A FAITHFUL TESTIMONY FOR God & my Country: OR, A Retro-spective Glass FOR THE LEGISLATORS, And the rest of the SONS OF THE Church of England, (So called) Who are found Persecuting the INNOCENT.  
London, Printed for the Author, in the Year, 1664.   

A faithful Testimony for God and my Country, etc.  
FRiends, had you by the greatness of your Valour invaded, and Vi & Armis conquered the Nation, or were they your subdued Vassals through the puissance of your Courage, whom you now pretend to sell for slaves, You had then had the Rigidity of Infidels for your Parallel: But for you who were amicably admitted into Trust and Government, to so much as offer to banish, or sell for slaves the freeborn Denizens of England, because they are Spiritually-minded, and for Conscience-sake cannot conform to the Carnal Ordinances of man, contrary to the Royal Law of God written in their hearts; I say, if this be not utterly below the Heroic Spirit of all Generosity as well as Christianity, let the holy Witness of God in all Consciences judge.  
But alas, poor mortals! what have you undertaken? Ye are as capable to divert the course of the Sun, or impede the flux and reflux of the Seas, as ye are to stop the spreading, conquering and flourishing growth of the Truth and Gospel of our Lord Jesus; for infinitely greater is HE that is in Us, than the God of the men of your World: wherefore in vain do you think through your unnatural coercion, to cause us to forsake GOD the Living Fountain (who hath never failed us) to drink of your lifeless puddles, or so much as deign to taste of those Husks, which you call Bread; I tell you, Nay, for we know better things; and our Rock is as invincible, our Armour in the Light as impenetrable, and our Fountain as precious and inexhaustible as when first we believed; and the holy Religion that we through the Light of Jesus in the Conscience do already conform to, and live in, is not of yesterday, as the ignorant most vainly imagine, nor the Principle leading thereto subject to change, or liable to expulsion; neither may we in the exercise thereof run shirking into holes, or skulk into corners by three or fours, as the now Pestiferous Locusts did a few years since, when the Powers of the Earth bid them be silent or took away their fleece: For through the Grace and Mercy which is infinite, we know and have believed in the Living God, and Jesus THE Christ, whom he hath sent to redeem and save his People from, not in their sins: And we have eaten (eternal thanks be to his holy Name) of that Flesh, and drank of that Blood which admits not of hunger or thirst after the Inventions or Traditions of man any more; and such knowing the immortal Truth through the Revelation of the Everlasting Gospel (for which they have an infallible Testimony to bear) cannot fly, although your Furnace were or should be made seven times hotter than it already is. Nay, nay; for our descent is legitimated by the Generator of the Just, and the Birth of our day is more Noble, our Principle and Spirit more public and true than so; and our mouths were not opened by, neither can they be shut in the will of man; insomuch, that what we receive in secret, that declare we openly and freely among you, for it admits of no limitation, neither fear we the gainsaying Jews of this Age; and if our Gospel and glorious Testimony be hid from any [in this the Lord's Day] it's only from such who perish through their own opposition or opposing the Light in themselves and others; for the Candle-Royal, the Everlasting Light of the Living-God, which is lighted, brought forth and set up, in and among the Land of the Living, cannot, is not whelmed under a bushel, nor can the prevalent in-flaming power thereof be extinguished by any humane Law.  
And yourselves cannot rationally think by this your unnatural Act (the effect whereof is, let a million be concerned, and an hundred thousand perish, rather than the inordinate wills of a very few be crossed) to so much as influence or endear any sober man in the Nations: and for Converts you need not expect one; some few ye may divert through hypocrisy into further deceit, who with their Bodies for slavish fear or dishonest gain, may conform, and ye may also therewith gratify the Profane, and cause the Seed of Evil-doers for a season to rejoice: But O! the Cries and Prayers of the Oppressed, with the Tears and Groans of the Captives, the Widows and Fatherless will further prevail than many Armies of that uncircumcised Leaven.  
But there are some so impudent to allege that this your Act is not against Conscience, (but it's like they are such who have made shipwreck of their own that thus babble) however the indelible characters written with the effused blood of the Innocent and truly Conscientious (which will never cease to cry) have by woeful experience manifested all such Allegations to be fictitious and a lie; wherefore in vain doth the Serpent go about to Hid himself there. Indeed the Tail of the Dragon is not the Head of the Serpent, neither are his Teeth and Tail his Cloven-feet: for have you not a Law that would compel us to your Worship? and another that excommunicates us because we do not come? Is there not a third of the same species, that robs and imprisons us for Antichristian-Tythes? and a fourth that would likewise compel us, against a positive Command of Christ, to swear; and is there not a fifth and sixth, in case of refusal, that praemunires and requires us upon pain of death to abjure the Land? Interweave with the sweep of this Drag, that of your own making, prohibiting our Meetings, and requiring us also to swear upon pain of being sold for Bondslaves 
† For who can be so injurious to his own reason, to pay for his being transported against his own consent; and then the words of your Act (so far as I remember) are, The Sheriff may distrain, and for want of distress he hath power to contract with any Merchant, etc. that is, he hath power to sell me for seven years. ; and if It, with the rest, make not up a complete Labyrinth of Thraldoms against Conscience, then judge thou O Righteous Judge of Heaven and Earth!  
Is this the Indulgence so often promised to tender Consciences? and did not the King say in his late Declaration, That he was an Enemy in his nature to Sanguinary and Capital Punishments? If to Banish an Innocent man from his Wife, or a tender mother from her innocent babes and husband, be not capital or sanguinary punishment; Nay, if it be not the most exquisite of Cruelties, judge thou O Lord my God, for thy Judgements are, and will be just, and thy Decrees are righteous altogether, and in thy season shall most surely be fulfilled, although at the present thy Enemy's rage, and the Rulers in the Earth decree the Banishment of thine Anointed forth of their Land.  
When first I heard that such a Bill was preparing to be offered in Parliament, I said in my heart, Can, Dare, or will any, called Englishmen, give their consent to the passing thereof? How! the People's Representatives in Parliament give their consents to punish the most innocent Natives with no less than Banishment, and upon their return with Death, for the exercise of their pure Consciences to God  

To Death such immane Crueltyes, I shall decry,  
And with my Blood I'll freely seal,  
Your Act's against the Commonweal.   

Also know all the Actors, by your Act unminded,  
That it's no Law till Magna Charta be rescinded,  
Though with't you do and may the Innocent vex,  
Not minding SALUS POPULI SUPREMA LEX.   
Well, if it were possible for you to obtain your wills, and that you could rid out of the Nation all such who for Conscience sake, in obedience to Christ's Command, cannot swear, nor, as moved by his holy Spirit, forbear to meet often together, to wait upon and serve the Lord; neither Conform to your Church-Worship (And what man that strictly feareth God in any measure, doth not some of your Laws against Conscience reach?) Who should then Blow the Earth, and maintain the Industry now used therein? It's not Profaneness, Drunkenness, Oaths, Lies, Lust and Persecution, and such who nourish their hearts in the Sensuality of all manner of Uncleannesses, (though Sons of your Church) that will be long able to give to Caesar, or put into the Hirelings mouths; and then to be sure, if they are not very much degenerated from their old nature, they'll prepare War and contrive Insurrections, the prevention whereof, is the alleged pretention why this your Act of Prevention was passed against the Innocent [but it is more than palpable, it's the exercise of our holy Conscience to God that is struck at: For if really and alone to prevent Insurrections, was the Cause why the Act was passed, what's the reason that Women, and Men past sixty, or otherwise impotent were not excepted?] But to cut short all such pretention; I tell you plainly, it's time enough for an Englishman to be impeached when really guilty, and to suffer when matter of Fact is fully and legally proven. I am sure that's the hereditary undoubted Right, absolutely due to the meanest person born within the English Nation. And that good Cilician, Paul, being ensnared for the exercise of his pure Conscience, as at this day we are, Pleaded the Privilege of the Nation and City whereof he was; and those generous Heathens, Claudius Licius, Felix, Festus and Agrippa did not deny him his Birthright, but like men of noble minds, permitted him to speak for himself to the full; ingenuously admitting his Appeal unto Caesar, who though a professed Heathen, suffered Paul, a Christian, not only to live, but also to preach Christianity in Rome, no man molesting him; so that, that great Emperor did not employ his Soldiers (like Brutes) to pull Paul and his Friends out of his House, and break up their Meetings, though it's most probable he had ofttimes with him an hundred times four, besides them of his Family; and yet it was not ignorantly called, A Seditious Conventicle, etc. But the accursed High Priest of the Jews who read the Law, as your Priests do the Prayers that you call Common, and talked of the Messia to come, as yours do of Christ now he is come, insinuating with the Rulers of the Earth then, as at this day, being assisted with the base sort then, as now, suffered Paul to be smitten and abused contrary to the Law, as at this day we are: And was it not the Hirarchy then, who sent their Armed Mercenaries, Satan's Vassals, with their suborned Judas, to seize upon, and hale the Innocent Lamb of God before their Judgement Seat, or pretended Spiritual Court; where, by a Law incontinently, they condemned the Saviour of the World, prevailing (through their subtlety) with Pilate [even against the Witness of God in his conscience] to give up Jesus the Just One, to the Crucifiction, (in whom he found no fault) and deliver to them and their accomplices Barrabas a Murderer; and Pilate having once drank-in the Priests Sorceries, fell below the state of a man, permitting his Soldiers to Spit in his Saviour's face, Crown him with Thorns, Strike, Mock and Revile him on the Cross, give him Gall and Vinegar to drink, cast Lots for his Garments, receive the Priest's Bribery to lie; all which was as far beneath the Nobility of the Romans, before the Priest's spirit had entered them, as our Usage at this day is beneath the spirit of True Englishmen, and contrary to the Fundamental Laws of the Land whereof we are Freeborn.  
For in the first place, We are not only illegally seized upon, Dragged through your Streets and Cannels, knocked down, Hair and Garments rend off, Blood drawn, bruised and beaten to excess, even several to death, and many other most sordid immanities' (against Law) done unto us (which a large Volumn will not contain) but as illegally sent to Prison; and when Prisoners, and brought before Judicatories (so called) denied to be heard; our mouths stopped at the Judges command, by the hand of the Common Hangman and other assistant miscrants, with Gags, and by thrusting nasty handkirchifs, rolled up, into the months of the Innocent ready to sufficate them; also striking of them many dreadful Blows with great Canes or Cudgels (at least a hundred) upon their bare heads and other parts of their bodies, and this by command, and at the Bar of Justice (so called) and for no other 'Cause but legally pleading for their Liberties and Estates, having been a considerable time falsely imprisoned, and aught by the Law of the Land, at least to have been freed, nought being found or proven against them. But instead of receiving any manner of Justice, most rediculously and impertinantly was the Oath of Allegiance, imposed as a Snare upon them; for refusal whereof they were forthwith premunired, and their Estates and Liberties in this horrid manner raped from them.  
As likewise since, at the same place, to wit, the Sessions-house in the Old-Bailey London, about forty Friends were brought from Newgate thither, and set to the Bar; a false Indictment read against some few of them, and for fashion-sake a Jury impannell'd; some Witness, such as it was, but not being sufficient to prove the Indictment, the purport whereof was, For being at an Unlawful Assembly, Seditious Meeting, Conventicle, or Worship, contrary to the Lyturgy of the Church of England, or such stuff so far as I remember. After twice going out, the Jury brought in their Verdict, That the Prisoners were not guilty of any Seditious Conventicle, Unlawful Assembly, or the like. Whereupon they were exceedingly menaced, furiously interrogated, their Verdict by the Judge (so called) refused, and by him six of them bound-over to answer it at the Kings-Bench Bar; and all this, because they could not without sufficient Witness, contrary to their Conscience, find the Innocent Guilty. Are not the Jury Judges of matter of Fact (at least) and to give their Verdict according to their Conscience and Judgement? and is not the Judge obliged to receive the Juries Verdict, and acquit the Prisoner, or give Judgement accordingly 
* See one of your own Precedents in that case, the substance whereof is this, so far as I remember; (viz.) An Innocent man was indicted for Felony; the Witnesses swearing against him, the Jury brought him in Guilty; and notwithstanding the Judge himself knew the man indicted was innocent, and likewise, knew the person that did the Felony, yet he was forced to pass Sentence upon the Innocent, because the Jury had brought him in guilty; and all the Judge could do was, to reprieve him until he had got his Pardon from the King. : But these Innocents' were remanded to Prison (though cleared by the Jury) and there to remain. This is not all, (although so abominable, that I do believe the like hath not been done in England in any Judicatory this many hundred years) but two days after, twenty Friends (or ) Men and Women, were at the place aforesaid, upon the authority of sic volo sic jubeo, sentenced to Banishment without any Jury at all, or being legally heard, notwithstanding they never refused, according to their understandings and a good conscience, to plead the general Issue, the which with one voice they then affirmed to the judge in the face of the Court; (so called) though it be most evident (by the London Juries usage) that pleading or not pleading, jury or no jury, is much at one. As was also somewhat manifested at Hicks' Hall the same week, where the Grand jury, at their first and second going forth, could not find the Bill; but being checked and threatened to be fined, at their third going forth (the Clerk of the Peace going up to help them) it was said the Bill was found; I say, it was alleged it was found, but it was not clear to many (if any) of the bystanders. How ever, with such Witness and Petty-Jury as they were, there were likewise sentenced to Banishment Twelve Innocents', to any of the King's Plantations, Virginia and Barbados excepted: but one of the Justices (so called) informed the Judge that Virginia was one of the places excepted in the Act; then he mentioned Hispaniola, (a place that never yet belonged to England) and one that stood by and heard him, said, Oliver did not get that for you; so that at that time he did not condescend upon any particular place. Indeed the man was greatly confounded, insomuch that his lips trembled exceedingly when he pronounced his confused Sentence, which to me was an infallible sign that God's hand was against him.  
As for the illegal, absurd and cruel proceed last Assizes and Quarter-Session holden at Hertford, where by Banishing twenty nine innocent true Men from their dear Wives and tender innocent Children (sixteen of them being married, and several of them already shipped) hath on your part, and by virtue of the Authority derived from you, in effect made sixteen Widows, and at least forty or fifty Fatherless Children; the which being already malafama through and through the Nation, I shall but only mention it, and as dung, amongst the rest of the precited inhuman Violences, spread it before you; that so you may plainly see, if prejudice utterly blind not, how we are really enslaved, and contrary to Magna Charta and the most wholesome Laws of the Land, destroyed in our Lives, Liberties and Estates, even by the power that is derived from your late Act. Since the unnatural birth whereof (where the Magistrates through God's Mercy to them and us have not been restrained) have not our Persons been imprisoned, and our innocent Blood drank as freely as other cups of Vice and Pleasure? Not less than the bodies of twenty seven precious Souls destroyed, in and through Cruel Imprisonment in Newgate, since your Act became in force; being taken, and Imprisoned to death, only for worshipping the Lord their Maker in the Spirit and in the Truth. Is not this turning of Justice backward, and Equity into Cruelty? makes not such do your Thrones of Justice (so called) to become Stages of Infamy, and your most legal theatres most artificial Aceldamas? and think ye that the Living God of Heaven and of Earth will not visit for these things, and make a dreadful inquisition for the Blood and Sufferings of his Innocent Seed? YEA, YEA, YEA, as sure as he is God; and its more requisite for you, to expect the revelation of his Indignation, than daily Bread. What can I say? You will as surely feel his Justice, as ever you saw his Mercy; and your whole Arm of Flesh shall be no more able to deliver you from his Vengeance, than one single Reed; wherefore, in vain do you fight against God in his Seed, or go about to limit his Holy Ones in the exercise of their holy Consciences, to your way, or number. Had not Christ twelve Apostles, and did the ignoble Jews go about to restrict him to the number of five? and were not ofttimes several hundreds, and sometimes thousands conveened to hear him and them preach? though indeed they were, as we now are, by the same Antichristian and Hierarchical-spirit cast out as Evil-Doers, thought not worthy to live; commanded to speak no more in that Name; called Sowers of Sedition, Pestilent Fellows, Ringleaders of Sects, Perverters of the Laws, Turner's of the World upside down, etc. However, these our Primitive Predecessors fearing and obeying God, rather than man, met often together, sometimes in the Field, sometimes by the Seaside, sometimes at one Friends house, and sometimes at another, or the like. And did not the Apostle incite the True Christians, to meet often together, and rebuke such who forsook the Assemblies of the Saints? wherefore some grew weak, and others fell asleep. And whether do you think its juster before God, for us to obey the Spirit of Christ in Us, and follow the blessed Example of him and his holy Apostles, or your Edict? And was Daniel a Rebel, when he broke the Decree of Darius, King of the Medes and Persians, whose Statutes are said to be unalterable? Yet holy Daniel valued not the anti-conscience Law of the King his Master (whose immediate Servant he was) but boldly opened his windows, and prayed to his God as at other times. And for my part, I tell you plainly, I purpose in my heart, all the days of my life to wait upon, and pray to my God, as at other times, as holy Daniel did, notwithstanding your Decree to the contrary; infallibly knowing, my God can deliver me if he please: but as to mine own part, whether my days shall be many, or few, my death public or private, O Lord, thou knowest I am not at all anxious or careful in that matter. And as I would not be profuse of my Blood, even so I abhor the very thought of being niggardly of my life, for the further Testimony of the Gospel and immortal Truth, as it is holden forth and dispensed, by those depicable, yet precious Ones, (who tremble at his Word) in scorn called Quakers.  
Wherefore thy Will, not mine be done, O God most Wise.  
Christ's Cross I love; the Pain, the Shame, I utterly despise.  
Your Banishment, your Goal and Gibbet I defy;  
When you are ready so am I, for God and's Truth to die.  
However, it had been but reasonable among men, before you had passed a Decree to Imprison, Fine, Banish, sell for Slaves, and upon their Return, to put to Death so considerable a part of the Nation, as we (and others concerned in your late Act) are, to have conveen'd a sufficient number of your Priests (for whom you thus drudge) and Us together, and yourselves have heard if they could have convinced us, that we held or declared any thing for Doctrine or Religion derogatory to God, or Christ Jesus the Light of the World; or that we had preached for Hire, or divined for Money, handfuls of Corn or pieces of Bread, (as the false Prophets did and do) or if they could have plainly evinced to you, we had like Belly-gods, idle Drones, greedy Dumb-dogs who can never have enough, robbed the Nation of the Tenth, or seventh part of their Estates and yearly industry, than it had been time to have cried Away with them: for such men, as such, are indeed pernicious to the Publick-weal, a burden and a plague to our Nation.  
Or rather, in the first place, immediately after God had permitted you into outward Power and Government, It had been fit for you to have put on sackcloth and ashes, and in humility of soul have turned inward, and waited there in brokenness of heart, at Wisdoms gate, that so ye might have come to have felt and known what the Lord had meant (considering what bad men you had been) to devoul such undeserved Trust and Power upon you. But alas, alas, instead of doing thus, have ye not turned the Grace of God into Wantonness, Pride, Oaths, Persecution, and many other unutterable Abominations 
* Him that's free I neither interrogate, nor accuse, although I expect he that's most guilty should be ready to throw the first stone at me. ? And can you expect aught but a suitable reward, and that God should make a dreadful decision betwixt the Just and the Unjust, betwixt them who serve him, and them who will not serve him themselves, nor suffer others? Indeed, were I so vicious as very very many of the sons of your Church are, I should rather expect the eternal Vengeance of the dreadful God forthwith to sweep me from the face of the Earth, than his intolerably provoked Mercy should permit me to live one day longer to blaspheam. And truly, friends, the Whoremonger, Swearer, Liar, Drunkard, Adulterer and Idolatrous, Persecutor be you assured God will severely judge; and the Thirsters after the Blood of the Innocent shall not live out half their days, and the Memorial of the Wicked shall Rot.  
E. B.  
THE END.