AN Appeal to Heaven, AND HEAVEN'S MINISTERS: The most Reverend Pastors of God's Word, Now assembled in the Synod of ENGLAND: And to all the faithful People of God: From all the Prisoners, imprisoned for Debt, in the several Gaols within the Kingdom of ENGLAND, and Principality of WALES. Together with divers infallible Reasons, showing, that imprisonment of men for Debt, is contrary to the Law of God: The law of Nations: as also, the fundamental Laws of this Kingdom. Composed in the year of England's Jubilee, if they do not neglect Justice and Equity, In the year of grace forty four, else will Judgement enter by the door. Written by a member of the true Church of Christ, J. M. F. Humbly show, THat having formerly addressed ourselves, by our several humble Petitions, unto the high and honourable Court of Parliament, for redress of our intolerable grievances, and Christian slavery, suffered under the heavy and unexpressible yoke of tyrannical Imprisonment, where they that rule over us make us to howl, Isa. 52.5. Isa. 52.5. A thing in itself surpassing the tyranny of Turks and Pagans, and not to be paralleled in any other Kingdom or State throughout Christendom. Being also a thing far different from the liberty of the Subject, and quite contrary to the Contents of Magna Charta, and the Petition of Right. Both which were also ratified and confirmed by his Majesty, for the benefit of all his people. And whether Imprisonment for Debt, be a thing consonant to the word of God, we refer to your pious judgements, upon your serious perusal of these several portions of holy Scripture, viz. Psal. 14.4. 6. Psal. 53.3, 4. Psal. 82.2, 3, 4, 5. Psal. 94.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. 20. Isa. 3.14, 15. Isa. 10.1, 2, 3, 4. Isa. 58.5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11. Jere. 5.27, 28. 30. Ezech. 22. Micah 7.2, 3, 4. Zach. 8.16, 17. Matthew 23.23. 1 Cor. 13.1, 2, 3. with many other such like places, proving the unlawfulness of Oppression, Imprisonment for Debt, and the neglect of Justice for relief of such whom the Lord hath afflicted, Psal. 69.24. 25. 26. through several crosses and losses, by sea and land: Whose afflictions also have been redoubled upon them by the tyranny of some persecuting Nimrods', whereby they are brought to extreme want and misery. Yet notwithstanding all this, their miserable bodies are daily sacrificed by the merciless Common Law, unto the tyranny of Jailers, and their adherents; as also to the oppression of their cruel merciless Creditors. Thus having (as we said before) addressed ourselves by our several Petitions of complaint, but by what unjust hand we know not, our complaints have been hitherto obstructed, and we thereby (for these three years passed) have not reaped the pleasing fruit of our humble & just desires, for the work of our relief in, and release from, these our several dungeons of misery, and places of tyrannical oppression, notwithstanding the Dormant Ordinance of Parliament to that effect. The anchor of our hope now resting on heaven, and on you the pious servants and instruments of God, for the crying aloud in the ears (and stirring up) of all those Worthies, to whom the Lord hath committed the sword of Justice, to and for the work of our deliverance and speedy accomplishment of our just desires. We do therefore in all humility, beseech you by the mercies of God, to commiserate these our present deplorable conditions, and to make these our grievous and unjust oppressions manifest unto that high and honourable Court of Parliament, that so thereby we may become capable of their great care, for the honour of God, in the relief and release of us his afflicted and long oppressed members, by the flowing stream of true justice and judgement, Exod. 23.6, 7, 8, 9 without respect of persons, in a free current, without any pecuniary charge (which is a thing, that our extreme poverty cannot reach unto.) And that this just and pious act of relief and release, may through their wisdoms be conferred on us, by men truly fearing God, and hating covetousness, and not by any covetous Lawyers, seditious Attorneys, oppressing Jailers, Psal. 10.3. nor by any their adherents, who (like unto the Masse-Priest) have ever (by their calling and profession from their youth) been taught this one impious Principle, viz. Give me my fee, 1 Cor. 6.4, 5, 6, 7, 8. or else No Penny no Pater noster, no money, no Justice, no true judgement nor mercy. In confidence of your pious favour to be extended for the accomplishment of this our humble request, we shall ever continue our prayers for you and all your pious undertake, and send our praises to heaven for you, as for the pious instruments of our delivery from these seminaries of iniquity, and seed- plots of all abomination, tyranny, and oppression. Infallible Reasons showed, why men for Debt ought not to be Imprisoned. FIrst, They conceive themselves to have been most unjustly and tyrannously detained in prison, by the corrupt practices, ways, and means, of evil minded Judges, covetous Lawyers, Levit. 25.23, 24. 35. 43. seditious Attorneys, and by and for the particular benefit of cruel exacting Jailers; Especially such of them who are allied to persons of eminency in the State: Contrary to the laws of God, the laws of Nations, and the fundamental laws of this Kingdom. For, The words of Magna Charta are these, viz. That no freeborn Subject shall be detained in prison for Debt, Will. 2. chap 18 Magna Charta 9 of Hen. 3. chap. 19 Regis. 〈◊〉 77. D. Homine 〈…〉 selbo 6. 3. Edw. 1. chap. 15. & Anno 5.9. & A●no 25. Edw. 3. chap. 4. any Ordinance, Law, Act, or Statute, made, or hereafter to be made to the contrary thereof in any wise notwithstanding. And the power of this law is not, nor ought not to be extinguished at this day, being a perpetual Law, and obtained by the blood of many thousands of our ancestors. By which they freed themselves and us from being slaves, and thereby have made us freeborn Subjects, and for divers other most weighty causes, whereupon it was first founded, being at this day styled and taken to be the Fundamental law of this land. And all Statutes that shall be made in any one particular point, contrary to Magna Charta, are void by the Statute of the 42 Ed. 3. chap. 1. Secondly, In regard of the continuance of these unjust and tyrannous courses. For that ever since the beginning of this Parliament, the poor prisoners have been by no ways nor means enabled, Gen. 18.19. freely to reap the fruit of Justice, for their release out of prison, and relief against their oppressors; For, notwithstanding all our several grievous complaints, (these three years passed) against our oppressors, and cruelty of Jailers, and their merciless Substitutes, our complaints have been slighted, Hosea 4.1, 2. and we ourselves still detained in prison, under the cruel bonds of oppression and Christian slavery. Thirdly, In regard the Jailers are still countenanced, and suffered to persist in their tyrannous courses and cruel practices upon prisoners; by murdering of some, starving others to death, & decripping of others by their iron fetters; Job 24.14.22. which is a thing manifest to many prisoners, and others also. Fourthly, In regard the Jailers (notwithstanding the just unlimited power of this Parliament) most impudently still persist, in threatening the poor prisoners with their iron fetters, and in practising this their cruel tyranny on some, as also by posting of some of them from one prison to another, Psal. 31.13. and from one part of the prison to another, upon their private distaste taken against any of them; Psal. 58. as also by suffering and also causing the prisoners to be violently assaulted and beaten in their chambers, by their instruments of cruelty; by reason whereof their lives have been and are still endangered, and their estates utterly ruined. Fiftly, In regard the Jailers are also still suffered to exact their unjust extorting fees, and without control, 42. of Eliz. to oppress, defraud, and deceive the prisoners of their gifts, and Legacies; as also of the collection-monies due unto them by the Statutes of this Realm, and to detain some men in prison, merely for their own unjust exacting fees, until such time as some Legacy comes for release; to the hazard, yea, often to the loss of the prisoners life. In all which several extreme oppressions, the poor prisoners have hitherto reaped no redress. Sixtly, In regard of these distracted times, the charity of the Basket also much failing; By reason whereof, divers prisoners for debt, have been starved to death, and more are like to follow the same way daily, if this barbarous oppression course of cruelty, for imprisonment of men for debt, be still suffered to continue in this Kingdom. For these and many other most pregnant reasons, J●●● 4.11, 13. ready to be manifested, if by Justice countenanced, and not by the subtlety of some powerful personages still obstructed; the poor prisoners ought in all reason and conscience to enjoy their liberties, and also for that purpose to be speedily by Justice relieved and released. For we are a people spoilt of all our estates, credits, and callings; and many of us from being formerly painful and profitable Bees in this Commonwealth, Pro. 21.3, ●, 10 are now by these inhuman courses made Drones, Pro. 21.22, 23 yea, we are rather, as men buried alive, and by the mere subtle practices of the persons aforesaid, we are all of us ensnared in holes, and hid, yea, buried in prison-houses. Behold, Isa. 42.22. we are set apart for a prey to oppression, and none delivereth us, yea, for a spoil to Lawyers and Jailers, and none saith, Restore unto them their right. And if it be not so now, Job 24.25. who will make me a liar, and make my speech nothing worth? We beseech you therefore by the mercies of God, seriously to consider these things, and let not the blood of the innocent, and the groans of the oppressed, cry any longer for vengeance, lest their cry fall heavy upon the whole Kingdom. For, as the blessings of God shall crown those people, that truly and freely execute Justice and Judgement between man and man, without respect of persons, and without any pecuniary reward; Amos 3.10, 11 so wrath and destruction shall be upon all neglecters thereof. For, Psal. 58.1.4. 5. 10. 11. They know not to do right, saith the Lord, who store up violence and oppression in their palaces; and abhor him that speaketh uprightly; Amos 5.10, 11 12. 15, 16. 24. and tread upon the poor, and afflict the just, and take Bribes, and turn aside the poor from their right. Therefore as ye expect the favour of God, and his blessing on all your weighty matters, even the peace and eternal welfare of your souls, as also the peace, Levit. 26.6, 7, 8, 9 15, 16, 17. 37. plenty and prosperity of this Kingdom; Then must you seek good and not evil; establish true Justice and Judgement, according to God's law; and let Judgement run down freely as water, and Righteousness as a mighty stream; and then, (yet not till then) no doubt but the Lord God will be gracious unto the remnant of his people, and heal the Land. If you shall do all these things, Isa. 40.23. and fear the Lord your God, who only worketh wonders, and is able to bring Princes to nothing, and make all the Judges of the earth as vanity, and weaken the strength of all the mighty; Then shall ye not be destroyed; For, what doth the Lord require of thee, O man, but to do Justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God: To relieve the poor, the widow, and the stranger, and to let the oppressed go free? Then shall your light break forth as the Sun, and the Lord your God will have mercy upon you, and divert these his present judgements from you, and heal your Land; Then will he crown you with Victories against your enemies; and will also cover your heads in the day of Battle; Yea, he will then also bless all your designs, Deut. 28.7. 10. 20. and will utterly confound the secret Counsels of all the mighty Achitophel's of these times. But if ye shall neglect the due execution of Justice and Judgement, in all your Cities, then shall your adversaries still remain, as Goads in your sides, as Rocks of offence, and continual stumbling blocks to you and your posterity, until ruin and desolation take hold on all the places of your habitations in the Land. Run to and fro through the streets, Jere. 5. and see if there be any that executeth Judgement, and seeketh the truth. But they are as wild horses, every one neighing after his neighbour's wife; Yet they say, Psal. 73.6. 8. No evil shall come upon us, neither shall we see the sword, nor famine; Shall not my soul be avenged on such a Nation as this, saith the Lord? Who lay wait, and set snares and traps to catch men, and to bury them alive in Prison-houses; yea, they surpass the deeds of the wicked, because they judge not the Cause of the fatherless, and the oppressed, and the Right of the needy do they not judge. For I considered all the oppressions that are done, Ezech 4.1. and behold the tears of such as be oppressed, and they have no comforter, and in the hands of their oppressors there is power, but the oppressed have no Comforter; And if it be not so now, who will (or can) make me a liar, and make this my speech nothing worth? Job 24.25. FINIS. LONDON: Printed in the year of grace, and expected Reformation, of Injustice and Oppression. Anno 1644.