ONE outcry More against tithes. Unto the Chief RULER of the Nation of ENGAND, and all that are with him of God permitted to be in present Authority, whether Parliament, council or Army; by whatsoever Name or Title known or called: But in a more especial manner, To such of them as are yet remaining faithful unto the former declared for, and never to be forgotten Cause of KING JESUS, who are such as have not departed, through sinning against the light of a good conscience, by opposing such as would have promoted the same, nor have sought by any secret endeavours to hinder and obstruct the performing to God Almighty, and making good unto his poor every-ways-wronged people, viz. All those many National-Engagements, Declarations, Remonstrances, Protestations, Vows, Oaths and Covenants, with solemn Appeals, which unto him were in the days of greatest distress made for obtaining deliverance from zions destroying bloody Enemies, to the end Christ's Kingdom might be advanced, and Satan's Kingdom of Tyranny defaced, and the Government of the Lord God of Israel, by his holy, just, and good Laws, Ordinances, Statutes, and righteous Judgements be established in the room of the Pope's destroying Power, which upholdeth wicked devouring men as yet to tyrannize over the dear Saints and Servants of God for their consciences, as much as ever they did in the King's time, who in his Days regarded not what tyranny by his Power, and in his Name was done against the Members of Christ, as did appear by his suffering of them to be so inhumanly used as they were, both by imprisonments, banishments, and setting of them gagged in Pillories, burning of them with hot Irons, and cutting off their ears from their heads, besides whipping and stocking, with many more bloody cruelties; all which cruelties being by the King suffered and connived at, was the only cause why the wrath of God with his revengeful Judgements came upon him, his posterity, and the three Nations of England, Scotland, and Ireland, &c.  
And yet notwithstanding, you that are in present Power know these things, do even as he did, suffer the Saints in your Name, and by your power daily to be imprisoned, and otherways afflicted; and that you may not be ignorant thereof, I have been moved to make the same known unto you by way of declaration, which is grounded upon the Holy Scriptures; wherein is contained the manner of our sufferings, and by whom: Together, with serious Advertisements concerning the abuse of Power, and the abominations of Priesthood, the wickedness of Lawyers, with them combining for to destroy the Just from off the earth.  
Written the beginning of the second Month, 1657. by ISAAC Gray's, Prisoner for the cause of Christ in the Wood-street Compter, London, where I have been kept above three years; Given forth for the sake of such as with myself do suffer for the testimony of Faith and a good Conscience.  For if I build again the things which I have destroyed, I make myself a transgressor, Gal. 2. 18. And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and dost the same, that thou shalt escape the judgement of God? Rom. 2. 3. Let all such therefore take heed that their own wickedness of backsliding do not come when it is too late to correct them, let him that is wise in heart read with understanding, Jer. 2. 19 
LONDON, Printed for the Author, and some of them are to be sold at the Black-More, near Fleet-Bridge, 1657.   

The unlawfulness of the National Priesthood, with their unjust demands proved by way of grounds & reasons, laid down according to the holy Scriptures, why there ungodly Wages of tithes, by the suffering, persecuted, and every ways afflicted Members of Christ Jesus in this their day of faithfulness to him, are denied, as by this following Declaration will be made appear.  
HUmbly showeth unto you, O ye Rulers of the people, the abominations which are committed in the matters of tithes by the called Ministers of England, and others, for as much as that it doth evidently appear by the Law of the Lord God of Israel, tithes were given to Levi and his sons, and to such as with them were appointed of God unto the Office of the first Priesthood, and none else, who had a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the Law, that is of their Brethren, as may appear; of which Priesthood the Priests of this Nation are not; for they cannot prove themselves made by the Law of God, as the first Priesthood was; neither can it be made appear they ever received from the Lord God of Israel any such commandment for their taking tithes of the people of England, as the Aaronical and Levitical Priesthood did for their taking tithes of their Brethren the children of Israel; as for the Priests of this Nation it will appear they never were made Priests of God, but by the late Bishops, who themselves were formerly made by the Pope of Rome, as I shall make appear towards the later end of this Treatise, by the laws and Statutes of this Nation  
And again I find that the Priests, the Levites, and all the Tribe of Levi had no part of Inheritance with Israel, and therefore were they appointed to eat the Offerings of the Lord made by fire; because they had no Inheritance amongst their Brethren, for the Lord was their Inheritance; Read Deut. 18. v. 1, 2. And as it doth appear by Moses in his refusing to give them any possessions of Lands with their Brethren after God had given them victory over such of their Enemies as they became possessors, viz. of the Lands of those many Kings which were slain of them by the edge of the sword; and nothing was by Moses given to the Tribe of Levi, because said he, the Lord God of Israel was their Inheritance, as he had said unto them, Josh. 19 3, &c.  
And again it doth and may appear, that the Lord God of Israel did appoint storehouses, unto which the people were expressly commanded in the time of the first Covenant for to bring their tithes, that thither the widow, the Fatherless, and Stranger, might also come within the Gates of the Priests to be filled; by which it is manifest, That the widow, Fatherless and Stranger had as much right to the tithes as the Priest; through which relief there was not a beggar in Israel; neither were they (the Priests and Levites) permitted to persecute any upon treble Damages who did not bring their tithes according to the Commandment of the Lord; for they that did neglect were cursed with a curse, as it is evident, Mal 3. Now the contrary doth appear among the Priests of England; whom I have heard often say, They were of God's own Tribe of Levi, and yet live in the practice of such abominable things, and do also justify such as with them do the same, as never was committed nor done in the time of the first Priesthood, as is daily made manifest in that unsufferable wickedness of theirs in taking away people's cattle out of their yards, and Goods out of their Houses for pretended tithes upon treble Damages, which is three for one, against the express law of God; whereby it doth and may appear unto such as are with myself of the seed of Israel, That it is not only the priest's fault alone, who are not of God, but you sin in suffering of them, as you are the Rulers of the people, who do permit them in your Name, and by your power, to do what they do: These evils rightly considered, doth give a discovery that you are departed from the Lord God of Israel, whom you once declared for, as doth appear by your taking part with the Priests, who are his Enemies; or else if it were not so, your consciences would teach you to obey, observe and keep the Laws; Statutes, Commandments, Precepts and Judgements of the Lord as well as myself▪ who for keeping the same do suffer; which would not be if you did stand in the counsel of the Lord, which than you would seek to do his will by seeing his Laws duly and truly executed upon such as are the breakers thereof, which would cause your days to be prolonged in the Land wherein ye yet live as so many Enemies to that most holy God, whose just and righteous Laws yea even hate to obey, observe, and keep, and in effect do amongst yourselves conclude, That the Government which God Almighty did appoint his people to be governed by according to his righteous Order, which by you is not judged good enough, nor wise enough to be governed by in your generations, as is evident by your ruling of the people with such Laws as you and other transgressors before you did from Imagination make, and set up to oppose the Laws, Commandments, and Statutes of the only wise God; for which wickedness of theirs so committed, the just judgement and vengeance of the Lord hath from one generation to another destroyed both them and theirs from off the earth, and yet you are not sensible for what they have been cut off, although he hath made use of you as Instruments in his hand to cut off the late King for his disobedience to the Lord God of Israel, who stood not in his counsel, but was driven aside by the flattery of wicked Priests and Lawyers as you are, although little notice by you is taken thereof.  
I therefore desire from my heart in love to your souls, that you did fully understand and know wherefore the Lord did permit you to put the King to death, and then you would seek how to do his will, and not your own; and than who do you think would harm you? but because you do not, therefore it is that you delight not in the Law of the Lord, as King David his servant did, for which cause plots and conspiracies are daily and justly ●y him suffered for to be contrived against you, which hitherto hath been discovered to that end and purpose, that you might be warned for to return unto the Lord from the evil of your doings, before destruction in good earnest doth come upon you, and then it will be too late to seek repentance, or to wish you had unto God and his people paid your vows; now know, that through your disobedience unto him whom you have promised reformation unto, and yet have not performed what you have so promised, the number of of oppressors under you have taken boldness for to increase; at which the lying National Priests do rejoice, who do in like manner make their boast, and say, That they will have tithes paid unto them upon force, by such people as do refuse for conscience sake, or else they will take away their goods, which daily they do in your Name that are the chief Rulers of these three Nations, viz. England, Scotland, and Ireland; and by your Power they also imprison the Saints as they did in the King's time, for that they cannot in conscience pay tithes; the Priests excusing the manner of their tyranny so committed, doth lay the fault and blame upon you, they saying they are enforced to do what they do because you require of them Offerings or first Fruits, which they cannot pay unto you, unless the people first pay the same by way of tithes unto them; now if it be so betwixt you and the Priests, then where is that Liberty of Conscience performed, with your former Engagemens, Declarations, Remonstrances, and those many Oaths, Vows, and Covenants discharged, which were made in the sight of heaven, in the days of your distress, when you were entrusted by the people of God (as their servant) to fight their battles, viz. at Dunbar, Worcester-Fight, and several other places, as you cannot but remember, was put forth under pretence of public Liberty, but are all yet unperformed, with your last Promise also, which you made to my loving friend, Mr. Jessie, and several other friends, concerning your taking away of that yet continued Antichristian Oppression of tithes, which should be done (said you) by the third day of Siptember, which was in the year 1654. or if they were not taken away then you bid them call you jugglers: now know, that had this last Promise with your former Remonstrances, Engagements and Protestations, &c. been by you really intended for to have been performed, according to what you pretended, than myself, who formerly have made redress unto you, and many more of the dear Saints and faithful Servants of the Lord God of Israel, could not have been by you suffered for to be thus ruinated in our outward Estates, many of us as are, and yet notwithstanding, our persons kept prison for that we cannot sin against our consciences in paying tithes; in which Prison I have been many times in danger of being thrown into the Hole through poverty, which hath made me unable of myself for to provide moneys for to pay my Chamber-Rents; so that if my sufferings must for conscience sake be by you still continued, then that you would be pleased to show some compassion unto me, by taking care for to have my Chamber-Rent satisfied, I shall remain very thankful to you for the same; through which kindness of yours, if I may so find it, I shall be the better enabled for to be kept from perishing till the Lord is pleased to give deliverance some other ways, it may be through the death of my cruel Enemies, if it may not come from you; for I am well assured from the Lord, a deliverance I shall have from my oppressors ere long. And thus having discharged my conscience in what I have already declared, I shall return again to my former Matter, from whence I am a little digressed.  
Giving of you to know, and all in Authority with you, That forasmuch as you by your Power do uphold the Priests of this Nation for to take the wages of the Law of the Lord God of Israel by way of tithes, which peculiarly was given unto the first Priesthood for their service done, which was their right both by Law and Commandment, during that legal Ministration: Now I say, the contrary doth appear by these Priests, for that they do not the work and service which the Law of tithes requireth should be done, therefore transgressors they are, and you also guilty of the same transgression, for that they are by you supported and upheld for to serve in their false Ministry, contrary to what the Lord hath appointed, who did command that these Priests in the first Covenant should be clothed with holy Garments while their service was by them a discharging, which the Priests of England do not appear in; neither have they in use the Water of Purification, nor do they serve at the Altar of the worldly Sanctuary, as the Aaronical and Levitical Priests did, who made ready all the burnt-offerings, Sacrifices, &c. Where I say is there an▪ of these services by our counterfeit English Priests done? neither do they circumcise as the first Priesthood did, who performed what was by them of the Law required according to the will of God, unto whom the right of tithes did appertain by way of a peculiar Gift for their work, and service done, as doth appear Numb. 18. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, &c. Numb. 18. 20; 21, 23, 31, &c. And now seeing that the Tythe-Egge-taking-Priests of this Nation have not donenor doth any of the services which the Law of the Lord God of Israel doth require; they are manifest rebels to God, and dissemblers with that people, we are by them seduced, for that they receive of them tithes, the wages of the Law, which did belong to the Levitical Priesthood, who left not their work undone as they do: And thus by their wicked actions they appear not to be called of God as those Priests were, who had storehouses to put tithes into, as is evident, Mal. 3. that thither the Widow, Fatherless, and Stranger might come read Deut. 14. 27, 28, 29, &c. for to be filled and satisfied within the Gates of the Priests, that there might not be a beggarin Israel: Now by what hath been already declared, it doth appear, That neither the Priests have right to tithes, nor none else. Yet notwithstanding tithes by the Laws of the Pope are forced to be paid in this Nation, and neither Widows, Fatherless; nor Strangers suffered for to partake with the Priests thereof, but instead of being out of them relieved, they are forced for to pay tithes, and such as do not, are by them imprisoned; never was there any such cruelties by the Priests under the Law unto the Widows, Fathersess and Strangers done, as is by these Priests of England, who are of the Pope, (but surely woe will be their reward according to what Christ hath pronounced, which will assuredly come upon them and their Assistances) for their binding heavy burdens upon the poor, too grievous for to be born, Matth. 3. never was there such Priests known since the world began, as these deceivers, deluders, and Seducers are, who do appear to be God's adversaries, with whom it shall go ill; read Isa. 3. And saith the Lord of Hosts, the mighty One of Israel, Ah! I will ease me of my Adversaries, Isa. 1. 24.  
Now having proved them to be no Priests by the Law of the Lord God of Israel, I shall also through his help and gracious assistance, make it appear that they are no Ministers of the Gospel, but such as the Apostle of them hath said should in the last days come, who accordingly are come, which have a form of godliness, as all false Professors have, but deny the Power thereof, as he hath also said they should do, who are crept into the Houses of the cruel Beast, which for them was provided, where they promote his worship and service whose Ministers they are, for which they receive tithes, leading silly women captive, laden with sins, led away by them with divers lusts, ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth; and as Jannes and Jambers withstood Moses, so do they also resist the truth, being (as by their actions doth appear) men of corrupt minds, who are reprobate concerning the Faith; but they shall proceed no further then unto the making manifest of their folly and madness, as theirs also was made manifest: Thus by the light of Christ in my conscience am I come to see what the Priests are, and their upholders, in despite of their fair pretences, and am made able to witness the truth fulfilled according to the sayings of the true Minister of Jesus Christ; read the 2. Epist. of Paul to Timothy. 3. ch 1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, v. &c. and for which Testimony of mine born against the Priests (for Christ) I am come by them, and such as with them live by tithes, for to suffer persecution; which are such evil men and seducers as the Apostle and true Minister of Christ hath said should wax worse and worse, and being deceived shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power, who now are unto me, and all the enlightened of Christ, known for to be of that sort which the Apostle had a foresight of in the mystery of Iniquity, wherein they are now come forth in their proper colours of deceivableness, of all unrighteousness, which by them is made use of instead of the holy Garments, of the true Priesthood, they receiving not the love of the Truth, that they might be saved; for which cause saith the Apostle God shall send them strong delusions, that they should believe a lie, that they all might be damned who believe not the truth, but have pleasure in unrighteousness, as doth appear by their disorderly walking in all manner of pleasure and idleness, which the true Ministers of Christ did witness against, who said We did not eat any man's bread for nought, but wrought with labour and travel night and day, that we might not he chargeable to any; not because we have not Power, but to make ourselves ensamples unto such as follow us, which the called Ministers of England do not, but are enemies unto both their example, and such Saints as do witness the same life and Ministry; but the Priests do live upon the maintenance which they gain by making use of the power of the World, by which they take away from the poor the benefit of all their labours, which truth I hope is made manifest unto every one that hath but reason in them, as well as unto the suffering Saints, which is the fruits by which they are made manifest, according as Christ hath said, Matth. 7. By their fruits ye shall know them; and was there ever such fruits of robbing and spoiling people's Goods, and imprisoning of the Saints and faithful servants of the Lord God of Israel since the world began, as by priests in our age, who surname themselves Messengers of God, and yet wrong and violence, robbing and spoiling is the fruits they bring forth, by which they are also known to be none of the Ministers of Christ, nor Messengers of God, but have made themselves fully manifest to be of the remainder of that cursed generation and stock of hypocrites, which were devourers of Widows Houses, as daily doth appear which cannot be denied, for there never was greater devourers than they are since the world began, who for a pretence make long prayers to accomplish their mischievous designs; and was there ever the like praying and preaching in any age as hath been in this our age or last days of finishing iniquity; under which pretence of theirs, the innocent who are departed from evil are become the prey of the devourer; but for their reward saith Christ, They shall receive to themselves the greater damnation; read Matt. 23. 14, &c. And saith the Apostle Peter in his second Epistle, chap. 2. They shall through covetousness, and with feigned words make merchandise of the p●ople; and was there ever such merchandise made of a people since they had a being upon the earth, as now is made by these called Preachers and Minister's of the Gospel, whose wicked fruits hath made them manifest to be those hypocrites and false Teachers which were afore spoken of, should proceed from the corrupt Tree, from whom the Man of God doth flee, to follow after Righteousness, Godliness, Faith, Love; Patience, and Meekness, 1 Tim. 6, 11, v. &c. in which life they, the Priests, are not found, as doth appear by their upholding and seeking to maintain by the power of the cruel Beast, that which Christ hath disannulled because of the weakness and unprositableness thereof, for that the Law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope made perfect, whereby we draw near to God, Heb. 7. 18, 19, v. &c.  
And now for to take away all obstructions, before I proceed further I shall give an account of my Faith and hope by declaring what Church I am of, that I so may remove the cause of jealousy, which is too often appearing in the ignorant, yea, even in such which makes a high profession of godliness, I shall therefore give you, the Rulers, and all that are wise in heart for to know, That I own the Ministry and Ministers of the everlasting Gospel, which is not of man, neither are they made by man, as the Priests of the Nation are but are such as Christ hath made, whose foundation standeth sure, which shall abide for ever, which changeth not, neither can it be shaken, being built upon the foundation of the Prophets and Apostles, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone, Eph. 2. 20. And I do also witness and declare, That all the Ministers of Christ have accordingly received a perfect Ministry, which is free, and not burdensome to any, because they belong to the true Church, whereof Christ is head, which is his body, according as the Scripture doth with me declare; which Church is the Assembly of the Righteous, who are holy, from which the ungodly are excluded, according as it is written Psal. 1. 5. The Lord knoweth the ways of the righteous, but the ways of the ungodly shall perish. I do also own the Ordinances of Jesus Christ, which none that are unholy can partake of, and the worship of God, which is in spirit and truth; read Joh. 4. 23. And likewise the Law of God, which is holy, ●ust, and good, which never changeth by no diversity of place or time. And thus have I in brief declared an account of what Church I am, and also of my faith and hope, wherein I have truly discharged my conscience in brief, and for which I am at this day a sufferer.  
And so far as I can understand from friends which doth give me an account of what they understand from amongst you, that there is nothing to be expected from you, but more bonds to be laid upon the Saints; at which news I find in myself a comfortable satisfaction for to continue my waiting upon the farther good pleasure of the Lord God of Israel, rather than to sin against my conscience by giving way to break his Laws, Commandments, Ordinances, and Statutes, for which I have suffered persecution for above this eight years together; first by one John Lawson a drunken Priest, belonging to the Parish of Basinborne in the County of Cambridge, who for tithes took away my goods, and yet notwithstanding was not therewith contented, while such time as by his cruelty he drove me to fly with my Family twenty miles from that Town by the reason he had gained a Warrant from the Committees of that County for to carry my body to prison, refusing to take Bail, according as the Warrant did express. But soon after I had removed myself and Family from his tyranny, an other Enemy to the Gospel appeared against me, viz. one John Budging of the same Town, Farmer of the tithes, belonging to the Parsonage, who persecuted me at the popish Law; and after he had spent some time, gained power also for to carry me away to prison, notwithstanding he had carried away a great part of my Corn out of the field; through which tyranny of his I was forced to forsake my poor Wife and Children, which constrained me to put my life upon the danger of losing, by reason I fled to the Army of the commonwealth of England for refuge into Scotland, where as a soldier I did engage, in hopes of gaining not only victory over such as was then counted our Enemies, but also to have seen an end of that their power by which tyranny and oppression is still promoteed: And after the wars of Scotland were over, there followed on Worcester-Fight, where I was also bodily engaged; and after that field-batt;e was fought, I returned privatelely home to visit my poor Wife and distressed Family; but not long after my adversary obtained intelligence that I was at home, and thereupon did send certain sons of Belial for to carry me away to prison, which for to accomplish their end, did by force of Arms break into my house upon me; but being by me strongly resisted with Sword and Pistol, they durst not proceed the attempting to come up into my Chambers, where I was ready to receive them; they perceiving of it, did quarrel amongst themselves about raising of the Town for to pull down the house upon my head, they threatening sorely to have me forth dead or alive; I understanding the same, did through the help of the Lord make my pass out of an upper-window, leaving my poor Wife and Children to their bloody rage, who did accordingly set a drawn Sword to her Breast, and did threaten to kill her after they did see I was escaped: Many more insufferable cruelties have I and my Family undergone, which are too many for me to give relation: But to be brief; So precious was my liberty unto me when time was, that the very thoughts of a Gaol was unto me dreadful, that while I was at liberty, I was in mighty bondage through the continual fear of being betrayed, which at length was brought to pass by one Crooply a Broker, shopkeeper sometime of the town of Cambridge, who as I understand did receive from my enemy a pretty roundsum of money forto betray me; which accordingly he effected by his discovering where I was at a Friends house, at which house I was seized on by several sergeants, & brought away to prison, it being upon the third day of the second month, called April, in the year 1654. where I have ever since remained, and many times and often in great necessity, by reason my poor Wife hath not had left wherewith all to relieve me with the value of 12. d. in money all this time of my long and harsh imprisonment as she with weeping tears hath unto me expressed; and I seeing her distress, have been forced to borrow money for to relive her; this being the truth according to what hath been by me declared, I shall leave the consideration thereof unto you the Rulers for to judge according to conscience, whether these outrages by you ought any longer to be suffered, seeing they are done against the Law of the Lord God of Israel, and also against your own promoted Laws, as they are now become executed, seeing the Ecclesiastical Courts are down; and it is also contrary to Law for any man to be kept in prison as I have been and not relieved, insomuch, that had not the Lord in mercy towards me raised up some few of his beloved people, who live in the life of Righteousness, for to have taken care of me in this time of my harsh affliction I might unavoidably have perished not only by hunger and nakedness, but by cold also, for that I could not come to receive the benefit of the heat of fire for the space of two years and seven months: Now judge I pray you who are wise in heart, whether my sufferings have not been sad, yea or no, as to the outward man, although mine Enemies are pleased to laugh at my affliction, they saying, I would not accept of Liberty if it were given me, I like the Prison so well; but the Devil was a liar from the beginning, and therefore I shall not here stand to spend time to give any further answer to their lies, but do declare, I am forced to be a Prisoner contrary to the Law of the Lord God of Israel, and also the invented Laws of rebellious men, which are called the Laws of the Land. Now seeing I do suffer for conscience sake, this question I do propound; Suppose there was a Law now in force as was in the time of the late Bishops, by which I were commanded to take tithes, yet how could that Law be esteemed or ●udged wholesome, seeing it would enforce me to contribute unto such as do set up and uphold that which Christ hath abolished and mad of non effect, who hath also blotted out the handwriting that stood in Ordinances, by which tithes were paid, and hath the same nailed to his Cross. Col 2. 12. Now I appeal to both ●ou the Rulers, and also the Saints with ●ou, for to judge according to conscience, how this by me could be done without denying Christ to be come in the flesh, as all they do that at this day pay tithes, or receive the same: Your answer to this I humbly desire, seeing that Christ Jesus, who is now the second Priesthood, hath changed the first, and also that Law by which they took tithes, as it doth appear Heb. 7. But yet you Rulers may object and say, tithes are not now demanded for to be paid upon a Gospel account, but upon a civil account: My answer is, There was never no such Law which did require tithes for to be paid upon a civil account; but a Statute there is that was made the 27. of Henry the 8. chap 2. saith, tithes are due to God and holy Church. But than it may be further said, That although it be so, yet Cesar ought to have his due, and custom must be given to whom custom belongs; so that tithes upon the account of Custom and Tribute ought to be paid, for we must be subject to every Ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, that I do grant.  
But what makes that for the lawfulness of paying Tithes? not any thing at all, because they were not customarily paid, but by a Law and Commandment from God were they given to the Tribe of Levi & that Priesthood; which Law and commandment I am sure doth not own neither English Priests nor laymen: Therefore seeing there is no Law neither from God nor man that doth command tithes to be paid, then upon necessity it must be by you granted, there can be no transgression; and upon that account it will appear, that all such as do force tithes to be paid, are transgressors to God Almighty, for that they are deniers to do what his Law doth require, wherein is declared, That tithes were peculiarly appointed unto the Aaronical and Levitical Priesthood, as I have said from which the poor were relieved, and were not paid by custom, as doth appear Mal. 3. and such as did neglect to pay, robbed God, and not the Priests: And again, if custom should have been observed by the Saints and faithful Servants of God, then should they never have suffered such cruel persecutions as they did under the Rulers of the World, that must also be granted but because they deny to observe their customs so soon as they came to know the Lord, and did him obey, than came their sufferings upon them; as for Instance, That famous Witness of Christ the Apostle Paul, after he came to live in the enjoyment of the life, as the Scriptures beareth witness he did, than he denied to observe the customs of the Jews, for which he was by the rude multitude abused, and judged not worthy to live, as the Saints now are who bears witness unto the same truth in life, as Paul did, which made the Jews say, He taught all men everywhere against the people and the Law, and that he brought in Greeks to pollute the holy Temple, and had persuaded all the Jews and Gentiles to forsake the Law of Moses, saying they ought not to be circumcised, neither walk after their customs; whereupon all the City was moved against him, and the people ran together, and drew Paul out of the Temple, Acts 21. And is not the like trade of cruelty by the Priests of this Nation, and such as are professors, who are their proselytes, still carried on against the dear Saints and Servants of God, who are moved by the Lord for to go into their Steeplehouses for to declare against their filthy lying abominations; this cannot be denied, for it is too much manifested in the city of London; but to hasten: And also I find that Jeremiah said, The customs of the people were vain, Jer. 10. And likewise the children of Ifrael were from the Lord expressly commanded not to observe the customs in the Land of those people which the Lord for the same wickedness cast out, by which the Land was defiled, Lev. 10. 3, &c. Lev. 18. 1 Sam. 2. 13, &c. Now by what hath been declared, it doth evidently appear from the Doctrine of the Prophets and Apostles, which was one Doctrine that they taught the people against their Customs and vain Traditions of the Fathers, as they were contrary to the will of the Lord, although the Priests of this Nation do make a Trade of maintaining all such filthy customs, by which they make merchandise of the ignorant people, under pretence of being Ministers of the Gospel, although their actions doth witness them liars to their faces, who are proved no other than the Merchants of Babylon, and common waged servants of the cruel Beast, whose service they promote, as by their daily persecuting such Saints as do deny them and their filthy service, wherein they are manifested to be like unto the leper, which is very cunning in getting his prey, as Pline writeth, who saith, They have such a kind of smell, that all fourfooted Beasts are desirous to go after them, being allured with the pleasantness thereof; but yet the Beasts are so terrified when they see the grimness of their l●oks, whereupon it is that when they have enticed them to come near them with the sweetness of their smell, than they hide the●r heads, and so catch them, and pull them in pieces: Is not this the manner of the flattering Priests of the Nation, and such as are with them confederated? who allure the simple by feigning themselves to be the Messengers of God, and Ministers of the Gospel, by which sweet words they catch the ignorant, who indeed are no other than thieves that live by stealing, and putting to sail the words of the haul Prophets & the Apostles, under which pretence they hide themselves from being seen of the ignorant, to be such bloody savage Beasts of prey as they are; against whom I am engaged by my conscience for to bear witness, and also against such Laws, Statutes, Ordinances, Customs, and Prescriptions, which doth maintain and uphold them, which are by Enemies brought in against the Law of a good conscience, declaring that they are things void, and against Justice, which Laws must needs be known and acknowledged by the enlightened of Christ for to be inferior unto the Laws and Ordinances of Jesus Christ, who is appointed of the Father to be the true lawgiver unto his people, as he is their Saviour, who is the Prince of Peace, and the heir of all things, who is God over all, blessed for ever, who is the head of his Church, whereunto tithes are not belonging, nor forced maintenance permitted; she being the Spouse of Christ, is free from corruption and sinister affection, which the National false Church is not, unto which the Priests belong who take tithes according to the Law of their Grandfather the Pope of Rome, who first gave their Predecessors tithes to keep them from corruption and sinister affection, under pretence of rewarding of them for their service done for Holy Church, as doth appear by the Statute of 24. of Henry the eight, chap. 12 by which it is manifest, the called Ministers, Priests Preachers, Parsons, Vicars, Clarks, & Curates belong not to the Church of Christ, & therefore unholy are they who have no right to tithes, and upon that consideration ought an evil custom or usage by you the Rulers, who profess yourselves Christians for to be abolished, according to the saying of Judge Cook upon Littleton. Now I appeal unto the Saints with you, for to judge what greater evil there can be by you permitted answerable to the maintaining of such a generation of men as doth plead for the upholding of such customs and wicked usages as deny Christ, and doth command me and all Saints to give Wages unto such as never did nor doth any Work for me or mine; surely this must needs be judged to be not only against reason, but against the very being of a good conscience, wherein God hath written the Witness of his Eternal Law, by which I see all Laws, Customs, and Prescriptions for to be null and void, and are no Prescriptions nor Customs, being things void in themselves, because against Justice, as doth appear in Doctor and Student, chapter the second.  
Therefore I say again, That all Laws, Statutes, Customs, Usages, or Prescriptions, which would set up and uphold that which God by Christ hath disannulled and made void, is no less than High Treason against God for any of you Rulers for to attempt to maintain that which is against the Law of the holy One of Israel. And again The Priests of the Nation, who stand by your Power, have been both they and their Predecessors, so notoriously changing and changeable, that they have made nothing perfect; and for me to own such as is not of Christ is clearly against my conscience; and seeing they are not of Christ, nor are found one amongst themselves, nor indeed never were, as it doth appear by the Laws and Statutes of this Nation, which doth declare and manifest they have been always such as did with men and times change according to the wills of such as came, to get Rule and Domination over the People, unto whom they always became subject, as this generation of Priests have done, and would again do, I am persuaded, if an event turn or change of Government should come, than would they again quickly appear in their colours; or if God should order your hearts that are now in Rule to do his will, than would you soon prove what mettle they are made of, if you would promise to give every one of them 100 l. a year upon condition they would for bear their preaching, as they call it, and such as would not should have nothing, than I am confident they would be as mute as fish, and as dumb as he that never could speak.  
But to hasten, that so I may show and further make manifest that which the Priests can no ways deny, concerning their Predecessors, how that they in the time of Henry the eighth, some time King of England, denied the Pope, and would not own him any longer for to be their chief Head, although they had been by him made Priests; but yet notwithstanding, that they declined him, and owned Henry the eight for to be their chief Head, rather than they would hazard the losing of their beastly [read the Acts and Monuments of the Church.] Honours, Dignities and Possessions, which was brought in and maintained by tithes. And then they again in the time of Edward the sixth made another notable turn and denied the Mass-Book and received the Book of commonprayer at his Commandment. And afterward in the time of Queen Mary they denied the Common-Prayer-Book, and received the Mass-Book. And in the days of Queen Elizabeth they denied the Mass-Book, and again received the Book of commonprayer. And in the time of the late old Parliament this generation of Baalamish Priests, who love the Wages of unrighteousness, being willing for to follow the example of their Makers, the late late Bishops, denied the Book of commonprayer and received that Pamphlet, called the Directory, rather than they would offend their great Masters the late old wicked Parliament, who for their service done, did grant them an Ordinance for to take Tythe-Eggs, Pigs, and Geese, &c. which the true Ministers of Christ never did. And what they now own, I hope is sufficiently made manifest unto all the children of light, which makes them unto me of no esteem, they being such as care not who they own for their chief Head, that matters not to them, whether he be called of God, or chosen by his people, seeing they are Christ's Enemies, as doth appear by their petitioning of you the powers of the World, for to maintain and uphold them in what Christ hath changed, by doing the Will of God, who is heir of all things, which shall abide in the house for ever, unto whom the right of Inheritance doth belong, whose gift is free, and all that are made Ministers by him are free indeed, and as they have freely received, so do they freely give, by which they are known from the Ministers of Antichrist, who are of the corrupt Tree, as by their fruits they are known, Matth. 7. 15. who are deniers that Christ is to be come the second Priesthood, who is the unchangeable one, which shall endure for ever, although they believed it not, who are such as do teach another Gospel, according to what they have been taught of their predecessors, who as they are, were the upholders of that which Christ hath abolished, who do also justify the maintaining of those places wherein the Nations have served their gods, in which places they are now found doing the service of their Mistress, viz. the Whore of Babylon, although the Lord God of Israel hath commanded that those places should be by such as are his people destroyed; Deut. 12. 2. by this their service they make themselves clearly manifest not to be of God nor Christ, but men of corrupt minds, and being destitute of the knowledge of the truth, do suppose their gain which is brought in unto them by tithes, through the help of the power of the cruel Beast, is godliness, whose Ministers they are, as doth appear by their false Worship also, which by them is promoted, for which they have neither precept nor example in all the holy Scriptures; therefore are they enforced for to get their Wages of tithes by a popish Law, contrary to such as were the priests of the first covenant, who imprisoned none for tithes, as they do, but as the Lord ordained, so did they do and continue, who were made by a Law, as doth appear, Exod. 4. 13, 14. Exod 28. who had also a command from the Lord for to justify them in their Ministry whose power they abused, not as the National priests do their power, which is of the World, whose practice is continually to live upon the abuse of that their power, by which they stand who never were called of God as Aaron was, Heb. 5. 4. neither did they go to the Magistrate for to get Warrants for to put into the hands of a Constable for to take away people's household-goods for tithes upon treble damages, which is 3 s. for one, as these of England daily do, by whom the Saints do continually suffer the spoiling of their goods, because they are not the Ministers of Jesus Christ, therefore do they not own his Doctrine, they being of the World, neither can they know him, according as it is written Joh. 14. 17 who are such as live in pride, covetousness, and oppression, as their makers the Bishops did, who in their day with them, their under-Clergy were called the body spiritual, or English Church, as doth appear by the Statute of 24. of Henry the eight, chap. 12. and the same Statute doth further declare, That the Kings, Queens, and Nobles of this Realm, so called, since the time the Pope had his Domination endowed them, the false Church, both with honours and Possessions. And again saith the Statute, The Pope and the See of Rome did in the time of their rule reserve unto himself amongst other things the trial of the right of tithes, as doth appear by the Statute of the 26. of Henry the eight, some time King of England: and in chap. 1 it is declared, That he and his Successors were the only supreme Head of this called Church of England.  
Thus have I made appear the root of these Priests, and their fhundation have I also made manifest, and discovered not to be of Christ, but have proceeded from man, who have accordingly erected two places for their breeding up of Priests, viz. Cambridge and Oxford, which are by them called two Eyes, for the furnishing every parish in England, with able lying seducers, where is also by them Churches built at the charge of the ignorant people, wherein is also provided for the service of the whorish Priests Funts and basins for the management and carrying on of what they so gravely solemnise with much pretended seeming zeal, viz. the sprinkling of Infants, which they say is baptism, but they lie, for which piece of cheating service, they have never a word of Scripture, besides their Easter-Reckonings, and time of Christmas, and Churching (or else cheating) of Women, and their Mortuaries, and for the smoke going up people's Chimneys, all which Trade bringeth them in much gain.  
Thus through the assistance of Christ Jesus have I according to the Gospel proved the Priests of the Nation to be no Ministers of Christ, nor Messengers of God, which is my second ground why I deny to pay them or any else tithes, who are such as the Lord God of Israel for their oppression will feed with their own flesh, yea saith he, They shall be drunk with their own blood; and then shall they know that I am the Lord, the Saviour of them whom they oppress. Read Isa. 49. 26. And thus the Lawyers with them may also take notice; for the same judgement & vengeance that is due to the Priests belongeth unto them also, because they are the Executors of the power of the cruel Beast, who are the guard of his Throne; & therefore do they spoil the dear Saints & people of the Lord Jesus Christ, Prince of Peace, & King of Righteousness, whose people for their obedience to him and are with their persons estates by them continually devoured & destroyed in their murderous Gaols, and all for want of such Justice and true judgement for to be executed upon them for breach of Law as was performed by that honest King called Alpheret, who defended the cause of the poor and needy, and rescued the right of the oppressed from out of the hands of such destroying Lawyers as did live upon the abuse of his Laws; he hanged up Judge Hasf because he saved one Trustram which was Sheriff, from being put to death, who had taken away goods from many people, although for the King's use; but yet notwithstanding that was not by the King owned, because it was by his law judged Robbery; read Mirror of Justice, fol. 241.  
Now consider ye Rulers what a vast difference there is betwixt your doing justice upon the lawyers that live upon the abuse of the Law, & King Alpherets, forasmuch as that you cannot deny in your consciences you do permit of unsufferable Robberies daily for to be done, both by Priests & lawyers, & yet seek not to have that Wickedness remedied; besides the murders which you suffer the lawyers to do against express law, upon their Opinions and false Judgements, according to their Opinions by them given, whereby many thousands have been murdered for theft, which is against the righteous Law of the Lord: And therefore seeing that you know these evils and yet will not seek to prevent them of committing any more, how can you expect any safety for to be given unto you from the Lord God of Israel, whose laws in effect you despise? for which things sake the wrath of God will suddenly seize upon you, as well as it hath done upon others before you, unless there be a speedy returning unto the Lord, whose Work when time was you promised to do, which yet lieth undone, which causeth the Enemies of the Lord to renew their strength again, who did in the time of your seeming zeal for Christ, and his now persecuted cause, judge themselves as good as half hanged for what they had done in answer to their Opinions which they caused to take place in the room of Law; through whose villainous false Opinions and Judgements given, the late King by them and the Priests were seduced, and persuaded to permit of doing such things which the Law did not justify him in although Judge Jenkins, and Judge Cook, and some few others did as to the best of my remembrance, persuade him what possible they could, not to harken to the false Opinions of those wicked Judges which he was deceived by: These things being true, as thousands of the well-affected, then so called, with myself at this day can also witness, was in the matter of Ship-Money done contrary to Law; and therefore how doth it behoove you that are got into the present Rule and Authority of the three Nations, for to take heed of your standing, seeing you are Instruments that have come through much blood unto what 〈◊〉 are now possessed with? How much (I say again) doth it concern you for to see and consider what you are doing? and then I hope you will seek to stand for the putting into execution the laws, Commandments, Statutes, Precepts, and Judgements of the Lord God of Israel, instead of the Laws of Tyrants, wherein his honour will be promoted, and your souls eternally saved, and your bodies prosperously from him protected; and then will all plots and conspiracies cease from being contrived any more against you, when you shall learn for to do his Will according to his righteous Law, which requireth blood for blood, life for life, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a hand for a hand, and a foot for a foot; Thine eyes (saith the Lord to his beloved people) shall not pity or spair such transgressors who have by their wickedness given themselves over to death, which according to the Law are not to be excused, by which example those that do remain alive may hear and fear henceforth, that there may be no more such evils committed amongst you; read Deut. 19 20, 21.  
Now I appeal unto your consciences there for to judge whether you are not such as do transgress what the Lord hath commanded should be obeyed, which is by reason of your suffering a company of lawyers to abuse and destroy the good people of this Nation by such a power as is not of of God; and therefore if you do not see that remedied, you cannot have thoughts to escape unpunished with the King, because the Lord of Hosts hath expressly commanded his chosen people That they should not suffer the judgement of the stranger to be perverted, lest their Right should be hindered; much more ought you to be careful of the cause of the Widow and Fatherless, Deut. 24. 17, &c. who are yet by you permitted to suffer wrong; and therefore are they and their Estates spoiled and ruinated by both Priests and lawyers, who act contrary to their express Popish Law as doth appear in that Statute made the 2. of the Reign of King Edward the sixt, chap. 13. which Statute saith, Be it provided and enacted, That if any person do withhold or withdraw any manner of his tithes, Oblations, Obventions, Profits, Commodities, or other duties, or any part of them, cont●ary to the true meaning of the said Act, or of any other Act heretofore made, that then the parties so subtracting or withdrawing the same, may be convented, sued in the King's Ecclesiastical Court by the party from whom the same shall be subtracted or withdrawn, to the intent the King's Judges Ecclesiastical may and shall, then and there hear and determine the same according to the King's Ecclesiastical Law.  
And that it shall not be lawful for any Parson, Vicar, proprietor, Owner, or other Farmers or Deputies, contrary to this act to convent or sue such witholders of tithes, Obventations, or other duties aforesaid, before any other Judge than what is Ecclesiastical.  
Now know Oh you my dear friends, for unto you do I make this known, who are the persecuted Saints of the Most High, That these forementioned lines are the very words of that Statute; now judge ye Rulers how contrary these wicked lawyers that are yet in their villainous beings upon their Stages at Westminster do act, who as it doth appear, are suffered by you their Masters for to be above the Law, which is the only cause the Lord's people for conscience sake, in obedience to Christ Jesus are daily sued, convented, and brought before them in their filthy Dens, called temporal Courts, contrary to their own invented filthy tyrannical Laws, as hath been already proved, and as I could make more at large appear by many more Laws, but only I fear being too large, and therefore do I make use of no more than what may justify me in the truth of what I have too charge against them for their abominations daily committed against the very express Laws of the Land, as doth further appear in that 22. of Henry the eight, chap. the 7. which saith, Be it provided always, That the last Act shall not extend, nor be expounedete give any cause of Action or Suits in the Courts Temparal; which notwithstanding they daily do: now judge, O ye Rulers, how you do think you can in conscience stand justified with the Lord and his poor oppressed people, whom you suffer daily for their consciences to be troubled, afflicted, and abused by your Priests and others of their spirit, by their being convented, and by them brought before such a company of forsworn murdering Lawyers, whose continual practice is to engage themselves against the conscientious people of this Land▪ even against their Commissions in the matter of tithes, as I have already declared, for that the Law saith, None shall expound it no other ways to give remedy for tithes then what it doth of itself plainly express, whereby cause of Action may be given, or Suit commenc●t in the Courts temporal, against any person, or persons, which shall refuse or deny to set out his, or their tithes, or shall detain, withhold, or refuse to pay his tithes, or Offerings, or any parcel thereof, but that in such cases the persons or parties being Ecclesiastical, or Lay-persons, have cause to demand, or have the said tithes or offerings, in every such case in the Spiritual Courts, according to the Ordinance of the first part of this Act (and not otherways.)  
And thus unto you the Rulers have I made it plainly appear by the laws and Statutes of this Realm, That it is utterly unlawful for your Temporal Judges to give judgement in the matters of tithes against the Saints, as they daily do in such Courts as are called Temporal Courts, viz. The Exchequer, Common-Pleas, and in that other Court or Place, called the Chancery, which is called a Court of Equity, If lies may take place, or rather a Court of Iniquity, through which deceivable Name of Equity many people have made their Addresses from out of other Courts into that, in hopes of gaining right there but have found as much wrong, and have met with much inconscionable dealings as ever they did before, the Lawyers being all agreed to destroy the poor wronged people that have been forced to seek help where none is to be had, through their ignorance of not knowing that the lawyer's Tyade is upheld and maintained by fraud and wrong, as doth appear in this great controversy of tithes; there shall need no other proof against them than this of tithes, as doth appear in their wresting and abusing the Law in that cause; through which they promote all manner of injustice against the Saints, by whom they both suffer imprisonment, and also the spoiling of their Goods, contrary to the Laws and Statutes of this Nation, which in themselves require right should be done; but contrary to that these Law-breakers do force jurymen through their being ignorant of the Law, commonly to forswear themselves by giving up false Verdicts against their conscientious neighbours in the matter of tithes, by their fining for the ungodly Plaintiff against the poor Defendant for not dividing or setting forth, and not paying their predual tithes, or for taking or carrying away the same before the tenth part be divided or set forth; by which unlawful proceedings of wicked Plaintiffs before ungodly forsworn Judges in their Secular courts, the Saints do greatly suffer by the Priests and others of their Antichristian Tribe, who by them are well bribed for their pains; so that betwixt the one and the other, this poor Land and people is brought under the guilt of those horrible crying sins which Israel of old in their days suffered to be committed amongst them, although they were the Lord's beloved people, unto whom he sent his holy Prophet to give them warning that the Lord had a controversy against the inhabitants of the Land for suffering those abominations, through which there was no truth, or mercy, nor knowledge of God amongst them; for by swearing, lying, killing, and stealing, and committing Adultery, they broke out, and blood touched blood; therefore the Word of the Lord unto them was by the Prophet declared, That the Land should meurn, and every one that did dwell therein should languish, with the Beasts of the field, and with the Fowls of heaven, yea the fishes also of the sea shall be taken away; read Hos. 4. 2, 3, 4. The forepromised matter being well considered by such as yet do live to fear the Lord, may justly give their judgement for God, That both the Rulers and people of this Nation are under the guilt of all those sins, and are in danger of coming to suffer sad judgements from the Lord, for that the Priests and the Lawyers, and such as with them do live upon the gain of oppression, are yet suffered to be the actors of all manner of wickedness that in this Land is committed under pretence of Law, by whom this forementioned scripture is fulfilled, as hath been by them made manifest from the beginning of all our troubles, who yet do confederate together to divide the people from holding amity one with another, that thereby they may hinder the promoting the cause of truth, and the establishing of Justice; through which wickedness of theirs when time was in dividing the people from the King, and setting him against the people, Justice by him was wholly neglected, although he was much sought to by the people of God for to see the same duly administered, as he was permitted of God to be the chief Magistrate of the three united Nations of England, Scotland, and Ireland; but he not standing in the counsel of God, would not harken unto the desires of his people, but grew weary in hearing them, whereupon no more addresses by them unto him was made; wherefore his end suddenly upon him came, and therefore justly did the God of Justice deliver him up into the hands of those which sought his life: Let good heed therefore be taken by you that are in present Power, lest the cause be forgotten which brought him to suffer the pangs of death; for know you, the Lord's hand is not shortened, but is stretched out still for to reach you also forth from all your Guards of Guns, Swords and Pikes, which by multitudes of men is made use of for to defend you; yet notwithstanding your strong Arm of flesh, you may take notice, the King had as great a power in his time as you, and was more esteemed, regarded, and beloved by the people, as to the generality, then possibly can be imagined you are; but yet he not doing that which was right in the sight of God, you see was cut off. Oh therefore that you may remember with all speed for to establish Justice, that so you may rule for him for the good and well-being of his poor distressed and every ways afflicted and persecuted people, who are at this day frustrated of all hopes of man's doing Justice, and therefore cry they unto the Lord for to be delivered from the hands of their oppressors, seeing hitherto you have denied their redemption, notwithstanding you have sworn unto the Lord you would give them deliverance: This know therefore, your time to perform what you have engaged and promised is almost past; therefore what you do, do speedily; for I behold your night a coming, and then will all your Works cease, and then will all your intentions, with former pretences come to be frustrated and annihilated, and your memorials will also be blotted out from under Heaven, and your very Names will then become a stink to all Nations, and you posterities will be made miserable, like unto the distressed children of the late King, who being left without Habitation, are become wanderers about in strange Lands, unto whom you cannot afford to show pity nor compassion; can you therefore imagine, that if Justice (Which is the exalting of a Nation) be by you any longer neglected, that you shall receive more favour than they have found at your hands? surely no: Therefore remember what Samuel did to Agag, and for what he was hewed in pieces; Read 1 Sam. 15. 33. woe to him that increaseth that which is not his; shall they not rise up suddenly that shall bite thee, and awake that shall vex thee? and thou shalt be for booties unto them, because thou hast spoiled many Nations; all the remnant of the people shall spoil thee because of men's blood, and for the violence of the Land, of the City, and of all that dwell therein.  
Thou hast consulted shame to thy house by cutting off many people, and hast sinned against thy soul, for which the Stone shall cry out of the Wall, and the beam out of the Timber shall answer it; Read Hab. 2. 6, 7 8, 9, 10, 11.  
But to hasten, that so I may proceed to show unto you the great abominations that are done & committed by your Power, & in your Name, viz. by those forementioned wicked wretches, the Priests and lawyers, who are together confederated for to commit the horrible and silthy thing in the Land, as I have already shown, and shall make further manifest by those Laws which you have sworn to maintain, which Laws say it is utterly unlawful to imprison any one while they die. And yet notwithstanding, how many hundreds in this Nation are unjustly kept in prison at this day, ready to perish, and many already since this time of your governing, have perished; I wish their blood may not be laid to your charge for suffering it, seeing the Law doth judge it manslaughter: be pleased therefore to read mirror of Justice, pag. 88 27, 28. fol. 294. And again, the Law doth further say, That to suffer any to die in prison through want as I am given to understand some lately in the King's Bench have done, is also by the same Law judged manslaughter; and likewise for Judges to delay relieving Prisoners by the Law till they die, is also Manslaughter; for suffering of which, and for not doing what the Law did require for the relief of the imprisoned, one Judge Pearne was convicted and hanged; See for this mirror of Justice, fol. 228. pag. 30.  
Now it doth evidently appear from this foregoing matter, That there was a glorious face of Justice did in those times which were counted Pagan manifestly appear, wherein Justice, Righteousness and judgement according to their agreed-upon Laws, was duly and truly, without respect of persons, administered and executed upon such as were found the betrayers of the Rights and privileges of the people; but since that time that Justice took his seat and Royal Throne in this Nation, wicked and ungodly men have for many Ages together born Rule, through whom Justice hath been kept as a stranger out of this Land, whereby truth is fallen; and such as have through the fear of the Lord departed from Iniquity, are become a prey, as is evident by such as with myself do at this day suffer imprisonment for our earnest contending for public Justice, and open punishment to be inflicted upon such as are known to be truths perverters, betrayers, and abusers of the righteous Laws, Ordinances, Statutes, Precepts, Commandments and Judgements of the Lord God of Israel, as doth and may further appear by the Witness and Testimony Paul that called, chosen, and famous Apostle of Christ; read 1 Tim. 1. 5, 6, 7 8 9, 10 where it doth evidently appear, Paul the true Minister of Christ was earnestly exhorting of Timothy above all things to take heed unto the Commandment, unto the end, that he might know charity from out of a pure heart was the sum, wherein the whole was contained, from whence the exercise os a pure conscience was to be set on work, according to that unfeigned Faith that dwelled in the Apostle, from which, saith he, some have swerved and turned aside, desiring to be Teachers of the Law, understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm. These words considered by the wise in heart, whom God hath filled with the spirit of Wisdom, who are the persons I do appeal unto, for to judge whether this Complaint and just Accusation of the Apostle is not as well against England, as against those Usurpers and Abusers of the Law which did live in his time, seeing we are the people that have broken so many Engagements which unto the Lord Jesus and his Members was made in the time of the beginning of the great troubles of these three Nations.  
But I must hasten, and come to the words of the faithful Minister of Christ, from whence I have a little digressed; from which declaration of his it doth appear how wonderfully he (exalted) the Law of God, who said to Timothy; We know that the Law is good if a man use it lawfully, knowing this, that it was not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient for unholy, profane, for sinners, for murderers of Fathers, & Mothers; for Man-slayers; for Whoremongers, and for them thus defile themselves with mankind; and for man-stealers, for liars, & perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound Doctrine, according to the glorious Gospel, &c. Now having thus far discharged my conscience, I shall leave the whole matter after perused to be considered of according to conscience, who, and what they are that deservedly aught to be brought to coudigne punishment; seeing the Law from God hath been appointed for the punishment of evil doers, & for the praise of them that do well, who are for well-doing, by evil-doers, contrary to the mind of God revealed in his law, kept in Prisons in this Nation, by whom at this day I am with many more unjustly kept in prison for conscience sake, and not for any evil done, whereby I am the better enabled to declare from a Principle of Faith, that my sufferings are only for the Gospel sake, who have accordingly learned from the teachings of the Lord not to withhold any thing of what is called civil right from any man but have been free and willing a● all times to make good that which hath been due of right to men, and am in like manner subject to every Ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, knowing the Earth is the Lords and the fullness thereof; but yet notwithstanding, that if any in Authority shall go about to take from me and mine any part of the Earth which God shall give us further to be possessed with, than I shall not resist; for I must needs be subject, not only for fear of the wrath of foolish, proud, vain man, who is ready to be offended at what he ought rather to be ashamed of, then to justify himself. Thus for conscience sake as I have learned of Christ, am I freely willing to submit myself unto every Ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, although my deadly Enemies have reported otherways against me, which the Lord our God knows I purely suffer for that I cannot give unto his Enemies that for maintenance which belongs unto him, viz. tithes which unjust demands I must for conscience sake deny, although I come to suffer death for the same, seeing it is clearly manifest from the declaration of Christ and his Apostles, that whosoever payeth tithes denyeth Christ to be come in the flesh, as all they do which at this day do either pay or receive the same, as I have made fully appear from the sum of the holy Scriptures: And thus to both you Rulers, Saints and People of all forms, sects and sorts, have I truly discharged my conscience according to the gift of God in me by way of Grounds and Reasons laid down, wherein I have shown the justice of my cause, and have therein matter of great comfort thus to declare why tithes have been, and are by me still denied; in which Grounds I have made an eminent discovery, That tithes in England have been, and are forced to be paid contrary both to the Laws of God, and also to the Laws of the Land, which Laws I have not broke, but do suffer for my obeying the Law of the Lord God of Israel; in which obedience I hope he will help me to be continued in the further remaining part of the days of this my Pilgrimage, whose servant I am, and do find in myself a freedom in like manner to be subject to every Ordinance of man for the Lord's sake only, whether it be unto the King, as unto the supreme; or unto Governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evil-doers, and for the praise of them that do well, according to that Declaration of the first Epist. of Peter, ch. 2. v. 13, &c.  
Isaac Craye.  
AND lastly, these few following lines I have been moved to write by way of humble desires, the which lines are dedicated only unto all conscientious, sincere, faithful hearted Friends, to that end and purpose that they would be pleased for the time to come to have a special care who, and what they be are by them put in trust for to dispose of their Christian contribution, which they may be from God moved for to give towards the relief of such as do for conscience sake suffer under the Enemies of the everlasting Gospel; forasmuch as that I am given credibly to understand by some faithful Friends, That they do fear some wicked persons under the profession of Godliness have made use of my Name and sufferings to gather moneys amongst several friends, which they employ to their own private benefit; it is true, the evil may be by them justly feared; for in the time I was made to suffer under the Council of State, I was was so served by some who did get large sums of money; one of their Names I have not yet forgotten, which I will here accordingly insert, viz Horn, a cheesemonger, sometimes keeping his Shop not far from London-Bridge; thus hath such wicked Wretches under the notion of Religion cheathed the truly religious and honest hearted; and knowing that these evils hath been committed against me, it is to be feared they are daily put in practice still under colour of relieving such as are of late come to suffer for God, as I do; how much therefore doth it concern the truly charitable, who do witness what the life of true Profession is, for to take heed they trust none but such as are known truly faithful, although never so much show of outside seeming zeal for God and Christ be professed, seeing it hath thus happened since the days of our great troubles, that through such outside profession, and hypocritical seeming zeal for God and cause of Christ the trul conscientious people of this Nation have been cheated out of their lives, estates, and liberties; under which villainous sort of professing Zealots, or rather Trappanners of the innocent, I have in a most wonderful manner many ways suffered wrong, both before this my imprisonment, and ever since, through their filthy invented lies, and giving forth notorious reproaches, which they from the persuasions of the Devil and the Priests have been set on work to promote against me, they thinking thereby to leave me friendless, that so they may pine me to death in prison, seeing they can no other ways destroy me; but the Lord having sa tisied me with inward comfort, from which I find myself wonderfully supported with patience to be contented in every condition; so that I can with abundance of unspeakable comfort & inward peace undergo the strife of wicked lying tongues; and being fully satisfied from the measure of Christ in me, that the Saints and dear servants of God in former ages, have in like manner suffered under such as these English false Professors are, who are unrighteously called Christians; one place of Scripture for to make the same appear I shall quote, and but one, although I might instance the like reproaches against David, the man after God's own heart; Job the servant of the Lord, and Jeremiah his holy Prophet, who also bore his sharein reproaches; and many more of the dear servants of God as well as I at this day do▪ it is a truth, they that deserve no good Name nor righteous report themselves, do give none to others: The Scripture which I shall mention is Heb. 10. beginning at the 32. v. and so on, where it doth and may appear, That the Apostle was countenancing and counselling of such friends as he found one with them in the faith of Christ to be cheerful in their sufferings; whereupon he bids them call to remembrance the former days, in which after they were enlightened they endured a great fight of afflictions; Partly (saith he) whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and aff●ictions; and par●ly, whilst you were so used; for ye had compassion on me in my bonds, and then ye took oyfull the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that you have in Heaven a better and enduring substance; cast not away therefore your confidence which hath great recompense of reward; for you had need of patience, that after ye have done the will of God, ye might rece●ve the promise. Thus from the enjoyment of that life which Christ the light of the light of the World hath given me to be possessed with, do I come to see a full discovery, who, and what they are which are Enemies to the cross of Christ, he having revived his witness in me, I am thereby kept close to the Word of his Patience, through whose help I am enabled to read with understanding the holy Scriptures with great joy and inward consolation, according to that measure of life abiding in me, by which they were given forth by way of Declaration, as doth appear Luke 1. 1. and am assured the time is at hand wherein none of these fore-premised Enemies of Christ, and Saint-reviling, reproaching barking Dogs shall not move a Tongue as they now do.  
Written from my unjust imprisonment in the wood-street-compter, London, where I remain a su●ferer for Christ the everlasting Gospel, which the Priests do daily persecute. The second Month, 1657.  
FINIS.