The Oppressed Prisoners COMPLAINT Of their great OPPRESSION: With a loud Call to England's Magistrates for the exercise of Impartial Justice, before the Wrath of the Lamb break forth. With a brief Relation of the unparallelled Proceedings of the Court, at the Old Bailie, the fifth day of the fifth Month, 1662. Mat. 3.2. REpent, O England, for what thou hast done To God's dear Lambs, and to the holy One; Oh harken to the doleful hideous Cry Of God's dear ones, that in your Prisons lie. Exod. 22.22 23. Isa. 59.14, 15. The Fatherless in thee, Oh England, cry And groan, because of Bonds and Cruelty; For great Oppression, it doth much abound, As touching Justice, it cannot be found. The Widows now, indeed, are made a prey, Their bitter Cries are heard, still, day by day; And in the ears of God their Cries do come, They shall be heard by Christ, the holy One. Woe unto England then, when God shall plead The righteous Cause, of Innocents'; indeed If England now should plead, it is not guilty Of any crime that now is counted filthy, What mean you then, by haling every day God's Worshippers to Prison; Yea, I say, What Law of God have we indeed offended? That by your Soldiers we are apprehended, And in your filthy Goals are fast secured, And yet no Crime against us is procured; What sin is done? or Law have we offended, That Justice stops, and surely is suspended? If that Offenders we, indeed, must be, Wherefore in Court, our Charge, could we not see? What is the Crime that we committed have? Let's hear we pary, for Justice we do crave: For we indeed, as freeborn English men, For Justice cry, which is our Right: again What Charge is laid against us, in this day, Dan. 6.5. Save in the matters of our God, I pray? Is Liberty of Conscience now a Sin, Tho promised by the WORD of a King. Beware, O Rulers, then, how you oppress Acts 5.28, 29. God's Heritage indeed, who do no less Than his most Royal Law strive to obey By meeting in his fear, yea day by day: Take heed, oh Rulers all, how you oppose Mat. 18.6. The marked one of Christ, whom he hath chose. Oh tender, as the Apple of his Eye, Deut. 32.10 Are they to him: Harm them not lest you die. The day will come that you will howl and cry Because of Torment and of Misery. Repent oh then, for what you have now done, Ye Magistrates, and hearken to the Son. In London streets you needs must here a cry Of Cruelty, and sore Captivity; Offenders scape, and just men apprehended, Surely for this our God is much offended. Nine score Prisoners, in Newgate now doth lie For Justice, Justice, there aloud do cry; Besides many Goals, in England round about, God's Heritage are Prisoners without doubt. Most Poor, and from our Wives and Children rended, And here abused, when we should be defended. And when unto the Bar we there did come, Looking for Justice, but yet finding none, We called to see accusers, face to face, But met with Violence, to your disgrace: When no accuser in your Court was found, A Snare, immediately, you did propound. And when in soberness we made our moan, That no such thing, in Conscience, we could own, But Justice did there come for to behold: Your Officers and Halberteers were bold To pull and hale poor Prisoners at the Bar, While we aloud for Justice crying were. Instead of showing Justice in that day, Back to the Goal they haled us away. Where patiently, through grace, we do abide Till God the Controversy shall decide. Take heed oh Rulers all, and now give ear, Jam. 5.9. The coming of our Lord is very near: Fulfil the righteous Law of God, Mich. 6.8. oh then In doing justice to the sons of men: And learn to walk in humbleness of mind, Then to God's chosen ones you will be kind. And do them Justice, while it's called to day, Before grim Death doth snatch you quite away: For after Death to Judgement you must come And give account to God, what you have done. 2 Cor. 5.10. At his Tribunal Seat, oh you must stand To answer to your Charge; it is at hand. Where Christ and Conscience will be your accuser, Right, Evidence will be without refuser. Oh with the Adversary then agree, Mat. 5.25. Yea while you find him here now in the way, Else dreadful will the day of Judgement be To Rulers, and all Gaolers, they shall see. Repent therefore before it be to late, Luke 13.3. And labour to escape the cruel bait, That Satan lays to catch your Souls therein, And harm no more the Children of the King. The Judgement day will prove most dreadful sure, 1 Chron. 16.21, 22. 2 Thes. 1.8, 9 Repent O England, better fruits procure: For dreadful will the Lamb of God be then, To all such Rulers, that do rule for men. Come let the Captives of the Lamb go free, Isa. 58.6. To serve there God and King with Loyalty. 'Tis not your Prisons, Bars, or Bolts will scare God's Children dear, or make them for to fear. Luk. 12.4, 5. Heb. 10.34. The spoiling of their Goods, or Banishments also Will not make such decline the truth I know, That do engage to meet now in God's fear, Isa. 55.6. According to his will, they must appear; His righteous Laws, they must and will obey, And to their Meetings go, yea day by day. Therefore take heed oh Rulers what you do, Harm not Christ's precious flock, though they are few; Psal. 2.10, 11, 12. For God himself it is that takes their part, But rather to Gamaliel's Counsel hark, Refrain from these men, and let them alone, Acts 5.34. For if their counsel be of God, he'll own What they shall do, and with them he will go, 'Gainst Rulers all, who seek their overthrow. Acts 5.39. This Remnant of the Lord, whom he hath chose, Fear then, thus day by day still to oppose, And careful be you fight not against him, Lest he in pieces tear you for this sin. Therefore repent, and hearken to his voice, And set the Captives free, that have made choice To follow Christ, the Lamb of God, indeed For follow him they must, and will with speed. His day of Vengeance is now drawing nigh, Jer. 51.6. Repent, oh England, and at Christ's foot lie. The day is nigh that Vengeance it must come, Decreed by God, the Father and the Son: When the sixth Angel with's Vial doth appear, Rev. 16.12,— 15. Ezek. 24.6, 7, 8, 9 Jer. 51.35, 36, 37. Isa. 3.10, 11, 12. Rev. 1.6. We may conclude, that Jesus Christ is near. Then woe to those that persecuters be, Christ's dreadful Wrath and Vengeance they shall see. The Vials of God's Wrath on such will come For all the violence to Zion done. Break off your sins by righteousness, I pray, Then happy shall you be, as Christ doth say, And reign as Kings with Christ, upon his Throne, If ye repent, surely he will you own. For all the Violence to Zion done, Repent O England, and now kiss the Son. Psal. 2. last. Written by S. B. a Prisoner for the Testimony of Jesus.