A Scriptural CHRONICLE OF Satan's Incendiaries, VIZ. Hardhearted Persecutors, AND Malicious Informers. With their Work, Wages, and Ends, who were Instruments of Cruelty against true Worshippers.  
Collected by Charles Harriss.  Isa 33.1. 
woe to thee that spoilest, and thou wast not spiled, etc.  And Chap. 25.11.— 
And he shall bring down their Pride, together with the Spoils of their Hands.  Matth. 23.32. 
Fill ye up then the Measure of your Fathers.  Verse 33. 
Ye Serpents, ye Generation of Vipers, how can ye escape the Damnation of Hell.  
Printed in the Year, 1670.   

A Scriptural Chronicle.  
THis may serve as a Touchstone for all Persecutors to be tried by, who profess the holy Scripture to be their Rule; that so all may see whose steps they tread in, whose work they are doing, and whose Rule they walk by; and what is the reward they may expect in the end.  
THe Devil was and is the Master of Envy and Murder; and Cain was one of his Children, and learned of his father, the Author of wickedness, to be a Persecutor about Religion, and slew righteous Abel, because, his own works were evil, and Abel's were perfect; and for doing this wicked act of Murder the Lord pronounced him accursed: And the Curse still hangs over the heads of all such who walk by cain's rule, and tread in his steps of Murder about Religion.  
Also just Lot was persecuted by the Sodomites, because he was a Righteous man, and entertained the Angel of God; & although the Meeting was so small, that there was but two besides his own Family, yet the Sodomites gathered together both young and old, and beset his house, and endeavoured to break the door, thinking to abuse or murder God's Ministers that were sent to call Lot out of Sodom; so that people may see how the Sodomites formerly were unwilling to let one escape out of sin, they would have all to be wicked like themselves; & when Lots love reached forth to his Kindred, desiring them, to go forth with him & be saved, telling them how the Judgements of God would come upon them, if they still continued among those wicked people; and his words seemed to them as an idle Tale; but what was the end of those Persecutors? first they were smitten with blindness (the day of visitation passed over them) & afterwards were consumed with Fire & Brimstone: so all those that assault righteous men's houses, and break down their doors to persecute the Servants of God, are seen to walk by the Sodomites rule.  
Also Is●mael, he was a Persecutor, and a Mocker, it's said, His hand was against every man, and he was a wild man; so let all Mockers see what Stock and Birth they are ofsAlso Esau was a profane man, and a Persecutor, though he was called a Lord, yet he was a rough spirited man, as his Stock are at this day, and threatened to kill Jacob, the true Worshipper; and went on in his envy till a day of Repentance was hid from his eyes, and the Sentence was pronounced, Because of thy violence against thy Brother, shame shall cover thee, and thou shalt be cut off forever. So all you that tread Esau's steps, consider his end, and what your own is like to be.  
Also Pharaoh the King was a wicked Tyrant over the Lord's People; and when the Lord sent his holy Servants to exhort his People to departed out of Egypt, and to be separate from those uncircumcised Heathens, and come forth, and worship him in the beauty of Holiness; then this Pharaoh hardened his heart, and made Laws to oppress God's People, and refused to give them liberty to obey the Lord, or to have the free exercise of their Consciences towards him; nevertheless, in the end we read they did departed, and gave up to answer the mind of God; howbeit, than Pharaoh and all his Host, turned persecutors, endeavouring by violence to hinder them from having their liberty to serve the God of their Fathers; but still would have kept them in darkness and bondage among the Uncircumcised, to follow the inventions and worship of the Magicians, and Sorcerers, and Hirelings of Egypt; but in due time the Lord wrought deliverance for his People, the true Worshippers; but the Persecutors and false Worshippers the Lord overturned with an overflowing Destruction: And certainly their end cannot be happy, who follow the Egyptians rule.  
Also Jeroboam and Ahab were wicked Kings, and they set up false Worship, and refused to walk in the holy Way of God themselves, but persecuted them that walked in it; and when the Prophets of the Lord came in love, and warned and reproved them for their false Worships and Wickedness; then they, like unwise Kings, counted them their Enemies, and persecuted them: Even one of the Prophets spoke to the King, in the time of his Worship; so that false Worshippers, as they use to do now, cried Lay hold on him, for he disturbs me; but remember that hand that he stretched forth against the Prophet was withered; and we see it was the manner of the true Prophets, never to flatter Kings in their wickedness; for when Ahab the King had taken Naboths  from him, and had caused one more righteous than himself, to be stoned to death; then the good Prophet Elijah came to him, to whom the King said, Haste thou found me out, Oh my ENEMY; to whom the Prophet answered, I have found thee because thou hast sold thyself to work wickedness, etc. And because they set up false Worship, and persecuted, and imprisoned, and killed the Servants of the Lord: Even a curse came upon them, and their Families; and it was said, He that dieth of Jeroboam, and of Ahab, in the City, the Dogs shall eat; if in the Fields the Fowls shall eat them: And Ahab himself was slain in his Chariot, and his Blood run out, so that when the Chariot was washed the Dogs licked his Blood.  
And much more might be said of several unrighteous Kings; as, Baasha, Ahaz, Hosheas, Manasseth, Ammon, etc. How they ran into Pride and Hautiness, and refused to walk in the Way of the Lord, but set up false Worship and drew and compelled the People to it, and very often thereby made Israel of old to sin; notwithstanding the Lord still sent his Prophets then to warn them; though for the same, the Prophets were persecuted, and stoned, murdered, and counted Deceivers; for which cause the Lord brought a heavy Curse, and sore Judgements upon those King's Families, and also upon the People that joined with them in their false worship.  
Also King Zedekiah, he persecuted the Prophet of the Lord, and the Princes, and the false Prophets joined with him, and the Priests would have had the Lord's Servant to have been put to death; and they counted him a Madman, and smote him, and put him in the Stocks, & also in Prisons, and a miry Dungeon: So People may see how busy the Priests and false Prophets were formerly, and how directly these in ourdayes tread in their steps; But what was the Wages and End of these Persecutors? Some of them were slain with the Sword, others taken Captives, and their Eyes put out, and they bound with Chains, and their Houses burnt with Fire. This was the Portion of hardhearted Persecutors.  
Again, Nebuchadnezer the King was a setter up of false worship, and he granted forth Order to compel all Nations to be of his Religion, and to bow at his Music and Worship, or else, they must be cast into a Burning Fiery FURNACE; so it's said, All the Princes, the Governors, and Captains, and Judges, and Treasurers, and Councillors, and Sherriffs, and all the Rulers conformed to the King's worship: But there were three true Worshippers, that would not conform; it's very like they were called (as some are now) stubborn Fellows, and Rebels against the King's Laws, and Breakers of the Peace, and will not be subject to the higher Powers; and it's like some Hypocrites would be ready to say, You may conform, the thing being imposed upon you, you shall be clear, and the sin shall be charged upon the Imposers; or you may kneel down to please the times, and to save yourselves in a way of Christian prudence, and yet have your hearts true to your own Religion, etc. But these true Worshippers were of a more valiant Spirit, and told the King to his face, they were not carful to answer him in this matter (though in other things, as Tribute, Custom, etc. they could) but they gave him to understand, he should not be King of their souls and consciences in matters of Worship; and they knew their God was able to deliver out of his hand; however they would not turn to be of his religion and worship, let him rage and heat his Furnace as hot as he pleased: So ye may see that false worship and persecution still goes together; for he caused his Soldiers to cast them into the burning fiery Furnace; but what was the Wages of this Persecutor, who set up that false worship? It is said, he was driven from men, and did eat Grass as an Oz, till his Hair was grown like Eagls Feathers, and his Nails like Birds Claws, to the end he might know the Most High ruleth in the Kingdoms of men, unto whom every soul is to be subject; for he is the higher Power, and souls Bishop, who hath said, My Son give me thy Heart: and again, I will teach my People myself, and they shall not departed from me: But it might have been well for Nebuchadnezer then, and others now, to receive daniel's counsel, who said, O King, break off thy Sins by Righteousness, and thy Iniquity by showing Mercy to the Poor; if it may be a lengthening to thy Tranquillity.  
Again we read of Herod the King, how ready he was to be a Persecutor; for no sooner the Star appeared, and tidings came that our Saviour was born, but he was troubled, and fearing that Truth should come up to reign, he sent forth and slew all the Children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the Coasts thereof from two years old and under: so that People may see how busy the Devil hath been in all Ages, to make use of wicked Instruments, to crush the very appearance of that which is good; but as for Herod's Wages, the Lord soon cut him off; and there is little question but he had his Portion among Persecutors and Murderers.  
Again Herod the Tetrarch being reproved by John Baptist for all the evil he had done, and for taking another man's Wife; he turned Persecutor, and put the Prophet in prison, and after caused his head to be cut off, being requested by his own unclean Companions; and its like he could say to John as some such do at this day, when they are reproved by the Lords Messengers, Thou saucy Fellow, meddle with thy own business; thou Deceiver and Heretic, we will take a course with you shortly; what, you would have us live without sin, and be perfect: And so People may see how the Servants of the Lord in all ages have Suffered by proud corrupt men, such as were Enemies of Righteousness.  
Again, Did not the chief Priests, and Elders, and Captains prove the greatest Persecutors our Saviour Christ met with? it was the Priests than that hunted after him, to have him murdered; And how many times did they belly him, and smite him on the face, and stoned him and his Followers, and called him Deceiver, and Belzebub, and said he had a Devil? and was it not the Priests than that fawned upon the Heathen Magistrates, desiring them to help them to crucify Jesus and sought out for false Witnesses to prove, as if he had spoken Treason a- Caesar? and was it not the Priests that gave Judas money to be 'gainst their Informer? And it was the Hirelings that gave the Soldier's money, and taught them to lie, saying, Christ was not risen, but was stolen away: Also people may see, that those Rulers, viz. Pilate and Herod that joined with the Priests to put Christ to death, they were also false Worshippers; so still its evident that Blind Zeal, and False Worship, and Pride, and Whoredom, and Covetousness, and Profaneness all joins together in this work of Persecution: but what was the Wages. that many received? Christ told them their House was lest desolate, and the Day of their visitation was over, and called them a Generation of Vipers, saying, How can you escape the Damnation of Hell, for ye are of your Father the Devil, (though you call Abraham your Father) for you are found doing the Devil's work, like your elder Brother Cain; and many woes he pronounced against them, which was fulfilled upon them, and upon their Families, and their Generations, as is manifest to this very day.  
Stephen also was persecuted by the Priests and false Worshippers, and he bore a true Testimony against them, saying, Ye Stiffnecked, and Uncircumcised in Heart and Ears, ye do always resist the holy Spirit, as your Fathers did; which of the Prophets have not your Fathers stoned, or persecuted? and they have slain them that shown beforehand of the coming of the Just One, of whom ye have now been the Betrayers, and Murderers; and those wicked men also stoned holy Stephen to death, and cast him out of the City; terming him a Deceiver, or Blasphemer: So people may see such Priests and Professors that resist the holy Spirit, and follow an unholy Spirit; they were, and are persecutors of the Righteous.  
Also it was the Priests and the Captain of their Temple, and Sadduces, that persecuted the Apostles, Peter and John, for preaching in the Temple; and also put them in Prison, and threatened them, commanding them to speak no more in the Name Jesus; Mark, the Priests hated him then by the Name Jesus, as bad as they now hate him, by the Name Light, in this day of his spiritual Appearance.  
Again, Herod the King made it his business to vex certain of the Church; he killed James the brother of John with the Sword; and when he saw it pleased the Priests and Jews, he proceeded in his work, and took Peter, and put him in Prison, thinking about Easter time (when the People wanted some sport, and the Priests some blood to mingle with their Sacrifice and howling Prayers) then to have brought him forth, to be a Prey to those bloodsucking Wolves; but it pleased the Lord to send his Angel, and deliver his Servant out of all their hands: But this Herod the Persecutor was a wicked proud man, and the Angel of the Lord smote him for his wickedness, and the Wages he received was to be eaten with Worms. Let all proud bloodthirsty men think of these things.  
Again, it was the unbelieving Jews that stirred up the People to persecute Paul & Barnabas, & expelled them out of the Coast of Antioch; and also it was the Unbelievers that did the like in Iconium; and when the Apostles came to Lycaonia, and had preached, and many believed their Testimony; then those unbelieving Jews turned Informers, adn went after them, and made an Uproar, and caused Paul to be stoned, and drawn out of the City near dead.  
Again, when Paul and Silas was as Instruments in the hand of God to cast out a Damsel a spirit of divination; then they that had the gain of her soothsaying, saw themselves at a loss, they, like Priests, turned Persecutors, and caused the Apostles to be beaten with many stripes, and to be put in Prison; but [mark] those men were not led by the true Spirit to persecute, but by that cursed spirit of Divination and Southsaying; so let all such at this day see who is their Leader.  
Again, it was the Unbelievers at Thessalonica, and lewd Fellows of the base Sort, that set the City in an uproar, and assaulted (like the Sodomites) the house of Jason, to have brought out the Disciples to have mischiefed or murdered them, and they drew Jason (the man that had the Meeting at his House) and several Believers, before the Rulers, crying out, these that have turned the World upside down are come hither also; we have many in England that loves to be called Believers, rather than Persecutors: but if a Tree may be known by its fruits, let the meek in heart compare and judge.  
Again Demetrius, and his Wicked Company, which made Silver Shrines for Diana, and were false Worshippers; they also persecuted the true Worshippers, crying out, Our Craft is in danger, as also our Temple, and Goddess, whom all the World worshippeth.  
Again it was Unbelievers, & false Worshippers that stirred up the People against Paul, when they found him in the Temple and they set Jerusalem on an uproar, and went about to kill him; and the Priests and false Worshippers said, he was not fit to live, and they threw dust into the Air; and the nimble fingered Priest commanded Paul should be smitten on the mouth; and they informed Festus, and Foelix, and Agrippa, against him; and lest their own smooth Tongues should not lie fast enough, they got, or hired Tertullus to be their Informer and Orator against Paul: Oh they would fain have been sucking his blood; for he was the worst Enemy they had, as for spoiling their trade, and discovering their hypocrisy, and these Priests were the chief in all his Sufferings and long Imprisonments; and the Apostle shows who it was that led these Priests thus to persecute, for when he wrote to one of the Churches, he saith, He purposed to have seen them, but at present Satan hindered; so we would have all People see whose work they are doing that persecutes and prisons the Servants of the Lord; and again, it is written, The Devil shall cast some of you into prison; and so along throughout the Scriptures: And since the Apostles, through this long night that hath been over People, according to History we find good men, and true Worshippers, have been persecuted by Blind Wicked men, who were false Worshippers.  
And because many in these late days makes it their business to incense the Rulers, and inform them against the Righteous: I have viewed over the holy Scriptures to see what root they sprang from, and whose steps they tread in.  
First, I find the Devil is called the Accuser of the Brethren; he also informed against Job; for in those days the Sons of God met together, and the Devil was not pleased thereat, so he endeavoured to accuse Job before the Lord, and the stress of his words were to render Job a Hypocrite, & that he loved his Oxen and Camels, and Sheep, and things of that nature, more than he loved either God or his Religion; and if the Lord would but suffer all he had to be taken from him, than he would deny his Religion, and curse his God to his Face; so the Lord gave Satan leave to try what he could do, Then Satan went out from the Presence of God, (it was a true Saying) for no Persecutor abides in his Favourable Presence; so than he drummed upon the spirits of the Sabeans and Chaldeans [Mark, they were a wicked Stock] and raised them up by the Alarm of Hell; so they put on their Swords, and came and killed Jobs Servants and took away his , as you may read at large; nevertheless Job stood firm to his Religion: And the Sons of God met the second time, than the old Informer came again to the Meeting, and informed against Job, ad he had done before, and desired a greater penalty might be laid upon him, seeing he still retained his integrity, and the Sons of God still kept up their Meeting; so Satan desired he might have leave to touch this Flesh, and his Bone? you may see how Satan loves to crush the Righteous to pieces; but the Lord would not commit Jobs Life into his hand, only his Flesh; See what thou canst do Satan, with thy Stones, and with thy Whips, and with thy Stocks, and set thy Children to beat him, and make him sore from the crown to the foot; and when all was done the Devil proved a false Witness, and Job proved a true Worshipper, and the Lord blessed him, and gave him more Children and  than he had before the time of Persecution. Wherefore, Oh all ye Sons and Daughters of Job, stand fast unto God, and to his Worship, and be valiant for the Truth upon Earth.  
Wiched proud Haman, also he learned of his father to be an Informer against God's peculiar People, and told the King That their Laws differed from his, and therefore it was not meet they should have their liberty; but he would give the King ten thousand Talents of Silver into his Treasury, if the King would but give way to him to destroy in one day all the Lords People; and all this envy risen in this proud Haman, chief because good Mordecai would not get up an bow (or put off his Hat) to Haman; no sooner had the King granted Hamans' request, but the Informer commands th● Scribes Lieutenants, and Governors to aid him, and ●uilds a Gallows, intending it for Mordecai; but the Lord l●● the King see Hamans' wickedness, and he remembered his People that had no Helper in the Earth; and this Informer was hanged, and his ten Sons perished, and his Estate was given to the jews, and those that had thought to have spoiled their honest Neighbours in the Country; they themselves became a Spoil; and there perished of them above seventy five thousand: Let all such as have a mind of Hamans' work take notice whose RULE they walk by, and what was the Wages of envious Murderers.  
Also proud painted faced jezebel, she was an Informer against the true Worshippers, and would have had all the Lords Prophets to have been slain, and she informed the King how he might get Estates from his Subjects, by setting up false Witnesses, so he did follow her counsel; but it soon brought a heavy Curse both upon him and his; and so will it do upon all those who after him walk in his steps: And as for jezebel the Informer, for her Wages she was thrown out into the Street, and her blood trodden out with Horses, and the Dogs eat her flesh; and only the Skull, and Feet, and Palms of her Hands were left. Think of this all you Daughters of jezabel, who are decking yourselves in Pride, and take delight to mock, and scorn, and speak evil against the Servants of the Lord.  
Again, Amaziah the Priest turned Informer, and told the King, That Amos had conspired against him; and then charged Amos to be gone further from the King's Chapel and Court, and if he would Prophesy, be gone to another Land, etc. see what an Engion of Satan this Priests was; but what Wages had he for his news? it was said unto him, Thy Wife shall be an Harlot, and thy Sons and Daughters shall fall by the Sword, and thy Land shall be divided by line, and thou shalt die in a polluted Land.  
Again, There were several wicked men turned Informers against Daniel, that man so loved of God, and one that was a true Worship●●● now those Informers could not find any thing against him, as being Disloyal, or Unfaithful in the King's business, therefore they got a Law to disturb him in his Worship, but this Noble man would not creep into a Hole, or shut his Windows, but even as at other times, kneeled down and prayed, and gave thanks, and worshipped the God of his Salvation; and as he was so doing the Informers came and took witness, and then went and informed the King; it may be they told him that they took Daniel in the Notoriousness of the Fact; and only thus, for worshipping his God, he was cast into the Lion's Den, but the Lord preserved and delivered him in a wonderful manner; and then King Darius commanded that the Informers, with their Wives and Children should be cast into the Lion's Den; so the Lions had power over them, and broke all their bones to pieces and devoured them; and this was the Wages of these Informers.  
There was also several proud wicked men that informed against the three Children, because they would not bow to false Worship, in a day when it was attended with several sorts of Music; but you may read in the Prophets how the Lord sorely punished that wicked stock of Chaldeans, who were false Worshippers, and persecuted the true Worshippers; and it was of those also, that helped to kill Jobs Servants, and fetch away his , (about Religion) and it is also to be observed, that those men that cast the Lord People into the Fire, by the heat thereof they themselves were consumed.  
Again it was an old unclean Woman, and her proud danceing Daughter that informed against John Baptist, and desired his Head; but see, Herod was unfit to be a Magistrate, that could swear to give them whatever could be asked; and so cut off that great Prophet's head to please one of Jezabels' Jmps. Oh, how hath the Righteous in all Ages suffered by, and under such proud, lustful, beastlike spirits, and yet the Devil still taught his Instruments in all Ages, to brand the Lords people with names of Deceivers, and Madmen, and Blasphemers, and all sorts of bad names, thereby to render them odious; but the Truth shines over the Darkness, and the memorial of the Righteous is alive in renown; but the day is come, and coming, wherein the memorial of the Wicked shall rot, and the name of a Persecutor shall stink, and be as a Curse and a Derision.  
Also cursed Judas turned Informer, and the Priests gave him thirty pieces of Silver to betray, and help them to take Jesus: So they got their Clubs and Staves, and Weapons of Cruelty, and came and took him, that they might Crucify him: and how can the Disciples of Christ expect but such as Judas in these days, who have betrayed all good Conscience, will likewise inform against them? but what good did the Money do Judas, when the horror and torment of Hell seized upon him? then he threw down the Silver, and cried, I have betrayed Innocent Blood; and being without hope of Mercy, went forth to hang himself, and falling headlong he burst asunder in the midst, and all his Bowels gushed out: Think of this all ye that turn Informers for filthy lucre sake; and mark whose Rule you walk by, and whose work you are doing; for it's written (when judas turned Informer) than Satan entered him; so Christ might well say then to judas, and his Companions, this is your hour and power of Darkness.  
I might even fill a large Volume, showing, through all Ages, how it was such as were led by a wrong spirit that persecuted the Righteous; john, that beloved Disciple, was banished by wicked men: And those were wicked Instruments that mocked the Lords Prophet, saying, Go up thou Bald-head; so the Lord sent wild Bears and devoured them: And it was wicked men that persecuted David, and cursed him; and it was the Drunkards that made Songs of him, and beat, and stoned the Prophets: And it was such wicked men that called the Apostles Deceivers, and Ringleaders, and Pestilent Fellows, and movers of Sedition, and Babblers; and when they were filled with the Spirit of Christ, some accused them, as being Drunkards, and Madmen; and it was the Wicked that often times attempted to stone our Saviour, and his Messengers, calling him Blasphemer, and many reproachful names, as we read at large in the Scriptures of Truth, and yet many that profess the Scriptures to be their Rule; and to bear the name of Christianity, are found directly walking in the steps of those wicked men which the testimony of Scripture goes fully against; and it was wicked men that spoilt the Saint's Goods formerly, about Religion, and banished them, and smote them on the Cheek, and drew them about the Streets, and pulled off their Hair; so I hope here is testimonies sufficient concerning Persecution, to cause all sober understanding men and women to conclude with me, that the Root of it is the Father of Envy, and Murder, and Lies, and that Body, and Branches through which it puts forth itself, what ever their leaves may be for show, yet it is but a wild degenerate Plant, of a strange Vine, as is manifest by its Fruit, seeing it proves a sour Grape, which is to be cast into the Wine-press of the fierce Wrath of the Almighty, who knows how to reserve the Wicked for that day of punishment.  
And I would have the Reader to observe how all along in the time of the Prophets, Christ and his Apostles, and since to this very day, the chief Instruments of Satan in the Work of Persecution is, and hath been the Priests, and false Prophets, and Hirelings, with their Bishops and Popes, and such unwise Kings and Rulers, who opened their ears to hearken to their Whisper, and Lies, and Slanders, and murdering counsel against the Righteous; and by harkening to those kind of Evening-Wolves, and helping them to suck the Blood of the Saints and Martyrs of Jesus, how hath Kingdoms been shaken, and Governments overturned, them and their Families cursed, & so perished in the hot displeasure of the Lord, and their memorial hath rooted, and stinks to this very day, as the Enemies of God, and so that which was written in the Second Psalm hath been, and will be fulfilled, Why did the Heathen rage, and the People murmur, the Kings and Prince's band and assemble together against the Lord and his Truth, saying, Let us break their bands, and cast their cords from us; but then mark, He that sitteth in the Heaven shall laugh, the Lord shall have them in derision, and speak to them in his Wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure, and crush them as with an Iron Sceptre, and break them in pieces like a Potter's Vessel; and so this is according to that saying, He rebuketh Kings for the sake of his People, and commanded them not to touch his Anointed, neither harm his Prophets; and woe be to them that break this Commandment.  
But some will say, Ought not every Christian to obey the King?  
I say, Yes, in all Righteousness (actively) but if any Kings command contrary to God, and make Laws contrary to the royal Law of Love and Righteousness, than the Commands of god, and his Law of Truth is to be kept only, and the other witnessed against (not by Plotting or raising Insurrections) but passively, in a Lamb like Spirit, undergoing those Penalties that shall be inflicted, until the Lord plead with the Oppressor, and avenge his Elect, that cries unto him night and day, and have no Helper in the Earth; and this is according to the Saying of Christ, My Kingdom is not of this World, therefore my Servants must not fight: And this is the Faith and Patience of Saints, to stand still and see the Lords Salvation and Preservation, whilst they that are killing with Swords perish, and are devoured one of another.  
But say some men, Ought you not to conform, and be of the same Religion that the Governors of the Land are pleased to establish? And if they make a Law, to compel you thereunto; Are you not Rebels if you do not actively obey, seeing we have a Christian King, & c?  
To which I answer, By this Rule, than I may not know what Religion I must be of next; seeing the Papists, and Presbyterians, and Independants, and others profess themselves Christians; and we have seen how one gets up after another, and every one sets up a new kind of Worship, and cries, You must obey the higher Power, and bow down to my Fashion of Religion: So if I should manifest myself as a Cloud carried about with every Tempest of men's brains, and foolish conceits, and such as can do see, I little question; but rather than suffer deeply, they can conform to the Turks Alcoron, or in the end wheel about to be Atheists, and worship the visible Sun, Moon, and Stars, or fall down to Nebuchadnezers' Image, if there be but Music, etc. But he that is really a Christian will stand to the Worship that Christ set up, which is in the Spirit and in the Truth, which is the same to day as yesterday, and will remain when Popish Dreams and Inventions of giddy headed men will have an end; for the standing Rule that Christ hath appointed for his People to walk by, is not a Mass-Book, nor the Fragments thereof covered with other names; but it is the Spirit of Truth, which he promised should lead and guide them, and that it should abide and remain with them for ever: So here is the unchangeable Way, and Rule, and Worship set up by him, who is King of Kings; and this is the higher Power, unto who the soul is to be subject; for it's written All Power in Heaven and Earth is given unto him; therefore let all proud flesh tremble before him, and let none think to rob him of his Prerogative lest they be driven to eat Grass with Nebuchadnezer, and so be made to know, there is one will rule in the Kingdoms of men.  
But say many People, What do you think of the present proceed against fanatics? and do you think it safe to suffer such great Multitude to meet together, and was it not time to limit them, & c?  
To which I answer, The greatest Meetings that I have seen commonly are at the Playhouses, and if there be danger in a Multitude, then to be sure they should be suppressed; for the Proverb saith, The Wicked run together to do Evil; but I observe such Meetings, as are for PLAYS, and singing of BALLADS, though in the open Streets, are most suffered, and rather increased then otherwise, together with Bear-baitings, Revellings, Race-running, and much of that nature, whereby the Lord is daily dishonoured, and the Earth corrupted; but I hear of no Fines that are levied upon such Metres nor Houses, nor upon those open profane Vassals of the Devil, who spend their whole time in cheating ●ools of their Money, and teaching Youth to be Idle, and Wanton, and Curse, and Swear, and so fit them for Baudy-houses, and to be Thiefs, and so in the end to the Gallows.  
And as for the late Persecution in itself, I have no reason to believe that it is the Fruit of a right Spirit.  
First, Because covetous Bishops and Priests were the chief Founders of it, for their own filthy Lucre sake, that so as Merchants of Babylon, they might have the whole Trade to themselves, and also lord over God's Heritage.  
Secondly, Many of those that gave life to it, the Nation well knows, had more need to sit down, and repent in Dust and Ashes, and wait to know their own Consciences washed and purged from filthiness; then go about to shut up the Kingdom of Heaven against them that desire to enter; and also to bring again into bondage such who through Grace have escaped the the pollutions of the flesh that is in the World.  
Thirdly it makes sad the hearts of the Righteous; but many, that are well known by their Neighbours to be Drunkards, Fiddlers, Players Swearers, etc. even the worst of men; it's like a Feast for them; and hereby an Arrow is put into their hands to make the Righteous their Mark, and their Estates a continual Prey; many of these wicked Instruments bragging what they will be worth in few years; but let them remember Judas his End; though for a time it may be suffered, as in the days of Malachi, That the proud, and such as work wickedness, and daily tempt God may be set up, and counted happy, and yet delivered; But as Peter saith, Their Damnation slumbreth not; for woe be unto such as go in the Way of Cain and Balaam, etc.  
Fourthly, The Law of God teacheth a man To love his Neighbour as himself, and do as he would be done unto, and every one shall answer for himself: But I do not believe these Rulers, that made this late Act would be served so themselves; as they have appointed to be done to others; and also that one man should suffer for another, this is contrary to God's holy Law; and therefore all Kings, Princes, and Rulers, who desire and expect their Laws and Commands to be kept, let them be sure themselves to keep the Commands of God, and act and walk according to his holy equal Law of Love and Righteousness; and this is the way for a King's Throne to be established, and his Family and Kingdom to be blessed, and to cause the hearts of the upright to cleave unto him, and make his dread heavy to the Workers of iniquity.  
Lastly, I observe, that Kings and great learned men are very ready to be tempering about Religion, pulling down and setting up what pleaseth their Fancies, but we see they are not infallible, but are often times carried away with their own high thoughts, and by lending an ear to such creeping Deceivers, that serve not the Lord Jesus, but their own PURSES and BELLIES; they have many fold more set up false worship, and caused People to sin by compelling them thereunto, according to History, than ever yet they were Bringers to the true Worship, or themselves found walking in it; and through their darkness have persecuted and slain the Lords Worth yes by many cruel Trials and Tortures, judging and condemning them as Deluders and Deceivers: Wherefore, all high and low, come to Christ the Light, that so ye may see over the darkness of men's ways and worships, which are full of Envy, Strife, Persecution, and Murder, and every evil Work; and so come out of them, into the new and living Way, to the living Worship of the true God, which is in the Mountain of Holiness, where there is no killing nor destroying, but are known to be Disciples of Christ, in that they love one another, Christ being the Author and Defender of their Faith, which gives them victory over the World; and preserves his Church (not by CLUBS, and DRUMS, PIKES and SWORDS, in the hands of Drunkards, and Cursers, and Mockers. etc.) upon the Rock of Life by his own eternal Arm, against which the Gates of Hell, the Dragon's flood of malice, nor all the hosts of the Egyptian Informers, and Persecutors shall not prevail: Therefore, to the higher Power, saith the true Church, be Glory forever.   
THE END.