AN ARROW SHOT AGAINST BABYLON OUT OF joseph's Bow,  
Which grew up from the stem of Jesse, the Root and Offspring of David, (and was bend by the Archer of Israel, which hath struck at cain's mark, from Paradise into the Land of Nod, and hath lighted in the skirts of the great Whore, to the discovering the Mother (or original) of Harlots and all Abominations of the Earth; tracing her in her footsteps (with all her Companions and Merchants, the Beast, Dragon and false Prophet) by the blood of the Prophets and Saints, and of all that were slain upon the Earth  
And also pursuing her from her birth (or the Serpent's hole) out of which she came, to her latter end, which is the bottomless pit, or Lake of Fire into which she must return.  
And this is a Visitation and Warning (once more) from God, unto all such Rulers, Teachers and people in England who are, or may be persecutors about Religion and Worship, that they may yet flee out of Babylon (mystery Babylon) the great Whore (which hath set upon Nations, and reigned over the King of the earth) that they may partake no longer of her sins, lest they partake of her perpetual plagues, which cometh swiftly upon her in one day.  
With a few questions concerning the Devil, and Cain, and the Whore, and the Dragon, and the Beast, and false Prophet, whence they came, and where they are, and how they may be known, and whither they must all go together in the end.  
And this may serve as a Glass for all false Christendom to behold themselves, and try their ways, and see what Spirit and Church they are of, and whose children they are; if ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham.  
By WILLIAM BAYLY.  
Put yourselves in array against Babylon round about, all ye that bend the Bow, shoot at her, spare no arrows for she hath sinned against the Lord,  Jer 50.14. 
For thy Merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all Nations deceived, & in her was found the blood of the Prophets & of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth,  Rev. 18.23, 24. 
LONDON, Printed in the Year 1663.   

An Arrow shot against Babylon, etc.  
IN the beginning (before transgression) man was in Paradise, the Garden of God, made in his own image and likeness, and was in unity and peace with him, in the innocent, meek, tender, holy, upright life, in which he was form; in which state he stood with God, as a Child with a Father, or as a Wife with a Husband, without variance, distance or enmity between them, and God's blessings was upon them in this their innocent, lowly, obedient state, till at length another spirit got an entrance by desiring (or letting the desire go out after the eye) to be more knowing and wise in the mysteries of the outward Creation and visible things, etc. which soon captivated the tender, simple, upright mind, and beguiled it from its own proper life and being, in which it was made a living soul; for they did not only taste, but eat, and that brought the death over them, as it is written Gen. 2.17. for they entered into a secret false joy of what they had attained to, and a satisfaction they got in the sensual wisdom and knowledge of things, and so grew conceited that they were as Gods, knowing good and evil, etc. And so through this aspiring spirit (or motion) which began to spring up in their minds, a secret strife or enmity began to arise between the innocent life and it; for there was a contrariety between them; but they eat of the Tree of Knowledge, which beguiled them from the Tree of Life in the midst of the Paradise of God. This was Adam's fall, going outward with his mind from the guidance, rule and dominion of the innocent, upright Life, by which he was made a living soul, feeding in the aspectings and viewing of the visible things, the mystery and secrets of which was hid (from him) in that Life from which he was departed, and he only could retain but strong imaginations of them, which puft him up; so now he became a griever and an oppressor of God's good Spirit, and it became a reprover and troubler of him by reason of his disobedience against it, and departure from it, and he was now afraid of God's voice, having done that which was contrary to him; and then to get peace, he sewed fig-leaves to make themselves cover, but all would not do while the Tree of knowledge is fed upon, (which was good in its place, but forbidden to feed upon) because it beguiled from the Tree of Life, being pleasant to the eye, and desirable to make one wise, etc. (and the World by Wisdom knows not God) so by it they lost the knowledge, and unity, and peace of God, and were driven into the Earth, and shut out of the Paradise of God, and became vailed in the enmity, pride and pleasures of the Earthly or sensual part; which followed that aspiring motion of the subtle Serpent or Adulterer that led out from God, like the Harlot Solomon speaks of, that was subtle of heart, whom the young man followed, as an Ox to the slaughter, and as a fool to the correction of the Stocks, and knew not that it was for his life, and that her paths led to the Chambers of death, and her steps take hold of Hell; this is the thing: Adam was very young, and the Harlot subtle, so was deceived; for the one enticed, and the other consented and followed, not knowing it was for his life, though God had said he should surely die; but this Tempter led out the mind from the sense of the good man of the House, with her Bed of pleasures and delights, and with enticing words she forced him, but the end was bitter as Wormwood, as hath been known by woeful experience; for here was the first carrying away captive into Babylon, the Mystery (of which the outward was but a figure) and the first draught of the Whore's Cup of Fornication was now drunk, by which the just innocent life suffered (as one might say) even in the Womb, and in Cain and Abel the two Seeds or Spirits were clearly manifest, the one in pride, fury, enmity, murder, drinking his brother's blood; and the other the sufferer by him (in the patience) whose blood had a voice that cried unto God from the ground; and yet it's said of Babylon, that in her is found the blood of the Martyrs and Prophets, and of all the Saints that have been slain upon the Earth (than Cain was in Babylon) which is now called the Great Whore; and the controversy between Cain and Abel was about Sacrifice and Worship; this hath spread (even the Spirit of Whoredoms, Enmity and Wickedness) over the World, and cain's Mark hath been apparent among multitudes, peoples, tongues and languages, killing and persecuting about Religion and Worship: This is the [great] Whore which hath sat upon [many] Water's, & reigned over the Kings of the Earth, over multitudes, tongues, people's and languages, they are the Waters, Rev. 17.15. on which the Whore sits, the unstable people, in the unstable state, tossing up and down in confusion, restless, full of stirs (a tumulcuous City) these are the Waters, the swelling, the roaring, the foaming, the tossing; the [Wicked] are like the troubled [Sea] which cannot rest, whose Waves cast up mire and dirt; and there is no peace to the [Wicked] saith my God; these are the [Waters] on which the [Whore] sits; this was cain's state (who had drunk the Whore's Cup, and killed the Just about sacrifice) drove from God, a Vagabond, no peace, but great punishment, greater than he could bear; and the Wicked foam out their own shame, like the raging sea, drunk with the Cup of the Mother of Harlots and all abominations of the Earth; then mad upon their idols (as the Prophet said) persecuting and killing about Worship and Sacrifice: This hath been the state of the Drunkards of Ephraim in all ages; this is cain's way, and the Whore's way, which is become great, and have reigned over Nations, Tongues, Multitudes and People's, and Kings of the Earth; Babylon [Mystery Babylon] the original of All Abominations, and Mother of Harlots, riding upon a scarlet coloured Beast, full of Names of Blasphemy, decked with Gold and Purple, Pearls and precious stones, having a golden Cup in her hand, but its full of abominations and filthiness, and she is drunken with the blood of the Saints and Martyrs of Jesus, and the beast is scarlet coloured which carrieth her, having horns, [mark that] the Powers of the Earth, Kings and Rulers have been made drunk with her Cup, and have committed fornication with her, and she hath sat and reigned over them, and the beast hath carried the Whore, and they have made war with the Lamb and the Saints, and killed them; this is cain's way, vagabond from God, in wrath and envy, whored from God, killing about Worship and Sacrifice, killing just Abel, killing the Prophets, Saints and Martyrs of Jesus. This Whore hath sat and reigned upon Tongues Multitudes, Peoples and Kings of the Earth. This is the great Whore that hath glorified herself in her abominations, sitting as a Queen, saying in her heart, she shall never see sorrow, etc.  
But this is the Vine of Sodom, her grapes are grapes of abominations; through the spreading of her boughs, the whole earth hath been corrupted, and by her dominion the Lamb hath been slain, blood hath cried against her from the foundation of the World, even from Abel to this day, the Land of uprightness hath mourned while the wicked have born rule, and lamentation hath dwelled upon the Tabernacle of the righteous, darkness hath covered the earth, and gross darkness the people; death and destruction hath reigned, the Devil (the Murderer from the beginning) hath been the God of the World for ages and generations, and the true God hath been unknown, and his appearances a Mystery hid from them, and a Covenant hath been made with death, and an agreement with Hell, and man hath been separated and driven from God as far as the East is from the West, and the abomination which maketh desolate hath stood where it ought not; iniquity hath abounded, and love hath waxed cold; the whole World hath been like a Wilderness, wickedness hath sat in the Ephah, and unrighteousness in the Judgement-seat; the adulterated spirit from God (the great Whore) hath sat and reigned over all Nations and Kings of the Earth, which hath oppressed the Creation, and grieved the good Spirit of God, and made war against every appearance of the righteous Seed, and the Lamb hath been slain from the foundation of the World; the Dragon hath cast out his Floods of persecution after the true woman in all ages, which brings forth the Manchild (the Heir) whose right alone it is to rule the Nations; but the Nations of the Earth have been angry (and the great men and chief Captains) at the birth of this Child, and have always sought its life, even when it was young, as in the days of Herod; and the Beast, Whore and false Prophet hath made War with the Saints, and persecuted, imprisoned and killed them, and the Scriptures are fulfilled, The Devil shall cast some of you into Prison, and you shall have tribulation ten days; The Kings of the Earth have set themselves, and the Rulers take counsel together against the Lord, & against his anointed, saying, Let us break their Bands (or Meetings) and cast away their Cords from us: If you have ears, hear O ye sons of Adam, and his firstborn in transgression, killers about Worship and Sacrifice) the Lord hath you in derision, and he will vex you in his sore displeasure, and break you as with an Iron Rod, and dash you like a potter's Vessel: Be wise therefore now, and fear and tremble before the Lord God.  
These things have been, and have overspread the Earth, and darkened the Air; the Whore hath sat as Queen, and the true Woman hath fled and been hid in the Wilderness, and been in great sorrow, and hath brought forth in sorrow and great tribulations in all ages; for the Dragon was always ready to devour her child as soon as it was born; yea, every appearance of God and of his Truth and Way of Righteousness, have been opposed, as you may read from Cain to this day; but still the Child was caught up to God, and they missed their end, when they said, This is the Heir, let us kill him, and the Inheritance will be ours; and in the days of Pharoahs' persecution of Israel (which was, lest they should multiply and become great in number) the Midwives feared God, and Moses was born and hid from them, who was appointed to lead Israel out of Egypt; and in the days of Herod, when so many young children were killed, he was hid from them, till He was dead that sought the young child's life. How great was the Whores and the Devil's rage in those Rulers to destroy so many innocent babes! (the thoughts of which will make our bowels to move that fear the Lord) and in the days of the other Herod, chief Priests and Rulers, Scribes, Pharisees and Elders, Herod and his Men of War set him at nought, and mocked him, because he answered him not a word to his many Questions (and are not we mocked so now, when we are become fools for his sake whom the Princes of this world never knew?) Consider these things, for God will not belong mocked by Cain nor Herod neither, but will give every one a reward according to his do: And when they had crucied him and put him to death, he risen again, and is yet hid from them; but to his Disciples he is manifest, and is come the second time to salvation, and the grave cannot hold him, nor never could, nor never shall; for he was before the grave, death or persecution was, and shall reign over it all for ever and ever; and the Whore, Beast and false Prophet shall be cast into the Lake, and be tormented day and night for ever and ever, and the Lamb and the Saints shall rejoice over her with songs of triumph, and hallelujahs for evermore, Amen. Rev. 19.2, 3.  
So now you may read and see, that the seed of evil-doers, the birth of the flesh, or spirit of Whoredoms, did always persecute the birth that was born of the Spirit, after God's Image in all ages: And here is now no new thing happened under the Sun, but the same controversy as was between Cain and Abel, though greater shall the Work be (than ever) in these last days: But this is cain's and the Whores Mark in all ages, and the Beasts, that God and man takes notice of, or knows them by, (Persecution about Religion, Worship and Sacrifice, etc.) as Christ said of the false prophets, By their fruits ye shall know them, Do men gather grapes of Thorns, (prickers) or figs of thistles, Read these things in the fear of the Lord God, for they will add to the weight of the Millstone when Babylon sinks, which day hastens as a Woman in travel, and the woe must come upon all you who are found in cain's way, and Balaams' way, and the Whore's way, as you may read Judas 11. ver.  
But what will ye now do, O ye sons and firstborn of Adam in transgression? God is raising a thousand Abel's, and Enoch is born again, and Moses and Elias is come, and the hearts of the children are turned towards their Father, and the hearts of the Father toward the children, and many are leaving the World and the Earth, and travelling toward Paradise the garden of God again, where Mount Zion is known, and the King sitting upon his holy Hill: Therefore let not the Heathen rage, nor the people imagine a vain thing, for it is so; God is gathering his Seed from the four corners and quarters of the earth, and his sheep from off all the barren Mountains, where they have been scattered in the dark and cloudy day, without a shepherd, and he will feed them himself, and the false shepherds shall no more make a prey upon them, who have fed themselves, and clothed with the wool, and eat the fat, and pushed with shoulder and horns till they have scattered (and not strengthened) the diseased. Read Ezek. 34. And who shall disannul his Decree, or make void his promise and purpose? The dry bones must be raised, and become an exceeding great Army, and Babylon must full; and this is now doing with great noise and shaking; Read Ezek. 37 7, 8, 9, 10. And by the lightning the Earth with the power and glory of God, Rev. 18.1, 2. Which day is come, and more and more approaching, though you see it not who are in the night; it comes like a thief upon you, and will overtake you as a snare; for so is the day of the Lord come upon all them that dwell in the Earth, 1 Thess. 5.2, 3, 4.  
Therefore in vain do you strive against God, O ye Rulers and Teachers of the Earth, who are in cain's way, and Balaams' way; for his marvellous Work and Wonder must be brought to pass, prosper and be perfected through the whole Earth in these last days. It is not your Prisons, Courts, killings, banishments or Inquisitions shall hinder or make void God's Eternal Decree, which is established in the very Heavens: Don't you remember how the grave could not hold him under whom your Fathers crucified, and had from Prison to Judgement in the days past, who is now again risen among us, and is in the midst of us who gather together in his Name: And this is the Word of the Lord unto you, he is risen among us called Quakers, and is come and coming in ten thousands of his Saints, to convince the ungodly of all their ungodly deeds and hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him, and to execute his Judgements upon them, (Read Judas throughout) and this the whole Earth shall know in the day at hand; for our God is risen to deliver his people, and to lay low the haughtiness of the terrible ones, and to scatter the proud in their imaginations, and to make the Whore take and desolate, as a Widow without children and to exalt Truth and Righteousness, Justice and true Judgement in the Earth, that Judgement and mercy may meet together, and Righteousness and Peace may kiss each other, this is God doing; this hath been wanting, mercy and justice have not been found in the Judgement-seats, but false judgement, respect of persons, injustice and oppression hath met together there; pride, rage, cruelty, vanity, wantonness & hypocrisy hath kissed each other there; the poor hath been oppressed of his Neighbour, and the rich hath had many friends; this the evils under the sun hath prospered and spread like a bay-tree, and equity hath been the low tree, and unrighteousness the high tree, exalted over all; the great Whore hath reigned, with the Beast and false Prophet; the true Woman hath been in sorrow, the Lamb and the Saints in great tribulations in all ages; but now she is coming up out of the Wilderness, leaning upon her beloved, (and not her own understanding) and the Lamb and the Saints must get the victory, and all cover and veils will God rend off from the face of all people, and there shall be no place of darkness nor shadow of death wherein the worker of iniquity shall hid himself; but death and hell must be naked, and give up the slain that is in them; the Dragon must be chained, and the Beast, Whore and false Prophet must be taken, and cast alive into the Pit or Lake that burns for ever and ever.  
This will be a woeful day for you persecutors, false worshippers, idolaters, whoremongers, hypocrites, unbelievers, fearful and abominable, Merchants of Babylon, and all you Seamen of Babylon, (who hath strengthened her Mast, and spread her Sail, and traded with her) when she shall lie as a wrack in the midst of the Sea, and sink like a Millstone, and be found no more at all; you that have gone so often aboard her in the boat of deceit, and drank the Wine of her Fornications (in the mysterious sealed Cabins of her Whoredoms) which she hath set cht from the Land of Witchcrafts, and gathered from the Vine of Sodom, and pressed in the Fat of Confusion, and held forth in the Cup of Hypocrisy; howling and lamentation will come upon you, fears and amazements will possess you, when you behold the smoke of her torment; Alas! alas! standing aloof off for fear) will be your song, when you shall see this great City in one hour brought to nought.  
No fig-leaves will hid in this day, no sheep's clothing will cover the false Prophet, but you must all appear in your own likeness and image, before him that seethe in secret, and be ripped up, and seen as you are before God, Angels and Men, no vizard of Profession shall excuse you from receiving a just recompense of reward according to your deeds done in your bodies.  
And this dreadful day is hastening upon all flesh, which hath corrupted its way before the Lord; for his own Name sake, and for his Elect seed sake, (will he cut it short in righteousness) which hath long groaned and cried unto him under the heavy burdens and cruel oppressions of the ungodly, to be delivered from the bondage of corruption which hath long overspread the whole Earth, and to be set free in the Paradise of God, in the glorious liberty which is at his right hand, where is joy and pleasures for evermore, yea durable riches and righteousness, from whence Adam was driven into the Earth by disobedience, and so into darkness, ignorance and confusion, having eaten that which was forbidden, and drank of the flattering Harlots Cup, which hath since become a great Whore, and made all Nations drunk, and sat upon them, and reigned over them, even Kings of the Earth, multitudes, tongues and languages; and the Garden of the Sluggard (or slothful, wicked, drunken servant) hath been all grown over with thorns and thistles, and Nettles have covered the face thereof, and the best have been as a briar, and the most upright as a thorn hedge, pricking, stinging, tearing, kill, and warring against the Lily and the Appletree, as it sprung up in all Ages, as it is written, They all have lain in wait for blood, they hunt every man his brother with a net: Thus it was in Micahs days 
* Read Mic. 7.1, 2, 3, 4. and the Sacrament of the Altar in the Martyr's days, & the Oath of Allegiance in these days, & see if the net be not found, & the mischievous desire wrapped up now among the briars and thorns, whose end is burning. , which caused sorrow to come upon him in the consideration and sense thereof; and in Jeremiah's days, Jer. 5.26. etc. And thus it hath been from Cain unto this day, persecuting about Religion, Worship and Sacrifice; but for the Elect sake (as I said before) these days shall be shortened (and this is the Word of the Lord unto you all) Mat. 24.22.  
Therefore harken diligently, and hear all ye Rulers, Governors and People of the Earth, who are the sons of Adam in transgression, the fall, and consider well in what state you now are, and what knowledge of God your Creator you have, and see whether you are not shut out of the Paradise of God, in which man was made a living soul, and whether you are not driven into the Earth, even as Adam in transgression, afraid of God, and hiding yourselves from his presence; in which state you have no true rest but are separated from the enjoyment of the Life and Unity with the Eternal God (in whose presence no worker of iniquity can endure;) therefore doth God in his eternal love call unto you to come out of Babylon; and he hath appointed a day of visitation unto the children of men in all ages, that in it they should seek and meet him, by returning every one from his evil ways, and look unto him from whom they have gone a whoring, who is the alone salvation and Saviour of all them that repent and turn to him with their whole heart, and that is the sacrifice which he requireth of all that make mention of his Name; for it is not a talk or profession of Christianity and godliness, that will stand in stead in the day of death, or in this day, in which the great deeps of the mystery, root and ground of all things (which have been since the foundation of the World) are manifest, even unto Babes in Christ Jesus, who is the Wisdom of God, and the Power of God, which none of the Princes of this World knew: I say, the secrets of the Most High are with them that fear him, whose dwelling is in him that hath given them a measure of that pure discerning Life in which Adam gave Names unto Creatures and Things according to their natures, while he was in Paradise, before transgression was, even in this Life, & through this Life is the living God bringing many sons & daughters to that glory which was with him before the World began, and is drawing with the Cords of his Love (which is stronger than death) many followers after him, who cannot be satisfied in the Earth, into which they were driven by transgression and pollution, which is not their true restingplace, as it is written Micah 2.10. Therefore we (being awakened) are returning toward our Native Country, in which we were created in Adam before transgression or separation was; and we have given up our hearts, minds and spirits, bodies and souls, to wait upon our God to receive from him strength and power to be translated into his own image and likeness, wherein our salvation is wrought out with fear and trembling.  
Therefore ye Rulers and people of the Earth, do you ponderously weigh, and deeply consider what you are doing by endeavouring to hinder us in the narrow way of our passage to the Heavenly Holy-Land, or Paradise of God's rest, which he hath prepared for the poor in spirit, and tremblers at his Word, who are not satisfied with an outward profession or name to live, whilst not enjoying the eternal inheritance and possession of the Life and Substance which is at the right hand of God for evermore. In which passage we resist no man, or fight with carnal Weapons (for our Warfare is spiritual) but are calling to those who are our Brethren in Adam, to turn their minds and affections with us to seek after our Native Country, where our Father is again found and known, and his voice heard, that so the Spirit of enmity which came of the Serpent and the Whore, might no longer remain in God's Creation (from whence the strife and contentions, wars and fightings comes) but be cast into the Lake for ever.  
Why should you thus abuse your Brethren? or what reason can you show to hinder us in the way of our passage to our own Native rest of our weary souls, seeing we have no other end or aim in our eye, but the price of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus, who is gone before us into Paradise, from whence we were driven by transgression, the cloud of separation. Read Isa. 59, throughout.  
And though you should yet more grievously oppress us, and smite us, and even put heavier yokes upon our tender necks, or cause us to make brick without straw, as our brethren did, yet we cannot but sigh and groan, and cry to our God (whom we delight to worship, though it be in the Wilderness) under the grievous burdens of our oppressors: For we being awakened and quickened from the deep sleep of sin and death (which hath covered mankind) cannot but look to the Rock from whence we were hewn, and press forward (in the patiented sufferings through the straight gate and the daily Cross) into the Heavenly Kingdom and Dominion of the holy God, into which no worker of iniquity or unclean thing can enter. So (whatever you judge of us) we have no other end in all our meetings together, but to wait upon our God, that we might know his Will, and be guided and directed into all truth by his Spirit which he hath sent into our hearts, and in it to worship and serve him all the days of our life; and here we find the narrow way and strair Gate which leads into the Paradise of God, (even to the eternal life; but broad is the way, and wide is the Gate that leads to destruction) according to the words of our dear elder Brother Christ Jesus; for we having but turned our faces from the Earth toward the Garden of God our true restingplace, but immediately our Brethren (the firstborn of Adam in transgression) like Cain, do rise up in wrath to smite us, by whom we are greatly abused, imprisoned and oppressed, who will not go in this narrow passage themselves, nor suffer them that would; and in as much as in them lieth, they strive to hid the key of true knowledge from their Brethren, and would not have them seek that City which hath foundations, whose Builder and Maker is God, in which only is the eternal salvation, peace and quietness of the souls of the children of men, Heb. 11.10.  
Surely this must needs be of the old Serpent, the beguiler, oppressor and destroyer of Mankind, and of the great Whore the Mother of Harlots, even the same which beguiled and deceived, tempted and led them out of the Paradise (of God's counsel and presence, in which is joy and peace for evermore) even the Murderer from the beginning, which killed the just, and let the mind into the Earth, and its delights, pleasures and vanities, which comes to an end: Therefore the Cross must be taken up (which the second Adam taught us) daily to the earthly affections & things of this World, in which the Prince of darkness ruleth; for it is but a Cross, (not of Wood, Stone, Gold or Silver, but the pure Power of God) by which the World and the things thereof are become dead and crucified unto us, and we unto them; even such a Cross that the earthly minded are enemies to, who can set up and wear the Cross of Wood, Silver and Gold, which is of the Earth, like them that make them and wear them; but this crucifies the World (and all that is in the World is the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life) and the whole World lies in wickedness; so this crucifies the wickedness, slays the enmity, which your Crosses of Wood and Stone never did, but you have been in enmity about them, and such things, and yet are in the lust and pride, enmity and wickedness, stumbling at the Cross in which the Saint's glory is; for by this are the Kings bound in Chains, and the nobles in fetters of iron, even Lord Esau, and all the Princes of Ishmael, and Dukes of Edom, Esau's stock; and the Devil is King over all the Children of Pride: Read this, and tremble all you whose state this is; for it is not your talk of God and Christ, and of his Cross, that will at all avail you, while you stick fast in the driven-out-state, in which you are separated from the enjoyment of his life and presence, and not returning to the Rock from whence we were hewn, the tried everlasting foundation which is laid in Zion, by which every man's Works, Words, Professions and Religions must be tried and made manifest of what sort it is; For by this Line of true Judgement, he that says he worship's God, or loves God, and yet hates his Brother, is found a liar; and we know that all liars are shut out of his Heavenly Kingdom, and must have their portion in the Luke that burneth with the heavy displeasure of God, Rev. 21 8.  
Therefore I pray you brethren, be you now well advised in what you do, act, or speak, and consider the end of these things, & your own state as to Godward; for as for us, we are but strangers in the Earth (as our Fathers were) now we are awake, & the glory of it is but like a dream, without substance or satisfaction to the immortal soul; & we now perceive what the captivity of Babylon is, and the Whore which hath sat and reigned over all Nations and Kings of the Earth, and what that night and sleep was in which the Enemy came and sowed tares among the good Seed in the field; for we being returned toward the Land of the living (following the Light of Israel) the promises of our heavenly Father are fulfilling unto us, where he said, They shall return and discern between the precious and the vile, between him that serveth God, and him that serveth him not; between him that sweareth, and him that feareth an Oath, etc. and I will return unto them a pure Language, and they shall worship me with one consent: This the Lord is fulfilling among us, whom he hath gathered out of the many unclean Languages and false Worships, and vain Religions (the Whore's Dommions) to worship him in the Spirit and in the Truth, for such only he seeketh, and they are the true Worshippers, John 4.23, 24.  
Now I question not but you have heard how Cain offered sacrifice, and yet smote and slew his brother Abel, whose blood cried from the ground against him for vengeance; (may you not read this somewhat near? consider it) and God had no respect to his offering, who slew his brother, but unto his offering who was the sufferer, God had respect, as he hath at this day, who saith, To this man will I look, who is poor and of a contrite Spirit, and trembleth at my word: These things, and the ground of them you might perceive, if you were but truly awakened from the deep sleep of sin and death, and the pleasures thereof, which are but for a season; however the Trump of God is sounding, which shall ere long awaken you to judgement; then shall you see how you have striven against the love and mercies of God, and slighted the day of your visitation from on high, and have fought against God's Witness and Witnesses, to keep them in the perpetual Babylonish captivity, and Egyptian bondage and darkness: Be not deceived any longer, neither flatter with yourselves, for we are not blind nor mad, or in ignorance and error, as you have supposed, believed and reported (through which you have reproached and greatly abused us, and strengthened the hands of evil-doers, and cruelty against us without cause) but we are truly awakened by the voice of the Son of God, who hath opened our ears and understandings, and that eye, which the Serpent (the god of the World) had blinded; and now we see and know, that if any man love the World, or the things of the World, the Love of the Father is not in him, let him profess what he will. The Scribes and Pharisees could say much, could say, We have one Father, even God, and we are Abraham's Seed, and never were in bondage, etc. and kept strict the Sabbath, and fasted, and made long prayers, and paid tithe, and gave Alms, and read Moses and the Prophet's words very exactly, etc. and yet the love of God was not in them, as you may read John 8.33, 37, 39, 44. but they were of their Father the Devil, because his Works they did (notwithstanding their fair covering) and what was that? they persecuted and killed about Religion and Worship, as may be read at large in the Scriptures of truth, of the proceed (in that age) of the Rulers, chief Priests, Elders and great Professors, etc.  
Therefore take heed to yourselves, and to your own standing, and do not so hastily judge amiss of us, nor thus speak evil of us, nor abuse and persecute us, nor so grievously and cruelly afflict and oppress us any more about these things, or because we are not altogether like (or conformable) unto you in your ways and traditions, for God will plead with you about it: but rather judge yourselves, that you are not hastening with us as Lot out of Sodom, because of the wrath and vengeance which is swiftly coming upon the World of the ungodly, which they shall not escape; for I tell you, and that from the mouth of the living God, That a terrible storm, & dreadful hour is at hand, & except you run our race toward Zoar, you will be taken and destroyed, being found in spiritual Sodom and Egypt, and in the Babylonish Marketplace (of confusion, ungodliness, ignorance and unrighteousness) out of which the Lord of the Harvest hath called and gathered us into his Vinyard, where after our faithful labour therein, we receive, enjoy and rest in the joy of our Lord: And if you are found smiting your fellow-servants or brethren (like Cain) about these things, and eat and drink with the drunken (who are drunk with the Whore's Cup) and say in your hearts, The Lord delayeth his coming, he will come unawares upon you, and in an hour when you look not for him, and will cut you asunder, and give you your portion with unbelievers, abominable, ungodly and hypocrites, who shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth for evermore.  
Therefore remember to do as you would be done unto, for that is the Law and the Prophets; and as for Christ and his followers, they are not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them; and let us alone in our journey or passage toward the City or Paradise of the living God, who hath called and awakened us, and raised up our affections and desires, which cannot be satisfied with dreams, husks & painted things, likenesses or vain shows; for the Spirit of a man we are now come to know, which goeth upward, and are leaving the Beastial Spirit that descends downward into the Earth; and now we also know that none can learn our song but they whose minds through the patiented sufferings are redeemed from the Earth; for it's the song of the Lamband of Moses, which choosed rather to suffer affliction, then to embrace the Treasures of Egypt, or the pleasures of sin, which are but for a season; against whose brethren generation, seed and offspring, the Beast, the Whore and the Dragon, the false Prophet, Death and Hell, the powers of darkness and ungodliness make War, who shall be cast into the Lake that burns with fire and brimstone, even under the sense and feeling of the Eternal Vengeance of the Almighty God) there to be tormented day and night for ever and ever.  
But blessed are they who follow the Lamb, (in whose mouth is found no guile) whithersoever he goeth or leadeth, through the patiented sufferings, in the love unfeigned, they shall rest in the Land of the Paradise of the Fountain of pleasures at the right hand of God for evermore, Amen: hallelujah.  
And now hear, O ye Rulers and Teachers (by what flattering title soever you are called in this Land) of England, your nakedness is seen, as in the day in which you were born, and your hypocrisy and deceit God hath found out and discovered; therefore be ashamed and blush, and stand guilty before him, and repent if there be yet a minute or place left you, and do not strive any longer against God, and to cover yourselves any more with the Name of Christianity, while you are in the nature of Heathens, and in the way of Cain, persecuting and imprisoning about Religion and Worship; for it is Cain's mark in all ages, and the Heathens that knovvs not God, as it is written, and you may read it, Why do the Heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? (and its in vain for you to strive against the Decree and Work of God which he is bringing to pass) Mark, the Ragers are the Heathen that know not God; and these are the persecutors in all ages; these are in cain's way, as it is written Woe unto them, for they have gore in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam, (mark, woe is their portion;) and is not this your state, ye Rulers and Teachers of England? consider it in the cool of the day, and let God's Witness in your Consciences answer.  
For I tell you from God, and proclaim it this day amongst you, that woe & misery will be your end (if ye proceed in these things) which is already stealing upon you, and will overtake you as an armed man, and as a woman in travel, and you shall not escape: For do you think to prosper, or set up yourselves by striving against God and his marvellous Work and Will, which is to be done in Earth as it is done in Heaven? Do you imagine that your Laws or Decrees shall hinder or frustrate God's eternal and unchangeable Decree and Purpose, which is to finish transgression, destroy the Works of the Devil, and make an end of sin; and exalt truth and righteousness, the Mountain of his own House and Holiness, and to establish it a top of all Hills, and over all Mountains, which was before the Mountains and Hills were brought forth, over which it must be established; and to fulfil his promise made to Abraham and to his Seed, which must be as the stars of Heaven, and as the sands by the seashore for multitude? And will you yet strive to hinder the increase of God's decreed number? or will you limit his Seed that it might not spread and replenish the Earth, whose right it is to inherit the uttermost part thereof, and a multitude of the sea shall be converted unto him? Must not this be done which was spoken of by holy men of God, as they were moved by the Holy Ghost? Shall the wicked (which are like the chaff, and makes a mock at the move of the Holy Ghost, or Spirit) disannul God's determinate Counsel? Can you hinder the course of the Stars, or cause them to withdraw their shining? or number the sands by the seashore, or stop the ebbings or flowing of the Ocean? Or can you stop the rain, or cause it to rain by your power? Will the ice and the snow melt at your command? Will the fierce Winds obey your voice when it issueth forth of its treasury, and whirleth up and down the Earth? Or do you know whence it cometh, or whither it goeth? Will the thunder and lightnings be stayed, and the noise and brightness thereof cease at your command? If these things (and the like) you can do, then will I confess unto you, that you may go on and prosper, and prevail against the Heritage of the Most High, whom he hath blessed with everlasting blessings: But if you are not able to do these things, then in vain do you strive to set briars and thorns in battle against a consuming fire.  
For I tell you again in the Name and Authority of the Almighty God (the Jehovah of Israel) That if you still proceed in persecuting his people and dear children, as you have done, he will dash you in pieces like a potter's vessel, and confound and scatter you with destruction upon destruction, till you are become as the chaff of the Summer-threshing-floor, and as the ashes of the Dunghill, which the Wind driveth away, and your place shall be no more found, and your remembrance shall be a hissing and abhorring to Nations: This is God's Word of Life and Truth unto you,  
Remember Cain, the Pharisees, Egyptians and Sodomites, whose Works you are doing; your Name of Christianity stinks before God and men, and is even a proverb of reproach among Nations afar off. The Pharisees (who were persecutors) said they were Abraham's Seed, and had one Father, even God, etc. and yet were doing the Works of the Devil (who was their Father) ye hypocrites (whose state this is) shall not God's dread fall upon you? Will ye not tremble before his pure eye of jealousy, which beholds all your do, thoughts and words, though never so secret? Will you still say, is not the Lord among us, no evil can come upon us? Will you untempered-Morter-daubers, promise the Wall shall stand, and the daubers thereof be established, when God hath said, The Wall shall be no more, nor them that daub it? is there not a lying spirit, and deceitful tongue in the mouth of all these Prophets whom the Lord never sent? And are they not crying peace to the wicked (to whom is no peace from God) and preparing war against the just that cannot put into their mouths? And are not these the greedy dumb dogs that never have enough, and cannot bark to awaken the Witness of God in people's consciences, that they may arise from the dead, and stand up that Christ may give them light and life, in which they may see the thief, and be able to withstand the Robber.  
Did ever Christ Jesus or his Ministers, Apostles or Disciples, persecute about Religion or Worship, or run to the Priests of the Earth to uphold their Ministry? Or east men into Prisons for their bellies? or went to Law for tithes, or took triple damages (as you call them) and rob people that did refuse to hear them, as you have done? Mention one example in all the Scripture, or else be confounded for ever, and your tongues cleave to the roof of your mouths for ever: Or were not the Prophets. Apostles and Disciples of Christ always sufferers, and persecuted and imprisoned for their Testimony, and for righteousness sake by the Powers of the Earth, chief Priests and Rulers in all ages? Were they not haled out of the Synagogues, and brought before Rulers & Governors, and sometimes beaten and stoned, whipped, and charged to speak no more in the Name of Jesus? Was not this their portion from the great men and chief Priests and Counsels? And yet did not they learn in all Estates to be content? But are not you discontented who cast such into prisons for fear of losing your belly-god? And were not they unlearned and ignorant men in the Laws and Languages of the Rulers, chief Priests and Doctors? etc. And had not they Latin, Greek and Hebrew, that persecuted and crucified the just? And did not Christ say to his Apostles or Disciples when he sent them forth to Minister, Behold I send you forth as sheep in the midst of Wolves; be ye therefore wise as Serpents, and harmless as Doves; and take no thought what ye shall eat, &c, and what is set before you, eat, ask no question, etc. (than not to go to law about the in bellies, if not ask a question about such things.) And did not the Apostle say, such were enemies to the Cross who minded earthly things, whose God was their belly? which caused him even to tell of it weeping among the people, and said their and was destruction, etc. and that grievous Wolves would enter in, not sparing the people, after his decease; and hath it not been so these sixteen hundred years? Have not the people been grieved, rob and spoiled by those Wolves that soon got the sheep's clothing (the Apostles and Disciples words) and turned against the life and the sheep, and grieved them; and these Christ prophesied of before his departure, saying, False Prophets shall rise and deceive many (and love would wax cold, and iniquity abound, etc. by their fruits ye shall know them; they have the sheep's clothing, but inwardly ravening Wolves: Here is the true character of the false Prophets and false Apostles, and by this ye shall know them; Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Can you expect a harmless Life in a grievous Wolf? though he have the sheep's clothing, is not his nature greedy, and ravening, and devouring among the sheep and lambs? Do his covering change his nature? Hear this, O ye Priests and Prelates, Bishops, and the rest of your Brood, and consider and see who are the Thorns, and the Wolves, and the greedy Dogs that have never enough, the biters and devourers, tearers and renders of the sheep, and look about you, and behold yourselves, and see if you live in the life of what you speak, whether your inside agrees with the sheep covering, the Saints words, of which you make Merchandise; for God is renting off all deceitful cover, and you shall appear as you are to the view of Nations, and no hiding-place shall be found for the worker of iniquity; though he profess and say, Lord, Lord, yet he is cursed.  
Now if you say you are of Christ's sending, let it appear by abiding in his Commands and Doctrine; let us see you are sheep indeed, by your harmless life, and your contentedness in all Estates, not seeking the people's goods and money, but the good of their souls, and the glory of God, by bringing forth good fruits in the sight of men, by which (your Light so shining) they may glorify the Lord of Heaven, and leave grieving the people by minding your bellies, what you shall eat and drink, and wherewith you shall be clothed, &c: I say, eat of that bread which comes down from Heaven, and done't so much mind the earth, but be clothed with humility, & walk in love; for he that loveth not, knoweth not God: For the Apostles (of Christ's sending) were harmless, We seek not yours, but you; I have coveted no man's Gold, or Silver, or Apparel; and we have the Spirit of Love, and of a sound mind; (than not an earthly, but redeemed from it unto God, as Kings and Priests to reign over it) so if you be not found in this inwardly, as well as talk of these good things with the mouth and tongue outwardly, we shall judge you in the infallible judgement of Christ, that you are not sent of him, but are the contrary, against him, of Antichrist, the grievers, the thorns the raveners, of the stock of Cain, and lineage of the great Whore, Mystery Babylon, the false Prophets, by your fruits you are and shall be manifested.  
So consider these things ye Rulers and Teachers of England, and tremble and quake before the Lord God, and put your mouths in the dust, and be silent; for your covering are too narrow, and your bed too short, and God is stretching the line of true Judgement over you, which shall dash you as with an iron Rod, if you will not be humbled and confess you have sinned in all these things, and repent speedily, and do so no more: And this is the Word of the Lord unto you, which will shortly be fulfilled.  
Here followeth some Questions to be answered by the Persecutors, about Religion and Worship, who are usurping Authority over men's Consciences in such things which only belongs to God, and are neglecting their own duty and place (in not relieving the oppressed, and doing Justice, and ex cutting true and righteous Judgement between man and man) but are making it their work to ensnare the righteous, and oppress the innocent, and to strengthen the hands of the wicked, & encourage the evil-doers, for which things sake God will rebuke them, Psal. 82 & 83.  
Queen 1. PErsecutor, What is the Devil, of whom the Scripture speaks, that he is a Murderer from the beginning? John 8.44. And where is he now? And how was he a Murderer from the beginning? And about what did he murder from the beginning? And how doth he work in the hearts of the children of disobedience? And what are his works, and where are they which are manifest, which the Son of God was manifested to destroy? Eph. 2.2. 1 John. 3.8.  
2. What was Cain, of which the Scripture speaks, that he was of the wicked one? 1 Joh. 3.12. And what was the wicked one of which Cain was, if it be not the Devil? And how was Cain of the wicked one (or the Devil) if it were not because he persecuted and slew his Brother about Sacrifice and Worship? Gen. 4.3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.  
3. What is the great Whore (which is called Mystery Babylon) of which the Scripture declares, that she hath reigned over Nations, Kindred's, Peoples, Tongues and Languages and Kings of the Earth, seeing she is called the Mother (or original) of all Abominations of the Earth, and that in her is found the blood of the Prophets and Saints, and of all that were slain on the Earth? What is the Mother of all abominations, if not that Spirit that led out from God, and persecuted, killed and murdered about Religion and Worship? Whether all abominations did not proceed from this Spirit? And whether the Legions be not in that Vessel where this Murderer dwells, who is King over all the children of pride? Read Rev. 17. and 18. chap. Job. 41.34. Isa. 27.1.  
4. Whether the Devil was not Cain's Father, and the great Whore his Mother, seeing the Scripture saith, he was of the wicked one; and the Pharisees who persecuted to death about Worship and Sacrifice, were of their Father the Devil? John 8.44. And in the Whore (Mystery Babylon) was found the blood of all the Prophets and Saints, etc. and if all the blood of the Saints was found in her, then whether any can be found out of her, (when dilgent inquisition is made by the Spirit of the righteous God?) but if none of the righteous blood be found out of her, but all found in her, then whether Cain and the Devil were not of, and in this Mystery Babylon, the great Whore, who were Murderers from the beginning about Sacrifice and Worship; by whom righteous Abel was killed from the beginning, Gen. 4.  
5. What is cain's Mark, and cain's way, of which it is written in the Scripture, God set a Mark upon Cain, (or takes notice of him by something by which he may be known) and woe unto them, for they have gone in the way of Cain, etc. Now what is cain's Mark and his Way (canst thou answer me?) if it be not persecution and murdering about Religion and Sacrifice, in the wrath and envy, seeing the Scripture saith his countenance fell, and he was wrath, and slew his brother; and wherefore slew he him? because his own Works were evil, and his brothers righteous 
* Mark ye that swear and compel to swear, and imprison the harmless for not swearing; your works are evil, for ye transgress the commands of Christ Jesus, whom all are to hear and obey, who saith, Swear not at all; and they that obey him, their works are righteous, and God doth and will put a difference between them and you about these things, as it is written, even as between Cain and Abel. : Mark the occasion of persecution, and who are the persecuted, and of whom are the persecutors, seeing Cain was of that wicked one, who slew his brother about Sacrifice (a matter of Conscience towards God.)  
6. What is the Beast (and his mark or image) which carrieth the great Whore which all the World hath wondered after and worshipped, or bowed down to, seeing the Scripture saith the Whore sat upon many Waters, & the Waters were Nations, Tongues, Peoples, Multitudes and Languages, and she reigneth over the Kings of the Earth, who were made drunk with the Cup of her Fornications, and her Merchants were the great men of the Earth, etc. Rev. 18.  
7. And whether this Beast be not the great red Dragon which carrieth the great Whore, which stands ready to devour the Manchild of the true Woman which was fled into the Wilderness for a time, times and a half, into a place appointed? And whether this Child which the Dragon would devour, be not that Seed of the Woman which was promised should bruise the Serpent's head? And whether this Dragon be not the old Serpent the Devil and Satan, which rules in the hearts of the children of disobedience, whose Head must be bruised by the Woman's seed? And whether the Devil do not know he hath but a short time when this seed comes forth to reign whose right it is, Rev. 12.12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17.  
8. Whether this Seed or Child of the Woman (which must bruise the Serpent's head) be not Christ, or the appearance of God manifest in flesh among and in his despised and afflicted people in all ages? And whether the Dragon that would devour it, be not the Devil that rules in the hearts of the children of disobedience (the false Christians) stirring them up to persecute & murder about Religion & Worship, seeing Cain that did so, was of the wicked one, the Murderer from the beginning, & the blood of all the Prophets & Saints is found in the Mother of all abominations, which is carried (or upheld) by a Scarlet coloured Beast; Mark that: Rev. 17.3.  
9 And whether the spirit of this Beast (which carrieth this great Whore) do not go downward to the Earth, and feed upon the earth, and the things of the Earth, and minds the earth, its pleasures, pride, covetousness and ambition, and is pushing with its horns like the false Prophets, Ezek. 34. ruling with oppression and cruelty, and persecuting and afflicting about Religion and Worship, minding honour below, storming and raging for fear of losing the Devil's Kingdom & his works, which the Son of God the true Woman's Seed is come to destroy (in whom is known the Spirit of a Man which goes upward) but dust is the Serpent's meat, and upon his belly he goes all the days of his life, and no higher; there he feeds, and out of his dark holes he creeps, spitting forth his poison and venom against that which is always caught up to God out of his reach, though he cast out his fiery-like Floods after the Woman and her Child, and makes war with the remnant of her Seed (which are this day in being) which keep the Commandments (and have the Testimony) of Jesus: Mark, the Child whose Life the Dragon, Beast, Whore and false Prophet seek to destroy, is caught up to God out of their reach, and ever was, and ever will be: And this is the Word of the Lord God unto all persecutors and Earth (both Teachers and Rulers) about Religion, Sacrifice and Worship, you tread the outward Court; the Serpent bruiseth the heel (mark that) and not the Head; the Head is in the holy City, where the dogs, (the biters) whoremongers and murderers cannot come; but beware how you sport with the Vessels of the Lord, for they are holy that bear them, left the hand-writing on the Wall appear against you, and you be smitten with a final destruction; Dan. 5. throughout, and fear before the God of Daniel, who is persecuted for worshipping his God at this day among his Brethren, for he was a trembler at God's Word, Dan. 10.11.  
So remember you are once more warned, as God's Witness shall answer on your deathbed; if you go on in cain's way, you shall have cain's portion, banished from God's peace and rest, with greater punishments than you will be able to bear; and if you are in the Whore's way, in which the Pharisees was, professing of Religion, and making long prayers, and yet persecuting about it, you must partake of their woes & judgements; and if you are in the Beasts, Dragon, and false Prophet's way (and Balaams way) minding earthly things, greedy of filthy lucre, casting into prisons (for your bellies, pride, covetousness and Earthly Honour's sake) the innocent followers of the Lamb (the true Woman's Seed) that keeps Christ's commands, you must be cast into the Lake of fire in God's wrath and vengeance to be tormented for ever and ever, as it is written, Rev. 19.19: 20. & 20.10. & 14.19, 20. etc.  
Therefore try yourselves of what birth you are, whether you are of Cain or Abel; of God or the Devil, of the true woman (or Church of Christ) in deed and in truth, walking in his steps, in the self-denial, bearing witness for the truth, led from prison to judgement for the Testimony which you hold, and for the word of patience; for this declares his generation, Isa. 53.8.  
Or whether you are the Seed of the Adulterers and the Whore, which Isaiah speaks of, chap. 57.3. and John in the Revelations, which drunk the blood of the Saints. Read your state, and see who is your Father and Mother, for there is no daubing in God's sight with untempered mortar; you must be of the one, or the other; of Jerusalem the holy City, or of Babylon the great Whore; the false Church or the true you are of; therefore let no man deceive you with flatteries & smooth things, for this Testimony will stand before God, Angels and men, and I am thus far clear of all your blood, and you will be left without excuse whether you hear or forbear.  
W. B.  
Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer. Behold the Devil shall cast some of you into prison that ye may be tried, and ye shall have tribulation ten days. But be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a Crown of Life, Rev. 2.10.  
Have respect unto the Covenant, for the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty, Psal. 74.20.  
Matt. 7.15, 16. Beware of false prophets which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves; ye shall know them by their fruits.  
Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgement-seat, etc. Jam. 2.6, 7.  
He that loveth his brother, abideth in the Light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him; but he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes, 1. John 2.11.  
For this is the Message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother; and wherefore slew he him? because his own works were evil, and his brothers righteous. Marvel not my brethren, if the world hate you, we know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren: He that loveth not his brother, abideth in death; Whosoever hateth his brother, is a Murderer, and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life, etc. 1 Joh. 3.11, 12, 13, 14, 15.  
THE END.