THE BANNER OF GOD'S LOVE, AND ENSIGN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS Spread over his people in these later days.  
Wherein the true light shineth, and the mystery that hath been hid from Ages and Generations, is revealed to the Saints, which is, Christ in us the hope of glory, as our forefathers witnessed, Read Col. 1. 26, 27, 28, 29.  
ALSO, A Testimony against them who formerly hath tasted of the good Word of God, and of the Power of the world to come, who hath cast the Law of God behind their backs, and hath trodden under foot the blood of the Covenant, and now doth labour with one shoulder to destroy the Manchild which is now brought forth to rule the Nations with an Iron Rod; and these are most especially, those that are called Anabaptists and Independents.  
Also, A few Words in warning to the Priests, Professors, and People of the Town and County of Southampton.  
With a few Queries to the Rulers and Magistrates of England, to try their fruits whether they be according to the Christian Magistrates recorded in the Scripture of truth, or according to the heathenish Kings and Rulers in former Ages.  
Set forth most especially for the sake of the honest-hearted, who are not wholly given up to believe lies, that they may come to know the way of life and peace. Written by me who am called Ambrose Rig.  
London, Printed for Giles Calvert, and are to be sold at his shop at the Black spread-Eagle, near the West end of Paul's, 1657.   

To the sober Reader.  
GReat and admirable is the Love and Mercy of the Lord God unto the sons of men, that he hath not withheld his only Son, but hath sent him a Light into the world, that all men through him might believe, and be saved: But there is a generation of men in these our days that cannot endure sound Doctrine, and such will not receive him who is the good shepherd, but heaps unto themselves Teachers having itching ears, which hath never profited them, nor never shall; and the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the Prophet, stands now where it ought not; therefore I desire thee who readeth these ensuing lines, to understand and weigh them in an equal Balance, and with a single eye look upon them, and thou wilt clearly see that here is nothing written but what is just and true to every man's condition, without flattering, or daubing with untempered Mortar, as the false Prophets have done these many years, which hath made the abomination so great in our Nation of ENGLAND. And take heed of judging or censuring any thing hastily, but try all things, (as he hath done who writ this unto thee) and hold fast that which is good; For to this end was this sent forth to public view, That every one may be known by their fruits: From him who is a Friend to all that love the Truth as it is in JESUS called of men  
Ambrose Rig.   

THE BANNER OF GOD'S LOVE, AND ENSIGN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, etc.  
FOrasmuch as many dear and precious 
Isa. 8. 18. Joh. 17. 23.  Servants and Children of the Lord God of Heaven and Earth, whom he hath loved with an everlasting love, and hath opened their eyes and ears to behold him whom they had pierced, and hath armed them with 
Zach. 12. 10.  power from on High, to make war in righteousness against all the powers 
Rev. 20. 8, 9  of darkness that stands up against the appearance of the Lamb of God, who hath now clothed them with his Armour of Light and Life, and given them for an Helmet, the Hope 
Rom. i3. 12. Eph. 6. 13, 17.  of Salvation, and hath put the Sword of the Spirit (which is the Word of God) into their mouths, that with boldness they may declare abroad the Name of him who is now come a Light into the World, and hath lighted every man that 
Joh. 12. 46. Joh. 17. 9  cometh into the World, that all men through him might believe, and come to the knowledge of the truth.  
And for this end is he now made manifest, To destroy the 
1 Joh. 3. 8. Eccles. 12. 3: Ezek. 32. 25, 26: Ezek. 2i. 28.  Works that the devil hath wrought in man, even to make the strong man bow before him, and the Keepers of the House to tremble, that the uncircumcised may fall by the stroke of his Sword which is now drawn in his hand, and made ready for a mighty slaughter, even to cut off the wicked from the Land of the living, that their remembrance may 
Luk. i9: 27:  be blotted out from the earth, which wlil not that he shall rule whose right it is: and he hath made his children and servants living Witnesses of his eternal Truth, to declare his eternal Name among the Gentiles, and hath given them a 
1 Joh. 5: 20: Luk. 22: 35:  good understanding to know him that is true, and hath sent them forth into the World without Bag, or Scrip, or two Coats, and hath given them his Word of Life and Light to declare to the Spirit in Prison; and these have (as they have been moved of the Lord) run to and fro in the earth, in true and tender love to people's souls, warning all men every 
Acts 17: 30, 31. Acts 20: 33:  where to repent, and seek the Lord while he may be found, without coveting any man's Silver, Gold, or Apparel; and for this have they been stocked, stoned, whipped, imprisoned, and shamefully entreated, and not counted worthy to live upon the earth, not only by them that professed little or nothing of God, Christ, or the Scriptures, but rather by the Scribes, and Pharisees, and chief Priests, and zealous professors 
Mark 8: 31:  as the Jews was, as may be witnessed at this day by hundreds in our Nation of England, whose fruits shame their Profession, and whose Works show to their faces they are of their Father the Devil. And those whom the Lord 
Joh. 8: 44: 1 Cor. 4: 2:  hath called and chosen to commit his secrets unto, and to place his eternal Name in, as they have freely received of the Lord, freely have they ministered unto all, whereby many hath been turned from darkness unto light, and from the 
Matth. i0. 8. Acts 26. 18.  power of Satan unto God; and God hath greatly blessed their labours within these few years, so that many that was scattered as Sheep without a Shepherd, in the cloudy and dark day, by the Idol dumb Sepherds which had made a prey 
Ezek. 34: 12.  upon them, their feet are now directed into the Way of life and peace, wherein they are now walking up to Zion, with Songs of Deliverance, and are sitting down with Abraham, 
Isa. 35: 10:  Isaac, and Jacob, in the Kingdom of God; and the children of the Kingdom shall be cast out into utter darkness, where 
Matth. 8: 11:  is weeping and gnashing of teeth for ever.  
And now quick and powerful hath the Word of the Lord 
Heb. 4: 12:  been in the mouth of his Messengers and Ministers in this Nation of England, and elsewhere, whereby the strong man in hundreds hath been made to bow, and the Keepers of the House to tremble; and by it hath the Wisdom of the Wise 
Isa. 29: 14: 1 Cor. 1: 19: 1 Pet. 1: 23, 25: Isa. 40: 8: Acts 19: 20:  been confounded, and the understanding of the prudent brought to nought; but the Word of the Lord hath stood, and shall stand and accomplish the Work for which it was sent, and hath grown and increased abundantly, so that many by it is quickened, and raised from death to life; and they have not laboured in vain, as the false Prophets have done this many years, but many Vessels are full, and an innumerable multitude is drawn out of the Sea of confusion, where 
Luk. 5: 5, 6:  they were overwhelmed, and could never have come to the Son of God, unless they had been drawn by the Cords of the Father's Love, wherein now they walk to the praise and glory of God for evermore.  
And those whom the Lord God of Heaven and Earth hath 
2 Cor. 1: 22:  endued with his Spirit of Life and Light in Christ Jesus his only Son, and as they have been moved of the Lord, have taken 
Luk. 1: 1, 2:  in hand to set forth from the very first a Declaration in order of those things which are most surely believed among us, who have been eye-witnesses of him from the beginning, and of all the things that Jesus began to do and to teach, of 
Psal. 112: 4:  the works and mighty wonders which he hath wrought for the sons of men, who sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, how he hath caused his everlasting day to dawn upon them, and hath commanded light to shine out of darkness, 
Luke 1: 79: 2 Cor: 4: 6:  whereby his children comes to have the knowledge or his glory. And this Declaration hath been set forth for the sake of the simple, that they may turn in at the call of Wisdom, who is now uttering her Voice in the Streets, and opening 
Prov. 1: 20, 22, 23, 24.  her Gate wide, so that many hearkens to her Voice, and enters in at her Gate; and by such is Wisdom justified daily, 
Matth. 11: 19: Isa. 11: 9: Zech: 4: 9:  and Knowledge increased abundantly, so that the Lord God is known to be one, and his Name one. And he hath confirmed his Work, not by Word only but by his mighty Power, and by his Armour of Righteousness on the right hand, and on the left, whereby his Enemies is subdned under his feet, 
2 Cor: 6, 7:  and the Power given unto him to rule whose right it is: And this hath his own Arm accomplished for his own Seed sake which lay in captivity, and was oppressed and burdened, so 
Ezek: 21: ●7:  that it could not arise to bring forth fruit unto him, but his Vinyard wholly laid desolate to the Beasts of the field to make a prey upon, and his Heritage was become as a speckled Bird that was wandered into the desolate places of the earth, 
Je●: 2: 9:  and not one stone was found to build up the desolation of Zion with, till it was hewed and suited by the Word of God, which is as a Hammer, which was put into the mouths of his chosen one's in the fullness of time. 
Jer: 23: 29:   
And now I, with the rest of my dear Brethren and Sisters, who have obtained grace and mercy from the Lord; and having had perfect knowledge from the very first, of the things that Jesus hath done for me, and the rest, who have believed in his Name, and how it pleased the Father to reveal him in us, that we might preach him among the Gentiles, for the 
Gal. ●: 16:  salvation of his people Israel, and for the redemption of all the children of Adam, who were made sinners by his disobedience.  
Now am I moved of the Lord to bear my testimony (with the rest of my Brethrens and Sisters, who are in scorn called Quakers) unto Christ Jesus the Light of the World, whom we witness in us, the hope of Glory and how He did there 
Col. 1. 27.  begin his work, and wrought in us both the will and the deed, as our forefather's witnessed in their declaration in 
Phil. 2. 13.  order; the mystery that was hid from ages and generations was Christ in them the hope of glory, and them that sought 
Col. 1. 26.  a proof of Christ in them, they exhorted to try themselves, and prove themselves, and told them that Christ was in them 
2 Cor. 13. 3. 4. 5.  except they were reprobates; and this is the mystery that is now hid from all sorts of profession and professors at this day who are found without the life of Christ, manifested in the mortal flesh, and so are seeking proofs of his speaking 
2 Cor. 4. 11. Deut. 18. 15. 18. Acts 3. 22.  in his people; and such hath ears but doth not hear him of whom Moses wrote, which the Lord hath now raised to be a Teacher and a Leader to his people, which they now bear in all things according to the word of the Lord by the mouth of his servant Moses: And this doth set all the world in an uproar so that Gog and Magog doth strike hands together, 
Rev. 20. 8. Rev. 17. 14. Rev. 12. 5. Rev. 19 15. Matth. 3: 12: Luk. 3. 17  to join in Battle against the Lamb who is now arisen to rule the nations with a Rod of Iron, and Fan, and purify his Sons and Daughters, that he may gather his Wheat into his Garner according to his promise, and burn up the Ghaff with unquenchable fire.  
And now shall they clearly be known that serveth the Lord in truth and righteousness, from them who pretend 
Mal. 3. 18. Titus 1. 16: 2 Tim: 43.  in words they know him, but in works deny him, for the time is already come wherein men cannot endure sound Doctrine, but after their own lusts, heaps up unto themselves 
Isa. 56: 10: 11: 12: Ier: 23: Ezetk 34: Matth: 23.  Teachers which doth not profit them at all, but are such as the Prophets and Apostles of the Lord did always bear testimony against as all that are not wilfully blind may clearly see.  
But now hath the Lord furnished us with power from on high, to preach his everlasting gospel unto every creature, 
Mark: 16: 1●:  so that our labour and travel is to see Christ form in them, who is the express image of his father's person, that henceforth 
Gal: 4: 19: Heb. 1: 3:  they might not be tosed to and fro, with every wind of Doctrine, through the sleight of men but that all may 
Eph: 4 14:  come to the knowledge of him in them, subduing all things under his feet, and leading Captivity Captive, and destroying 
1 Cor: 15:▪ ●8: Ephe: 4: 8. Ephe: 5: 27.  and defacing the image of the Devil in all his children, that they may be presented without spot unto his Father, and for this end did he sow the good seed of the kingdom among us, which the good ground hath received in us, and 
Matth. 13. 8.  hath brought forth first the Blade, than the Ear, than the full corn in the Ear, to the everlasting praise and glory of him that sowed it; so that the earth hath brought forth her increase by handfuls, and abundance is gathered into the house of the Lord, and God hath opened the Windows of Heaven and hath sent a blessing upon it, that there is scarce 
Mall. 3. 10.  room to hold it, and he hath rebuked the devourer in hundreds according to his promise, so that his children doth eat and drink with a discerning of his body, and are become one bread and one body fitly joined together unto Christ the head, who is made unto them, wisdom, righteousness, 
1 Cor. 1 30:  sanctification, and redemption, to the everlasting praise of his everlasting name for ever and ever.  
And now is the Lord ariseing and arisen out of his holy Habitation, and hath covered himself with Zeal as with 
Isa: 59 7:  a Cloak, and for Zions' sake hath he uttered his voice as a man of War, whereby the tall Oaks hath been brought down, and the Cedars of Lebanon hath been made to bend; 
Ezek. 37: 10: 11:  And he hath breathed upon the slain that they have stood up upon their feet, and are become the whole house of Israel; 
Isa: 28: 17:  and for Zions' sake hath he laid Judgement to the line and righteousness to the plummet, and is sweeping a way the refuge of lies, so that there shall be no hideing place found in Heaven or in earth but his own righteousness, which whosoever is found out of, in the day of God's fierce wrath, shall be swept a way with the Besom of destruction into the Lake that burns with fire and brimstone for ever, where there is no redemption. And therefore awake awake all you carnal minded one's of what Sect or Faction soever you be of: The everlasting day is come, and dawned upon us, which you hate, which hath discovered you to be out of God's righteousness, in the deeds of darkness, following the Imaginations of your evil hearts, whereby the seed of God is oppressed, as a Cart is pressed with 
Amos 2: 13:  Sheaves, and over you death hath great dominion, and darkness hath great power, the way of peace you know not, nor never can in that state; therefore open your eyes, 
Rev: 22. 16  and behold the bright and morning Star, that ariseth out of the East, which is over-shadowing the whole earth, that every man's work is now made manifest of what sort it is; and no longer shall your deeds be hid, for all things are naked and bare before him with whom we have to do; 
Heb: 4: 13: 1 Cor. 4: 5:  and he will suddenly bring to light the hidden things of darkness, so that every one shall appear as he is in truth and righteousness, or in deceit and unrighteousness, and all veils will he rend, and all covers will he rip off, that his own flock only who are covered with his spirit of 
Isa: 30. 1:  life and power, may be hid in the day of his fierce wrath, which will come upon all mankind.  
Awake awake all you who hath long lain upon your beds of ease and carnal security, and hath eaten with the Gluttons, 
Amos 6: 3: 4: 5: Matt: 24. 49.  and drunken with the Drunkards, and is now beating with the Fist of wickedness, and with a slanderous tongue backbiteing the innocent, behold your Master is come & hath found you asleep, He stands now at the door and knocks, and is desiring of you to awake, and arise 
Ephe: 5. 14.  out of the filthy pollutions of the world that you are overwhelmed in, that he may give you the light of life to follow him into the Land of the living, where many now doth praise and magnify his great Name for evermore, who hath done marvellous things for them who are his 
Matt. 21. 42.  flock, who follows him whethersoever he goes, unto whom He is a Priest, a Prophet, a King.  
Awake awake all you filthy Dreamers, who are in the defilements of the flesh, and who hath made people brutish 
jer. 27 9 jude 8:  by your false Dreams, which you have called the word of God, which hath been but a Divination of your own brain, and hath not profited the people at all, but their hungry souls is yet languishing after the bread of life, you have fed yourselves with the fat, till your flesh is become 
Ezek. 34. 3. Ezek. 23. 20.  as the flesh of Horses, your eyes stand out with fatness, your words is as smooth as butter, but in your heart doth the ravening Wolf lie hid from the eyes of many, as your fruits doth daily manifest, the Lord will now feed 
Ezek. 34. 16.  you with Judgement, and make you drink the dregs of the Cup of his sury, poured out without mixture, for you have caused many to err by your lies and lightness, and none have you brought into the knowledge of the truth, because you have departed from it yourselves, you have long ruled in this long night of Apostasy, wherein the blind have walked which you have led, who have 
Inter s●cos regnat strabus.  called you ministers of Christ and prophets of God: And of such have you made a grievous prey, and hath taken their money for that which was not bread; but the Lord hath shaked his hand at your dishonest gain, and hath caused 
Ezek. 22. 13.  his everlasting day to spring upon his children, which he hath appointed to gather from your mouths, that they 
Ezek. 34. 22. 28.  shall no longer be made a prey upon by you; therefore be awakened and consider your state and condition in which you now stand, if you be not wholly given up to make Merchandise of people's souls through covetousness which is Idolatry; for God will now no longer be mocked, 
2 Peter. 2. 3.  such as you sow, such shall you reap; your Vineyards are very unclean, Briers, Thorns, Weeds, and 
Heb. 6. 8.  Thistles grows up abundantly instead of tender Vines, you are sleepy and slothful Vinedressers, you may blush to look into your Vineyards if you were not wholly given up to hardness of heart: The day of the Lord will come upon you as a thief in the night, wherein the Lord will 
1 Thess. 5. 2.  require his sheep at your hands, and then shall the book be opened wherein is written all your covetous practices, 
Rev. 20. 12.  and ungodly deeds, and out of it shall you be judged accordingly, and then shall you howl for pain of heart, and weep for grief of spirit when you consider how miserably you have deceived & deluded many poor souls, and how you have scattered the Lords flock upon the barren Mountains, which the Lord will surely require at your 
Ezek. 34. 10.  hands; behold now the time is near accomplished that if you will not hear and lay it to heart, to give glory unto the Lord, that he will spread dung over your faces, and 
Mal. 2. 2.  will curse your blessings, yea many of them he hath cursed already, so that henceforth never fruit shall grow on you more, but you shall suddenly whither away like the Figtree that bore leaves, but no fruit, because you have 
Matt. 21. 19  despised the Law of God, and hath followed after covetous 
2 Pet. 2. 14.  practices and are become cursed children who have forsaken the right way, and hath run greedily after the errors of Balaam the son of Bosor, whom God's hand was heavily stretched out against, and the same hand of the Lord is against you now, who are found treading in the same steps.  
Awake awake all you high notionists of what kind or sort soever who hath gotten the Scriptures of the Prophets and Apostles to talk of in your airy minds, and thinks to have eternal life in them, but hates the son of God in all 
john 5. 39  his appearances, and will not come unto him that you might have life; the day is dawned, and the sun is risen with his burning heat and hath scorched all your beauty, so 
jer. 17 6.  that you are become as a parched Heath in the Drought of Summer, all your glory is the Lord bringing into 
Isa. 23. 9  contempt, and your Wisdom hath he turned into foolishness, because neither you nor it did stand in the fear of his name; your preaching and long praying are but as the cutting off of a Dog's neck, or offering Swine's blood; 
Isa. 66. 3.  the Lord hath no regard to it because your hands is polluted and daily work iniquity: And as a Cage is full of birds, so is your houses and hearts full of deceit, your abominable Idols have you not yet cast to the moles, and 
Isa. 2. 20.  to the Bats, for the fear of the Lord & for the glory of his majesty, who is now arisen to shake terribly the earth, the Lord will not be mocked with your Hypocritical profession, 
Gall. 6. 7.  for the day is come wherein every one of your works are made manifest, but this you cannot endure to hear of, who loves darkness rather than light because 
john 3. 19  your deeds are evil, therefore be awakened, be awakened now when the everlasting day is come and consider your state, and measure your ways, by the unalterable rule of righteousness, which is the light wherewith you are enlightened, 
2 Cor. 10. 13. 15.  and it will let you see that you never yet knew the mystery of the Cross of Christ, which to the world doth crucify all that comes to bear it; but in the world and the vanities thereof are you yet wandering as sheep 
Gal. 6. 14.  without a shepherd, and never yet witnessed a true separation to God with the light of his Son: And now are you stumbling at the stumbling stone that is laid in Zion, 
Isa. 8. 14. 1 Pet. 2. 8.  which is become a rock of offence to you who stumble at the word of faith which is nigh in the heart; your high buildings shall be now laid besolate and not one stone left upon another, that shall not be thrown down, the mouth of the Lord of Hosts hath spoken it.  
Awake awake all you covetous cruel oppressors, who grind the faces of the poor, and by Cuzening, Cheating 
Isa. 3. 14. 15.  and defrauding, hath set your nests on high, and are become great in the earth, so that you join house to house and field to field, till there be no place for the poor in the earth, the day is come upon you that you 
Isa. 5. 7. 8.  shall be called to an account before the dreadful God of Heaven and earth, who hath taken notice of all your ways and actings, and hath heard the cry of the poor and needy which you have greedily made a prey upon, according as you could receive power from the beast whose Image you bear: And therefore go to now ye rich men, weep and howl for the misery that is coming upon you, for the rust of your silver and gold shall be a witness against 
james 5. 1. 2. 3.  you; the Lord is now bringing down the oppressors, and setting the oppressed free, which hath long cried unto him; your riches shall not deliver you in the day of God's fierce wrath: Therefore now, incline your ears 
Pro. i1: 4: Ezek: 1●: 6. and 18 30.  unto the call of Wisdom, and repent repent with speed and return unto the Lord with all your hearts, and seek him while he may be found, and hearken unto him while he calls upon you, Why will ye die in your iniquities? Now have you all a day and a time, see that you all prise it, lest 
Psal. 52, 5.  you be cut off from the Land of the living, and go down to the pit with the uncircumcised.  
And now blessed be the everlasting Day for ever, who hath visited us who sat in darkness, and in the shadow of 
Luk. 1. 78, 79.  death, & hath broken forth in an acceptable time unto the sons of men after this long night of Apostasy, wherein darkness hath been called light, and the Way of the Lord hath not been known, nor the true Prophet which Moses 
Act. 3. 22, 23.  wrote of, hath not been heard; but people hath been ever learning, but were never able to come to the knowledge of the truth, which many hath desired to know and receive, 
2 Tim 3:  but could not in that state, and by reason of darkness and blindness of mind, have followed such Teachers as have been wholly Enemies to Jesus Christ, and in every thing out of his Doctrine, but yet covered themselves over with the sheep's clothing, and through good words, and fair speeches, deceived the hearts of the simple, and 
Rom i6. 18.  made them believe that they were the only men that were gifted of God to minister a Word in season to the weary, and to direct them that were gone astray, into the Way of 
Ezek. 38. 16.  God: And so great was the Cloud of darkness over the whole earth, and the covering was drawn so close over the ravening Wolf in them, that he did not at all appear unto the children of men, but they gave large sums of money unto them, and thought by that to know the true way to eternal life; and this kept the ravening Wolf from appearing or breaking forth, so that (as they did imagine) all was well, and at peace, and they cried peace, peace, unto 
Ezek. 13. 10.  them that put into their mouths, and daubed with untempered Mortar; so the Lord overturned them by his mighty power, and then did he appear in a measure of the dispensation of his love unto a people that was called Puritans, and he opened their eyes in a little measure, that they saw the deceit and unrighteousness that both priest and people lived in; they had a zeal for God and his glory, and a tenderness of affection arose in their hearts one to another, to exhort one another to love, and to good Works, and the Seed of the Kingdom of God was sown in them; but it falling by the wayside, the Fowls of the air picked it a-away, so that it came not to take root downward, nor 
Mar. 4 4.  bring forth fruit upward to him that sowed it. So these fell back again, and lost their zeal and tenderness which they had, and got the words of truth in the airy mind, but in the life was one with the World after a little time; and then was the Lord grieved that his Heritage was wholly 
Jer. 12. 8.  left desolate for the Fowls of the Air to tread under their feet, and make a prey upon; and it pitied him to see his own seed so oppressed, and his Vinyard so wholly laid waste to the Beasts of the field. 
Isa. 3. 14.   
And then did he arise for his own Name sake, and opened the eyes of many, and appeared in a large measure into a People that was called Anabaptists, and shown them in a large measure the Witchcraft of the great Whore, who 
Rev. 17. 1, 2.  had made all Nations drunk with the Wine of her Fornication; and then did he lead them from the mouths of the Idol dumb shepherds which had made a prey upon them, and had taken their money for that which they saw was not bread, nor had not in the least satisfied their hungry 
Isa. 55. 2.  souls; even than did God raise his living Witness in them, and shed his eternal love abroad in their hearts, and gathered them together in several quarters of the world, and his Name was witnessed among them, and his Power did appear in them, and a great zeal and tenderness for a while was among them, so that they met with part of the rage of the Devil, and endured it for a time with joy; and while they was near unto the Lord, he was known to be near unto them, and gave them the necks of their Enemies to tread upon, and a great sight of the good Land they had, and the Seed of the Kingdom of God was abundantly sown amongst them, but it falling upon the stony ground in them 
Mar. 4. 5.  when the Sun arose with his burning heat, it was scorched, and became unfruitful, so that after a time the power of God ceased, and was not seen amongst them, but coldness and barrenness got up, and pride, and exaltation, and self-conceitedness crept in by little and little, and then they begun to build again those things which they had in a measure destroyed; and he that got the most in his brain-knowledge, was set up to be a Teacher and a Ruler, and so gloryed in the gift more than in the Giver; and this Ministry became one in nature with the Priests, and did not profit the people at all, which may be witnessed at this day. And now are they set down at ease in a dead form of that which the Saints witnessed the life of; nay, they have so far departed from the power of God which the Saints did, & doth witness to lead & guide them, that they have lost the very form, and are become one in nature with the World, and differ nothing but in words, and in outward shows and pretences. The true Proverb is fulfilled. upon them, The Dog is turned to his own Vomit again; and the 
2 Pet. 2. 22. Prov. 26. 11.  Sow that was washed to her wallowing in he Myre; so that the Lord is weary with their sacrifices, and their solemn Assemblies he cannot away with, because they have cast his righteous Law 
Isa. 11. to 16. Heb. 10. to 29.  behind their backs, and hath trodden under foot the blood of the Covenant, and now hath sitten down in a rest which is polluted, and are become enemies to the Cross of Christ, therefore is the same hand of the Lord that was turned against his Enemies before, the same is lifted up against them now, whereby they are torn and rend as an old Garment, and as a tottering Wall that is daubed with untempered Mortar. And thus have they rendered unto the Lord evil for all his kindness, and hath turned his grace into lasciviousness, which would have led them to salvation if they had been taught with it, whereby the works of the Devil 
Tit. 2. 11. 12.  would have been destroyed in them, which they are so strongly pleading for, and concluding all to be deceived and seduced that shall withstand or oppose it; and if any will not bow down to their Image which they have set up from the Scripture Letter, presently he is judged and censured not worthy to have communion with, though he have the power of God for his defence, and be led and guided by the Spirit of the living God, and have fellowship with him, and be brought into his Covenant of light and life.  
And this is that now which they call their Fundamentals, Baptism of Water, and taking of material Bread and Wine, which there is no command for throughout the Scripture; but Judgement, Mercy, and Faith is omitted, 
Luk. 11. 49.  which is the weighty matters of the Law, and so the Woe that was unto their forefathers is to the same generation still. And thus hath the Lord been mocked with a voluntary humility, and a Will-Worship after the traditions of men, after the Rudiments of the World, and not after Christ the Light of the World, who hath lighted every man that cometh into the World: And so now are they 
Joh. 1. 9  crying up the Ordinances of God, the Ordinances of God, as the Jews did the Temple, but are as ignorant of Christ Jesus the Substance, as the Jews was that stoned him: Though there was a time that he was known in such things, and in the flesh, yet he that came through it, desired to know him so no more; but these deny all that comes to know him  otherwise, as the Jews did them that testified against the outward Temple, (which was a time commanded of God) when their Bodies was made the Temples of God, and they came to witness the Substance 
1 Cor. 6. 19  of the Figure. Now this is the reason of so much confusion now among several sorts of men and forms, That the Life and Substance of all Types, Shadows, and Figures, is denied, and only the Husk fed upon; and this hath been the ruin and down-fall of these people that are called Anabaptists.  
Then in another dispensation of the Lords love did he appear to a People called Independents, & brought many of them to see the emptiness of all forms of profession, & they thought only to depend upon the Lord was the safest way; and there was a love begot in them to God and his Way and truth, and tenderness of spirit one towards another, and they were a little brought low in their own eyes, and they separated themselves in the outward from other men in Worship; but it was self that separated them, which was never yet denied nor separated from by them, as doth fully appear at this day in their whole course of life; the Seed of the Kingdom was sown among them, but they receiving 
Mark 4. 7.  it into the thorny ground it was choked ere it grew up, with the cares of the World, and deceitfulness of riches, and abominable pride, envy, and wrath, as Nathaniel Robbinson, one of their great Sect-Masters of the Town and County of Southampton, may bear me witness, if his heart be not totally hardneed, and he be given up to work all manner of wickedness with greediness, and his conscience be seared with a hot Iron.  
Woefully hath these sort of people betrayed their trust, their latter end will be worse by double then was their beginning; highly are they now exalted upon the Mountains of pride, and deeply are they obliged in the bond of iniquity; their Sacrifices are now an abomination to the Lord, who is of purer eyes then to behold iniquity; they have departed from the counsel of the Lord, & have greatly erred into the Way of Cain, as will hereafter plainly 
Judas 11.  appear in Nathaniel Robbinson, and many of his Hearers 
2 Tim. 3. 4. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.  in the Town of Hampton, who are now become brutish, and without natural affection, incontinent, fierce despisers of those that are good, and not only so, but hath a great thirst after their blood, without any just cause, as hath manifestly appeared both in words and actions not long since; all this they cover under a cover of profession, and a feigned humility, which is seen with the children of light to be double hypocrisy. And a covering of a most curious colour 
Matth. 7. 15, 16.  have they put on to hid this ravening Wolf, but now it is too narrow, the ravenous Beast breaks forth in great rage and fury, and musters up all his Forces against the Lamb's appearance, who is now come to torment him before his time. And now doth he cast out floods of rail, revile, lies, slanders, false accusations after the Woman in whom the manchild is moving, and this is because his sacrifice is not accepted: But oh Cain! why art thou wrath? and why is thy countenance fallen? Why doth thou so rage and swell, foam and torment thyself, and envy thy Brother? If thou dost well thou shall be accepted; if not, sin lieth at thy door. Thou hast forgotten that 
Gen 4. 5, 6.  thou should first be reconciled to thy Brother before thou offer thy gift, and this is the main reason why it is not accepted at thy hand, which makes thee so envious and wrathful, that even nothing will quench thy thirsty stomach but thy Brother's blood, which daily appears to all that are not wilfully blind, by thy eager pursuance after it, and threatening them that will not to the utmost answer thy cursed desires in persecuting the innocent. Oh how art thou postng on in the Way of Cain the Murderer, 
Judas 11.  and treading in the steps of thy Father Balaam! Oh thou Nathaniel Robbinson! Oh how is the right Ways of the Lord evil spoken of and reviled daily by thee, and by thy seduced followers, who makes lies your refuge and mischief your dwelling place, which is hatched in your deceitful Breasts! Will your high talking of God and Christ cover all this? Or are you so given up to believe a lie as to believe it will? There is an eye opened that sees you, which you see not; and a Judge that weighs your actions, which you know not; but when the Book of every one of your consciences shall be opened, then out of that shall you all be judged, without respect of persons, and receive according to your deeds done in the body. In that day shall not your crying Lord, Lord, and preaching in the Name of Christ in your Synagogues rescue you from that dreadful sentence, Depart from me ye workers of iniquity, I know you not; for I was an hungry, 
Matt. 7. 23. Matth. 25. 41, 42, 43, 44. By Name William Pinhorn.  and ye fed me not; I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink; a stranger, and ye took me not in, but went with abominable lies and false reports to the Magistrates to persecute me as a Wanderer and a Deluder; and when they would not imprison me, you caused them to do it; and when there was no Witness against me, you came in false 
Eliz. Horsent said it was a matter of conscience not to visit her Sister in Prison.  Witnesses yourselves, whereby to seek my ruin and destruction; and when I was in prison, some of you said it was a matter of conscience not to visit me, and said it was just upon me: All this and more have you acted and spoken against me, because you neither knew the Father, nor me; for in as much as you have done this to one of the least 
Matth. 25. 45, 46. Matth. 18. 6.  that believe in me, you have done it to me: And therefore now woe unto you, good had it been for you that a Millstone had been hanged about your necks, and you cast into the midst of the Sea, then to have offended one of them that believe in me. Oh 
Matth. 23. 37, 38.  how often would I have gathered you as a Hen gathereth her Chickens under her Wings, and ye would not, but hated, persecuted and shamefully entreated my servants and messengers that I sent in tend or love unto you, to warn you, while you had a day and time, to turn unto me from all your abominations: But oh! how have you hated reproof, 
Prov. 1. 21. Isa. 55. 9  and turned your ear from the cry of Wisdom, and hath chosen your own ways, which is corrupt, before me, and as far from mine as the Heaven is from the earth!  
Oh how will you answer this, ye stiffnecked and rebellious people, that have eyes, and see not; ears, and hear not; and hearts, and doth not understand! Will the Lord be mocked with your vain oblations which you bring before 
Isa. 1. 13.  him day by day, when your hands is full of blood, and your hearts is after your Idols? You have set your Nests on 
Isa. 30. 1.  high, and hath covered yourselves with a covering, but not with the Spirit of the Lord, as is daily apparent to all whose eyes the Lord hath opened; highly are you seated upon the Mountains of pride and exaltation; the Scribes and Pharisees did far exceed you in zeal, who made clean the outside, which you are far from; but you say pride is in the heart, which is true enough by your garments; you are bad patterns before them you call Heathens, which can see nothing but the outside; yea, many of them outstrips you in life and conversation, and would be ashamed of your practice: You have built you a Tower, whose top you think may reach to Heaven, whereby to get you a Name, and exalt yourselves in the sight of men; and a name you have gotten of Lambs and Sheep, but the nature of Dogs and Swine is found ruling in you, as is too too evidently your 
Rev. 3. 1.  actions and fruits: I know you will call this railing, but it is the Words of sound Doctrine unto you, which you can scarce endure, you have been so long daubed with untempered Mortar, and flattered in your iniquity; but now will 
2 Tim. 4. 3.  the Lord rip off all your false covers, and your folly shall be made manifest unto all men, as theirs was who withstood 
2 Tim. 3. 8, 9,  the truth in former ages.  
I did think to cover your iniquity from the eyes of the World, but now I see the Lord will not have it so, but your shame and confusion must now be laid open unto all, that others may hear, and fear▪ and take warning, and that you may be left without excuse, and your blood be upon your own heads in the day of the Lords fierce indignation, which shall come upon you as a thief in the night, except you with speed repent, and turn to the Lord with all your hearts, and with all your souls, and put on Sackcloth, and sit down in the dust; for the jealousy of the Lord is kindled against you, and all your prayers are an abomination to him; for you regard iniquity, and envy in your hearts, and works it with your hands: Is now the Weapon of your Warfare become a Magistrates Sword? Will not your Ministry stand without imprisoning and persecuting the innocent? Had ever the Churches of Christ such a Weapon, as you can read of? What will be the end of these things? Consider betime, if you be not wholly given up to a reprobate mind. In true and tender love to your poor souls I speak, & warn you again, as I have often done, who have most unjustly suffered by you, both in false words, and unjust actions, as I shall make appear to public view: You have cast many false and abominable aspersions upon us who are by you in scorn called Quakers, and most especially upon me, who am only known to you by the Name of Ambrose Rigge; yea many things have you laid to my charge, which I never knew nor acted, for which the Lord will you judge, which thing you never made good, to this day, nor never can. And this have you possessed ignorant people with, That we are Witches and Deluders, and doth deny Christ and the Scriptures; and many other filthy things, which is not fit to be named, but to be thrown into the bottomless pit from whence they came: And this have you possessed the minds of many with, for which the Lord will reward you into your own bosoms; but of all your false Accusations are we clear in the presence of the Lord, for Christ and the Scriptures we own and witness, else we should not see your deceit and hypocrisy, which is covered in you with the Name of Religion; and if we did not own him in us the hope of glory, we needed not suffer by 
Col. 1. 26, 27.  you and all the World so much reviling and slandering, and be hated with a deadly hatred, as we are daily by you; but at this we marvel not, for we know it was our Master's portion before of the same generation, as we have a cloud of Witnesses recorded in the Scripture of truth, was written for our admonition and learning, as our forefathers were moved of the Holy Ghost, took in hand to set forth in order a declaration of the sufferer, & of the persecutor, that we might have a Witness for one, and against the other, which we prise greatly at this day, seeing that both parts is now to be fulfilled, as your eyes have seen, and our ears have heard.  
And thus hath the third ground appeared worse than both the former, wherein you are found who are called Independents; for you are weighed in the Balance of the 
1 Sam 2. 3.  Sanctuary, and are found wanting; therefore woe unto you if ye do not repent, for the Spirit of the Lord will not always 
Gen. 6. 3.  strive with you, nor his Messengers will not always be sent to warn you to turn unto him; but the time shall suddenly come upon you, that you shall seek the Word of the Lord from Sea, to Sea and shall not find it, if you still 
Amos 8▪ 11, 12.  go on in hard heartedness and rebellion, and despise the day of your visitation.  
And now Nathaniel Robbinson, I shall lay open some of thy fruits to public view, that all who fear God, and keep his commandments, may be ashamed of thee. And this I shall declare for the simple sake, that they may know thee by thy fruits, according to the words of Christ, Matt. 
Matt. 7. 15, 16.  7. 20. and that all who loves their souls may no longer be deceived by thee, nor hold thee up, lest they partake with thee of thy plagues.  
Upon the first day of the Week I who am called of the World by the Name of Ambrose Rigge, was moved of the Lord to come into the Idols-Temple where thou was speaking a divination of thy own brain, where I stood peaceably till thou had made an end, as many may witness; and then I spoke to thee the words of truth in soberness, but thou fled out at a backdoor, as the false hirelings ever did; 
Joh. 10. 13.  and then those that was present in hearing thee, fell upon me like so many Wolves and Lions, that it was the great love and mercy of the Lord that I saved my blood; and they haled me out of thy Synagogue into the Street, where I was speaking the Words of truth with boldness, till one of thy Hearers, by name William Pinhorne, and Nathaniel Knight, one of thy members came, and laid violent hands on me, and haled me violently along the Streets to the Major's House, where they kept me prisoner till the Major came home, and then accused me falsely to the Major, so they sent me to prison, where I did remain till the second day, and then was brought before the said Major and Justices of the Town and County of Southampton, where did appear none to lay any thing to my charge worthy of bonds: Then came in Nathaniel Robbinson, as a Judge in his own cause, and told the Magistrates he would prove me a Hireling; and when I put him to prove it, he quoted that place of Scripture in Luk. 10. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. where Christ said unto his Disciples when he sent them forth without bag, or scrip, or two Coats, and commanded them to eat and drink such things as was set before them, for the Labourer is worthy of his hire; but when I put him to prove by the Scripture where ever Christ commanded his Ministers to go into such a City, and there have a set-place, and a Steeplehouse to go into, and have fifty pounds by the Year from the State, which is his practice, as many may witness, such a command was not to be found throughout the Scriptures: Now let any that are guided by the Spirit of the living God, judge whether of these are according to the command of Christ, or agreeable to the Scriptures of truth and the practice of the holy men of God.  
Then when the Magistrates could find no just occasion of evil against me, whereby to suffer anyfurther imprisonment, Nathaniel Robbinson came & told them in my hearing, they had best to bind me to my Good-behavior, when no evil-behavior could justly be laid to my charge: And then they would have proceeded against me for mis-behavior; but I pleaded my freedom according to their own Law, That without the mouth of two or three Witnesses nothing is established or proved, nor cannot legally be prosecuted. So upon that they concluded to send me to prison again, which was done accordingly. Then on the next day came Nathaniel Robbinson and another Priest to the Prison-door, and asked me if they might have a little discourse with me, to which I answered. Yea: So they went away, and said they would come again by and by, which they never did, and so proved themselves to be of their Father the Devil, who was a liar from the beginning, and abode not in the truth: Then I was sent for before the Magistrates again, where was five false Witnesses prepared against me, of which Nathaniel Knight was one; but their testimony did not agree together, as it was with their forefathers recorded in the Scripture of truth, Mar. 14. 56, to 59 Then the Magistrates being more sober then to prosecute from such false Witnesses, they commanded their absence; then they tendered me the Oath of Abjuration, which I did then, and shall for ever bear testimony against, both over myself in particular, and over the whole Church of God in general: So finding no just occasion against me of farther Bonds, they set me free, according to Law, though it was much against the Wills of mine adversaries.  
Then on the third day of the seventh Month, 1657. Ellen Embree went to the Steeplehouse in Southampton, called Roods, and there stayed peaceably until the Priest had ended both his Sermon and Prayer, as he called it; and when he had quite ended, as she did believe, she spoke some few words to the people whereupon two of the Justices of the said Town, presently commanded some Officers to lay hands upon her, which they did, and haled her in a rude manner through the Streets to prison, without any Examination or Mittimus to the Officer or Keeper of the Prison, to show the cause of her imprisonment, nor had the Keeper any Warrant for her detainment in prison, where she remained until the Sessions, which began the 17th. of that Month; and in the Evening of that day the Recorder Lisle sent one of the Town-Officers to bring her before the Court; and calling for the Indictment laid against her, it was answered, There was none; whereupon the Recorder taxed the Justices for having imprisoned her wrongfully, and so word was sent presently back, not to bring her to the Court; but the next day there was a false Indictment framed contrary to the late Act, by which she suffered for the words maliciously, wilfully, or of purpose, (according to the Act) was quite left out of the Indictment, and only the Word disturbance put in, upon which Indictment the Jury proceeded, and brought her in guilty of disturbance; whereupon the Recorder Lisle gave sentence to lay a Fine of five pounds upon her to be paid at a Month's time, or to be sent to the House of Correction for six months, to be set to hard labour, & be corrected according as they should think fit; but the Prisoner replying she would never pay any, they had her body there present, they might do with her what they thought good; so she ask whether she was free, they bid her go home if she would, which she did.  
Now the Month being up, the Mayor of the Town made out his Warrant to the Constables and Beedles to come to her house to demand the money, or to take her Body; her Name being mistaken in the Warrant, there was nothing done, only the payment of the Fine refused: Then two days after; being the 21. of the eighth month, the Constable & five or six Officers with Swords, came with a second Warrant from the Mayor to fetch her to Bridewell; but she being in an inner Room in her house, did forbear putting herself in their hands, and so remains, expecting what further course they will take against her.  
Anne Horsent upon the 6th. day of the 7th. Month, was moved of the Lord to go to a Steeplehouse in Hampton, called All-Saints, where Nathaniel Robbinsen spoke that day, where she stood peaceably, and spoke not a word until Robbinson was come down his Pulpit, and out of the Meeting-place, and when he was fled, she spoke some few words to the people, and so went home again. But the next day this Robbinson sent to the Churchwardens, (as they are called) telling them he had been affronted, and if they did not execute their Office, he would complain against them: [Take notice of that, thou that reads, with a single eye] And he also went to the Mayor of the Town with a false Information against her the said Anne, whereupon the Mayor sent his Officers to apprehend her where she was to visit the said Ellen Embree in prison, and there they also detained her in prison until the Sessiont, full 12. days, and was likewise imprisoned without Examination, or any Accusers heard, and was proceeded against in the same manner, and upon the said days and Warrant as the said Ellen Embree, although it did not appear by any proofs in the Court, that she the said Anne had disturbed the said Robbinson in the time of his officiating, nor yet in going to it, or returning from it, as many can witness; nor can Robbinson say that he heard any one word that she said in the Meeting-place, but was got home, or very near, before she spoke; yet judgement was given against her at the Sessions, either to pay five pounds, or to be sent to the House of Correction, to be set at hard labour, and be corrected as they should think fit, though it could not truly be brought in that she had broke any Law.  
Note, That the Justices of the Town (when they were in prison) did give order to the Keeper of the Prison, that none should visit them but their near Relations.  
Therefore I desire all sober people in this Nation that fears the Lord, to weigh and consider these things, whether ever such a Ministry as this was ever ordained of God yea or nay, that will not stand without imprisoning and persecuting the innocent for saying not a word, but for standing peaceably among the rest, looking upon him; What do you think is in this man's heart if he could but get the Rulers and Scribes to join with him in cruelty? Would not the Jesuit Priests in Queen Mary's days been ashamed to have acted such things against any that came to speak to them? Oh Nathaniel Robbinson! cannot thou even blush to hear of this? Is thy heart so hardened that thou glories in that which one day will be thy shame? What will be the end of these things? Consider betime, left he that thou so much strives against, break thee to pieces, and thou be cast out into utter darkness, where is weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth for ever.  
THere died of late one John Behaute, in the Town and County of Southampton, who was another of the Independent Teachers, as this Nathaniel Robbinson aforementioned, who did upon his deathbed declare, that this Robbinson was the cause of his death, to Robbinsons' face, but did forgive him, and bid him do so no more: Now if they be so envious one to another, as be the cause of one another's death, what may any judge they would do with us if they had power given them from above? If this be not Cain's way that Robbinson is in, let all who fears the Lord, judge, Gen. 4. 8. Judas 11.  

And now a few words in warning to the Priests Professors, and people of the Town, and County of Southampton.  
WOE Woe unto you the Inhabitants of Southampton Priests Professors and People, who hate the light wherewith Christ Jesus the light of the world hath 
john 3. 19, 20, 21. Psalm. 73, 18. john 2. 8, 9 1 john 1. 5.  lighted you withal; your deeds are evil, and your ways are crooked, and perverse, even the slippery ways of darkness, your building must be thrown down, and not one stone left upon another, & your Image must be dashed to pieces which you have set up, (unto which you would 
Dan. 3. 23. 1 Pet. 2. 6, 7, 8.  have the true seed to bow) with the little stone cut out of the Mountains without hand; at which you stumble, which is become a rock of offence unto you, who at the word of life stumbles, and yet professeth the letter as your forefathers did, but as far if not further from owning 
Rom. 9 33.  the life as they were, even stopping your ears, at the voice of the true Prophet; and cannot endure sound Doctrine; 
2 Tim. 1. 3. 4. Isa. 48. 22.  but saith unto the Prophets Prophecy smooth things unto us, and speak unto us peace, though the witness of God (the true Prophet in your consciences) saith there is no peace to you, for you live in the lust of the eye, and in 
Ezek. 10. 49.  the lust of the flesh, and in the pride of life, eating and drinking and rising up to play, even like your Sister Sodom, whom God overthrew: And doth not thy Prophets in the midst of thee hearken to this, and cry peace peace where the Lord hath not spoken peace, and daub with untempred mortar, so that none is able to turn from the 
jer. 6. 13, 14, 15.  evil of their do, but all your daubing is accounted as Potter's clay, for within are you full of rottenness and deceit, 
Ezek. 13, 10, i1, 12, 13, 14, 15.  pride, and ambition, envy and hatred, prisoning and persecuting the Innocent, which are all fruits of that 
Matt. 23, 27, 28. Matt, 7. 19, 20. Heb. 6. 8.  tree which hath no promise but to be hewn down and cast into the fire; long hath the Lord looked for fruits of you, but nothing is brought forth but Briers, and Thorns, for your profession and Ministry will not stand, without renting and tearing, pulling and hailing out of your Synagogues, persecuting and drawing the Innocent before your judgement seats; false accuseing and backbiteing, 
2 Tim. 3. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9  lying and slandering, these are the fruits that is brought forth a mongst you of which I am an eye and ear witness, and this was not declared against by thee Nathaniel Robinson, who professes thyself to be a teacher of others, but thou thyself is not yet taught to deny nor to declare against such things, but doth cry out and complain it is not severe enough; Now are you like Priest like people, all are 
jer. 23. i1. Hosea 4. 9  profane; yea your wickedness is now found out, and your ways traced with the eternal light of the Son of God which you hate and scof at, now doth your inside appear, the sheep's covering will no longer hid the ravening Wolf; but he breaks forth in great rage and fury even 
Matt. 7. 15, 16, 17.  ready to devour the Lambs of Christ, which walks Innocently before you, who are inwardly ravening Wolves as your fruits makes you manifest, by which you are known, 
Ezek. 34. i0.  as Christ Jesus the light of the world hath foretold, which is now seen and fulfilled, glory be unto his eternal name for ever that your good words and fair speeches will no longer hid you, but the children of light sees you to be in the same steps of them, the Prophets Christ and the Apostles was sent to cry against, which use your tongues 
Matt. 23. Ier, 23. 30, 3i,  and say thus saith the Lord, when in the mean while you are persecuting his Servants and slaying his Son, though 
Matt. 7, 21.  you make a large profession of him, and call him Lord and Master, but doth not the things which he commands but the things which his soul loathes.  
And thou Nathaniel Robinson look upon thy congregation, yea them which thou calls church members, which thou hast sown unto, and see if there be any thing to be reaped amongst them but corruption, pride, lust, lightness, wantonness, envying, strife and debate, the most vain fashions and customs, of the world, which is to fade as the flower: And is not thy Vineyard full of this, can thou look upon them and not confess thou art a shameless Vinedresser, that can walk in this Vineyard without blushing? thy plants doth send forth an evil smell into the nostrils of the Lord: Is not thy preaching vain, and their faith vain, and thy people yet in their sins, and pleading for them for term of life? but if thou had stood 
jer. 23. 22.  in the council of the Lord, and caused his people to have heard his word, than they should have been turned from these abominations, which both thou and they are in, and pleading for, and persecuting such who testifies against them, and dare thou say that thou hast brought them to witness the first Principle of religion, or thinkest thou 
Acts 26. 18. 1 Cor. 4 20.  the kingdom of Heaven stands in words, or the way to it is the way of uncleanness, Pride, Envy etc. And whether thou and the rest be not in such ways of darkness 
Isa. 35. 8, 9, 10,  aforementioned yea or nay; if this be the way it is very broad, and many may go in thereat, and yet may profess as much of the Saints words as you can or doth, while 
Matt 7 13. john 8. 44.  they themselves are of their father the Devil as the Jews was, whose works they did in persecuting his Servants and stoneing him, and are not you doing the same? let the faithful Prophets of the Lord once speak, and lend your 
Deut. 18. 15.  ears a little unto him who will not flatter nor lie nor daub with untempred mortar, for now hath the Lord raised him according to his promise who speaks with authority, 
john 1. 45. john 7. 37. 38.  and ministers to the spirit in prison, and all that will not hearken unto him shall be cut off, the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it, and it shall be accomplished, and 
Acts 3. 22.  unto him shall Kings bow, and cast down their Crowns, Who will rule the Nations with a rod of Iron, and dash them to pieces as a Potter's Vessel, and now woe 
Isa. 28 1.  unto the Crown of pride, that must be brought down and laid in the dust: And you that bear it the Lord will scatter in your Imaginations in what form or profession 
Prov. 1. 5.  so ever you be, though you be gathered together and hand join in hand, yet the wicked shall not go unpunished; 
Matt. 3 8, 10.  now this is sad news to you, that are found without the Camp of the Lord, for it is now fruits that he is now looking for, and righteousness that his soul delights in, and the heart that he requires; therefore hear this ye 
Prov. 23. 16.  professors of what sort soever, who are out of the life and power of God, unto which every soul is to be subject, 
Rom. 13. 1.  unto this power you are not brought, nor a subjection to it you do not know, but are under the power 
Ephe. 2. 2.  of the Prince of the air which rules in you whereby some of you are led into pride, others into enmity, others into abominable lying and false accuseing the Innocent without a cause, now I know he who hath led you into these things will not let you confess it, nor own that 
Ezek. 23. 45. Dan 7. ●2. 1. Cor. 6. 2. i: Cor: 2. 16.  which condemns you secretly for it, but will bring Scripture for his own ends (as he did to Christ) and say I should not judge; but I say the righteous loveth judgement, but the wicked cannot stand in it; and the Saints shall judge the world, and the Spiritual man judgeth all things, and he himself is udged of no man, and your actions is to be condemned with the light, and trodden upon as dirt in the streets, with them who are in the power of God? Oh how the seed of God is oppressed amongst you, that even the cry thereof hath entered into the ear of the Lord of Sabbaths, who is now risen to avenge his own cause, and to plead with you who are in the flesh, and are not only enemies to the seed of God in your selus, but your rage abundantly apperrs towards any in whom it doth arise, to rule and guide them in the way that is called holy; your abominations are increased, and your transgressions cannot be numbered, the Lord is weary with your sacrifices, they are an abomination unto him; for no sooner have you done that you call your sacrifice, 
Isa. 1. 12, 13, 14, 15. Prov. 15. 8.  if there be any in whom the seed of God is brought forth, that are sent of him ro declare against your abominations, before they can be suffered to speak the words of truth in soberness, you like dogs, and swine, Wolves, and Lions, 
Mat. 23. 34, 35  do fall upon the Lambs of Christ, (who wrongeth no man neither can you lay any thing justly to their charge,) and pulls, and hails them out of your Assemblies even ready to 
Luk. 19 3.  take their blood as Cain did, and casts into prison such without any cause at all; are these a Company of sheep, or of dogs, and Swine, yea, or nay? And is not this cain's way 
Gen. 4. 5.  that you are found in, and is your sacrifice more accepted of the Lord then his was? why are you so wroth & envious? they that learn of Christ are meek, when they are smitten smites not again, or do you ever read that any of them ha●led out of their Assemblies, or persecuted, or imprisonned any? What administration do you live under? Answer in plainness, if you say you are Christians, show where such actions were acted among Christians; if not, confess it openly, and do not play the Hypocrite; Read and see if your eyes be not wholly blinded by the God of the World whom Ye worship and serve, who was an accuser of the brethren from the beginning, and an envious man; Is not all out of order amongst you, your children wild and rude in the evil communication which corrupts the good manners, 
1 Cor. 15. 33.  brought up out of the fear of God, like wild Colts, mocking, scoffing, stoneing, deriding, and scorning 
Ephes. 6. 4.  the Servants of the Lord in your Streets, so that those that neither doth, nor speaketh any thing to you that is evil, are daily by you abused both by words and actions as they pass peaceably along the Streets; are not you that are Parents 
Titus 2. 2, 3.  or Masters to such ashamed of such things (or do you not delight in such things,) yourselves, and encourage your children and servants in it, What do you think will be the end of these things, do you not think the Lord scorns the scornful, or what is it your malice is so much against?  
And again, is not your young men and maids uncivil, blaspheming the name of the Lord, daily following youthful 
Titus 2. 4. 5, 6. Psal. 119. 9  pleasures, living wantonly upon the earth, scoffing, and scorning them that cannot partake with them in their filthy pleasures, which will be bitter in the end, and are they not inventing how to make themselves glorious in the sight of the World, not remembering their Creator in the 
Eccl. 12. 1.  days of their youth, but following after pride and vanity which corrupts youth, and leads out of the Moderation, which they who fear the Lord are in, and are adorned with a meek and quiet spirit, which is of great price in the sight of God. And doth not your Women array themselves in costly apparel, in gold and pearl, contrary to the Apostles 
1 Tim. 2. 9 10. 1 Pet: 3. 2, 3, 4.  command, and do not they go in hoods, and veils, scarves, and rings, and changeable Suits of Apparel, and walking with stretched out necks, and wanton eyes, making 
Isa: 3. 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26.  a mincing as they go, and a tinkling with their feet; and their broadered hair; that they can scarce tell how to go they are so proud, and puffed up in the lust of the Flesh, even such (if not worse) as the Lord sent his plagues, and judgements upon. Read Isa. 3. 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26.  
Therefore hear this all you that are found in this path, the Lord will take away your bravery, and instead thereof he will cover you with contempt, and he will bring down the haughtiness of man and woman, and will lay your honour 
Isa: 2. 11, 12, 13, 17. Isa: 10. 33.  in the dust; and scatter you as chaff is scattered with the Wind, because you have cast his righteous Law behind your backs, and hath walked despitefully against the Spirit of Grace; Who hath been warned like unto you? hath not the Lord sent his Servants early and late to forewarn You of the Judgement that he hath intended against You because of Your many transgressions; whereby You daily provoke him to anger; even to sweep You all away with the bosom of destruction?  
And have not You executed Your cruelty upon his messengers in mocking, scoffing, spitting upon, hailing to prison 
Math: 23. 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39  them that have been sent in tender love unto your Souls, to call You to Repentance, and to seek the Lord while he may be found: but You may say, You do not this to the servants of Christ, but to Vagabonds and Wanderers, Deluders, and Deceivers, and the Ringleaders of the Sect of the Quakers, (as You in scorn calls them) which is every where spoken against, and hailed out of the Synagogues, and persecuted, and cast into prison, but all this while cannot see Yourselves as blind as Your Forefathers the Persecutors was, and as ignorant of God, and his works as Cain the Vagabond was, who was in Envy as you are, though he builded the first City to make bimself an habitation, 
Gen. ●. 12.  God called him a Vagabond, Gen. 4. 12. but he did not call his Son a Vagabond, who had not whereon to lay his head, nor his Son did not call them which went about in Sheep skins, and goat skins, and had no certain 
Heb. 11. 35, 36, 37, 38, 39 40.  dwelling place, he did not call such Vagabonds, who had a habitation where neither Cain nor any of his stock hath, but you are the Vagabonds rightly named who are in envy and wrath, who hath great habitations in the earth as he had, but are driven out from the presence of the Lord into pride and highmindedness, and into the Earth, and its pleasure, and treasure, laying up treasure there, but are ignorant of the true treasure which they have in earthen 
2 Cor. 4. 7.  vessels which wander up and down, and are made a prey upon by you, who are in cain's way, and in God hath not an habitation, but are wandering stars, wandering 
Isa: 59 15.  up and down in the Element of your imaginations, out of one fashion and vanity of the World into another; and here are you scattered upon the mountains of Pride and high mindedness, in the clouds of darkness, and stops your ears at the true Shepherd's voice, who would gather you off from the barren mountains into the low valleys, to feed among his Lambs, and to drink of the fresh fountain of living Water, but this You loath, and will not hear of, but loves to wallow with the Swine in the filth, and mire, therefore will Your condemnation be just, and the Lord will be clear of Your blood.  
Again, is not the harmless and innocent children of the Lord whom he hath placed his Name in, and hath set as 
Phill. 2. i5.  Witnesses against you, as he did Lot in Sodom; whom you have nothing justly to lay to their charge, are not such by 
1 Joh● 3. ●●.  you abused as Lot was, scoffed and scorned at, stoned in the Streets and spitted upon, who cannot go with you into the same excess of riot, do you think the Lord doth 
1 Pet: 4. 4.  not take notice of this? Yea, surely one day ye shall know that it had been better for you that a millstone had been hanged about your necks, and you cast into the midst of 
John 15. 19  the sea, then to offend one of the least of his, who is the good Shepherd, but because Judgement is not executed upon 
Math: 18. 6. Eccl: 8. 11.  you speedily, therefore are your hearts bend in you to do wickedly; but this know, that there is a Witness in every one of your consciences, that takes notice of all your ways and actings; therefore once more I warn you from the Lord to repent and turn unto the Lord, and put off your bravery of your tinkling ornaments, and put on sackcloth, and sit down in the dust, if so be you may be hid in the day of the fierce indignation of the Lord, and cease to do evil, and learn to do well, lest the overflowing scourge of the Lord sweep you all away, for his sword is 
Isa. i. 16, 17.  drawn, and his bow bend, and his arrows are made very sharp, and will fall grievously upon the head of the wicked 
Amos 5. 14, 15, 16.  and how can you escape when he appears, who will plead with you by his Sword, and by Fire, and will render to every man according to his works, without 
Math. 16. 27.  respect of persons, and then shall you all know that you had warning in your life time, by them which you hated and persecuted; scoffed and scorned; so while you have time prise it, and slight not the day of your Visitation, nor the mercy of the Lord to your Souls, lest you be shut out among the Unbelievers into utter darkness, where is weeping, wailing, 
Math. 8. 12.  and gnashing of teeth for ever.  
I charge you as you will answer it to the Lord, search these Scriptures out, which are quoted, and read them in the fear of God; and try your teachers, and your fruits, whether they be according to them which spoke forth Scriptures, Yea, or Nay, for every tree is known by his fruits, and so are the false prophets from the true, Matth. 7, 20.  
Written by me whom you greatly hate, because I am sent to bear testimony against your abominations, and by you am I called a Quaker, but thorough the tender mercy of the Lord, am I made partaker of the Divine nature, 
2 Pet. 1. 4.  and only known to the world by the name of  
Ambrose Rigge.   

ANd now Oh ye Rulers of the earth, the word of the Lord is to you; who hath gotten the Seat of Moses the Servant of the Lord; you who are called Judges, Justices, or Head Officers of what kind or sort soever; And doth pretend that you are God's Ministers to lay the sword upon the transgressors, and to be a praise unto them that doth well, according as the Lord hath appointed his Ministers to be, now if you profess the Scriptures to be your rule and the Christian Magistrates to be your example, which is recorded in the Scriptures; Let us now reason together in meekness, and try your fruits whether they be according to the Magistrates in the time of Moses, the Prophets, and Apostles, Yea or Nay? I speak of them who were God's Ministers indeed, and did not bear their Sword in vain, but was a terror to evil doers, and a praise to them that did well, according as God had ordained them.  
First Consider, are you such as Moses choosed in his days to be Rulers over the people, even men fearing God and men of truth, hating Covetousness, as you may read, Exod, 18. the 21, 22, 23, 24, 25.  
Again, are you such as God commanded his Ministers to be in the days of Mose, who commanded them to do no unrighteousness in Judgement, nor to respect the person of the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty, as you may read, Levi. 19 15.  
Again, are you such as Moses charged his to be, who was to judge righteously between every man and his brother, and the Stranger that was with him; and were nor to respect persons in Judgement, but to hear the small as well as the great, as you may see, Deut. 1. 16, 17. Deut. 16. 18, 19  
Again, are you such as Jehoshaphat the King set over the people, who doth not judge for man but for the Lord, and is the fear of God upon you, with whom there is no respect of persons or taking of gifts, as you may read 2 Chro. 19 4. 5, 6, 7. Prov. 24. 23. 2 Sam 14. 14. Now let but the witness of God in you all speak, and it will plainly tell you whether you, and your Judgement be according to them and theirs, yea, or nay.  
And whatsoever cause came before them between blood and blood, and between Law and Commandment, thus were they to do in the fear of God faithfully, and with a perfect heart, they were even to warn them not to trespass against the Lord, lest wrath came upon them, 2 Chron. 19 9, 10. Is this so among you oh ye Rulers of England of what degree soever, would not you even cause them to trespass against the Lord that dare not, in persecuting and imprisoning them that dare not break his commands?  
Again, are you such as doth execute the Judgement of the fatherless, and widows, and loveth the Stranger in giving him food and raiment, as you may read, Deut. 10. 17, 18, 19 or are you not such as daily seeks to ensnare and persecute Strangers under the name of wanderers, and instead of giving of them food and raiment (according to the command of God,) doth cast them into prison, and whip, stock, and stone them, yea, or nay? as you have done many of the servants of the living God within this few years, who by faith hath (according to the command of God,) left their country, and father's house, and are become Strangers and pilgrims in the earth, having in it no certain dwelling place, as it was with the holy men of God in former ages: as you may see, Heb. 11. 36, 37, 38. 1 Peter 2. 21.  
Again, are you such as David was, whom the God of Israel set to rule over the people, being a just man, and ruling in the fear of God 2 Sam. 23. 3.  
Again; are you such as God commanded the Princes of Israel to be, who said let it suffice you, O ye Princes of Israel, remove violence, and spoil and execute Judgement, and Justice, and take away your exactions from my people, as you may read, Exek. 45. 9 or are not you such as use violence to them that cannot bend to your pride and lust, and send out your Warrants to spoil the goods of the innocent who cannot for conscience sake uphold that which they know and see the hand of the Lord is turned against? here you are found not to be such as remous violence & spoil, but are the defenders & warrants of such who by violence & spoil, doth daily oppress the poor, fatherless, and widows: And as for taking away your exactions from the people of God, that you are far enough from, for you casts them into prison, and then adds affliction to their bonds, in spoiling their goods; and binds heavy burdens upon them which are grievous to be born, which you yourselves will not touch with one of your fingers; now whether this be not as far contrary to them in former ages as light is from darkness let any that fears the Lord judge.  
Furthermore, are you such as was in the days of the Apostles whom he commanded the children of God to be subject unto; who stood in the power of God, and was a terror to evil doers, and a praise to them that did well, and did not bear their swords in vain, but was ministers of God to execute wrath upon them that did evil; unto such they was to be subject not only for wrath, but also for Conscience sake, as you may read, Rom. 13. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.  
Again, search and try whether you and your ordinances be such as the Apostle Pete commanded the Saints to submit unto for the Lords sake, whether it was to the King as Supreme, or unto Governors as unto them that was sent by him, for the punishment of evil doers, and for the praise of them that do well, as you may read, 1 Peter 2. 13, 14. (mark) they was to submit to every ordinance of man for the Lords sake, which was for the punishment of evil doers, But he did not command them to submit to such ordinances of men as was for the punishment of such as obeyed the command of God; now let the witness of God in you all, search you, and see whether you be such Judges, Justices and Rulers as is aforementioned, yea or nay? who was men fearing God, and did not respect the person of the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty, and was not to take gifts; Now if you be such, he that is not subject to you resisteth the ordinance of God. But if you be found in the steps of them who were oppressors of God's people, that when your pride is not bowed unto, doth in your rage and fury persecute, and cast into prison the innocent children of the Lord, contrary both to the law of God, and man; I say they that resists this power, doth not resist the ordinance of God, for such a power was never ordained of God, but set up in the corrupt Wills of men; therefore they that comes to be turned from darkness to the light, and from the power of Satan unto the power of God, (which is the higher power which every soul is to be subject unto) doth rather choose to suffer by that power then to be subject unto ill, as you may read Dan. 3. 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21. Dan. 6. 14, 15, 16, Acts 16. 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26.  
And now we shall come to search into the actions, and fruits of the Heathenish Kings and Rulers recorded in the Scripture of truth, who were persecuters of the people of God, and weigh their actions with yours, who are called Christian Magistrates in this Nation of England, and see whether doth overbalance.   

So these are left as Queries to be answered by any of you.  
1. Whether Pharaoh King of Egypt, who oppressed the children of God, might not have pleaded, as well as you, That they were to be subject to his command, and bow down to his power, yea or nay? who said, Come let us deal wisely with them, lest they multiply, and grow stronger than we, that when there fall out any war, they become our enemies, and fight against us; and he used cruel rigour unto them, and laid great burdens upon them, as you may read Exod. the first chap. Now whether or no is not this your Wisdom now, To use all your power and strength to oppress the people of God now by cruel bondage and rigour, and when your power is not strong enough, doth join together, and take counsel to make cruel Laws against them, whereby to bring them into bondage, and make them serve you as Bondslaves, which you cannot read that Pharaoh did? So whether your cruelty doth not exceed his, yea or nay, let that in all your consciences judge.  
2. Whether this power that Pharaoh ruled in, was the power of God, yea or nay? If yea, Why did the Lord with an high hand and an outstretched arm, deliver his children from him and his power, and overthrow him, and his Chariots and Horsemen, in the midst of the Sea? as you may read Exod. 14. 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28. If nay, Whether your power be not the same now, in oppressing the innocent children of God now, whom he hath appointed to offer a sacrifice to him in righteousness? And whether ever any that stood in the power of God, and was guided by the Spirit of God, was ever persecutors, yea or nay?  
3. Where did ever Pharaoh King of Egypt fine or imprison any of the people of the Lord for such a small thing as not for putting off their Hats, as many of you have done? Or whether he did oppress the people of God so many ways as you have done within these late Years, yea or nay?  
4. Where did ever Moses▪ who was a true and faithful Judge over all Israel, fine or imprison any that came before him for not putting off their Hats? Show one example either among the Christian Magistrates throughout the Scriptures, or among the Heathenish Rulers in former ages and if you cannot find one example among either of them, then confess yourselves to be grown higher in pride and ambition than the persecutors in former ages.  
5 Whether there be any transgression where there is no Law? If you say Yea; show how, or wherein; If Nay, then whether do not you persecute and imprison them that are no transgressors for not putting off their Hats, when there is neither Law of God, nor man that commands it.  
6. Where did Balaak King of the Moabites, whose enmity was against the people of God, whom God had delivered from under the hand of Pharaoh, as you may read Numb. 22. 4, 5, 6. yet show where he persecuted or imprisoned so many of them as you have done of the children of the Lord, who are in derision called Quakers, in the Nation of England, without any justcause? and whether the power was not in him to do it, aswell as you, yea or nay.  
7. Whether Haman (who was full of wrath when Mordecai could not bow unto him as others did) was in the power of God, or in the pride of his heart, who made a Gallows to hang Mordecai on, because he crossed his lust? as you may read Esth. 5. Now whether you who are full of rage and fury when the people of God cannot bow down to your pride and lust, be not in the same steps, yea or nay?  
Therefore consider what was the end of Haman, read Esth. 7. 9, 10.  
8. Whether Nabuchadnezzar (who was a heathenish King) stood in the power of God, when he commanded to bind he three children of God, and cast them into the fiery Furnace because they could not bow to his will, as you may read Dan. 3. the whole chapter? Now you that say all power is of God, and therefore aught to be obeyed, whether did Shadrak, Meshek, and Abednego well in resisting this power, and choosing rather to suffer under it, then obey it, yea or nay? as you may see Dan. 3. 16, 17, 18. So you who commands the people of God to bow unto that which in conscience to the Lord they cannot, are not you full of rage and fury, and commands them to be cast into prison without Bail or Mainprize, and makes their affliction sevenfold worse than it used to be to others who were offenders? So what this Power and command differs from Nebuchadnezars, let that in all your consciences judge,  
9 Whether Darius the King stood in the power of God when he commanded Daniel to be cast into the Den of Lions for praying to the true God? as you may read Dan. 6. 16. If you say Yea; Whether did Daniel well, yea or nay, in not regarding the King, nor the Decree that he had signed? Dan. 6. 13. If Nay; Whether you stand not in the same power now, who casts into Dens and Holes the children of the Lord, whose prayers he hears, because they cannot bow down to any but to the command of God, yea or nay?  
10. Whether Herod who imprisoned Peter the servant of God, was in the power of God, yea or nay? as you may read Act. 12. 3. 4. If you say Yea, then why did God send his Angel, and deliver Peter from him, and smite Herod that he was eaten with Worms? as you may read A●●. 12. 7, 8, & 23. If you say Nay, Then all power is not of God by your own confession, but the Devil keeps many under his power, to act his will upon the children and servants of God.  
11. Whether King Agrippa, or Festus, or Foelix, who had as much power to execute their wills upon the servants of God as you have now, yet show wherein they acted half so much rigour upon the servants of Christ, as many of you have acted? Therefore now consider your state, and weigh your actions and fruits; and in this your day I warn you all, high and low, to mind the things that belongs to your peace before they be hid from your eyes, and you be shut up in utter darkness; for the Spirit of the Lord will not always strive with you as it hath done. Therefore be wise now ye Kings, and be instructed ye Judges and Rulers of the Earth; serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice before him with trembling; kiss the Son lest he be angry, and you perish from the way; for if his Wrath be kindled a little, blessed are all they that put their trust in him: And cease persecuting the innocent, who neither wrongeth you, nor any man; and consider the end of the persecutors in former ages, Pharaoh the oppressor of God's people was drowned in the depth of the Sea, as you may see Exod. 14. 27, 28. Haman was hanged on the Gallows that he prepared for Mordecai, read Esth. 7 9, 10. Nabuchadnezzar his Kingdom was rend from him, and his dwelling was with the Beasts of the field, and did eat grass as the Oxen: Read Dan. 4. 32, 33.  
Darius was made to repent, and confess to the truth, That it was the true God that Daniel served, whom he persecuted, as you may read Dan. 6. 26, 27.  
Herod was eaten with Worms who prisoned and persecuted the servants of God as you may read, Acts 12. 23. These things I write unto you that you may see the just judgements of the Lord upon the persecutors of his in former ages; not that I desire in the least such things to come upon you, but that while you have time, to prize it, and return to the Lord, if so be you may be hid in the day of his fierce wrath. So thus far am I clear of all your blood, who am known in England by the Name of  
Ambrose Rigge.  
FINIS.