[ Here all may see, that] JUSTICE AND JUDGEMENT IS TO RULE.  
AND The Power of God without respecting Mens Persons, or observing the Worlds compliments.  
And sheweth How the pure Religion keeps out from the Spots of the world. And sheweth how the Innocent is ensnared for keeping the Commands of Christ. And sheweth how he is made a Transgressor for reproving in the Gate, and crying openly 'gainst sin. And sheweth how David bowed the hearts of the People. 
2 Sam. 19.  And how all the people that were with David the King, had their heads covered, though he was a King. 
2. Sam. 15.  And Moses the Judge of all Israel, said unto Aaron, Eleazar, and Ithamar, Uncover not your Heads, neither rent your clothes, least you die, and wrath come upon all the People. And sheweth the Prisoning for not bowing the Hat, is such a thing as hath not been since the world began.  
LONDON: Printed for Thomas Simmons at the sign of the Bull and Mouth near Aldersgate. 1656.   

[ Here all may see, That] Justice & Judgement is to Rule, and the Power of God without respecting mens Persons, or observing the Worlds compliments.  
ALL you who make plots against the just and invent your snares to take them, and seeks deep to hid your counsel from the Lord who with your hooks with your baits, with your nets with your snares lies to catch the innocent, Such as doth reprove in the gates which hath departed from iniquity themselves, and reproves the workers of iniquity, these are become a reproach and a bye word and a taunt and hollowed at, shouted at, in towns Cities and Countries, and such as are moved of the Lord to reprove such as are given to drunkenness, swearing lying, cozening and pleasures, these are persecuted in this age as peacebreakers who reproves such as are before mentioned; Now here it is seen what peace is broken, and how equity cannot enter the streets nor Justice run down but is turned aside, and the King of righteousness and Truth is not here suffered to reign and such as are brought to exhort people to fear God and to profess no more then what they do possess, and that such as live out of the spirit that gave forth the Scriptures should wait for it; for if the other spirit get the Scriptures which gave them not forth it is theft; and for bidding such as steals to steal noe more, but that all might come to the life that gave forth the Scriptures, and live in that which gave them forth, and when this hath been so, then they are accused for duels, and reproachful Language, and here again all may see what religion you stand in, that hath no more gravity among men, nor no more feeling that cannot endure sound exhortation sound words, nor sound doctrine, what Religion is here; that nothing but words of flattery you can endure and such as cannot swear who obey the Commands of the Lord, and have the testimony of Jesus profferring to them the oath of abjuration which was for Papists, and such as were suspected for Papists and jesuits, which was not for them that abides in Christs doctrine who cannot swear at all who keeps the Commands of the Lord and receives his testimony such John in the Revelation said the Beast and the Dragon shall make war aga nst and be wrath, such as keep the Commandements of God, have the testimony of Jesus, hath Jesus testimony that saith swear not at all: and to such now is the oath of juration put that cannot swear at all: and many because they cannot take it, are put into Prison; was ever the like baits hooks and snares( see;) to catch the innocent and such as keep the Commands of God? and for giving forth a paper against sin and wickedness, of such now is demanded good behaviour; now had not sin and wickedness, been cried against here; here had not been( it seemeth) a breach of good behaviour: Now see how Judgement and Justice is turned backward; and the oath of abjuration, that is put so much throughout the Nation to friends which obey the commands of the Lord, and many cast into Prison because they cannot swear, and will not take that Oath which is to be given to the papists and Jesuits, when was ever the oath of abjuration( given) to the Papists or them that are Popishly affencted or to the Priests of the Nation but to them that they know cannot take an oath and here are the just made a prey upon; which scarce was such a thing heard of before, and do you not believe that the eye is open that all these things are looked over and the Lord beholds; and the Lords arm upholds his elect through out all these tribulations; what unchristian life is here before mentioned seen? see what snares baits, nets and hooks here is to bring out of the commands of the Lord into the evil, into the Condemnation as James speaks of out of the yea and nay A Christian life is out of the Condemnation? out of the evil, but who swears goes above the yea and nay, and so goes into the evil: and who so swears is fallen into the Condemnation out of the Christians life which is a high life and here all may see what havoc and what inventing there is against the Just? and such as live in the spirit of Christ Jesus who comes to do his will and knows his doctrine: Now to have that which was made for Papists and( those who are) Popishly affencted and Jesuits which can swear and will swear; that to be turned against them which cannot swear or take an Oath who witness Christ the Oath of God his everlasting Covenant and promises of God fulfiled. do not you believe that the names of such in ages to come will stink which upon Record will be among them that be in the honourable Christians life? which is not of the world nor of their changing Notion, nor self separation nor feigned humility not of the Congregation of the dead but such as come to witness the Christians life passeth from death to life to Christ the oath of God and here knows the vine such as are come to yea and nay in all their communications did ever any that was in the Power of godliness persecute, but such as was in the form of godliness? and again was there ever such a thing hea d since the world began in all ages past that ever any was persecuted, imprisoned and fined for not doffing their hats and not swearing which came before any of the heathen the grossest that was the stubbornest as was? for they had hats in the dayes of Daniel, and the Children of the Lord which could not bow to the Image, was cast into the fiery furnace with their hats on but we see they were not cast in for not doffing their hats neither was any cast into Prison among the holy men of God nor the heathen but we see Mordechai which could not bow to Haman was like to be slain and put to death not him only but all the Jews that feared God which could not obey the Kings Command these could not obey man his commandement nor the three Children could not obey nabuchadnezzar concerning his Image, nor Mordechai could not obey the Kings Command and was that the Type of this great Substance now in this age the hat the not bowing it? which not bowing it so many are cast into Prison, and great fines of money Cast upon them, now that the hat this base thing a compliment among the world the not bowing the hat, these base thing a compliment of the world should confounded all the Religion of the world yea and Justice as they call in the world that there is no Justice except the hat be bowed among them that fear not God is not this the Beast, is not this the Image of the Beast and the Beast that there is noe Justice except the hat be bowed? is not this the mark of the Beast that there is no equity done except they will receive his mark yea or nay, was ever the unchristian state got to such a height was it ever so in all ages that Justice stood in a hat? for want of a hat that should have been on; or that the hat should overthrow Justice and was it ever so in all ages past that a hat should overthrow Religion; and doth not the Lord here with a base thing confounded the wise and the mighty and with a thing which is not bring to nought the things that are and is not all this a dishonur to a Christians life, and practise and shows that their striving about those things before mentioned as hats that they are out of the Christians life; doth not the pure Religion keep out of the world and the compliments of it unipotted of them, and is not a hat of the world a compliment and is not all the world spotted with it, serving and bowing and worshipping the Creature more then the Creator and what is it to give the glory to the Beast which all the world wonders after and worships and is the soul to be subject to the higher power or to the hat and doth the royal Law of God respect any mans person or a hat and is not he that doth convinced to be a transgressor( mark and take notice) and are not the weighty matters of the Law neglected Judgement faith and mercy, while the hat is so much wrangled at among men that are respecting one anothers persons? doth not it manifest here that all that are striving for the hat to be bowed to them or else to be disturbed they to be such that hath the old Garment on and the convering which is not with the spirit of the Lord to which the woe belongs and doth not all that be in this state dishonour the Truth dishonour Religion, dishonour Justice yea the higher power which the soul must be subject to and the royal Law which respects no mans persons but brings to the Lord is not the hat an Image and except you will give him that Image the hat there is something in man rages, what is that mark & take notice is it not a work of mens hands? are they all blind is there none turned from Images doth none love Justice; yea and the Lord is setting that up and establishing Justice in the earth and his power shall raise it up above the world, and above the power of darkness and above him that abode not in the truth but is out of it; and all the Inventions of them that be out of the truth and is not the pure Religion dshonoured which keepeth not to be spotted with the world( mark) as I said before is not the bowing of the hat the worlds compliment and the worlds fashion that passeth away and the worlds worship which makes the heathen to rage if the hat be not bowed; doth not the pure Religion which keeps unspotted from the world, keep from the worlds fashions the worlds compliment the worlds worships and doth not the pure Religion keep from the spots of the world, & whether the worlds fashions compliments customs worships will not spot, whether men striving for these things the hat bowing while they are striving for these do not forget the weightier matters Judgement mercy and righteousness, & strive for them that doth spot. Now whether these things doth not give a stink among them that act Justice without respect of persons, and whether it be not a grief to them that do Justice and equity without respect of any mans person to be such whose eye is altogether at the hat for bowing, whether this is not the eye that would have persons respected, yea or nay that is blind in the things of God, a man coming into the Court with his hat on soberly, not bowing his hat he that saith be disturbs all the Court whether this is not the eye that would have the person respected, & which in this mean time is not Justice and Judgement, and mercy neglected which are the weightier matters of the Law and faith, for he that saith if you will not bow the hat I will not do you Justice; is not the hat weightier then the Justice is not Justice to be done without respect of persons( mark that) persons is more then a hat, nor he that will do Justice with respect of an hat, if the hat be bowed and not else is not here Justice done with respect of persons; now he that will not do Justice without respect of a hat and without respect of persons is not that honourable in the sight of God and them that fear him; whether is the person or the hat the greatest to be respected seeing that Justice must be done without respect of persons and they that will not do Justice without respect of an hat the respect of a person is greater, let but reason Judge of this was them that did Justice with respect of persons in ages past a type of this age? which now of such as will not Judge without respect of an hat is this the great substance of that type? for this is a thing brought forth which is beyond all them that ever was acted in the Scriptures either among the heathen or among the holy men of God since the world began if that you can show an example declare it to them who lies fined and Prisoned for not bowing of the hat and therefore hath not Justice and witnesseth the pure Religion which keeps from the worlds spots whose soul is to the higher Power subject who witness the weightier matters of the Law faith Judgement and mercy, and rejoiceth in them that walk humbly with God and loves Justice and mercy, whose souls to the higher power is subject not for wrath but for Conscience sake, who rejoiceth in that sword that is turned against the evil doer, who is for the praise of them that do well, who owns every Ordinance of man, which is for the Lords sake, which is for the punishment of the evil doer, a lover of righteousness in the establishing of it which answereth the righteous principle in every man who suffers because they can't bow the hat which is one of the worlds compliments & worship man & serve the Creature more then the Creator who is God blessed for ever therefore to whom Justice was not done here the hat was respected as in former time the person hath been respected in judgement which now is more then was ever and the hat respected which shows you in the transgression of the Law of God and the higher power, for is any one soul subject to the higher power that respects either hat or person and will not Judge without the respect of the hat and person is his soul subject to the higher power yea or nay Consider is not he that is full of prejudice wrath rage & fury out of the fear of God who respects the hat, when it is so, when to himit is not bowed, is not this he that doth respect mens persons & is such a one fit to Judge for God yea or nay who is out of the humility is not such a one out of the honour for the honour goes before the humility which God requires to be done as to do Justice and Judgement and love mercy, and this is to be done without respect of persons and the hat not mentioned and is not the ground of rage, and fury and persecution, proceeding from that nature which is in the transgression which respects persons, and the hat doth any respect either person or hat but who are in the transgression; or will any but such who are in the transgression? and so convinced to be, by the Law of God transgressors which will not do Judgement nor Justice except the hat be bowed, and that be respected; and whether the hat be not a thing of nought and a dead thing and the Law which is the light is not to be looked at more which respects no mans person and whether this be not honourable whether are not such as are in the transgression dead in sins, and so come to respect handy works and dead things, and look at them more then the righteous Law which is living and if that be not bowed, here is the rage and fury stirred up of him who is in the transgession, who respects the handy work the hat before mentioned, which if it be bowed and the person respected, and the righteous Law transgressed the transgressor rageth not then at the transgressor, but loveth its own is it not the transgressor of the Law of God that respects persons, and would have others to transgress which if not they rage, is not that which doth transgress, which doth rage at the other which will not transgress but rejoiceth in the Law of the Lord and in that Law exerciseth himself day and night, and delighteth in it which saith thou shalt not respect mens persons but seeth him that doth commit sin.  
And this is he that groweth up like a three planted by the River of water, whose leaf never fades; and this is he who delighteth in the Law of the Lord, and maketh it his delight, at whom the wicked rages and the Heathen take counsel together to destroy them that be of upright heart, and all these are as the sheep for the slaughter: By whom is the glory robbed, or of whom of them that be in the transgression, or of God? doth the hat bowing and respecting mens persons overthrow Government in all Courts, and overthrow Laws? or doth it not stir up the prejudice and fury, and rage, and malice, and manifest that( which casts the Law of God away) the anger wherein is the sin, and manifest the evil Government, the headiness and passionatenesse that cannot govern itself without hats be bowed and persons respected? and is not he that is here from the Spirit of the Lord, which leads to witness his Law, which respects no mans person, and from that which should govern him and so mortify the contrary? Doth not the ill Government proceed from that which respects persons, and looks at an Image as bowing the hat? and do not men while they are here, acting and practising this feigned humility and compliment, forget the Lord, to whom the honour belongs, and bowing the hat, and respecting mens persons with a kind of feigned humility to one anothers face, envying in their heart, hating and biting, and envying one another behind one anothers backs? this is the issue of the worlds compliment.  
Is it not Justice and the perfect Law of God, that respects no mans person, and Judgement, that must rule men, and rule Courts, and will not this perfect Law and Judgement stand, when this respecting of hats and persons ceaseth? at this will them that fear God cry yea: And are not these the weightier matters to be looked after, Judgement, Equity, and righteousness, and the perfect Law of God that respects no mans person, without the look at the bowing the hat respecting the person? what is it to Judge with partiality, doth he regard the Law of God, Gods Law and the weightier matters, Mercy, Judgement, Justice and Faith, that if the hat be not to him bowed he will Fine him? doth not this show a worse state then the Pharisee, more in the Earthly black darkness, in the rash presumption, without the fear of God, not regarding his Law? was not the Pharisees rebuked for neglecting the weightier matter, when they stood up as in doing the smaller? will not this be a great rebuk to the men of this age, which hath outstripped them, which hath neglected the greater and weightter, and turned themselves to a compliment, a fashion of their own, of the the world, which if not bowing there is a Fine upon them, and imprisoned; can any one that fears God behold these things without grief? to see that here is the wisdom of the wise now comes to be confounded with such a base thing, and Justice is turned away for a thing of nought, the understanding of the prudent that a hat should deface it, that the bowing of the hat the outward; & do not you show here that you mind that complementing more then the Spirit of the Lord, which not bowing to, and bowing it, sets men in such a rage? doth not this show the blackness and darkness standing. red this without prejudice and rage, and persecute not him that is born of the Spirit, and with it covered, who cannot to it bow, which is covered but not with the Spirit of the Lord: And is not the fruits of the flesh wrath, and respecting persons, and bowing the hat? is not that the flesh that would have it bowed down unto, seeing that Mordichai could not bow to Haman, which did own the righteous Law of God which governed him, which governed not Haman which would have been bowed to, and this righteous Law wh ch kept him was to govern all the families of the Jews, and was not the King that was among them the governor to abide in this Law of God which respects no mans person, & to do Justice and Judgement without partiality? and was there not Elders, and Assemblies among whom this Law was, which said, they should not respect persons, and would they? not respecting the persons or bowing the hat destroy them all; or whether were they not destroyed for neglecting the Law, and so scattered among the Heathen, and there bowing to their handy works? and was not there the respecting of persons, and the Law of God transgressed? and did not such destroy that was in the transgression the Prophets of God? such as had the words of the Scriptures but out of the life of it, out of the life of that Spirit that gave it forth, and so covered with another spirit, showing the birth born of the flesh, and with that covered, persecuting him that is born of the Spirit, and with that covered; and is not here each birth and each covering seen, and are not all respecters of persons Judged in the sight of God with this Law.  
What is it to seek honour one of another? or what is the honour that is seeked? and is not this honour delightful to the flesh, and raiseth up the joy and the glorying in it, if it be given, or if it be seeked, and have not many found this honour who have seeked it one of another, and is not this the mark that while you have been here you have been all unbelievers, and cannot believe while you seek the honour one from another, and are not they that have this honour full full of rage, fury and prejudice, and working mischief, plotting in their minds against them that this honour of you seeks not which believes in Christ Jesus, and seeks the honour which comes from God onely, and where this honour is seeked which comes from God onely, and this honour is found, he that hath found it gives the honour to whom the honour belongs( mark take notice here) see, honour to whom honour, and fear to whom fear, custom to whom custom, and this is a good custom, for the customs of the Heathen are vain, and is not that honour which men seeks( to be denied) one of another, that men might come to believe, and seek the honour that comes from God onely; and are not they that seek honour one of another, they that respect persons, and they that would have the hat bowed, and if they be in Authority, without the fear of God, to Prison with them, and if they have not Authority full of rage.  
And is not this a manifestation that the Spirit of God is in Prison in them, and imprisoned with that which doth imprison them that cannot bow to them, and cannot transgress Gods Law but in it delights? doth not this show the Magistrate, and the power without the fear of the Lord? and them that be in his fear regarding his Law, and power, and Authority, did ever any of them that were born of the Spirit, which did Minister to the Spirit in Prison, which had the royal Law of God, Prison and persecute, and Fine, any that would not respect their person, and their hats bow to them? and is not the Spirit in the Prison in him that would have his person respected, and the hat bowed to him? and do you not believe that God will bow that, and make that to bow with his righteous Law, which righteous Law shall answer that which hath been imprisoned with the respecter of persons and the hat, which in the transgression hath lived.  
Where these things are standing, the bowing of the hat, the person respected, & so men cast into Prison for not bowing of the hat, who mind the weightier matters; is the understanding of the prudent yet brought to nought, that so much looks at the bowing of the hat, & the person respected? is your prudence, is your understanding here brought to nought yet( mark, take notice) is not your wisdom standing, which must be confounded with a base thing, and things that are not brings to nought things that are,( mark & take notice) where is the wisdom of the wise where is the understanding of the prudent, hath God chosen the base things of the world to confounded the things that are mighty,( mark) the base things of the world to confounded the mighty, and to bring to nought the things that are, and this we see fulfilled and fulfilling, to him be glory whose arm is stretched out; where is the wisdom of the wise, where is the understanding of the prudent, where is the Scribe and where is the disputer? so, hath not God made foolishness the wisdom of the world? and such as are foolish are out of the light which comes from the wisdom of God, and such as be in the light the wisdom of God, are out of the worlds foolish wisdom, and the understanding of the prudent, and seeks the honour and the glory that comes from God onely, and such as honours the Son, the Son honours which comes to abide in his Doctrine, who is not of the world, but from the world separates, and brings to testify against the world that their works are evil, and therefore the world hates the Light and hates them who be in the Light. And this shall be their condemnation( the Light) to this Light I am manifest, in every mans conscience in the sight of God, and this is the word of the Lord God to you.  
Are not they covered but not with the Spirit of the Lord that are offended that their persons are not tespected and the hat not to them bowed, are not these in the transgression out of the Law of God yea or nay? David who was a King bowed the heart of all the men of Judah even as the heart of one man, 2 Sam. 19. but it is not said there, that he bowed their hats. And David the King had his head covered, and all the people that was with him covered every man his head,( mark) all the People that was with the King had their heads covered, who was a man after Gods own heart, 2 Sam. 15. And David speaks of such who were wicked Oppressors and deadly enemies, who are enclosed in their own fat, whose mouths spoken proudly, these have set their eyes to bow down to the Earth, which is like a lion greedy of his prey, which David prayed to the Lord for disappointing of such, Psal. 17. And Moses said to Aaron and eleazar and Ithamar his sons uncover not your heads neither rent your cloths least you die, and least wrath come upon all the People, but let your Brethren the whole house of Israel bewail the burning which the Lord hath kindled, here was a bewailing and yet covered, a command of Moses the servant of God, and a Judge of all Israel, not to uncover their heads. David it saith made them bow their hearts, but where is it said that David made them bow their hats? Naaman who saw the evil of the worship and the bowing in the house of Rimmon, for the which thing he asked pardon when his Master learned on his hand and he bowed himself, now he that had tasted something of the Lord saw beyond that worship, and the evil of that bowing: So all you that set up a worship of your own, houses ordained for Popery, and idols Temples, is not that as bad amongst you that worship not God in Spirit? yea, it is seen so with them that worship God in Spirit, and knows his power, and to him bows, and is there not many of you that doth go to those houses to worship and there to bow, in the state of Naaman in fear, and desires a pardon in that thing, when that you go with your Masters and Mistresses as Naaman did, and bow? but all you that do go thither to worship, do you not appear to be out of the Prophets life, which is a life high above all the world? He that is called being a servant is the Lords free-man, and he that is called being free is Christs servant, ye are bought with a price, therefore be ye not the servants of men, But fear the Lord, fear to whom fear, sanctify the Lord of hosts and let him be your fear, Isa. 8. The fear of man brings a snare, but who so putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe, Prov. 29.25. Cursed be he that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord, Jer. 17.  
And furious nabuchadnezzar cast the three Children into his fiery Furnace, because they could not bow down to his Image which he had set up, and bound them in their coats and in their hosen, and with their hats on, and other garments, into the fiery Furnace: Now Nebuchadnezzars fury was not for their not doffing their hats, but for not bowing down to his Image which he had set up; Which in these dayes it appears worse with the men of this age, who are so full of rage and fury because they have not the hat bowed to them, and for prisoning and persecuting and fining them for not bowing the hat unto them; it is such a thing fallen out in this age which will be upon Record, as never was in all ages since the world began, not bowing the hat an Imprisonment and a Fine is imposed upon them; and this is done amongst them that call themselves Christians, which they that be Christians be out of the doctrines that perish. And will not a hat perish and pass away, and that which doth respect mens persons, and would have their persons respected, whether that doth not perish likewise, that is so much eyed and looked at with the men of the world in these dayes.  
And whether the Law of God the higher Power which the soul must be subject to, shall perish; and whether that was not before hats were; and whether this Law doth not require that to bow which respects hats and persons, and so makes the heart to bow; and whether the hat is not a toy and a babble, a compliment and an unperfect thing, in respect of the royal Law of God which is perfect and endures for ever?  
Whether hath not the world such a kind of bowing now, as those wicked ones had to Christ, who bowed their knee in spite and derision, and spit upon him; and doth not some bow their knee in pretence to him now, and put him in Prison where he is made manifest?  
And bowing the hat which is a thing that will please men in this age, or displease them, if it be not bowed they are full of rage.  
Here all may see what a toy they are carried away withall, and what toys will please men or displease them, even a compliment and a toy which pleaseth children, and while such a compliment doth offend, this shows abundance of weakness and the want of humility which is required, and wants Moses meekness and the royal Law of God.  
For toys, compliments and babbles, carries men from seriousness and sincerity; for doth it not make it manifest here that toys and babbles have eaten up the sincerity that should be amongst men, for while they are eyeing of those things they forget the Lord, while the eye is carried after the bowing of a handy work, which if it to them be not bowed which would have it they be in a rage.  
The Heathens did rage whose customs were vain, they whose souls were subject to the higher power turned away from the customs of the Heathen which are vain; and was not the Lords hand turned against such that bowed to the customs of the Heathen, and the works of mens hands: And is not the Hat a work of mens hand, which must now be bowed, else a Prison and a Fine is laid upon them, by them that be out of the fear of the Lord; and do not you believe that God will throw down all those things, that people shall not imprison one another for compliments and handy works of men? And do you not believe that the Lord is unclothing, and taking off the garments, and making every one to appear in their own likeness? And what is it to judge by the outward appearance, and what is it to Judge Righteous Judgement, is not this it which answers that of God in every mans conscience, and respects no mans person, not bowing the hat nor looking for it, but bowing the heart, as David did the hearts of the people? 2 Sam. 19.  
I am the Light of the world( saith Christ) and doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world, which if you love the Light you love Christ, and it will bring you from the world, and from their Fashions and compliments, and not to be conformable to the world but to have your minds renewed, and such as are here the world hates, who are the servants of the Lord, and are the obedient children, and are transformed by the renewing of their minds, and such the world hates, and such who are hated doth not marvel, because they cannot be conformable to them, but testifies against the world because their works are evil, and this was the cause that they hated him, who was not of the world, and likewise is the cause why all are hated now, which be in him.  
How many Honours be there that the Scripture speaks of, whether there be any but two, one that is seeked from God, and whether the other be not the Honour that Balak would have promoted Balaam with, yea or nay?  
Whether Honour be not to a fool as a parable in his mouth?  
And saith Solomon, As snow in the summer and as rain in harvest, so Honour is not seemly for a fool, Prov. 26  
And if so, whether it be not that which is from the Spirit( to it) contrary?  
G. F.  
The End.