Love, Kindness, and due Respect, By way of Warning to the PARLIAMENT Of the commonwealth of ENGLAND, That they may not neglect the great opportunity now put into their hands, for the redemption and freedom of these Oppressed Nations, Whom the Lord hath once more appeared to deliver, and hath proffered his loving kindness in overturning, overturning the Powers of Darkness, that Truth and Righteousness in the Earth might be established, and zions People sing and shout for joy.  
From a Servant of the Lord, who hath born his testimony for the Lord in the day of apostasy, and hath been a Sufferer for the testimony of a good Conscience, by Oppressors, under the name of a Quaker.  J. Hodgson. 
London, Printed for Giles Calvert. 1659.   

A warning to the Parliament of England.  
Friends,  
THe Lord God hath committed the Authority of these Nation to you, and hath wonderfully overturned many, that you might again come up, and be tried, as he hath tried many before you, and they have been as chaff before the wind, and hath not answered the end for which the Lord entrusted them; and therefore did his displeasure wax hot against them, for departing from him and losing their way, in the dark in going about to root out that in the earth, and from amongst them which had been their defence in time of trouble, and the Rock of their safety in their greatest straits; and because they would not harken to the Lord's voice to choose his ways and walk therein, but grew hardened through the deceitfulness of sin, slighted the Lords warnings till he overturned them, that you might once more be tried; now therefore beware what you do, and tempt not God as they did, nor provoke not the Lord to wrath against you, by doing that towards his beloved people, for which the Lord will not hold you or them giltless: take heed how you grieve the spirit of the Lord, by standing up to vindicate that which is for destruction: Oh, that you were so wise as to take the Lord's Counsel, then would you exceed all that has been before you; but alas, alas! are not you already beginning to plead for those things which even those before you pleaded for, honour and respect to your persons, as if men were altogether uncapable for the service of their Country, that cannot bow, swear, and give respect to persons, although in all things else duly qualified; if this you do will you not thereby exclude the Lord's people, your best and surest friends, out of your Assemblies, because they cannot swear, respect persons, and say theo and thou to a single person; know ye not that they that respect persons and gay clothing commit sin, Jam. 2.2, 3, 4, 5, 6. and they that bow to the Creature, be it flesh, gold, silver, or precious stones, or any other thing above or under the earth, bows not to the invisible God, but to the Creature, and so worships the Creature more than the Creator, Ro. 1.25. unto whom every knee should bow both in heaven and in earth. Oh how do the streets of every City abound with gross Idolatry, bending cringing and bowing even to the ground to one another's Images, the creatures of God, and workmanship of their own hands, decking one another with gold and costly apparel, thereby to be bowed to, respected and honoured of men. Oh how is the spirit of the Lord hereby grieved, because of these and other abominations? And how shamefully and barbarously have the people of God suffered in this Nation of late years, because they could not run with the world into all manner of excess and wickedness; and especially because they could not so much idolize men's persons, and worship the beasts Image, as was required of them? Therefore were they hailed, imprisoned, and grievously fined, and for other things accounted offences, where no known Law was broke, did they suffer as heinous transgressors, the like of which in ages past can scarcely be paralleled (and this from persons who call themselves Christians.) Consider with yourselves and examine well whether creatures persons, or visible substances, celestial or terrestrial bodies, though never so glorious, or that unclean spirit, that adores and worships them more than the Creator, be to be bowed to, or the invisible power, by which all things were made that are; o that of God in you I appeal for answer. If then the power or name be that to which every knee or thing in heaven and earth must or aught to bend, Phil. 2.10. than they whose souls are hereto made subject, worship the Lord in spirit, and cannot worship the workmanship of men's hands, nor yet men's persons, but commit sin, and yet can truly honour all men in the Lord, for the Lord's sake so now come to rule in the Authority and Power of God, that in the Lord we may you honour, and be cautions at what you stumble, that truth and righteousness may be cherished, and all deceit and wickedness quite discouraged: Take heed to yourselves, least in the steps of those that went before you, you be found (with whom the Lord was displeased) and broke to pieces; think not to yourselves you shall be established, if you be found hindering the Lord's work; for except your righteousness exceed the righteousness of those that was before you (whose mercy was cruelty) you shall not escape the vengeance; the Lord will not be mocked by you, who make mention of his name; what you sow that shall you reap; and if examples to these Nations, you stand in all righteousness, meekness, justice and mercy, and every good work, a blessing to them shall you be, for want of which the world hath abounded with all manner of wickedness, because the governors thereof was out of the Lord's fear, and abounded in folly, and was examples in pride, and encouragers of the wicked in every place, even like unto those the Lord God cast out before them, imitating their heathenish ways and customs; yea, and those same things that they cried out of in the zeal of their spirits, when they grew great, did they again establish, and thereby grievously vexed the righteous, and became persecutors of those who could not bow to their apostasy, and for this cause the Lord did not establish nor bless them, because their hearts was darkened, and they given up to believe lies: God hath tried them, and they are fallen as example to you, that you may not sin as they did; therefore be wise and quit yourselves like men, that you may be honoured in doing that which all before you hitherto have refused to do; consider the great oppression of the filthy proceedings of the Laws of this Nation, and the vexatious covetous Lawyers, who make merchandise of men for moneys, who with others sell their filthy lies at to dear a rate, to the undoing of many; and consider the oppression of the Ministry of England, and their forced maintenance, the suffering of the Lord's people from themward, hath been cruelty without mercy, as hundreds can witness; and consider well of the hard measure the Lord's people have received from many that are and have been in Authority in this Nation, because they could not put off their hats, swear, lie, and for going to their peaceable meetings, with other things too tedious here to mention. Be counselled Oh ye Rulers, and be wise Oh ye Magistrates, lest as others you be overturned; if you do well happy shall you be, and are joycing to those hearts, whom others before you by oppression have sadned, and you even you shall be established in much peace, and all before you, as you abide in the Lord's power, shall fall; but if you will not harken to the Lord's voice, to do that which is well pleasing in his sight, to do justice and love mercy, and walk humbly with our God, but neglect the opportunity put into your hands, negligently & slightly do the work of the Lord, then shall you likewise be overturned, the Lord God of hosts hath spoken it, and the Lord our God shall dash to pieces as a potter's vessel, all who are hinderers of his work, that he may rule, whose right it is. I have herein discharged myself before the Lord, whether you hear or forbear I am clear in his sight, and according to your work, so shall be your reward.  
J. H.  
FINIS.