A SERMON Preached before the People called QUAKERS, IN THE Park of Southwark: On the 27th. of the 9th. Month, called by some Nou. 1687.  
By a Reverend and Dear beloved Sister, who came from Scotland to rejoice with Us for our LIBERTY OF CONSCIENCE; and leave her Testimony at London.  
Wherein is contained a Word, concerning the PENAL LAWS and TESTS.  PSALM CXXVI. I. 
When the LORD turned again the Captivity of Zion, we were like them that Dream.  
LONDON, Printed for N. H. MDCLXXXVIII.   

A SERMON Preached before the People called QUAKERS.  
My Dearly Beloved,  
IT hath been the earnest desire of my Soul to see you in the flesh, to rejoice together, and congratulate that longed for Christian Liberty of Conscience, which our King hath been pleased to grant unto all his Subjects. Let no man heneceforth judge to the outward appearance, nor pass sentence on a bare Possibility. Truly about four years ago, The Duke of York's Succession to the Crown, was a  of Inquisition that frighted three Nations out of their wits: But like Sampson's Lion and Riddle, Out of the Eater came forth meat, and out of the strong hath come forth sweetness. This is the Lord's doing, and it is wonderful in our eyes.  
Truly (Beloved Brethren and Sistens) tho' the Conscience cannot be compelled, the Oppression and Tyranny we were under, these several years by past, was a great stumbling block in the way of our patience; when the wicked and ungodly did rob us under pretence of Religion; and threaten to knock us in the heads for Conscience sake: imprisoning us because we did not pay to the Tithe-takers, Hirelings, Babie-sprinklers whatever they pleased. Heli's Sons made the Lord's Offering to be abhorred, because they did exact upon the people, and took according to their own pleasure by force. Paul could rather willingly work for his Living than be burdensome to the Flock over which the Holy Ghost had made him Overseer: Therefore said to the Corinthians, I will not be burdensome to you; For I seek not yours but you. But Thiefs and Robbers, who enter not at the door, but climb up by the walls may invert the order, and say, I seek not you, but yours.  
Religion is ●●t ●●de a va●● to ●●ver Villainy The De●● clothed himself with Scripture whe●● 〈◊〉 tempted our ●●viour: But he is m●●t formidable when transformed to an Angel of Light. Demetrius and his demented Crew of Craftsmen could under a pretence of Religion and Love to their great Goddess. Diana and her Temple, oppose the doctrine of Christ, and cry out Great is Diana of the Ephesians. whils●●●ey neither cared. ●or her ●or he Temple either, ●ut ●●ly for their own gai●●. The Jews 〈◊〉 the Prophet Jerem●ah's time could cry, The Temple of the Lord, the Temple of the Lord, yet did trust lying words, that could not Profit, Steal, Murder, commit Adultery, and Swear falsely; But the Lord's command to them was throughly to amend their ways, throughly to execute judgement and leave off Oppression: This is very applicable to these fat Bulls of Bashan, and lean Kine of Egypt, who have oppressed us these several years by past. But since it hath pleased God (who ruleth the hearts of Kings) ●o deliver us from this Egyptian Bondage, let us freely forgive them, and pray for them, lest (being hardened in our own impenitency) ●e be left in the Wilderness of our own weakness, and be destroyed by the old fiery Serpent.  
But above all things (My beloved Lambs) since God and the King have given us freedom of Truth, let every one use his talon to the best advantage; (and laying aside all malice, guile, and hypocrisy, sloth, and covetousness;) stand upon his Watch-Tower, waiting for the voice and coming of the Bridegroom of our Souls: for the Devil is busier now, and hath more advantage to gain ground upon us than when we were made cautious by the constant alarms of our assaulting Enemy. Outward crosses drive a man to inward Piety and tranquillity of mind. Sorrow is better than laughter (saith Solomon) for by the sadness of the Countenance the heart is made better.  
The blood of the Martyrs was reputed the seed of the Primitive Church. Hannibal's Army was indefatigable, and by the Romans esteemed invincible, till they gave themselves to ease, wine, and voluptuous diet. Noah was not drunk, whilst he was in fear of the flood, building an Ark for his own safety. Lot was not ensnared in uncleanness, whilst the wicked in Sodom daily vexed his Soul.  
Be watchful then (my dearly beloved) lest ye defile your Garments, and the shame of your nakedness be seen. The Conscience is The Holy of Holies, which the great High Priest only doth enter. It is the Candle of the Lord that giveth light to our path, the primum mobile of the little world. The Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters, when darkness covered the face of the Deep: Even so the light of the Conscience shineth and giveth light to the inner Man, though no outward Sun, Moon, nor Star appear. It is a Lantern which none can extinguish but he who beareth it. Keep then your hearts with all diligence, and Consciences void of offence towards God and Man.  
Above all things (My Brethren) Love one another; Love is the Badge of Christianity, and the mark of the true Church. Appolyon the destroying King of the bottomless Pit, dare not show his face where true love is. Love, Life, and Light, are the Epithets by which God expresseth himself. They are inseparable concomitants, and wherever they are, God is not far off. Love worketh no ill to his Neighbour; therefore love is the fulfilling of the Law. It suffereth long, and is kind, it envieth not, it vaunteth not itself, it is not puffed up, it doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth: Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things; and in one word, Love never faileth. But be not deceived (My dear Brethren and Sisters) If any man love the World, the love of the Either is not in him.  
Be merciful one to another, for the merciful doth obtain mercy. Rather suffer injury than be heard before those which are none of our Society. Let never a persecuting spirit have dominion over you; but learn of Christ to be meek and lowly. Carnal weapons, Instruments of Cruelty, have no sympathy with the sword of the Spirit, wherewith Christ overcame The Wicked One, and reconciled the world to God again.  
That man that walketh on Crutches, is never strong in the Limbs: A Religion by Law Established is horrible Nonsense, Law and Gospel are repugnantia in adjecto, they never agree well together, 'tis a Figurative Religion; like hysteron proteron, or a man walking backwards. A Conscience regulate by human Power, is like a Diamond set in Brass, or a Glass with Iron Hoops, a Fox keeping Sheep, or a Malefactor made a Judge. Paul appealed to Caesar and lost his Head for his pains. Therefore that Church that maketh the arm of Flesh her trust, may be questioned whether she be the true Church or not. Moses and Joshua (though they knew the truth of their Religion) did not force the Children of Israel to accept of it, but set life and death before them; but the punishment of obstinacy they left to the Lord. Paul may plant, and Apollo's may water, but God gives the increase. He is a foolish Steward that hireth a Servant to his Master, whom he knoweth he will not accept of. How then can rational men force one another to accept of that Religion, which they think true, whilst they know that God accepteth none but those that come willingly. He only can make people willing in the day of his power. All the Host of Hell could not prevail with the Apostles, yet soberly could they say, The love of Christ constraineth us. A Poet of my acquaintance compared a persecuting Church to  

A Golden Cup of Dragon's Poison full,  
Or Aaron 's Calf grown to Perillu 's Bull;  
Which is made this or that, or what you will,  
As doth the State Affairs require it still.  
A strange Hysteron Proteron! Sad fate,  
To see the Church the Basis of the State.   
Paul's Persecution (though it was zeal wrapped up in ignorance) was a heinous sin before the Lord. None must do evil that good may follow. He that would propagate and enlarge God's Church by Blood and Persecution is like one who (under pretence of zeal) would steal money to give the poor, and so make his Theft the Author of his Charity  
The Church is Christ's Spouse, the Bride, the Lamb's Wife; he fought a duel with the Devil and Death for her, his right is good: Let him then be head of his own Body, if any thing be interposed the Son of Righteousness is Eclipsed, and darkness is over the whole Members.  
Penal Laws and Tests are but the Patrons of Hypocrisy, and the Sword of the Spirit of Antichrist; Hobgobling of Apostasy wrapped up in Sheep's Clothing which (at a distant seem innocent, but approaching nearer found to be like revenous Wolves) which frighten Men in the Kingdom of Darkness to sacrifice both Faith and Conscience to brazen faced Babylonian violence and humane power.  
Let God then be Guardian of his own Church; The Spirit of meekness is not a Spirit of outward violence, but a still and calm voice. One who was my Persecuter in a sober fit told me, he never liked the Religion that was thrust in at a Man's Broadside with the point of a Sword; yet however it be the Devil is no gainer: For the Palm of victory flourisheth best under the burden of Persecution, when the Children of Men Lord it over God's heritage. Be steadfast then and Waver not, neither draw back whatsoever be your condition; sweet Meats must be eaten with sour Sauce, good Bees draw Honey from bitter Herbs; the Rod and the Staff go well together, outward Troubles are the Pravoes Spiritual which drive us within the line of the Church-militant. The Lord thought it not fit to cast out all the Enemies of the Children of Israel in one year, lest the Beasts of the field should prevail against them; even so, if we had no Temptations to drive us to the Throne of Grace, and keep us on our guard, we would become secure and confide in our own selves, and our own brutish and corrupt Natures would prevail against us.  
Fear God and keep his Commandments, for this is the whole Duty of Man; pure Religion, and undefiled before God, and the Father is this, to visit the Fatherless, and Widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the World. Let every one order his Conversation aright, and strive to keep free from all known sin, and to him that hath learned this lesson, God will show what further he would have done; according to that of the King and Prophet David. To him that ordereth his Conversation aright, will I show the Salvation of God: For the secret of the Lord is with them that fear him, and he will show them his Covenant. Thus, it is not Sayers, nor bare Believers that are justified before God, and to whom he giveth the Spirit of discerning to choose the good, and refuse the evil; but, What Man is he that feareth the Lord, him shall he teach in the Way that he shall choose.  
Do not err then my beloved Brethren, neither give heed to the various Opinions of Men of Corrupt Minds, destitute of the Truth, and tossed above with the Wind of the Times; changing their Doctrine for filthy Lucar's sake, and unadvisedly contradicting their former Assertions. The Gospel of Christ is but one; and every good gift comes down from the Father of Light; with whom is no variableness, nor shadow of turning. Fix not your Faith to a future Contingency, nor tip your belief with the turn of Time; a Poet exclaiming against this Evil, saith,  

The World's confused, whilst (in a loafty strain)  
Each Fool doth Print, the Notions of his Brain.   
Neither give yourselves to read idle Controversies, though they be guilded with the Title of the Learned; for by the Spirit of Antichrist under the Notion of Philosophy (a falsifying Glass which can represent one thing in divers shapes) the World is darkened, and the key of Knowledge laid by, and the Kingdom of Heaven shut up according to that of the Prophet, Thy Wisdom, and thy Knowledge, it hath perverted thee; a Woman once going to be burnt at the Stake, for being a Christian, answered, those who would by Arguments persuaded her to renounce her Religion, I cannot dispute for Christ, but I can die for Christ. Be ready then (like this Woman) rather to suffer, then by Seditious Arguments to give offence.  
Finally (My Beloved Lambs) Let your Moderation be known unto all Men, the Lord is at hand. For he that walketh uprightly walketh surely. Give no offence, But submit yourselves to every Ordinance of Man for the Lord's sake, whither it be to the King as 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.  
Had our Noble and Heroic King stood out against that Principle that persuaded him to the Religion he now Professes, he had been much to blame; but now considering his Courage (which hath leaped over the Wall of Worldly Temptations and stumbling Block of the feat of losing his Crown and Kingdom) he is a greater Conqueror than Alexander the Great, and more Powerful than any of his Ancestors. It is the Lord's work and doing, therefore let no Man grudge or repine: For the Powers that be, are ordained of GOD; Whosoever therefore resisteth the Power, resisteth the Ordinance of God. Therefore with the Apostle, Honour all Men, Love the Brotherhood, Fear God, Honour the KING. Be charitable in Opinion, and Judge no Man, especially these that are without: Paul was much dejected to think that the Israelites his Kinsfolk should not be Saved; but after serious and deep Meditation, he cryeth out as with a Plaudite, God hath shut them all up together in unbelief, that he might have Mercy upon them all; O the depth of the Riches both of the Wisdom and Knowledge of God How unsearehable are his Judgements, and his Ways past finding out. It is very observable that the Apostle telleth, that after the Elected Israelites were sealed in the Fore heads, be saw a great Multitude, which no Man could Number, of all Nations; and Kindred's, and People, and Tongues, which stood before the Throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with White Robes, and Palms in their hands. Grace and Peace then be upon all the Israel of God, and all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in Sincerity; for there is neither Greek, nor Jew, Circumcision, nor Uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, Bond, nor Free, but Christ is all, and in all.  
Now to him whose Kingdom is ubiquity, and whose Duration is Eternity, God all sufficient, who only is able to keep you Spotless, and present you before the Throne of his Grace, with exceeding great Joy, and do abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the Power that worketh in us, he Glory in the Church by Christ Jesus throughout all Ages, World without end. Amen.  
THE END.