           on
           so
           headlong
           and
           inconsiderate
           ,
           as
           though
           you
           were
           hastning
           with
           desire
           to
           bring
           the
           Wrath
           of
           God
           upon
           you
           :
           For
           mark
           Friends
           ,
           when
           did
           any
           escape
           the
           hand
           of
           God
           in
           any
           Age
           or
           Generation
           ,
           or
           where
           were
           any
           established
           in
           safety
           that
           took
           in
           hand
           this
           work
           of
           Oppression
           ,
           and
           persecuting
           the
           Seed
           of
           God
           and
           his
           People
           ?
           Consider
           from
           Pharaoh
           (
           that
           great
           Oppressor
           )
           unto
           this
           day
           ,
           and
           you
           will
           find
           that
           in
           all
           ages
           ,
           this
           work
           of
           Persecuting
           and
           oppressing
           the
           People
           of
           God
           ,
           was
           the
           very
           Cause
           of
           the
           overthrow
           and
           ruine
           of
           the
           Persecutors
           ;
           as
           for
           instance
           ,
           the
           great
           Persecution
           and
           Cruelty
           that
           was
           exercised
           by
           the
           then
           Powers
           of
           the
           Nation
           in
           Queen
           Maries
           dayes
           ;
           what
           was
           the
           issue
           thereof
           ?
           Was
           it
           not
           the
           very
           overthrow
           and
           rooting
           out
           of
           that
           Persecuting
           Power
           ,
           Religion
           ,
           and
           Faith
           ?
           &c.
           And
           doth
           not
           their
           name
           (
           who
           exercised
           that
           Cruelty
           )
           remain
           as
           an
           ill
           savour
           unto
           all
           sober
           People
           (
           truly
           fearing
           God
           )
           unto
           this
           day
           ?
           And
           could
           they
           by
           all
           their
           Tyranny
           then
           exercised
           ,
           root
           out
           or
           extinguish
           that
           Faith
           and
           Religion
           ,
           that
           they
           then
           strook
           at
           ?
           Nay
           ,
           they
           could
           not
           ,
           though
           it
           was
           but
           (
           as
           I
           may
           say
           )
           the
           beginning
           of
           Reformation
           and
           coming
           out
           of
           the
           Apostasie
           ;
           but
           its
           true
           indeed
           ,
           they
           Killed
           ,
           Destroyed
           ,
           and
           Murthered
           many
           ,
           but
           blessed
           be
           the
           Lord
           that
           did
           not
           shake
           the
           rest
           so
           ,
           as
           to
           make
           them
           fall
           ,
           but
           rather
           establish
           them
           .
           And
           certainly
           Friends
           ,
           although
           you
           should
           be
           permitted
           (
           as
           they
           were
           )
           to
           destroy
           many
           of
           us
           by
           your
           Laws
           and
           Decrees
           made
           ,
           or
           to
           be
           made
           ,
           yet
           you
           cannot
           thereby
           destroy
           the
           Faith
           of
           others
           ,
           neither
           can
           you
           possibly
           accomplish
           your
           desire
           ,
           nor
           root
           out
           the
           holy
           Seed
           which
           is
           now
           sprung
           and
           risen
           ,
           and
           must
           replenish
           Nations
           ,
           and
           cause
           the
           Desolate
           places
           to
           be
           inhabited
           ,
           though
           indeed
           you
           may
           thereby
           root
           out
           and
           destroy
           yourselves
           ;
           which
           is
           sad
           to
           consider
           .
        
         
           So
           Friends
           ,
           much
           more
           might
           be
           said
           unto
           you
           ,
           and
           many
           sound
           Reasons
           and
           Arguments
           might
           be
           produced
           to
           convince
           you
           ,
           how
           unsafe
           it
           is
           for
           you
           to
           persevere
           in
           this
           work
           of
           Persecution
           and
           Cruelty
           ,
           but
           I
           know
           you
           will
           (
           many
           of
           you
           ,
           if
           not
           most
           of
           you
           )
           kick
           against
           it
           ,
           and
           harden
           your
           hearts
           ,
           and
           will
           not
           believe
           ;
           wherefore
           I
           have
           chosen
           rather
           to
           be
           as
           brief
           as
           I
           may
           ,
           only
           to
           discharge
           my
           Conscience
           to
           you
           in
           the
           sight
           of
           the
           Lord
           ,
           that
           I
           may
           be
           clear
           of
           your
           blood
           ,
           and
           so
           shall
           conclude
           even
           with
           a
           few
           words
           ,
           telling
           you
           ,
           
             that
             this
             work
             which
             you
             have
             begun
             ,
             and
             put
             your
             hand
             unto
             ,
             will
             be
             too
             hard
             for
             you
             ;
             for
             when
             did
             ever
             any
             yet
             rise
             up
             against
             the
             Lord
             and
             prosper
             ?
          
           Or
           do
           you
           think
           to
           prevail
           against
           the
           
             Ancient
             of
             Dayes
          
           ,
           although
           your
           Predecessors
           could
           not
           ?
           O
           nay
           ,
           it
           cannot
           be
           .
           But
           then
           you
           will
           say
           ,
           that
           it
           is
           not
           the
           Work
           of
           God
           that
           you
           oppose
           ,
           but
           Heresie
           and
           Sedition
           ,
           &c.
           
           I
           answer
           ;
           So
           said
           your
           Predecessors
           ,
           the
           Persecutors
           in
           all
           Generations
           ,
           when
           they
           slew
           the
           Prophets
           ,
           and
           crucified
           the
           Son
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           persecuted
           the
           Apostles
           ;
           they
           charged
           them
           with
           Blasphemy
           and
           Sedition
           ,
           and
           
             Turners
             of
             the
             World
             upside
             down
             ,
          
           and
           said
           ,
           
             the
             Earth
             was
             not
             able
             to
             bear
             them
             ,
             &c.
             
          
           Yet
           that
           would
           not
           be
           a
           sufficient
           excuse
           for
           them
           in
           the
           day
           when
           God
           took
           Vengeance
           ,
           neither
           will
           it
           be
           a
           sufficient
           excuse
           for
           you
           in
           the
           day
           when
           you
           must
           (
           all
           without
           respect
           of
           persons
           )
           give
           an
           account
           unto
           God
           for
           all
           your
           deeds
           done
           in
           the
           body
           :
           Wherefore
           beware
           lest
           that
           come
           upon
           you
           ,
           which
           was
           spoken
           by
           the
           Prophet
           of
           old
           ,
           saying
           ,
           
             Behold
             ye
             Despisers
             ,
             and
             wonder
             ,
             and
             perish
             ,
             for
             I
             work
             a
             Work
             in
             your
             dayes
             ,
             a
             Work
             which
             you
             can
             in
             no
             wise
             believe
             ,
             though
             a
             man
             declare
             it
             unto
             you
             .
          
        
         
           
             Written
             at
             Kingstone
             upon
             Thames
             
               the
               5th
               of
               the
               9th
               Month
               ,
               1664.
               
            
          
           
             I
             am
             a
             Friend
             to
             the
             whole
             Creation
             of
             God
             ,
             and
             have
             the
             mind
             of
             the
             Spirit
             of
             the
             Lord
             ,
             who
             wills
             not
             the
             Death
             or
             Destruction
             of
             any
             ,
             but
             rather
             that
             all
             should
             return
             and
             live
             .
             Jo.
             Coale
             .