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 . G. K. OGDEN 
 
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 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS ; 
 
 SELECTED FROM VARIOUS AUTHORS 
 
 RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIENDS 
 
 APPENDIX, 
 
 CONTAINING SIMILAR EXTRACTS FROM WRITERS OF THE 
 
 CHURCH OF ENGLAND; 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 [ NOT PUBLISHED. ]
 
 Rose, Printer, Bristol.
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 IN order to introduce the following Compilation to 
 the notice of his fellow members of the Society of 
 Friends, the Editor will premise a brief detail of the 
 circumstances which have given occasion to its appear- 
 ance. 
 
 Having been from his youth accustomed to the 
 perusal of the journals and other writings of our 
 worthy predecessors in religious profession, he was at 
 an early period seriously impressed with the appre- 
 hension, so generally expressed in them, of a time 
 of confusion and distress to come upon this nation, 
 as a just judgment from the Almighty for its aggra- 
 vated impiety and manifold provocations. His atten- 
 tion was, at the same time, forcibly arrested by the 
 persuasion, which these writers entertained, of the 
 subsequent great increase of piety and virtue, first 
 in this country and afterwards throughout the world; 
 many of them having expressed a firm conviction, 
 that the time was approaching, in which the nume- 
 rous prophecies in the Holy Scriptures, declaratory 
 of the increase and glory of the true church in the 
 latter days, were to receive their accomplishment. He 
 had long been in the practice of noting down pas- 
 sages of this description, without any other view than 
 to his own use; until about seven years ago, upon 
 freely expressing his apprehensions, in correspondence
 
 ft PREFACE. 
 
 with a friend, respecting the extraordinary aspect of 
 the times, he adverted to the collection which he 
 had made, and it occurred to him to query, whether 
 some advantage might not be expected from giving 
 it publicity. The intimation was warmly approved; 
 but, in addition to the unfitness which he then felt, 
 and which he continues to feel, for such a task, his 
 engagements at that time did not permit him to un- 
 dertake it: he therefore requested his friend to accept 
 of his materials, offering at the same time to lend 
 him any assistance that might be in his power. As 
 this proposal was declined, the idea of printing, if 
 not abandoned, was not seriously contemplated for 
 some time; yet it continued to recur, and, after two 
 or three years, had acquired so much of maturity, as 
 to be no longer a matter of indifference. Of the 
 anxiety and solicitude, which the Editor has since 
 experienced, that he might not, on the one hand, 
 be unprofitably busied in what does not concern him, 
 nor, on the other, be withholding solemn warning 
 and caution from those to whom it is due, he intends 
 to say very little ; being unwilling, by any represent- 
 ations of this kind, to conciliate the favourable opinion 
 of his friends to a performance, which their unbiassed 
 judgment would not incline them to approve. 
 
 Such, then, is the collection, which is here pre- 
 sented to the reader : and as the books from which, 
 with little exception, the extracts are taken, have been 
 officially sanctioned by the Society, the Editor might 
 perhaps without censure have considered himself at 
 liberty to publish this volume in the usual manner j
 
 iii 
 
 yet being apprehensive that the present is not the 
 time for its indiscriminate circulation, scarcely indeed 
 even within the limits of our own Society, he has 
 adopted the mode of gratuitous distribution, as the only 
 one which placed within his reach that selection which 
 it appeared desirable to command. Notwithstanding 
 this precaution, he is aware that it is not improbable 
 the book may, from a variety of causes and accidents, 
 at no distant period find its way into the hands of 
 persons, not only not in profession with us, but whose 
 views may be particularly hostile to the sentiments 
 and prospects which it developes. In order to meet 
 this contingency, and by no means to eke out the 
 evidence of the preceding writers, which, in his view, 
 requires no such addition, an Appendix is added, con- 
 sisting of extracts from writers not of our Society; 
 persons, for the most part, eminent for their piety 
 or learning,' or for their rank and station in the 
 world ; whose sentiments will be found to be not very 
 dissimilar from those expressed by Friends in the 
 former part of the work; and as the objectors will 
 probably be mostly found in the Established Church, 
 the citations are made exclusively from writers of that 
 persuasion. Some Notes are added, when the sub- 
 ject appeared to require illustration, or a pertinent 
 citation presented itself; but as the idea of making 
 any addition of this kind was new to the Editor, for 
 it did not occur to him till the former part of the 
 book was nearly prepared for the press, the indul- 
 gence of the reader may be occasionally called for; 
 and whilst it is hoped this will not be withheld,
 
 i v PREFACE. 
 
 justice to his friends requires he should add, that for 
 the addition thus made, no one but himself is in any 
 manner responsible. 
 
 The times, from which our Society dates its origin 
 were of a very peculiar cast. The apostasy from the 
 purity and simplicity of Christianity, which had dis- 
 covered itself even in the days of the apostles,* and 
 which continued to advance until the whole Chris- 
 tian world was enveloped in the mists of ignorance, 
 superstition, and error, had been long upon the de- 
 cline. Rays of light, from the great Author and 
 Source of light, had never entirely ceased to pene- 
 trate the gloom, and to give some perception of the 
 surrounding darkness : the " two witnesses" prophe- 
 sied, although " clothed in sackcloth," during the 
 whole of the " thousand two hundred and threescore 
 days."f But the time was now arrived, when a 
 clearer discovery of error should be made, and espe- 
 cially of that antichristian tyranny, which man had 
 long exercised over the conscience of his fellow-man. 
 At length, it pleased God, that the glorious Sun of 
 Righteousness, which had long, with a steady course, 
 been approaching the horizon, should rise above it. 
 A clear discovery of the errors of the night, and of 
 the great and blessed realities of the gospel-day, was 
 the necessary consequence. It was in vain that some 
 denied, others scoffed and derided, and all, as they 
 had power, by cruel persecutions, spoiling of goods, 
 
 *Rev. ii. 4, 14, 15 iii. \, 151 7. -f Rev. xi. 3.
 
 PREFACE. v 
 
 and imprisonments, endeavoured to suppress and ex- 
 terminate, this heavenly manifestation of the divine 
 will in the latter days. There were, in a short time, 
 many, who could say, from an assurance not to be 
 shaken "The darkness is past, and the true light 
 now shincth." These, believing in the light, and 
 walking in the light, became children of the light 
 and of the day ; being " transformed by the renewing 
 of their mind," they could no longer be " conformed 
 to this world," its maxims, ordinances, or worships ; 
 they came to know " the removing of those things 
 that are shaken," and " those things which cannot 
 be shaken/' to remain ; and thus experienced the 
 truth of the apostolic declaration, " If any man be in 
 " Christ, he is a new creature : old things are passed 
 " away; behold, all things are become new, and all 
 " things are of God." 
 
 Our honourable predecessors in religious profession 
 having thus known, as it respected themselves, the 
 fulfilment of the prophecies, which declare the glo- 
 rious privileges of the members of the church of 
 Christ in the latter days, could not, in conformity 
 with the tenor of these prophecies, but anticipate the 
 extension of that fulfilment however gradual in its 
 progress that extension might be even to the ends 
 of the earth. This expectation will appear, by the 
 following extracts from the writings of our Friends, 
 to have been very prevalent among them; and the 
 Society, in its collective capacity, has not scrupled, 
 at a comparatively recent period, to express a similar 
 belief.
 
 v i PREFACE. 
 
 "We trust that we are called to shew forth to the 
 " world, in life and practice, that the blessed reign of 
 " the Messiah, Prince of Peace, is begun ; and we 
 " doubt not but it will proceed, till it attain, in due 
 " time, its completion in the earth ; when, according 
 " to the prophecies of Isaiah and Micah, ' nation 
 " shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall 
 " they learn war any more.' " Yearly Meetings' 
 Printed Epistle f 1775. 
 
 It is, however, also worthy of observation, that an 
 apprehension has existed in our Society, from its ear- 
 liest period to the present time, and that amongst 
 the most eminent and distinguished of its members, 
 that previously to this universal diffusion of genuine 
 Christianity, the nations generally, and this nation 
 in a particular manner, would be visited with a time 
 of almost unexampled distress and trial, in which they 
 would be made to partake largely of the bitter fruits 
 of the false principles and corrupt practices, which 
 have so long disfigured the world. Ample evidence, 
 it is presumed, of the existence of this apprehension, 
 is adduced in the following pages; and when we con- 
 sider how generally it is diffused through the writings 
 of Friends, and the very important and interesting 
 nature of the subject, it will perhaps appear remark- 
 able, that it has not obtained more general and marked 
 attention than it has hitherto done. That this subject 
 has not obtained the attention to which he thinks it 
 entitled, the Editor is well assured, both from long 
 continued observation, and from some striking cases 
 of direct inquiry: yet we cannot allow ourselves to
 
 PREFACE. v ii 
 
 imagine, that these communications were made, to be 
 disregarded and passed by as of no value, and not 
 rather to excite our vigilance, lest that day come 
 upon us at unawares and find us in an unprepared 
 state. Several causes appear to have co-operated in 
 producing this inattention : of these, two only will 
 be mentioned here. One of them arises out of the 
 manner which so generally prevails of reading Friends' 
 books ; in small portions, and at distant intervals ; so 
 that the impression, which has occasionally been made 
 by a passage of the description alluded to, has been 
 obliterated before a similar one has occurred. This 
 disadvantage will be in some degree obviated by this 
 Compilation ; and the accumulated strength, which 
 the subject cannot fail to receive from numbers and 
 connexion, will, it is hoped, produce a conviction of 
 its importance in the minds of some, who have hitherto 
 not attended to it, or who have been disposed to 
 undervalue it. 
 
 But there is another cause, which has operated in 
 producing the inattention, which has long prevailed in 
 respect to the prophetical declarations so abundant in 
 the writings of our Friends ; and as this is a subject 
 of considerable importance, and also of extensive influ- 
 ence, it will be necessary to consider it more in detail. 
 It is obvious that many of these writers anticipated the 
 speedy accomplishment of their predictions; some of 
 them, it may be, within their own life-time. This 
 anticipation was erroneous. Events have not realized 
 the expectation. The completion of these predictions 
 is therefore, by many persons, put off to an indefinitely
 
 v iii PREFACE. 
 
 distant period ; and is at length considered, by some, 
 to belong to any day and generation of men, excepting 
 to their own. A little reflection will satisfy us, that by 
 such treatment we do great injustice to the memory 
 of these devoted and highly favoured servants of the 
 Lord, or rather, we do injustice to ourselves, and 
 that even the ancient prophets will not bear to be 
 tried by so strict a rule. Many declarations of the 
 Almighty by his servants, which appear to be uncon- 
 ditional, have, undeniably, been reversed; events pre- 
 dicted have either not taken place at all, or the time 
 appointed for their accomplishment has been post- 
 poned. Thus it was declared to Eli, " I said indeed 
 " that thy house, and the house of thy father, should 
 "walk before me for ever: but now the Lord saitb, 
 " Be it far from me."* The Scriptures abound with 
 examples of this kind. The truth is, that a condi- 
 tion, although not expressed, is generally attached to 
 such declarations, as is fully set forth in ch. xxxiii. 
 of Ezekiel : " When I shall say to the righteous, 
 " that he shall surely live ; if he trust to his own 
 " righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righte- 
 " ousnesses shall not be remembered ; but for his 
 " iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for 
 " it. Again, when I say unto the wicked, Thou 
 " shalt surely die ; if he turn from his sin, and do 
 " that which is lawful and right ; if the wicked re- 
 " store the pledge, give again that he had robbed, 
 " walk in the statutes of life, without committing 
 
 * 1 Sam. ii. 30.
 
 PREFACE. i x 
 
 " iniquity ; he shall surely live, he shall not die." 
 And in ch. xviii. of Jeremiah: "At what instant I 
 " shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a 
 " kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to 
 " destroy it ; if that nation, against whom I have pro- 
 " nounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the 
 " evil that I thought to do unto them. And at what 
 " instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and con- 
 " cerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it ; if it 
 " do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice, then 
 " I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would 
 " benefit them." The instance of Nineveh is very 
 remarkable. The prophet Jonah was ordered to de- 
 clare, "Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be over- 
 thrown." Notwithstanding, when " God saw their 
 " works, that they turned from their evil way, he 
 " repented of the evil." Indeed, an apprehension of 
 this issue was afterwards assigned by the prophet, as 
 the cause why he had shunned the declaration of the 
 message : " Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish : 
 " for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and nier- 
 " ciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and re- 
 " pentest thee of the evil." If then the time, thus 
 defined and limited, and published, not in a hasty 
 and forward disposition, but so much in opposition 
 to the inclination of the prophet, that means much 
 out of the ordinary course of nature were made use 
 of to produce obedience ; if, under such circum- 
 stances, the time may be deferred, what deviation 
 from the apprehensions which duly authorized persons 
 may entertain and express, ought we not to be pre-
 
 x PREFACE. 
 
 pared for, when the time makes no part of the divine 
 communication. These may, in such a case, " inquire 
 and search diligently," as the prophets did formerly, 
 under circumstances somewhat similar, " searching 
 " what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ 
 " which was in them did signify,"* and yet may not 
 determine correctly. Should they venture to form an 
 opinion on the common principles of human reasoning, 
 or should they suppose the judgment denounced to 
 be near at hand, in proportion to the strength of 
 the impression on their minds and to their clear per- 
 ception of its certainty, they will be very liable to 
 mistake. It is natural to man to be precipitate, and 
 to expect the immediate accomplishment of his views; 
 but the Lord's ways are not as our ways, nor are 
 our thoughts as His. Some of our early Friends 
 wrote at a time, when they were suffering under 
 grievous persecution from wicked and unreasonable 
 men; they felt how hateful the oppressor is to God 
 and man; they were assured that the rod of the 
 wicked would not be permitted to rest upon the 
 lot of the righteous; and if, with feelings of this 
 description, they contemplated the punishment of their 
 persecutors, rather with a reference to the deserts of 
 these than to the forbearance and long-suffering of 
 the Almighty, it is not in human nature but they 
 should anticipate. It is, however, the Editor's full 
 persuasion, and perhaps there are many who will 
 unite with him in the opinion, that if, in addition to 
 
 *lPet. i. 11.
 
 PREFACE. x i 
 
 the many other provocations which excited the divine 
 displeasure against this country, the grievous oppres- 
 sion and cruelties practised upon our Society, during 
 the first thirty years of its existence, had been per- 
 sisted in, the judgments denounced against this nation 
 would not have been so long deferred. But it has 
 pleased the Almighty to favour us with a succession 
 of monarchs, under whose mild and paternal sway 
 not only persecution has been suspended, but every 
 thing in our civil and ecclesiastical polity, which is 
 opposed to his holy will, might have been eradicated. 
 This desirable object has not been effected j dissipation 
 and profligacy have increased} and the apprehension 
 of impending judgments is continued by an unbroken 
 chain of testimony-bearers down to the present day: 
 and when it is found that, in respect of the circum- 
 stance now under discussion, no concession is called 
 for in favour of these, which is not also required 
 to be extended to the ancient prophets, it is no more 
 than justice and candour demand, that any prejudice, 
 which may have been on this account entertained 
 against them, should be abandoned. 
 
 It is very pertinently remarked by Dr. Sherlock, 
 Dean of Chichester, that the judgments of the Al- 
 mighty, denounced by his prophets against guilty 
 nations, were so generally delayed beyond the expect- 
 ation of those to whom the prophecies respecting 
 these judgments were delivered, as " brought the pro- 
 " phets and their predictions frequently into contempt, 
 " and gave the people occasion to harden themselves 
 " against the fears and apprehensions of the evils
 
 Xii PREFACE. 
 
 " threatened." The Dean adds, "Hence came the re- 
 " proach upon the prophets, taken notice of by Eze- 
 " kiel, ' The vision that he seeth is for many days 
 " to come, and he prophesieth of the times that are 
 " far off.'* Which speech grew into a proverb ; 
 " 'What is that proverb that ye have in the land of 
 " Israel, saying, The days are prolonged, and every 
 " vision faileth.' " f Some, indeed, we may observe, 
 proceeded to that degree of daring impiety in their 
 unbelief, as to say, " Let him make speed, and hasten 
 *' his work, that we may see it j and let the counsel 
 " of the Holy One of Israel draw nigh and come, 
 " that we may know it 1" J Upon these the prophet 
 pronounces a woe. And the apostle Peter forewarns 
 us, that such should arise in the last days, even scof- 
 fers, saying, as in defiance of the Almighty's venge- 
 ance, " Where is the promise of his coming ? for 
 " since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as 
 " they were from the beginning of the creation. " 
 Alas ! these are little aware of the unfathomable 
 mercy to which we are indebted for this " conti- 
 nuance" of the operations, both of nature and of 
 grace, in their accustomed course. These are they 
 who "despise the riches of his goodness and forbear- 
 *' ance and long-suffering j not knowing that the 
 ** goodness of God leadeth to repentance." j| But as 
 
 * Ezek. xii. 27. 
 
 f Ibid, verse 22. ' ' Six Discourses and three Dissertation*. 
 By Thomas Sherlock, D.D. Dean of Chichester, 1725." p. -33. 
 
 J Isaiah v. 19. 2 Pet, iii. 4. jjRom. ii. 4.
 
 PREFACE. x ;ii 
 
 the Editor is not addressing persons of this descrip- 
 tion, he will only add, that notwithstanding some 
 difficulties, which may attend the prophetical decla- 
 rations left us upon record, in respect to the accom- 
 plishment of these not exactly according with our 
 expectations, we may rest assured, that " the Lord 
 " is not slack concerning his promise, as some men 
 " count slackness, but is LONG SUFFERING to us-ward, 
 " not willing that arty should perish, but that all 
 "should come to repentance;"* and this the Editor 
 apprehends to he the true cause of the long respite 
 which this nation has experienced. We find, Gen. 
 xv. 16. that the iniquity of the Amorites was wot 
 then full ; as the event has proved, not by some 
 hundred years : and it appears by the book of Jonah, 
 that the iniquity of the Ninevites was not full at the 
 time of the preaching of that prophet, although the 
 short space of forty days only was wanting to com- 
 plete the measure. May we not hope, from the conti- 
 nued forbearance of the Almighty towards this country, 
 that, great as are its iniquities, and manifold its 
 provocations, there is a space it may indeed be very 
 short still left for repentance. How ardently it is 
 then to be desired, that this opportunity of averting 
 the threatened vengeance may not be suffered to pass 
 by unimproved i If the same disposition should pre- 
 vail with us as with " the people of Nineveh," when, 
 as it is recorded, " they believed God, and proclaimed 
 *' fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of 
 
 *2Pet. iii.9. 
 b
 
 x iv PREFACE. 
 
 "them even to the least of them;" and the "king 
 *' arose from his throne, and laid his robe from him, 
 " and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes;" 
 and caused it to be proclaimed, that all should " cry 
 mightily unto God," yea, that they should "turn, 
 " every one from his evil way, and from the violence 
 ** that is in their hands ;" if this disposition should 
 prevail amongst us, we might then say, with that 
 monarch, "Who can tell if God will turn and repent, 
 " and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish 
 " not ?" But if this heart-felt repentance and deep 
 prostration of soul be not experienced, if we continue 
 to treasure up unto ourselves " wrath, against the 
 " day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judg- 
 " ment of God,"* how can we expect but that the 
 word of the Lord, by his prophet Ezekiel, should be 
 speedily adopted towards us ; " Thus saith the Lord 
 " God ; I will make this proverb to cease, and they 
 "shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel; but 
 " say unto them, The days are at hand, and the 
 
 " effect of every vision. Thus saith the Lord God; 
 
 " There shall none of my words be prolonged any 
 " more, but the word which I have spoken shall 
 " be done, saith the Lord God."+ 
 
 If we seriously reflect how generally irreligion and 
 licentiousness prevail in this country, and contemplate 
 the magnitude of what may be termed our national 
 sins, for which it does not appear how we can be, 
 
 * Rom. ii. v. f Ezek. xii. 23, 28.
 
 PREFACE. xv 
 
 according to the ordinary course of the divine govern- 
 ment, nationally punished, but in the present world; 
 what ungrateful returns we continue to make for the 
 manifold advantages and blessings, temporal as well 
 as spiritual, which we have long enjoyed; instead of 
 being surprised that the storm, which has thus been 
 declared to be gathering over our heads, should be 
 about to burst upon us, we shall be lost in astonish- 
 ment, that it has been deferred so long. It is unne- 
 cessary to insist on this ungrateful topic in support 
 of the views, which the Editor entertains, of the 
 near approach of national judgments. It is allowed 
 by all, that there is amongst us enough of profligacy 
 and vice to overwhelm us with dismay. But, alas! 
 how is our danger increased, or rather, without re- 
 formation, how inevitable must our destruction appear, 
 if even our national religion, the legal establishment 
 of those observances by which we think to avert the 
 anger of the Almighty and to conciliate his favour, 
 should prove to be a source of the divine displeasure ! 
 Yet this is the sentiment of our worthy predecessors ; 
 and it is largely expressed in the following Extracts, 
 without equivocation or circumlocution. It is, cer- 
 tainly, an awful responsibility which the civil magis- 
 trate incurs, when he undertakes the establishment 
 of religion. He is herein, according to the uniform 
 opinion of our Society, acting out of his province, 
 and taking upon himself a burden, which he is totally 
 unable to bear. Upon this very account the Almighty 
 has long had a controversy with the nations; and lie 
 will not withdraw his anger so \ve read in the
 
 X vi PREFACE. 
 
 following pages until the offence be removed out 
 of the way. He has exalted his Son to be a Prince 
 and a Saviour, and given him to be the head over 
 all things to the church ; and He, who is thus 
 glorified and called of God,* is as willing as powerful 
 to fulfil his office : but man has usurped it ; heaping 
 to himself teachers of his own " making, ordaining, 
 and consecrating," and, without waiting for the di- 
 rection and authority of the great Head of the church, 
 establishing a form of worship of his own device, f 
 unknown in the time of primitive purity. The civil 
 magistrate having failed in that which is his proper 
 office as " the minister of God to us for good, a re- 
 " venger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil ;" 
 in the prevention of open scandal and crime, and in 
 enforcing the observance of the moral law; how is 
 it possible that he should succeed when he undertakes, 
 by the establishment of public worship and ministers, 
 " the increase of virtue in Christ's religion ;"J a task, 
 to which Christ alone is equal ; who is indeed, the 
 " Power of God, and the Wisdom of God." 
 
 The Editor is aware that it is an invidious task, 
 yet of such momentous importance is this Usurpation 
 considered by our early Friends, as the prolific source 
 
 * Heb. v. 4, 5. 
 
 + " The Common Prayer Book itself is nothing but a long 
 " Act of Parliament : all the rubrics are clauses in that statute." 
 Bishop Horsley's Primary Charge to the clergy of the diocese 
 of St. Asaph, 1806. 
 
 + 26 Hen. viii. c. J.
 
 PREFACE. xv jj 
 
 of many, if not of most, of the evils under which it 
 is acknowledged we labour, and so accurately do his 
 own views coincide with the views of those writers, 
 that he cannot well forbear expressing a few thoughts 
 upon the subject. It was the sentiment of those 
 writers, that, after a long night of apostasy, it had 
 pleased the Lord to revive primitive Christianity; 
 that he was come, to teach his people himself; to 
 qualify and appoint sons and daughters, according to 
 his good pleasure, to minister to his church in a 
 measure of his own life and authority ; and, agreeably 
 to ancient prophecy, to establish his spiritual govern- 
 ment in the earth. " I have set my king," saith the 
 Almighty, by the royal Psalmist, "upon my holy hill 
 " of Zion ;" but " the kings of the earth set them- 
 " selves, and the rulers take counsel together, against 
 " the Lord, and against his Anointed, saying, Let us 
 " break their bands asunder, and cast away their 
 " cords from us." Yet in this, they imagine a vain 
 thing, for "the heathen" are given to be his "inherit- 
 ance," and " the uttermost parts of the earth his 
 " possession ;" and by what person or nation soever, 
 these "bands and cords" of Christ's spiritual govern- 
 ment shall be rejected, against them " his wrath and 
 " sore displeasure" will, sooner or later, assuredly 
 be made known : yea, it is declared, he will " break 
 " them with a rod of iron, and dash them in pieces 
 " like a potter's vessel."* 
 
 The same truth is enunciated by the prophet Isaiah 
 
 * Psalm ii.
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 in the following terms ; " Thus saith the Lord God, 
 " Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a 
 11 tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foun- 
 "dation; he that believeth shall not make haste."* 
 The apostle Peter, referring to this prophecy, speaks 
 of our blessed Saviour under the same figure, as " a 
 " living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen 
 " of God and precious;" and adds, "he that believeth 
 " on him shall not be confounded."t And the apostle 
 Paul assures us that it is not possible to lay any other 
 foundation that will abide the day of trial : " Other 
 " foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which 
 " is Jesus Christ.";]; These all speak of the dreadful 
 consequences of unbelief and disobedience. " The 
 " fire shall try every man's work ;" the stone, which 
 is precious to them that believe, shall become " a 
 tl stone of stumbling and a rock of offence, even to 
 " them which stumble at the word, being disobedient;" 
 and the prophet Isaiah, still personating the Almighty, 
 declares, in immediate connexion with the passage be- 
 fore cited, " Judgment also will I lay to the line, 
 " and righteousness to the plummet ; and the hail 
 " shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters 
 " shall overflow the hiding place ; and your covenant 
 " with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement 
 " with hell shall not stand ; when the overflowing 
 " scourge shall pass through, than ye shall be trodden 
 " down by it." 
 
 When we consider the awful nature of these decla- 
 
 * Isaiah xxviii. 16. f 1 Pet. ii. 4. J 1 Cor. Hi. 2.
 
 P R E FAC E. x i x 
 
 rations, and the spirituality of the gospel dispensation, 
 as set forth in the New Testament and exemplified 
 in the practice of the primitive Christians, we might 
 have expected that a nation, professing belief in these 
 truths, would have exercised great caution that, in 
 the important business of the establishment of a church 
 and worship, it built upon no other than the appointed 
 foundation, or in any way interfered with the office 
 and privileges of the great Head of the church. 
 Without questioning the sincerity or the piety of 
 many concerned in effecting the reformation from Po- 
 pery in this country, it is well known, that the work 
 was not carried so far as some of them had proposed ; 
 and that, after a short time, its further advancement 
 was abandoned. The Spirit of Christ, who is the 
 way, the truth, and the life, and which had opened 
 their understandings to discover many of the errors 
 of the church of Rome, was not waited upon to lead 
 them into jalL the truth, which it would have been 
 profitable for them to know ; and thus many things, 
 which had no higher authority than human wisdom, 
 were retained in their worship and religious observ- 
 ances. Our reformers appear to have been particu- 
 larly unhappy, in conceiving themselves called upon 
 to educate and ordain gospel ministers, as thereby 
 an important channel of divine communication for 
 the discovery of error was much obstructed; and as 
 this " making and ordaining" of ministers, and the 
 establishment of these by the civil magistrate, as the 
 duly qualified and divinely commissioned ministers of 
 our Lord and Saviour, form a very important feature
 
 XX PREFACE. 
 
 of the Usurpation before alluded to, it may be proper 
 to give this branch of the subject some further con- 
 sideration. 
 
 As it is impossible for the stream to rise higher 
 than its fountain, and for man to give what he does 
 not possess, so it is impossible, by education or any 
 process in the power of man, to confer that spiritual 
 ability and qualification which are essential to the 
 character of a Minister of Christ. If the ministers 
 under the gospel had been, like the priests under 
 the Mosaic law, to be made, "after the law of a 
 " carnal commandment," that law would doubtless 
 have been, like other carnal laws, minutely explicit: 
 but they are to be made, like their holy Head the 
 Minister of ministers, " after the power of an endless 
 " life." " As every man hath received the gift, even 
 " so minister the same one to another," saith the 
 apostle, "as good stewards of the manifold grace of 
 " God. If any man speak, let him speak as the 
 " oracles of God ; if any man minister, let him do 
 " it as of the ability which God giveth : that God 
 ** in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ ;" 
 and not man, who would indeed be glorified, if he 
 could of himself acquire this qualification, or bestow 
 it on whomsoever it might please him. " Enticing 
 words of man's wisdom " are at his command ; " the 
 demonstration of the Spirit and of power" is not 
 so. It is well known that the ministers of the esta- 
 blished religion in this country, lay claim to a divine 
 qualification for their office, in virtue of a supposed 
 ordination derived from the apostles, and preserved
 
 PREFACE. xx i 
 
 iii an unbroken succession to the present time. But 
 this outward ordination and succession, so inferior in 
 point of solemnity, significant ceremony, and security 
 of preservation, to the ordination and succession which 
 were instituted by the Almighty for the Mosaic 
 priesthood, can neither be shewn to have been insti- 
 tuted and made essential by our Saviour, nor, if so 
 instituted and made essential, can they be shewn 
 to have been maintained. This position has been 
 sufficiently established by writers of the church of 
 England. And supposing the clergy to have actually j*. 
 received a super-human appointment and qualification, 
 how can they lay this precious gift at the feet of the' 
 civil magistrate, to be modelled, and limited, and 
 restrained, or the exercise of it even suspended, by 
 him, without base treachery to the heavenly Giver? 
 and how dares the civil power thus restrain and limit 
 the acknowledged gift of God ? 
 
 We have an example, in the Scriptures, of one who 
 w thought that the gift of God might be purchased 
 " with money ;" and from the resemblance which it 
 is supposed to bear to this crime of Simon Magus, 
 the obtaining of the corrupt presentation to an eccle 
 siastical benefice is termed Simony, and is considered 
 a grievous crime by the statute law of this country, 
 as well as by the canon law : but a great legal autho- 
 rity is of the opinion, that the " purchasing of holy 
 orders,'' or "a licence to preach," is more analo- 
 gous to the crime of this sorcerer, and therefore to 
 be " the true, though not the common, notion of
 
 xx ii PREFACE. 
 
 Simony."* Whether the ministers of the establish- 
 ed church, however they may be acquitted by hu- 
 man laws, are not deeply implicated in this crime, 
 must appear, when they are called upon, before a 
 higher tribunal, to produce their authority for the 
 character which they have thus assumed, of the dele- 
 gated ministers of Christ. 
 
 It is not the assumption of the character, nor the 
 allowance of that assumption by human laws, which 
 constitutes a Minister of the Gospel; nor will high 
 pretensions justify our neglect of the injunction of 
 our Saviour, "Beware of false prophets." Our blessed 
 Lord foresaw that such would arise; such, as would 
 not only deceive others, but, as it appears, themselves 
 also. He assures us that, in the awful day of account, 
 " many" would expostulate with him, and, evidently, 
 in the agony of disappointment, " Lord, Lord, have 
 " we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name 
 " have cast out devils ? and in thy name done many 
 "wonderful works?" These, it is evident, entertain 
 the persuasion, that they had preached, and done 
 many wonderful works, in the name of the Lord. 
 But the dreadful answer will dissipate the delusion; 
 " I never knew you : depart from me, ye that work 
 " iniquity." It is very easy to preach in the name 
 of the Lord, and to baptize in the name of the Father 
 and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, and to commu- 
 nicate the supper of our Lord, in word and in form; 
 
 * Blackstone's Comment. Book i. ch. 11. sect. v. and Book ii, 
 ch. 18. sect. iv.
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 but to do any one of these, truly and in very deed, 
 in the name and authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, 
 requires nothing less than the immediate power and 
 assistance of God through the Holy Spirit, purchased 
 for us by the atoning blood and mediation of the 
 Redeemer. The baptism of Christ, which thoroughly 
 purges the floor of the heart, and burns up the chaff 
 with unquenchable fire; His supper, to which those 
 are graciously admitted, who hear his voice and 
 open the door at his knocking ; these are indeed 
 " wonderful works," which man may undertake, but 
 which, of his own ability and strength, he will never 
 perform. Nor is the preaching of the gospel more 
 within his reach. To this office the saying of our 
 Saviour appears peculiarly applicable, " He that is 
 " not with ME is against me : and he that gathereth 
 " not with ME scattereth."* 
 
 Now if we proceed to try these professed, and, by 
 the civil magistrate, acknowledged and established, 
 ministers of Christ, by the familiar rule which our 
 Saviour has left us for that purpose, " By their fruits 
 ye shall know them," the apprehensions, which we 
 may have previously entertained for our national se- 
 curity and tranquillity, will not be at all diminished. 
 A large proportion of the clergy, so soon as they are 
 enrolled and have joined the standard, desert their 
 posts. It appears by a late return to Parliament, that 
 more than one fourth of the Church of England clergy 
 do not reside upon their cures; and that the pro- 
 
 *Luke xi. 23.
 
 XXIV PREFACE. 
 
 portion of incumbents, who either are non-resident 
 or do their duty by curates, is very nearly one half 
 of the whole beneficed clergy of the nation.* How 
 this dereliction of a duty, which they trust so they 
 declare they are " inwardly moved by the Holy 
 Ghost," and " truly called according to the will of 
 our Lord Jesus Christ," to undertake, and to the per- 
 formance of which they have, before the Almighty 
 and in the presence of the people, solemnly pledged 
 themselves, can be reconciled with its acknowledged 
 importance and with these high professions, it would 
 be well for them to consider. Nor will our fears be 
 abated if we inquire, in what manner they who remain 
 at their posts too generally discharge their duty; 
 still restricting ourselves to the evidence of their own 
 writers.f Vicesimus Knox, speaking of the alarm 
 occasioned by the preaching of the Methodists, assert?, 
 that "regular divines, of great virtue, learning, and 
 " apparent piety, feared to preach the Holy Ghost and 
 " his operations, the main doctrines of the gospel, lest 
 " they should countenance the Puritan, the Quaker, 
 " or the Methodist, and lose the esteem of their own 
 " order, or of the higher powers. They often con- 
 " tented themselves during a long life, with preaching 
 
 * An extract from the Earl of Harrowby's speech in the 
 House of Lords, in which the numbers are given from the 
 official return, will be found amongst the notes. 
 
 f Some remarkable concurrent information, shewing the de- 
 graded state of the London Clergy in the estimation of their 
 own parishioners, will be found in the Monthly Repositoiy of 
 Theology for March, 1819. pp. 166 171.
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 XXV 
 
 " morality only." * Bishop Horsley, in a charge to 
 his clergy, attests the same truth. " It too often hap- 
 " pens," says this prelate, " that we lose sight of that 
 " which is our proper office, to publish the word of 
 " reconciliation, to propound the terms of peace and 
 " pardon to the penitent, and we make no other use 
 " of the high commission that we bear, than to come 
 " abroad one day in the seven, dressed in solemn looks, 
 " and in the external garb of holiness, to be the apes 
 " of Epictetus."t Bishop Lavington, than whom no 
 one will be less suspected of a wish to promote enthu- 
 siasm, says, upon a similar occasion, u My brethren, 
 " I beg you will rise up with me against moral preach- 
 " ing. We have long been attempting the reform- 
 " ation of the nation by discourses of this kind. With 
 " what success ? None at all. On the contrary, 
 " we have dexterously preached the people into down- 
 " right infidelity" % " Aspiring clergymen of the 
 " church," says Dr. Knox, " wishing to avoid every 
 " doctrine which could retard their advancement, or 
 " fix a stigma of heterodoxy upon them, were very 
 " little inclined to preach the reality or necessity of 
 " divine influence." And Archdeacon Daubeny, in a 
 late tract on Schism, written under great uneasiness 
 on account of the increasing separation from the esta- 
 blished church, incautiously makes a similar concession. 
 
 * Christian Philosophy, 3rd. Edit. p. 24. 
 
 |- The Charges of Samuel Horsley, LL.D. F.R.S. F.A.S. 
 late Lord Bishop of St. Asaph. p. 7. (Primary Charge to the 
 Clergy of the Diocese of St. David's, 1790.) 
 
 J Cited in " Christian Philosophy," p. 234. Ibid. p. 23.
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 He acknowledges that there was a time, "when sound 
 " church principles did not constitute the high road 
 " to ecclesiastical preferment. It is not to he won- 
 " dered at therefore," he adds, " that those divines, 
 " who were then looking upward, should not be soli- 
 " citous to cultivate an acquaintance with that species 
 " of knowledge, which might tend only to throw 
 " stumbling blocks in their own way."* Yet this 
 writer would fain persuade us, thai; our ecclesias- 
 tical establishment " presents the best security, under 
 4< heaven, for the preservation of the true apostolical 
 " faith in this country ;"f and, with an equal appear- 
 ance of truth, asserts, that " the learning of the esta- 
 " blished clergy is the best security under heaven, 
 " for the sound interpretation of the sacred writings." I 
 It would be tedious to multiply insulated examples, 
 or to adduce individual authorities, in evidence of the 
 unfaithfulness of the church of England clergy to the 
 great cause which they have undertaken to advo- 
 cate, when the interests of that cause have been 
 thought to clash with the secular interests of the Esta- 
 blishment. They have lately discovered great alarm 
 on account of the increase of Dissenters, and, perhaps, 
 still more, on account of the increase, in their own 
 church, of those who are termed, Evangelical ministers. 
 These are such so it appears to the Editor as 
 conscientiously enforce the doctrines of the Articles 
 
 * " On the nature, progress, and consequences of Schism ; by 
 the Rev. Charles Daubeny, Archdeacon of Sarum." Rivingtons; 
 1818. p. 153. 
 
 flbid. p. 262. {Ibid. p. 126.
 
 PREFACE. xxvii 
 
 and Homilies, and who insist on the absolute necessity 
 of individual regeneration and conversion by an actual 
 experience of the operations of divine grace upon the 
 soul. These doctrines, being held by the Dissenters 
 generally, and their obvious tendency being to lessen 
 undue dependence upon human assistance and external 
 observations in religion, are now considered inimical 
 to the security of the Established Church. If indivi- 
 dual and unconnected effort alone had been made to 
 discountenance these doctrines, numerous citations or 
 reference? might have been considered necessary to 
 establish the opinion which is thus advanced $ but the 
 Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge having 
 declared its mind upon the subject, by the adoption 
 of two sermons selected from Dr. Mant's Bampton 
 Lecture of 1812, we are thereby made acquainted 
 with the sentiments of the bulk of the church of Eng- 
 land clergy; for this Society includes amongst its 
 members, all the bishops and dignified clergy and 
 some thousands of the inferior clergy of this nation, 
 and is therefore, not without some appearance of rea- 
 son, stiled, in a recent clerical publication, " the focus, 
 " in which is concentered all the zeal, discretion, and 
 " ability of the [established] church." The adoption, 
 by this Society, of these sermons, containing positions 
 in open hostility to nearly fifty of its previous publica- 
 tions ; the marked partiality which it has discovered 
 for these sermons, having made them the exclusive 
 companions of its annual report; and its pertinacious 
 retention of them upon its List, in opposition to the 
 remonstrances of several of its members; are circum-
 
 xxviii PREFACE. 
 
 stances, which give them a strong claim to our atten- 
 tion (and must apologize for the length of the follow- 
 ing extract) but which, with some others of much 
 interest and importance, cannot be insisted on here. 
 
 The sermons are entitled, " Two Discourses, intend- 
 ed to convey correct notions of Regeneration and Con- 
 version, according to the sense of Holy Scripture, and 
 of the Church of England." The following citation 
 is the unbroken summing up and conclusion of the 
 first sermon. 
 
 " Let it not be supposed that the present argument is a mere 
 question of words : far indeed, very far from it. The abuse 
 of words in this, as in many other cases, leads to material 
 errors in opinion, and to serious evils in practice. 
 
 " Let us figure to ourselves a man, educated according to 
 the principles of the Church of England, but seduced from 
 " the words of truth and soberness," which she delivers on the 
 subject of regeneration ; and enticed or terrified into the popular 
 belief that he is no Christian, and is not in a state of salvation, 
 until he feels the pangs of the modern new birth. No violence 
 will be done to nature and probability, if we suppose him 
 reasoning with himself in some such manner as the following : 
 " ' When an infant, I was baptized according to the order 
 ' of the national Church ; and the Minister pronounced by her 
 ' directions, that I was regenerated by the Holy Spirit, and 
 ' received by our most merciful Father as his own child by 
 ' adoption. As soon as I was able to learn, I was taught 
 ' what a great blessing was then conferred upon me j and that, 
 ' by having been admitted to baptism, I had been made the 
 ' child of God, and had undergone a death unto sin and a new 
 ' birth unto righteousness. When I had been sufficiently in- 
 ' structed to be confirmed by the Bishop, I heard from him a 
 ' repetition of the comfortable assurance, that God had vouch- 
 ' safed to regenerate me by water and the Holy Ghost, and 
 ' to give me forgiveness of all my sins. And I have since peri- 
 ' odically joined with my brother Christians in making our
 
 PREFACE. XXJX 
 
 ' grateful acknowledgments to Almighty God, for being regene- 
 ' rate and made his children by adoption and grace. 
 
 " ' The Church has thus uniformly instructed me to look 
 ' back upon regeneration as a thing which is past : she has 
 ' never taught me to look forward to it, as a thing which is 
 ' to come; she has never bid me desire and pray for it, as a 
 ' thing necessary ; she has never warned me to expect it, as a 
 ' thing expedient ; she has never led me to regard it, as a 
 ' thing possible. I am now however convinced, notwithstanding 
 ' her assurances, comfortable as they were, and her instructions, 
 ' sound and scriptural as they appeared to be, that Verily, 
 ' verily, I must be born again. 
 
 " ' \7hat can I think of such a Church ? can I regard her 
 ' as a pillar and ground of the truth ? can I reverence her, 
 ' who so grossly deluded me by a visionary regeneration, and 
 ' threw an impenetrable veil over that which alone is effectual ? 
 ' who taught me to think that I was in the way of salvation, 
 ' when I had not yet passed the threshold ? who made me 
 ' believe I was a child of God, when I was still a child of the 
 ' devil ? who treated me as a Christian, when I was nothing 
 ' but a " baptized heathen ?" Away with such an unscriptural 
 ' Church ! with such a mother of deceit and falsehood ! Away 
 ' with such a monster from the earth ! 
 
 " ' What too shall I think of the Minister, who instructed 
 ' me, according to the Liturgy and Articles of that Church, 
 ' of which he is too faithful a son ? He recited to me her 
 ' opinions in words of her own providing ; and he pretended 
 ' to support them from the pulpit, on the authority of the 
 ' Bible. But he is blind ; he is ignorant ; he saw for me 
 ' visions of peace, when there was no peace ; he spoke of my 
 ' having been quickened by the Holy Spirit, who had infused 
 ' into me a new principle of life, when I was still dead in tres- 
 ' passes and sins. Can such an one be a preacher of the 
 ' Gospel? 
 
 " ' What again shall I think of baptism ; of that which I 
 ' have been wont to consider as the laver of regeneration ; of 
 ' that, which I have been taught is a sacrament, consisting of 
 ' an outward visible sign, and an inward spiritual grace ? Truly 
 ' it doth not regenerate ; it conveys no effectual regeneration j 
 
 c
 
 XXX PREFACE. 
 
 ' it is destitute of an inward spiritual grace j it is no sacrament ; 
 ' it is a non-essential.' 
 
 " It will not have appeared perhaps that a syllable has been 
 here suggested, more than would probably be uttered, or than 
 probably has been in effect uttered, by persons in the situation 
 that I have supposed. And if a man can bring his mind to 
 think thus meanly of baptism, ordained as it was by Christ 
 himself, with a promise of salvation annexed to its legitimate 
 administration ; what will he think of Christ's other ordinances ? 
 what of the other sacrament, the holy communion of Christ's 
 body and blood ? If the spiritual part of baptism be denied, 
 why should the spiritual part of the communion be allowed ? 
 If water be not really the laver of regeneration, why should 
 bread and wine be spiritually the body and blood of Christ, 
 and convey strength and refreshment to the soul? Surely it is 
 not too much to affirm, that the stripping of one of God's 
 ordinances of that, which constitutes its essential value, has 
 a natural tendency to bring the efficacy of the others into ques- 
 tion, and to diminish at least, if not to annihilate, a man's 
 respect for them as means of spiritual grace. 
 
 " In this condition perhaps he will continue, sometimes exult- 
 ing in hope, and sometimes sunk in despondency ; waiting for 
 an extraordinary impulse of the Holy Spirit, and neglecting 
 the means of procuring his ordinary sanctifying graces ; until 
 the moment approach, in which, under the influence of some 
 powerful preacher, whose word is sharper than a two-edged 
 sword, he is to undergo his mysterious regeneration ; a regener- 
 ation, wherein, instead of being bom himself of water, and of 
 the Spirit, Christ is to be " born in his heart as he was born 
 in the Virgin's womb*j" a regeneration, without undergo- 
 ing the pangs of which he is taught that " he may flatter 
 '' himself that he may go to heaven, but will certainly find 
 " himself miserably mistaken in the endfj" when, having ex- 
 perienced a state of horror, agony, -and despair, which mocks 
 the language of description, and which it were too painful, if 
 it were possible, to describe ; a state of pangs and travails, 
 
 * VVhitefield's Eighteen Sermons, p. 307. 
 t Whitefield's Works, vol. i. p. 18.
 
 PREFACE. XXXI 
 
 which is necessary to be sustained by every one ere Christ be 
 formed in him ; a state, which has been compared by those who 
 have felt its horrors, to the agonies of death, the pains of hell, 
 and tortures inflicted by infuriate devils * ; he fancies that he 
 is begotten again ! that he is born of the Holy Spirit of 
 God! 
 
 " What will be the future life of a man thus regenerated, 
 I do not venture to pronounce. But in noticing some evil 
 consequences of a doctrine, which, for the spiritual grace atten- 
 dant upon the holy ordinance of Christ, substitutes a wild and 
 fanciful regeneration of man's invention, we may be allowed 
 to speculate on the effects likely to be produced in one thus 
 initiated to the new birth. To speculate, did I say, on pro- 
 bable effects ? Rather to call to mind effects which have notori- 
 ouvly ensued, and to consider whether they are not such as 
 sober reason might have foreseen. 
 
 " The history of some popular modern sects does strictly 
 tally with the expectations of reason ; and if among the rege- 
 nerated of later days, who have been thus tormented into the 
 new birth, many have subsequently been driven through every 
 species of extravagance to the very extreme of irrecoverable 
 madness f ; if many, after a temporaiy exultation in the love 
 of God shed abroad in their hearts, have relapsed into intoler- 
 able perplexities, distraction, and despair | ; if many, after 
 fancying themselves purified even as Christ is pure, have turned 
 back, and become twofold more the children of hell than 
 before ; if many, who pretended to be conformed to the 
 image of Christ, have at that very instant continued under 
 the dominion of grievous sins ; if many, who imagine them- 
 selves thoroughly renewed in the image of the meek and lowly 
 Jesus, swell with pharisaical pride, thanking God that they are 
 not as other men are ; and if almost all regard their less favour- 
 ed brethren with scorn, and say, " Stand by thyself, come 
 
 * Wesley's Journals, aiH Enthusiasm of Methodists, &c. vol. iii. p. 23, 
 and following- pag'es. 
 
 f See an instance in Wesley's Journals, No. V. p. 81. Enthusiasm of 
 Methodists, &c. vol. iii. p. 11 14. 
 
 \ Enthusiasm of Methodists, &c. vol. ii. p. 3, 140. 
 
 Wesley's Farther Appeal, p. 130.
 
 XXXli PREFACE. 
 
 " not near to me, for I am holier than thou;" and condemn 
 those who admit not their pretensions, and discountenance their 
 conceits, as unconverted unregenerate sinners ; it is no more 
 than might have been expected from men, who depreciate God's 
 holy ordinance, deny its sanctifying efficacy, and convert the 
 workings of a feverish brain, or the impulse of visionary feel- 
 ings, into the operation of the Spirit of truth. 
 
 " Such a doctrine the Enthusiast may teach, and the deluded 
 multitude may follow. But it was a very different regeneration, 
 for which Paul prepared the Gentiles, when he was sent to 
 " open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, 
 " and from the power of Satan unto God;" and it was a very 
 different vision to which he was obedient, when he repelled 
 the charge of insanity by speaking forth the words of truth 
 and soberness ; and forced from the royal Jew that memorable 
 and disinterested confession, " Almost thou persuadest me to 
 " be a Christian." 
 
 . " Now unto God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, 
 three persons in the unity of one Godhead, be all honour and 
 glory for ever. Amen." 
 
 A very short extract from the second Sermon shall 
 suffice. 
 
 " The doctrine of conversion, as it is delivered by some of 
 our modern sectaries, is so much at variance with the more sober, 
 more rational, and (I trust) more evangelical doctrine of the 
 national clergy ; and it is so vehemently enforced as absolutely 
 necessary to salvation, and the preaching of it is represented 
 as so indispensable a criterion of the preaching of the Gos- 
 pel * , that it requires to be carefully examined ; and it is so 
 closely connected, and by some persons so thoroughly identified 
 with regeneration, which was examined in the preceding discourse, 
 that it naturally presents itself for the subject of our present 
 reflections." p. 56. 
 
 "Every unbeliever and every sinner, although made by 
 
 baptism a member of Christ and a child of God, must be, in a 
 certain sense, converted, if he would ultimately succeed to his 
 
 * See Whitefield's Eighteen Sermons, p. 130
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 inheritance of the kingdom of heaven. But to fancy, that every 
 Christian whatever must experience a conversion in order to be. 
 in a state of salvation; to assert, with the Arminian Founder 
 of Methodism, that "he who knows no time, when he had 
 " need of such a vast and mighty change as a change from dark- 
 " ness to light, from the power of Satan unto God, from death 
 " unto life, may by this also know, if he give himself leave to 
 " think, that he is not born of the Spirit, that he has never 
 " yet known God, but has mistaken the voice of nature for the 
 "voice of God*:" to suppose, with his Calvinistic competi- 
 tor, " that in every Christian congregation there are two sorts 
 " of people, some that know Christ, and some that do not 
 " know him, some that are converted, and some that are 
 "strangers to conversion f ;" and to assert that "every per- 
 " son must be converted or be damned, and that they who 
 " die in an unconverted state must be damned for ever J :" 
 to contend, as is stated to be the opinion of our self-denomi- 
 nated evangelical brethren by their Apologist, that " in order 
 " to a state of salvation, a change of mind, of views, and 
 " dispositions must be effected in every person, wherever born, 
 "however educated, or of whatever external conduct :" 
 this is a conceit which revelation warrants not, and which 
 reason and experience disclaim, p. 60. 
 
 It must be acknowledged, that the Office of Bap- 
 tism, and the Catechism of the Church of England, 
 wherein the members of that church, at an early 
 and unreflecting age, are taught to believe, that by 
 undergoing the ceremony of baptism, they were made 
 " members of Christ, children of God, and inheritors 
 " of the kingdom of heaven," afford too much support 
 to the opinions which are advanced in these sermons j 
 yet it is notorious, that the undue importance, which 
 
 * Wesley's Sermons, rol i. p. 157. 
 
 f Whitefield's Works, vol. v. p 338. 
 
 t Wliitefield's Eighteen Sermons, p. 124, 292. 
 
 Orei-ton's True Churchman, &.c. p. 160,
 
 XXXIV PREFACE. 
 
 our first reformers, emerging from the darkness of po- 
 pery, attached to this ordinance, had been long upon the 
 decline; and no further proof can be wanting to esta- 
 blish this assertion, than that at the time when the 
 Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge adopted 
 these Discourses, which maintain the invariable con- 
 nexion of baptism and regeneration, it had upon its. 
 List between forty and fifty publications which expli- 
 citly teach the contrary doctrine. When, however, 
 it is thought proper, for the reasons before mentioned, 
 to revive the importance of ceremonies, it cannot, 
 after the information which respectable writers of their 
 own communion have given us, be cause of surprise, 
 that many of the clergy who are in a dependent sta- 
 tion should follow the example which has thus been 
 set them. Some of these, possessing more of the 
 " zeal" than of the " discretion and ability of the 
 church," may perhaps be thought to have exceeded 
 their commission. One of them assures us that "bap- 
 " tism is the Jordan in which alone the leper may 
 " wash and be clean : it is the sign or seal, without 
 " which no engagements on the part of the Almighty, 
 " to regenerate our nature, and to adopt us into the 
 " family of heaven, can be ratified or confirmed."* 
 
 * " A Sermon preached at the Visitation of the Right Wor- 
 shipful Charles Baillie, M. A. held at Thirsk, July 10, 1816. 
 With copious notes : In which is demonstrated, on the broadest 
 and most fundamental principles of the Christian Faith, that 
 the full power of remitting or retaining Sins, and of dispensing 
 Absolution, is an essential prerogative of the Christian Priest- 
 hood. By the Rev. John Oxlee, Rector of Scawton, &c. 
 Rivingtonsj 1819." p. 14.
 
 PREFACE. xxxv 
 
 In the same discourse, the author asserts, that "as 
 
 " there is no other name given whereby we must 
 
 " be saved than that of Christ, so neither is there 
 
 " any other hand ordained from which we can obtain 
 
 " the smallest pledge or assurance of grace than that 
 
 " of the minister."* Another speaks of baptism, as that 
 
 " sacred rite, in which every true, spiritual member 
 
 " of the church believes, that he was pardoned, justi- 
 
 " fied, sanctified, glorified"^ Yet this preacher, a few 
 
 pages further on, informs us, that a man's being " a 
 
 " real and not a nominal Christian, will be in exact | 
 
 " proportion to the intellectual improvement, that he 
 
 "has received in education." $ Whether these are to |. &** 
 
 * Ibid. p. 11. 
 
 f " The Churchman dissuaded from becoming a member of 
 the Bible Society. And the extent defended, to which edu- 
 cation is carried in the Schools of our Church: A Sermon, 
 preached at Bridgwater, before the District Committee of the 
 Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, on Friday, the 
 6th of September, 1816. By John Matthew, M. A. Rector 
 of Kilve and Stringston, &c. Rivingtons; 1817." p. 10. 
 
 f Ibid. p. 28. This writer, to his palpable ignorance of 
 spiritual things ; to his unacquaintance with the Homilies of 
 his own church if we may be allowed to judge from his oppo- 
 sition to their doctrines and to his inconsistency, for all of 
 which he may perhaps plead the authority of some of his supe- 
 riors, adds an unusual proportion of virulent malevolence and 
 gross misrepresentation. He has dedicated this disgraceful effu- 
 sion less injurious to those whom he calumniates, than to 
 his own character and to the cause which he has attempted 
 to advocate to his Diocesan, without having obtained from 
 him, so far as appears, either censure or disapprobation. Two 
 clergymen, S. Haddock, late curate of Long Sutton, and 
 G, Bugg, late curate of Lutterworth, have been recently dis-
 
 XXXvi PREFACE. 
 
 be reckoned amongst the clergymen, who, as Arch- 
 deacon Daubeny happily expresses it, are " looking 
 upward," the Editor will not decide. 
 
 The Editor cannot but consider it to be owing to 
 the singular providence of God, that the Scriptures 
 are at this time put in such general circulation, and 
 so much zeal excited to enable all classes to read them. 
 That the anti-evangelical doctrines of the day should 
 be promulgated in the face may it not be said, in 
 defiance of the New Testament, would afford just 
 cause of surprise, if the precious volume consisted 
 of the Epistle to the Galatians alone : but how they 
 can be blazoned abroad, without a blush, in opposition 
 to the tenor of the united Old and New Testaments, 
 is truly astonishing ; and as it will probably be scarcely 
 credited hereafter, so at present it constitutes one of 
 the most alarming " signs of the times." Are the 
 ministers of the glorious Gospel, at this time of day, 
 to be informed, that the kingdom of Christ, even in 
 
 missed from their respective curacies by the Bishop of Lincoln : 
 the former appears, even from the nature of the charges which 
 are brought against him, to have been a conscientious diligent 
 preacher ; no specific accusation is brought against the latter, 
 but the part which he has taken in the Baptismal Controversy 
 is well known, being the author of a tract entitled, " Spiritual 
 Regeneration not necessarily connected with Baptism," &c. 
 The " Farewell Sermons" of these clergymen, published by 
 Seeley, Fleet-Street, are interesting performances ; and, with 
 the two Discourses just before mentioned, (by J. Oxlee and 
 J. Matthew,) which are particularly recommended to the read- 
 er's notice, may also be useful to those, whose peculiar interest 
 it may be considered, to ascertain, what principles, at the present 
 day, " constitute the high road to ecclesiastical preferment."
 
 PREFACE. XXXVii 
 
 this world, is a spiritual kingdom, consisting not in 
 meats, and drinks, and washings, but in righteousness, 
 peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost ? Have they yet 
 to learn the inward and spiritual nature of the bap- 
 tism and supper of Christ ? and that notwithstanding 
 the solemnity and precision with which the rites and 
 sacrifices were instituted under the Mosaic law a 
 solemnity and precision which we look for in vain in 
 the establishment (should we even admit the establish- 
 ment) of infant-baptism, now so unduly extolled 
 these rites and sacrifices were but of small importance 
 when brought into competition with the unchangeable 
 obligations of morality and purity of heart; the love 
 of God and of our neighbour ? It is not possible that 
 the blood of bulls and goats should take away sin; 
 nor that outward ordinances should make him that 
 does the service perfect as pertaining to the conscience. 
 To effect this great and indispensable work, the Jews 
 under the law had the word nigh -in the heart and 
 mouth,* the word which Paul preached,f as well as 
 we ; the same spiritual baptism and communion, the 
 same spiritual meat and drink ; for they drank of 
 that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that 
 Rock was Christ.! The Lord delighteth in loving- 
 kindness, judgment, and righteousness ; and, as if 
 in abhorrence of the idea that the people formerly, to 
 whom they were so strictly enjoined, were to be 
 made perfect by external observances, declares by his 
 
 * Deut. xxx. 11 14. f Rom. x. 5 8. 
 
 J 1 Cor. x. 24. Jer. ix. 24.
 
 XXXVlii PREFACE. 
 
 prophet Jeremiah, with a boldness of language not 
 allowable to man, " I spake NOT unto your fathers, 
 " nor commanded them in the day that I brought them 
 " out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings 
 " or sacrifices : but this thing commanded I them, 
 " saying, OBEY MY VOICE."* 
 
 Perhaps the Editor ought to apologize for this di- 
 gression; and the more, as the day for argument 
 appears to him to be nearly gone by, and a certain 
 fearful looking for of judgment to have taken its place. 
 To conclude this branch of his subject therefore, he 
 will proceed briefly to inquire, Vice having gained 
 ground, and the appointed officers having so generally 
 shewn themselves treacherous and inefficient, what 
 has the civil magistrate done to prevent or to remedy 
 the notorious and acknowledged failure of his professed 
 design in the establishment of religion ? Has he dis- 
 covered the same diligence in this as in other depart- 
 ments of his office? Has he kept his eye steadily 
 fixed upon the accomplishment of his object, carefully 
 marked every danger which threatened it, and provided 
 a remedy with a zeal proportioned to its importance 
 and the awful responsibility which he has incurred? 
 If measures which respect the national security or the 
 revenue prove inefficient, or the officers employed in 
 the services connected with these, discover either un- 
 faithfulness to their trust, or incompetence, we know 
 with what alacrity changes are made and defects sup- 
 
 * Jer. vii. 22, 23. See also, 1 Sam. xv. 22. Psalm xl. 68 
 li. 16, 17; and Rom. ii. 28, 29.
 
 PREFACE. XXXIX 
 
 plied ; and how many painful hours are annually spent 
 in providing for concerns of a civil nature. Has this 
 most important of all concerns obtained a proportionate 
 degree of attention ? The question may be avoided 
 now; but, ere long, an answer must be given at the 
 tribunal of a jealous God. " I would only ask," says 
 Lord Bacon, " why the civil state should be purged 
 " and restored by good and wholesome laws, made 
 " every third or fourth year in parliament assembled ; 
 " devising remedies as fast as time breedeth mischief; 
 " and contrariwise, the ecclesiastical state should still 
 " continue upon the dregs of time, and receive no 
 " alteration now for these five and forty years and 
 
 " more. If St. John were to indite an epistle to 
 
 " v the church of England, as he did to them of Asia, 
 " it would sure have the clause, habeo adversus te 
 " pauca."* This complaint has acquired accumulated 
 force by the additional lapse of more than two hundred 
 years. Yet, in the place of amendment, every suc- 
 cessive monarch of these realms, at his coronation, 
 pledges himself before the Almighty, that he will main- 
 tain and preserve inviolably, the worship, government, 
 and settlement of this church as by law established, f 
 
 * " The Works of Francis Bacon, Baron of Verulam, &c." 
 Edit. 1803. vol. 2, p. 527. In this paper, which is entitled, 
 " Certain Considerations touching the better Pacification and 
 Edification of the Church of England," the sagacious author 
 recommends " a return unto the ancient bounds of unity in the 
 " church of God ; which was, one faith, one baptism ; and 
 " not, one hierarchy, one discipline." 
 
 fAs an opinion may be entertained, that some relaxation of 
 the obligations of the coronation-oath would be admitted, if this
 
 X J PREFACE. 
 
 Notwithstanding, however, the apparent security 
 and stability, which may be derived to human esta- 
 blishments of religion from legislative enactments, some 
 of those who are the most interested in the continu- 
 ance of these establishments, are now contemplating 
 the near approach of considerable changes ; and al- 
 though the prevalence of these apprehensions is, as it 
 may be thought, sufficiently shewn in the latter part 
 of this volume, it appears desirable that the former 
 part should not be perused without some evidence of 
 their existence. 
 
 were to come before Parliament for discussion in the present 
 day, the fifth Article of the Act of Union with Ireland will 
 convince us that, at a very recent period, nothing less than 
 the perpetuity of the Church of England was intended by 
 our legislature. 
 
 39th and 40th G. 3. "c. 67. " That it be the fifth Article of 
 " Union, that the Churches of England and Ireland, as now 
 " by law established, be united into one Protestant Episcopal 
 " Church, to be called, The United Church of England and 
 " Ireland ; and that the doctrine, worship, discipline, and 
 " government of the said United Church shall be, and shall 
 " remain in full force FOR EVER, as the same are now by 
 " law established for the Church of England ; and that the 
 " continuance and preservation of the said United Church, as 
 " the Established Church of England and Ireland, shall be 
 " deemed and taken to be an essential and fundamental part of 
 " the Union ; and that in like manner the doctrine, worship, 
 " discipline, and government of the Church of Scotland, shall 
 " remain and be preserved as the same are now established by 
 " Law, and by the Acts of the Union of the two Kingdoms 
 " of England and Scotland."
 
 PREFACE. X li 
 
 Dr. Howley, the present bishop of London, in a late 
 Charge to his clergy, expresses himself as follows. 
 
 ft During the greater part of the last century, there had been 
 little perceptible change in the aspect of public affairs, as con- 
 nected with the interests of the Church. The current, with 
 slight fluctuations, had continued to flow in the same channel 
 and on a level nearly the same. The controversies, which 
 occasionally arose, were settled by the learned in their closets j 
 and the "few questions which excited an ebullition of popular 
 feeling, like the storm that passes away, could inspire no 
 serious alarm ; since in the final appeal to the bar of reason 
 and truth, a Church, pre-eminent in ability and learning, and 
 strong in the goodness of its cause, had reasonable assurance 
 of success. The growth of new opinions, the progress of 
 rising sects, were regarded with jealousy, as pregnant with 
 future mischiefs, yet without exciting apprehension for the 
 stability of our ecclesiastical establishments. But now, ALL IS 
 CHANGED : it is our lot to have fallen on days of innovation 
 and trouble : the political character of the age has produced an 
 alteration in the circumstances of the country, and an agitation 
 in the public mind, affecting the Church as well as the State, 
 which, under the guidance of wisdom and probity, may tend to 
 the increase of true religion and virtue, but, if left to the direc- 
 tion of chance or of folly, will terminate in ruin and confu- 
 sion." * 
 
 Richard Yates, author of a work entitled " The 
 Church in Danger," and at whose suggestion, the 
 remedial plan, proposed in that work, of increasing 
 the number of places for the established worship, ap- 
 pears to have been adopted, has the following pas- 
 sage. 
 
 " With every real Christian it is an unshaken and acknow- 
 ledged conviction, requiring no other illustration than is afforded 
 
 * " A Charge delivered to the Clergy of the Diocese of London, at th 
 Visitation in July and August 1818. By William, Lord Bishop of London. 
 Rivingtous. 1818." p. 7.
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 by Scripture and the experience of our own times, That a 
 negligent disregard of Gospel Truths and a practical renunci- 
 ation of Christianity by a large portion of its nominal profes- 
 sors, must be followed by the most disastrous consequences, 
 and open the way to one of those dire Catastrophes, by which, 
 under the moral government of Providence, a profane contempt 
 of the Divine Authority, and the general prevalence of a 
 profligate infidelity, are permitted to punish themselves. 
 
 " ON THE VERGE OF SUCH A PRECIPICE WE 
 ARE NOW STANDING. 
 
 " Wise, comprehensive, and truly Christian measures can 
 alone rescue us from an Abyss of Anarchy , of Political 
 Devastation, and of Individual Misery ; the approaches to which 
 cannot but be seen, and indeed are strongly and awfully marked, 
 in the present circumstances of most of our populous districts, 
 and particularly of the British Metropolis."* 
 
 Nor will the following Extract, (out of many of the 
 same nature which might be made) from the British 
 Critic, be considered insignificant, even after the pre- 
 ceding high authorities, by those who are acquainted 
 with the character of that publication. 
 
 " While many a gloomy cloud is gathering in the religious 
 atmosphere, and even those who have long smiled at the idea 
 that the Church [of England] was in danger, are now aware 
 of the impending tempest ; it is satisfactory to observe, that 
 the sense of her peril, which has awakened the fears, has also 
 excited the vigilance and activity of her sons j and to find in 
 every quarter a zeal for our holy faith, and a spirit in defending 
 it, beginning to shew themselves, which may yet, by the 
 blessing of Providence, avert the storm ; or at least enable us 
 to sustain its fury without utter destruction."^ 
 
 * " The Church in Dang-er: A Statement of the cause, and of the pro. 
 bable means of averting- that Danger attempted; In a Letter to the Rig-lit 
 Honourable Earl of Liverpool, &c. By the Rev. Richard Y'ates, B. D. 
 F. S. A. &.c. Rivingtons j 1815 " p. 88. 
 
 t British Critic, March 1819. p. 305.
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 Whatever difference of opinion may exist among 
 us, as to the proximity of great and important changes, 
 we are not left at liberty to question, that these will 
 eventually take place. The present disordered state 
 of the world, so disgraceful to the divine government, 
 is not always to continue. The carnal wisdom and 
 selfish policy of man, estranged from God, have had a 
 long reign, and have too generally influenced the 
 conduct of persons in authority, to the neglect of the 
 simple and unsophisticated injunctions of Him, whom 
 we call our Lord and Master. It may be questioned 
 whether this wisdom, which " descendeth not from 
 above," but which, we are told, " is earthly, sensual, 
 and devilish," can direct us to the discovery of mea- 
 sures the best adapted for the attainment of national 
 prosperity and happiness ; yet supposing it competent 
 to the discovery of these measures, the selfishness and 
 corrupt propensities of our nature oppose a formidable 
 barrier to their practical efficiency and success. It 
 is true, that no principle of civil government nor any 
 maxim of political economy, however plausible and 
 imposing, ought to be acted upon, further than it is 
 found to harmonize with the tenor and spirit of the 
 Gospel; the honour of God, and the sincere and cor- 
 dial love of our fellow-men : but what reason have 
 we to expect the disinterestedness and self-denial ne- 
 cessary to insure this result, without the general pre- 
 valence of individual reformation and obedience to the 
 precepts of the Gospel? The press teems with publi- 
 cations ; we are alarmed by the intemperate efforts 
 of the political empiric, and oppressed by the unceas-
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 ing speculations of the intelligent and the humane; 
 yet disorder and misery increase. We are wearied in 
 the " devices of our own hearts," but, " the counsel 
 of the Lord, that shall stand;"* and it would be well 
 if now, weary and heavy laden as we are, we would 
 come unto Him, who alone can give us rest. Let us 
 no longer deceive ourselves with the vain expectation, 
 that the Lord will give his glory to another, or his 
 praise to graven images; or that true prosperity and 
 happiness, either individual or national, can ever be 
 attained, without taking His yoke upon us and learn- 
 ing of Him, who declared himself to be " meek and 
 lowly in heart." " Make the tree good," said our 
 blessed Redeemer, in the beautiful simplicity of hea- 
 venly wisdom, and its fruit will be good : although 
 it send out its boughs unto the sea and its branches 
 unto the river, throughout its most extended ramifi- 
 cations the fruit will never disgrace the parent stock : 
 " glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, good 
 will toward men," will still designate and stamp its 
 high original ; for, as " a corrupt tree bringeth forth 
 evil," and " cannot bring forth good, fruit," so " a 
 good tree bringeth forth good," and " cannot bring 
 forth evil, fruit." 
 
 This general prevalence of the spirit of the gospel 
 of peace, producing a conduct in strict conformity to 
 its precepts, will, we are assured, eventually take 
 place. The present disordered state of human affairs 
 will be overruled to the glory of God and the un- 
 
 * Prov. xix. 21. 
 
 '
 
 PREFACE. x l v 
 
 speakable happiness of his creatures. The time must 
 arrive, when, " a King shall reign in righteousness 
 "and princes shall rule in judgment;" when, "the 
 " government shall be upon His shoulder," whose 
 name is " Wonderful, Counsellor, the Prince of 
 " Peace ; of the increase of whose government and 
 " peace there shall be no end." Injustice and oppres- 
 sion must cease from the earth; ambition shall not 
 prevail with the rulers, nor pleasure or gain with the 
 people, to interrupt the general harmony. The Scrip- 
 tures abound with assurances to this effect. In the 
 book of Daniel, to mention one prophecy out of many, 
 the Almighty has condescended to favour us with a 
 general view of that succession of empire in which 
 his church is peculiarly interested, and of the ultimate 
 triumph and establishment of this, over all the king- 
 doms of the world. In the interpretation of the dream 
 of Nebuchadnezzar, the prophet, after speaking of 
 the four great empires which should successively arise, 
 represented in the vision by a colossal image com- 
 posed of four different metals, proceeds to speak of 
 another kingdom to be set up in the latter days. This 
 kingdom is typified by " a stone cut out without 
 " hands, which smote the image upon his feet that 
 " were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces. 
 " Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, 
 " and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became 
 " like the chaff of the summer threshing floors ; and 
 " the wind carried them away, that no place was found 
 " for them : and the stone that smote the image be-
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 " came a great mountain, and filled the whole earth."* 
 This is explained to signify, that " in the days of 
 " these kings shall the God of heaven set up a king- 
 " dom, which shall never be destroyed : and the king- 
 " dom shall not be left to other people, but it shall 
 " break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and 
 " it shall stand for ever."f 
 
 This kingdom, of the Almighty's own establish- 
 ment, is more explicitly spoken of in a subsequent 
 vision; in which, after describing the same empires, 
 the Assyrian, the Medo-Persian, the Grecian, and the 
 Roman, as they had been exhibited to him under the 
 symbolical appearance of four great beasts, the inspired 
 prophet thus proceeds. 
 
 " I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the 
 " Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white 
 " as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure 
 " wool : his throne was like the fiery flame, and his 
 " wheels as burning fire. A fiery stream issued and 
 " came forth from before him : thousand thousands 
 " ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten 
 " thousand stood before him : the judgment was set, 
 
 " and the books were opened. 1 saw in the night 
 
 " visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came 
 " with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient 
 fs of days, and they brought him near before him. 
 " And there was given him dominion, and glory, and 
 " a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages 
 " should serve him : his dominion is an everlasting 1 
 
 * Dan. ii. 34, 35. t Ibid, verse 44.
 
 PREFACE. xlv'li 
 
 " dominion, which shall not pass away, and his king- 
 " dom that which shall not be destroyed. 
 
 " I, Daniel, was grieved in my spirit in the midst 
 " of my body, and the visions of my head troubled 
 " me. I came near unto one of them that stood by, 
 " and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me, 
 " and made me know the interpretation of the things. 
 " These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, 
 " which shall arise out of the earth j but the saints 
 " of the Most High shall take the kingdom, and 
 " possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and 
 " ever- 
 
 " Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, 
 " which was diverse from all the others, exceeding 
 " dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and his nails 
 " of brass ; which devoured, brake in pieces, and 
 " stamped the residue with his feet ; and of the ten 
 " horns that were in his head ; and of the other which 
 " came up, and before whom three fell; even of that 
 " horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very 
 " great things, whose look was more stout than his 
 " fellows. I beheld, and the same horn made war 
 " with the saints, and prevailed against them, until 
 " the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given 
 " to the saints of the Most High, and the time came 
 (( that the saints possessed the kingdom. Thus he said, 
 " The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon 
 " earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, 
 " and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread 
 (f it down, and break it in pieces. And the ten horns 
 " out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise :
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 " and another shall arise after them : and he shall 
 " be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three 
 " kings. And he shall speak great words against 
 " the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of 
 " the Most High, and think to change times and 
 " laws : and they shall be given into his hand until 
 " a time, and times, and the dividing of time. But 
 " the judgment shall sit; and they shall take away 
 " his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the 
 " end. And the kingdom and dominion, and the 
 " greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, 
 " shall be given to the people of the saints of the 
 " Most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting king- 
 " dom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him."* 
 
 This is not the place to notice the wonderful agree- 
 ment between the , prophecies of Daniel and John, 
 which tend so much to illustrate each other; nor can 
 there be any occasion to adduce further evidence of 
 truths so generally diffused throughout the sacred re- 
 cords, as that, " the kingdoms of this world must 
 " become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ ;" 
 that, " the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the 
 " Lord as the waters cover the sea ;" that, " in the last 
 " days, the mountain of the Lord's house shall be esta- 
 " blished in the lop of the mountains, and shall be 
 " exalted above the hills, and all nations shall flow unto 
 " it." Even they who are slow of heart to believe 
 what the ancient prophets and holy men of later time 
 have spoken, declaratory of these truths, must feel 
 
 * Dan. vii. 927.
 
 PREFACE. xlix 
 
 themselves overwhelmed with the testimonies, that this 
 blessed and glorious state of human affairs, so exult- 
 ingly anticipated, must indeed be realized. " The 
 " mouth of the Lord hath spoken it ;" " The zeal 
 " of the Lord of hosts will perform this ;" " I, the 
 " Lord, will hasten it in his time;" are expressions, 
 which contain a sufficient pledge for the accomplish- 
 ment of these prophecies, however it may be opposed 
 to human probabilities. Four of the kingdoms, spoken 
 of by the prophet Daniel, have already appeared, in, 
 the order predicted, and with an astonishing coincidence 
 of circumstances, which could be alone foreknown to 
 an all-knowing God. What stronger ground of confi- 
 dence can we desire ; can we possess ; that the fifth 
 shall appear also? that kingdom which is be to set up 
 by the God of heaven in the latter days ; which shall 
 be taken by the saints of the Most High, who are 
 to possess it for ever, even for ever and ever? For 
 the accomplishment of this event, we may repose in 
 the most confident security, in the most unshaken as- 
 surance. 
 
 The Editor cannot but feel some degree of regret, 
 that he has detained the reader so long: yet he has 
 studied conciseness, and has not seen how to do justice 
 to his views, within narrower limits : references to 
 authors might, in some instances, have been substituted 
 for extracts from them; but he had cause to believe 
 that, by the adoption of that method, some of those 
 persons in whose hands this book is intended to be 
 placed, would have remained strangers to the senti- 
 ments which it appeared important to lay before them.
 
 1 PREFACE. 
 
 It remains, in conclusion, to make a few miscella- 
 neous observations in reference to this Compilation. 
 A few of the Extracts from the writings of Friends 
 are printed from Manuscripts. Of these, two have 
 already appeared in print: one of them, a letter of 
 Mary Peisley, is adverted to in a note ; the letter from 
 John Thorp is inserted in Kendall's Collection, but the 
 Manuscript appeared to be a more correct copy : the 
 other Manuscripts, under the names of Sophia Hume, 
 Samuel Fothergill, Robert Walker, and Job Scott, he 
 believes are generally in the possession of those who 
 collect papers of that description. The reader will 
 observe that the " Extracts," generally, are of various 
 character and pretensions, and that although some of 
 the writers lay claim to a considerable degree of spiri- 
 tual necessity for the communication of their senti- 
 ments and prospects, this is not the case with others : 
 and it may also be remarked, that whereas there are, 
 in the writings of Friends, several prophetic declara- 
 tions referring to the plague and fire in London, which 
 happened in the years 1665 and 1666, some declarations, 
 \vhich the reader may consider to belong to that class 
 and to have received their accomplishment in those 
 signal calamities, may have been inadvertently inserted 
 in this Collection : he is requested to exercise his own 
 judgment in the proper discrimination. The Editor 
 has been careful to mention the edition from which 
 the citations arc taken : where the date was wanting, 
 it has been supplied from Whiting's Catalogue. The 
 orthography in some of the earlier works, and a few 
 grammatical inaccuracies, have been corrected ; and 
 the liberty has also been occasionally taken, to dis-
 
 PREFACE. 11 
 
 tinguish some striking words or passages by a different 
 character. The reader needs not to be informed, that 
 it is possible, by partial quotations, to make a writer 
 appear to hold opinions very different from his true 
 meaning : the Extracts in this volume are generally 
 of such length as to preclude misrepresentation; yet 
 the reader would do well to refer to the originals, 
 when it may conveniently be done, particularly in the 
 notes: the Editor is satisfied that his intention would 
 often be better served, were the author's sentiments 
 more fully given : this, his limits would not permit. 
 He would also caution some of his readers, whilst he 
 hopes that the caution is superfluous, against enter- 
 taining the notion, that he has raked together all 
 that he could meet with to favour an hypothesis. The 
 work is, strictly, a Selection; and he might, with less 
 labour, have made it twice, or even thrice its present 
 size. It is not at all probable that he has always made 
 the most judicious choice; and it would afford him 
 much satisfaction to find that better qualified persons 
 have turned their attention to the subject. He has 
 no doubt but a short time will bring these writings, 
 those of an early date in particular, into more general 
 notice; and he is of the opinion, that when the 
 now -impending trial shall actually arrive, the circu- 
 lation of a judicious selection from them would be 
 singularly useful: the advice which they contain is 
 truly excellent, and pertinent to the awful circum- 
 stances which they anticipate. Such a Selection might 
 serve to convince many of the correctness of the opi- 
 nion, uniformly held by our Society, That in addition 
 to open immorality and profaneness, the Lord hath
 
 \\{ PREFACE. 
 
 other grounds of controversy with this nation ; and 
 this opinion could not fail of acquiring strength from 
 the undeniable evidence which would accompany it, 
 that by many of this Society, from its infancy to the 
 present time, the storm was clearly foreseen, when 
 there were few besides who could discover any thing 
 in the distant prospect but security and peace. 
 
 There is still one other point, on which the Editor 
 thinks he shall be better satisfied with saying a few 
 words. The following sheets were printed off in the 
 latter end of the last year, 1818; and the delay, which 
 has taken place in completing the work, although 
 well intended, he has since been convinced was deter- 
 mined on without due consideration. When he had 
 discovered his error, he was, for a long time, dis- 
 qualified for proceeding ; and he has now performed 
 with difficulty that, which if done in the right time, 
 would have been accomplished, if he may be permitted 
 to judge by the preceding part of this engagement, 
 with ease, as well as with a greater degree of satis- 
 faction. If this acknowledgment shall be the means of 
 exciting more caution and watchfulness in others, as 
 he trusts the instruction which it has afforded will not 
 be wholly lost upon himself, he will think himself 
 sufficiently compensated for the exposure to which he 
 thus renders himself liable, and, to which, notwith- 
 standing his love of privacy and his endeavours to 
 preserve it, he cannot but anticipate he may eventually 
 be subjected. 
 
 Ninth Month, 1819.
 
 Corrigenda et Addenda. 
 
 page 158, line 21 for 8th, read 6th. 
 213, 16 for wrath, read -wroth. 
 
 232, 6 for then, read than. 
 
 323, 2 from bottom and elsewhere, for Porteous, read 
 
 Porteus. 
 344, 8 for Brittanica, read Britannica. 
 
 350, 11 for Millner, read Milner. 
 
 It may be information to some readers to state, that the 
 fourth Lateran Council, from the decrees of which an extract 
 is given at p. 350, was held in the year 1215, under Pope 
 Innocent III. and that it was an Oecumenical or General Council. 
 
 At p. 410, an extract is given from a tract entitled, f( A brief 
 Confutation of the errors of the Church of Rome." It would 
 be more correct, if Bishop Porteus had not been mentioned as 
 the Author of that book; as this prelate states it to have been 
 extracted by him from Archbishop Seeker's five Sermons against 
 Popery. It may also be noticed here, that after the quotation 
 from that tract, the Vlth Article of the Church of England 
 ought to have been introduced $ and the reader is requested to 
 make a reference from p. 410 to this page, that the subjoined 
 extract from that Article may be read in connexion with that 
 quotation. 
 
 VI. " Holy Scripture containeth all things necessary to Sal- 
 " vation : so that whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be 
 " proved thereby, is not to be required of any man, that it 
 " should be believed as an article of the faith, or be thought 
 " requisite or necessary to salvation."
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Page 
 
 George Fox 1 
 
 Richard Farnworth . . 3 
 Francis Howgill . . . . 5 
 William Dewsbury . . 17 
 James Parnel . . . . . . 24 
 
 John Camm 26 
 
 John Audland . . . . 27 
 Richard Hubberthorn . . 28 
 Thomas Taylor . . .. 29 
 Edward Burroughs . . 35 
 William Bayly . . . . 59 
 George Fox, the younger 72 
 Laurence Willyer . . . . 81 
 George Whitehead . . . . 82 
 Thomas Ellwood . . . . 86 
 William Smith . . . . 87 
 Isaac Penington . . . . 89 
 John Whitehead . . . . 132 
 
 Joseph Coale 134 
 
 John Crook . . . , . . 137 
 
 Luke Howard 142 
 
 Katharine Evans .. ..144 
 Christopher Bacon . . . . 146 
 
 John Gibson 1 47 
 
 Morgan Watkins .. .. 152 
 
 Josiah Coale 154 
 
 Ambrose Rigge . . . . 155 
 
 Stephen Crisp 1 65 
 
 Thomas Ollive . . . . 1 74 
 
 Daniel Roe 177 
 
 Charles Marshall . . ..179 
 Robert Barclay .. ..187 
 Richard Samble .. ..189 
 Richard Moore . 191 
 
 Page 
 
 William Penn 193 
 
 Margaret Fox 204 
 
 Elizabeth Stirredge . . 205 
 William Bingley .. ..206 
 
 James Parke 208 
 
 James Dickinson .. ..216 
 John Fothergill ^'': ..217 
 Thomas Rudd .. ..218 
 
 David Hall 219 
 
 William Edmundson .. 220 
 Isaac Alexander . . . . 221 
 Thomas Wilson .. ..222 
 William Hornold . . . . 
 Joseph Welsh .. ..223 
 Susannah Saunders, . . . 
 Stephen Manning . . . . 224 
 Richard Ransom . . . . 
 Margaret Fothergill . . 225 
 Tobias Edwards . . . . 
 Jeremiah Waring . . . . 
 Samuel Waring . . . . 226 
 John Barcroft . . . . 
 Ann Mercy Bell .. ..230 
 
 MaryPeisley 231 
 
 Sophia Hume 233 
 
 John Rutty 
 
 John Churchman . . . . 237 
 Samuel Fothergill .. ..241 
 JohnWoolman .. ..242 
 
 John Thorp 243 
 
 Catherine Phillips . . . . 244 
 Robert Walker .. ..245 
 Job Scott ..246
 
 INDEX. lv 
 
 Appendix. 
 
 Page 
 
 Proclamation ; William III 255 
 
 Anne 
 
 George III 256 
 
 Archdeacon Hook 257 
 
 Dr. Burnet, Bishop of Sarum 258 
 
 David Simpson, A. M. 267 
 
 Dr. Watson, Bishop of Landaff ' Vi I. ; .'^"':. .. 278 
 
 Jeremy Bentham, A. M 286 
 
 Archdeacon Blackburn 290 
 
 Dr. Hoadly, Bishop of Bangor 292 
 
 William Wilberforce .. .. 299 
 
 Dr Lowth, [Bishop of London] 305 
 
 Sir Isaac Newton 310 
 
 Dr. Home, [Bishop of Norwich] 312 
 
 Dr. Newton, Bishop of Bristol 317 
 
 David Hartley, M. A 319 
 
 Dr. Hurd, [Bishop of Worcester] 323 
 
 Dr. Porteus, Bishop of London 
 
 Nicholas Vansittart 326 
 
 Thomas Hartley, M. A 328 
 
 Granville Penn 330 
 
 Claudius Buchanan, D. D 332 
 
 George Stanley Faber, B. D 
 
 Dr. Horsley, Bishop of Rochester 333 
 
 William Cuninghame 334 
 
 NOTES page 341.
 
 ."1 7 1
 
 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 Gospel Truth Demonstrated, in a Collection of Doctrinal 
 Books, given forth by that Faithful Minister of Jesus 
 Christ, GEORGE Fox. London : T. Sowle, 1706. 
 
 " THE Lord is rising, and surely he will be 1653. 
 
 avenged of all his adversaries. He is come to sweep the 
 land of evil-doers that the earth shall yield her increase, 
 and the land enjoy her sabbaths : and he will sit Judge, 
 and righteousness shall run down our streets, and God 
 alone be magnified and glorified, to whom it alone be- 
 longs for ever. Oh ! how doth all the creation groan 
 under this bondage of corruption ! The Lord is pouring 
 out his Spirit upon all flesh, that his sons and daughters 
 may prophecy up and down this great city, and none 
 shall make them afraid." p. 7- 
 
 "Now is the mighty Supreme Judge risen, and 1660. 
 
 the mighty supreme authority set up, and the mighty 
 King of Glory risen the Lord of Hosts is his name; 
 before whose presence shall all nations tremble, and be- 
 fore whose presence shall all nations and kings shake; 
 for the mighty God of power, of heaven and earth is 
 come to rule, and his mighty power is gone forth to the 
 gathering of all nations to himself; to the subduing all 
 powers to himself; who will rule and reign; whose 
 right it is ; the Lord God of Hosts ! whose the earth is, 
 and the heavens, and the sea, and all things that be 
 therein, and people upon the earth ; who gives them 
 breath, and life, and strength, and all things that are 
 good, that they might serve, glorify, and worship him
 
 2 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS 
 
 1660. that is the Creator. Therefore give attention to your 
 Maker, to your Creator, and dread before him ; for 
 before Him, the Lord God of might and power, shall 
 all nations tremble in this his day; in this day of his 
 power; for his mighty power is gone forth to gather 
 all nations, which doth compass them, and all nations 
 before him are but as the drop of the bucket : and now 
 is his day of gathering all nations and kings to the 
 battle of the great King of heaven and earth, and nothing 
 shall reign and rule but righteousness itself" p. 173. 
 
 " The power of the Lord God of life is spreading 
 
 itself over all nations, over all the world, and his salvation 
 is known, and knowing, yea to the ends of the earth; 
 the great, the mighty power of God, Christ Jesus, the 
 mighty Prince of Life, who is now come to rule and 
 reign himself in the hearts of people ; whose dread and 
 terrors shall take hold of all nations, and the Lord alone 
 will reign, and the kingdom of the MOST HIGH is ruling 
 in men, and will rule in men, and the, tabernacle of God 
 is now with them" p. 185. 
 
 A Collection of many Select and Christian Epistles, 
 Letters, and Testimonies, written on sundry occasions, 
 by GEORGE Fox. London : T. Sowle, 1698. 
 
 1676. "THE Heathen rage, and take counsel against 
 
 the Anointed ; but it is to no purpose ; for He will 
 shake the foundation of all false religion*, ways, wor- 
 ships, churches and teachers, and will make the pillars of 
 them to totter, and they must be at their wits end before 
 they see another foundation. For God shook down the 
 four monarchies, the great empires of the world, and 
 scattered them abroad with his wind, as the chaff of the 
 summer floor; all those great persecutors; and the little 
 Stone that is cut out of the mountain without hands, 
 that no earthly man has the glory of, is becoming a great
 
 (George Fox.) 3 
 
 mountain, and will fill the whole earth ; glory to God 1676. 
 for ever ! And it will dash down all men's glory and 
 pride, let them soar as high as Nebuchadnezzer, and 
 shelter as many under them as he did, in their sects ; 
 that he may make them to know that the Most High 
 rules in the kingdom of men, and that His kingdom is an 
 everlasting kingdom." p. 400. 
 
 A Voice of the First Trumpet, Sounding an Alarm to 
 call to Judgment. By RICHARD FARNWORTH. London : 
 1653. 
 
 " ALL people every where repent, and turn to 1653. 
 
 the Lord with speed, for the great day of the Lord is 
 coming. Now, the abomination of the desolation, spoken 
 of by Daniel the prophet, stands in the holy place ; let 
 him that reads understand. Awake, awake, and stand up 
 to judgment ; repent and turn to the Lord with speed, 
 for the great day of the Lord cometh ; it hasteth greatly j 
 wherein the Lord will plead with all flesh, by his sword, 
 
 and by fire ; and great shall be the slain of them. 
 
 The day of the Lord cometh, wherein the great men 
 shall cry bitterly. Thus saith the Lord, Blow the trum- 
 pet in Zion, sound an alarm in my holy mountain ; let 
 all the inhabitants of the land tremble ; the sun shall be 
 turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, the stars 
 shall withdraw their shining, and heaven and earth shall 
 pass away, but not one jot or tittle shall in any wise fail, 
 till all be fulfilled. Now, the Lord is fulfilling his pro- 
 mises made in the time of old, and the earth shall be 
 burnt, and all the works therein: nevertheless, accor- 
 ding to his promise, we look for new heavens and new 
 earth, \vherein shall dwell righteousness ; and the nations 
 that are saved shall walk in the glorious light and liberty 
 of the sons of God, and shall come and see his glory." 
 p. 1. 2.
 
 4 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1653. "Repent and turn to the Lord with speed, for 
 
 the great and mighty day draweth near, which is foretold 
 of by the prophet Zephaniah : read Zeph. i. 14 18. 
 Read them over and weigh them well, and return to the 
 Lord with all your hearts, that he may have mercy upon 
 you. The Lord will purchase to him a peculiar peo- 
 ple, that they may worship him in spirit and in truth, 
 and he will return to them a pure language, that they 
 may call upon the name of the Lord with one consent ; 
 and the remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak 
 lies, neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their 
 mouth ; for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall 
 make them afraid. Zeph. ii. 9 15. and the Lord alone 
 will be the delight of his people. And thus saith the 
 Lord, I will turn my hand upon thee, and purely purge 
 away thy dross, arid take away all thy tin ; and I will 
 restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counsellors as 
 at the beginning; afterwards thou shalt be called the city 
 of righteousness, the faithful city. Isa. i. 25, 26. And 
 then every man shall sit under his own vine and under 
 his fig-tree, and none shall make them afraid. Rejoice, 
 ye saints, and righteous ones ! the time of Israel's deli- 
 verance draweth nigh : Wo to the world, and to all that 
 live and act in unrighteousness ; the great day of the 
 Lord draweth nigh, it hasteth greatly. Repent, and turn 
 to the Lord, seek righteousness, seek peace, if so be ye 
 may be hid in the day of the Lord's wrath. A fire is 
 kindled, and who shall quench it?" p. 6. 7- 
 
 " The Lord is coming to shake terribly the earth ; 
 
 there shall be famines, and earthquakes, and pestilences 
 in divers places ; nation against nation ; the kingdom 
 of antichrist standeth up now against the kingdom of 
 Christ : He is coming to shine in glory and brightness ; 
 his glory is revealed and revealing. Awake, awake, and 
 stand up to judgment; the Lord is near at hand to plead 
 with you ; all your forms must be burnt up : all flesh 
 is grass; the Spirit of the Lord is fire ; fire is coming
 
 (Richard Farnworth.) 5 
 
 down from heaven to bum up the earth: the founda- 1653. 
 tions of the earth must shake; the Lord is coming to 
 shake terribly the earth : Awake, awake, out of carnal 
 security ; Come out of Babylon, come out of Babylon, 
 my people, saith the Lord, lest ye be partakers of her 
 plagues" p. 13. 
 
 The Daivnings of the Gospel-Day, and its Light and 
 Glory Discovered: By a faithful and valiant follower 
 of the Lamb, and labourer in the work and service 
 of God, and a sufferer for the testimony of Jesus : 
 FRANCIS HOWGILL : Who died a prisoner for the Truth, 
 in Appleby Gaol, in the County of Westmoreland, the 
 20/A of the \\th month, 1668. Printed in the year 
 16/6. 
 
 " WO, wo unto all the inhabitants ; for the Lord 1654. 
 
 God of power is coming in power and great glory, with 
 ten thousand of his saints, to judge the earth, and to 
 make a desolation; and an utter overthrow and a con- 
 sumption shall come upon all flesh, and its glory shall 
 
 be stained; for all flesh hath corrupted its way. The 
 
 Lord is grieved, the Lord is weary with forbearing, and 
 will no longer forbear ; now is he arising to execute his 
 judgment in the earth, and to sift the nations; and all 
 shall now be put into an even balance, and the wicked 
 shall be as dust and as chaff, which the wind blows 
 away, and shall be scattered, and never more gathered." 
 p. 26. 
 
 "God is risen, and blasting all with the breath of 1656. 
 
 his mouth, and darkness shall cover all your pavilions, 
 and leanness shall cover your faces, who have rejoiced 
 at the captivity of the holy seed ; for now is he arising as 
 a giant that runs his course, and shall tread down the 
 earth, and blast all its glory; and will fan the nations*
 
 6 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1656. and all the uncircumcised in heart shall be as chaff; for 
 now is the Lord bringing his determination upon the 
 whole earth, to cut doAvn all the gods of gold and silver, 
 and spoil all your pleasant pictures and images which 
 stand in the earth, which you have worshipped in your 
 hearts." p. 81. 
 
 1658. "Now is the time drawing near, and he who is 
 
 the DESIRE OF ALL NATIONS appeareth ; the Ancient of 
 Days is coming, whose throne is established in righteous- 
 ness for ever, who will break the head of the dragon, 
 and will lay hold upon him, and chain him up, that he 
 deceive the nations no more : And all you emperors, 
 kings, dukes, earls, nobles, lords, and potentates, who 
 have joined to hinvyour kingdom shall be rent from you, 
 and your hands shall grow weak, that you shall not be 
 able to defend yourselves against Him, who travels in the 
 greatness of his strength ; who is coming up against you, 
 as a lion greedy of his prey, and will devour at once all 
 his enemies, that thought in their hearts to reign for 
 ever, and to settle themselves in iniquity for ever : Now 
 the time draws near, when he will put down the autho- 
 rity of the dragon, and of the beast, and the beast with 
 many heads and horns, and their rule shall come to an 
 end, and he will dash you one against another as broken 
 pitchers, till you be consumed and brought to nought, 
 and be worn out as a moth-eaten garment ; and will 
 overthrow your laws and customs, which are made in 
 the night of ignorance and blindness, and will change 
 your customs and the times, and will reduce the earth 
 again into its first purity." p. 92. 
 
 " Although thy teachers and diviners in thee, O 
 
 earth! who preach a divination of their own brain, and 
 from the imagination of their own hearts, have made 
 you believe, O you powers of the earth ! who are in the 
 fall, in the transgression of the life, that you were the 
 higher powers, every emperor, king, duke, earl, noble, 
 lord, and that all were to stoop to your wills, how con-
 
 (Francis Howgill.) 7 
 
 trary soever they have heen to God ; you and they must 1658. 
 know, there is one higher than the highest, who is King 
 of kings, and Lord of lords, who alone will judge the 
 hearts of his people, and their consciences ; for he will 
 not give his glory to another, although you have long 
 usurped it, since the days of the apostacy, and won d 
 have had all to bow to that power which hath trans- 
 gressed the life, and is gone from the power of God." 
 p. 93. 
 
 " Behold the time of restoring is come and com- 
 ing, and the year of God's controversy with Zion's ene- 
 mies is approaching near you ; and he who sits and judges 
 in righteousness hath shewed hiuisrlf, and will rule over 
 the heathen as with a rod of iron, and will pour forth 
 his plagues upon all the families of the earth, that call 
 not upon his name, but desmVe it and trample upon it. 
 The earth is filled with violence, cruelty, and oppression ; 
 yea, it is broken forth as a flood, and the nations are 
 covered with unrighteousness as with a garment, p. 91). 
 
 = " Nevertheless he that weighs all things hi uii 
 even balance, before whom all nations are but as the 
 drop of a bucket; he is appearing in his power, and 
 thundering from his holy place, who will make the na- 
 tion? shake a? an olive leaf, and the isles tremble before 
 him, who is uttering forth his voice as the sound of 
 many waters, which shall make all the potentates and 
 the migbty of the earth to bow: The eye lids of the 
 morning are opened, and the sun is rising to his height, 
 and the <"iark air is scattering by the breath of his mouth; 
 and so all things shall appear in the earth as they are, 
 and every thing under the face of the heavens shall be 
 brought to li,<.>;h;, and all the powers of darkness disco- 
 vered, and the works and workers of iniquity shall no 
 longer be hid, but si- II be discovered by the light of the 
 Son of God, and ?h.;il be judged and condemned by the 
 life of righte.Qii.-ue:-> : And blessed are they who know 
 a hiding place in him, when his overflowing scourge
 
 8 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1658. passeth over the nations, which is made ready to execute 
 his judgment upon the heathen, that know him not. 
 p. 100. 
 
 3 " Then shall the ransomed of the Lord, and the 
 
 righteous seed, whom the nations have slain and perse- 
 cuted, the prophets and holy men of- God, and all who 
 have been slain for the testimony of Jesus, rejoice over 
 the deceit; and it shall be sung in that day, The Lord 
 God omnipotent reigneth, who will ascend above all 
 principalities and powers, thrones and dominions, and 
 tread down all under his feet, that the earth may be 
 filled with his glory ; and behold he comcth quickly in a 
 moment, and sudden destruction shall be upon his ene- 
 mies, and the breath of his mouth shall make all melt 
 away that hate the Lord, and their remembrance shall 
 rot for ever and ever." p. 100. 
 
 " All you that bear rule, and not by him who is 
 
 the true light, which enlighteneth every man that com- 
 eth into the world, your power is from another, even 
 from him who is to be condemned by the Light; for by 
 me, saith the Lord, kings rule, and princes decree just- 
 ice: and such as were obedient unto his righteous law 
 written in their hearts, as David, Solomon, Jehoshaphat, 
 Hezekiah, and the rest of the holy kings and princes, 
 who were guided by that which was just and unchange- 
 able, they ruled by his power ; and decreed justice, and 
 answered that which was just in every man's conscience, 
 which is one with that power in which they ruled, and 
 from whence they acted ; and so a terror they became 
 to none but evil doers, who were out of the power, and 
 out of the the truth, and in that nature which stood up 
 against that power by which the princes decreed justice : 
 and so by the power of God, all these rulers, rules, and 
 governments, which are not according to the power of 
 the just God, are to be abolished at the coining of him, 
 whose day shall come ; and in his power and glory he 
 shall appear, which shall darken, dazzle, extirpate, and
 
 (Francis Howgill.) 9 
 
 utterly destroy all, root and branch together, who are 1058. 
 out of his power, and against it : So there shall be a 
 very great overturning, such as hath not been from the 
 beginning, neither shall be ever hereafter/' 
 
 "And then shall the Restorer be seen, who shall restore 
 the earth into its first purity, and there shall be judges 
 as at the first, and counsellors as at the beginning; 
 then shall the earth enjoy her rest, and the nations 
 their Sabbath ; for the Lord of glory hath considered it, 
 and he hath listened, and a great cry is heard out of all 
 nations, of the poor and of the oppressed, and of his 
 creatures which he hath made, how they have been 
 chopped to pieces, as flesh for the pot, and ground to 
 dust, as though they had not been God's workmanship; 
 and his seed in all nations hath been in great captivity, 
 whose sighs, groans and tears have pierced through the 
 clouds, and are entered to the throne of God, who is now 
 arising to plead the cause of the poor and the needy : 
 and now, wo to the world, and to all them that have 
 borne rule, but not by the Lord." p 103. 
 
 " The Lamb's wife shall be beautified, and come 1659. 
 
 out of the secret place into open view, out of the solitary 
 wilderness into the beautiful place that the Lord will 
 bring her into. And the time, times, and half time are 
 out ; the thousand two hundred and threescore days 
 are at an end ; and he bears witness of it, who saw 
 her fly away upon eagles' wings into the secret place, 
 which was prepared for her, for these days and times 
 appointed. And I say, he that knows the counsel of the 
 Most High in this matter can account the time, times, 
 and a half, and the days ; and what shall be after the days 
 be expired, which are at an end. Blessed is he that sees, 
 believes, and understands ; he shall see that which yet 
 hath not appeared, neither can it be believed by the 
 most, though it were declared; but yet a little while 
 and the earth grows ripe, and an ear will be opened in 
 many who cannot yet hear, and for a little while in this
 
 10 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1659. I shall be silent, and treasure up that which the Spirit 
 hath revealed, till the time be fully accomplished which 
 God hath determined ; and then his glory shall be reveal- 
 ed, and all the former things which have lived since 
 the man of sin hath been exalted, shall all die ; and an 
 utter consumption shall be of all the changeable laws 
 made since the apostacy, and the many changeable 
 dresses of the whore, and attires in which she hath ap- 
 peared, and imaginary worships into which all have run 
 since they were apostatized from the faith ; all this shall 
 be disannulled and come to an end, and be blasted for 
 ever. The Spirit of the Lord saith, Amen." p. 211. 
 
 " Now Jerusalem that is from above (spiritually 
 
 so called) who was the mother of all the saints before 
 the apostacy, she appears again, and comes to be the 
 wife of the Lamb, and the city of the saints, and the 
 mother of them that are born from above. This sball 
 be and is made manifest to some ; but a numberless 
 number shall see it, and the day hastens greatly; and she 
 is appearing again, and her solitary garments shall be 
 put off. And as she was beautiful before the w bore made 
 the nations drunk, clothed with the sun, and had the 
 moon under her feet, and a crown of twelve stars upon 
 her head, and though she became childless, and also as a 
 widow, and the remnant of her seed slain and destroyed, 
 so shall she appear again in glory and beauty as before, 
 and shall be made ready; yea, mine eye hath seen it, 
 she is making herself ready, as a bride for her husband ; 
 and unto her is granted, that she shall be arrayed in fine 
 linen, clean and white ; even arrayed in the righteous- 
 ness of the saints ; which is not self righteousness, the 
 garment of the harlot and her lovers ; but in the righte- 
 ousness of Christ the Lamb, her husband and child 
 also." p. 212. 
 
 "Now the angel descends, having the key of the 
 
 bottomless pit, from whence the old dragon, the serpent, 
 the red dragon, the devil, came ; there is his beginning,
 
 (Francis Howgill.) 11 
 
 there was he brought forth, and there he grew up (he 1659. 
 that reads, let him understand) out of the bottomle i 
 pit. For the nations were never deceived till he appear- 
 ed; and he appeared (as I have said before) after the 
 heaven and the earth were made, and all things therein : 
 I say, after ; he was not before ; he deceived Eve in 
 the garden ; now he is grown old, and so is truly called, 
 the old Dragon, grown into a body of deceit. Well, now 
 must he be taken and bound, and cast into the bottomless 
 pit, from whence he came, that he deceive the nations no 
 more. Rev. xx. 1, 2. And all this war is in the bring- 
 ing out of the apostacy, and in order to the Lamb and 
 the saints' everlasting reign in heaven, and over the earth 
 for ever." 
 
 " This I have seen, and my heart rejoiceth, and my 
 mouth shall praise the Lord. And the woman, I say, 
 is appearing, and she is clothed with beautiful garments ; 
 and the holy child, the man-child, hath appeared, and is 
 manifest again among the saints, and in them ; and the 
 Lamb which hath been slain since the world began, is 
 alive, and behold he lives for evermore; and now many 
 are his followers, and an innumerable company shall ride 
 on after him, who is King of kings. And now is God 
 fulfilling that which John saw in the Lord's day, which 
 should come to pass ; the work is begun : He hath 
 appeared, out of whose mouth proceeds the two-edged 
 sword, which shall hew down all the dragon's army, 
 the beast and his followers ; and though the cry be yet 
 among many, who shall make war with the beast ? and 
 who shall speak against his prophets ? yet a. little while, 
 and fear shall come, and their vaunts and boasts shall be 
 turned into doubting, and dreadful fear on every side; 
 for Jacob shall be as a flame, and Esau and all his 
 race shall be as stubble. He that reads, let him under- 
 stand the wisdom of God in a mystery, and the whole 
 work of the Lord, which shall shortly come to pass." 
 
 ** The manifestation of God's glory shall be as great
 
 12 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1659. after the apostacy as ever it was in any age before the 
 rise of antichrist; and the ministration, into which they 
 that follow the Lamb shall be brought, shall be as 
 spiritual, holy, celestial and divine as ever was before ; 
 for the end of all your outward visible appearances 
 shall come, which the whore hath decked herself with ; 
 and life shall be known in the body, and God enjoyed, 
 worshipped, glorified, and honored in that which shall 
 never alter, but abides for ever. And this shall be and is 
 the last ministration that ever shall appear among the 
 sons of men." p. 214. 
 
 1661. " Therefore come out of Babylon all people and 
 
 potentates of the earth, and drink no more of her cup of 
 fornication; and receive no more of her traditions or 
 inventions for the ordinances of Christ; and partake no 
 more of the sins of this false church, which hath drunk 
 the blood of the prophets, and slain the saints under the 
 name of blasphemers, and under the name of heretics, 
 as the Jews of old did, who had the w r ords of the pro- 
 phets without the life, and were in error themselves, and 
 in the blasphemies ; who killed the just one, and cruci- 
 fied Christ as a blasphemer, and the members of his body 
 as heretics. Plagues and woes are prepared of the 
 Lord God, and thunders, storms, and tempests are to 
 be poured upon the seat of this whore, and the seat of 
 
 the beast ; for the notable day of the Lord God is 
 
 appearing, such a day as hath not appeared since the 
 apostacy ; for God's controversy shall be with all the 
 inhabitants of the earth; at the sound thereof the nations 
 shall be afraid, and the isles shall shriek, and the mighty 
 men shall fail; for God hath determined to cleanse the 
 earth of all the fruitless trees that cumber the ground, 
 and to make his overflowing scourge pass through the 
 nations, to sweep away the refuge of lies, idolatry, and 
 superstition, will- worship, vain human traditions of men, 
 and to make all flesh to bow before him." 
 
 "Therefore all people who look to escape the judgment
 
 (Francis Howgill.) 13 
 
 of the Lord God which is coming upon the nations, flee, 1661. 
 flee for your lives out of Babylon, out of Sodom and 
 Egypt, spiritually so called; hasten and come out to meet 
 the Lord God, lest you be overthrown in those cursed 
 cities, whose sins have reached up to heaven ; make 
 haste and come out, and be not upon your reserves, and 
 consult not with flesh and blood ; partake no more of 
 her sins, lest you partake of her dreadful plagues, and 
 of the cup of the Lord's fiery indignation, which is the 
 portion of all the inhabitants of that city ; for they shall 
 drink it." p. 394. 
 
 " O all ye magistrates and potentates of the earth 1665. 
 
 arise, and stand upon your own legs, and shake your- 
 selves and these things from off" you, and trouble not 
 yourselves with that which is too ponderous and weighty 
 for you to bear, which you are never able to wade 
 through. Keep peace in your own dominions, and 
 execute justice and judgment among all people without 
 having respect to this or that particular judgment ; for 
 that is the way and the only way to preserve the nation, 
 and people in peace and quietness : and let Christ's 
 kingdom alone, and his church alone, to him that is the 
 head thereof, who gave his life for it, and hath a care 
 of it ; and let Christians alone as Christians, and as 
 Christ's subjects, to be governed by Christ, who is the 
 King, Law-giver, and Judge of his people, who only hath 
 right to rule in the hearts and consciences of the sons 
 of men; who doth teach, hath taught, and yet will 
 teach his people, as is witnessed by the prophet Isaiah. 
 And this glory and power he hath not given to any man, 
 as man, whatsoever ; but himself teacheth how he will 
 be worshipped, to wit, in spirit and in truth : and who- 
 soever would arrogate unto themselves that power, then 
 doth the power of the Lord Jesus Christ turn against 
 them. And, therefore, be warned, all ye potentates of 
 the earth, and let your earthly wisdom cease, and carnal 
 policy cease, and earthly contrivance cease, and worldly
 
 )4 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1665. consultations . cease. Make room all ! give place and 
 give way to him who is risen and come in his second 
 appearance in his saints ! who must have way, and will 
 have way, or else will force his way, though not by 
 bow, spear, buckler, or shield, or carnal weapons of 
 war; for out of his mouth goes the two-edged sword, 
 and hot coals of fire are kindled by the breath of his 
 mouth ; and the breath of the Lord shall slay the wicked, 
 and burn up all mountains and hills before it." p. 593. 
 
 "Therefore all children of the day, put on the 
 
 armour of light, and have your feet shod, now when 
 we walk through thorny places ; and be not fearful or 
 doubtful, but of believing hearts : stand not aloof off, 
 and idle, when others are engaged in this spiritual war ; 
 pull not your necks out of the yoke, when others draw; 
 shelter not yourselves when you see others in jeopardy ; 
 love not the world, when you see others have thrown it 
 off; be not entangled in cumbersome things when you 
 see others throw off all weights ; turn not your backs 
 in the day of the Lord's controversy, but follow the 
 Lamb." p. 605. 
 
 What might T say for the certainty, sufficiency, 
 
 and all-sufficiency of this holy Spirit of God; I might fill 
 my mouth with arguments, and time might fail me in 
 speech, to speak of the excellency, certainty, and infal- 
 libility thereof, against all opposers and quarrellers : hi 
 a word, it is that alone means through which God con- 
 veys eternal life to all mankind ; and it is that rule by 
 which all the sons of God were led, Rom. viii. 14. It is 
 that only sure guide, judge, way, rule, in which there 
 , is certainty and assurance of the love of God to mankind ; 
 it is that by which the deeds of the flesh are mortified, 
 and men quickened and enlivened unto God in their 
 hearts ; in which the saints are accepted, by which they 
 are regenerated, and through which they become heirs 
 of the promise. What shall I say, but this, Let all flesh 
 be confounded before it } and all deceit stop its mouth,
 
 (Francis Hmvgill.) 15 
 
 and all the sons of men bow before it ; all councils and 1665. 
 churches, all rulers and elders, all reason and compre- 
 hension, all words and writings, of men and holy men, 
 yea, of the scriptures of truth; it gave them all a being; 
 it was, and is, and is to come, and will remain when all 
 visible things are past away : Tt is that by which God 
 will plead with all flesh, and bring a consumption upon 
 all the honourable of the earth, and burn up the moun- 
 tains, and make the hills to melt, and make all a plain 
 before him : Therefore, Make room ! make room ! make 
 way ye potsherds! and cease all your contending and 
 babbling ; and bow to it, and learn of it in your hearts, 
 that your souls may be saved in the day of the Lord, 
 and you may escape his wrath, which is to come against 
 all resisters of it." p. 625. 
 
 The following Paper was given forth by FRANCIS HOW- 
 GILL, for the encouragement of his Friends, in the year 
 1662, being a time of hot persecution. See Sewel's 
 History, vol. ii. p. 17- Edit. 1800. 
 
 " THE cogitations of my heart have been many, 1662. 
 
 deep, and ponderous some months, weeks, and days, 
 concerning this people which the Lord hath raised to 
 bear testimony unto his name, in this the day of his pow- 
 er; and intercession hath been made often for them to 
 the Lord, and a patient waiting to know his mind con- 
 cerning them for the time to come; which often I re- 
 ceived satisfaction in as to myself, but yet something I 
 was drawn by the Lord to wait for, that I might comfort 
 and strengthen his flock by an assured testimony. And 
 while I was waiting out of all visible things, and quite 
 out of the world in my spirit, and my heart upon nothing 
 but the living God, the Lord opened the springs of the 
 great deep, and overflowed my whole heart with light 
 and love ; and my eyes were as a fountain, because of
 
 1(5 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1662. tears of joy, because of his heritage, of whom he shewed 
 me, and said unto me in a full, fresh, living power, and 
 a holy, full testimony, so that my heart was ravished 
 there with joy unspeakable, and I was out of the body 
 with God in his heavenly paradise, where I saw and 
 felt things unutterable, and beyond all demonstration or 
 speech. At last the life closed with my understanding, 
 and my spirit listened unto him; and the everlasting God 
 said, " Shall I hide any thing from them that seek my 
 face in righteousness? Nay, I will manifest it to them 
 that fear me; I will speak, do thou listen, and publish 
 it among all my people, that they may be comforted, and 
 thou satisfied." And thus said the living God of heaven 
 and earth, upon the 28th of the third month, 1662. 
 
 ' The sun shall leave its shining brightnej s, and cease 
 to give light to the world; and the moon shall be alto- 
 gether darkness, and give 110 light unto the night; the 
 stars shall cease to know their pffice, or place ; my co- 
 venant with day, night, times, and seasons shall sooner 
 came to an end, than the covenant I have made with 
 this people, into which they are entered with me, shall 
 end or be broken. Yea, though the powers of darkness 
 and hell combine against them, and the jaws of death 
 open its mouth, yet I will deliver them, and lead them 
 through all. I will confound their enemies as I did in 
 Jacob, and scatter them as I did in Israel in the days of 
 old. I will take their enemies, I will hurl them hither 
 and thither, as stones hurled in a sling; and the memo- 
 rial of this nation, which is holy unto me, shall never be 
 rooted out, but shall live through ages, as a cloud of 
 witnesses in generations to come. I have brought them 
 to the birth, yea, I have brought them forth ; I have 
 swaddled them and they are mine. I will nourish them, 
 and carry them as on eagles' wings; and though clouds 
 gather against them, I will make my way through them; 
 though darkness gather together on a heap, and tempests 
 gender, I will scatter them as with an east wind; and
 
 (William Dewsbury.) 17 
 
 nations shall know they are my inheritance, and they 1662. 
 shall know I am the living God, who will plead their 
 cause with all that rise up in opposition against them." 
 " These words are holy, faithful, eternal, good, and 
 true; blessed are they that hear and believe unto the 
 end: and because of them no strength was left in me 
 for a while; but at last my heart was filled with joy, 
 even as when the ark of God was brought from the house 
 of Obed-edom, when David danced before it, and Israel 
 shouted for joy. 
 
 Francis Howgill." 
 
 The Faithful Testimony of that Ancient Servant of the 
 Lord, and Minister of the everlasting Gospel, WILLIAM 
 DKWSBURY, in his Books, Epistles, Sfc. London : 
 A. Sowle. 
 
 " ALL people who dwell upon the earth fear the 1655. 
 
 living God, who hath created the heavens and earth, and 
 the fountains of waters; and all turn to the light of 
 Christ that witnesses for God in the conscience, against 
 sin in its appearance in the secret of the heart ; and dili- 
 gently incline your ear to the counsel of Christ the light, 
 that he may guide you by his Spirit ; lest through your 
 disobedience you perish before him, in this mighty day 
 of the Lord's power, in which he is coming with fire and 
 sword to plead with all flesh ; and not. any that trans- 
 gress his righteous law in their conscience shall escape his 
 righteous judgments in this his day. He is bringing 
 down the loftiness of man, and the haughtiness of spirit 
 he is laying low, and is exalting his Son Christ Jesus to 
 be King, and over all to rule. The heathen he will give 
 him for his inheritance, and the utmost parts of the 
 earth for his possession ; and the kingdom he will esta- 
 blish to his Son, whose kingdom is an everlasting king- 
 
 c
 
 18 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1655. dom, and of his dominion there shall be no end. There- 
 fore let all the kings and princes of this world, mind the 
 light of Christ to guide them to rule for God, to break 
 the bonds of iniquity, and let the oppressed go free; 
 that in all things they may have an eye to the glory of 
 God, in obeying the righteous law of God in your con- 
 sciences, to do as you would be done unto, in taking up 
 the daily cross to that nature which would hinder from 
 doing justice, and from shewing mercy, and walking 
 humbly with the Lord." p. 15. 
 
 " To the light of Christ in all your consciences, 
 
 I clear my conscience in the presence of the living, 
 pure, and dreadful God, who will perform according to 
 his words, and the condemnation of the evil-doers slum- 
 bers not. The Lord will cleanse the land of you, and 
 not any that reject Christ the corner stone shall rule in 
 England; for the Lord will make it the glory of all the 
 nations of the world, notwithstanding all that oppose 
 him : His own work he will carry on in it ; by the arm 
 of his mighty power will he exalt Christ Jesus to be 
 King in it, to rule the people according to his righteous 
 law ; and all that will not obey his law, and lay down 
 their crowns at his feet, and bow their knee to him in 
 perfect obedience to his righteous law written in the 
 heart and conscience, he will break them in pieces with 
 his rod of iron, and dash in sunder like a potter's vessel ; 
 and not any shall escape that do evil, and bring the curse 
 upon the earth, which the Lord is making as the garden 
 of Eden : the mouth of the Lord of hosts hath spoken it. 
 He that can receive it let him, and hath an ear to hear, 
 let him hear." p. 65. 
 
 " Now is Babylon come in remembrance before 
 
 God, and the vials of wrath must be poured upon her, 
 and upon her merchants ; for by their sorceries are you 
 inhabitants of England, and all nations deceived ; and in 
 her is found the blood of the prophets and saints, and of 
 all that were slain upon the earth. Haste, haste, come
 
 (William Dewsbury.) 19 
 
 out of her, lest you partake with her in her sins, and so 1655. 
 partake with her in her punishment, which will speedily 
 come upon her, for the mouth of the Lord of hosts hath 
 spoken it." p. 109. 
 
 " For the Lord will make the earth as the garden 
 
 of Eden, and hath begun his great and strange work in 
 this nation, which shall make the ears of them that hear 
 to tingle, wherein he is exalting the kingdom of the 
 Lord Jesus, which kingdom shall break down all the 
 kingdoms of the world, and shall fill the whole earth. 
 For the mighty day of the Lord is coming, that shall 
 burn as an oven; and all you that are proud, and all you 
 that do wickedly shall be stubble; and the day that 
 cometh shall burn you up, saith the Lord of hosts, and 
 it shall leave of you neither root nor branch. But unto 
 you that fear the name of the Lord, shall the Sun of 
 Righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye 
 shall go forth and grow as calves of the stall. And ye 
 shall tread down the wicked, and they shall be as ashes 
 under the soles of your feet, in the day that I do this 
 saith the Lord; wherein he is now gathering his elect 
 together, his scattered sheep, that have been scattered 
 in the cloudy and dark day, and will bring them from 
 the people, and gather them from the countries, and will 
 bring them to their own land ; and J will feed them upon 
 a good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel 
 shall their fold be ; and there shall they lie in a good 
 fold, and in a fat pasture shall they feed upon the moun- 
 tains of Israel ; and I will raise up for them a plant of 
 renown, and they shall no more be consumed with hun- 
 ger in the land, neither bear the shame of the heathen 
 any more, but they shall dwell safely, and none shall 
 make them afraid. Thus shall you know that I the Lord 
 your God am with you, and that the house of Israel is 
 my people, saith the Lord God.", p. 111. 
 
 " Paleness shall gather into all faces in the 
 
 mighty day of the Lord's power, which is begun in this
 
 20 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1655. nation; wherein he is exalting the kingdom of Jesus 
 Christ our King, who is riding on in his majesty and 
 mighty power, conquering all the powers of the earth, 
 in the hearts of his saints ; and will overturn and dash in 
 pieces all the powers in this nation, and all the world 
 over, that will not submit to his sceptre, to be guided 
 by his counsel, the pure law of God, which is the light 
 in the conscience. Now is he coming with ten thou- 
 sands of his saints to judge the world, and to give to 
 every one according to their deeds; and the kingdoms 
 and dominions, and the greatness of the kingdoms under 
 the whole heavens, shall be given to the saints of the 
 most high God, and all nations shall serve and obey 
 him. Rejoice, rejoice, ye saints and children of the 
 most high God; stand fast in the counsel of Jesus Christ, 
 the light in you, and walk in his power, and you shall 
 walk as kings upon the earth, and shall sing the new 
 song that none can sing but the hundred forty and 
 four thousand, and all whose minds are redeemed from 
 the earth, who stand before the throne of God day and 
 night singing hallelujahs and praises to the Lord God 
 omnipotent, who is taking to him his great power to sit 
 upon his throne, and to the Lamb for evermore." p. 113. 
 
 1660. " Fear God, and give glory to him, for the hour 
 
 of his judgments is come, and his dreadful, terrible day 
 will come speedily upon all nations and people ; there- 
 fore worship him that made heaven and earth, and the 
 sea, and the fountains of water, and upholds them by the 
 word of his power : let his fear and dread be upon you 
 all. People, see what acquaintance and union you have 
 with him : He is a God that will not be mocked, 
 who is now coming in his pure, dreadful majesty, and 
 glorious, almighty power, to break down and dash in. 
 pieces like a potter's vessel all people from the highest 
 to the lowest, from the prince on the throne, to the 
 beggar on the dunghill, in and amongst all nations, kin- 
 dreds, languages, tongues, and people, who put the day
 
 (William Dewsbury.) 21 
 
 of the Lord God afar off, and live without the knowledge 1660. 
 of the only true God in this world, serving an unknown 
 God in the ignorance of your minds, and in traditions ; 
 worshipping you know not what, and walking every one 
 in your own ways, doing your own works, which lead to 
 satisfy the flesh in the lusts thereof; all which is abo- 
 mination to the only true and ever-living God, to whom 
 you must give an account for every idle word, and all 
 your deeds done in the body." p. 181. 
 
 "And all you saints in light, what tribulation 1661. 
 
 soever ariseth in the earth, as for the testimony where- 
 unto we are called of God, look not forth from the Lord's 
 power in you; but every one abide in your tents, in 
 the measure of his powerful life, and you will feel the 
 Ancient of days in and with every one of you, to lead 
 you on in the testimony whereunto you are called in the 
 light, with boldness to endure the trial, till you all have 
 finished that whereunto you are called in Christ the light, 
 who is come in his saints to judge the world, and to 
 break down the wickedness thereof with the breath of 
 his mouth, and the brightness of his coming ; in his hea- 
 venly authority to clear his people's innocency, in all he 
 calls unto, to the confounding of the unrighteous gene- 
 ration, whom he will tread upon as mortar, and bring to 
 nought whatever will not have his righteous life to reign : 
 for the kingdom of this world shall become the kingdom 
 of our Lord and of his Christ ; and he shall break the 
 battle out of the earth ; his government shall be over all, 
 and of his dominion shall be no end ; the mouth of the 
 Lord of hosts hath spoken it." p. 19J. 
 
 " As it hath been proclaimed in your ears, cer- 1662. 
 
 tainly it shall come to pass ; the Lord will try all, that 
 they may be known who are born of him j for whom God 
 will appear to carry through with joy whatever he calls 
 unto, and by his mighty arm will bring deliverance unto 
 us, who cannot handle sword nor spear, neither trust in 
 the arm of flesh, but in the spiritual power and life hi
 
 22 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1662, the light, which he will exalt over all contrary to him. 
 So will he make his name famous in the earth, because 
 of his glory which he will reveal to cover the earth, as 
 the waters cover the sea; and all ungodliness will be 
 buried in the deep, and sink as a stone to the bottom 
 thereof, and never rise again over the just; but the 
 righteous shall rejoice that the Lord reigneth, their 
 strength and life, blessed for ever." p. 210. 
 
 1664. " Therefore hear my word which is sounded unto 
 
 you from the throne of my grace and eternal glory : 
 Rejoice not too much in spirits being made subject, but 
 throw down your crowns before me, that there be not 
 a self-seeking, self-serving spirit in the family of my 
 people ; but all feel the birth immortal raised up in the 
 resurrection of my life in you all, which truly makes self 
 of no reputation, so that all loftiness be laid low, and all 
 haughtiness bowed down in every one, that I, the Lord 
 God in you all may be loved, obeyed, and exalted ; who 
 am taking, and will take to me my great power, to 
 exalt the meek upon the earth, and reign over all the 
 pride of the children of men, that is exalted above my 
 witness in their conscience; that so my sons may be 
 brought from far, and my daughters from the ends of the 
 earth, in the sight of all people, whom I will make to 
 confess, in subjection to my power, that you are the 
 beloved people of the most high God, and of the righte- 
 ous seed which the Lord hath blessed ; and not any 
 weapon formed against you shall prosper, but come to 
 nought; w r hich will be hastened for your comfort, and 
 certainly performed according to what is here declared, 
 to your eternal joy ; and you shall assuredly know the 
 mouth of the Lord hath spoken it." p. 249. 
 
 1665. "The day of eternal joy is sprung up to thee, 
 
 which none can take away; an eternal freedom shall be 
 unto thee, O Sion ! Kings shall come unto thee, and 
 princes to the rising of this thy glorious day; and all 
 thy enemies shall fall before thee, and thou shalt be the
 
 (William Dewsbttry.) 23 
 
 glory over all the earth, and the chosen diadem in the 1665. 
 hand of thy God amongst the people, who shall as much 
 love thee as they now hate thee, and esteem of thee as 
 they now despise thee ; for thou, O Sion, art the plant 
 of the Lord, the tree of righteousness, in whom is the 
 virtue of the Mighty God of heaven, and the leaf of thy 
 tree shall heal the nations, and put an end to all their 
 distractions; the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it." 
 p. 257. 
 
 Some Expressions of WILLIAM DEWSBURY during his 
 last illness. See Piety Promoted, vol. i. p. 166. Edit. 
 1789. 
 
 "My God hath yet put in my heart to bear a 1688. 
 
 testimony to his name and blessed truth. I can never 
 forget the day of his great power and blessed appearance, 
 when he first sent me to preach his everlasting gospel, 
 and proclaim the day of the Lord to all people : and also 
 he confirmed the same by signs and wonders. There- 
 fore, friends, be faithful, and trust in the Lord your God; 
 for this I can say, I never played the coward, but as joy- 
 fully entered prisons as palaces, bidding my enemies to 
 hold me there as long as they could ; and in the prison- 
 house I sang praises to my God, and esteemed the bolts 
 and locks put upon me as jewels; and in the name of the 
 eternal God I always got the victory : for they could not 
 keep me any longer than the determined time of my 
 God." 
 
 "And, friends, this I must once again testify to you in 
 the name of the Lord God, that what I saw above thirty 
 years ago, still rests as a testimony to leave behind me, 
 that a dreadful, terrible day is at hand, and will certainly 
 come to pass ; but the time when, I cannot say : but all 
 put on strength in the name of the Lord, and wait to feel 
 his eternal power to preserve you through the tribula-
 
 24 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1688. tions of these days that approach very near : in the sense 
 of which I have often been distressed and bowed in my 
 spirit, with cries and tears to my God for the preservation 
 of his heritage." 
 
 " And this I have further to signify, That my departure 
 draws nigh : blessed be my God, I am prepared, I have 
 nothing to do but die, and put off this corruptible and 
 mortal tabernacle, this flesh, that hath so many infirmi- 
 ties; but the life that dwells in it, ascends out of the 
 reach of death, hell, and the grave; and immortality, 
 eternal life, is my crown for ever and ever/' 
 
 " Therefore, you that are left behind, fear not, nor be 
 discouraged, but go on in the name and power of the 
 Lord, and bear a faithful testimony for him in your day ; 
 and the Lord will prosper his work in your hand, and 
 cause his truth to flourish and spread abroad ; for it shall 
 have the victory, and no weapon formed against it shall 
 prosper. The Lord hath determined it shall possess the 
 gates of his enemies, and the glory and the light thereof 
 shall shine more and more unto the perfect day." 
 
 A Collection of the several Writings given forth through 
 that meek, patient, and suffering Servant of God, 
 JAMES PARNEL, who died a prisoner in Colchester 
 Castle, in the year 1656. Published in the year 16/5. 
 
 1655. " NOW the King of Righteousness is risen with 
 
 a sword in his hand, and by his mighty arm he will over-? 
 turn, overturn all, until it come into his hand, whose 
 own it is ; and he will bind the kings in chains, and the 
 nobles in fetters of iron ; and he will break the powers 
 of the earth asunder, and all who oppose him ; and the 
 beast and false prophet shall be taken, and all that re- 
 ceive his mark, and worship his image : into the lake 
 shall go small and great, and there lie for evermore. And
 
 (James Parnel.) 25 
 
 tfiis is the stone which the builders have rejected, which 1655. 
 now is become the head of the corner; and whosoever 
 falls upon it, shall be broken, but on whomsoever it 
 falls, it will grind him to powder." p. 155. 
 
 " The watcher, or the stone cut out of the moun- 
 tain without hands, which striketh at the feet of the 
 image, is the King of Righteousness ; even he that rides 
 upon the white horse, out of whose mouth goes a sharp 
 sword, whose name is called the Word of God, who 
 comes to strike at the powers of the earth, even the 
 kings of the earth, who have given their power unto the 
 beast, and join in war against the Lamb : but the Lamb 
 shall overcome ; and he will overturn all, until it come 
 into his hand whose own it is. . And he will create 
 new heavens and new earth, wherein dwelleth righte- 
 ousness, where there shall not be war any more; but 
 he shall reign in peace with his saints for evermore. 
 Oh ! blessed are all they tliat fight in this banner, and 
 here lay down their lives ; they shall take them up again 
 with an everlasting crown, and reign for evermore, singing 
 hallelujah to their King ; to whom be all praise, honour, 
 power, dominion, and thanks for evermore, Amen. And 
 thus shall this great image be broken to pieces by the 
 stone cut out of the mountain without hands, which will 
 become a heavy mountain, even a burdensome stone to 
 all nations ; but upon this mountain shall the true church 
 stand, as a city set on a hill, that cannot be hid." p. 1/0. 
 
 " Oh ! Antichrist hath reigned long over poor, 
 
 enslaved, captivated souls ; but now, Israel's Redeemer 
 hath appeared, and the Sun of Righteousness is risen 
 with healing in his wings, and antichrist's kingdom is 
 come and coming to an end, and Christ himself will reign 
 and rule in truth and in righteousness in his ransomed 
 ones : and this is the Mighty King, and Redeemer of 
 Israel out of captivity, into a land of peace, and love, 
 and unity, where the ransomed ones do dwell with their 
 captain and their king, who doth deliver his own lambs
 
 26 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1655. out of the mouths of raging wolves and dogs; praise?, 
 praises everlasting, eternal, to the everlasting God of 
 Life for ever." p. 207. 
 
 " This I know, that the invisible God is working 
 
 in secret by his power, and with a strong arm carrying 
 on this great work, which he hath begun in the earth ; 
 yea, and he will bring down and overturn all, until it 
 come into his hand whose own it is, and he will exalt 
 his kingdom in the hearts of his people, and his Son shall 
 rule over the earth ; yea, and all his enemies shall be his 
 foot-stool, and shall bow unto him, and be glad to lay 
 down their crowns before him, and acknowledge his 
 power; yea, and he will dash all the forms, and false 
 likenesses, and images, which are set up by man in his 
 imaginations, calling them churches, and he will dash 
 them, and the powers of the earth in pieces one against 
 another, like a potter's vessel ; though now they set at 
 nought the comer stone, yet then by it shall they be 
 ground to powder: for, our God is a consuming fire; 
 and who is able to stand in the day of his wrath? There- 
 fore it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living 
 God. Then, wo to all his enemies, and to him that lifts 
 up his hand against his Maker, to contrary what he hath 
 decreed." p. 249. 
 
 Some Particulars concerning the Law, sent to Oliver 
 Cromwell ; by JOHN CAMM. London : Printed Anno 
 Dom. 1655. 
 
 1655. " I WILL arise now saith the Lord, and thresh, 
 
 and scatter, and beat to pieces : now will I arise, saith the 
 Lord, and all bonds must be broken asunder, which are 
 made with the earthly will : and all churches gathered 
 with the earthly will, with the earthly letter, who have 
 not the life, will be scattered and broken asunder, that
 
 (John Audland.) 27 
 
 the pure itself may arise, which suffers by those bonds 1655. 
 which the carnal mind makes laws and acts. But now 
 will I arise saith the Lord, who is the King, the Law- 
 giver ; and all who have not received the law from him, 
 but make laws with their inventions, must fall, and 
 all their counsel come to nothing in the end, though 
 they may stand and have their time awhile." p. 5. 
 
 The Innocent delivered out of the Snare, And the Blind 
 Guide fallen into the Pit. By JOHN AUDLAND : Lon- 
 don : Printed for Giles Calvert, 1655. 
 
 " KNOW this, there is a day that will come 1655. 
 
 suddenly upon you, and as a snare will it come upon all 
 the inhabitants of the earth; and there is a month 
 wherein you will be found, and they that mourn shall be 
 comforted ; and a day of howling will overtake all the 
 lofty ; and all the merry hearted shall sigh, who now 
 live in pleasure, making a sport at the sufferings of the 
 innocent, who are witnesses of the power of the Lord, 
 by which they are made to tremble." p. 27- 
 
 " But now return unto the Lord, for the day of 
 
 your visitation is come, and the hand of the Lord is 
 stretched forth, and his mighty arm, to gather together 
 his people, and to bring redemption unto his inheritance, 
 to make a way through the deep for his chosen ones, 
 and to set them free from the hand of the oppressor ; and 
 from the mountains and hills will the Lord gather his 
 people where they were scattered in the dark cloudy 
 day, and there shall be one shepherd and one sheep-fold, 
 and all the children of the Lord shall be taught of the 
 Lord, and the covenant of life and peace with Jacob 
 shall be established. And now the word of the Lord is 
 gone forth, and it shall not return in vain, but shall 
 accomplish that amongst you for which it is sent. And
 
 28 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1655. now are y u warne d fr m tne mouth of the Lord to 
 cease from the evil of the world : and therefore, return, 
 O you people ! and hasten to meet the Lord : confess 
 and forsake your sins, that you may find mercy: for if 
 you continue in disobedience to the Lord, despising his 
 love and gentle forbearance, which toward you is good, 
 the Lord will be a swift witness against you, and his 
 presence will be dreadful to you, who are not covered 
 with the righteousness of Jesus. And when the wrath of 
 the Lamb appears, the mountains and hills cannot cover 
 you, nor hide you from his presence. And now is the 
 Ancient of days appearing to take the kingdom, and the 
 war is already begun betwixt the Lamb and the dragon, 
 and the Lord hath uttered his voice from his holy temple; 
 and, because of it, the nations are angry." p. 34. 
 
 A Collection of the several Books and Writings of that 
 faithful Servant of God, RICHARD HUBBERTHORN, who 
 finished his testimony, being a prisoner in Newgate 
 for the Truth's sake, the VJth of the 6th month, 1662. 
 London : Printed by W. Warwick, 1663. 
 
 1657. " IT is impossible that the seed which the Lord is 
 
 manifesting his light and power to bring forth, should 
 be kept always under the power of death ; which seed is 
 now terrible in the Lord's power, and will yet be more 
 terrible as his power encreaseth; which is now going forth 
 as an army with banners. For the torment of the wicked 
 is already begun, because the righteousness of God is 
 now spreading over the nations, and neither the rulers 
 of the darkness of this world, nor all the printings and 
 preachings of those who be out of the life of God, can 
 hinder that which the Lord hath begun, and is carrying 
 on by his own power ; though the nations are angry, 
 because that by the light of his glorious gospel shining-
 
 
 (Thomas Taylor.) 29 
 
 forth, his wrath is revealed upon them for their ungodly 1657. 
 deeds, that the Scripture which cannot be broken, may 
 be fulfilled : therefore it were better for them to be 
 silent, and put their mouths in the dust, if so be for 
 them there may be hope, than to rise up against that 
 which is more unchangeable than the heavens and the 
 earth : and therefore in vain have the enemies of God, 
 and people in all professions joined themselves together 
 against the light of truth, and the way of the Lord, 
 which many in our days have fallen upon, but are bro- 
 ken to pieces, and it hath fallen upon many, and ground 
 them to powder; and nothing shall escape ; for the day 
 of the Lord is come, and it is very nigh to you that hate 
 it ; a day of darkness and of gloominess, of clouds, and 
 of thick darkness." p. 99. 
 
 Truth's Innocency and Simplicity shining through the 
 Conversion, Gospel-Ministry, fyc. of that ancient and 
 faithful Minister and Servant of Jesus Christ, THOMAS 
 TAYLOR. London : 1697. 
 
 " THE ever-blessed day of the Lord God is 1657. 
 
 dawned ; let all the children of the night fear, for they 
 are now fully to be made manifest, and brought to 
 judgment : and where now will the workers of iniquity 
 hide themselves from the Lord's justice ? Rocks and 
 mountains will not cover them ; they must come forth 
 this day to the righteous judgment of the great God, the 
 just Judge of heaven and earth, of quick and dead : 
 the shameful nakedness of all hypocrites, and unclean, 
 outside professors and professions, must now be laid open 
 to the glory of that powerful God, who hath long waited 
 upon people to teach them and to do them good, but 
 they would not; and, therefore, desolation upon desola- 
 tion, overturning upon overturning will come upon thee,
 
 30 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1657. O thou corrupted earth ! with thy inhabitants, who are 
 crying, Lord, Lord, but never come to do the will of 
 the holy Lord God in earth as it is done in heaven ; nay, 
 nor have so much as a mind thereunto, but are angry 
 with such as do it. And therefore, because these inhabi- 
 tants of the corrupt earth rebel against the light, some 
 under the name of papists, and some under the name of 
 protestants, and yet say in their hearts, We shall have 
 peace and be established in our way, the Lord hath 
 said, They shall have no peace nor be established in 
 their denied ways; for God's establishing of people is 
 now manifested to be in righteousness, and in nothing 
 else. The Lord Jesus Christ is now to reign, and the 
 sceptre of his kingdom is a sceptre of righteousness, and 
 the kingdoms of this world must be the kingdoms of the 
 Lord and his Christ, and He must reign, whose right it 
 is for ever and ever, according to prophecy." 
 
 " And now it is of the greatest concernment for kings 
 and princes, priests and prelates, high and low, rich and 
 poor, to kiss the Son, lest his anger, which they have 
 kindled against themselves by their sinning against his 
 light and grieving his good Spirit by their manifest 
 transgressions, break forth upon them, and consume 
 them to the uttermost. For this is the day wherein He, 
 that is greater than Solomon, is upon his throne, to 
 execute justice and judgment in the earth : and now it is 
 not the flying of cruel Joab to the horns of the altar, that 
 shall save his head ; for fire is gone and going forth from 
 the offended God, to consume all false worships, and false 
 worshippers, who, in the false spirit and earthly fire, 
 presume to come near the holy God ; for, with his fire, 
 and heavenly two-edged sword, is the Lord pleading with 
 all flesh; and now many must bow under his mighty 
 hand, that the Lord alone may be exalted; for to Him 
 must all bow; and now the noise and boastings of a 
 church, and sacraments, and services, in their unclean, 
 uncircumcised, unmortified nature, will do them no more
 
 (TJiomas Taylor.) 31 
 
 good than the crying of the false Jews of old, The temple 1657. 
 of the Lord ! the temple of the Lord are we ! " p. 35. 
 
 " Weep not for the dead, but weep for the living, 1661. 
 
 even for those that remain in the body upon the earth, 
 because of the miseries, plagues and judgments that are 
 come and coming upon all the wicked, sinful, and unholy 
 people in all lands ; for the Lord hath a controversy with 
 all nations, and great will be the desolations because of 
 iniquity and violence, which are grown up to so great a 
 height, that they have even, as it were, filled the whole 
 
 earth. Weep, thou England ! howl, howl, ye people ! 
 
 for the dreadful day of the Lord God is at hand; it is at 
 the door, as an armed man coming swiftly upon you, to 
 break down and tread under foot thy pomp, glory, pride, 
 and strength : thou hast exceeded in thy sins, and art 
 grown monstrous in thine iniquities; so the Lord will 
 be exceedingly terrible unto thee. Thou hast suffered 
 the wicked in thee to have liberty, and to take their fill 
 of sin, when the voice of the righteous cannot be endured 
 in thee, but he that departs from iniquity, and would 
 persuade others so to do also, is even made a prey of by 
 ungodly and unreasonable men." p. 63. 
 
 " Upon the second day of the fifth month, 1661, 
 
 as I travailed under the burdens of the people, the Lord 
 God of everlasting power, glory, wisdom, and righte- 
 ousness, said unto me with a strong hand, Write my 
 controversy with this rebellious people of England, who 
 are wise to do evil, but, to do good, will have no know- 
 ledge ; who proceed from evil to worse, and fear not me 
 at all, saith the Lord God ; whose iniquities are greatly 
 increased against me, and to such a height do the floods 
 of their ungodliness make haste to arise, that all the 
 measures will be quickly full; and then wo, wo unto 
 them, saith the Dreadful and Holy One. For thus saith 
 the Lord, I will overturn, overturn, until you wicked 
 and profane multitude be no more ; even until you, O 
 people, whose ears are wholly shut against the good, be
 
 32 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1661. consumed and brought to nothing"; for your iniquities 
 do burden my righteous soul, saith God, and Sodom was- 
 
 not more grievous to me than you are. Surely, it 
 
 shall come to pass, if ye will not yet repent of your 
 wickedness, that I will plague you with the plagues of 
 Egypt, and I will do such things amongst you, in my 
 judgment and fury poured forth, that the nations about, 
 that hear thereof, shall stand amazed at thee, O revolted, 
 and back-slided nation ! p. 12L 
 
 " O England ! England ! how hast thou denied 
 
 thyself by thine iniquities ! How is the flood-gate of sin 
 broken open in thee to the polluting of thy land ! Oh ! 
 how art thou wholly overspread with briars, and thorns, 
 and weeds ! so that the Lord must arise to purge thee 
 by fire, seeing that thou hast refused to wash in that 
 pure water of life, that sprang up in thee. So, if thou 
 hast an ear, hear, before it be too late, and the door be 
 shut." p. 129. 
 
 1666. " The indignation of the Lord is upon all nations, 
 
 and his fury upon all their armies ; he shall greatly dis- 
 tress the inhabitants of the world ; he will now plead the 
 cause of his covenant against all those that withstand his 
 glorious appearance and work of restoration in this the 
 day of his mighty power, wherein he is restoring the 
 kingdom of his everlasting peace to Israel's seed under 
 the whole heaven, who fear his great name, and tremble 
 at his almighty word of life, which shakes not only earth, 
 but heaven also. Now is the Lord God Almighty bring- 
 ing forth his glory to light, and creating the new heavens 
 and new earth wherein dwells righteousness, according 
 to his promise, Isa. Ixv. I/: &c. w r herein the people beat 
 their swords into plow-shares, and their spears into prun- 
 
 ing-hooks, never to learn war any more. And now 
 
 will God be exalted in judgment, and avenged in righte- 
 ousness upon all nations and people under heaven, wh& 
 hold the truth in unrighteousness, and will not that God's 
 Holy Son, Christ Jesus the Light, should reign, though
 
 (TJiomas Taylor.) 33 
 
 he is come to reign and judge in the earth : for to Him, 1666. 
 the Light, who lighteth every man that couieth into the 
 world, is all j>ower in heaven and earth given ; and his 
 light shines freely into all your hearts, O all people of 
 the earth, and shineth in the thickest darkness, making 
 manifest the Creator's will to all your consciences." 
 
 " Therefore arise, arise, awake, awake, O all 
 
 nations and people ! Come forth to the judgment of this 
 great day of God Almighty ; for now is the effect of 
 every vision to be known and felt in the earth, and the 
 high towers of the city of confusion, the mystery Baby- 
 lon, the great whore, the mother of harlots, shall fall to 
 the ground, and the mountain of the house of the Lord 
 shall be exalted over all ; yea, the Lord alone, and his 
 righteousness, and truth, and peaceable kingdom, shall 
 stand on the top of all, and no weapon formed against 
 
 Him and his people shall ever prosper. Therefore, 
 
 hearken to the counsel of the Lord in this your day, and 
 learn of the Lamb, the Light, who calls you to repent- 
 ance from all your grievous ways. How long shall the 
 Spirit of the Lord strive with you ? When will you 
 cease learning war, and destruction, and oppression, 
 and spoil ? Oh ! when will you beat your swords into 
 plough-shares, and your spears into pruning hooks ? 
 Oh ! when will you go and say one to another, one 
 neighbour to another, and one nation to another, 
 Come, let us all be humbled before the Lord God of 
 heaven and earth, who made us all of one blood to dwell 
 together upon the face of the earth, in truth, goodness, 
 and love, to serve one another, and so, as branches of 
 one tree, to receive life, and virtue, and power from our 
 God into our souls, to strengthen us unto his holy work. 
 
 What ! shall angels at the birth of Christ sing. 
 
 Glory to God on high, good-will to man, and yet, when 
 the way of God in Christ is published, for bringing this 
 great work of salvation to pass, vain man must come in 
 with his false mind, and say, This is the way to confound 
 
 D
 
 34 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1666. all order and destroy all good, and that this doctrine 
 turns the world upside down, and that the messengers of 
 Christ are pestilent fellows and movers of sedition? O 
 earth ! earth ! tremble before the Lord, for thou shalt 
 never have peace in thy own ways ; thou shalt never be 
 saved by thy own strength; thou shalt never be esta- 
 blished by thy own counsels ; thou shalt never have true 
 peace nor plenty within thy borders, until thou believe 
 the gospel, which saith, Learn of Christ, whose kingdom 
 is not of this world, and whose weapons are not carnal 
 but spiritual; mighty through God, not for the pulling 
 down of outward walls and bodies, but for razing, and 
 pulling down, and destroying the strong holds of sin and 
 satan in the hearts and lives of the children of men." 
 p. 94 108. 
 
 16/0. " Now no weapon formed against Christ, his 
 
 truth, and people, shall ever prosper any more at all ; 
 but the Lamb shall have the victory; and the kingdom, 
 dominion, and greatness of it shall be given to the saints 
 of the most high God, whose kingdom is everlasting; 
 and that nation, kingdom, and people, that will not 
 bow to truth, will moulder away, and come to nothing. 
 
 All ye children of the light, walk in the light, and 
 
 be thankful ; for the Lord is arisen in mighty power to 
 
 crown you with his glory his glorious-' righteous 
 
 wisdom, holiness, and salvation ; he is come indeed to 
 fulfil all his promises in you and for you, to the glori- 
 fying of the arm of his own power, and for your souls' 
 endless comfort : and why should any of you be afraid of 
 what man can do against you, seeing you fear God, and 
 love the children of men, and you are not of them that 
 seek to destroy men's lives, but to save them, as much 
 as in you lieth ?" 
 
 " Arise ! arise ! break forth into singing, ye sons 
 
 and daughters of the Heavenly King, THE LORD OUR 
 RIGHTEOUSNESS ; for thy light is come, and the glory of 
 the Lord is risen upon thee : and thou shalt no more be
 
 (Edward Burroughs.) 35 
 
 termed desolate ; for thy maker is thy hushand, and thy 1670. 
 land is married indeed ; and thy plants grow, and thy 
 gardens cast a sweet smell. Oh ! happy are they who 
 believe in thy light, and walk in the clear sun-shine of 
 thy day ! No stumbling, nor occasion of stumbling is 
 on thy mountain, nor in thy vallies ; but, on the dark 
 mountains, whereon the haters of Christ walk, is all the 
 stumbling of this present world. Thou, who art come 
 in at the true door, Christ Jesus, the light of the world, 
 thy kingdom is not of this world, but is a kingdom 
 without end, which cannot be shaken, wherein dwells 
 righteousness indeed ; and thy pasture is fresh and green 
 all the year long, being wet with the dew of heaven ; 
 yea, in thy happy lot are both the upper and nether 
 springs, and bread of life, for evermore 1". p. 40 45. 
 
 The Memorable Works of that faithful Servant of God 
 and sufferer for the testimony of Jesus, EDWARD 
 BURROUGHS, who died a prisoner for the Word of God, 
 in the city of London, the 14th of the l'2th month 
 1662. Published and printed for the good and benefit 
 of generations to come, in the year 16/2. 
 
 " THE Lord will overturn, overturn the nation, 1654. 
 
 and will create new heavens and new earth wherein 
 shall dwell righteousness, in which all the chosen of the 
 Lord shall rejoice for evermore : and all the kings and 
 nobles shall cast down their crowns before this glory; 
 and all the men of war shall lay down their armour and 
 weapons of war ; and nation shall not lift up a sword 
 against nation any more; for the Lord will establish 
 righteousness and peace. This will the Lord bring to 
 pass in thee, O England, through the destruction of that 
 which now liveth, and through the resurrection of that 
 to life which now lieth in death. Hear, O land ! give
 
 36 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1654. ear, O people ! for the Lord of heaven and earth is now 
 turning the world upside down : all old things shall pass 
 away, all things shall become new : by fire, and by his 
 sword will the Lord plead with all flesh, and the slain of 
 him shall be many : corrupt judges and officers will the 
 Lord sweep away, and their name shall no more be 
 found in the nation : the fire is kindled and the sword is 
 drawn ; happy is he that keepeth himself from fighting 
 against the Lord in this his work; and happy are ye, O 
 brethren ! that stand faithful to the end to see these 
 things accomplished." p. 12. 
 
 1657. "A MEASURE OF THE TIMES, and a full and clear Descrip- 
 tion of the Signs of the Times, and of the changing 
 of the times; and of the reign of antichrist, who 
 hath long reigned, and of his downfall, which is at 
 hand ; and of the kingdom of Christ, which is now 
 setting up in the earth." 
 
 " Shewing unto all people in all nations what the state of 
 things has been in ages past, and what the state of 
 things is at this present day, . and also what shall be 
 the state of things hereafter ; which suddenly cometh 
 to pass; the time is at hand; for times are changing 
 and renewing, and the kingdoms of this world shall be 
 translated into the kingdom of the Son of God." p. 183. 
 
 - " CHRIST Jesus, who came into the world with 
 glad tidings of good things, even with peace and 
 salvation, he said the glorious day was come, and even 
 that day which many prophets and wise men had desired 
 to see, but had not seen : the earth was filled with light : 
 yet he farther prophesied, and said, that the night should 
 come, when no man could work ; and that in the last 
 days false prophets should arise and deceive many, and 
 should come into the world, and should cry, Lo here is 
 Christ, and lo there is Christ, and if it were possible, 
 should deceive the very elect. And the apostle John in
 
 (Edward Burroughs.) 37 
 
 his time, who had been an eye-witness of Jesus, and had 1657. 
 handled, and tasted, and felt the word of life, and had 
 been with Jesus, and borne a true testimony unto him, 
 in that very age and generation he saw the false prophets 
 and antichrists come, and coming in, and alluded to the 
 very sayings of Christ ; By this we know (said he) that 
 it Is now the last time, for there are now many false 
 prophets and antichrists gone out into the world. They 
 were not of the true apostles, but went out from among 
 them (being gone out from the light in then* own par- 
 ticulars) and beguiled the hearts of the simple by good 
 words and fair speeches, and went in Balaam's way for 
 gifts and rewards, and in Cain's way to envy and murder, 
 as you may read in the scripture. So that in John's 
 time, the false prophets, whom Christ foretold of, were 
 come, and they did deceive many, according as Christ 
 had said; and they drew many from the ways of God, 
 and subverted many from the way of truth, and made 
 havock of the flock, and were grievous wolves, accord- 
 ing as Paul said ; and truth began to perish from among 
 men, and the power thereof ceased, and the apostacy came 
 in, and the form was set up for a season : so that John 
 farther saw, and said the whole world went after the 
 beast and false prophet (whom he saw before he was 
 come) and worshipped the beast and his image, but a 
 few whose names were MTitten in the book of life: 
 and, as I have said, the whole city, with the outward 
 court, was trodden down by the Gentiles' foot, and dark- 
 ness surprised all, and wickedness abounded more and 
 more, and the night came upon all, as Christ had pro- 
 phesied; and the beast grew in his dominion, till there 
 was hardly any man left to bear witness, in the truth and 
 in the power of God, unto the name of Jesus; but all 
 was subverted into dead forms and shadows, and like- 
 nesses without life : and the Lord left the earth, as it 
 were, and covered himself in the darkness, and became 
 a stranger in the world, and did scarce openly speak by
 
 38 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1657. vision, or dream, or prophet; but all were in the dark, 
 and ignorance abounded, and superstition was exalted. 
 The saints' spirit and life, which 'they were in and guided 
 by, was lost ; and then they began to worship the saints' 
 names, and days, and words, without the life and power ; 
 and that nature, and that same seed which had perse- 
 cuted the saints to death, and gainsayed the power, and 
 lost the Holy Ghost, turned itself into the profession of 
 the saints' words, which were left upon record, and con- 
 formed itself into the saints' practices, without the life, 
 power, and Holy Ghost. And having lost the power 
 from which the scripture was given forth, and not being 
 guided in the life which they were in who spoke it 
 forth, then, from the scripture, in men's own concep- 
 tions and thoughts, and by their reason, without God's 
 spirit, they set up likenesses, and images, and sects, and 
 forms ; and many heads, and many horns grew upon the 
 beast which all the world worshipped and went after; 
 for they had lost Christ the one head, wherein the union 
 stood, and grew into idolatry under the many heads 
 which were upon the beast, who had many horns, which 
 pushed one against another, as it is witnessed unto this 
 day/' p. 187. 
 
 " And now, after the long night of apostacy and 
 
 darkness which hath been upon the face of the earth, is 
 the Lord appearing, and his day dawning, and his light 
 breaking forth as the glory of the morning ; and the 
 kingdom of God is revealed, and his dominion is setting 
 up, after the long reign of the beast, who hath had his 
 power, and his seat, and his great authority from the 
 dragon, after whom the whole world hath wondered and 
 
 him hath worshipped. 1 say the time is well nigh 
 
 expired and finished, and the Lord God Almighty and 
 the Lamb is risen to make war against the beast and his 
 image, who hath reigned over the kingdoms of the 
 world." 
 
 " Consider these things you that have an ear to
 
 (Edward Burroughs.) 39 
 
 hear. Now, the mighty day of the Lord and the judg- 1657. 
 ment of the whore is approaching, wherein she shall be 
 rewarded according to her works, and double shall be 
 given into her cup ; and as she hath loved blood, so shall 
 blood be given her to drink; and the merchants of the 
 earth shall lament her, whom they have waxed rich by, 
 who hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, and 
 hath said in her heart, I sit as a queen, and am no 
 widow, and shall not see sorrow : but now the one day 
 is dawning wherein her plagues shall come, death, and 
 mourning and famine, and she shall be utterly burned 
 with fire, for strong is the Lord that is risen to judge 
 her; and the kings, and merchants, and all the inhabiters 
 
 of the earth shall lament her, and cry, Alas, alas! 
 
 yea, all that have wondered after her, even the whole 
 world shall lament and bemoan her; and such as have 
 served her, and made slaves of the souls of men by mer- 
 chandize and traffic, shall bewail her, and their gain 
 shall cease for ever ; for in one hour shall she be made 
 desolate, and her glory shall fade, and her beauty shall 
 wither." p. 194. 
 
 "The day is at hand, that the heaven, and the 
 
 holy apostles, and prophets shall rejoice over the whore, 
 and over the false prophet ; for the Lord comes to avenge 
 us on her ; and as she hath done, so shall it be done unto 
 her, now in this day wherein Jerusalem shall be builded 
 again, and the holy city, which the gentiles have trod 
 under foot for forty and two months; which time is 
 expiring, and near an end, accounting from the days of 
 the coming in of the apostacy until this day; if any 
 have an ear to hear, let him hear ; this I have received 
 from God : I say the holy city shall be measured, and the 
 gentiles cast out; and she shall be adorned, and as a 
 bride for her husband shall she be prepared ; and God's 
 tabernacle shall be with men, and he will dwell with 
 them, and tliey shall be his people ; and God himself will 
 be their God, and all tears shall be wiped away, and
 
 40 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1657- there shall be no more death nor sorrow ; for the former 
 things are passed away, and all things shall be made 
 new." 
 
 ; " And what I have said are the faithful sayings of God ; 
 every one that is athirst shall drink of the water of life 
 freely; and he that overcometh shall inherit all things, 
 and shall be called the son of God, and shall dwell in 
 the holy city (which long the gentiles' foot hath trodden 
 under) which shall again be adorned, and prepared as a 
 bride for her husband ; if any have an ear to hear let 
 them hear. And the glory of the Lord is risen, and his 
 day is breaking forth more abundantly ; and the Lamb is 
 given for a light, and all nations that are saved shall 
 walk in the light of the Lamb." p. 195. 
 
 " Now hath the Lord considered, and looked 
 
 down from his habitation ; and of a truth he is risen, and 
 hath taken to him his great power, that he may reign, 
 and put all things under his feet, and subdue the power 
 of the beast, and antichrist; and all their government, 
 and rule, and laAvs, and decrees shall be overthrown and 
 confounded, and all their worship shall be broken ; for 
 great Babylon is come into remembrance before the 
 Lord, to render to her according to her works. The 
 Lamb is now risen, and advanced with his bow and his 
 sword ; and he is going forth conquering and to conquer 
 the beast, and all that have worshipped him; and they 
 that are with the Lamb are called, and chosen, and faith- 
 ful, and they love not their lives unto death, and they shall 
 overcome him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the 
 word of his testimony. The dominion of the Lamb is 
 setting up, and his power is made manifest, and the 
 stone cut out of the mountain without hand is dashing 
 at the feet of the image ; and against the beast and his 
 power, and against all his laws and decrees is he risen ; 
 and he will change times, and laws, and powers; and 
 the kingdoms of this world shall become the kingdoms of 
 .-our Lord, and of his Christ, and he shall reign for ever
 
 (Edward Burroughs.) 41 
 
 and ever : for now the Spirit of life from God is entered 1657. 
 into the witnesses which have been slain, and they begin 
 to stand upon their feet, and great fear falls upon the 
 great men of the world; and the devil is cast out into the 
 earth, who hath sat in heaven, in the temple of God, 
 and deceived the whole world, and his wrath is great 
 against the saints and against the Lamb, because he 
 knoweth his time is hut short ; and the man-child shall 
 grow, and shall rule the nations with a rod of iron. If 
 any man hath an ear to hear, let him hear ; he that 
 leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity ; he that 
 killeth with the sword must be killed with the .sword; 
 the purpose of the Lord shall stand, p. 198. 
 
 " The day is now dawned and the night is far 
 
 spent. Wo unto the world, and to all the inhabiters of 
 the earth who have worshipped the beast. The Lord is 
 coming to plead with you ; and ye that have partaken of 
 the sins of the great whore, shall partake of her plagues; 
 and she shall be rewarded double according to her works, 
 for her sins have reached unto heaven : the day of great 
 tribulation is at hand, of anguish and destruction ; men 
 shall seek death and shall not find it. but it shall flee 
 from the m, when the Lord ariseth and the Lamb stand- 
 eth upon mount Sion, and his saints with him, who shall 
 tread down the heathen, and cast them out, even as they 
 have trodden down the holy city, and the worship there- 
 of: and the kingdom of the beast, and his seat, and his 
 great authority, which he hath received from the dragon, 
 shall all be thrown down, and the kingdom of the Son of 
 God, with his government, sceptre, and rule shall be 
 established in all the earth, and the utmost parts thereof 
 shall be given him to possess. This is the promise, and 
 this shall come to pass; and through the whole world, 
 laws and decrees, ministry and orders shall be changed 
 and renewed; the law and decree of the Most High shall 
 rule over all." p. 199. 
 
 " These are the faithful sayings of the Lord, who
 
 42 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1657- is true; and must not long be sealed, for the time is at 
 
 hand : and this is a warning to all nations and people 
 
 upon earth; times and laws must be changed among 
 you; governments and orders must be changed; injustice 
 and oppression shall be removed; and every yoke and 
 burden shall be taken off from the neck of the poor; 
 true judgment and justice, mercy and truth, peace and 
 righteousness shall be exalted; and all the nations shall 
 have judges as at the first, and counsellors as at the 
 beginning; and the poor shall rejoice when true judg- 
 ment and justice reign, and the false prophet is sub- 
 dued." p. 200. 
 
 " ALL YE INHABITANTS OF THE EARTH in all nations 
 through the world, hearken and give ear; the word 
 of the Lord God that made heaven and earth is 
 towards you; he is coming to set up his kingdom 
 and his dominion, which never shall have end; and 
 the kingdoms of this world shall be changed, and 
 shall become the kingdoms of the Son of God." 
 
 " ALL ye kings and princes and rulers through the 
 whole world, the Lord is coming up with his mighty 
 host against you all; he, who will fan you, and sift you, 
 and tiy you, and search you out; for his fan is in his 
 hand, and he will throughly purge you ; and you shall all 
 know that the kingdom of the Most High rules in the 
 kingdoms of men. All your glory shall fade away; all 
 your majesty, and honour, and dignities, and dominions 
 shall come to an end; all your strength is but as a straw; 
 all your treasure as a thing of nought ; all your glory as a 
 fading leaf in the presence of the Lord God that made 
 heaven and earth ; all nations upon earth are but as the 
 drop of a bucket before him, and the hearts of all men 
 are in his hand, and by him kings rule, and the princes 
 of the earth are at his disposure: you are all weighed 
 in the balance of equity, and found too light before the
 
 
 (Edward Burroughs.) 43 
 
 Lord; for all flesh hath corrupted its way before him. 1657- 
 Be awakened ye that have long slept in darkness, and 
 been at ease in the flesh ; ye that have had peace in this 
 world, and pleasure in the vanity thereof, the Lord is 
 coining to make war against you ; his trumpet hath 
 sounded, and his sons and daughters are gone forth to 
 bear witness of his majesty, and power, and dominion. 
 The Lord hath spoken; who can but prophesy ? He 
 hath given the word, and many are they that publish it. 
 Let your ears be open to instruction, and kick not 
 against the Lord, neither harden your hearts against 
 him, but make way for him, and prepare his path ; for 
 he cometh to judge the world in righteousness, and the 
 people with equity ; and the testimony of the light of 
 Jesus in you all shall witness for him. Your princely 
 powers must become subject to the power of the king- 
 dom of the Most High, and your glory must be vailed 
 and darkened before the glory which the Lord is caus- 
 ing to shine forth ; and we, the servants of the Most 
 High, do give you warning of the day of your visitation, 
 which is upon you, and all the world ; for the Lord is 
 now risen, who hath long winked at the time of great 
 ignorance, but now he warns you all to repent. There- 
 fore bow down, ye stiff-necked ; and tremble, ye stout- 
 hearted; and be abased, ye lofty-looks; our King is 
 above you all, our dominion is over you all, and the line 
 of true judgment are you all measured with; and your 
 ways are not found perfect in the sight of the Lord, nor 
 your hearts right before him : His kingdom hath not 
 been known in your dominions, neither have his laws and 
 his judgments borne rule; but you have every one been 
 doing that which is right in the sight of your own eyes, 
 and the counsels of your hearts have been nought but 
 vanity before the Lord. Vain glory hath abounded among 
 you, which the Lord's soul hath been burdened by ; the 
 honours and pleasures of the flesh have been your 
 delight, and strife and enmity have been among you, and
 
 44 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1657- wars, and quarrelling, and fighting one against another; 
 and you have rejoiced in the overthrow one of another, 
 and in destroying one another, and you have taken plea- 
 sure in gaining one another's dominions. You have 
 striven who should be the greatest, and greatly oppressed 
 the poor ; you have exalted yourselves one against ano- 
 ther, and drawn up your armies one in defiance of ano- 
 ther, and the blood of thousands hath been shed to satisfy 
 the humours of your proud hearts : all this hath been 
 evil in the sight of the Lord, and his spirit hath been 
 grieved, and his soul vexed by all this, and he hath 
 forborne till he hath been weary ; for he hath been 
 dishonoured by all this, and his law hath not borne rule, 
 and his judgments have had no place. You have been 
 cruel-hearted one towards another, and merciless, and 
 without pity, and you have not done to others as you 
 would be done unto ; but you have rendered evil for 
 evil, and sought occasions of evil one against another, 
 and vexed one another through the pride of your hearts r 
 therefore now is the Lord risen to make war against you 
 all, and to dash you to pieces : the feller comes up 
 amongst you ; he that will not spare to slay, and to de- 
 vour, who will not be afraid of your lofty looks ; he will 
 spoil you of your treasure, and lay waste your strength, 
 all ye kingdoms of the earth! and your gathering 
 together against him is but as briers and thorns; for he 
 will exalt his own kingdom over you all ; and all ye kings 
 of the earth shall know, that the kingdom of the Most 
 High must rule in your kingdoms; and your laws shall be 
 changed, and the poor shall no more be oppressed. For 
 He is come that proclaims liberty unto the captives, who 
 will remove oppression far away ; who will change times, 
 and worships, and ordinances ; and there shall be no law, 
 but the law of God ; nor light, but of the Lamb; nor 
 worship, but the worship in the spirit, and in the truth. 
 
 Vanity of vanities have abounded both in civil and 
 
 spiritual affairs. The root in which you stand is wholly
 
 (Edward Burroughs.) 45 
 
 corrupted, and no good fruit springs from it, but cursed 1657. 
 fruit, which must be hewn down, and cast into the fire : 
 ye have been evil, and could not bring forth any good ; 
 you are corrupted, and your fruit is of a bitter taste : a 
 day of sorrow, of lamentation, and misery is coming 
 upon you all. Ye that have been high, and lofty, and 
 stout hearted, fearfulness shall surprise you, and the 
 terror of the Lord of hosts shall compass you about. I 
 am moved to salute you all with this, as a warning; and 
 when it comes to pass, remember you have been told. 
 Ye that know not the kingdom of the Most High ruling 
 men, but are saying in your hearts, This hath my hand 
 done, in a moment shall you be smitten, and know there 
 is one above you who must rule ; for it is his right to 
 rule over all nations; and there shall be no king but 
 Jesus the Anointed of God, nor government but the 
 government of the Lamb ; there shall be no more war 
 but war against the dragon, who hath stood to devour 
 the man-child, which is now bringing forth, and he must 
 rule with his iron rod, and shall subdue all under his 
 feet. We, whom God hath warned, cannot but warn you 
 of these things which are coming to pass ; he is corning 
 to separate between the just and the unjust ; he will 
 gather from among you, that the wicked may be consu- 
 med from off the face of the earth." p. 201. 
 
 " We believe, the glory of this woman, who hath 1658. 
 
 long been fled into the wilderness, and hath long been 
 without issue while she hath been fled, shall have the 
 same fruit and issue, and the same clothing that she 
 had before she fled. When the whore and her seed are 
 removed from the face of the earth, the glory of the 
 Lamb's wife shall be as great, her beauty as fair, her fruit 
 as plenteous as before the whore was; and they that 
 believe it not, believe not the scripture ; for that testifies 
 of the glory of the church to be the greatest in the last 
 days; as we are sure and certainly know it shall come to
 
 46 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1658. pass, when the waters are dried up, which have been 
 the seat of the great whore." p. 416. 
 
 " Now the seed of God is arising, which is able 
 
 to make war with the beast and his kingdom, and his 
 worship shall be thrown down to the ground; and all 
 this causing and compelling to worship ; causing to keep 
 a day ; and causing to hire teachers, to maintain them ; 
 and this causing to go to steeple-houses, and to maintain 
 them ; and all this causing to pay tithes ; they shall fall to 
 the ground, and be beat down by the seed of God, which 
 is arising, and they shall be no more found among time 
 Christians : the beast shall not be worshipped, nor his 
 authority any more of force ; for the day of the Lord 
 hath now appeared, and the light is sprung forth, which 
 hath made all things manifest ; and now the difference is 
 known between the worship of the beast, and the wor- 
 ship of the true God. And concerning the state of 
 Christianity to come, this I know and believe, a glorious 
 restoration thereof shall appear throughout the whole 
 Christendom, and Christianity shall again be restored to 
 its former purity ; and Christians shall, and may receive 
 the same spirit from which the Christians have been 
 degenerated ; and the same life, the same power, and the 
 same worship and unity shall be revived among christ- 
 ians in the restoration, even the same that were in the 
 beginning before the apostacy; and the glory of God 
 shall again appear among his people, and they shall 
 again worship him in spirit and in truth only, as they did 
 before the apostacy; and all this traditional worship, and 
 false imitations which have been set up since the apostles' 
 days, shall be overthrown and confounded. The Lord is 
 risen, who will dash down and overthrow all this idolatry 
 now practised among Christians, and a great shaking 
 and confounding shall suddenly come among Christians : 
 for the Lord will break down that which hath been 
 builded, because it is polluted; and he will pluck up
 
 (Edward Burroughs.) 47 
 
 that which hath been planted, because it is denied; and 1058. 
 a mighty work will the Lord work in the earth. The 
 kingdoms of this world will he change into the kingdoms 
 of Christ, and Christ shall reign in and among his people ; 
 and his Spirit shall be the teacher and leader of his peo- 
 ple; and all false teachers will the Lord confound and 
 consume : all these hirelings who go for gifts and 
 rewards, and all this manner of preaching and teaching 
 which is come up since the apostles' days ; all this preach- 
 ing which they study for, and by a glass, and for so much 
 money a year, all this shall be tumbled down into the 
 pit; God's vengeance shall come upon it all: and the 
 anointing shall be received, and it shall dwell in people, 
 as it did in the apostles; and the people shall need 
 no other teacher, but as that anointing teacheth all 
 things ; and, for this spirit and anointing, all that 
 fear God may wait to receive it in this present age; 
 which spirit brings into the same unity and life, into the 
 same worship and fellowship that were among Christians 
 in the beginning, before the apostacy : and this state may 
 Christians be restored to ; and for this state all that fear 
 God, and love him, are to wait ; for this shall come to 
 pass in the world." p. 435. 
 
 " And I say and testify before all the world, that 
 
 Christianity shall be restored to its former state ; life shall 
 spring forth, and truth shall be increased, and faith 
 shall wax strong, even the same faith that the apostles 
 had, which gave them victory over all the world, which 
 shall again give people the same victory ; and this shall 
 be known in the earth. For the marriage of the Lamb 
 shall come, and all his people shall be joined unto him; 
 and there shall be one way, and one worship, and one 
 teacher ; and every one shall sit under Christ's vine, 
 and none shall make afraid: yea, more than a vine 
 shall he be known, and more than a door, and more 
 than a shepherd shall he be known to be to his people ; 
 and greater than a rock shall he be witnessed to be, and
 
 48 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1658. more than a teacher in the wilderness : if any man have 
 an ear to hear, let him hear: more and greater is he 
 becoming to his people, than is lawftil yet to utter : eye 
 hath not seen, neither hath it entered into the heart of 
 man, but it is revealed to us by his spirit. The joyful 
 day is approaching, the Lamb's wife is making herself 
 ready ; the wedding garment is putting on, and all that 
 which is polluted is to be done away. And blessed is he 
 that cometh to the marriage of the Lamb, that he may 
 become one spirit with the Creator." p. 437- 
 
 1659. " Therefore let all kings, princes, rulers, and 
 
 magistrates, be warned not to take part with the beast, 
 nor to uphold with their power the false prophets, who 
 have long deceived the nations ; but in their place stand 
 to keep the outward peace, that none may offer violence 
 and destroy another, which hath been the way of the 
 beast and of the false prophets, the prop and support 
 of their kingdom ; but leave Christ Jesus in his saints to 
 manage the war, whose warfare is not carnal, whose 
 weapons are not carnal, yet are they mighty through 
 God to the pulling dow r n of the strong hold s of satan, 
 and overturning the foundation of satan's kingdom : and 
 they shall soon see what is truth, and what is error ; for 
 great is the truth, and will prevail : they shall not need 
 to cry out for want of ministers, or that Christ Jesus is 
 not able to send forth labourers ; nor will those he sends 
 forth trouble them for maintenance. And here is the 
 magistrates true place, to keep peace among all men, 
 to punish him that doth evil, and to encourage him that 
 doth well ; to rule the kingdoms of the earth in righte- 
 ousness, that justice and equity may be exalted, and that 
 way may be made for the Lord Jesus Christ, who is 
 coining to reign and to take the dominion to himself: 
 and we are witnesses in our measures of his coining, and 
 of the working of his mighty power, by which he is able 
 to subdue all things to himself. And this is the testimony 
 unto which we are called, and many thousands with u.> 
 in the unity of the same spirit." p. 501.
 
 (Edward Burroughs.) 49 
 
 A MESSAGE TO THB PRESENT RULERS OF ENGLAND. 
 
 " AS for this little island of England, wherein 1659. 
 
 your present place and being is, it is an island which 
 the Lord hath shewed great favour unto, in ages past, 
 and in this present time ; and I must tell you, he hath a 
 purpose of love towards it, and to honour it in the 
 view of the world, though through great tribulations; 
 and he hath an intent of great good unto it : for he hath 
 a seed, a precious seed in it, scattered abroad; and he 
 hath a people that fear his name, and have walked in his 
 ways, and he hath made them, and elected them (and 
 what they are it is by him) that he may dwell among 
 them, and have the whole government over them all : 
 yea, he hath a speedy purpose verily concerning this 
 nation, and he will purify it in judgment, and refine its 
 inhabitants through the fire of tribulations, that it may 
 be pleasant to him, and fit to do his will : he hath a 
 purpose to work some great thing in it, I must tell you, 
 as he hath said unto me so to do ; he w r ill have his name 
 exalted and reverenced in this island, and his terror shall 
 be sent out of it through the world, and his branch from 
 it shall spread over the earth : he doth purpose in his 
 season to take it into his own hand, and to sway the 
 government thereof with his own sceptre, and to set up 
 righteousness alone, and to overthrow all oppressions and 
 oppressors, and the kingdoms of this world must become 
 the kingdoms of the Lord, and of his Christ." 
 
 " True it is, such hath been the coming to pass 
 of time and of things for many ages by past, that my 
 master hath been, as it were, banished from the nation, 
 and hath not been suffered to enjoy his right ; but hath 
 been expelled, even as it were by the force of satan and 
 antichrist, who hath long usurped authority over the 
 inhabitants of this nation: and in my master's absence, 
 lamentable injustice, cruelty, unmercifulness, tyranny, 
 and oppression, have been exercised upon the inhabi- 
 
 E
 
 50 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1659. tants; and the poor creatures have been held in great 
 slavery by their rulers, who have ruled by the dragon's 
 power, and have been kept in great blindness and igno- 
 rance, and under great oppression, both in body and 
 spirit, by antichristian teachers, for these many years. 
 Even while the great King hath been absent, and as it 
 were gone into a far country, even all this time hath anti- 
 christ and the devil ruled and reigned, and hath made 
 and executed oppressing and tyrannical laws and decrees, 
 both in church and state; and all the nation hath been 
 out of right order, and laid waste and barren of good fruit, 
 arid it hath been as a wilderness by reason hereof. And 
 men that have ruled for many years, have not ruled singly 
 by my master's authority, but by another power, though 
 not without the knowledge of my Lord, neither as though 
 he had not power to have done otherwise; but for his 
 own pleasure he hath suffered it thus to be, and let men 
 go on to rule and govern in their own wills and after 
 their own lusts; and people have walked wickedly towards 
 him, and towards one another; and all this he hath 
 suffered, not as if he gave toleration for it, for his 
 messengers now and then, and his witness in people's 
 consciences, have been reproving their ungodly ways, 
 and he hath often shewed his dislike, by divers ways and 
 tokens, and many judgments, and strange overturnings, 
 to the way and proceeding of both rulers, prophets, and 
 teachers of this nation." p. 589. 
 
 "Wherefore that you may be warned. I advise 
 
 you to be faithful : let not the cause of God fall, nor 
 the cause of his enemies prosper before you ; for there 
 is no other way whereby you can be preserved, nor 
 any other defence shall you ever find from the wrath 
 of the Lord, and from the fury of your devouring 
 enemies, than your faithfulness in God's cause; and 
 therefore relieve the oppressed, and take off all oppres- 
 sions; break down all unjust laws, and set all people 
 free from unjust burdens ; and let all oppressions cease,
 
 (Edward Burroitghs.) 51 
 
 both in church and civil state ; and even all oppres- 1659. 
 sive laws, and unjust judges, and evil men in power, 
 let all this be removed, and the nation clean quitted 
 and discharged even from all men and laws whatso- 
 ever, that have held under oppression the persons, 
 estates, and consciences of the good people of this land ; 
 and let the nation be corrected, and all orders and places 
 of men, and laws, and decrees be purified ; for, this, iriy 
 Lord, the great King, requireth, and he will suddenly 
 have it brought to pass in the nation, if not by you, then 
 contrary to you, and to your utter destruction. And this 
 is the very substance of my message to you, that my 
 master hath given me to say unto you, and on his behalf 
 I am come to claim of you my master's long lost right ; 
 let him have his right, from which he hath long been 
 banished; I demand it of you, all ye whosoever that 
 seem to bear rule in the nation; 1 charge you in his 
 name, let him have his title and prerogative; let him 
 be Lord and King wholly in his own kingdom ; let him 
 have the exercise of his people's consciences by his 
 own spirit in all things related to his worship and service, 
 and let him have the full authority by his spirit in all 
 things pertaining to church, and ministry, and faith, 
 and religion ; and let his spirit have the alone authority 
 to persuade and dissuade people from or to such or such 
 ministry, worship, and practices of religion ; and let all 
 forced maintenance of ministers, and tithes, be speedily 
 taken away; and let all laws and decrees whatsoever, 
 made and practised in the days of antichrist upon the 
 bodies, estates, and consciences of the people, in oppres- 
 sion and unjustness, about church, and worship, and 
 religion, be utterly repealed, and made void, and never 
 more be in force in this nation : but let my Lord be sole 
 ruler and governor, and have the full authority in his 
 own kingdom, in all things whatsoever pertaining there- 
 unto ; and let no man henceforth hereafter be intrusted 
 with the liberties of the members of Christ's kingdom,
 
 52 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1659. as they are such, nor to judge over them in any matters 
 of faith and worship, but give that right and privilege 
 wholly unto the spirit of Jesus Christ j for unto him only 
 it pertaineth to be whole judge, and to have full power 
 in his own kingdom ; and until you give him the right, 
 and deliver up unto him his own kingdom, and the 
 exercise of people's consciences in all things about reli- 
 gion, you shall never prosper, nor any that come after 
 you, that shall in any measure abridge my master of his 
 proper right, from which he hath long been banished, as 
 I have said. And till his right be given him, in the case 
 aforesaid, he will dash one man against another, and 
 none shall ever be established, but horn after horn shall 
 be broken, and one power after another brought into 
 confusion." 
 
 " And therefore^ ye men, do not strive with him in 
 this matter, but yield unto him the exercise of your own 
 consciences by his spirit in you, and let him do so unto 
 all others, even as ye hope to prosper, and upon the 
 penalty of his sore displeasure upon you, in this world 
 and in the world to come ; and let just men, and 
 righteous men, and meek men, and men that have the 
 fear and wisdom of God in them, without exception of 
 birth, or otherwise, let such men have the power and 
 judgment committed to them, to determine in things 
 between man and man. Down with all the false-hearted 
 flatterers, that have ruled for man, and not for God, and 
 for themselves, and not for the good of the people ; cast 
 all such out from among you, for the good among you 
 is choked by them : down with all that judge for 
 rewards, and away with all hireling rulers, that execute 
 the law for money, and will not plead the cause of the 
 poor without great fees ; and down with all that will not 
 serve places of trust, without so large stipends ; away 
 with all these things out of the land, for they are heinous 
 oppressions unto men, and great abominations in the 
 sight of God j and the land hath long groaned under the
 
 (Edward Burroughs.) 53 
 
 weight and burden of these things, and the earth is 1659. 
 weary of them, and my Lord requires their utter dissolu- 
 tion as being iniquities fully ripe : and having the guilt 
 of so much cruelty, injustice, and oppression lying upon 
 the nation because hereof, therefore is the Lord's season 
 to destroy them, and remove them out of the land; 
 which, if you be the instruments in such a work, it will 
 be your greatest crown, and your perpetual honour : for 
 the Lord's purpose is, one way qr other, to cleanse the 
 land of all these, and other oppressions whatsoever; 
 that the people of this land may be a free people, from 
 all the heavy yokes of antichrist, which have long sorely 
 pressed them down ; and the purpose of the Lord is, to 
 break the yokes of oppression and tyranny from off the 
 necks of this people; and therefore it is that he overturn- 
 eth, yea, and will overturn all men and authorities that 
 shall oppose his work, and none thall be able to stand 
 before him ; for the presence of my Lord is more dreadful 
 to a nation when he shews himself in wrath, than any 
 multitude of armed men. p. 594. 
 
 : " And whereas there is a great cry about minis- 
 try; for sending forth, and maintaining, and encouraging 
 a godly ministry, as you say." 
 
 " Now to this 1 do answer on my Lord's behalf, and I 
 must tell you plainly; as for a true Godly ministry, 
 truly called and sent of God, such a ministry and such 
 ministers you can never be able to hinder ; but the Lord 
 will send them out, maintaining them and preserving 
 them, whether you will or not ; and while you are 
 troubling yourselves about such a matter, you are but 
 meddling with things above your line, and out of your 
 jurisdiction, while you act in such a case : for it belongs 
 to his government, tq send out ministers, whom, and as 
 he will, and to maintain them and defend them according 1 
 to his own pleasure, and all this without you ; for such 
 ministers truly called thereunto, and sent of the Lord, 
 will not seek to you to- be sent forth, or maintained by
 
 54 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 4M 
 
 1659* you ; they will not be beholding to you in such a case ; 
 but even without you, and contrary to you, must they be 
 sent out and maintained : so that the Lord will have a 
 ministry in this nation purely of his own, and not of man, 
 nor by man; and such a ministry you shall not be able to 
 hinder." p. 595. 
 
 " And last of all, my master hath a people in this 
 
 nation, even a suffering people, that have borne the 
 burden of the cruelty, and injustice, and wickedness 
 both of rulers and teachers, who have as it were trodden 
 them down, and made them a very prey to their devour- 
 ing mouths ; the very cry of their sufferings has reached 
 unto heaven, and the very sound thereof your ears have 
 heard : and this people are greatly beloved, and my Lord 
 will assuredly honour them, and his hand shall be con- 
 tinued to preserve them, and defend them against all their 
 enemies whatsoever; and he doth reserve them to himself, 
 and for a glorious work, that he hath to do by them ; 
 and he hath formed them for himself, and they cannot 
 join with any of the horns of the great beast, neither can 
 a place of honour pervert them from their perfect way ; 
 but my Lord, he compasseth them about on every side, 
 and he hath kept them in the midst of trials, reproaches, 
 and sufferings, and covered them in the heat, and in the 
 storm, till his pleasure is to make further use of them : 
 they are his, and not their own, and they must fulfil his 
 will, and none besides ; and they lie at rest in him, while 
 mountains are overturned, and while one potsherd of the 
 earth breaks another; and this must be even till the 
 appointed time : and to say no more of them, though 
 much more might be said, they are had in remembrance 
 before the Lord, to do with them even for his own glory, 
 and for this nation's perpetual good ; and to the authority 
 of the Most High, through them, shall kings of the 
 earth, and nations of the world bow and tremble." p. 596. 
 
 1660. " Now the day of the Lord is come upon her,
 
 (Edward Burroughs.) 55 
 
 and the hour of her judgment is at hand, and all that 1660 
 have taken pleasure with her, shall mourn and bitterly 
 lament, because of her judgments which come in a 
 day. But we are delivered from her judgments, because 
 the Lord hath called us from her abominations ; and we 
 can no more drink her cup of false doctrines and prac- 
 tices, all which are idolatry, and to be judged of the Lord, 
 though she should drink our blood, as she hath done the 
 saints' before us : but, I say, the Lord hath led us out of 
 this Babylon, he hath delivered us from this great city, 
 and made us spiritually free from its abominations and 
 idolatries, though not outwardly free from her oppressions 
 and cruelties: and though this great city hath ruled over 
 the kings and great men of the earth, and subjected many 
 nations through its wickedness and violence, yet certainly 
 its ruin is near to come, else my hope is lost, my life is 
 smitten, and the Lord hath not spoken by me" p. 662. 
 
 " As for all the confusions, and distractions, and 
 
 rumours of wars, what are they to us ? What have we 
 to do them? and wherein are we concerned in these 
 things? Is not our kingdom of another world, even 
 that of peace and righteousness ? And hath not the Lord 
 called us, and chosen us into the possession of that 
 inheritance, wherein strife and enmity dwell not ? Yea, 
 he hath broken down that part in us that is related 
 thereunto ; and being dead in that nature of strife, 
 bloodshed, and wars, how can we live in strife and 
 contention in the world, or have fellowship with any 
 therein? And can we have pleasure in the confusion 
 and distraction amongst men, or join in any thing with 
 them, if so be we are quickened in the new life to God, 
 which is a life of love and peace, and free from such 
 things ? And if we are crucified in the life to this world, 
 out of which all these confusions and strife do arise, how 
 can we live therein ? And therefore these things are 
 nothing to us, neither are we of one party, or against 
 another, to oppose any by rebellion, or plottings against
 
 56 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1660. them, in enmity, and striving with them by carnal wea- 
 pons, nor to destroy any men's lives, though our enei 
 raies : so we war not for any, nor against any, for the 
 matters of this world's kingdom." 
 
 " But our kingdom is inward, and our weapons are 
 spiritual, and our victory and peace are not of this 
 world; and our war is against souls' enemies, and against 
 the powers of darkness, even by the sword of the spirit, 
 which God hath given us, and called us to Avar therewith, 
 to convert people from sin and death, and from the very 
 occasion of wars and contentions about the things that 
 are earthly. And this is our calling and work at this day ; 
 and these things all the children of the Lord are to mind, 
 and to keep over the spirit of this world in all people, 
 which all this enmity, strife, and confusion that are up 
 amongst men, lodge in, and out of it arise ; for these 
 things are the fruits of the spirit of this evil and sinful 
 world, and the fruits of the spirit of God are of another 
 nature, even peace and meekness towards all, and not 
 enmity towards any; in which spirit let us live arid walk, 
 admonishing all hereunto, and praying for our enemies, 
 and not hating them, but doing good for evil, and not 
 rendering evil for evil ; but being meek and humble, 
 merciful and patient towards all. And this is the true 
 Christian life learned of Christ, and this life is blessed in 
 this world and in the world to come ; and they that live 
 here are redeemed out of the world, wherein are troubles 
 and confusion, wars and strifes. But let us not heed 
 any of these things, for they rise and fall in their season, 
 and are brought forth and effected in the changeable and 
 erring spirit, which worketh not the honour of God, but 
 are in the dishonour to him : and, friends, let us be a 
 people separate from all that live therein, waiting for the 
 deliverance of the holy seed in all, and believing, that 
 through all these things the Lord will set up his kingdom; 
 and thus it must come to pass, Babylon must fall with a 
 great noige ; for in strife and confusion was she builded,
 
 (Edward Burroughs.) 57 
 
 and therein hath she long stood, and thereby must she 1660. 
 fall; and tribulations must come upon the earth, that 
 people may learn to fear the Lord through his judgments: 
 and he will speedily do great things in the world, which 
 cannot be believed by many, if it were told them ; for 
 hell and death must be destroyed, and both the beast and 
 the whore must be taken alive, and cast into the lake of 
 the anger of God : but blessed are they that do wait 
 upon the Lord, and rest under his shadow, and wait in 
 his counsel, and receive his instructions ; they shall see 
 the marvellous works of his hand ; but the wicked and 
 unbelieving shall be turned into darkness, and shall not 
 see the countenance of the Lord to refresh them, but 
 their sorrow shall be increased." p. 665. 
 
 " Hath the Lord done so excellent things for us; 
 
 hath he led us forth and blessed us unto this day; and 
 hath he preserved us hitherto through many tribula- 
 tions and dangers; hath he shewed infinite love and 
 favour unto us to this hour, and will he now suffer us to 
 be destroyed from being a people? Surely no. Will he 
 give our enemies their hearts' desire to cut us off, that 
 they may blaspheme his name ? Surely no. And if it be 
 the pleasure of the Lord, that some of us should seal our 
 testimony with our blood, good is the will of the Lord ; 
 not ours, but his will be done : for the testimony that we 
 have borne for these divers years, hath been so excellent 
 in itself, and in its fruits and effects, that the finishing of 
 it deserves the best seal that possibly we can sign it with, 
 which is indeed our hearts' blood ; and this dwells upon 
 my spirit: and yet, though it should be thus, my confi- 
 dence is sure, that the work of the Lord shall prosper, 
 and our testimony shall be glorious for ever ; and this 
 people shall never be extinguished from being a people." 
 
 " And I know not any thing that remains upon our 
 part at this day, but that we commit ourselves into the 
 hand of the Lord, living in the seed of God, wherein our
 
 58 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1660. election is sure, before the world was, and for ever. 
 And let us remember one another, and pray one for 
 another ; and let us stir up all the children of our Father 
 to faithfulness and patience, while we have time ; I say, 
 let us walk to the glory of the Lord, keeping faith and a 
 good conscience to our last end: our testimony shall 
 never die, nor our memories ever perish when we have 
 ceased to be. And though we suffer now the loss of life, 
 and all we have, yet the effects thereof will be glorious 
 in ages to come, and our present sufferings will hasten 
 the glory of God's work throughout the world, p. 767- 
 
 1661; "Friends, doubt not of these things; for verily 
 
 the time is at hand, and it must surely come to pass : 
 my spirit shall see it, and rejoice therein, if in this body 
 I may not behold it, That imposing and forcing of con- 
 science, by laws and ordinances of men, upon penalties on 
 men's persons 'and estates in religious matters, shall be 
 expunged, subdued, and abandoned in these nations and 
 kingdoms of the world, and it shall be no more ; but li- 
 berty, liberty shall be re-planted, embraced, and renown- 
 ed amongst men ; and truth and righteousness, mercy 
 and peace, true liberty and freedom, justice and true 
 judgment, with all the causes and effects thereof, shall 
 flourish, and grow, and prosper on the earth, and the 
 contrary shall fall, and rise no more. This day is drawing 
 nigh, it is at the door j blessed are they that are prepared 
 for it. 
 
 " Wherefore let all flesh hear and fear, bow and 
 tremble, and let the hearts of the righteous rejoice and 
 be exceeding glad ; let all the upright in heart put on 
 the garment of praises and deliverance ; for the day is at 
 hand, that antichrist with all his strength and power, 
 force and policy, shall be a hissing and reproach, shame 
 and contempt unto the saints of the Most High, amongst 
 whom the Lord God Omnipotent doth and must reign 
 and rule in dominion, and glory, and power over all, for 
 ever and evermore," p. 849, 

 
 (William Bayly.) 59 
 
 A Collection of the Several Writings of that true Prophet, 
 faithful servant of God, and sufferer for the testimony 
 of Jesus, WILLIAM BAYLY. Printed in the year 1676. 
 
 " ALL ye rulers, governors, and people of the 1658. 
 
 earth, take heed of striving to hinder this the great, 
 
 mighty, and powerful work of God's love among the 
 children of men, as you will answer it before the throne 
 of God and of the Lamb, who is the light of the world, 
 and lighteth every man that cometh into the world ; to 
 whom all judgment and power are committed ; who is 
 now come to judge the world in righteousness, and the 
 people with his truth, and he must reign till all his 
 enemies are brought under his feet; the Lord God of 
 everlasting strength hath spoken it. For He is now 
 coming in ten thousands of his saints, to convince all that 
 are ungodly among you of their ungodly deeds which 
 they have ungodlily committed, and of all their hard 
 speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against 
 him. Now is the Lord of life fulfilling his promise, 
 which he hath spoken by his former prophets, That in 
 the last days the mountain of the Lord's house shall be 
 established upon the top of the mountains, and shall be 
 exalted above the hills, and many people shall flow unto 
 it, and shall go, and say, Come ye, and let us go up 
 unto the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God 
 of Jacob, and he will teach us his ways, and we will 
 walk in his paths ; and, let us walk in the light of 
 the Lord. So that, the head stone the mountain of 
 the Lord's house, which the wise master-builders have 
 rejected and refused, who is the Light of the world, the 
 eternal wisdom and power of God is he establishing 
 upon the top of all your dark mountains of pride, envy, 
 and ambition, and exalting above your lofty hills of 
 oppression and rage; and His day, who is the Light, 
 shall be upon every one that is proud, and upon every 
 one that is high and lifted up, and he shall be brought
 
 60 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1658. low, and the Lord God alone shall be exalted in that 
 day. For the decree is gone forth, and the consuming 
 fire is kindled among the thickets of the forest, and his 
 eternal love is streaming forth towards the meek in the 
 earth; and against this his mighty and powerful work, 
 the gates of hell, and all the rulers of the darkness of 
 this world, shall never prevail ; the eternal Lord God of 
 heaven and earth hath spoken it. Therefore in vain do 
 all the potsherds of the earth strive with their maker; 
 and they that resist, resist not man, but God." p. 81. 
 
 1662. " The eternal God hath sworn by himself, and 
 
 will perform it, That this people only, who fear his 
 name and tremble at his word, shall prosper of all the 
 families of the earth ; and he will gather unto them in 
 one thousands of thousands from the four quarters of the 
 earth, and they that bless them shall be blessed, and 
 they that curse them shall be cursed : for the Lord of 
 hosts is with us, and the God of Jacob is our refuge; 
 who breaketh the bow, and snappeth the spear asunder, 
 and bumeth the chariots in the fire ; who maketh deso- 
 lation, and will make desolations in the earth for his 
 elect's sake." p. 173. 
 
 r " Now are the springs and fountains of the great 
 deep broken open unto the children of men, and the great 
 day of God and the Lamb is manifest and come, in which 
 all things, works, and fruits, shall be proved and tried, 
 of what seed, root, or ground soever; and every seed 
 shall have his own body. He that hath an ear to hear 
 let him hear. And now shall the seed and body of the 
 serpent call to the mountains and rocks to fall on them, 
 to hide them from the wrath of the Lamb (the woman's 
 seed) and of him that sits upon the throne, to whom be 
 blessings, and goodness, all glory and honour, Amen, 
 for ever." 
 
 " The day is come, in which the Almighty hath 
 
 laid hold on the dragon, and will seal him down into 
 the pit of perdition, no more to arise and deceive the
 
 (William Bayly.) 61 
 
 nations of the earth ; and the axe of his displeasure 1C62. 
 against unrighteousness is laid at the root of the great 
 tree of wickedness, and down must it come, as a mill- 
 stone that is cast into the depth of the sea, as you have 
 heard of Babylon ; for, this is the mother, or original 
 of all harlots and abominations of the earth ; and they 
 that live in wickedness, and take pleasure in ungodli- 
 ness, are the children of this womb of confusion, where 
 all is out of the true order and subjection of the holy, 
 pure God of truth ; yet are wise to do evil, but to do 
 good have no knowledge, being lifted up out of the 
 
 fear of God that made them. Now is the day come, 
 
 in which Babylon shall receive at the hand of the 
 Almighty the cup of the wine of his fury and indignation 
 without mixture, and shall drink the dregs thereof, and 
 wring them out; and all her merchants, that have 
 lived delioiously, and delighted in her wares and costli- 
 ness, and traded with her, shall howl, wail, and lament, 
 beholding the smoke of her torments, which ascends up 
 for ever and ever. 
 
 "The day hastens, yea, it cometh swiftly, in 
 
 which righteous, just, sober, and godly men and people 
 shall walk with boldness, with comfort, and courage, in 
 the ways of holiness, uprightness, and truth, in all the 
 nations of the earth, or else the Lord God hath never 
 spoken by me, which I know he hath, and will perform 
 it." 
 
 " Hear this, you that oppose the power of the 
 
 pure dreadful God, and its mighty works amongst the 
 children of men, which he hath begun in his people 
 called Quakers; it is too weighty for you; it shall 
 break you to pieces, and confound you ; it is God's 
 work you oppose, and not man's. And if you say in 
 your hearts, You will make us bow before you have 
 done with us; I tell you, nay ; God hath raised a seed 
 in us of his own life and image can ye not under- 
 stand ? which can never bow to unrighteousness,
 
 62 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1662. idolatry, hypocrisy, or deceit, but stands in the royal 
 power and authority of the living God, bearing testi- 
 mony against them ; and fears not him that can but kill 
 the body, and after that hath power to do no more, but 
 is in the pure fear, dread, and terrible power of the 
 Almighty God, who hath raised it up, compassing it 
 about as with a wall of fire; and you can never quench 
 it, for it is that love which is stronger than death, that 
 is shed abroad in our hearts; blessed is the man that 
 heareth, believeth, and receiveth it ! Therefore it is 
 impossible for you to prevail against it, unless you 
 could prevail against God, or were stronger than He; 
 then, might you hinder his handy-works and mighty 
 wonders, which he hath determined to bring to pass in 
 these last days." 
 
 " For, let me tell you, ye kings, and rulers, priests, 
 and bishops for to you am I now speaking, and that 
 from the Eternal God of heaven, that you are at this 
 day verily opposing the great and weighty work of God, 
 which he will accomplish, and none shall be able to 
 hinder; and verily, you shall as easily pluck the sun, 
 moon, and stars out of the firmament, in which the living 
 God hath set them by his power, and orders them by his 
 wisdom, as stop, hinder, or frustrate the decree or pur- 
 pose of God concerning his people, and their enemies, 
 in these last days." 
 
 " For, the day is come, of which his former prophets 
 have prophesied and declared, That in the last days he 
 would pour out of his spirit upon his sons and daughters, 
 and they should prophesy. But this is a strange work, 
 which you cannot understand, as it is written, Many 
 shall be tried, purified, and made white, but the wicked 
 will do wickedly, and none of the wicked shall under- 
 stand; but the wise shall understand, who are in that 
 wisdom which the fear of the Lord is the beginning of. 
 And, in the day when the proud were called happy, and 
 they that tempted God were even delivered, did some
 
 (William Bayly.) 63 
 
 fear the Lord, and met often together and thought upon 1662. 
 his name, for whom a book of remembrance was written 
 before the Lord, and, " they shall be mine," saith God, 
 " and I will spare them, as a man sparcth his son that 
 serveth him;" (though men who are servants of the devil 
 will not spare them.) And is not this the day? yea, THIS 
 is the day, even the notable day, the great and dreadful 
 day, in which the MIGHTY GOD will cut short his work 
 in righteousness; and because of this, nations shall be 
 distressed and in great perplexity, the sea shall roar, and 
 men's hearts shall fail them for fear and for looking after 
 those things which are coming upon the earth ; and men 
 shall walk like blind men, because of, their rebellion 
 against God; and God shall send his plagues upon the 
 earth like showers of hail, even sword, and famine, and 
 pestilence, and earthquakes, and dreadful thunderings 
 upon the head of the wicked ; and all flesh shall fail 
 before Him, and the mountains shall quake at his pre- 
 sence; for the terrible God shall roar out of Sion, and 
 utter his voice in Jerusalem, and the earth shall tremble, 
 and pain shall take hold of the ungodly as of a woman in 
 travail, and they shall not escape." p. 189 210. 
 
 " Live in the life, and power, and wisdom of God, 
 
 every where ; then you live in Christ, the Saviour, the 
 Redeemer, the Leader of his people Israel ; the Son of 
 God, who came not to do his own will: for nothing but 
 life, and power, and wisdom shall stand, and be a hiding 
 place in the terrible day at hand. Therefore feel it, pos- 
 sess it, enjoy it, all ye who profess yourselves to be 
 followers of Christ ; and remember that a name to live is 
 not enough, or to be counted a follower of the Lamb ; 
 but feel and possess the Lamb's life, which takes away the 
 sin which bears the iniquity : for God is raising his 
 own seed into dominion and victory over all, and his 
 kingdom which hath no end, which shall abolish all other 
 kingdoms. The day of trial is come, that nothing will 
 stand but life itself." p. 231.
 
 64 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1662. " We have read of the pourings forth of the 
 
 Spirit, in the last days, upon all flesh ; then none is 
 excepted ; and that sons and daughters should prophesy, 
 which is come to pass ; and that the Lord will come in 
 ten thousands of his saints to convince all the ungodly of 
 their ungodly deeds and hard speeches, which ungodly 
 sinners have spoken against him, and to execute his 
 judgments ; this is coming to pass ; and that he will 
 consume antichrist by the spirit of his mouth, and 
 destroy him by the brightness of his coming then not 
 with carnal weapons, but with spiritual, he will destroy 
 antichrist; and when this is done, then must the king- 
 doms of this world needs become his, and he shall reign 
 for ever and ever. Blessed is the eye that sees, and the 
 heart that feels, and understands these things; for the 
 time is born, and the day is dawned, in which they shall 
 be fulfilled. And this is the word of the Lord of heaven 
 and earth, who is come to reign, and reigneth, and will 
 reign, till all his enemies are become his foot-stool, and 
 the kingdoms of this world become his kingdoms and 
 dominions, even for ever and for evermore. Therefore 
 let the earth tremble, and them that fear and obey him 
 rejoice. Amen, Hallelujah, Amen." p. 309. 
 
 1663. O England ! England ! Is it thy lot to be the 
 
 hissing and the astonishment of nations? Must the 
 
 day of thy visitation pass over thy head, and the summer 
 be ended, and thou not saved ? Must thou be made an 
 example, O England ! to the whole earth ? Must the 
 noise of thy fall and ruin make the nations afar off trem- 
 ble, and be awakened, and fear before the Lord, and 
 seek after his salvation ? Must the report come from 
 thee, that must strike the earth with amazement, and 
 cause the ears of them that hear it to tingle ? O Eng- 
 land ! England ! What shall I do for thee ? My bowels ! 
 my bowels ! My heart is pained within me, and I am in 
 sorrow and distress for thee, as a woman in travail. 
 How often hath the Lord of hosts of late sounded in
 
 (William Bayly.) 66 
 
 mine ears That thy visitation is nigh over thy visita- 1G63. 
 tion is nigh over ! or else I must say, as Jeremiah did, 
 the Lord hath deceived me* 
 
 O England ! how often have the pleasant showers of 
 the visitation from on high descended upon thee ! but 
 where and amongst whom do the fruits appear to the 
 
 praise and glory of the dresser ! What nation was 
 
 like to thee in the days that are gone ? What opportuni- 
 ties hast thou had of heing made the praise of the whole 
 earth ! But now thou art become hardened, as if thou 
 wert raised up that God's power and wonders might be 
 made known upon thee ! Must thou indeed be destroyed, 
 as God overthrew Egypt ? Is Sodom thy sister ? Must the 
 plagues and the judgments that are written come upon 
 thee? Must thou fall as the handful after the harvest- 
 man, and be cut as the grass before the mower? Must 
 not just Lot, whose soul is vexed with thy unlawful 
 deeds, be first delivered ? Must not Noah be in the ark 
 before the flood come ? Then shall the destroyer pass 
 through thee as a giant to run his race, and thou shalt be 
 destroyed with a sore destruction." p. 315. 
 
 " Much that is joined together must be separated 
 
 and scattered, and much that is builded and planted, 
 must be thrown down and plucked up by the roots ; and 
 the earth must be burnt up, and the elements melt with 
 fervent heat. For hot will be the day, in which all the 
 ungodly shall become as ashes under the soles of the feet 
 of the saints of the Most High, and in which the sons of 
 Levi shall be purged and purified as fine gold; which 
 day is but as it were begun amongst many, but it draw- 
 eth near, and hasteneth greatly. Therefore blessed is 
 that wise servant that is always ready, waiting for his 
 Lord, and who is giving his fellow-servants meat in due 
 season, and does not eat and drink with the drunken, 
 nor smite his fellow-servants; for on such the day will 
 come unawares, and in an hour they think not of.'* 
 p. 372. 
 
 r
 
 (J(5 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1663. " What will ye now do, O ye sons and first-bora 
 
 of Adam in transgression? God is raising a thousand 
 Abels; and Enoch is born again; and Moses and Elias 
 are come; and the hearts of the children are turned 
 towards their father, and the heart of the father towards 
 the children ; and many are leaving the world, and the 
 earth, and travelling towards paradise, the garden of 
 God, again, where Mount Sion is known, and the King- 
 sitting upon his holy hill. Therefore let not the heathen 
 rage, nor the people imagine a vain thing ; for it is so : 
 God is gathering his seed from the four corners and 
 quarters of the earth; and his sheep from off all the 
 barren mountains, where they have been scattered in the 
 dark and cloudy day without a shepherd, and he will 
 feed them himself; and the false shepherds shall no more 
 make a prey upon them, who have fed themselves, and 
 clothed with the wool, and eat the fat, and pushed 
 with shoulder and horns till they have scattered, and not 
 strengthened, the diseased. And who shall disannul his 
 decree, or make void his promise and purpose ? The dry 
 bones must be raised, and become an exceeding great 
 army, and Babylon must fall; and this is now doing 
 with great noise and shaking, and by enlightening the 
 earth with the glory and power of God : which day is 
 come, and more and more approaching, though you see 
 it not, who are in the night ; it comes like a thief upon 
 you, and will overtake you as a snare ; for so is the day 
 of the Lord to come upon all them that dwell hi the 
 earth." p. 420 
 
 " Do you think to prosper, or to set up your- 
 selves by striving against God, and his marvellous work 
 and will, which is to be done in earth as it is done in 
 heaven? Do you imagine that your laws or decrees 
 shall hinder or frustrate God's eternal and unchangeable 
 decree and purpose, which is, to finish transgression, 
 destroy the works of the devil, and make an end of sin ; 
 to exalt truth and righteousness, the mountain of his
 
 (William Bayly.) 67 
 
 own house and holiness, and to establish it a-top of all 1663. 
 hills, and over all mountains ; which was before the 
 mountains and hills were brought forth, over which it 
 must be established ; and to fulfil his promise made to 
 Abraham and to his seed, which must be as the stars of 
 heaven, and as the sands by the sea-shore for multitude ? 
 Shall the wicked, which are like the chaff, and make a 
 mock at the movings of the Holy Ghost, or Spirit, dis- 
 annul God's determinate counsel? Can you hinder the 
 course of the stars, or cause them to withdraw their 
 shining ; or number the sands by the sea-shore, or stop 
 the ebbings and Rowings of the ocean ? Or, can you 
 stop the rain, or cause it to rain, by your power ? Will 
 the ice and the snow melt at your command ? Will the 
 fierce wind obey your voice, when it issueth forth of its 
 treasury, and whirleth up and down the earth? Or do 
 you know whence it cometh, or whither it goeth ? Will 
 the thunder and lightnings be stayed, and the noise and 
 brightness thereof cease at your command? If these 
 things and the like you can do, then will I confess unto 
 you, that you may go on, and prosper, and prevail 
 against the heritage of the Most High, whom he hath 
 blessed with everlasting blessings : but if you are not 
 able to do these things, then in vain do you strive to set 
 briars and thorns in battle against a consuming fire.'* 
 p. 436. 
 
 " As for the wicked, your enemies and oppres- 1664 
 
 sors, look not at all at them, or their power; their 
 strength is a reed of Egypt ; their time and power are 
 limited ; but still look to the Lord, in whom is your 
 help ; in whose name, and pure dominion, and ever- 
 lasting authority, I give forth this testimony unto you, 
 his people and children ; That the day is at hand, which 
 shall bum as an oven, and all the proud, and all that do 
 wickedly, shall be as stubble; and the day that cometh 
 shall burn them up, and shall leave them neither root 
 nor branch ; yea, the very root of the wicked, as well as
 
 68 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1664. the branch, will the Lord our God consume and destroy 
 by the brightness of his arising. O happy day, blessed for 
 ever ! Sing, and rejoice, ye holy prophets and saints of 
 the Most High, for the day of our redemption approach- 
 eth, when all our burdens, oppressions, labour, and 
 travails shall cease ! 
 
 " O ye dear children, I say again, lift up your heads, 
 watch, and be sober ; behold, the bridegroom cometh ; 
 be ready, ye wise virgins, with your lamps always trim- 
 med, and your vessels fiill of oil, that ye may behold his 
 glorious arisings, and see his wonders in the deep. For, 
 verily, the day of our God is come as a thief in the night 
 upon all the world of the ungodly, who will not believe 
 if one should rise from the dead and declare it unto 
 them; whose eyes the God of the world hath blinded, 
 that they cannot perceive the signs of the times, of which, 
 many are past already, and the last sign is approaching, 
 viz. and the gospel of the kingdom shall be preached for 
 a witness unto all nations, and then shall the end come : 
 and this am I to proclaim unto you his people ; and, to 
 the world, let it be a WARNING. And this is the Lord 
 bringing to pass in a way unknown to the ungodly, and 
 unexpected to the wicked, who are, and will be, doing 
 wickedly, till it overtake them as a flood ; and none of 
 the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall under- 
 stand, and the righteous shall be glad, and rejoice in the 
 God of their salvation." p. 493. 
 
 " Great is the work which the Lord is doing, 
 
 and cutting short in righteousness; yea, such a day is 
 approaching as many will not believe, though it be, and 
 hath been, declared unto them ; in which the Lord will 
 plead with all flesh by fire, and sword, and with plague, 
 and pestilence, famine, and earthquakes in divers places, 
 and dreadful storms, and fearful sights within and with- 
 out, so that all flesh shall be pained and wax feeble 
 before him ; for the terrors of God within and without 
 shall set themselves in array against the ungodly, and
 
 William Bayly. 69 
 
 compass the wicked as with snares of fire, till they are 1664. 
 consumed ; and the very stars in their courses shall fight 
 against them; yea, he will make his wonders known 
 upon them, as in the days of Egypt. And this I am 
 bold to proclaim in the name and authority of the ever- 
 lasting God ; for I have seen the consumption deter- 
 mined, and how it will come to pass, which is coming 
 upon them as swift as on eagles' wings, and it shall not 
 tarry, nor be prolonged ; and he that will come, to 
 reward every man according as his work shall be, will 
 come quickly ; blessed are they that wait for him !" 
 
 "Therefore, my dear friends, seeing our God is no 
 respecter of persons, but is risen as a giant to the battle, 
 to plead the cause of his elect seed, and to exalt his 
 name over all the earth; and seeing we look for such 
 things, which will certainly come to pass, and be fulfilled 
 in their season, which hastens; what manner of persons 
 ought we to be in all holy conversation and godliness; 
 and what need have we of diligence, watchfulness, and 
 readiness, that we may be found of him in peace, without 
 spot, and blameless ! The God of all mercies, whose 
 long-suffering and kindness have been exceedingly mani-r 
 fested to us-ward, keep you exceedingly still, quiet, and 
 low in your minds and spirits, fearing to offend him in 
 thought, word, or deed, at all times and seasons. And 
 take heed of discourses among yourselves which are 
 unnecessary; for the enemy hath a secret end to effect 
 among such things, to draw out your minds from the 
 living sense of the precious, tender seed of God in you, 
 which preserves the mind joined to it, in the humbleness, 
 and watchfulness against every appearance of evil : for he 
 will not let slip any opportunity which tends to his 
 advantage, that he may thereby preserve, continue, and 
 uphold, his own kingdom and interest. Now he perceives 
 his ruin approaching, and his perpetual downfal at hand ; 
 who will dwell as long as he can in the two men, once 
 possessed, but being wholly cast out from thence, ius
 
 70 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1664. last habitation is the herd of swine, whom he hath 
 caused, and will cause, to run down with violence and 
 perish." 
 
 "So, my dear friends, be very careful, and let your 
 words be few, and your moderation known unto all men, 
 and in all things ; for the Lord is at hand, who weigheth 
 the thoughts, words, and actions, intents, and purposes 
 of all people, with a just balance ; who will not acquit 
 the guilty, without punishment, wheresoever he is found. 
 And, keep within the bonds of the feeling of the seed of 
 God in all your ways ; for that is the ancient land-mark, 
 which, he that goes beyond, transgresseth. And take 
 heed of loudness, forwardness, and hastiness of speech, 
 in all your discourses about the things of this world ; and 
 this I lay upon you from the Lord, to whom you must 
 give an account ; but be dead and slow to such things, 
 and be lively in Christ Jesus, the Truth, and yet moderate, 
 patient, and cool : for God requireth stillness, yea, great 
 stillness, and watchfulness amongst you at this day, that 
 you may hear his voice, and do his will, and stand in his 
 pure counsel, which, the many words, without know- 
 ledge and meekness of wisdom, darken; for which the 
 reproofs must come." p. 516. 519. 
 
 " Life and immortality are risen, and the power 
 
 of God is stirring in the hearts of thousands ; and light, 
 understanding, the excellent spirit which was in Daniel, 
 is breaking forth like the lightning, which shines out of 
 the east into the west, in the sight of many people ; 
 whereby they know that it is the day of the coming of 
 the Son of Man with power and great glory, that every 
 eye may see him, and they that have pierced him shall 
 mourn bitterly." p. 546. 
 
 "God Almighty! cut short thy work in righteous- 
 ness, and shorten the days of oppression and cruelty, 
 for thine elect's sake, who cry night and day unto thee ! 
 And make known thy name and power to the ends of the 
 earth, and let the heathen hear, and fear, and bow to thy
 
 (William Bayly.) 71 
 
 righteous sceptre; and let the kings of the earth lay 1664. 
 down their crowns at the feet of the Lamb, that through 
 thy righteous judgments they may partake of thy tender 
 mercies which endure for ever; that their eyes maybe no 
 longer withholden nor blinded by the God of this world, 
 the power and prince of darkness; but that they may 
 come to see thee, who art invisible, and enjoy the same 
 precious life of pure unfeigned love which abounds in 
 the hearts of thy hidden ones, and receive thy peaceable 
 wisdom, to be governed and to govern therein : then 
 would they surely know that we are thine, and confess 
 to thy glorious truth, and speak good of thy name, and 
 magnify 4;hy power; and no longer count the blood of thy 
 everlasting covenant, wherewith we are sanctified, as an 
 unholy thing." 
 
 " But, O thou righteous, holy, pure, eternal God, 
 art unknown unto all them that sit in darkness and 
 dwell in the spirit of enmity against thee and thy people, 
 though thou art come near to judgment, according to 
 thy promise; and thy way of life and salvation is hid 
 from them; therefore they hate us without a cause, and 
 thus evilly entreat us in the darkness of their minds, 
 and in the ignorance and hardness of their hearts; for 
 which my soul doth pity them, and even entreat thee 
 for them, that, if possible, their eyes may yet be opened, 
 and their hearts softened, and their spirit humbled, that 
 they may see what they are doing in the dark, and 
 consider the effect of their work, which will assuredly 
 follow. And if thy warnings and gentle visitations will 
 not humble them, then let thy judgments awaken them, 
 and bring them down, and humble them, that they may 
 perceive something of what thou art doing in these latter 
 days, and art resolved to do to the ends of the earth, 
 though the whole world should gather and band together 
 to oppose thy work and people. For thou hast begun, 
 and thou wilt go through and perfect thy work: thou 
 wilt raise thy seed, and gather thine elect from the four
 
 72 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1664. winds, and bring them from the ends of the earth, and 
 scatter the proud in the vain imaginations of their 
 hearts: and thou wilt break thy way through all that 
 oppose thee in this the day of thy mighty power, in 
 which thou art arisen as a giant to run his race to 
 finish transgression, make an end of sin, and bring in 
 and establish everlasting righteousness; that the king- 
 doms of this world may become thy kingdoms and of thy 
 Christ, as thou hast promised, and art now fulfilling; 
 glory, and honour, and thanks, and everlasting praises 
 be to thy glorious name, world without end. Amen.'* 
 p. 554 556. 
 
 A Collection of tlie Several Books and Writings given 
 forth by that Faithful Servant of God and his People, 
 GEORGE Fox, the younger. The second Edition. 
 London : Printed in the year 1665. 
 
 1659. : "GOD is making known that, and stirring 1 that in 
 the hearts of people throughout the world, which doth 
 and shall confound and overturn all the wisdom of this 
 world, and the subtilty of the serpent, from whence all 
 the world's wisdom arose ; and therefore the hand of the 
 Lord will be terrible and heavy upon the disobedient, 
 who disobey and transgress that which he hath put into 
 their hearts, whereby he is opening a mighty under- 
 standing in the people ; but the everlasting blessing, 
 and peace, and joy, and glory of the Lord over all, shall 
 arise, and rest upon all those that join to, and believe in, 
 and obey that WORD which is nigh, in the mouth, and 
 in the heart," p. 37. 
 
 1060. " I do not expect deliverance by a carnal sword, 
 
 and yet I know, deliverance shall come, with or without 
 the help of man; and in vain have been, and shall be, 
 all the strivings, compelling?, and murderings about
 
 (George Fox, the younger.) 73 
 
 religion, church, and worship; for man may as well say 1660. 
 to the sun ill the firmament, Stand thou still, or to 
 the sea, Be thou dried up, as hinder one jot of the Lord's 
 mighty workings in this day ; for, his work, yea, his 
 strange work, shall be brought to pass, and my eye sees 
 
 it, and not any mortal shall be able to hinder it. 
 
 And this we are confident of, that the everlasting 
 gospel, which is the power of God, shall again be 
 preached unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people ; 
 and that the whore of Babylon, the beast, and his horns, 
 and his names, which have prevailed against the bodies 
 of the holy people in the night of apostacy, shall cease 
 to prevail against the saints ; and that Babylon and her 
 merchants shall be thrown down and confounded; and 
 then shall the saints of the Most High possess the king^ 
 dom. And we do believe, that God will overturn, and 
 overturn, until he hath brought to pass the thing that 
 he hath decreed, which is, to establish righteousness in 
 the earth ; and then shall there be judges as at the first, 
 and counsellors as at the beginning, and kings shall 
 become nursing-fathers, and queens shall become nurs- 
 ing-mothers, and the kingdoms of this world shall 
 become the kingdoms of the Lord and of his Christ; 
 and hereof we have all assurance in the Spirit of truth : 
 and yet we never expect to know Christ after the flesh 
 to reign, but he shall reign over all the earth, whose 
 kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all powers shall 
 serve and obey him, who is King of saints." p. 120. ' 
 
 " But many of you, who, in several nations, are 
 
 called Christians with whom the Lord's controversy is 
 great unto the dishonour of God you have taken upon 
 you to ordain other heads of the church than Christ, and 
 they shall give forth laws and ordinances for the church 
 to observe ; and they that will not hear your heads, and 
 observe their laws and ordinances, you will cut them off, 
 or persecute them ; and in thus doing you have slighted 
 and rejected the things that God hath done, and ye have
 
 74 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1660. set yourselves in his stead; and this is a great cause 
 of God's controversy with this age, and until this 
 abomination be removed and broken down, God will 
 remove and break down all in whomsoever it doth reside, 
 and all such as would uphold it, whatsoever their names 
 be called ; for whosoever will strive to uphold that 
 authority in themselves or others, which properly belongs 
 to God and Christ (who are one) shall not be able to 
 stand in this the day of God's controversy ; neither can 
 the nations be settled in true peace, until that be given 
 up to Christ, which properly unto him belongs and is 
 his right : for though the Lord hath long borne with 
 great patience, yet now the time hasteth, that the heir 
 must be possest of that which the father hath given unto 
 him; and they that will not freely give up to him his 
 due, must be broken." p. 135. 
 
 "Verily, the day is come, wherein there is no 
 
 hiding place of safety for the righteous, but purely in the 
 name of the Lord ; and blessed are they that alone trust 
 therein. For the help of the meek standeth in the name 
 of the Lord, (Psal. cxxiv. 8. Hos. xiii. 9.) and happy are 
 they that abide in it; for the day will be terrible and 
 dreadful unto all that have not a habitation in the name 
 of the Lord, the King of saints ; for, violence and oppres- 
 sion shall come to the full, and then shall the Lord roar 
 out of his habitation, and he shall strike the inhabitants 
 of the earth with astonishment and faintness ; and 
 deadness of spirit shall seize upon the mighty men, and 
 weakness and fear upon the strong and bold of the earth ; 
 for the Lord will appear in his mighty power to take the 
 kingdom, and to relieve the oppressed, and to help the 
 needy, and they shall be strong in him." 
 
 "Be wise, therefore, O ye kings, and learn wisdom, ye 
 judges and rulers of the earth : return unto the Lord, 
 and serve him with fear ; tremble before the glory of his 
 presence, and kiss the son, lest he be angry and you perish 
 by the way : for his wrath shall suddenly burn, and then,
 
 (George Fox, the younger.) 75 
 
 blessed are all they that trust in him. (read Psal. ii.) 1660. 
 Therefore, strive not with the Lord any longer, by with- 
 holding his right from him, but give unto him his due, 
 and resign up to him and his Anointed the things that he 
 doth require : for the Lamb must get the victory, and he 
 must have the pre-eminence in all things ; yea, he must 
 be the supreme head in all spiritual things, and the only 
 law-giver to his people ; yea, he with the higher power 
 must ordain and send forth ministers and labourers into 
 his church, vineyard, and harvest, for he only can fit 
 them for the work, and not man ; and he will take care 
 that they shall not lack any thing, (Luke xxii. 35.) for 
 the earth is the Lord's and the fulness thereof; and he 
 will constrain people with his love, which is better than 
 outward force, to give his ministers food and raiment 
 when they have need thereof, and they will be contented 
 therewithal, 1 Tim. vi. 8. Therefore meddle not with 
 these things any more, I warn and exhort you in the 
 love of God ; for it belongs not unto you, but unto God 
 and Christ, who are one ; and let Christ alone be acknow- 
 ledged to be the Defender of the faith, who is able to 
 perform that office to the full, which man is not." p. 140. 
 
 "This is the testimony of truth to the rulers, 
 
 teachers, and people of this present age, in what nation 
 soever this may come; mark, you must all come to the 
 light of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, who 
 hath enlightened you, that with the light you may come 
 to see what is contrary to the mind and will of God, both 
 in your laws and governments, and in the constitutions 
 thereof, and in your ministry and worship, and in the 
 constitutions thereof, and in all your conversations. 
 And that which you see with the light, to be contrary to 
 the mind and will of God, in any of these things before- 
 mentioned, you must deny, and give it up to be con- 
 sumed by the spirit of judgment and burning ; and you 
 must give your full consent that the Lamb of God, the 
 Light of the world, the second Adam, the Lord from
 
 76 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1660. heaven, the quickening Spirit, who is one with the 
 eternal Father, may have the pre-eminence in all things ; 
 and that he may rule in you all, over you all, and lead 
 and guide you all in all things, before you can witness 
 that God's controversy with you is fully come to an end. 
 And all they of the nations that are saved, must walk in 
 the light of the Lamb : therefore, let every particular, in 
 their several stations, come to a true, honest search 
 speedily, and cast off, and deny that which the light will 
 let you see that God is against; that so, haply, God may 
 stay the mighty judgment which otherwise must come, 
 which is nigh at the door, which will sweep away the 
 ungodly." 
 
 " These are faithful and true sayings, and things which 
 must shortly be fulfilled; therefore, blessed will every 
 one be, that will hear and obey the counsel of the Most 
 High, for the day of the Lord draweth nigh." p. 143. 
 
 " Thus saith the LORD GOD, I will yet make 
 
 the powers of the earth to know, that I am God and 
 there is no other, and that I can do whatsoever 1 please ; 
 and my purpose and decree shall stand unalterable, and 
 I will bring to pass the thing that is in my heart, and 
 none shall let it ; for in its season it shall be accom- 
 plished. My anger is kindled, and my jealousy is 
 
 waxed hot against the man of sin : my decree is to 
 dethrone him, and to take the kingdom myself, and to 
 slay his subjects, that will not turn at my reproof, and 
 be subject to my government. Therefore, seek not your- 
 selves, neither follow the devices and iniquity of your 
 own hearts any longer ; for I, the Lord, am coming to 
 plead with all flesh, and I will make mine enemies know, 
 that I have power to accomplish mine own work, though 
 I should find all the armed men, and the men in autho- 
 rity, against me." 
 
 ^ Now, this is my decree, I will set up righteousness in 
 the earth, and I will establish equity and mercy amongst 
 the people; I will remove oppression from off the earth,
 
 (George Fox*, the younger.) 77 
 
 and I will search out, and overthrow the ground and 1660. 
 foundation thereof, in whomsoever or in whatsoever it 
 stands, even as I overthrew Sodom in the days of old. 
 And they that will not haste out of it, shall certainly he 
 destroyed, saith the Holy One, who will hreak the 
 potsherds of the earth that withstand him, and consume 
 the stubble, the thorns, and the briers, that set them- 
 selves in battle against him, who is a consuming fire." 
 
 " Therefore, O ye heads of the people ! consider your 
 ways, and weigh your actions in that equal balance, the 
 Word of God, which will shew you the thoughts and the 
 intents of your hearts : for, verily, the Lord God is highly 
 displeased, and your hearts are seen not to be right 
 before him; therefore, consider your foundation upon 
 which you build, lest your building fall with great 
 dishonour and loss, when the storm comes, which shall 
 come to try it." p. 145. 
 
 " Oh ! consider this, the day of the Lord is far 
 
 broken forth in light and knowledge, and he is yet 
 making it brighter and brighter, unto them that truly 
 wait upon him ; yea, he is leading these, by the hand of 
 his love, from one degree of grace, and faith, and 
 knowledge, unto another, and changing them from glory 
 to glory ; and he is pouring from vessel to vessel, that 
 the dregs may be left by themselves. Yea, he is sifting, 
 and winnowing, that the chaff and the dross may be 
 taken away, and so the seed which standeth approved 
 may be made manifest. And he is bringing through the 
 fire, and through the fire, because the day hasteneth 
 and draweth nigh, in which he will make up his jewels, 
 and consume the chaff and the dross." p. 16/. 
 
 " Oh, Friends ! I see a day which will be terrible 
 
 unto the disobedient ; for ^vhen the Lord hath tried his 
 people, and gathered the sincere-hearted out of all forms 
 unto himself, he will then sweep away the refuse, that 
 will not be gathered in the day of their visitation, with a 
 mighty destruction; and the day hastens, in which this
 
 78 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1660. shall be accomplished by the mighty arm and power of 
 the Lord, which is now working in secret/' p. 176. 
 
 "Oh ! that you would now mind to obey the pure 
 
 requirings of the life of Jesus in yourselves, and that 
 would bring you into lowliness of mind, and meekness 
 of spirit, and into true love to God and one towards 
 another ; and not only to love your friends, but even to 
 love your enemies also, and to forgive and pray for them 
 that despiteful ly use you; and then you would indeed bear 
 the image of the Lamb, and witness his kingdom set up 
 in you ; and this would bring you in patience to wait, 
 until he arise to plead the cause of his people, and to 
 avenge himself on his and their enemies, and to make the 
 kingdoms of this world his, and the people subject to his 
 government ; which shall certainly be accomplished in its 
 season, and the day draweth nigh." p. 178. 
 
 1661. "Therefore, ye people of England, who yet live 
 
 in wickedness, who have not wholly sinned out the day 
 of your visitation, to you I now speak ; you that feel the 
 Lord yet striving with you, Oh ! return, return speedily, 
 unto the manifestation of his Spirit, whereby he strives 
 with you, to shew your abominations, and to draw and 
 lead you out of the same ! Oh ! be not still stiff-necked, but 
 hearken to the word of the Lord, which sheweth you the 
 thoughts and intents of your hearts ; and hearken and be 
 obedient to the call thereof, that so by its power you may 
 hasten out of Babylon, both young and old, rich and poor, 
 high and low, noble and ignoble, professor and profane, 
 who yet are there; for the Lord's controversy is great 
 with Babylon, her merchants, and inhabitants, and he will 
 not much longer spare, but he will suddenly smite, and 
 none shall be able to hinder his stroke. Yea, yea, he will 
 wound, and none shall be able to heal ; for the measure 
 of her iniquities, idolatries, and whoredoms are nigh full, 
 and the wine of her fornications hath caused the vats to 
 overflow, and she is come up into remembrance before 
 the Lord, the just God, who will plague her and all her
 
 (George Fox, the younger.) 79 
 
 merchants and inhabitants, according to their abomi- 1661. 
 nations whereby they have grievously provoked him. 
 Therefore, come out of her, whilst mercy and time are 
 offered, lest you perish with her in her judgments, 
 which the Lord is strongly and swiftly bringing upon 
 her." 
 
 " O England, England ! a day of sorrow and calamity 
 is coming upon many of thy inhabitants, I have long 
 been sensible of it ; even a day of such breaking, con- 
 fusion, and judgment, as hath not been for a long space ; 
 for thy people have wearied out the Lord with their 
 iniquities, and grieved his Holy Spirit with their 
 abominations, days without number." p. 203. 
 
 " And after I have executed my vengeance upon 
 
 the rebellious and treacherous dealers, I will then bring 
 forth the remnant of holy seed, which shall be preserved 
 from their fury, and they shall spread over all, in my 
 life, and power, knowledge, and wisdom, wherein they 
 shall stand in dominion; yea, and they shall rule the 
 earth in mercy, justice and true judgment, and they 
 shall forgive and love their enemies, as they do at this 
 day, and do the thing that is just and good unto all, 
 without respect of persons ; yea, they shall seek the good 
 of the whole creation in the true love and self-denial ; 
 for the spirit of love, meekness, healing, and restoring, 
 shall mightily fill their tender bowels, and my blessings 
 shall fill their dwelling-place, and the earth for their 
 sakes. These things will I accomplish by my own power, 
 and in my own time, saith the Lord God." 
 
 " But although these things, touching the holy rem- 
 nant, shall certainly be fulfilled in their season, yet before 
 they be fully accomplished, great will be the trials of many 
 of the righteous, and there will be great judgments 
 executed in thee, O land ! by Him who oft-times maketh a 
 fruitful land barren, because of the wickedness of them 
 that dwell therein ; and just will it be with him to deal 
 so with thee, because of the great wickedness of the
 
 80 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1661. greatest part of thy inhabitants, who are departed and 
 separated from the spirit of mercy, love, compassion, 
 and healing, and are labouring to devour, oppress, and 
 destroy one another, and the whole creation." p. 207- 
 
 " Oh ! the day hastens, wherein all profession 
 
 that is not grounded in the life and power of the Lord 
 Jesus Christ, whatever the shew of it be, it will be 
 so shaken, that an utter blasting and withering shall 
 come upon it ; and, for that cause, the Lord doth and 
 will yet suffer great trials to come, both upon the pro- 
 fessors, and possessors of his name; that so his chil- 
 dren, the possessors, may be manifested unto all, and 
 discerned from all that are but professors, though never 
 so fair and seemingly covered. For all coverings, but 
 what are of the Power and Spirit itself, shall be too nar- 
 row ; and all that are not covered with the Spirit and 
 Power of IMMANUEL, their shame and nakedness shall 
 appear more and more. This is the testimony which the 
 Spirit and Word of truth giveth ; therefore, he that hath 
 an ear let him hear, before the day of his visitation be 
 wholly past, and the tilings belonging to his peace be 
 hid from his eyes : for yet a little while and the voice 
 shall be, he that is filthy, let him be filthy still : for the 
 spirit of the Lord shall not always strive with flesh, but 
 his plagues and indignation shall be poured out upon 
 such as will not be gathered in the day of his patience, 
 long forbearance, and free love ; and he or she that loveth 
 father, mother, husband, wife, children, house, or land, 
 liberty, honour, or any thing, more than the life of the 
 Lamb, shall be counted not worthy of him, and plainly 
 manifested so to be. Read this who can ; and he that can 
 receive it, let him : for the time draweth nigh, that these 
 sayings must be fulfilled." 
 
 " George Fox, the younger." p. 213.
 
 (Laurence Wlllyer.) 81 
 
 A Declaration from the Lord of hosts, against the Idol- 
 Shepherds ; and the Testimony of his Spirit of their 
 Destruction being near at hand, and also, the Glory 
 of the Lord that shall appear to /iw People. By 
 LAURENCE WILLYER. London: 1659. 
 
 " THUS saith the Lord of hosts, who is strong 1659. 
 
 and powerful, My hand shall be dreadful against you, 
 who have been the idol-shepherds of the land, who have 
 caused the people to bow down to idol-gods, even the 
 works of your own hands, and have caused the people to 
 err through your lying vanities ; all your deceitful mer- 
 chandize will I bring to light, and no man shall buy your 
 ware any more, and the abomination of your fornication 
 I will discover, wherewith you have deceived the nations ; 
 for I will thoroughly search and try you, and your fruits 
 shall be made manifest to all people, insomuch that you 
 shall become a hissing to all people round about, and a 
 dread and a terror shall proceed from the Lord in all your 
 habitations, and shall take hold of you, and you shall not 
 be able to escape his fury : for out of his mouth shall 
 proceed a sharp sword, which shall cut down the groves, 
 and all the high places of Baal shall be trodden under foot; 
 and I will scatter all the worshippers of their images from 
 place to place, and I will thoroughly purge this nation 
 from all its dross and defilements ; and all images and 
 likenesses will I utterly destroy out of the land ; and all 
 the high places shall become desolate, and barren, even 
 as a wilderness, and they shall become a proverb and a 
 reproach unto all people, and they shall be even as a 
 heap of confusion for ever, before the face of all people." 
 
 " And I will repair the ruins of my own city, 
 
 and my own temple, to place my name there ; and I 
 will lay in my temple, and in my city, a sure foundation 
 which shall not be moved ; and the remnant of my 
 people shall possess the nation, and I will encompass 
 them with strength on every side against all their ene-
 
 82 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1659. mies : I will be as a wall of fire, and a wall of brass 
 about them, and they shall dwell quietly in the midst of 
 the nation, and I will greatly multiply them with riches 
 and strength, that all nations shall bow down before 
 them." p. 2. 
 
 " And I will bring forth my everlasting covenant, 
 
 and will establish it unto them and to their posterity, 
 from age to age, through all generations; and of their 
 kingdom and dominion there shall be no end ; for I have 
 sealed a perpetual decree of mercy, and loving-kindness 
 unto them, and to their generations for ever; and my 
 everlasting truth and righteousness shall abide with them, 
 which shall replenish the earth, and bring forth fruit 
 abundantly." p. 5. 
 
 " Then shall the delight of the Lord be amongst his 
 people, and he shall rejoice over them for good in all the 
 works of their hands: then shall the tabernacle of the 
 Lord shine forth with resplendent beauty in the eyes of 
 the nations, and the glory thereof shall appear to the 
 uttermost parts of the earth ; and all nations shall bow 
 down before it, and shall become subject to his power 
 and dominion ; and there shall stream forth a pure law of 
 righteousness through the whole earth, and shall branch 
 itself forth into the midst of the assemblies of my people, 
 even amongst all the nations round about." p. 6. 
 
 The Seed of Israel's Redemption fully prophesied of; 
 and the Scriptures opened, which now are about to be 
 fulfilled. By GEORGE WHITEHEAD. London : 1659. 
 
 1659. " NOW are the times of restoration come and 
 
 coming, as thousands do witness, and will witness for 
 the remnant of Jacob's sake, the seed, concerning which 
 the determination of the everlasting God is gone forth, 
 which he will fully accomplish and fulfil, for the gathering
 
 (George Whitehead.) 83 
 
 of the remnant of the seed unto himself; for which his 1659. 
 holy arm is made bare, and stretching itself forth over all 
 the nations of the earth where the remnant of his seed 
 hath been scattered, whether among Jews or Gentiles, 
 bond or free, kindred or peoples : the Lord God hath 
 a controversy to plead with all nations where his remnant 
 hath been carried away captive ; yea, and his promises 
 will he fulfil, which have been declared by the mouth of 
 his holy prophets since the world began." p. 9. 
 
 " The Lord God hath a seed to bring forth and to 
 
 gather both among Jews and Gentiles ; yea, both among 
 many professors, and among many that have not a 
 profession of the truth in words ; yea, the Lord God hath 
 a heritage to possess among the heathen, whom he will 
 rule with a rod of iron, and subdue nations by his holy 
 arm, and make way for his Anointed, his elect Seed, 
 who is the right heir and chosen One, that he may 
 possess the inheritance. Now is the day come and the 
 sun risen, whereby the darkness, which hath covered 
 the earth and the people, shall be expelled and driven 
 away ; and in this the day of the everlasting God, will 
 he fulfil his promises, and finish his work, which he hath 
 begun in these northern islands." p. 1 1. 
 
 " Therefore, O thou seed of Jacob, which hast 
 
 been scattered, and dispersed abroad, and oppressed; 
 and, O thou tabernacle of David, and habitation of the 
 righteous, arise, arise, and come forth; for thy day is 
 come, and thy time is come, wherein He is come to 
 visit thee, who will build thee up, and restore unto thee 
 thy former dignity, and renown thee with beauty and 
 authority, that thou mayest even be the glory of the 
 nations, and thy King may rule over the whole earth," 
 p. 12.
 
 84 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 A Christian Epistle to Friends in general, of weighty con- 
 cern for their present and future peace and safety. Ey 
 GEORGE WHITEHEAD. Printed by Andrew Sowle, 1689. 
 
 1689. " GOD has nlany ways to try his people ; and 
 national calamities and distresses, whereof his own people 
 sometimes partake, are not at an end, nor the judgments 
 incurred by iniquity turned away, because of the con- 
 tinued provocations, wickedness, rebellions against God, 
 their abominations, pride, hypocrisies, deceits, falsehood, 
 and presumption abounding in this and other professing 
 nations against the great and righteous God, the judge 
 of all ; who is so long sparing and forbearing, as he is to 
 this nation, merely for his small remnant and seed's sake, 
 which is already gathered and to be gathered." 
 
 " Yet the great God will distress nations, and cause 
 the earth to tremble before him, and overturnings and 
 desolations in the earth, before calamities are ended, or 
 Christ's peaceable kingdom be set up more generally in 
 the earth, or where as yet it is opposed and resisted. 
 For the cause why wars, desolations, and the devouring 
 sword are already in great judgment entered into so 
 many nations and countries, is because of the crying 
 sins, great provocations, persecutions, and cruelties in 
 the dark places of the earth." p. 8. 
 
 " Howbeit, I am well satisfied in the Lord, that 
 
 he will never suffer a general or final apostacy or degene- 
 ration ; the brightness of our day, and glory of our Sun 
 of Righteousness shall never be extinguished, although 
 too many, through the adversary's subtilty and temp- 
 tations, together with their own carnal and corrupt 
 inclinations, are apt to degenerate, and their minds to 
 be exalted, and alienated from the fear of God, from the 
 cross of Christ, from humility and lowliness of mind, 
 from true and conscientious tenderness, from love to 
 the brethren, from innocency, plainness, and simplicity 
 that is in Christ, both in their spirits, language, and 
 habits." p. 11.
 
 (George WTiitehead.) 85 
 
 " And, pray. Friends, keep out all disputes and 1689. 
 
 controversies, which some husy spirits in the world are 
 incident unto; as about outward revolution?, govern- 
 ments, state affairs, and kingdoms of this world, Let 
 not their divisions divide you, nor their strife and con- 
 tentions about the outward court, and forms of religion, 
 earthly kingdoms and crowns, which will fade, influence 
 any among you to contend or become parties about them j 
 but quietly serve and wait upon God in your places and 
 stations where he hath set you, and submissively leave 
 all to his over-ruling power, wisdom, and providence, 
 to do, or suffer things to come to pass, as he pleaseth : 
 for none may say to Him, What dost thou 1 (though 
 men may be warned as God shall require) and he 
 knows what is best for his people, and will cause all 
 things to work together for good to them that love him. 
 His kingdom come more and more ! His blessed will be 
 done in heaven and earth, who is Judge of all, and sees 
 all hearts, intents, and designs of men throughout the 
 whole world ! And, you know, that as we cannot make 
 flesh our arm, nor therewith fight for one or another, 
 stillness, and quietness, innocency, and good-will towards 
 all men, according to our Christian principle, are therefore 
 the best and safest state and condition ; wherein we all 
 may approve ourselves as the Lord's hidden ones, a.n$ of 
 them that are quiet in the land. Be still, and know that 
 the Lord is God, and that he will be exalted in his 
 everlasting kingdom and dominion qvpr all the kingdoms 
 of men. Neither let the world's confusions confound 
 you, nor the world's distractions distract you, or any of 
 you, nor the removing of mountains in the earth remove 
 you from the Lord's mountain ; nor the unstable waters 
 or tossing waves toss you or influence any of you to 
 discompose or hurry you from your peaceable habitation ; 
 but keep in your strong hold, your rock, and foundation, 
 Christ Jesus ; nor let any thing divert you from minding 
 his kingdom of peace above all, which is not of this
 
 86 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1689. world ; out of which, men's lusts, and the ground and 
 occasion of wars and fighting, are excluded ; for in 
 Salem is his tabernacle" p. 13. 
 London, the 28th. of the 7th. Month, 1689. 
 
 An Alarm to the Priests ; or, A Message from Heaven, 
 to forewarn them of the dreadful day of the Lord, 
 which will suddenly overtake them, unless by speedy 
 and unfeigned repentance they return to the Lord. 
 With a Call to all people to come out of Babylon lest 
 they be made partakers of her plagues. By THO- 
 MAS ELLWOOD. London : Printed for R. Wilson, 1660. 
 
 1660. " BABYLON the great is falling, is falling; the 
 
 whore, the great whore, with whom the kings of the 
 earth have committed fornication, who hath bewitched 
 the nations with the cup of her sorceries, shall be de- 
 stroyed, and that ere it be long: her scarlet coverings 
 shall be torn off, and her flesh shall be burnt with fire : 
 her merchandize shall decay, her traffic shall fail her, 
 her children shall howl and roar, for grief and anguish of 
 spirit shall come upon them. For this shall be the 
 judgment of Babylon, saith the Lord ; in one day shall 
 her plagues come upon her, death, and mourning, and 
 famine, and she shall be utterly burnt with fire, for 
 great is the Lord God who judgeth her. Her merchants 
 shall weep and lament over her, for no man buyeth her 
 merchandize any more, e^en her merchandize of souls, 
 wherein she greatly traded. As a millstone shall she be 
 thrown with violence into the sea, and shall be found no 
 more at all." 
 
 " And all those who refuse to be divorced from her, 
 who reject the mercy of the Lord in this day of the mani- 
 festation of his tender love, who hate to be reproved, who 
 reject his counsel, and will have none of his advice,
 
 (William Smith.) 87 
 
 whose hearts are hard as an iron sinew, and whose brows 1660. 
 are become as brass, who continue in their stout-hearted- 
 ness, rebellion, and witchcraft against the Lord and his 
 Anointed, and will not have him to reign over them, nor 
 willingly suffer him to reign peaceably in others; I say, 
 these, who cling so close to Babylon, shall be made 
 partakers with her of her judgments ; they shall fall as 
 she falls, they shall perish as she perisheth; even from 
 the highest pinnacles of her temples shall they precipi- 
 tately tumble down, and be buried in her ruin." p. 7- ? 
 
 The Morning-Watch ; or, A Spiritual Glass opened. 
 By WILLIAM SMITH. London : Printed by Robert 
 Wilson, 1660. 
 
 " A few words of tender counsel to all the inhabitants of 1660. 
 
 Babylon." 
 
 " HEAR, O ye people ! Babylon must be de- 
 stroyed, and all the pride of her glory must be spoiled : 
 the Lord God hath so determined, and no part of her 
 country must be spared; for the scourge is to pass 
 through her land, and to find out high and low, rich and 
 poor, who inhabit within her borders; and to smite them, 
 and spoil them, that a dreadful cry will be heard amongst 
 them ; all flying for their lives, and none able to escape 
 the severity of God's judgment." 
 
 " Therefore, all arise, come out, make haste, who 
 desire to live ; for destruction comes as a whirlwind, and 
 there will not be a hiding place found in Babylon, for 
 strong is the Lord that judgeth her; and in one day will 
 judgment fall upon her, and the Lord will make a full 
 end concerning her." 
 
 " Oh ! my heart is heavy, and my spirit sad, when 
 I behold the vial filled, and how near it is to be open- 
 ed aud poured forth ! The day hastens upon thee, O
 
 88 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1660. Babylon ! yea, sudden destruction is coming swiftly, and 
 in flames of fire it will be rendered, arid will take hold 
 upon thee, and kindle within thee, as fire kindles in the 
 midst of tow. And who shall then stand up for thee, or 
 bring deliverance to thee ? Not a man within thee will 
 be able to lift up his head to do any thing for thee ; for 
 all hearts will fail, and all faces gather paleness, who are 
 found within thy borders ; and thou must drink the cup 
 of God's indignation, because thou hast rebelled against 
 him; for thou hast been a harlot from thy youth." p. 50. 
 
 " And though thy kingdom seem to be strong, 
 and thy city to be walled, and thou enriched therein with 
 the best things of the earth, all this will not save thee 
 from the hand of him that pursues thee swiftly in judg- 
 ment. And though thou hast gathered nations unto 
 thee, and hast many merchants that trade in thee, and 
 they all with their strength join together to save thee, 
 yet thou must fall, and all that strive to uphold thee : 
 for thy ruin is near to come, and the wrath is kindled 
 against thee, and ready to take hold upon thee, and to 
 destroy thee root and branch, that thy place will be no 
 more found." p. 51. 
 
 " And all you whose delight is in Babylon, and 
 
 whose love is to her, and who are trading, and making 
 yourselves rich in her, the voice of the Lord reacheth 
 unto you, that you might come out and be saved ; for he 
 would have none of you destroyed. Therefore, they 
 who come under destruction, destroy themselves, be- 
 cause they refuse to hear and obey the Lord's counsel. 
 So let the inhabitants of Babylon consider, and all her 
 merchants ponder the thing, for the time of desolation 
 comes ; yea, it is near at hand : he is making up his 
 jewels, and gathering the wheat into his gamer; and, 
 when he hath finished, and his own pleasure is perform- 
 ed towards his chosen ones, then will the storm fall 
 upon thee, O Babylon ! yea, fiery indignation will pro- 
 ceed out of the mouth of the Almighty, and from the
 
 (Isaac Penington.) 89 
 
 fierceness of his wrath thou canst not escape, but sorrow 1660. 
 will come upon thee, as pangs upon a woman in travail : 
 then, wo, wo, wo unto thee, O Babylon! thy children 
 and merchants, and all thy inhabitants, who in thee have 
 lived in pleasure, and have made themselves rich by 
 trading in thee ! This will be thy portion, with all that 
 belong unto thee, and refuse to come out from thee; 
 weeping, and howling, and wailing, and lamentation for 
 ever : and this cup must thou, thy sons, and merchants 
 receive from the Lord's hand, who is just in his judg- 
 ments, and righteous in all his ways. Fear, and repent, 
 before it be hid from your eyes." p. 53. 
 
 The Works of the long-mournful and sorely-distressed 
 ISAAC PENINGTON, whom the Lord, in his tender 
 mercy, at length visited and relieved by the ministry of 
 that despised People called QUAKERS; and in the 
 Springings of that Light, Life, and Holy Power in 
 him, which they had truly and faithfully testified of 
 and directed his mind to, were these things written; 
 and are now published as a thankful Testimony of the 
 Goodness of the LORD unto him, and for the benejit of 
 others. The second Edition. London ; Clark, 1761. 
 
 OH ! who shall redeem the deceived nations 1660. 
 
 back to the Spirit ? Who shall preach to all nations, 
 kindreds, tongues, and people, the everlasting gospel ? 
 Who shall open the eye in them which hath been so long 
 blinded ? Who shall take the golden cup of fornication 
 from their lips, and loosen their hearts from the sorceries, 
 flatteries, and enchantments of the false woman ?" 
 
 " The everlasting bowels of the Lord roll toward his 
 poor captivated seed, and towards the poor deceived 
 nations ; and he is now preparing to build the ruins 
 of many generations. He is bringing forth that power
 
 90 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1660. of Truth, that demonstration of his Spirit in the spirit^ 
 of his people, which no paint shall be able to stand 
 before. He will rend the veil of the covering from 
 off all nations, and the Desire of all nations shall be seen 
 by the eye which he opens and anoints ; and that which 
 hath deceived, and destroyed, and led from the truth, 
 building up a mystery of unrighteousness in the stead of 
 it, even the beast and false prophet (which wrought 
 miracles, with which he deceived them that had the mark 
 of the beast, and them that worshipped his image) shall 
 be taken and cast alive into the lake. Rev. xix. 20," 
 vol. 1. p. 236. 
 
 " Observe now diligently the place of the true 
 
 church, and her estate, and the estate of her children, 
 all the forty-two months. Her place of habitation is a 
 wilderness; her estate an estate of widowhood; a city 
 unbuilt, trodden under the feet of the gentiles ; her seed 
 witnesses, reproached, persecuted, and slain, by the false 
 woman and her seed. Observe, likewise, the place and 
 estate of the false church and her children; she rears up 
 a glorious building as to the outward ; she is a city built 
 and richly adorned ; she hath a golden cup of doctrine 
 and discipline, of ordinances and worship, to hold forth 
 to the kings and inhabiters of the earth, in all nations, 
 peoples, kindreds, and tongues; she is arrayed in purple 
 and scarlet colour, and decked with gold, and precious 
 stones, and pearls, Rev. xvii. 4. and all her daughters 
 (who though they may deny her, yet partake of her spirit, 
 and learn to rear up buildings of churches like her) they 
 also flourish in their degree and measure. None is poor 
 but Sion; none is desolate but God's Jerusalem, but his 
 church, which fled into the wilderness, to abide there 
 all the time of his appointment ; and her witnesses are 
 clothed with sackcloth, testifying to God's despised and 
 reproached truth, with mourning and grief of spirit; 
 and not with that fleshly joy, wisdom, and confidence, 
 wherewith Babylon and her merchants vent their wares j.
 
 (Isaac Penington.) 91 
 
 but only in the evidence, demonstration, and assurance of 1660. 
 the Spirit in their hearts, which all the wise and confident 
 builders and inhabitants of Babylon trample upon and 
 despise." 
 
 "Now it behoveth all to consider what this Babylon, 
 what this woman is, spoken of, Rev. xvii. which came 
 in the place of the other woman spoken of, Rev. xii. 
 what this built city is, which the wrath of the Lord will 
 make desolate; what this beast or false prophet is, 
 which appears like a lamb (and sheweth such miracles 
 to deceive the earth) and yet is fierce and cruel to such 
 as witness for God, Rev. xiii. 13, 14, 15. For dreadful 
 are the plagues, woes, vials of wrath, thunders, &c. 
 which God hath prepared for her ; even the cup of the 
 Lord's indignation without mixture ; torment with fire 
 and brimstone, in the presence of the holy angels, and in 
 the presence of the Lamb, Rev. xiv. 10, 11. and chap, 
 xviii. 8. And who would not fear thee, O thou King 
 of saints ! when thou comest with thy cup of fury and 
 indignation, to empty into the bowels of this woman, 
 which hath been so long drunk with the blood of thy 
 saints and martyrs, Rev. xvii. 6. Consider these things, 
 O ye Papists! Wait on the Lord in his fear and 
 dread; that he may vouchsafe to make known to you 
 what and where, this city Babylon is, and that such of 
 you as belong to him may hear his voice calling you out 
 of her, that ye may escape this bitter cup. Rev. xviii. 4." 
 "The great judgment is already begun (this we know, 
 who have tasted of it.) It hath begun at God's house, 
 and is spreading further; yea, even over the nations 
 which have disowned you, and yet have learned of you to 
 build up a church and worship after the manner of your 
 whoredoms. These the Lord will judge first; he will 
 plead with the daughters who have disowned their 
 mother, and yet have gone on in her spirit of whore- 
 doms, worshipping the work of their own hands and 
 administering, and magnifying the beauty of the churches
 
 92 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1660. which themselves have formed. Now is your time to 
 consider ; now is the time for the simple-hearted among 
 you to flee from Babylon, before the wrath of the Lord 
 besiege her. There are three things in general (besides 
 many particulars) which the Protestant nations and 
 churches have learned of you, which will cost them dear, 
 ere they be made willing to part with them." 
 
 " First, Their taking upon them authority over men's 
 consciences, commanding them what they should believe; 
 which the apostles never did, but said expressly, they had 
 not dominion over the faith of others, but were helpers 
 of their joy, 2 Cor. i. 24. They could not command any 
 to believe their doctrine, but spake in the demonstration 
 of the Spirit, waiting till God opened the heart, 2 Cor. 
 iv. 2. and would not have men profess, believe, or 
 practise from their words, but by a feeling of the power, 
 
 1 Cor, ii. 5. And when men did believe some things, 
 and came into the unity and fellowship of the faith, they 
 did not require them to believe all that the church taught 
 or held forth as true, but waited till God pleased to 
 reveal further, Phil. iii. 15. Indeed they could com- 
 mand obedience to the faith : what truths the Spirit of 
 the Lord revealed and taught any man, they could 
 charge him in the name of the Lord to be faithful to, 
 Rom. i. 5. But they knew it was God alone who could 
 ingraft the truth into the heart and conscience, and also 
 give the increase of it; and so from him alone they 
 expected it ; waiting in patience on the stubborn and 
 perverse, till God should please to work upon them, 
 
 2 Tim, ii. 24, 25, and likewise on those that were 
 convinced, and had subjected themselves to the faith, for 
 his increase of it, 1 Cor. iii. 6. 7-" 
 
 "Secondly, Their abridging men's liberty in things 
 wherein God hath left them free, and pressing an uni- 
 formity in things which they themselves confess to be 
 indifferent. Now the Apostle (who had the care of all 
 .the churches, 2 Cor. xi. 28.) though he knew certainly
 
 (Isaac Penington.) 93 
 
 how to determine about meats and days, as himself con- 1660. 
 fesseth, Rom. xiv. 14. yet he telleth the church at Rome 
 expressly, that Christ was the Lord and Master of every 
 disciple, to whom he must stand or fall herein, ver. 4. 
 and that every man ought to do as he is fully persuaded 
 in his own mind, ver. 5. Nay he is so far from pressing 
 a necessity of uniformity in such cases, that he presseth a 
 necessity of bearing on each hand, ver. 3. So that, in 
 the Apostle's judgment, the church hath not power to 
 lay commands on the conscience, but must receive the 
 weakest in the faith, ver. 1. leaving him to the liberty 
 of his conscience, and to his subjection to his own Lord 
 and Master ; to whom every believer must give an 
 account of what he receives, and of what he obeys and 
 performs, ver. 10. 12:' 
 
 " Thirdly, Their setting up a church-building, govern- \ 
 ment, and discipline, by the magistrates' power. This the 
 apostles no-where taught nor practised. They convert- 
 ed men by the power of the Spirit ; they cut down errors, 
 heresies, seducers, and heretics, by the same Word; 
 and they found the weapons of their warfare sufficient, 
 2 Cor. x. 4. they had no need of running to the magis- 
 trate. But that church, those doctrines, that govern- 
 ment and discipline, which is set up by the magistrates' 
 sword without and against the Spirit, that hath need of 
 a carnal sword to defend it against the Spirit, and to cut 
 doAvn God's witnesses (whom he raiseth up to testify 
 against it) for schismatics and heretics, or its nakedness 
 will soon be made manifest, and its ruin approach." 
 
 " Now when the Lord hath judged all the daughters of 
 Babylon for these things, then will he at length begin to 
 plead with their mother, Babylon the great, who hath 
 gone a whoring from the Spirit, and built up a gaudy 
 church without the Spirit, which she hath defended by 
 violence and blood, drinking the blood of the saints, who 
 have been inspired by the Spirit to testify against her, 
 Rev. xi. 7. 8. and hath taught all her daughters to do the
 
 94 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1G60. same; to wit, to drink the blood of the witnesses against 
 them, even as she hath drunk the blood of the witnesses 
 that have testified against her. And though, because 
 she hath had an half day more given her, after her time 
 seemed to be even expiring, and after judgment and 
 desolation were beginning to enter upon her; though, 
 because of this, she thinks the bitterness of death is 
 past, and she shall now sit as a queen, a lady, a glorious 
 church for ever, Rev. xviii. 7- yet for all this is she 
 come again into God's remembrance, Rev. xvi. 19. and 
 she shall see widowhood, and be cast into a bed of tor- 
 ment, and all her children into great tribulation with 
 her; and she shall be desolate, and naked, and drink of 
 the cup, and not repent that she might escape it, Rev. 
 xvi. 11. ix. 20,21. This is her portion, from the hand 
 of the Lord. Oh ! happy is he whose eyes the Lord shall 
 open, to flee out of her for life ! For the Lamb is arisen 
 to make war, and his spouse is making herself ready for 
 his pure bed of life, and his anger is kindled against all 
 the kings and powers of the earth that stand in his way ; 
 and though they fight ever so resolutely against him and 
 his meek ones, they shall not prevail, but the Lamb will 
 overcome all ; for he is King of kings and Lord of lords, 
 and they that are with him in this battle of his Spirit, are 
 called, and chosen, and faithful, Rev. xvii. 4. And 
 though this woman (the false church, in her various 
 dresses) is so strong, every where getting the earthly 
 powers and authorities on her side, that now it may be 
 said concerning this beast, in the several appearances of 
 it, as was concerning the former, Who is able to make 
 war with her ? yet there is an invisible power stronger 
 than she, who will call her to judgment, Rev. xviii. 8. 
 and make her give an account of all the saints' blood 
 which she hath drunk herself, and which she hath taught 
 her daughters to drink. And salvation, glory, honour, 
 and power, shall be ascribed to the Lord, for his righteous 
 and powerful judging of her, Rev. xix. 1, 2. And he
 
 (Isaac Peningtori.) 95 
 
 that hath any glimmering of this in the eternal light of 1660. 
 the Lord's pure, ever-living Spirit, let him even now say, 
 Hallelujah to him who is arisen out of his holy habitation, 
 and hath already begun this work, who will not fail to 
 perfect it. Amen." vol. 1. p. 248 251. 
 
 " SOMK CONSIDERATIONS CONCERNING THE STATE OF 
 THINGS, relating to what hath been, now is, and 
 shortly is to come to pass ; warning all people to look 
 about them, and to wait on the Lord for the unerring 
 light of his Spirit, that they may know the times and 
 seasons, and the work which God is now about in the 
 world, which is great and wonderful; and so may not 
 be found fighters against God, his truth, and the wit- 
 nesses of this age and generation ; more particularly 
 lamenting over and exhorting England." 
 
 . " THAT the spouse of Christ, the true church 
 
 which God built in the apostles' days by his Spirit, the 
 church against which the gates of hell could not prevail ; 
 the church which was the temple of the living God, the 
 pillar and ground of truth ; the woman which was 
 clothed with the sun, who had the moon under her feet, 
 and was crowned with a crown of twelve stars, &c. this 
 church, at the close of the fight between Michael with 
 his angels, and the dragon with his angels, fled into the 
 wilderness, into the place prepared of God for her, Rev. 
 xii. 6. having two wings of a great eagle given her, that 
 she might fly thither to her place ; where she was to 
 abide, and be hid from the face of the serpent, and to be 
 fed with the living nourishment, from the hand of the 
 Father, all the time of antichrist's reign, which is said to 
 be a time, times, and half a time, ver. xiv. or one 
 thousand two hundred and sixty days, as ver. 6. or forty- 
 two months, as chap. xi. 2. And she was accordingly 
 gone out of sight, insomuch as the serpent could find 
 her no more, but went to make war with the remnant of
 
 96 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1660. her seed, which kept the commandments of God, and 
 have the testimony of Jesus Christ, Rev. xi. VJ" 
 
 " That the true church cannot come out of the wilder- 
 ness, till the time of her abode there (the set time 
 appointed by God) be ended; nor then neither, but by 
 the outstretched arm of the Lord, Psalm cii. 13. She 
 may mourn over her desolate wilderness state, but she 
 cannot fly out of it, without the help of the wings of the 
 same eagle, which were given her to fly into it. The 
 Lord must pity the dust of Sion, and, by his everlasting 
 strength and compassion, raise up the tabernacle of 
 David, which is fallen down, or it can be restored no 
 more, ver. 16. Rev. xxi. 3." 
 
 -3. "That the state of the people of God, all this time of 
 the true church's absence, hath been a state of captivity. 
 The seed hath been in bondage in Egypt the dark land, 
 in Babylon the land of confusion (for such all the church- 
 buildings, order, and government have been, in compa- 
 rison with the true order and government of the church 
 by the Spirit, which was known and enjoyed by the 
 people of God, before this her flight) where they have 
 been mourning under the chains of darkness, and lament- 
 ing over their mother; for Sion hath been laid waste, 
 and Jerusalem, the holy city, hath been trodden under 
 foot by the gentiles, to whom the outward court was 
 given, when God took down his building, and secured 
 his temple, altar, and the worshippers therein, Rev. xi. 2. 
 And in this state God finds his people, when he comes to 
 overthrow her (to bring death, and mourning, and 
 famine, and fire upon her, Rev. xviii. 8) and to redeem 
 them ; for then the voice goes forth from the Spirit of 
 the Lord, to the spirits of his people, Come out of her, 
 my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, &c. ver. 
 4. Why ? were the people of God in her till now ? Yea, 
 till the very hour of her judgment, and are many of them 
 in great danger of staying there, even till they feel her 
 plagues. They that sit down in any church-building,
 
 (Isaac Penington.) 97 
 
 taking it for Sion, before God's season of building his 1660. 
 Sion, sit down but in Babylon ; it is no other, though 
 they who have drunk of the false woman's cup can- 
 not believe it to be so." vol. 1. p. 325. 
 
 " That when Sion is rebuilt, when the church its 
 
 heaven is again stretched forth (wherein she was seated 
 before she fled into the wilderness, Rev. xii. 1.) those that 
 are God's faithful witnesses (into whom the Spirit of life 
 hath entered, and whom he hath caused to stand upon 
 their feet) shall ascend up to heaven in a cloud, which 
 their very enemies shall behold, Rev. xi. 12. And this 
 was done in the time of a great earthquake, wherein the 
 tenth part of the city fell, ver. 13. The shaking at this 
 time is very great in this nation ; let them mark what 
 will be the issue, and observe whether (notwithstanding 
 all the seeming contrarieties) the Lord God doth not so 
 order it, as to bring a considerable part of Babylon down, 
 and of the powers that uphold her." 
 
 " The people of God, all this time of antichrist's reign, 
 have been a suffering people. The tender-hearted every- 
 where (whose souls could only bow to the Lord, who 
 could not receive doctrines from men, or fall into wor- 
 ships and practices at the will of man) have lain open to 
 church-censures (as they call them) and to the magis- 
 trate's indignation, under the names of heretics, blas- 
 phemers, seducers, and disturbers of the peace both of 
 church and state : and indeed so far as any have tasted of 
 the true light and power of Christ, and have been called 
 forth by him to be his witnesses, they could not but be 
 disturbers of the carnal peace and security of the anti- 
 christian congregations against whom they witnessed. 
 When the true church fled into the wilderness, the 
 serpent cast a flood after her ; she was reproached and 
 blasphemed for a harlot, a strumpet, one that was not 
 the Lamb's wife, as she pretended, Rev. xii. 15. For 
 the dragon which persecuted her (having now gained 
 her ground) had set up another woman for the true
 
 98 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1660. church, and had decked her richly, Rev. xvii. 4. inso- 
 much as she was admired for her beauty by all the kings 
 and inhabiters of the earth, ver. 2. but she which was 
 indeed the true woman, was trampled upon and despised, 
 even by all the outward worshippers in the outward 
 court all over the world. Rev. xi. 2." vol. 1. p. 327- 
 
 " Now the true church being thus fled, what 
 
 becomes of her seed? They must needs be scattered; 
 they can no more be found in a body as before ; there is 
 now but a remnant left which keep the commandments 
 of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ, and 
 these the dragon applies himself still to manage the war 
 against. Rev. xii. 17- And the beast (to whom the 
 dragon gave his power, Rev. xiii. 2. and upon whom the 
 false church was found sitting even to the very last, 
 Rev. xvii. 3.) did not only make war with the saints, but 
 also overcame them : and this power was given him over 
 all kindreds, and tongues, and nations, ver. 7 of chap, 
 xiii. So that the holy city w r as to be kept down and 
 trampled under foot by the false worshippers, under one 
 form or appearance of church-worship or other, all the 
 time of the beast's reign, Rev. xi. 2. And as the beast 
 did kill them, so the woman that sat upon the beast 
 drank their blood, Rev. xvii. 6. For mark ; the dragon, 
 the first beast, the second beast with the false church, 
 are all in unity together, and drive on their war and 
 design, under disguises and appearances of truths and 
 church-worship, and discipline, against the Lamb and 
 his followers ; against every appearance of Christ in his 
 truth and people. And every where, where he can get 
 into any form without the power, there he manageth his 
 war by the form against the power." vol. 1. p. 328. 
 
 " But antichrist's reign (who hath taken the 
 
 name upon him without the nature, and so persecuted 
 the true nature, being covered with the name) is to have 
 an end ; yea (blessed be the Lord) it is in part ended, 
 and the Lamb's day is already begun ; the out-stretched
 
 (Isaac Penington.) 99 
 
 arm of the Lord's everlasting power is revealed, and 1660. 
 revealing more and more : yea, Babylon is already disco- 
 vered, her waters are dried up, her nakedness under all 
 her covering is seen, her very life and spirit is struck at, 
 her kingdom totters daily; the stakes also of Sion's 
 tabernacle are strengthening daily, and the Lord is 
 stretching out her curtains, and enlarging her terri- 
 tories : and the wrath issues out more and more from the 
 throne, and dreadful woes and plagues are prepared for 
 them, who are either upholding any old likenesses of 
 what once was true, or setting up any new ones in this 
 day of God's power, wherein he is redeeming and bring- 
 ing forth the life itself." 
 
 " Is it not plain that the beast (or antichrist, who sat 
 in the temple of God, ruling there as a beast by outward 
 force, without the inward life and power, 2 Thess. ii. 4.) 
 had power given him to continue his war against the 
 saints, till the very expiration of the forty-two months ? 
 Rev. xiii. 5. And was not this power given him over all 
 kindreds, and tongues, and nations ? ver. 7- Did not 
 the false church, or false woman, till the very end of this 
 time (in one appearance or other, under some form of 
 worship or other; sometimes in a grosser and more 
 loathsome, sometimes in a finer and more taking dress) 
 still go for the true church, being upheld by the kings 
 and inhabitants of the earth, who all drank of her cup of 
 fornication ? Rev. xvii. 2. 4. Was not the holy city (or 
 the true church) trod under foot all this while in every 
 kindred, nation, &c. by the heathenish spirit of the anti- 
 christian Christians therein, who made a great shew of 
 zeal and worship in the outward court ? Rev. xi. 2. For 
 while the holy city is to remain unbuilt, he that will 
 worship in it must sink into its ruins, and lie desolate 
 with it ; but he that will be building before God's time, 
 rejects the corner-stone, which lies hid in the ruins of 
 this city, and so builds up a Babylon, to which though 
 he gives the name of Sion, yet it is not so in truth ; but
 
 100 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1 660. Sion lies underneath, in the dust, trampled upon, and set 
 at nought by him and his building. Now, shall the forty- 
 two months never have an end ? And shall the holy city 
 never rise again from under the feet of the antichristian 
 professors and worshippers of the outward court ? Shall 
 the walls of Sion never be built more ? Or is it to be 
 expected, when the Lord begins to build her up, and 
 bring her forth, that ever any of the false churches 
 should own her ? O fear therefore before the Lord ! 
 every one entering into that in his own heart, which 
 (being hearkened unto) teacheth the fear, and breaketh 
 the pride, loftiness, and conceitedness of the high- 
 imagining mind, which first builds up with apprehen- 
 sions about church, religion, and worship,* without the 
 Spirit, and then is offended with that which cannot bow 
 to those images." vol. 1. p. 329. 
 
 " SOME QUERIES CONCERNING THE WORK OF GOD IN 
 THE WORLD, which is to be expected in the latter 
 ages thereof; with a few plain words to the nation of 
 England, tending towards stopping the future break- 
 ings-forth of GOD'S wrath, both upon the People 
 and Powers thereof; with an Advertisement relating 
 to the present state of things. 
 
 "Query 1. WHETHER the kingdoms of the earth 
 shall not one day become the kingdoms of the Lord, and 
 of his Christ, wherein the Lord God Omnipotent shall 
 reign, and man's glory and greatness fall, that God alone 
 may be exalted in that day? Rev. xi. 15. 17. Isa. ii. 
 11. 12, xvii. 22." 
 
 " 2. When shall this be ? Whether this is not to be 
 expected upon the recovery out of the antichristian 
 apostasy? Whether the man-child is not then to be 
 expected to be so born and brought forth as to rule 
 all nations with a rod of iron? Rev. xix. 6, and xii. 5." 
 
 *See note A.
 
 (Isaac Penington.) 101 
 
 "3. When the Son of man comes to take the govern- 1660. 
 ment to himself, to give forth the law out of Sion, and the 
 word of the Lord from Jerusalem, Isa. ii. 3. whether he 
 shall find faith on the earth ? Whether he shall find the 
 kings and powers of the earth ready to receive him, and 
 the professors willing to submit themselves unto him ? 
 Or whether they shall generally combine against him, 
 and he be fain to overcome them, before he can reign 
 over them ? Luke xviii. 8. Rev. xvii. 12, 13, 14. Psa. ii. 
 2, 3." 
 
 " 4. Why these things may not be expected in this our 
 day, and be already begun in this our nation, seeing so 
 many strange things have happened among us, as have 
 not in many foregoing ages ; God having so strangely 
 raised up a generation to do service for him, and so 
 strangely again brought them down, when they had so 
 long and so often shewed themselves unworthy of, and 
 unfit for, so great a service, by still seeking themselves, 
 and forgetting the Lord that raised them?" 
 
 "5. How the kingdoms of the earth are to become the 
 kingdoms of the Lord and of his Christ ? Whether it be 
 not by taking his yoke upon them, by submitting to his 
 laws, his cords, and bands ? By giving up whatsoever is 
 unjust, unrighteous, harsh, and oppressive ; and coming 
 under the bands of righteousness, meekness, and equity ? 
 Psa. ii. 10, 11. Matt. xi. 29." 
 
 " 6. Whether the Lord be arisen to shake terribly or 
 no, as was long ago prophesied he should ? Isai. ii. 19. 
 For the Lord will once more shake both heaven and 
 earth, Heb. xii. 26. There hath been a sore shaking in 
 this nation : the foundations of government, yea, the very 
 foundations of religion have been shaken, that that which 
 cannot stand might be removed out of the way, and give 
 place to that which cannot be shaken, ver. 27. Consider 
 therefore whether these be the beginnings of the great 
 and terrible day of the Lord God Almighty, or only 
 some such ordinary shakings as use to happen according
 
 102 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1660. to the course of kingdoms and states, which are subject 
 to changes, alterations, and dissettlements." 
 
 " 7- When God beginneth to shake the heaven and 
 earth in nations (according to that great shaking which 
 is to be after the antichristian apostasy, Rev. vi.) 
 whether there ever can be any firm settlement again 
 upon the old foundations ? There may appear some 
 hopes and probability of a settlement again, which man 
 may be tempted to fasten upon ; but this will but pro- 
 voke God to shake more effectually : for when God once 
 ariseth to shake, he will not give over till he hath made 
 that fall, which he began to shake, Rev. xi. 13. O 
 England take heed !" 
 
 " 8. How the kings, powers, and nations of the earth 
 may secure their standing in that day ? Whether there 
 be any way for them so to do, and what is that way ? 
 Whether there be any other way but kissing the Son, 
 submitting to his bands, being willing to be bound with 
 the chains of righteousness, love, and meekness, from all 
 unrighteousness and oppression, both relating to their 
 fellow-creatures and to his people? Psa. ii. 12. and 
 cxlix. 8." 
 
 " Come, O nation of England, be bound ! O powers 
 of this nation, take the Lord's yoke upon you ; seek 
 righteousness, seek meekness, seek the good of all ; not 
 in words and pretences, but in truth and uprightness. 
 Seek out that which is of God in every one of your 
 hearts, and let that govern for God. Do not smite any 
 for obedience to the living God, but come ye also under 
 his yoke, that what is not of God in yourselves, but an 
 enemy to your souls, may be yoked down; and let all 
 laws be formed, directed, and managed, to reach the 
 unrighteous, that the rod of the wicked may not always 
 lie upon the lot of the righteous, Psa. cxxv. 3. nor 
 oppression and self-Mail sit in the seat of judgment, and 
 pass (because of its power and authority) for righteous- 
 ness, Eccles. iii. 16. and iv. 1. O ye powers of England!
 
 (Isaac Penington.) 103 
 
 save yourselves and this nation from the terrible stroke 1660. 
 of God, which is very near." vol. 1. p. 394. 
 
 " The reformation out of popery was very weak 
 
 and imperfect; the Lord waited long for the perfecting of 
 it; but instead thereof, there was rather a running back- 
 wards towards it again. The Lord hath now at length 
 begun the work himself, letting forth his Spirit upon his 
 people, and gathering many into it, and is preparing the 
 stones of his temple for his building, and he will assuredly 
 build up his church again ; ye cannot possibly stop him 
 herein: ye may break yourselves by attempting to re- 
 move this burdensome stone out of your way (for indeed 
 it doth lie somewhat offensively in the way of all settle- 
 ments and governments according to the fleshly wisdom) ; 
 but it will fall upon and break all that burden themselves 
 with it, though not by outward might or power, yet by 
 that Spirit of life and righteousness which is in it, which 
 the Lord is with to prosper. Consider these things in 
 meekness, righteousness, and in the fear of the Lord; 
 even in that spirit which is fit to act for God, and not 
 against him." 
 
 " AN ADVERTISEMENT TO THE POWERS AND PEOPLE OF 
 THIS NATION." 
 
 " BECAUSE of my dear love to my native country, 
 and -because of the dregs of that cup which the Lord 
 hath already caused it to drink of, which cannot be spared 
 unless the Lord's will be effected without it ; which 
 dregs are so bitter, terrible, and dreadful, as will make 
 the stoutest hearts to faint, and the most confident coun- 
 tenance wax pale: I say, for this cause, in love am I 
 constrained to add these few lines more, that if it be 
 possible this nation may apply itself, in the fear and 
 dread of the eternal majesty and power, to make its 
 peace with him, against whom it hath long warred (not 
 only by much outward wickedness, looseness, vanity, and
 
 104 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1660. profaneness, but more especially by setting up an in- 
 vented form of godliness, and persecuting the power) and 
 to whom it is not yet reconciled in this matter, nor found 
 so much as willing to be reconciled." 
 
 " The Lord God of heaven and earth, of glory, of 
 majesty, of everlasting power, victory, and dominion 
 over all, who made both heaven and earth, and hath the 
 command of all things therein, he disposeth of nations, 
 of governments, of earthly powers according to his 
 pleasure, and who may say unto him, What dost thou ? 
 Who may implead him for making a rich nation poor, 
 a strong nation weak, or for bringing down the high and 
 mighty, the strong, stout, honourable, and noble in a 
 nation, and exalting the poor, the mean, the persecuted ? 
 And if he turn his hand again, and lay them flat whom 
 he had lifted up, and exalt the other even unlocked for, 
 who can withstand him, or who can contradict him ? " 
 
 " Now what is in the Lord's heart (who is thus mighty 
 and absolute) he will certainly bring to pass, how un- 
 likely, how contrary, how impossible soever it seem to 
 the eye of man. If he will exalt his despised truth 
 (which always was so to the eye of the great and wise- 
 ones of this world) or give his people liberty to fear, 
 worship, and obey him; if he will have truth and right- 
 eousness have the dominion in men's hearts, and in the 
 nations, and not the wills and lusts of men, how great 
 and powerful soever ; I say, if this be his intent, though 
 generation should rise up after generation to oppose him 
 herein, yet will he be too hard for them all, and they will 
 all fall before him ; and his truth, his people, his holy 
 eternal counsel will he raise up, and cause to triumph 
 over them all." 
 
 " It is man's way to settle himself by outward strength 
 against outward strength, and then he thinks he is safe ; 
 not eyeing the invisible hand which turns the wheels, and 
 delights to overturn that which is outwardly strong 
 (and seemeth unremoveable) when it forgetteth him, and
 
 (Isaac Penington.) 105 
 
 opposeth itself against him. The Lord God loves to take 1660. 
 his enemies at the strongest, when they are most wise, 
 most mighty, even when nothing seems able to deal with 
 them but himself." yol. 1. p. 397. 
 
 " Let not therefore my true love to the nation, 
 
 and to the present powers thereof, be despised by them ; 
 but let them fear before the mighty God of heaven and 
 earth, and in their hearts bow to him, that they may be 
 humbled, and made fit instruments in his hand for his 
 service, and not be found enemies against him. If they 
 will be fit instruments for God to work by, they must be 
 meek, lowly, poor in spirit, waiting in God's fear for his 
 counsel, and not hearken to the fleshly wisdom of man, 
 which is his utter enemy, and will persuade, advise, and 
 instruct them to settle the nation and church (as they 
 call it) in a way contrary to him. And remember this 
 word : Be sure you smite none for obedience to God. 
 Limit not his Holy Spirit in his people ; but limit the un- 
 clean and evil spirit in those who manifest themselves not 
 to be his people. This is the true intent of government. 
 How can he who governs aright under God, hurt that 
 which is of God, and for God? Or how can he spare 
 that which his sword is given him to cut down ? Oh ! 
 how happy were it for the nation if they would let truth 
 have its scope, and let righteousness overcome them! 
 And not contend for shadows against the substance ; but 
 let the substance overcome all those shadows which have 
 held it in bondage, and upheld its enemy." 
 
 " The great enemy of God, all this night of the apos- 
 tasy, hath been antichrist ; who hath not been an open 
 enemy only, but hath appeared as if he had been for 
 Christ, commanding the worshipping and honouring of 
 Christ ; yea, and with a great zeal taking upon him to 
 cause people to worship according to what he determined 
 to be right : and thus he getteth into the temple, erecting 
 an usurping authority over the conscience, setting up and 
 compelling to an invented worship."
 
 106 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1660. " Against this kind of worship God hath still been 
 raising 1 witnesses : but he having the powers of the earth 
 on his side (as was prophesied he should, Rev. xvii. 13.) 
 hath often prevailed over them, Rev. xiii. 7- And so the 
 truth hath been suppressed, and false worships set up by 
 the powers of the earth, according to the proportion they 
 have drank of the golden cup of fornication ; which doth 
 not only deceive in one way of manifest and gross false 
 worship, but hath many mixtures and mysteries of deceit 
 in it. Rev. xvii. 2, &c." 
 
 " Now God hath a time to call for an account of the 
 sufferings and blood of his saints. Rev. vi. 10, 11. He 
 hath a time to judge the great whore. Rev. xvii. 1 . And 
 when the time of God's judgment comes upon the earth, 
 God begins with his own house first, and so with that 
 which hath taken upon it to separate from Babylon, to 
 see what he can find of Babylon therein ; and he will 
 judge that before he fall upon the great body of the 
 mystery of iniquity. 1 Pet. iv. 17. Heb. x. 30." 
 
 " Now therefore it behoves this nation to consider what 
 of Babylon may be found in it, and to part with it, that 
 it may escape the plagues of Babylon, Rev. xviii. 4. 
 which are very bitter, as ver. 7, 8, &c. These are the 
 two main things whereof Babylon is guilty." 
 
 " ] . An invented form of worship ; a likeness of the 
 true worship, but not the true worship itself." 
 
 " 2. A persecuting and endeavouring to suppress the 
 power of the truth, even of the purity of the godly 
 religion and worship, by means of this form; because, 
 for conscience sake, men who are taught otherwise by 
 the Spirit of God, cannot submit and subject thereto." 
 
 "This, God is coming down to plead with in that 
 great city Babylon ; and this, God will first plead within 
 thee, O England ! Consider what of this is yet remain- 
 ing in thee (or what of this thy heart hankers after) and 
 part with it as thou lovest thy peace. The Lord is 
 the witness of the integrity and fidelity of my heart
 
 (Isaac Penington.) 107 
 
 to thee in these lines. It will be hard for thee to escape 1660. 
 the Lord's hand ; yet it is not impossible. If thou bow 
 before the mighty God, and lie abased in spirit at his 
 feet, he can open that eye in thee which can let thee 
 see thy danger, and also the way how to escape it." 
 vol. 1. p. 399. 
 
 "When the principle of God, which lies hid 1661. 
 
 in the hearts of men (over which the corrupt nature 
 hath grown, and upon which the spirit of dark- 
 ness in men tramples) shall be raised and come into 
 dominion; righteousness, peace, and good- will shall spring 
 up as naturally among men, as wars, strifes, divisions, 
 emulations, heart-burnings, &c. now do." 
 
 " There is a promise of such a state, when the lion 
 shall eat straw like the ox, and lie down with the lamb ; 
 when the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the 
 Lord as the waters cover the sea, and nothing shall hurt 
 or destroy upon God's holy mountain; but the nations 
 w r ho have been full of war shall throw away their wea- 
 pons, become subject to the Spirit of peace and righteous- 
 ness, and learn war no more; when the wisdom of the 
 wise, and strength of the strong, shall be broken in 
 pieces, and the little child shall play on the hole of the 
 asp, and the cockatrice's den, and lead all. As certainly 
 as the Lord God is true, so this must be in the Lord's 
 season : and will it not be happy when it comes to pass ? 
 Who would hinder it? Who would strive to keep the old 
 heavens and the old earth standing, which must be dis- 
 solved before the new heavens and the new earth (wherein 
 dwells righteousness) can be formed and brought forth ? " 
 
 " This state was in a fair forwardness once, before the 
 universal apostasy from that truth and power which God 
 had sown in the earth upon the breathing of and sending 
 forth his Spirit among his disciples, according to his pro- 
 mise. Precious was that seed, great the growth of it, the 
 woman (or true church) full of beauty and glory, and
 
 108 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1661. brought forth the man-child, which was to rule all na- 
 tions; but it hath pleased the Lord to adjourn that day 
 till after the night of apostasy, catching up the man- 
 child to heaven, and causing the woman to fly into the 
 wilderness, where she hath been hid ever since from all 
 but the inward eye of the inward Israel : and the world in 
 the heathenish nature hath been crying up holy church, 
 holy church! to her who hath sat upon the beast, and 
 been drunk with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus; but 
 the tender spouse, the lamb's wife, the mother of all the 
 lambs, hath been banished from the earth, and a cruel, 
 bloody step-mother set over all the tender-conscienced 
 ^ver since. Oh! woeful, woeful hath been the state of 
 the true church, and of all the children of truth, all this 
 dark night of the apostasy ! but the Lord is putting an 
 end to it: and though this false woman seems to be reco- 
 vering ground, and setting her feet over the necks of the 
 lambs again, and begins to think she shall prevail, and sit 
 as a lady and queen over the consciences of God's heri- 
 tage for ever; yet she shall find that strong is the Lord 
 God who hath begun to judge her; and into the sea 
 which she raiseth shall she sink like a stone, and her 
 fell shall be great and speedy: for even in one day shall 
 her misery overtake and devour her." 
 
 " After this long night of apostasy the Lord hath 
 begun to make some preparations towards this state 
 again. He hath opened his treasuries ; he hath let forth 
 the power of his truth; he hath poured down of his 
 Spirit to sanctify and gather a people unto himself; he 
 hath opened the principle of life in the hearts of many, 
 and in a great measure drawn them into it; who, so far 
 as they are renewed thereby (and found there) are made 
 peaceable, pure, meek, gentle, innocent, upright-hearted, 
 and tender-conscienced, both towards God and man. 
 And though multitudes of reproaches have been cast 
 upon them, yet the Lord hath been pleased to cause 
 their innocency and integrity to shine, to the wiping of
 
 (Isaac Penington.) 109 
 
 them off in a great degree, and will in due time bring 1661. 
 forth their righteousness as the light, and their judgment 
 as the noon-day. And what remains toward the carrying 
 on of this work, but the Lord's prospering of this prin- 
 ciple, and blowing upon the other ? As the Lord doth 
 this, so will it go on; and the nations, kings, princes, 
 great-ones, as this principle is raised in them, and the 
 contrary wisdom, the earthly policy (which undoes all) 
 brought down, so will they feel the blessing of God in 
 themselves, and become a blessing to others. Oh ! that 
 there were an ear to hear! for this is the only way of 
 healing this nation (which hath been so grievously torn) 
 as will be acknowledged when woeful experience makes 
 it manifest. But man in prosperity cannot hear, and 
 that enforceth from the Lord (by the turning of his hand) 
 the bringing upon him the day of his adversity; which, 
 could he have hearkened to in the day of his prosperity, 
 might have been escaped : for God doth not afflict will- 
 ingly nor grieve the children of men ; he is necessitated 
 to it for his own glory's sake, the preservation and 
 defence of his truth and people, and for the carrying on 
 of his work." vol. 1. p. 446, 447. 
 
 "Consider this, O ye great men ! O ye wise men, 
 
 and deep politicians ! all ye have done, or can ever do, 
 in relation to overturning any thing that God hath pur- 
 posed, what are ye therein? Or what will your work 
 come to ? It is just like the small dust of the balance; it 
 hinders not at all the weight of his power on the other 
 hand, but he will carry on his work, bring to pass what 
 he hath purposed in himself, and promised to his people ; 
 and all your counsels, wisdom, strength, hopes, resolu- 
 tions, and present or future advantages against him and 
 his work, shall hinder him no more than the small dust 
 in the scale of a balance, which the wind blows away, 
 and it is not. Be wise therefore, O ye sons of men ! fear 
 before your Maker ; wait in his fear for his counsel, that 
 ye may not be suffered by him to undertake any thing
 
 HO PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1661. against him, lest before ye are aware ye fall before him. 
 Oh ! let every one in fear remember that passage, Lo, 
 this is the man that made not God his strength, but 
 trusted in the abundance, Sfc. Forgetting the Lord in 
 the day of prosperity, causeth much increase of the 
 anguish and sorrow of heart in the day of adversity." 
 vol. 1. p. 449. 
 
 "There is a desire in all men (in whom the 
 
 principle of God is not wholly slain) after righteousness; 
 which desire will be more and more kindled by God in 
 nations, before righteousness and peace meet together 
 and be established in them. Now such and so great hath 
 been the kindling of this desire in this nation, and such is 
 the state thereof, that nothing can satisfy the heart of it 
 but righteousness; this it longeth after at the bottom; 
 this the governors which were before might have, and the 
 governors that now are (by asking counsel of the princi- 
 ple of God in themselves, and keeping close thereto) 
 may answer the nation in; but if the consultations be 
 not with the Lord hi the principle of life which comes 
 from him, but with the wisdom and policy which is of 
 the earth, and from beneath, and not from above, that 
 will incline to self, and to corruption, and never bring 
 forth righteousness; nor can the blessing of God attend 
 it, nor the peace which accompanieth righteousness be 
 reaped from it." vol. 1. p. 449. 
 
 "In that fear which God works in the heart (and 
 
 out of the compass of that carnal wisdom and strength, 
 on w r hich man relies) is the wisdom, counsel, and preser- 
 vation of the Most High; both of particular persons, and 
 also of nations. O Lord my God, if it may please thee, 
 open the ear that can hear thy voice, that misery may be 
 avoided, and thy peace and blessing sought after and 
 enjoyed ; or at least some of the force of that bitter storm 
 (which sweepeth away and maketh desolate, even as the 
 abomination of desolation hath entered, and of a long 
 time made the earth desolate of the life and power of
 
 (Isaac Penington.) Ill 
 
 godliness) broken, that this nation may not be swallowed 6161 , 
 up in the dreadful breakings-forth of thy displeasure, but 
 may be prepared by thy correcting hand, and fitted for 
 the day of thy mercy" vol. 1. p. 452. 
 
 "THAT which is to redeem the world out of 
 
 misery is the power of the gospel ; and precious is the 
 peace which comes thereby, after the work of the 
 spiritual sword (with the trouble thereof) is finished. 
 Oh ! how blessed would the principle and power of life 
 make the world, might it but have its free course therein! 
 Oh ! how happy is that man who bears the condemnation 
 because of sin, follows the guidance of the living God, 
 and waits for the day of his salvation ! Oh ! the sweet in- 
 ward peace of spirit which is enjoyed after the storm, and 
 after the judgment of that which is to be judged and 
 destroyed ! And that which makes one person happy, the 
 same must make nations happy. There is no true settle- 
 ment, nor abiding security, but in the settled and abiding 
 principle. God is arisen to shake the earth, and it can 
 settle no more upon the old foundations ; yea, the same 
 God hath shrivelled up the old heavens, and they can no 
 more be stretched forth again. "Behold, I make all 
 things new," saith the Lord, in the days of the gospel, 
 when he stretcheth forth the arm of his power : and who 
 is he which shall venture to establish the old heavens 
 and the old earth, which the Lord God is removing, and 
 causing to pass away, and abolish the new heavens and 
 the new earth, which the Lord God hath created and 
 formed, and is establishing ? Oh ! that men knew the 
 place of wisdom, that they may be wise, and not fight 
 against their Creator, from whom their strength comes, 
 and against whom their strength cannot prevail ! Oh ! 
 that men could see how industrious they are to keep up 
 misery, and to keep out happiness ! The eye of man (in 
 the fallen and corrupt estate) cannot see aright j and mis- 
 seeing, how can he choose but mis-aim, and mis-act?
 
 1661. And mis-aiming and mis-acting, how can he attain his 
 end? But the Lord's counsel shall stand, and he will fulfil 
 all his pleasure in every heart, throughout the earth. 
 Happy is he who is weaned from himself, and begotten 
 in the light of life, which is incorruptible ; he shall stand 
 and be blessed, when all flesh falls before the breath of 
 the Lord, and becomes miserable ; and the fall of all the 
 fleshly will, wisdom, and strength, hastens apace ; happy 
 is he who is delivered from them before the day of their 
 ruin ! which is nearer than man is aware of, or can 
 believe." vol. 1. p. 461. 
 
 ,;> " There hath long been a peace and prosperity 
 
 throughout the world in unrighteousness ; but the season 
 is at length come for the breaking thereof, and now there 
 is not to be such a settled false peace in unrighteous- 
 ness any longer : but tribulation, anguish, and destruction 
 are coming upon the selfish and unjust spirit, and he that 
 refuseth the path of righteousness, must not know peace, 
 but be overtaken with the overflowing scourge, and 
 swept into and shut up in the pit, which hath long been 
 digging for the wicked, Psa. xciv. 13: and mark this 
 thing following, ye that would not find yourselves de- 
 ceived of your souls hereafter, nor of your outward 
 peace and prosperity here; for it deeply concerns both." 
 "The Spirit of the Lord once raised up a spiritual 
 building, which the spirit of the dragon overturned (as to 
 its outward state, though the gates of hell could not 
 prevail against the being and inward state of the true 
 church) and instead thereof set up an earthly image, 
 agreeable to the earthly spirit in nations, but burden- 
 some to that which is innocent, pure, and spiritual. 
 The Lord God suffered this to stand all its allotted time, 
 and to have power to keep down the visibility of his 
 truth and people ; but the Lord hath appointed a season 
 to raise up his own building again, and to throw down 
 this image. Now this I say to all men in the fear and
 
 (Isaac Penington.) 113 
 
 dread of the Almighty, stand still and mark, if all the 1661, 
 power of man be able to keep down God's spiritual 
 building which he is raising up, or to keep up any part 
 of the earthly image which he is throwing down. The 
 spirit of man (in various ways) hath shewed what it 
 judgeth best to have down, and to have up ; and hath 
 put forth its strength to accomplish its will and counsel. 
 Stand still a while, and ye shall see, that the Spirit of 
 the Lord will also shew what he would have down, and 
 what he would have up ; and he will also put forth his 
 strength to accomplish his will and counsel. It is the 
 glory and honour of the Lord to carry on his work in the 
 midst of all the oppositions of man, and against the full 
 current of his strength and will. This will make it to 
 appear to be of God, and cause the glory of his name to 
 shine. Oh! that men would fear the Lord, and bow 
 before him, that he might be honoured in them, and see 
 good to honour them in the carrying on of his work, and 
 so might not be forced (through their hearkening to the 
 dark spirit, and because of their ignorance of, and dis- 
 obedience to, the light of his Spirit) to get himself a 
 name, by overturning their strength and counsels, and 
 causing his glory to shine over them." vol. 1. p. 480. 
 
 " Oh ! how happy will the day be, when the 
 
 Lord shall have wrought down the selfish spirit in man, 
 and shall have raised up his own noble and equal principle. 
 Then shall righteousness spring up and spread abroad 
 throughout the nations ; and the work of righteousness 
 shall be peace, and the effect of righteousness quietness 
 and assurance for ever." vol. 1. p. 481. 
 
 " How came the worship of God to be trans- 
 formed and changed from the living power, into such 
 dead formal ways, as generally ivorshippers in the tvorld 
 are found in ?" 
 
 "The enemy hath done this, by God's permission. 
 The Lord was pleased to suffer him thus far to prevail
 
 114 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1661. against the truth; even to get into the form of it, and 
 there to beget men into the form, and then deny and 
 turn against the power. And this is the way of anti- 
 christ in kingdoms and nations, even to set up a formal 
 way of worship, and by it to fight against the true 
 power." 
 
 " How long hath this been done, and how long is it 
 yet to last ?" 
 
 " From antichrist's beginning, all the time of his reign, 
 until his overthrow. The formal way of religion will 
 never be overturned, nor the power of religion find place 
 in the earth, but there will be still countenancing of 
 formal ways of worship, and turning head against the 
 power and life of the Spirit, until antichrist's time come 
 to an end, and the Lord consume him by the Spirit of 
 his mouth, and destroy him by the brightness of his 
 coming." 
 
 " When shall this be ?" 
 
 "The Lord is about this work. He hath already 
 raised up that, which hath not been raised up for many 
 generations; and the Lord hath sorely smitten down the 
 spirit of antichrist in many hearts already ; and he is 
 fetching a great and universal blow at him; at which 
 stroke, when it cometh from the throne of God, the 
 nations shall tremble before him; and it will be as 
 honourable to wait for the movings of his Spirit, and to 
 worship him alone therein, as now it is reproachful." 
 vol. 1. p. 492. 
 
 "The Scriptures testify of a day, wherein the 
 
 Lord alone shall be exalted, and wherein he will take 
 away the rebuke of his people from off all the earth, and 
 bring down all that is high and lifted up above the fear 
 and Spirit of the Lord; and in this our age the Lord 
 hath chosen many messengers to run up and down, and 
 proclaim this day, And, as sure as the Lord liveth, what 
 he hath spoken shall come to pass, and not a tittle of it
 
 (Isttac Penington.) 115 
 
 fall to the ground. God did not make man for him to 1661. 
 serve his own lusts, nor his creation to serve the lusts of 
 man ; but he made man to fear before and serve his 
 Creator ; and he made the creatures to be ordered by 
 man, in the fear and wisdom of God, to the glory of 
 God. The Spirit of God now groaneth under man's 
 iniquity ; the spirits of his people mourn and sigh also ; 
 yea, and the very creatures groan under the bondage of 
 corruption ; and the God of bowels hcareth their cry; 
 and a day, even a mighty day of redemption and deliver- 
 ance is determined, wherein the spirit of the world shall 
 be sunk down, with all its weight of wickedness, and 
 the Spirit of life and righteousness rise in its glory." 
 
 "Amen, hallelujah! everlasting praises to the Omni- 
 potent One, who was, and is, and is a coming; who 
 hath reigned, doth reign, and will reign, over all the 
 powers of darkness, in the pure power and glory of his 
 life for evermore. Let all the lambs skip for joy ; let 
 all the stars of the morning shout : for the darkness 
 vanisheth, and is passing away, and the light of life shall 
 cover the earth, as the waters cover the sea. Amen, 
 hallelujah ! 
 
 " Happy is the eye that seeth this, and the heart that 
 prepareth for it, overlooking all that stands between. 
 This is the hope of Israel, and the expectation of all 
 that wait for the Lord, which he is hastening upon 
 the earth." vol. 1. p. 496. 
 
 " Blessed for ever be the name of the Lord, our 1662. 
 
 God, who hath made us acquainted with that life and 
 power which was before all forms and ways of religion, 
 and worship of man's inventing, and which will be after 
 them; and who hath hitherto borne up our spirits in the 
 testimony which he hath given us to bear to his living 
 truth and worship, and who we doubt not will yet bear 
 us up, even to a conquest in his Spirit over all that he 
 hath called us forth to testify against. And that great
 
 116 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1662 city, or building of religion, which is built up by man's 
 wisdom, and maintained by man's strength, we are sure 
 is falling, and shall fall throughout all the earth; yea, 
 man's striving to re-edify and re-establish it, will but 
 make the ruins thereof more speedy and more dreadful. 
 The mouth of the Lord hath spoken it, both in the 
 scriptures of truth, which cannot be broken, and in the 
 hearts of many of his servants, in this day of his appear- 
 ance in Spirit, to those, the eyes of whose spirits he 
 hath opened, and by whom he hath given a visit and 
 warning to the earth, which the earthly ear cannot hear, 
 but will be overtaken and surprised with the day of the 
 Lord." vol. 1. p. 580. 
 
 1663. " The Lord is bringing about great things, both 
 
 inwardly and outwardly; happy are they whose hearts 
 and spirits are prepared for them: for great misery, 
 death, and destruction are coming upon the earthly, 
 and great joy and blessedness are breaking up in, and 
 showering down upon, the heavenly; which that all 
 souls that have the breath of life in them, and that pant 
 after the living God, may partake of, is the earnest 
 desire of my soul." vol. 1. p. 595. 
 
 1668. " Whether all people have not great reason to 
 fear before the Lord, and to look to their ways and 
 worships, lest they be found in any thing therein which 
 is not of him, but contrary to him, and so bring upon 
 their souls and bodies that wrath and sore judgment 
 from God, which they are not able to bear ? Rev. xiv. 
 9, 10, 11." 
 
 " Whether it was not the great love and mercy of 
 God to warn the churches of these things in the book 
 of the Revelations? And whether he can be safe in 
 these respects, who either doth not understand, or not 
 observe, the warnings given by the Spirit of the Lord 
 therein? How often is it therein said, he that hath 
 an ear, let him hear what the Spirit of God saith to
 
 (Isaac Penington.) 1 I/ 
 
 the churches. It is also said, Blessed is he that readeth, 1668. 
 and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and 
 keep those things which are written therein: for the 
 time is at hand. He then that readeth not, that hath 
 not an ear to hear the words of this prophecy, how can 
 he keep what is written therein ? How can he beware 
 and avoid the seeming beauty and glory of the false 
 church, or suffer with the faithful witnesses of God 
 in their testimony against her ? And if he do not thus, 
 but is entangled by the false church, with her golden 
 cup of fornications (Rev. xvii. 4.) he misseth of the 
 blessing ; and ah ! what is he to meet with instead 
 thereof! My heart hath often melted within me, and 
 my bowels rolled at the consideration and deep sense 
 which the Lord hath given me of these things; and, this 
 I say therein, to those that desire life and peace from 
 .God, Oh! wait on him for the eye which sees in his 
 light, for the ear which hears his voice, and for the 
 heart which understands the words and messages of his 
 Spirit, that ye may feel his gathering, guidance, and 
 preservation out of that, to which his wrath is for ever, 
 and against which his wrath is to be made more mani- 
 fest, and poured out more fully and abundantly than 
 ever it yet was. For the Lord will empty his love and 
 his life into Sion, and empty the very dregs and thick v 
 
 mixtures of the cup of his indignation into the very 
 heart and bowels of Babylon; and her sickness, misery, 
 woe, death, and destruction will be exceedingly dreadful, 
 and unutterable. Therefore wait on the Lord in fear 
 and singleness of spirit, crying and mourning unto him 
 to discover to you the extent and limits of this false 
 church, this false building, this building in a form and 
 outward order, without the life and power of the Spirit ; 
 and then fly as fast out of her, and from her (and as far) 
 as the Spirit of the Lord leads, even till ye come to 
 the holy building, which is of him, and the heavenly 
 places which are prepared there by him, for every one of
 
 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1(J68. his (according to their growth and stature in his Son) 
 that ye may sit down in him." vol. 2. p. 68. 
 
 
 
 "This is certain (as certain as ever there was a 
 true church in the days of the apostles) that after the 
 apostles' days there got up a false church, which the 
 Spirit of the Lord calls the great whore (indeed she was 
 far bigger, by multitudes of degrees, than ever the true 
 church was). This great whore had a golden cup in her 
 hand, wherewith she made the kings and inhabitants of 
 the earth drunk. And she sat upon many waters; which 
 waters are peoples, nations, multitudes, and tongues. 
 Did ever the true church do thus? That was a little 
 flock, gathered out of peoples, nations, multitudes, and 
 tongues, reigning in the Spirit and power of the Lord, 
 over them only who were thus gathered; but never sat 
 upon whole peoples, nations, multitudes, and tongues, 
 as this great whore hath done. Rev. xvii. 1 15. 
 
 " Now it would be worth the enquiry, What this cup 
 is, this golden cup, which appears like gold ? And what 
 this wine is, wherewith she made the kings and inhabi- 
 tants of the earth drunk ? Ask her, and she will tell you, 
 It is the cup of salvation, and her wine the wine of 
 the kingdom; even the doctrine and discipline of holy 
 mother-church, out of which, and without which, no 
 man can be saved. But ask the Spirit of the Lord (or 
 hear what the Spirit of the Lord said to the churches 
 concerning it) and he will tell you, it is the wine of 
 fornication, the cup of destruction, full of abominations 
 and filthiness of her fornication; and that she shall be 
 so far from saving others, that she shall be destroyed and 
 perish herself; and whoever drinks of her wine shall 
 perish, unless he vomit it up again, and drink of the 
 pure blood of the Lamb after it. See Rev. xvii. and 
 also chap, xviii. and chap. xiv. 9, 10, 11." 
 
 " Now one word, in the love and truth of God, to all 
 that have separated from this church. Have ye sepa-
 
 (Isaac Penington.) 119 
 
 rated fully ? Have ye separated wholly ? Have ye sepa- 1668. 
 rated from her in nature and spirit ? Have ye waited for 
 the building which God alone can rear ; for the church 
 which he alone can frame? Or have ye built up another 
 church, in the resemblance and likeness of that which ye 
 separated from ? This is a weighty thing : ye must 
 answer it to God, and stand by his judgment therein. I 
 beseech you consider it. What will it profit a man, 
 saith Christ, if he gain the whole world, and lose his 
 own soul ? So say I in this case, What would it profit 
 you, if ye could make your church stand and be ap- 
 proved in the sight of the whole world, if the Lord- 
 disown and disallow it, and they that are gathered into 
 it perish by it ? If it be not of God's building, if it have 
 not his presence, virtue, Spirit and power in it, it can- 
 not save. Oh! hear, hear! for the Lord will strip Baby- 
 lon, and fill her with dreadful plagues and judgments ; 
 and she shall appear naked as she is, and become the 
 scorn of every eye, and the reproach of every beholder : 
 and that which hath been reproached, scorned, hated, 
 and persecuted by her, the Lord will honour." 
 
 " Now consider, and wait on the Lord, to know the 
 extent of Babylon; that ye may not be found by the 
 Spirit of the Lord (nor by his angels, which pour out his 
 plagues upon her) within her limits. For the great 
 whore is not Babylon only, or alone; but she is the 
 mother of harlots, and all her daughters are harlots also ; 
 even all that have built up churches, like her (in her 
 spirit, with her materials) out of the leading, guidance, 
 and power of the Spirit of truth." vol. 2. p. 73. 
 
 " Now mark : when Christ brought forth his 
 
 church, it was a pure, holy, spiritual building, built up 
 of renewed spirits ; such as were new-bom, such as 
 were washed, such as were sanctified, such as were 
 justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit 
 of our God. Christ's church was Sion, even the holy
 
 120 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1668, seed, built upon the holy hill of God, into a holy city 
 or temple. But antichrist's church is Babylon, which 
 hath the wisdom and order of man in it, such as man's 
 eye judgeth right, but is foolishness and confusion in 
 the eye of God. Now the Lord hath most terrible 
 plagues to pour out upon this antichrist, and upon this 
 Babylon ; yea, upon every one that hath his mark or 
 name, or that which amounts to his name, though it be 
 not directly so called. Therefore, oh ! fear the Lord 
 God ! and ye that love the peace of your souls, pray to 
 be delivered from that which his wrath is to; for the 
 dregs of the cup of trembling are to be poured out on 
 antichrist inward and outward, and on Babylon inward 
 and outward. Let him that readeth understand the 
 tender warnings, which are given forth in the tender 
 nature and Spirit of the Lord; for the day of mercy 
 spends apace, and the night of anguish and tribulation 
 hastens." vol. 2. p. 84. 
 
 r "The state of the church after the apostasy, is 
 
 to be like the state it was in before the apostasy (for 
 purity, power, brightness, glory, &c.) ; yea, shall it 
 not be more glorious, after its coming through all this 
 darkness, and shining over it, than it was before ? The 
 new Jerusalem is to come down from God out of 
 heaven; the bride is to be clothed and adorned as the 
 Lamb's wife, meet for the delight of her husband. The 
 Power and Spirit of the Lord, which cleanseth away all 
 this rubbish, will make his truth shine, his church shine, 
 his suffering lambs (that come out of the great tribu- 
 lation) shine more than ever before. The Lord God 
 Omnipotent will take his great power unto him to reign, 
 and will reign according to his power in the hearts of his 
 children, and over the earth. He will break that which 
 stands in his way with a rod of iron ; and he will embrace 
 and exalt that which boweth to and kisseth the sceptre of 
 his Son, who is to appear upon the holy hill of Sion i
 
 (Isaac Penington.) 121 
 
 and the Law is to go forth out of Sion, and the Word of J668. 
 the Lord from Jerusalem; the power whereof shall break 
 down the power of iniquity, and bring up the suffering 
 seed into the dominion and glory of life." 
 
 " In this restored estate antichrist shall be worshipped 
 no more, nor the beast, nor the dragon, M'ho gave his 
 power to the beast ; but the Lord God shall be wor- 
 shipped and magnified over all. It shall be said no more, 
 Who can make war with the Beast ? after the Lamb hath 
 overcome him ; but, Who is like to thee, O Lord, O King 
 of saints, who hast taken to thee thy great power, and 
 hast reigned, and dost Feign; who hast brought down 
 this lofty city, and trodden it under the feet of the poor, 
 and made the steps of the needy to pass over it ; who hast 
 made it a heap (the city fenced by all the might, wisdom 
 and power of man) a ruinous heap, a place no more for 
 thy dear children to be captived in and oppressed ; 
 but a habitation of dragons, and a cage of every, un- 
 clean and noisome bird for ever? Who shall not fear 
 thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name ? for thou only 
 art holy ; for all nations shall come and worship before 
 thee ; for thy judgments are made manifest, Rev. xv. 4. 
 Thou hast judged down Babylon, which was exalted ; 
 thou hast pitied Sion, which lay in the dust for many 
 ages and generations, and hast raised up thine own holy 
 building again, and wilt give to thy children to be 
 clothed, and to walk before thee in pure white linen 
 (which is the righteous nature and Spirit of thy Son) for 
 evermore ; and the darkness shall never come over them 
 again, but the beast, dragon, and false prophet shall be 
 cast into, and bound down in the lake ; and the springs 
 of life shall open, and whosoever will, may come freely, 
 and drink of the water of life. And the people in heaven 
 shall say, Hallelujah ! salvation, and glory, and honour, 
 and power unto the Lord our God." 
 
 " And the voice of great multitudes, and the voice of 
 many waters, and the voice of mighty thunders, shall
 
 122 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1668,. say Hallelujah ! and shall be glad, and rejoice, and shall 
 give honour to the Lord, for the bride's marriage with 
 the Lamb, and for her rich adorning for her bridegroom. 
 Yea, the earth shall rejoice, and the multitudes of the 
 isles be glad. Why so ? Because the Lord reigns, who 
 is tender even of the earth, and hates the oppressing not 
 only of his seed, but also of his creatures : for he will 
 reign and judge in righteousness, and tenderness, and 
 much mercy, to all that is of him ; and none shall feel 
 his judgment and severity but that which is contrary to . 
 him, and joineth to his enemy. For the Lord will make 
 war with that spirit, which is contrary to his life and 
 nature, for ever and ever. And he that joineth to that 
 spirit, shall find woe, misery, and tribulation (tribulation 
 and anguish shall light upon every soul that continues in 
 the evil-doing); but he that comes from under that spirit 
 by the leadings of God's Spirit, bowing to and kissing 
 the Son, shall taste of the Father's love to the Son, and 
 partake of the mercy, peace, and reconciliation which is 
 treasured up in him. Amen." vol. 2. p. 85. 
 
 " A FEW WORDS TO ENGLAND, MY NATIVE COUNTRY." 
 
 " Oh ! Land of my nativity ! Oh ! my dear Countrymen !" 
 
 1676. " THE pure power of the Lord is upon me, and 
 the springs of life open in me; and among many 
 other things, I am melted in love and desires after your 
 welfare. And this is in my heart to say to you ; If I 
 now' testify to you in truth of a pearl, a heavenly pearl, 
 an everlasting pearl, will ye not hear me? If I tell 
 you your heart is the field, or earth, wherein it is hid, 
 will ye not consider of it? If the everlasting gospel 
 be preached again, which contains true tidings of re- 
 demption from sin, will ye not listen after it ? If the 
 kingdom of God, and righteousness of Christ, be to 
 be revealed within, would ye not willingly learn to
 
 (Isaac Peningtcm.) 123 
 
 wait for it there, and beg of God that the eye may be 1676. 
 opened in you, which alone can see it when it doth 
 appear. Indeed, God's visitation is upon this nation in 
 an especial manner; his light and power are breaking 
 forth in it, against the darkness and power of the spirit 
 of Satan, which hath captivated and still captivateth 
 many. Ye desire outward liberty, and the enjoyment of 
 your outward rights; Would ye not be free inwardly; 
 free from the base, earthly, selfish nature and spirit, 
 which man, fallen from God, and the glory wherein 
 he created him, is degenerated into ? Oh ! is not the 
 power of God, and life of Christ, able to restore man 
 to this? He that created man at first so glorious in 
 his own image, is he not able to create him anew? Oh! 
 hear, my dear countrymen ! the Power is revealed which 
 createth anew; and they that receive it, and are as clay 
 in the hands of the great potter, given up to be formed 
 by it, are daily created (by the operation of it) anew, 
 into a holy, heavenly, innocent, living, tender, right- 
 eous frame day by day; and are made willing, daily 
 more and more, to be the Lord's, in this day of his 
 power; and do receive power to become sons, and 
 strength against their souls' enemies : and the glorious 
 work of redemption which God hath begun in them, 
 the arm of his strength mightily carrieth on in them, 
 to their comfort and his everlasting praise." 
 
 " There is a spiritual Egypt and Sodom, as well as 
 there was an outward ; and there is a spiritual wilderness, 
 and Canaan also ; and the arm of God's power inwardly 
 and spiritually hath been revealed in this spiritual 
 Egypt, wilderness, and Canaan, as really as ever it 
 was in the outward. Do ye not read of a Jew inward, 
 and a circumscision inward, and the leaven inward, 
 and keeping the feast of unleavened bread, even of 
 bread that is not leavened with sin ? And he that eats 
 of the unleavened bread, it unleavens him of sin, and 
 leavens him with life and holiness : for it is a holy
 
 124 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS- 
 
 1676. bread, and a living bread. This is the bread which 
 comes down from heaven, which they that feed upon 
 live, and they that live feed upon. And though they be 
 many, yet feeding upon this bread, they become one 
 bread, one living body, consisting of a living head, and 
 living members; for the same life and pure heavenly 
 nature which is in the head, is communicated by him 
 to the members." 
 
 " But how shall we find this ? may some say." 
 " I will tell you how we found it, and how none 
 can miss of it, that sweep the house, and make a dili- 
 gent and faithful search after it. That in the heart of 
 man which turns against sin, discovers sin, draws from 
 sin, wherein God ministers help against sin, that is it. 
 That is the pearl hid, that is the kingdom hid ; in that is 
 the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith, in 
 all that receive and give up to this holy leaven. This 
 is of the nature of God and Christ; this is a measure of 
 his light, of his pure life; this is the law and command- 
 ment everlasting, which God writes in the hearts of his 
 spiritual Israel. For the inward Jew hath inward tables, 
 where the inward law is written, for the inward eye 
 to read. Oh ! how nigh is God inwardly, to the inward 
 people, in this our day. Oh ! the pure glory is broken 
 forth ! But alas ! men are in their several sorts of 
 dreams, and take no notice of it. What shall the Lord 
 do to awaken this nation ? In what way shall his power 
 appear, to bring down unrighteousness, and to bring up 
 righteousness, in the spirits of people ? Do ye not think 
 the Lord hath been at work ? How could deceit be 
 so wasted inwardly, and truth so grown inwardly, and 
 overspread more and more, and gain ground in the 
 nation, if the hand and power of the Lord were not 
 with it, blessing it. Oh ! take notice of the handy-work 
 of the Lord, ye children of men, and wait to feel truth 
 near, and to partake of the living virtue and power of it; 
 that ye may feel your hearts creating anew, and the old
 
 (Isaac Penington.) 125 
 
 heavens and earth may inwardly pass away, wherein 1676. 
 dwells unrighteousness, and the new heavens, and the 
 new earth, may be inwardly witnessed, wherein dwells 
 righteousness. Oh ! that this nation may become a para- 
 dise of God ! Oh ! that every one might be sensible 
 of his presence, and power, and kingdom, and righteous 
 government inwardly in the heart, from the king that 
 sits on the throne, to the beggar on the dunghill ! 
 Surely man was not made for himself! Surely he was 
 not made such a creature as now he is ! but in the holy 
 image of God, with love in his heart to God above all, 
 and to his* neighbour as to himself. Oh ! what are the 
 religions and professions of several sorts where this love 
 is not found! The Lord is restoring his image, and 
 bringing forth the true, pure religion again. The pearl, 
 the truth, contains and comprehends it. Oh ! buy the 
 pearl ! oh ! buy the precious truth ! sell all that is con- 
 trary to it for it; take up the cross to all that is evil 
 in thee, as the light in thee maketh it manifest, and thou 
 shalt have the free possession of it in thy heart, and feel 
 it a root of life, a treasure of life, a well of life, out of 
 which the living water will be daily springing up in thee 
 unto life everlasting. Amen." vol. 2. p. 287. 
 
 "CONCERNING THE TIMES AND SEASONS, BOTH WHICH 
 HAVE BEEN, AND WHICH ARE YET TO BE." 
 
 "WHEN God made man in his own image, placing 1679. 
 him in Paradise, and giving him dominion over the 
 works of his hands; then was a time of great joy to 
 Adam and Eve, and should have still been so to them, 
 and all mankind, had they continued in the state where- 
 in they were created." 
 
 " When Eve, and by her means Adam, hearkened to 
 the voice of the serpent, disobeyed the Lord their Crea- 
 tor, aspiring after wisdom, and the knowledge of good 
 and evil, out of God's way ; then was a season of misery
 
 126 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1679. to Adam and all his posterity; the holy and heavenly 
 image being lost, and a cursed image gained in the 
 stead thereof, and so man thrust out of Paradise, and the 
 blessedness thereof, into the earth, which was cursed for 
 man's sake. So in this state, sin and the curse are 
 man's portion, instead of the holiness and blessedness 
 which his Creator had allotted him." 
 
 " When God promised the blessed Seed, and revealed 
 himself to the fathers in the faith, begetting sons to him- 
 self, who heard his voice, obeyed and walked with him ; 
 then was a blessed time and season to them, though sin 
 and death reigned in the world. But when tlie sons of 
 God also forgat him, and mingled their seed with the 
 corrupted world, then the deluge came, sweeping away 
 all but Noah with his family, and the creatures saved in 
 the ark." 
 
 " When the Lord chose the Jews to be a people to 
 himself, from amidst all nations, delivering them by his 
 outstretched arm out of Egypt, destroying Pharaoh and 
 his host ; and led them through the wilderness, fitting 
 the succeeding generation for the good land, bringing 
 them into it, blessing and establishing them in it, while 
 they feared him and walked in covenant with him, then 
 was a blessed time and season with that people. But 
 when they provoked God, brought his judgments often, 
 and at last utter ruin and desolation upon themselves, 
 then were seasons of great misery and distress, and at 
 last of utter destruction to them." 
 
 " While the Gentiles were cast off, and were no peo- 
 ple, being of the corrupt seed which God hath not 
 chosen, nor had any delight in, and while they knew 
 not the living God, but worshipped stocks and stones, 
 and so were liable to the pouring down of his wrath and 
 indignation upon all occasions, and to utter ruin and 
 destruction, when their iniquities were full, it was a sad 
 time and season with them, wherein they were estrang- 
 ed from the life of God, and his holy covenant of pro- 
 mise, and were without God in the world."
 
 (Isaac Penington.) 127 
 
 " When the Lord preached the gospel to the Gentiles, 16/9. 
 by his holy apostles and ministers, manifesting Christ to 
 them, the hope of glory, the mystery hid from ages and 
 generations, engrafting them into the holy vine and 
 olive-tree, giving them to partake of the sweetness and 
 fatness thereof, even of the riches of his grace and good- 
 ness in his Son, who is eternal life, and gives eternal life 
 to all his ; then was such a time and season of love, 
 grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father, and from 
 the Lord Jesus Christ (both towards Jews and Gentiles) 
 as had not been known in the world before." 
 
 " When the Christian church apostatised, the love in 
 many waxing cold, men minding the name of Christian- 
 ity, and form of godliness, but not the life and power, 
 and so the Lord was provoked against them, to remove 
 their candlestick out of its place, and give up the out- 
 ward court to the Gentiles, and so the Spirit was lost or 
 departed from, the life lost, the power lost, the everlast- 
 ing gospel hid from men's eyes, and darkness and men's 
 inventions set up instead thereof, in nations, tongues, 
 and peoples, and the witnesses to any appearances of 
 God's living truth and holy power persecuted ; then was 
 a sad time, then was a season of death and darkness 
 reigning over all nations, kindreds, tongue?, and people, 
 and the cup of fornication drunk by them all, and all 
 generally bewitched by it, except those whose names 
 were written in the Lamb's book of life. This was the 
 greatest time of darkness (wherein the mystery of iniqui- 
 ty most deeply wrought in the deepest ways of deceit) 
 that ever was in the world." 
 
 " When the church comes again out of the wilderness, 
 when the Spirit and Power of God builds up again tiie 
 gospel-church in its primitive glory, when the everlast- 
 ing Gospel is preached again to all nations, kindreds, 
 tongues, and languages, in the authority and power of 
 God, when the Spirit of the Lord is poured out plenti- 
 fully on his sons and daughters, and they prophesy,
 
 128 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1679. walk, and live in it, when God dwells and walks in 
 his people, and his true light shines in them, dispelling 
 the darkness thoroughly, and filling them with the glory 
 and majesty of the Lord, and they ascend up, out of the 
 world's spirit and nature, into his Spirit and nature, even 
 in the sight of their enemies, and the full wrath of the 
 Lamb be poured out on Babylon, and the full glory 
 revealed in Sion ; then shall there be such a day of 
 brightness and pure heavenly glory, as shall dazzle the 
 eyes of all beholders." 
 
 " But the passing away of this night, and the bringing 
 forth of this day, will be very terrible and dreadful, both 
 in particulars and in nations. The kingdoms of this 
 world must indeed become the kingdom of our Lord, 
 and of his Christ; but it will require great power to 
 bring it about. The wrath and strength of the spirit of 
 darkness will be working against the Lord and his 
 power to the utmost : and the more it works against 
 the Lord and his power, the more will the Lord's power, 
 and the wrath of the Lamb, be revealed against that 
 spirit, and against all its devices, and undertakings 
 against the counsel and power of the Lord. Oh ! bless- 
 ed are they that are of the Lamb's nature and Spirit, 
 of his righteousness and meekness ; for the wrath of the 
 Lamb \vill not be kindled against them, but he will be a 
 munition of rocks unto them, and their inward life shall 
 be preserved, and they shall enjoy peace with the Lord 
 in the midst of all that shall outwardly befall them." 
 
 Mesborow in Kent, twenty-second 
 of the 6th month, 16/9. 
 
 "The everlasting gospel hath been preached in this 
 nation (and also other nations) just after that very man- 
 ner as it was foretold it should be, Rev. xiv. 16, Saying 
 with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him ; for 
 the hour of his judgment is come j and worship him that
 
 (Isaac Penington.) 129 
 
 made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and fountains of 16/9. 
 waters." 
 
 " Now they that have heard this blessed sound of the 
 everlasting gospel, and have learned to fear God with 
 this fear which the gospel calls for (which is the fear of 
 the new covenant, which is not taught by the precepts of 
 men, but which God puts into the heart in the new cove- 
 nant) and to give glory to him, bowing to him, and 
 learning righteousness of him, in the hour of his judg- 
 ment upon their souls, and have worshipped him, and 
 him only, in his Spirit and truth, which is the gospel- 
 worship, or the worship of God according to the ever- 
 lasting gospel ; these are accounted with God knowers 
 and obeyers of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 
 These are a peculiar people to God, whom he hath 
 taken an especial care of, and whom he will hide under 
 the shadow of his wings, and in the secret of his pavilion, 
 while his wrath is poured out upon peoples and nations." 
 
 " But others that have not been gathered under the 
 shadow of God's wings, by the preaching of the everlast- 
 ing gospel, who have not known or obeyed the sound 
 thereof; when the storm comes, when the wrath of God 
 is revealed against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of 
 men (whereof this nation is full, and hath had several 
 tokens of God's great displeasure for a long tune) they 
 will riot find a shelter, though they fly to the rocks and 
 mountains to hide and cover them from the wrath of the 
 Lamb, but will lie open to the stroke of the overflowing 
 scourge, which useth to overflow nations, after such a 
 deluge of sin as hath long overflowed this nation. Oh ! 
 that men could hear the voice of the rod, and him 
 who hath appointed it, and seek an hiding place, and 
 enter into the chamber of rest and quietness with the 
 Lord, until the indignation be overpast." 
 
 "Now unto any whose hearts are touched with the 
 fear of the Lord, and the sense of his righteous judg- 
 ments and wrath due to this nation (which doubtless 
 
 K
 
 130 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1679. have come in part already, and are coming faster and 
 faster, and entering into the very heart and bowels of 
 it) and who would escape the stroke of God's dreadful 
 hand, and find inward rest and peace with him in the 
 day of outward trouble and sore distress ;" 
 
 "To such, a few words of advice, very early this 
 morning, lay upon my heart/' 
 
 " First, Seek the Lord; Oh ! do not seek the world, 
 but seek the Lord, who redeems out of the spirit of the 
 world, where the wrath comes, and upon which it is to 
 seize ! And seek righteousness, seek meekness ; it may 
 be, ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord's anger. 
 Zeph. ii. 3." 
 
 " Secondly, Wait upon God, that ye may learn of him 
 to keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it are 
 the issues of life. If ever ye know the issues of life, ye 
 must know them there ; and if ye know the issues of life 
 there, and they sweetly issue up, and flow into your 
 souls, they will refresh and delight you in the midst of 
 all the sore afflictions, troubles, and distresses, which can 
 befal you outwardly. Read Psa. xlvi. and consider." 
 
 " Thirdly, Mind who knocks at the door of your 
 hearts, whether it be the destroyer or Saviour of the 
 soul j for both these knock often at the door, but men 
 are not aware thereof. And wait to receive power from 
 God to be faithful door-keepers, that ye may keep the 
 door of your hearts shut against the enemy, when he 
 knocks with any temptation, and may open them to the 
 Lord, when he knocks with any motion or pure stirring 
 of life." 
 
 " Fourthly, Wait to know, and experience truly, and 
 also more and more, the Christian spirit and state, the 
 state of a servant to the Father, and his Son Christ, the 
 state of a soldier, the state of a pilgrim and holy 
 traveller ; to be doing the Lord's work (the Lord's will, 
 and not your own) to be fighting the Lord's battles,
 
 (Isaac Penington.) 131 
 
 against his and the soul's enemies, and to be travelling 16/9. 
 farther and farther out of the spirit, mind, and nature 
 of this world (wherein the kingdom of darkness stands) 
 into God's Spirit, where the kingdom of the dear Son is 
 known and entered into, by those that deny their own 
 wisdom, and become as little children." 
 
 " Many have the form of godliness, who are not 
 accepted of the Lord; but such only as know God's 
 power, and are led by his Spirit, such are indeed in 
 Christ Jesus : for the holy power grafts the soul, mind, 
 and spirit of a man, into the holy stock and root of life. 
 And such know the new creation in Christ, and the 
 works of the new creation, which they perform and 
 walk in (being God's workmanship, created in Christ 
 Jesus unto good works). And here the old things pass 
 away (which can pass away by no other means, but by 
 the revealing of the arm and power of God inwardly in 
 the heart, and by its effectual operation there) and so 
 all things become new. Now, where all things become 
 new, where the heart is new, the mind and spirit new, 
 the desires new, the joys and delights new, the life and 
 conversation new, and the soul walks before the Lord, 
 not after the flesh, but after the Spirit, even in the 
 newness thereof; what is there for the wrath of God to 
 seize upon ?" 
 
 " Though the Lord be a consuming fire, yet it is to 
 his enemies, to sin, to unrighteousness, to the chaffy, 
 earthly mind and nature ; he is not so to his children, to 
 the wheat, to the holy seed, to them that are new cre- 
 ated and cleansed by him, to them that fear him, love 
 him, walk with him, keep his commandments, obey the 
 gospel of his Son, denying all for him, and following the 
 Shepherd and leader of their souls, out of all untruth 
 and unrighteousness, into all truth and righteousness. 
 Surely, these shall not only be able to abide, but dwell 
 with the devouring fire, and everlasting burnings ; and
 
 132 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1679. that shall be their safety and shelter, when the flames 
 thereof break forth to consume and burn up the chaff 
 every-where." 
 
 Twenty-fifth of the 6th 
 month, 1679.* 
 
 POSTSCRIPT. 
 
 " THE gospel religion is very precious, being inward- 
 ly felt and experienced in the life and power of it ; but a 
 bare profession of it, out of the life and power of godli- 
 ness, is of no value in the sight of God, nor is it of any 
 profit or advantage to the soul." vol. 2. p. 675 680. 
 
 "ISAAC PENINGTON." 
 
 A Small Treatise, wherein are briefly declared some of 
 those things which I have heard, and seen, and learned 
 of the Father. By JOHN WHITEHEAD. The Second 
 Edition. London: Printed in the year, 1665. (First 
 published in the year, 1661.) 
 
 1661. "I DO further see, how the Lord is leading the 
 
 church out of the wilderness, and raising it from under 
 the gentiles' feet ; who have long trodden upon the 
 holy city, and with blood and persecution have built an 
 unholy one in her stead, which God will lay waste and 
 make desolate ; because he takes pleasure in the stones 
 of Sion, and favours the dust thereof, which hath been 
 trampled upon, and by none sought after for many 
 generations. And the Lord saw it, and hath heard her 
 mourning who hath sat solitary as a widow of youth; 
 and he beheld that there was none upon the earth a 
 help meet for her, which could heal her breaches, 
 
 *See Note B.
 
 (John Wldtehead.) 133 
 
 gather her stones, and build them upon her own foun- 1661, 
 elation, because it was hid from their eye. Then did 
 his bowels yearn towards her, and he could no longer 
 refrain himself, but in his power did arise, and his 
 arm hath brought salvation unto her, and by his bright 
 appearing through the clouds, his righteousness is re- 
 vealed for an everlasting foundation. And the inspira- 
 tion of the Almighty hath given unto many skill to seek 
 out and polish the stones of Sion from their rubbish; 
 for the set time to favour her is come, and the Lord 
 will gather her dust together, and his seed out of all 
 countries to the pasture and fold of one shepherd: he 
 will also give unto her who hath sat solitary, as in 
 widow-hood, increase of children, and the fruit of her 
 womb shall not be blasted, neither shall she any more 
 be called desolate and forsaken. Therefore be wise, O 
 kings, and hearken ye rulers of the earth; take not 
 counsel together against the workings of God, and be 
 not altogether heedless of the operation of his hands ; 
 neither seek to hinder the rebuilding of Sion, as those 
 who have gone before you did, whom God therefore 
 broke in pieces : for if you speak proudly against the 
 Lord it shall not stand ; and if ye take counsel together 
 against his husbandry and building, it shall come to 
 nought." 
 
 " Therefore, fear not, O children of Sion ! though in 
 the return of your captivity from Sodom and Egypt, you 
 feel many obstacles, and are in yourselves weak as 
 worms which the plowers turn their clods upon; for 
 the Lord your God is with you, and ye shall yet be 
 holpen with a little help. Therefore be patient in your 
 tribulations, and stedfast in your walking with God; 
 and because ye believe make not haste ; for the work is 
 the Lord's. And he hath raised up for thee, O daughter 
 of Sion, a sure foundation ; therefore wait to feel the 
 life preparing thy stones, and cementing them together, 
 and in due time the top-stone shall be laid with grace,
 
 134 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1661. that thou mayest be an everlasting habitation for the 
 Highest ; whose light and glory shall shine in the midst 
 of thee, and cause the sons of thine afflictors to come 
 bending to thee, unto whom thy gates shall be open. 
 Then shall the skirt of him that is a Jew inward be 
 precious, and many shall lay hold of it, and say, Let us 
 be called by thy name to take away our reproach. Then 
 shall the earth yield her increase, and God, even our 
 God, who is light, will refresh the inhabitants thereof 
 with mercy, and visit the nations with his blessing, that 
 their desire, with the restitution of all things, may be 
 accomplished, and God over all exalted with righteous- 
 ness to rule the whole earth." p. 22 24. 
 
 Written in the Prison-house in Alisbury^ 
 the 3rd month, 1661. 
 
 Some Account of the Life, Service, and Suffering, of an 
 early Servant and Minister of Christ, JOSEPH COALE : 
 who after near six years 9 imprisonment in Reading- 
 Goal, died prisoner for his Christian Testimony : 
 Collected out of his own Writings. London : T. Sowle, 
 1706. 
 
 NOW is the day come, wherein the God of 
 
 heaven is setting up his kingdom, which is everlasting 
 and shall never be destroyed ; and he will overturn the 
 kingdom of antichrist, and Christ shall reign in righte- 
 ousness, and all that rise up against him, shall perish for 
 ever; and all his enemies that would not have him to 
 reign over them, must be slain by him, out of whose 
 mouth goeth a sharp sword, with which he will smite 
 the nations ; and he will rule them with a rod of iron, 
 and he treadeth the wine-press of the fierceness and 
 wrath of the Almighty God, who hath on his vesture,
 
 (Joseph Coale.) 135 
 
 and on his thigh, a name written, King of kings, and 1661. 
 Lord of lords ; unto whom kings must bow and cast 
 down their crowns ; and he will reign whose right it is, 
 and blessed are they that are subject to him, and that 
 wait upon him." 
 
 "And why are the nations troubled; and why do 
 the people fret and rage ? Is it because Christ is come 
 to reign ? Would they not have him to reign over them ? 
 Would it not be a precious thing to see England's inha- 
 bitants under the government of the Lord Jesus Christ? 
 How then would righteousness run down our nation as 
 a mighty stream, and truth and equity meet each other ; 
 and true judgment and justice would be set up, and love 
 and unity would abound, and the mouth of wickedness 
 would be stopped; cruelty, injustice, and oppression 
 "would cease; truth and righteousness would be exalted, 
 deceit and hypocrisy would be bowed under; and then, 
 oh then, would the Lord bless England with an ever- 
 lasting blessing, and make it a dread and terror to all 
 nations of the earth 1" 
 
 "But on the contrary, O England! if thou [wilt 
 refuse and rebel against him, even against the Lord 
 mighty and dreadful, and choose unto thee rulers and 
 governors according to thine own heart, to oppress the 
 poor and innocent, and afflict his chosen people, and 
 seek to establish the kingdom of antichrist, and uphold 
 the false prophets, who preach for hire and divine for 
 money, whom his hand is against, and against whom 
 his wrath is already kindled, and he hath purposed in 
 his heart to confound them, and make them a deso- 
 lation for ever, because of their idolatries and witch- 
 crafts; I say from the Lord, if thou dost so, then 
 assuredly he will confound thee with them, and dash 
 thee to pieces as he will do them; and he will reign 
 over thee in judgment and in fury, if thou wilt not have 
 Christ Jesus to reign in thee, to govern and rule thee 
 in righteousness: and the strongest, and greatest, and
 
 136 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1661. mightiest of men in thee will he bring down, conquer, 
 and subdue by his eternal power; and their honour, 
 glory, and renown will he lay in the dust, and their 
 strength will he trample upon, and they shall not pre- 
 vail against him, and thou shalt know that he is high 
 above all his enemies ; and the great mountain shall 
 become a plain : and this will he accomplish and bring 
 to pass by his invisible hand." 
 
 "Wherefore, O England! be advised, * and eye the. 
 Lord God of heaven and earth, and say not in thy heart, 
 He seeth me not; but wait upon him, to receive his 
 counsel ; and build not up, nor establish that which he 
 hath determined to throw down, lest thou fall totally 
 with it, and none can ever raise thee up again. For if 
 the Lord throw thee down, who then shall build thee 
 up ? And if he wound thee, who can heal thee ? Oh ! 
 if he be against thee, thou art miserable ; and if thou 
 dost refuse to come under his government of truth 
 and righteousness, justice and equity, thou canst not 
 be blessed of him, but his hand of judgment will be 
 against thee. Oh ! thou hast had many warnings, but 
 thou hast rebelled against the Lord, and hast not heark- 
 ened to his counsel, but slighted it: and therefore, O 
 England ! the Lord is very angry with thee, for thou hast 
 not r prized his mercies, neither hath his loving-kindness 
 been had in remembrance by thee, but thou hast for- 
 gotten this, even days without number." p. 75 79. 
 
 " A TESTIMONY CONCERNING JOSEPH COALE, taken out of 
 the Record of Friends' Sufferings in the County of 
 Berks ; written soon after his decease," 
 
 1670. "AND though this our dear Brother and com- 
 panion be outwardly separated from us, and in mercy 
 taken from the evil to come, having in faithfulness 
 finished a heavenly testimony, and his soul is entered into 
 everlasting rest and peace with the Lord, and though
 
 (John Crook.) 137 
 
 dead, yet his memory lives amongst the faithful; that 1670. 
 life of righteousness, which in him was manifest, and 
 that blessed testimony of truth, which he and many more 
 of God's faithful people have borne witness to and suf- 
 fered for unto the death, will live, and remain for ever. 
 As it was his faith and belief, even as he declared upon 
 his dying bed, so it is also ours, That the light of that 
 glorious everlasting day of the Lord, which is broken 
 /orth in this our day, shall never be extinguished, not- 
 withstanding all that men can do : and though it may be 
 in the hearts of men to destroy and root out, if it were 
 possible, the righteous from off the earth, yet the Lord 
 doth not intend so, neither is it in his heart to suffer it 
 so to be, but to exalt his own name and kingdom over 
 all; and the wrath of man shall turn to the glory of 
 God, and the rest he will restrain." p. 4. 
 
 The Design of Christianity Testified, in the Books y 
 Epistles, and Manuscripts of that Ancient, Faithful 
 Servant of Christ Jesus, JOHN CROOK. London: 
 T. Sowle, 1701. 
 
 "THIS is the message which I am to signify unto 1661. 
 
 you, in the name of the Lord God of hosts, and in his 
 fear I deliver it." 
 
 " Thus saith the Lord God of hosts, I have seen, I 
 have seen the afflictions of the afflicted, and their cry is 
 come in remembrance before me; arid I will awake 
 as a man of war, and come forth as a giant refreshed 
 with wine, to finish my determinations, and to execute 
 mine own decrees; and in righteousness and judgment 
 will I do it, saith the Lord God. I will plead with 
 all the rebellious inhabitants of the earth, as with fire 
 and sword, to make my power known in their destruc- 
 tion, and to the salvation of my own seed, saith the
 
 138 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1661. Lord. I will not leave one lost sheep unfound, nor one 
 lamb unbrought home, nor prisoner in the pit unset 
 free ; but I will give commission unto the graves to 
 open, for the dead to arise, and unto the sea, to cast up 
 her slain : for I will deliver, I will deliver the mourners, 
 and set free all the captives, because the day of the 
 everlasting jubilee is come, and the Lord of sabbaths 
 hath heard the cry of the elect, and is risen to plead 
 their cause, and to execute judgment on their behalf, 
 and to clear their innocency before all people. For I 
 will not leave one of them under the power of the adver- 
 sary : for my decree is to break all bonds, and to snap 
 all chains asunder, and to suffer no bounds nor limits 
 to be unto my love ; for they shall know the largeness, 
 sweetness, and everlastingness of it: like a sea shall it be 
 unto them, to overflow all banks, and cover all moun- 
 tains and hills, and to fill them with the knowledge of 
 my life and presence, as the waters cover the sea. I 
 will, I will, saith the Lord God, make the nations know, 
 that I have loved them, and that they are a people saved 
 by the Lord, and the glory of all nations, and the bless- 
 ing of all lands." 
 
 " Therefore let no straitness be upon you, nor gall of 
 bitterness in you ; for this is the message that I am to 
 deliver unto you from the Lord of hosts, the God of your 
 salvation, viz. That your God hath looked upon you with 
 everlasting mercy, and upon your scattered brethren and 
 sisters, the royal seed of Abraham, that are hungering 
 and thirsting after righteousness, and will deliver them 
 all, and rend all mountains that lie in their way, and 
 cleave all rocks of opposition against me, and divide all 
 waters that separate from me, saith the Lord of hosts, 
 that my ransomed may pass : and this will I do both 
 within and without them; for what I will do in them, 
 shall be as an earnest and pledge of what I will do 
 without them. Within them shall not be any root of 
 bitterness, or other evil thing, but I will destroy it, saith
 
 (John Crook.) 139 
 
 the Lord God: within them shall lodge no ravenous 1661. 
 beast, nor devouring bird, nor any evil surmising one 
 against another, nor any envying shall be found amongst 
 them; but they shall be all righteous, and the ever- 
 lasting gates shall open at the word of my command, 
 and they, the righteous nation, shall enter into mine 
 unlimited glory, and boundless everlasting loving-kind- 
 ness, in the free covenant of life in Christ Jesus, that I 
 may rejoice over them to do them good for ever." 
 
 *' And, without them, shall not be an oppressor found 
 to hurt them, nor any destroyer upon all my holy mount, 
 saith the Lord God : for I will rid the earth of the briers 
 and thorns, and burn up the straw and stubble, and 
 consume all the workers of iniquity, that my blessings 
 may come upon my people unto the uttermost; that all 
 nations, bond and free, may hear of my marvellous 
 works, and be astonished, and all my children comforted 
 together one in another, and in me, saith the Lord God, 
 for ever : for I will fill, I will fill their hearts and their 
 meetings with my glory, that they, as the sons of the 
 morning, may sing together, and the voice of melody 
 and gladness may be in them and amongst them, to the 
 ravishing of their hearts, and the astonishing of all that 
 behold them; for Jerusalem shall be a praise, and Zion 
 a rejoicing unto the ends of the earth." 
 
 " Therefore lift up your heads, and put on thy strength, 
 O thou city of the living God ! for thy walls shall be 
 salvation, and thy gates praise : no complaining shall be 
 in thy streets, nor beggar in all thy land ; and strife and 
 debate shall for ever be banished out of thy dwellings ; 
 and peace and plenty, love and unity, shall be the motto 
 upon your houses ; and the omnipotent One, the Lord of 
 hosts, thy husband, thy Lord, and thy God for ever." 
 p. 122124. 
 
 J. C. 
 
 " From Alisbury common Goal, the 19th 
 day of 7th month, 1661."
 
 140 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1662. "GLAD-TIDINGS PROCLAIMED TO THE UPRIGHT IN HEART, 
 who walk in the Light of Life ; and JUDGMENT pro- 
 nounced against Babylon and her Merchants, whose 
 reward must be according to her works." 
 
 " DEAR flock of my heavenly Father, whom he hath 
 visited and chosen out of the world, to be his peculiar 
 treasure ; whose tears are bottled up, and whose groans 
 are in remembrance before him, that he cannot withhold 
 from doing you good. O ye faithful and valiant ones 
 for his truth upon earth! he hath seen, he hath seen 
 your afflictions, sufferings, and trials, and hath weighed 
 them in the balance, and tempered your cups, that you 
 may say of the bitterest of them, My God is the portion 
 of this also. Hath he taken thy valiant men, and re- 
 moved them hence? What is it for? Because of distaste 
 that he hath taken against thee; or, to bring thee, O 
 Zion, to live in his life that never dies ? The former 
 is to be searched into; and according to the discovery 
 from God therein, the deep sense is to be impressed 
 upon thy spirit, that his will may be done, and his end 
 answered. Shall I take up a lamentation, and say, HOAV 
 are thy mighty men fallen, or removed by death ! And 
 how hast thou been tried, O daughter of Zion ! even since 
 thy coming forth from amongst the pots, and since thou 
 hast appeared out of the holes ! Though thy days be but 
 young, and thy beauty scarce discovered, yet how hast 
 thou been hunted ! Not only when thou wast in the 
 wilderness, and desert land, but since thou art on thy 
 way to Canaan, how hath Amalek vexed thee, and the 
 nations every where been troubled at thee! Art thou 
 born unto it ? And must it always be so ? Must war 
 still follow \var, and new tempests arise so soon as the 
 calms appear? What! no time given thee to put on 
 thy beautiful attire, and to shew thyself forth to the 
 alluring of the nations ? Yes, surely, thou shalt have a 
 day, and thy glory shall shine, and thy beauty and come-
 
 (John Crook.) 141 
 
 liness be made manifest, as well as thy blackness and 1662. 
 deformity. He is but emptying thee from vessel to 
 vessel, that thou mayest not taste of thy lees; but that 
 thy words may be as new wine, to refresh the hearts 
 of the mourners, and as apples of gold set in pictures of 
 silver, to take the eyes of the beholders ; that it may be 
 known, that thy food is not that which will corrupt, but 
 the tree of life, whose leaves shall heal the nations, and 
 whose fruit shall not fail, but in every month and change 
 be green. Oh then ! why shouldest thou not be content, 
 and thoroughly satisfied with all the dealings of thy God 
 towards thee, and say, It is the Lord, let him do what 
 seemeth good in his sight ? He will bring me forth, after 
 he hath thoroughly purged me, and I shall shine as the 
 sun in lustre, and triumph after the darkest day and 
 thickest clouds. And then shalt thou see clearly, and 
 understand the end of the Lord, as well in taking away 
 thy mighty men, as all the rest of his dealings towards 
 thee ; how that it is not only from the evil to come, but 
 that their blood might cry now their bodies are dead, 
 louder, and more powerful than when they were living. 
 For know, O Zion ! to thy comfort, and, O Babylon ! 
 unto thy sorrow, that though their bodies be dead, their 
 blood speaks, and the spillers thereof shall not escape in 
 the day of the inquisition of the mighty God ; for from 
 his hand thou shalt have justice, and the nations shall 
 know it and be ashamed and confounded for ever. For 
 the Spirit of the Lord is upon me to proclaim glad- 
 tidings in thine ears, in the authority of his life, and 
 dominion of his name ; and to tell them, that thy warfare 
 is nigh to be accomplished, and thy redemption out of 
 the hands of all thine enemies hastens; that thou shalt 
 worship and serve thy God, in the beauty of holiness, 
 and land of the living, when Babylon, with all her 
 upholders and adherents, shall not have whereon to lay 
 their heads or set their feet; but as she hath dealt to 
 Jerusalem, so shall it be measured to her again. The
 
 142 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1662. word of the Lord hath spoken it. Only wait ye, wait 
 ye in the shepherds' tents, with the flocks of the com- 
 panions, and these things you shall see assuredly brought 
 to pass." p. 208 210. 
 
 1665. " And these clouds of sufferings, whether sick- 
 ness, honds, or banishment, are but as the evening, 
 which must be added to the morning, to make up the 
 last day (in which God will perfectly raise up his Seed) 
 as well as the first day. O sing, thou barren, and thou 
 that didst not bear; for now shalt thou be fruitful in 
 children, and they shall sing together, as the sons of the 
 morning of this blessed holy-day, the new song, which 
 none can learn, but the redeemed out of the earth : 
 although now in the evening thou mayest be weeping by 
 the rivers of Babylon, with thy instrument untuned, 
 because in a strange land. Behold the bridegroom 
 cometh, at whose presence thy sorrow shall be turned 
 into rejoicing, and thy joy shall none take from thee. 
 But the world shall mourn ; and now is the day of their 
 sorrow begun, even that great and sore distress of na- 
 tions spoken of, with that inexpressible wo, wo, wo, 
 upon the inhabitants of the earth, which hath been 
 often sounded through the Lord's witnesses and servants, 
 that it may be known there have been prophets in 
 England, and sounding in thy streets, O London ! But 
 who shall live when God doth this, besides the seed that 
 shall serve the Lord !"* p. 256. 
 
 A Warning from the Lord unto the Rulers of Dover. 
 By LUKE HOWARD. London : 1661 . 
 
 1661. I WILL march through you, O you briers and 
 
 thorns, and will burn you together, and set up my name 
 
 *See Note C.
 
 (Luke Howard,) 143 
 
 of EVERLASTING RIGHTEOUSNESS; for by it am I known 1661. 
 to my chosen, and so must I be to the sons of men for 
 evermore. And this is the name by which they shall 
 know me, and by which they shall call me, THE LORD 
 OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS; for I will be glorified in them, 
 and they shall sanctify me in their hearts, and make 
 me their fear and their dread (and not man) as my 
 flock of slaughter hath done in the day of their afflic- 
 tions; when the wicked made long furrows on theif 
 backs, and accounted them as sheep for the slaughter, 
 even all the day long. Ah ! shall I not visit for these 
 things? Yea, assuredly, and my hand shall be avenged 
 on their oppressors." p. 5. 
 
 " Be ye forewarned, O mortal men, and touch 
 
 not my anointed ones, and do my prophets no harm, if 
 you will have me to say to you at your end, Come, ye 
 blessed, enter into your Master's joy, and sit down at 
 my right hand, and receive of my love, life, and joy 
 for evermore, with which I satisfy every hungry and 
 thirsty soul in his life -time ; by which refreshments, my 
 servants, my sons, and my daughters, have home forth 
 their testimony unto my life, power, and love, the which 
 I have shed abroad in their hearts, and thereby have 
 stood over the power of hell, and of death, and have 
 given their bodies, goods, and lives, a witness for me ; 
 the which I will own, even for ever, and it stands upon 
 everlasting record in my book of life, never to be blotted 
 out. For times shall cease, and seasons have an end, 
 and man, whose life is there, to wit, in times and sea- 
 sons, shall perish therein, and his name shall rot; but 
 my chosen shall remain on record in life everlasting. 
 The mouth of the living God hath spoken it, and it 
 shall surely be fulfilled, and the eyes of my heritage 
 shall see it, and I will be glorified in and amongst 
 them for ever, and for ever ; and all sorrow and sighing 
 shall be wiped away from off them, and nothing be 
 heard but joy, and gladness, melody, and praise?, halle-
 
 144 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1661.1ujahs for ever, and for ever. Then will I be known 
 in the beauty of holiness, to be Head of my family, and 
 Ruler over my household j yea, when my servants shall 
 sing for joy of heart, and their enemies languish for 
 
 sorrow of heart, and pain of spirit, then will I be 
 
 exalted among the holy nation, and set up among the 
 royal priesthood ; and then shall the deceivers' faces 
 wax pale, and the false prophets' spirit sink into the 
 pit, and the diviner be made mad, and all who have 
 leaned on them, and not repented, go down with them, 
 into the lake." p. 6. 
 
 A Brief History of the Voyage of KATHARINE EVANS 
 
 and SARAH CHEEVERS to the Island of Malta, and 
 
 their cruel Sufferings in the Inquisition there, for near 
 four years. London: Assigns of J. Sowle, 1715. 
 
 "A BRIEF DISCOVERY OP GOD'S ETERNAL TRUTH : 
 
 written in the Inquisition of Malta by KATHARINE 
 EVANS." 
 
 1662. " THUS saith the Lord, let every one that nameth 
 the name of Christ, depart from iniquity : for the day 
 cometh, and now is, that the name of Christ will be 
 dreadful and terrible to all workers of iniquity ; and God 
 the Father hath .committed all power in heaven and in 
 earth, and seas also, to his Son, Jesus Christ, and hath 
 raised him in power and great glory in thousands of his 
 saints, to convince the world of sin, of righteousness, 
 and of judgment, that the prince of this world may be 
 judged and cast out : for he shall never have any part or 
 portion with the Heir of eternal life and salvation, who 
 hath power to judge and to justify, and to condemn 
 or to save, to scatter and to gather, to break to pieces 
 and to bind up that which is broken to pieces: and he
 
 (Katharine Evans.) 145 
 
 will establish his own spiritual government, righteous 1662. 
 rule, and pure holy worship, to the ends of the earth ; 
 and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it; for 
 whatsoever he hath purposed, shall surely come to pass, 
 and his decree shall stand ; and wo, wo, wo, to every 
 one that doth lift up a hand against any of those that the 
 Lord God doth send forth in his name, in this the day 
 of his power, to preach glad-tidings to the meek ; or do 
 form any carnal weapon against him in his anointed, 
 thinking to disinherit him, who is possessed Heir of all. 
 But the time doth hasten, that the Lord God of power 
 will exalt his princely sceptre over all sceptres, thrones 
 and dominions, kingdoms and countries ; and none shall 
 he able to prevent him, or resist his mighty power." 
 p. 151. 
 
 "The Lord God of life and power will, and hath 
 
 discovered the spirit of that woman, that hath made all 
 nations drunken with the wine of her fornication, and 
 the inhabitants of the earth were surfeited and overcome 
 with her abomination : she shall soon be cast into a bed 
 of torment with all her lovers, where she shall have 
 torment without ease, judgment without mercy, a full 
 cup without mixture, and the dregs wrung out unto 
 her, and she shall be rewarded double for all her ini- 
 quities. The Lord will mar her beauty, and stain hei? 
 glory, and strip off her costly robes, and lay her honour 
 in the dust, and turn her songs into howling, and her 
 mirth into mourning, and her music into lamentation ; 
 and she shall receive a cup of trembling at the Lord's 
 hand; and all her glory, pomp, and pride shall perish 
 as the untimely figs, and fade as the flower of the field, 
 and wither as the grass upon the house-top; and the 
 smoke of her torment shall ascend in the sight of all 
 people, and it shall go forth in the audience of all 
 nations; and she shall be a by-word, and a scorn, a 
 taunt, hissing, and derision, and off-scouring to as 
 many as have heard of her name; and a day of lamen-
 
 146 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1662. tation shall be heard in the midst of her, great tribu- 
 lation, wrath, and anguish, upon every soul that doth 
 evil, because she repented not of her uncleanness, forni- 
 cation, cruelty, hardheartedness, and mercilessness, and 
 all her uncharitableness, and blasphemy, and sorceries, 
 and the like wickedness." 
 
 " And this I give in as my testimony for the Lord, in 
 the living word of truth, against her and all her lovers 
 and every one that upholds her, as I have received it 
 by the revelation of the Son of God, and not from, 
 or of flesh or blood, but have seen, handled, and tasted 
 deeply of the cup of the indignation of the Lord's judg- 
 ment. If judgment first begin at the house of God, 
 what will become of them that obey not the gospel of 
 God : for if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall 
 the wicked and ungodly appear." p. 166. 
 
 A Trumpet Sounding an Alarm to all the Inhabitants of 
 the Earth. By CHRISTOPHER BACON. London : 1662. 
 
 1662. " OH ! lament and bow down, repent and 
 
 forsake your sins, for the great and terrible day of the 
 Lord God hasteneth; yea, in the name and fear of the 
 Lord, I proclaim it to you all j it is near at hand ; a day 
 of fierce wrath, blackness, and thick darkness, distress, 
 gloominess, and desolation is swiftly and irresistibly 
 coming upon all the wicked and ungodly, that hate 
 reproof, and make a mock at sin, and will not take 
 counsel of the Spirit of Life, which hath long striven 
 with you. Then, you that are strong and mighty, and 
 
 trust in the arm of flesh, and carnal weapons oh! 
 
 alas, alas, then fear, terror, weakness, amazement, and 
 astonishment shall seize upon you all, and the carnal 
 weapons of every evil-doer shall be turned against his 
 fellow : then shall the kings of the earth, the great
 
 (John Gibson.) 147 
 
 men, and the mighty men, the rich men, and the chief 1662. 
 captains, cry unto the rocks and to the mountains to 
 fall upon them, and the clefts of the rocks to hide them 
 from the wrath of the Lord, and of the Lamb, whom 
 your forefathers with bloody hands crucified and killed, 
 
 the Prince of Life; and you, their children, are 
 
 treading in the same steps, by shedding the blood of, and 
 persecuting the saints and faithful followers of Jesus 
 Christ ; therefore you shall have blood to drink, and the 
 cup of fury, wrath, and indignation, must be poured 
 forth upon you without mixture, if you repent not, and 
 turn from all the evil of your ways." p. 3. 
 
 " The day of the Lord, as travail upon a woman, 
 
 will overtake you; and when you cry to yourselves, 
 peace and safety, then destruction, woe, and misery, 
 shall come rolling in upon you like the irresistible waves 
 of the sea. Oh ! then, shall your greatest joys be your 
 greatest torments ; the songs of your temples turned into 
 bowlings, your laughter into weeping, and all the glory, 
 pleasure, beauty, friendship, that you have in the world, 
 shall then depart from you. Alas, alas, what tongue 
 can express the sorrow, woe, grief, and pain that the 
 wicked and ungodly must then partake of." p. 5. 
 
 A Faithful Testimony for the Lord, ivherein is proclaimed 
 the mighty day of his Power. By JOHN GIBSON. 
 London : Printed in the year 1663. 
 
 " THE day of true rejoicing is come unto all the 1663. 
 mourners in Sion, and true gladness I do proclaim 
 unto all the heavy-hearted in Jerusalem; for the Lord, 
 the mighty God of heaven and earth, is risen and 
 arising in his mighty power, and in his irresistible 
 strength, to break down all the powers of darkness, 
 and all the strong holds of Satan, wherein he hath lodged
 
 |48 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1663. these many years, and made war with the Lamb, and 
 oppressed the just in many thousands. But now is the 
 Lord risen in his mighty power to plead the cause of his 
 oppressed seed, which hath been deeply oppressed both 
 inwardly and outwardly, by, and in, many thousands; 
 and which hath been sorely weighed, and grievously 
 loaden, and deeply oppressed with the heavy clods of the 
 earth, which the heart of man hath been affected with 
 and drawn after, which hath caused the innocent seed 
 of life to suffer under a heavy and grievous burden; 
 the remembrance of which hath often broken my heart, 
 and caused me to cry out in the integrity thereof, and in 
 the bitterness of my spirit, O Lord ! O Lord ! wilt thou 
 not hasten the deliverance of thy seed, and make a 
 speedy work in the earth, and cut it short in righteous- 
 ness for thy name's sake, and for thy glory, and for thy 
 seed's sake, which lieth in bondage and in streight 
 captivity both inwardly and outwardly ? And thus have 
 I been constrained to cry often unto the Lord, even in 
 my infancy; and this ciy yet remains in my heart, O 
 Lord, O Lord, when wilt thou remove the rod of the 
 wicked from off the back of the righteous ? Oh ! let it 
 not always lie upon them! This cry hath often run 
 through me unto the Lord, and I have often received 
 an answer from the Lord, and for the seed's sake am 
 I constrained to publish it." 
 
 " Thus saith the Lord, concerning the seed which is 
 heir of the kingdom and of the promised land, I can 
 never forget it, for it is as the apple of mine eye, and 
 it is very tender in my sight: though a woman may 
 forget her sucking child, yet I can never forget that 
 babe which I have begotten, though it be yet unbrought 
 forth ; and I will remember all my promises, saith the 
 Lord, which I promised unto my servant Abraham in 
 the days of old, and in the years past, concerning his 
 seed, That in his seed shall all the nations of the earth 
 be blessed. And I have remembered, saith the Lord, all
 
 (John Gibson.) 149 
 
 the afflictions of my people, and all the sufferings of my 1663. 
 innocent ones, and there shall not one of them be for- 
 gotten in the day of account, for they are all recorded 
 in a book, not written with ink nor pen, but with 
 my Spirit, saith the Lord; and I will remove the rod 
 of the wicked from off the backs of the righteous, in 
 my time, which shall be in season; which time and 
 season shall be a blessed and a joyful time unto all that 
 fear and obey my name, and wait in patience to see 
 it accomplished; but it shall be a terrible and a dreadful 
 day unto all the opposers of me and my people; and 
 this day shall come as a thief in the night, when men 
 are unaware of it, and my own out-stretched arm shall 
 bring it, and the glory, and the honour of it shall re- 
 dound unto my name, saith the Lord." 
 
 " And this answer hath been often made unto me 
 by the Spirit of the Lord, which hath often refreshed 
 my soul, and caused my heart to be glad and rejoice, 
 even with joy unspeakable, and hath filled my mouth 
 with his heavenly praises." p. 1 3. 
 
 " A WORD OF CAUTION TO THE INHABITANTS OF ENG- 
 LAND, which may be to some a faithful warning to 
 prepare for the great and notable day of the Lord 
 Almighty, which shall burn as an oven, and is ready 
 to break forth upon this nation. Upon the third 
 day of the eighth month, 1666. By JOHN GIBSON." 
 
 " I BEING alone, riding on the way not far from 1666. 
 Windsor, I was much pressed, and as it were, grieved 
 and troubled in my spirit; crying often out in much 
 sorrow and bitterness, O Lord ! what wilt thou do with 
 this poor nation of England ? O Lord ! what wilt thou 
 do with this poor nation, and particularly with the in- 
 habitants of London, that late nourishing city, which 
 was the glory of nations, and is now become a heap ? 
 O Lord God! what wilt thou do with her inhabitants.
 
 150 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1666. for thou knowest her state is sad and miserable every 
 way, and few there be that weightily lay it to heart, 
 or that are truly sensible of their own states and con- 
 ditions? And thus were my cries and pleadings with 
 the Lord, in much sorrow and bitterness of spirit for 
 several miles together; and when I came to an ob- 
 scure place, I alighted off my horse, and sat down upon 
 the ground; and after a little time I was compassed 
 about as I thought with a bright cloud, which did so 
 amaze and astonish me, that I was as if I had been in 
 an agony, not knowing whether I was asleep or awake, 
 alive or dead; and after some time, I heard a pure 
 small voice, as if it had been the voice of a young 
 child, only it was more piercing, which said," 
 
 " My decree concerning this nation is finished, it is 
 sealed, and that which I have decreed, there is none can 
 alter; for this nation of England hath been unto me a 
 provoking nation, and particularly, London, that late 
 flourishing city, which was the glory of nations, which, 
 now, a great part of, I have laid desolate and as a 
 heap ; but my determination concerning her inhabitants 
 is not yet accomplished; for I have yet a farther con- 
 troversy with them ; for I have fed that city, yea, and 
 the whole nation, with such mercies and blessings, yea, 
 ^with such abundance of all good things, as I have 
 not done the like unto any other city or nation under 
 the sun in this latter age. Notwithstanding all the 
 mercies and blessings I have blessed them with, they 
 have more provoked me and kindled my wrath and 
 anger against them, than any other city or nation. 
 Also, I have mixed mercy and judgment together, and 
 have visited them therewith, yet they are as stubborn 
 and rebellious against me and my holy laws, as ever; 
 from the highest to the lowest of them, they are a 
 stubborn, stiff-necked, rebellious people; therefore it 
 is in my heart to humble them, and yet again, and 
 again, to visit them with sore and grievous judgments."
 
 (John Gibson.) 151 
 
 "Then said I, O Lord God of heaven and earth! 1666. 
 there is none able to withstand thee in that which 
 thou hast decreed ; yet, O Lord ! suffer that I may 
 speak ! And he said, speak on. Then I said, O thou, 
 that inhabitest eternity, and always dwellest in the 
 light, thou hast already, even of late, visited this poor 
 nation with two sore and grievous judgments, the pesti- 
 lence, and fire; with the former, thou hast cut off 
 many thousands, and with the latter, thou hast made 
 many destitute of natural subsistence, and all this thou 
 didst in thy justice; yet, if it be thy will, and may 
 stand good in thy sight, O thou, that are just in all 
 thy ways, and righteous in all thy judgments! spare 
 this poor nation, and heal the backslidings of her in- 
 habitants, and cause thy light and thy glory yet to 
 shine upon them, if they have not wholly sinned out 
 the day of thy precious visitation unto them !" 
 
 "Then the pure small piercing voice spake again unto 
 me, saying," 
 
 " Plead not for this people, for they are a heady, stub- 
 born, and self-willed people; and their rebellions com- 
 mitted against me, my laws and people, have kindled 
 my wrath and indignation against them, which cannot 
 be quenched till I have accomplished my determination 
 concerning them : for though I have visited the nation 
 with two sore judgments, yet I have not accomplished 
 that which I have determined to do by those two judg- 
 ments ; and I have also other two great judgments 
 ready to visit this rebellious nation with ; one of which, 
 that is, the sword, I will intermix with that which is 
 yet behind of the pestilence and fire ; and, the other, 
 which shall be a dreadful famine and sore pining hun- 
 ger, shall come to make an end, and accomplish that 
 which I have determined, which the other three shall 
 leave undone : for, as I multiplied and increased mer- 
 cies and blessings upon this nation, which have been 
 all abused and turned to a wrong end, even so will I
 
 152 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1666. multiply and increase my plagues and judgments upon 
 it, till I have accomplished that which I have deter- 
 mined concerning the inhabitants thereof, who shall 
 know that I am the Lord, and have spoken these 
 things, and will assuredly bring them to pass." 
 
 "Then I said, O thou, that art holy, just, and true ! 
 when shall be the time of these sore judgments ? and 
 what wilt thou do with thy innocent people in the 
 time of them ?" 
 
 ''And he said unto me, As for the times, they are 
 in my hand, and few shall know them, but it hastens 
 on apace ; and if I tell thee the time, thou shalt riot 
 reveal it to man, woman, nor child, except I require 
 it of thee : and as for my people, those that are truly 
 mine, I will keep them in perfect peace with me, 
 and none of these things shall make them afraid. Write 
 down what thou hast heard, and declare it, and be 
 thou faithful in that which I have committed to thee, 
 and my blessings shall remain with thee." 
 
 "JOHN GIBSON." 
 
 " Wrighton, the fourth day of the eighth 
 month, called October, 1666." 
 
 A Lamentation over England, from a true sight and 
 suffering sense of the lamentable wickedness of such 
 Rulers, Priests, and People, that are erred and strayed 
 from the way of God, and follow too much the devices 
 and desires of their oivn hearts ; offending against 
 his holy laws ; limiting the Holy One of Israel ; 
 making the devices of their own hearts a law to in- 
 snare the innocent, that worship the father in spirit 
 and truth. By MORGAN WATKINS : Printed in the 
 year 1664. 
 
 1664. " NOW is the day of the harvest of the whole
 
 (Morgan Watklns.) 153 
 
 earth begun, hi which the Lord is gathering in unto 1664. 
 himself his elect seed in all nations, lands, and coun- 
 tries, even from the one end of the earth unto the 
 other, that they may worship hi spirit and in truth, and 
 be established in righteousness, and the mountain of 
 the Lord's house be prepared in the top of the moun- 
 tains, and be exalted above the hills, where all nations 
 shall flow unto it ; out of which shall go forth the law, 
 and the word of the Lord from this Jerusalem; and 
 they shall break their swords into plough-shares (mark, 
 the day of the breaking of swords is begun) and their*' 
 spears into prun ing-hooks, and nation shall not lift up 
 sword against nation, neither learn to fight any more/' 
 p. 4. 
 
 "After all your cruelty and persecution against 
 
 us, what case will you be in, when the Lord doth appear 
 for us openly, and vindicate our innocent cause by his 
 just judgments upon all our enemies, in making them 
 examples of his wrath to all generations, that the peo- 
 ple that are afar off may hear, and dread, and fear to 
 resist his mighty power, that is risen, and arising to 
 shake all nations, and shall bring down the haughti- 
 ness and the loftiness of man, and stain the glory of 
 all flesh, and bring all the honourable of the earth into 
 contempt ; that the honourable, immortal, heavenly seed 
 of life may be exalted over all, and the kingdoms of 
 the world become the kingdoms of the Lord and of 
 his Christ, whose right it is to reign and rule over all, 
 blessed for ever !" p. 24. 
 
 " The wisdom of men is received for the doc- 
 trine of salvation, and the doctrine of God's salvation is 
 accounted foolishness and delusion, and cast aside as 
 a thing of nought by the wise of this world, who 
 account it not worthy to have room in their hearts, nor 
 in the nation; and them that have received it in their 
 hearts, who believe and obey it, they have made laws 
 to banish out of their native country; but the time is
 
 154 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1664. coming, and very nigh at hand, that you shall know 
 in terrible judgments that your wisdom is but foolish- 
 ness; and that which you are labouring to exalt, is 
 that which God is appeared to cast aside and destroy ; 
 and that which you are labouring to destroy and pull 
 down, is that which God is risen in spirit, in the hearts 
 and souls of his people, to set up. And now you shall 
 certainly know whose counsel shall stand, and we have 
 told you before, but you would not believe the report 
 of the Spirit of truth ; therefore the arm of God's salva- 
 tion is not revealed in you, which now he is making 
 bare before you and all nations, that you may know 
 you have refused his counsel, and slighted the day of 
 your visitation, and rejected the Spirit of truth that 
 would have gathered you, and the Power that would 
 have preserved you from the hands of all your enemies 
 both within and without, which you shall see and 
 know is able to preserve all those that put their trust 
 in it, and to deliver them out of the hands of all their 
 enemies, so far as it shall make for his glory, and the 
 good of their souls." p. 43. 
 
 England's Sad Estate Lamented, and her Abominations 
 Discovered. By JOSIAH Co ALE. 1665. 
 
 1665. O ENGLAND ! England ! what lamentation 
 
 shall I take up for thee, for whom the Lord hath done so 
 great things, not only in giving thee such fulness of 
 
 temporal blessings but over and above all this, he 
 
 manifested his eternal power in the midst of thee, and 
 thereby wrought miraculously in the hearts of a rem- 
 nant of thy inhabitants, to whom he made known the 
 mysterious way, which the vulturous eye never saw, 
 which leads to life and salvation, and whom he made 
 choice of to be a kind of first fruits in these latter 
 days." p. 32.
 
 (Ambrose Rigge.) 155 
 
 " How have thy rulers abused the power which 1665. 
 
 God committed to them and intrusted them withal, in 
 tolerating all those licentious practices which daily 
 have abounded in thy streets, and in suffering the 
 wicked and evil-doers to go unpunished, and in turn- 
 ing their sword against the innocent, and to persecute 
 the harmless people of the Lord, for the exercise of 
 their pure consciences towards him in matters relating 
 to his worship, and in taking upon them to lord over 
 the consciences of men, the seat of God. Have they 
 not therein greatly abused the power committed unto 
 them, and intruded into the prerogative of God? Oh 
 great presumption and usurpation indeed; a sin which 
 shall not go unpunished by the Judge!" p. 33. 
 
 "Now all false foundations shall be discovered, 
 
 and all false coverings shall be ripped off, and all outside 
 professions shall wither, for God is risen to fan the 
 nations, and to winnow them, and he will separate 
 betwixt the wheat and the chaff, and he will gather 
 the wheat into his garner, and the chaff shall be burnt 
 with unquenchable fire ; and wo be unto them that 
 are covered, and not with the covering of the Spirit 
 of the Lord." p. 41. 
 
 Constancy in the Truth Commended : Being a True Ac- 
 count of the Life, Sufferings, and Collected Testi- 
 monies of that Faithful Elder, and Ancient Minister 
 of Jesus Christ, AMBROSE RIGGE. London : J. Sowle, 
 1710. 
 
 A LAMENTATION OVER ENGLAND, BECAUSE OF THE 
 Judgments that are now appearing against her for 
 her manifold Transgressions." 
 
 "ALAS! Alas! for the misery, destruction, and 1665.
 
 156 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1665. desolation, which are hastening to come upon thee; 
 the day of the Lord shall come upon thee, as pain 
 upon a woman that travaileth, and you shall be amazed 
 at one another's faces ; your faces shall be as flames : 
 for behold, the day of the Lord cometh, cruel both 
 with wrath and fierce anger, to scourge the land, and 
 he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it; and he 
 will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked 
 for their iniquities, and will cause the arrogancy of the 
 proud to cease, and lay low the haughtiness of the 
 terrible, who have made strong the bonds and fetters 
 of his anointed. Then shall a man be more precious 
 than gold, and the residue that shall remain shall return 
 to Zion with songs of deliverance, and hallelujahs to 
 the Lord for ever, and sorrow and sighing shall fly 
 away; and they shall receive beauty for ashes, and the 
 oil of joy for the spirit of heaviness, that they may be 
 called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord." 
 " But thou shalt mourn as the dove mourneth ; yea, 
 thy laughter shall be turned into mourning and thy joy 
 into heaviness ; and thy swarms of false prophets, who 
 have long daubed thee with untempered inortar, and 
 made merchandize of thee through covetousness, shall 
 drink deep of the cup of the Lord's indignation; who are 
 highly guilty of all the cruelty, and oppression, pride, 
 and iniquity, for which God's anger is now kindled, 
 which shall burn them up, and leave them neither root 
 nor branch. The great globe of the world, they have 
 so long hugged fast under their long robes, shall tum- 
 ble from them as down a mighty mountain, witliout 
 recovery ; and the arm of flesh, they have so long 
 fled unto and trusted in, shall wither before their eyes ; 
 and the complaint of the widows they have devoured, 
 and of the strangers whom they have oppressed, evil- 
 entreated, and persecuted, and of the fatherless whom 
 they have destroyed by their covetous practices, shall 
 be written before them as in tables of brass, and they
 
 (Ambrose Rigge.) 157 
 
 shall have time to read them : their creeping about 1665. 
 upon their bellies, and twisting every way like serpents, 
 to uphold themselves and their wives and children in 
 pride, fulness of bread and abundance of idleness, shall 
 be a proverb in generations to come. And as those 
 things which I was moved to write concerning their 
 brethren, the Presbyters, a little before their overthrow 
 came upon them, which eclipsed all their glory, so shall 
 these things overtake this generation of vipers, whose 
 glory shall go out as the snuff of a candle ; for they 
 have been as evening wolves, ravening the prey, and 
 destroying many souls to get dishonest gain." 
 
 " O England ! England ! how art thou like 
 
 an ungirded vessel ! How often hath the Lord invited 
 thee to repentance, waming thee of his fierce wrath, 
 which is to be revealed from heaven against all ungod- 
 liness ! But instead of hearkening and returning, thou 
 hast abused, stocked, stoned, buffetted, persecuted in 
 thy synagogues, shamefully entreated, imprisoned to 
 death, and banished them whom the Lord raised up 
 in tender love to warn thee; and, after their reproof, 
 thou hast invented how to be more desperately wicked, 
 surpassing the sins of Sodom and Gomorrha: nay, if 
 the mighty works which have been done in thee, had 
 been done in them, they would long ere now have 
 repented in dust and ashes. But thou hast hardened 
 thy heart, and stiffened thy neck, and set at nought 
 all his reproofs, and despised all his counsels ; therefore 
 thou shalt seek him early and shalt not find him, and 
 in the morning shalt say, Would God it were evening ! 
 and in the evening, Would God it were morning ! for 
 the anguish which shall come upon thee. All these 
 things, in the Lord's appointed season, shall overtake 
 thee, and much more unless thou return unto him who 
 hath smitten thee/' 
 
 " Oh ! that I might be instrumental in helping 
 
 the worst of mine enemies out of the snare of the devil,
 
 158 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1665. much more my native countrymen whose hearts are 
 breathing after the Lord : but whether they will hear 
 or forbear, I have answered the word of the Lord, who 
 commanded me to write, and hath furnished me with 
 matter faster than my pen could write ; that his judg- 
 ments, and the cause thereof, and the remedy against 
 the remainder thereof, might be fully declared and pub- 
 lished in the ears of thee, O England ! which in faith- 
 fulness I have done, according as the word of the Lord 
 arose in me, without flattering. So thus far am I clear 
 of the blood of all men, whether I live or die, remain 
 in bonds or be at liberty ; whether I be banished for 
 the testimony of Jesus and Word of God, or remain in 
 prison here as I have done these several years, with 
 several of my brethren and fellow-sufferers. In all which 
 I am no-way careful, but can freely say, O Lord ! thy 
 will be done in the earth ! Therefore I rest in that peace 
 which the world cannot rob me of, and remain 
 
 England's real Friend." 
 
 "From the Prison in Horsham in Sussex, 
 this \2th day of the otn month, called 
 August, 1665." p. 158166. 
 
 "A PREMONITION TO THE BISHOPS AND PRIESTS OF 
 ENGLAND, &c." 
 
 1676. " OH ! my heart is rent because of the misery and 
 sore destruction which God will bring upon you and 
 your posterity if you and they still harden your hearts 
 against him ; and my wrestlings are often with the Lord, 
 not to pour forth the vials of his wrath upon your head, 
 but rather give you penitent hearts, if you have not sin- 
 ned out your day. Oh ! that there were such a heart in 
 you, as would strip you of your pharisaical long robes, 
 and clothe you with sackcloth and ashes upon your 
 heads, and would cry mightily unto God, as the men of
 
 (Ambrose Rigge.) 159 
 
 Nineveh did, that God may turn from you his fiery 1665. 
 indignation and sore displeasure, that is ready to flame 
 in fury against you ; for, your repentance, and not your 
 destruction, is the earnest desire of my soul. Oh ! that 
 you knew in this your day, the things that belong to 
 your peace with God, but the day is very near wherein 
 they will be hid from your eyes; for God's Spirit will 
 not always strive with you, as it hath hitherto done, 
 neither will the place of repentance be always in your 
 sight ; which, when hid, you shall seek death and shall 
 not find it, and shall say in the morning, Would God it 
 were evening, and in the evening, Would God it were 
 morning, for the dread and horror that shall compass 
 you on every side." 
 
 " Nation is now appearing against nation, and 
 
 kingdom against kingdom, and famines, pestilences, and 
 terrible earthquakes in divers places ; yea, many signs 
 in heaven, and wonders in the earth beneath, of the 
 breaking forth of the wrath of the Lamb, whose patience 
 and long-suffering being slighted, you are not led to 
 repentance ; but they wax worse and worse, deceiving 
 and being deceived ; even heaping up wrath against the 
 day of wrath, and the revealing of the righteous judg- 
 ment of God." 
 
 " Even as it was in the days of Noah, so it is now in 
 the coming of the Son of Man ; for the earth is filled 
 with violence, and is corrupted by iniquity, and the dark 
 corners thereof are full of the habitations of cruelty ; but 
 an ark is prepared, and a small remnant is gathered, 
 and more gathering daily into it, at the command of the 
 Lord." 
 
 <; Therefore awake ! awake ! all you who have 
 
 long lain in security ; for the great and notable day of 
 the Lord is dawning, wherein all the proud, yea, and all 
 that do wickedly shall be as stubble, and the day that 
 cometh shall leave them neither root nor branch; but 
 unto them who fear the name of the Lord, and depart
 
 160 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 16/6. from iniquity, and hate every evil way, shall the Sun of 
 Righteousness arise with healing, and shall give them 
 heauty for ashes, and the oil of joy for the spirit of 
 heaviness, under which they have walked many years; 
 and the cup of trembling shall be taken out of their 
 hand, and shall be given into the hands of those who 
 oppress them." p. 216. 
 
 THE SPIRITUAL GUIDE OF LIFE OFFERED AND TEN- 
 DERED TO ALL MANKIND/' 
 
 1691. "BE afflicted, and mourn, and weep; let your laugh- 
 ter be turned into mourning, and your joy into heavi- 
 ness ; for the Lord is arisen to plead with all flesh, by 
 his sword, and by fire, and he will leave the outward 
 court to be trodden down of the gentiles; for he is 
 arisen in his fury as a man of war, and is disquieting 
 the nations with wars and commotions, and causing 
 the potsherds of the earth to dash one another to 
 pieces, that he may make way and room for his own 
 kingdom, rule, and government in the earth; and all 
 that will not that he should rule, he will slay by the 
 breath of his mouth and the brightness of his com- 
 ing. For Babylon must fall among Papists and Pro- 
 testants; even that which hath been builded up, 
 whereby to reach to heaven, in the will and wisdom 
 of man : for it is come in remembrance before the 
 Lord, and great will be the fall thereof: her merchants 
 shall lament to see her destruction, when they shall 
 not be able to relieve her. And the scattered flock of 
 the house of Jacob, God will gather into his own fold, 
 viz. his power, within whose wall is the well of life, 
 where all the sheep of his pasture drink; and here 
 shall none be able to make them afraid, for the power 
 of God is that universal fold, into which the gathering 
 of the nations must be ; so shall the kingdoms of 
 the world become the kingdoms of God and his Son." 
 p. 304.
 
 (Ambrose Rigge.) 161 
 
 "God is pure and holy, and will have a people so; 1692. 
 and no unclean thing or person can stand in his court, 
 or presence. And in this his glorious gospel-day of 
 life, light, and glory the most spiritual ministration, 
 and the last, and greatest, that ever the world shall 
 be visited withal, which in tender mercy and loving- 
 kindness he hath caused to dawn in us he will be 
 glorified, in, by, and through us, or, without us, and 
 against us; for his Name he will exalt in righteous- 
 ness over nations; and he will overturn, and overturn, 
 till he come to rule, whose right it is, in the heart 
 and consciences of the sons of men." p. 312. 
 
 " As for the times and seasons, they are in 
 
 the hand of the Lord, and he disposeth of the king- 
 doms of the world according to the good pleasure of 
 his will; and who shall say, What dost thou? A spar- 
 row shall not fall to the ground without his Divine 
 Providence. Therefore, dear friends, trouble not your- 
 selves about the transactions and mutations amongst 
 men, for all those things must be. The world is 
 grown old in iniquity, and the workers thereof must 
 be cut off; the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. 
 Touch not on the right hand nor on the left with those 
 dissentions that seem to infest the world; for the wrath 
 of man shall never work nor bring forth the right- 
 eousness of God, neither shall wars with flesh and 
 blood complete true and lasting peace on earth, but 
 righteousness shall deliver from death; the fruit thereof 
 is peace, and the effect thereof is quietness and assur- 
 ance for ever." 
 
 " Strength, help, and preservation are in Him, 
 
 who is arisen to fan the nations with the wind of his 
 wrath, which have drunk the cup of fornication; and 
 all the chaff he will consume with the fire of his 
 jealousy, and waste the nations with his righteous 
 judgments, that he may gather the wheat into his 
 
 M
 
 102 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1692. garner: for the earth is filled with violence; but the 
 peaceable Saviour is arising as a glorious sun to en- 
 lighten the earth with the knowledge of his glory; 
 and he will gather his sheep from the four corners 
 thereof, and bring judgment to the gentiles, for the 
 recovery, and redemption of Zion, his beloved city." 
 
 " I have lived to see the desire of my heart in 
 
 measure answered, and am thereby greatly satisfied, 
 and hope yet to see the beams of the glorious sun of 
 righteousness to arise and break forth more and more 
 in the hearts of the sons and daughters of men, and 
 the way of holiness opened to them who yet sit in the 
 solitary places of darkness. This I long for more than 
 my daily food; for the earth can never enjoy her sab- 
 baths again, till the righteousness of faith is established 
 in it; and nothing short thereof can produce peace 
 on earth, and good-will to men; this the Lord hath 
 made us witnesses of in our day, and that the glory 
 and beauty of true Christianity, now so much lost and 
 decayed, can never be restored to the nations and king- 
 doms of the world, till they be turned to, and live the 
 life of righteousness and holiness." p. 33 38. 
 
 1693. " He will sift the nations in the sieve of his wrath, 
 who have despised his word, grace, life, and conso- 
 lation, which is the root and moving cause of all true 
 worship, and service to him. This, the corner stone, 
 which Babel's builders have rejected as useless to 
 them, and think to reach heaven without it, this, will 
 bring confusion upon all religions on earth; if they 
 continue rejecting this stone, their buildings, though 
 ever so high, will fall; for the judgment of the great 
 whore is come, who hath made nations drunk with 
 her glittering cup, and the fall of Babylon as a mill- 
 stone into the sea is at hand, and all her lovers, who 
 have made merchandize of the souls of men, shall 
 mourn, and be astonished at her destruction." p. 317.
 
 (Ambrose Rigge.) 1(53 
 
 " And though the Lord hath taken peace from the 1693. 
 earth, where righteousness dwells not, and one moun- 
 tain rise against another, and beat one another to dust, 
 be not troubled at these things, for they must be, and 
 also famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in divers 
 places; they are but the beginning of sorrows to them 
 who have despised the mercy and long-sufferings of 
 the Lord, and have slighted and neglected the day of 
 their visitation, which hath been for many years; in 
 which he hath striven with them by his Spirit, and 
 hath waited to be good and gracious to the worst of 
 men, but they have not known nor considered, in this 
 their day, the things which belong to their peace; 1 
 pray God it be not hid from their eyes. But we are 
 commanded to say, whatever befals the world, it shall 
 go well with the righteous in it; therefore stand stil! 
 in your tent-doors, and quietly wait to see the salva- 
 tion of God, through all these overturnings which he 
 suffers to be in the earth." 
 
 " Often would the Lord have gathered England un- 
 der the shadow of his wing and power, but they, I 
 mean the greater part, have refused to be gathered, 
 and hate to be reformed. Of this I am a living wit- 
 ness, they were invited to the marriage-supper of the 
 Lamb, but they have made several excuses, yea, wil- 
 ful and obstinate refusals to come, which hath kindled 
 the wrath of the Master of the feast to say, They shall 
 not taste at my table. And he will invite other guests, 
 more hungry, and willing to come, who shall fill his 
 house; of this we have been, and may yet more be, 
 eye-witnesses; for he is shaking the earth and heavens, 
 that that which is to be shaken may be removed, 
 that the foundation which cannot be shaken may re- 
 main sure for ever. And he will gather his sheep out 
 of all kingdoms, and from all barren mountains where 
 they have been scattered in this cloudy and dark night, 
 which hath continued for ages and generations before
 
 1(54 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1693. us. So mind not the bustles and hurryings in the 
 
 world, nor the overturnings among men, for through 
 all these things will the Lord set up the kingdom of 
 his heloved Son, which is a spiritual kingdom of peace 
 and righteousness." p. 321 323. 
 
 ] 702. " Many have been in love with Mystery Ba- 
 bylon the great) the mother of harlots, and abominations 
 of the earth, delighting to drink of her cup, who 
 could not see her inside. But now the great Searcher 
 of hearts is come, and the flying roll of his wrath is 
 entering, and will more and more enter into the house 
 of the thief, and into the house of the false witness- 
 bearer, who say, Thus saith the Lord, and the Lord 
 never spoke to them ; and shall destroy it with the 
 stones and timber thereof. The mouth of the Lord 
 of hosts hath spoken it, and it shall come to pass in 
 its season. Zech. v." 
 
 " But Zion, which hath been as a widow forsaken, 
 shall become as a fruitful hill, and shall no more be 
 called desolate, nor forsaken, but shall put on her 
 beautiful garments; and the Lamb and his followers 
 shall dwell there, where shall be no night, nor shadow 
 of death; and Jerusalem shall be a quiet habitation, 
 salvation shall be for w r alls and bulwarks, and the en- 
 trance thereof praise: there is no temple there but 
 the Lamb, henceforth and for ever." p. 377* 
 
 " These, and many more blessed effects, hath 
 
 the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ brought forth 
 in many souls, by his coming, and most glorious ma- 
 nifestation in this latter age of the world, wherein all 
 the prophecies of him from Moses are fulfilled and 
 fulfilling; and many shall yet come to the brightness 
 of his rising, and shall shake off their night-gar- 
 ments, and put on the armour of light; and the 
 knowledge of the power and glory of God shall be
 
 (Stephen Crisp.) 165 
 
 perfectly restored, from the least to the greatest; and 1702. 
 Christianity shall shine over the earth in its ancient 
 beauty and glory, which hath been eclipsed in this 
 long and dark night of apostasy, wherein the true 
 gospel hath been hid for ages. But the darkness is 
 past, and the true light now shineth; honour and 
 everlasting praises ascend unto his name, who, in an 
 acceptable day, visited us ! When we lay polluted in 
 our blood, and no eye pitied us, He had' compassion 
 on us, and said unto us, Live; and his word quick- 
 ened us, and became a light to our feet, and guided 
 them into the way of holiness, which alone leads to 
 everlasting life." p. 381. 
 
 An Epistle to Friends concerning the Present and Suc- 
 ceeding Times: Being a faithful Exhortation and 
 Warning to all Friends, who profess the Truth, to 
 beivare of the manifold idles of the enemy, and to 
 stand armed in the light of the Lord God of heaven 
 and earth, against his assaults, that so they may be 
 ready to answer the call and requirings of the Lord. 
 
 Also, something signified of the Misery of the Suc- 
 ceeding Times, that all may be prepared, and that the 
 evil day may not overtake any at unawares, but such 
 as turn away their ear from counsel. By STEPHEN 
 CRISP. Printed in the year 1666, and Re-printed 
 for further service in the year 1679. 
 
 " FRIENDS, I am the more drawn forth at this 1666. 
 
 time to visit you with an epistle, because the Lord hath 
 given me some sight of his great and dreadful day, and 
 workings in it, which is at hand, and greatly hastens; 
 of which I have something to say unto you, that ye 
 may be prepared to stand in his day, and may behold 
 his wondrous working among his enemies, and have
 
 166 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1666. fellowship with his power therein, and may not be dis- 
 mayed nor driven away in the tempest, which will be 
 great." 
 
 " And as concerning those succeeding times, the Spirit 
 of the Lord hath signified that they will be times of 
 horror and amazement, to all that have, and yet do 
 reject his counsel : for as the days of his forbearance, 
 warning, and inviting, have been long, so shall his ap- 
 pearance amongst those that have withstood him, be 
 fierce and terrible ; even so terrible, as who shall abide 
 his coming? For the Lord will work both secretly and 
 openly, and his arm shall be manifest to his children in 
 both." 
 
 " Secretly he shall raise up a continual fretting an- 
 guish among his enemies, one against another, so that 
 being vexed and tormented inwardly, they shall seek 
 to make each other miserable, and delight therein for 
 a little season; and then the prevailer must be prevailed 
 over, and the digger of the pit must fall therein; and 
 the confidence that men have had one in another shall 
 fail, and they will beguile and betray one another, both 
 by counsel and strength. And as they have banded them- 
 selves to break you, whom God hath gathered, so shall 
 they band themselves one against another, to break, to 
 spoil, and destroy one another ; and through the multi- 
 tude of their treacheries, all credit or belief, upon the 
 account of their solemn engagement shall fail ; so that 
 few men shall count themselves, or what is theirs, safe 
 in the hand of his friend, who hath not chosen his safety 
 and friendship in the pure light of the unchangeable 
 truth of God. And all the secret counsels of the ungodly 
 shall be brought to nought, sometimes by the means 
 of some of themselves, and sometimes by impossibilities 
 lying in their way, which shall make their hearts fail 
 of ever accomplishing what they have determined. And 
 in this state shall men fret themselves for, a season, and 
 shall not be able to see the hand that turns against
 
 (Stephen Crisp.) 167 
 
 them, but shall turn to fight against one thing, and 1666. 
 another, and a third thing, and shall stagger, and reel 
 in counsel and judgment, as drunken men that know not 
 where to find the way to rest : and when they do yet 
 stir themselves up against the holy people, and against 
 the holy covenant of light, and them that walk in it, 
 they shall but the more be confounded; for they shall 
 be helped with a little help, which all the ungodly shall 
 not hinder them of, to wit, the secret arm of the Lord, 
 maintaining their cause, and raising up a witness in 
 the very hearts of their adversaries to plead their inno- 
 cency. And this shall make them yet the more to vex 
 themselves, and to go thorough hard-bestead ; for when 
 they shall look upward to their religion, to their power, 
 policy, or preferments, or friendships, or whatsoever 
 else they had trusted in, and relied upon, they shall 
 liave cause to curse it ; and when they look downwards 
 to the effects produced by all those things, behold, then, 
 trouble, and horror, and vexation take hold on them, 
 and drive them to darkness : and having no help but 
 what is earthly, and being out of the knowledge of the 
 mighty overturning power of the Lord God Almighty, 
 they shall despair and wear out their days with anguish. 
 And besides all this, the terrible hand of the Lord is, 
 and shall be openly manifested against this ungodly gene- 
 ration, by bringing grievous and terrible judgments and 
 plagues upon them, tumbling down all things in which 
 their pride and glory stood, and overturning, overturn- 
 ing even the foundations of their strength. Yea, the 
 Lord will lay waste the mountain of the ungodly, and 
 the strength of the fenced city shall fail ; and when 
 men shall say, We will take refuge in them, Nah. iii. 
 1*2, 13, they shall become but a snare, and there shall 
 the sword devour : and when they shall say, We will go 
 into the field, and put trust in the number and courage 
 of our soldiers, they shall both be taken away ; and this 
 evil also will come of the Lord, and his hand will be
 
 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1666. stretched out still, and shall bring confusion upon con- 
 fusion, ruin upon ruin, and war upon war ; and the 
 hearts of men shall be stirred in them, and the nations 
 shall be as waters, into which a tempest, a swift whirl- 
 wind is entered : and even as waves swell up to the 
 dissolution one of another, and breaking one of another, 
 so shall the swellings of people be. And because of 
 the hardship and sorrow of those days, many shall seek 
 and desire death rather than life." 
 
 " Ah ! my heart relents, and is moved within me in 
 the sense of these things, and much more than I can 
 write or declare, which the Lord will do in the earth, 
 and will also make haste to accomplish among the sons 
 of men, that they may know and confess, that the Most 
 High doth rule in the kingdoms of men, and pulleth 
 down and setteth up according to his own will : and 
 this shall men do before seven times pass over them, 
 and shall be content to give their glory unto him that 
 sits in heaven." 
 
 "But, oh, friends ! while all these things are working 
 and bringing to pass, repose ye yourselves in the muni- 
 tion of that rock that all these shakings shall not move, 
 even in the knowledge and feeling of the eternal power 
 of God, keeping you subjectly given up to his heavenly 
 will; and feel it daily to kill and mortify that which 
 remains in any of you, which is of this world ; for the 
 worldly part in any, is the changeable part, and that 
 is up and down, full and empty, joyful and sorrowful, 
 .as things go well or ill in the world. For as the truth 
 is but one, and many are made partakers of its spirit, so 
 the world is but one, and many are partakers of the 
 spirit of it; and so many as do partake of it, so many 
 will be straitened and perplexed with it ; but they who 
 are single to the truth, waiting daily to feel the life and 
 virtue of it in their hearts, these shall rejoice in the 
 midst of adversity; these shall not have their hearts 
 moved with fear, nor tossed with anguish because of
 
 (Stephen Crisp.) 169 
 
 evil tidings, Psalm cxii. 7 8, because that which fixeth 1666. 
 them remains with them : these shall know their en- 
 trance with the bridegroom, and so be kept from sorrow^ 
 though his coming be with a noise : and when a mid- 
 night is come upon man's glory, yet they being ready 
 and prepared, it will be well with them ; and having a 
 true sense of the power working in themselves, they 
 cannot but have unity and fellowship with the works 
 of it in the earth, and will not at all murmur against 
 what is, nor wish nor will what is not to be; these 
 will be at rest till the indignation passeth over, and 
 these having no design to carry on, and no party to 
 promote in the earth, cannot possibly be defeated nor 
 disappointed in their undertakings." 
 
 " And when you see divisions, and parties, and rend- 
 ings in the bowels of nations, and rumours and tem- 
 pests in the minds of people, then take heed of being 
 moved to this party or to that party, or giving your 
 strength to this or that, or counselling this way or that 
 way, but stand single to the truth of God, in which 
 neither war, rent, nor division is. And take heed of 
 that part in any of you, which trusts and relies upon 
 any sort of the men of this world, in the day of their 
 prosperity ; for the same party will bring you to suffer 
 with them in the time of their adversity, which will 
 not be long after; for stability in that ground there will 
 be none : but when they shall say, Come join with us 
 in this or that, remember you are joined to the Lord 
 by his pure Spirit, to walk with him in peace and in 
 righteousness; and you feeling this, this gathers out 
 of all bustlings, and noises, and parties, and tumults, 
 and leads you to exalt the standard of truth and right- 
 eousness, in an innocent conversation, to see who will 
 flow unto that. And this shall be a refuge for many of 
 the weary, tossed, and afflicted ones in those days, and 
 a shelter for many whose day is not yet over." 
 
 " So dearly beloved friends and brethren, who have
 
 170 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1666. believed and known the blessed appearance of the truth, 
 let not your hearts be troubled at any of these things : 
 oh! let not the things that are at present, nor things 
 that are yet to come, move you from steadfastness, 
 but rather double your diligence, zeal, and faithfulness 
 to the cause of God : for they that know the work 
 wrought in themselves, they shall rest in the day of 
 trouble. Yea, though the fig tree fail, and the vine 
 brings not forth, and the labour of the olive tree ceas- 
 eth, and the fields yield no meat, and sheep be cut 
 off from the fold, and there be no bullock in the stall, 
 yet then mayest thou rejoice in the Lord, and sing 
 praises to the God of thy salvation." Hub. iii. 16, 17- 
 
 " And how near these days are to this poor nation, 
 few know; and therefore the cry of the Lord is very 
 loud unto its inhabitants, through his servants and mes- 
 sengers, that they would prize their time while they 
 have it, lest they be overturned, wasted, and laid deso- 
 late before they are aware, and before destruction come 
 upon them, and there be no remedy, as it hath already 
 done upon many." 
 
 " Oh, London ! London ! that thou and thy rulers 
 would have considered, and hearkened, and heard, in 
 the day of thy warnings and invitations, and not have 
 persisted in thy rebellion, till the Lord was moved 
 against thee, to cut off the thousands and multitudes 
 from thy streets, and the pressing and thronging of 
 people from thy gates, and then to destroy and ruin 
 thy streets also, and lay desolate thy gates, when thou 
 thoughtest to have replenished them again." 
 
 " And, Oh ! saith my soul, that thy inhabitants would 
 yet be warned, and persuaded to repent and turn to 
 the Lord, by putting away every one the evil that is 
 in their hearts, against the truth in yourselves, and 
 against those that walk in it, before a greater desolation 
 and destruction overtake you." 
 
 " Oh, what shall I say to prevail with London, and
 
 (Stephen Crisp.) 171 
 
 with its inhabitants! The Lord hath called aloud, he 1666. 
 hath roared out of Sion unto them, but many of them 
 have not hearkened at all, nor considered at all." 
 
 "Well, O my friends, and thou, O my soul, return 
 to your rest; dwell in the pavilion of the house of 
 your God, and my God, and shelter yourselves under 
 the shadow of his wings, where ye shall be witnesses 
 of his doings, and see his strange act brought to pass, 
 and shall not be hurt therewith, nor dismayed." 
 
 "Oh, my friends, in the bowels of dear and tender 
 love have I signified these things unto you, that ye 
 might stand armed with the whole armour of God, 
 clothed in righteousness, and your feet shod with the 
 preparation of the gospel of peace ; and freely given 
 up in all things to the disposing of the Lord, who will 
 deliver us, not by might, nor by sword, nor spear, but 
 by his own eternal, invisible arm will he yet save us 
 and deliver us, and get himself a name by preserving 
 us ; and we shall yet live to praise him who is worthy 
 of glory, of honour, and renown, from the rising of 
 the sun, to the setting of the same, now and for ever. 
 Amen, Amen, saith my soul." p. 19 24. 
 
 An Alarum sounded in the Borders of Spiritual Egypt. 
 By STEPHEN CRISP. Printed in the year 1672. 
 
 "THUS has the whole world been bewitched, 1672. 
 
 in the time when the devil reigned : and will he and 
 his servants make us believe, that it must continue so 
 always, though never any other time was given him 
 but such as was limited ? And in the end of that time 
 we understand there is a great alteration to come to 
 pass, to wit, that the church and true woman must 
 come out of the wilderness again ; the man-child must 
 come down again, and appear upon earth, and rule 
 the nations with a rod of iron ; and the whore must
 
 J72 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1672. be judged; that sorrow, death, and famine must come 
 upon her in one day; and that ten kings should agree 
 together, to burn her flesh with fire, and that the 
 smoke of her torments should ascend to heaven; and 
 
 then must the dragon, the beast, and false prophet 
 
 be taken, whilst they are yet alive in this work, and in 
 their power, and be cast into the lake of the wrath of 
 God, which burneth for ever; and these princes, and 
 captains, and merchants, and inhabitants of the earth 
 must howl and lament because of this great alteration." 
 "And, therefore, seeing that such a time is lawfully 
 to be expected, in which the Devil, the old serpent, 
 may be thrust out of his dominion, and that then the 
 time of joy arid rejoicing will be for the upright, it is 
 worth the spending of our labour and time, to find 
 out that time ; that so it may not come over us, and 
 we see it not, nor know it, and so let it pass by, as 
 the Jews did ; and so doting and waiting for it, as a 
 thing which is yet to come, as they do at this day, 
 when almost two thousand years are past, since the 
 thing is come to pass." 
 
 "Now you know the Jews had a prophet, who 
 told them aforehand the time when the Messiah should 
 come ; to wit, Daniel, as you may see, Dan. ix. 24, &c. 
 where he told them, that it was seventy weeks that 
 were determined upon the people and upon the city, 
 and that the Holy One should be anointed. Now this 
 was not such a great mystery to them ; they knew it 
 was common to reckon a day for a year among the pro- 
 phets ; so that that time was but four hundred fourscore 
 and ten years, that the visions should be sealed, and the 
 daily sacrifice taken away, the city be made desolate, 
 and the anointing of the Holy One, and the Messiah 
 be slain for the sins of the people. And since the time 
 that the command was gone forth to build Jerusalem 
 again, in which time the seventy weeks had their begin- 
 ning, it is above two thousand years, the city is since
 
 (Stephen Crisp,) 1/3 
 
 builded again, and also made again desolate, and the 16/2. 
 daily sacrifice taken away ; and the prince of the people, 
 that then came, viz. Titus Vespasianus, the Roman, has 
 destroyed the sanctuary, and the destruction of it was 
 with an overflowing to the end of the war ; and yet 
 all these things cannot convince them, nor make them 
 believe, that the Messiah is come, or that it was he> 
 whom their forefathers have killed as a blasphemer." 
 
 " Now, that we, after such clear prophecies of the 
 setting up of the kingdom of Christ, and dethroning 
 of the devil, sin, and antichrist, should not come to be 
 surprised with the same blindness and hardness of heart, 
 let us have a strict observation of the times, that we 
 may not fight against the appearance of truth, and put 
 it far away from us, and say, The days are not come 
 yet in which the pouring out of the Spirit can be wit- 
 nessed, and that the knowledge of God must cover the 
 earth as the waters cover the sea,' and that the gospel 
 must be preached again unto ^thqse that dwell upon tlie 
 earth, and that the Lamb ^andihis. saints must have: the 
 victory over the Dragon and his angels. For 'such as 
 put the day so far from them, are in one and the same 
 error with the Jews, and do .not understand the times 
 better than they, do; and so are persecuting the true 
 appearance of that which they seem to expect and to 
 pray for, as the Jews did, because it does not appear 
 in their way, to answer their carnal expectations that 
 despise the day of small things. But from such are the 
 mysteries of the kingdom shut up, and are revealed 
 unto those that fear the Lord." p. 31 33. 
 
 i ;
 
 J74 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 A Signification from Israel's God to England's Rulers 
 and Inhabitants, from the highest to the lowest, con- 
 cerning what hereafter shall ensue. By THOMAS 
 OLLIVE. Printed in the year, 1666. 
 
 1666. "MY* soul even mourns within me, for the in- 
 habitants of this land, who have rejected the counsel 
 of the Lord, and hardened their hearts against God. 
 Oh ! that I might a little prevail with you, that you 
 would set yourselves to seek the Lord, and stand no 
 longer in the gainsaying, but turn to the witness of 
 God in yourselves, which reproves you for your evil 
 deeds, that through true repentance you may meet 
 the Lord in Sion ; that a habitation and a hiding-place 
 you may know with the Lord in the mighty day that 
 is hastening upon all the workers of unrighteousness. 
 As I was pressed in my spirit to write to thy rulers 
 and inhabitants, O England ! being in deep exercise 
 concerning such a weighty matter, I set myself to wait 
 upon the Lord; and after some hours' waiting upon 
 the Lord, my heart being exercised with him, the God 
 of Israel spake on this wise : Great shall be the in- 
 crease and gathering of my people; they shall be as 
 the sands on the sea-shore; but upon the wicked and 
 ungodly, who have provoked me to jealousy destruction , 
 destruction, desolation, misery, and woe ; sore calamities, 
 sword and famine, plague and pestilence, such as 
 never was from the beginning. Oh ! the sense of thy 
 misery, O England, caused my bowels to be moved 
 with compassion for thee. Oh ! how doth my soul 
 pity thee, with thy leaders, thy rulers, and all thy 
 inhabitants, who have set yourselves to make war with 
 the Lamb and his followers. Oh ! whither will you 
 run? To whom will you flee for refuge? Neither 
 hills nor mountains will cover you, neither can you 
 hide yourselves in the clefts of the rocks. Oh ! the 
 mighty day of dread and terror that is hastening !
 
 (Thomas Ollive.) 175 
 
 wherein you will remember your dealings when terror 1666. 
 and fear compass you about on every side : then shall 
 you say, Blessed are they that fear God and not men. 
 Oh ! the cry that will be among you ! Then shall 
 many come crying unto them, whom you now seek to 
 destroy, who fear God in deed and in truth,, and shall 
 say, Pray to your God for us, that he may shew us 
 mercy in the day of our distress!" 
 
 " Neither your gods of silver nor gold shall be able 
 to deliver you; your laws, nor decrees, nor power of 
 
 darkness shall be able to help you: it is neither 
 
 king nor parliaments that can save, deliver, or excuse 
 you in this approaching dreadful day of the mighty 
 God, in which he will take vengeance upon his ene- 
 mies. And this know, O King and Parliament ! that 
 neither your bishops, deans, prebends, priests, or 
 prelates, can be a saviour to you in the day wherein 
 the dreadful God will execute his pleasure ; but it 
 will be manifest, and you shall know in the day of 
 your visitation, whether you have done service for the 
 Lord, or whether you have been fighting against God. 
 You bishops, with all your priests, you have now a 
 power to uphold you, and great revenues many of you 
 have; but the day of your desolation slumbers not; 
 for the hand of the Lord is turned against you, antl 
 all your powers, and laws to uphold you will all be 
 too little for you; for One, mightier than you all, hath 
 sealed his decree concerning you, except you repent: 
 and, as I live, saith the Lord, you shall partake of what 
 is afore-said, according to your doings. Oh ! my soul 
 pities you ! The time is fast hastening wherein your 
 coverings will be rent and torn in sunder, and you 
 shall appear as you inwardly are, and you shall de- 
 ceive my people no more, saith the Lord." p. 4. 
 
 " Awake ! awake ! in the name of the Lord, and 
 look to yourselves: now is the time, but you know 
 not how long, how long ! The Lord hath long borne,
 
 176 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1666. and forborne, and long hath he waited for the return- 
 ing of his people from iniquity, transgression, and sin; 
 but how have you abounded therein ! Many writings, 
 exhortations, and warnings have you had, but how 
 slighted, rejected, and contemned by the general 
 part, and accounted as a thing of nought; and many 
 hardened their hearts; but in vain do you harden your 
 hearts against the Lord. Be not so blind ! be not so 
 ignorant ! Know you not that when the hearts of a 
 people are altogether hardened against God, that des- 
 truction is near? Remember Pharaoh of old, how did 
 he withstand the Lord and hardened his heart against 
 God ! And what was his end ! Put it not from your- 
 selves; the day draws near you, and whether you 
 will hear or forbear, the concernment is to yourselves, 
 and the thing is very weighty ; you will know and 
 feel it so to be!" p. 6. 
 
 " And concerning the now afflicted, suffering peo- 
 ple of the Lord, called Quakers, who are accounted, 
 by many in this age, as -the off-scouring of all things, 
 and a people not fit to live in the land of their na- 
 tivity certainly you" shall V ,kri6w they contend not 
 for trifles, but that which they seek, and have and 
 do suffer for, is of more value than earthly crowns 
 an inheritance , that is everlasting and incorruptible, 
 that their souls may live and rest in the kingdom that 
 hath no end, when time shall be no more. Happy 
 and blessed will they be in the tribulating day, who 
 have an assurance thereof, wherein neither high nor 
 low, noble nor ignoble, professor nor prophane shall 
 find any safety, but those whose trust is in the name 
 of the Lord, only and alone for ever: and the faith- 
 mi in heart, who seek nothing but the glory of the 
 Lord, and can serve none but Him, shall walk, bold 
 as lions, with their lives in their hands, blessing and 
 praising the Lord, the God of their salvation; who 
 have not loved their lives unto death, but have fol-
 
 (Thomas Ollive.) 177 
 
 lowed through the regeneration; who have a part in 1666. 
 the first resurrection, on whom the second death shall 
 have no power, hut in the power of the life of their 
 God shall live and reign, triumphing over death, hell, 
 and destruction, glorifying God in soul, body, and 
 spirit. Oh ! will not your ears tingle in the hearing, 
 and will not you stand amazed in the day wherein you 
 will both hear and see the wonderful works of the God 
 of eternal power ? And you shall know that the Lord 
 is their God, and their Saviour, in whom they trust, 
 who will work their deliverance in and through the 
 destruction of His and their enemies, and will give 
 them beauty for ashes, and the oil of gladness for the 
 spirit of heaviness : and thousands shall desire to come 
 to have acquaintance with the God whom they serve, 
 and their hearts shall be inflamed with love 4o Him, 
 because of his heavenly and glorious appearance in 
 and amongst them, who have given their lives to Him. 
 Oh ! hasten this thy work, O Lord ! and prosper it 
 according to thy pleasure ! to which my soul and 
 spirit saith, Amen, Amen, Hallelujah ! Glory, honour, 
 and praise, unto Him that liveth, and reigneth for 
 ever !" p. 8. 
 
 'THOMAS OLLIVE." 
 
 "Written in Northampton County-Goal, 
 the third day of the fifth month, 1666, 
 where I am a Prisoner, with near 80 
 more of the people of the Lord." 
 
 God's Judgments still threatened against thee, O Eng- 
 land! By DANIEL ROB. Printed in the year 1668. 
 
 " O YE inhabitants of the earth, hear the word 1668. 
 
 of the Lord ! Thus saith the Lord, I will terribly shake
 
 178 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1668. the nations, and I will bring down the mighty from 
 off their seats, and I will overturn, overturn all, until 
 He comes to reign, whose right it is; and then shall 
 there be rulers as at the first, and judges as at the 
 beginning: and this is the Lord bringing to pass 
 and the time hastens ; yet a terrible day must be 
 known before this doth come to pass yea, a day of 
 great calamities and distress as never was yet known, 
 nor shall be after it any more. Yea, God is arisen, and 
 arising, to stain the glory of all flesh, and to bring 
 down the pride and the haughtiness of man, and to lay 
 his honour in the dust, and he will raise up the man 
 of low degree : this work is the Lord doing in this the 
 day of his almighty power/' 
 
 r y "O England, the land of my nativity! Oh! 
 
 that a speedy and unfeigned repentance might yet be 
 found in thee, that happily thou mightest escape the 
 wrath of God, and the plagues which are still threatened 
 upon thee (for God's controversy is great with thee 
 for the great abominations that have been and are com- 
 mitted in thee) some of which I shall instance, plague, 
 fire, sword, and famine; this hath the Lord revealed 
 unto me, and it is a great weight upon my spirit, and 
 I dare do no less but, in obedience to the Lord, declare 
 what the Lord is bringing to pass in this the day of 
 his mighty power. Therefore all people, who have 
 not wholly sinned out the day of your visitation, and 
 who intend the good and welfare of your souls' peace 
 and everlasting happiness, Oh ! repent, repent, and turn 
 from the evil of your ways. Oh ! blessed and happy 
 are they who have chosen the Lord to be their strength, 
 and whose hope, trust, and confidence are in the Lord, 
 the God of heaven; and whose expectations are from 
 him alone ! Oh ! blessed and happy are they who trust 
 in the name of the Lord, and who know a resting 
 place, and a quiet habitation, and a peaceable dwelling 
 therein, in this the dreadful day which is near at hand,
 
 (Charles Marshall.) 179 
 
 yea, as I may say, even at the door ; yea, such a day 1668. 
 of great distress and troubles, as never the like was 
 known before, nor shall be the like after it any more ; 
 yea, many shall seek a resting place, but destruction 
 shall come so fast upon them that they shall not find 
 it. And though great distress and troubles are already 
 come, yet they are little to what are yet behind; but 
 they whose hope and trust are in the Lord, need not 
 be discouraged at what may come to pass, and shortly 
 will befal. Oh ! trust ye in the name of God, for He 
 is able to deliver out of all." p. 16. 
 
 Sion's Travellers Comforted and the Disobedient framed: 
 In a Collection of Books and Epistles of that Faithful 
 Minister of Christ Jesus, CHARLES MARSHALL. Lon- 
 don: T. Sowle, 1704. 
 
 " IN my visiting the city of London, I left a 1672. 
 
 paper, a copy whereof here followeth." 
 
 " Let it be recorded, that on the llth of the 8th 
 month, 1672, thou earnest in my name and authority, 
 to sound my determined counsel in the ears of my 
 people in the city of London, which in its season will 
 appear to be so." 
 
 " A warning to the people that have lent their ear to 
 the declaration of the truth, and have not received it 
 in the love of it." 
 
 " A warning to those convinced of the truth, and 
 have not subjected themselves thereto in pure living 
 obedience." 
 
 " A warning to all that have begun in the Spirit, and 
 set their faces Zion-ward, that they neither return back 
 into Egypt, spiritually so called, nor sit down by the 
 way." 
 
 " The dreadful day of God's vengeance proclaimed,
 
 180 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1672. in which all professors and professions shall be tried, 
 the floor thoroughly purged, and the wheat fanned, and 
 the gold tried, and the day of God upon all images and 
 likenesses." 
 
 " A treading down of all that which is risen through 
 a loss of the ancient eternal power." 
 
 "A day of calamity, misery, amazement and distress, 
 to come upon the inhabitants of the city of London, 
 and the begirdings of sorrow upon the nation of Eng- 
 land; and after this day, the day of gathering through 
 nations of the dispersed of Israel and the scattered of 
 Jacob." Journal, (not paged.) 
 
 " And so, dear friends, that every one may 
 
 know the blood of sprinkling, that sprinkles the con- 
 science from dead works to serve the living God in 
 newness of life ; for where the blood of Jesus is despised 
 and trodden under foot, there will the destroying angel 
 enter, in the day of his passing through : for the whirl- 
 wind of his wrath will be revealed, to sweep away the 
 wicked, and the sword of the Lord is bathed in heaven 
 against the ungodly. And therefore, friends, prize your 
 time, prize your time, waiting daily on the Lord God, 
 that so the nature of transgression may be wholly taken 
 away in us, for which the mighty God hath a contro- 
 versy with the nations ; for there will be no hiding- 
 place for any, but the clean in heart, in the day at hand 
 of the dreadful pleadings and rebukes of the Lord God 
 of heaven and earth, p. 11. 
 
 1674. " Here has been the universal working of the 
 
 power and spirit of darkness, that hath exalted himself, 
 sitting in the temple of God, as God and ruler. But, 
 blessed for ever be the name of the Almighty God, the 
 great red Dragon, and the beast that arose out of the 
 sea, and the beast that arose out of the earth, and 
 Mystery Babylon, are and shall be manifest ; the wisdom 
 that is pure and peaceable numbers these appearances;
 
 (Charles Marshall.) 181 
 
 and the judgment of the great whore is come and 1674. 
 coming, who rides upon the first beast: for now the 
 angel of God's presence is come down from heaven, 
 having great power, who lightens the earth with his 
 glory, and the mighty ciy is now going over the earth, 
 uttered with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great 
 is fallen, is fallen, and become the habitation of devils. 
 All nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her 
 foniications, and the kings of the earth have committed 
 fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are 
 waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies; 
 and the voice is now uttering from heaven, Come out 
 of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her 
 sins, and that ye partake not of her plagues ; for her 
 sins have reached unto heaven, and God has remem- 
 bered her iniquities. And now is the one day dawn- 
 ing over the earth, wherein her plagues, mourning, 
 and famine come ; and she shall be utterly burned with 
 the fire of God's jealousy, for strong is the Lord God 
 who judges her." 
 
 " And now, in the name of the eternal, ever-living, 
 blessed God, the Creator of all things, I prophesy of 
 the perpetual destruction, and utter desolation of the 
 religions, inventions, ways, worships, prescriptions, or- 
 ders, decrees, and imitations, that have been setting 
 up these many hundreds of years, and not by the eter- 
 nal living power of the living God, nor by the direc- 
 tions, leadings, and guidings of his quickening Spirit 
 of life, that led and guided the apostles in their day, 
 age, and generation : root and branch, head and tail, 
 and the whole fabric of the babylonish building shall 
 be utterly consumed, razed down, and confounded for 
 ever; and all the worshippers of the beast and his 
 image shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, 
 which is poured forth, without mixture, into the cup 
 of his indignation ; and these worshippers shall be tor- 
 mented, and have no rest night nor day, who worship
 
 182 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1674. the beast and his image, and whosoever receive the 
 mark of his name." p. 105 107. 
 
 " Now, in the name and authority, and by the 
 
 motion of the Spirit of the eternal God, behold ! I sound 
 the trumpet of the Lord God Almighty in your ears. 
 Prepare, prepare, to meet the Lord Jehovah in the 
 valley of decision. And all you who have any tender- 
 ness in your hearts, and breathings inwardly after the 
 Lord, amongst all professions, of what name or denomi- 
 nation soever, come out, come out of Babylon, and 
 be you separate; touch not any longer the unclean, 
 that the Lord may receive you, who stands ready to 
 receive all that come in truth and righteousness unto 
 him ; who now will mark all that mourn because of 
 the sins of the people, which are great, and the mea- 
 sure thereof filling up apace; and the day and time 
 is hastening, of the pouring out of the vials of the 
 unmixt fury and indignation of God, who lives for 
 ever and ever. And therefore flee, flee for your lives, 
 out of Sodom's nature, and stick not in the profession 
 of things, neither the one nor the other, whilst the 
 ground of thy profession did not, or doth not spring 
 from the immediate work of God, and daily operation 
 of his eternal power in thy heart. But come down 
 into pure obedience to the pure still voice of the Spirit 
 and gift of God in thy own heart and soul, which will, 
 as thy inward ears are attentive, direct thee in the nar- 
 row way of life eternal, in which thou shouldest walk : 
 so coming here, you come to that which moved in the 
 hearts of many, years since, God- wards; which was 
 that which wrought many into the tenderness before 
 spoken of; herein walk, and be faithful, and it will lead 
 to the fountain of blessedness, from which it came, and 
 unto the horn of God's anointed; and to Shiloh shall 
 be the gathering of thousands through the nations, 
 tongues, languages, and people ; and the mountain of 
 the Lord's house shall be exalted through this great
 
 (Charles Marshall.) 183 
 
 day of trial, tribulation, and anguish, upon the top of 1674. 
 all the mountains." p. 119 121. 
 
 " And now, O inhabitants of England ! lift up 1675. 
 
 your eyes, be awakened into a sense, how in this day 
 of the long-suffering of the Lord, and respite from 
 dreadful consuming judgments, ye have declared your 
 sins like Sodom and Gomorrah. The Lord Almighty is 
 greatly offended with you, and his Spirit that hath striv- 
 en with you long, is exceedingly grieved ; the cries of 
 your transgressions are come before him, and he is come 
 down, and hath viewed thy cities, towns, and villages, 
 O England ! and, behold, they are before him like Sodom, 
 and many of thy inhabitants like Gomorrah, whom God 
 overthrew, and never repented." 
 
 " And he hath said, I will now draw near to judg- 
 ment, and hasten my determination, and accomplish 
 my purpose, that the earth may be moved at the utter- 
 ing of my thunders, and the inhabitants reel like a 
 cottage, that the mighty of the earth may arise to meet 
 me in the ways of my judgments ; for from the rising 
 of the sun, to the going down of the same, shall my 
 name be reverenced, and the acts of the arm of my 
 power renowned," 
 
 " O England, England ! awake, awake, out of that 
 sleep of death and destruction, which the destroyer of 
 mankind hath brought multitudes of thine inhabitants 
 into; and consider now thine estate, in this evening 
 of the day of many of thine inhabitants, for the sun is 
 setting over many, and night coming on apace, wherein 
 no man can work." 
 
 " I am distressed for thee, O dear land of my nati- 
 vity ! in the sense of the little regard many of thine 
 inhabitants have of the mercies and judgments of the 
 Lord; but yet be awakened at the certain sound of 
 the trumpet of the Lord, to consider the things apper- 
 taining to your everlasting peace, and to a serious
 
 184 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 16/5. consideration of the times and seasons that are over you, 
 and wherein you are." 
 
 " And I am moved of the eternal, holy Lord God to 
 put you in mind, that it was not long since a great 
 fear and dread was on many, that the Lord would 
 swiftly have brought that grievous and sore judgment 
 of removing the plenty of bread within our land, through 
 the dreadful seasons in many places (a sore manner of 
 wasting people !) through which multitudes of cattle 
 died before your eyes; which came so far as to give 
 several a taste of that dreadful judgment of famine ; 
 which threatening brought a dread upon the minds of 
 many : but the God of our mercies, who is full of 
 compassions and long-suffering, that he might try you, 
 O inhabitants of England ! immediately and signally 
 appeared, in great and inexpressible mercy ; and instead 
 of a dreadful famine, caused the earth to bring forth 
 by handfuls, ABUNDANTLY." 
 
 " Now, O rebellious nation, stiff-necked and hard- 
 hearted people ! be wise ; be instructed ; lift up your 
 eyes ; behold this trial of plenty ; for so it is, I declare 
 it unto you in the name of the Lord God of hosts, 
 to prove and to try you, whether the dreadful threaten- 
 ings of judgment, and the speedy large extension of 
 his mercies, will move you to a serious examination 
 of your ways and walkings before the Lord ; then would 
 the sense of your great and continued iniquities on the 
 one hand, and the sense of the great long-suffering 
 and tender mercies of the Almighty on the other hand, 
 bear you down, and bring you very low, even into 
 the dust, before the Lord, through which a repenting 
 frame of spirit would come on you." 
 
 " But now, O England ! England ! if neither the 
 mercies nor judgments of the Lord, which have been, 
 and are upon thee, will prevail, so as to work a reform- 
 ation in thee; then, O people ! hear these words :" 
 " Be ye in expectation of a dreadful day, such as
 
 (Charles Marshall.) 185 
 
 you have not known in this generation, to come on 1675. 
 you; for the Lord God, strong and mighty, will smite 
 through the laud, in great dread and fury, bringing 
 terror, and the very begirdings of sorrows upon every 
 county therein; and a general calamity, wasting, con- 
 suming, destroying, depopulating, and overturning, will 
 go over." 
 
 " And, therefore, in the name of the mighty God, when 
 this message comes to your ears, lay aside all your 
 instruments and objects of joy and mirth; come down 
 in the dust, before the dreadful God, all, both high and 
 low, rich and poor, bond and free, male and female, 
 from him that sits upon the throne, to the beggar on 
 the dunghill, and speedily humble yourselves before the 
 Lord ; fast from strife, and debate, and all iniquity, then 
 approach and come near ; cry mightily to the Lord God 
 of sabbaths, that he would spare you and your land, 
 from the dreadful spoiler and waster ; and covenant with 
 the Lord to walk before him in righteousness, putting 
 away all your abominations from before his eyes, the 
 stumbling block of your iniquities; and, it may be, the 
 Lord may be yet entreated: otherwise, remember this 
 sealed counsel and determination of the most high, glo- 
 rious, dreadful Lord God of heaven and earth, When 
 you have filled up your measures, which greatly has- 
 tens, and is near, your judgments shall be astonishing, 
 both unto yourselves, and unto the nations ; in which 
 day you shall know, that as Israel of old rejected and 
 rebelled against the good Spirit of the Lord given them, 
 and against the counsel of the Lord given by his pro- 
 phets and servants, for which a wasting and dreadful 
 consuming judgment came on them, so have ye. So 
 be instructed; bow down, and kiss the son, lest his 
 wrath break forth without remedy, and thousands perish 
 out of the way. And whilst ye have a little time, prize 
 it, in making the utmost use of it, is the breathing 
 cries, and travailing in spirit for you, of him who hath
 
 186 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1675. been, and am often afflicted and bowed in spirit for 
 you, who am a servant of the Lord, raised up to 
 declare his certain counsel unto you." p. 143 149. 
 
 "CHARLES MARSHALL." 
 
 " And, friends, I am pressed in spirit to intreat 
 all in the pure bowels of tender love, to make a true 
 and a thorough search with the light of the Lord, that 
 nothing of the accursed thing may be in any of the 
 tents of Israel, which should cause them to fall before 
 their enemies; and, therefore, this runs through me in 
 much fear and trembling, Sanctify yourselves therefore, 
 and be you holy, that in the day at hand of the 
 breaking forth of the glory of the Lord as a de- 
 vouring fire, all of us being sanctified and thoroughly 
 cleansed, we may be able to abide and to stand; for 
 a day of calamity, even a day of distress, is at 
 hand, and the Lord in his everlasting loving-kindness, 
 which is unspeakable, is laying his hand on many, to 
 draw them out of Sodom and Gomorrah spiritually. 
 Oh! that all hearts might be broken, and all spirits 
 tendered, and all dissolved down into a tender brok- 
 en frame of spirit before the Lord, that all may 
 tremble at the word of his holiness, and dread and 
 fear his holy glorious name, who is coming out of 
 his place to visit the earth in his everlasting dread: 
 and all the earth shall be filled with his glory, because 
 of the work which he will work amongst his people, 
 and also among the heathen that know him not." p. 
 185 187. 
 
 " Finally, friends, brethren and sisters, be of 
 
 one mind, and dwell low; live with and in life itself; 
 deny yourselves; be in the daily bearing of the cross 
 of Christ Jesus, that crucifies you to the world, and 
 the world to you ; live above the world's heights and 
 depths, joys and sorrows, for a sore and dreadful day 
 will the Almighty God bring upon the world that
 
 (Robert Barclay.) 
 
 lies in wickedness; and a bitter cup must many of 1675. 
 the inhabitants of this nation and that city [London] 
 drink of." p. 220. 
 
 " So, dear friends every where, be inward, in- 
 ward; in great bowings down of spirit and humility 
 of soul, wait to feel the invisible power of the mighty 
 God to sanctify, that ye may be able to stand in the 
 day of his fanning the nations, and treading the wine- 
 press of his indignation amongst the people; and as 
 ye stand here, divine rain and heavenly dew will de- 
 scend upon you, causing you to grow as a well watered 
 garden, even like Eden, before the Lord, in which he 
 may take great delight." p. 322. 
 
 Truth Triumphant, through the Spiritual Warfare, 
 
 Christian Labours and Writings of that able and 
 
 faithful Servant of Jesus Christ, ROBERT BARCLAY. 
 
 In three Volumes. London : Reprinted and sold by 
 
 the Assigns of J. Sowle, 1718. 
 
 " WE can confidently testify in good consci- 1674. 
 
 ence, That God hath led us hereunto [the establishment 
 of Church-order and government] by his Spirit; and 
 we see the hand of the Lord herein, which in due 
 time will yet more appear; that as through our faith- 
 ful testimony, in the hand of the Lord, that antichrist- 
 ian and apostatized generation, the national ministry, 
 hath received a deadly blow by our discovering and 
 witnessing against their forced maintenance, and tithes, 
 against which we have testified by many cruel suffer- 
 ings of all kinds (as our chronicles shall make known 
 to generations to come) so that their kingdom, in the 
 hearts of thousands, begins to totter and lose its 
 strength, and shall assuredly fall to the ground, through 
 truth's prevailing in the earth; so on the other hand
 
 188 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1674. ido we, by coming to righteousness and innocency, 
 [weaken the strength of their kingdom who judge for 
 rewards (as well as such as preach for hire) and by 
 : not ministering occasion to those, who have heaped up 
 x riches, and lived in excess, lust, and riot, by feeding 
 and preying upon the iniquities and contentions of the 
 people. For as truth and righteousness prevail in the 
 earth, by our faithful witnessing and keeping to it, 
 the nations shall come to be eased and disburdened of 
 j that deceitful tribe of lawyers (as well as priests) who 
 by their many tricks and endless intricacies, have ren- 
 dered justice, in their method, burdensome to honest 
 men, and seek not so much to put an end, as to fo- 
 ment controversies and contentions, that they them- 
 selves may be still fed and upheld, and their trade 
 kept up. Whereas by truth's propagation, as many of 
 these controversies will die by men's coming to be less 
 contentious, so when any difference ariseth, the saints 
 giving judgment, without gift or reward, or running 
 into the tricks and endless labyrinths of the lawyers, 
 will soon compose them. And this is that we are per- 
 suaded the Lord is bringing about in our day, though 
 many do not, and many will not see it (because it is 
 indeed in a way different and contrary to man's wis- 
 dom) who are now despising Christ in his inward 
 appearance, because of the meanness of it, as the 
 Jews of old did in his outward. Yet, notwithstanding, 
 there were some then that did witness, and could not 
 be silent, but must testify, That he was come ; even so 
 now are there thousands, that can set to their seal, 
 that he hath now again the second time appeared, 
 and is appearing in ten thousands of his saints; in 
 and among whom (as a first fruits of many more that 
 shall be gathered) he is restoring the golden age, 
 and bringing them into the holy order and govern- 
 ment of his own Son, who is ruling, and to rule in the 
 midst of them, setting forth the counsellors as at the
 
 
 (Richard Samble.) 189 
 
 beginning, and judges as at first, and establishing truth, 1674. 
 mercy, righteousness, and judgment again in the earth. 
 Amen, Hallelujah!" vol. I/ p. 369, 3/0. 
 
 " And though we be few in number, in respect 1675. 
 
 of others; and weak, as to outward strength, which we 
 also altogether reject; and foolish, if compared with 
 the wise ones of this world; yet as God hath pros- 
 pered us, notwithstanding much opposition, so will he 
 yet do; that neither the art, wisdom, nor violence of 
 men or devils shall be able to quench that little spark 
 that hath appeared, but it shall grow, to the consum- 
 ing of whatsoever shall stand up to oppose it. The 
 mouth of the Lord hath spoken it ! Yea, He that hath 
 arisen in a small remnant, shall arise and go on by 
 the same arm of power in his spiritual manifestation, 
 until he hath conquered all his enemies; until all the 
 kingdoms of the earth become the kingdom of Christ 
 Jesus." 
 
 " Unto Him that hath begun this work, not a- 
 mong the rich or great ones, but among the poor and 
 small, and hath revealed it, not to the wise and learn- 
 ed, but unto the poor, unto babes and sucklings; even 
 to Him, the only-wise and omnipotent God, be honour, 
 glory, thanksgiving, and renown, from henceforth and 
 for ever. Amen. Hallelu-JAH." vol. 2. p. 574. 
 
 A Testimony unto the Truth, and a Warning unto 
 the World. By RICHARD SAMBLE. Printed in the 
 year 1676. 
 
 "THE day is dawned wherein the Lord hath 1676. 
 
 begun his work, which he will carry on by his mighty 
 power, and it is in vain for any to gainsay Him; and 
 all false professions the Lord will bring down, and set 
 up his ancient standing rule over all ; yea, the standard
 
 190 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1676. of his power over the devil and all God's enemies : 
 for the year of his redeemed is come, and the day of 
 vengeance is in his heart, who hath suffered, and hath 
 been slain from the foundation of the world by the 
 wicked amongst men. And in many ages and genera- 
 tions he appeared spiritually, and by his mighty power 
 began to reform the nations, but people dealt deceit- 
 fully with him, and cast his word behind their back. 
 And in this dark night of apostasy he hath greatly 
 suffered, with his heritage, which hath been in the 
 wilderness, and in the streets of that great city, which 
 spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where the wit- 
 nesses have prophesied in sackcloth and ashes : but 
 now the appointed time is come, wherein the Lord 
 hath prevailed over him that hath darkened and desolat- 
 ed the people, and hath taken to him his great power, 
 and is conquering; and in this his day, he will cut his 
 work short in righteousness, for a short work will the 
 Lord make in the earth. And all foundations of every 
 profession are clearly seen in the light of the Lamb; 
 and all whose vine is the vine of Sodom, and grapes, 
 grapes of Gomorrah, will be shaken as a fig-tree that 
 casteth her untimely figs when she is shaken with a 
 mighty wind. Yea, the harvest of the earth will be 
 reaped, and cast into the wine-press of the wrath of 
 
 God; and He, whose way you err and stray from, 
 
 and whom you pierce by reason of your wicked works, 
 
 the Lamb that was slain, who liveth, and was dead, 
 
 who hath all power given unto him in heaven and in 
 
 earth, He treadeth the wine-press of the wrath and 
 
 fierceness of the Almighty God, whom all rebellious 
 Christians have forsaken ; therefore will he bring judg- 
 ment into victory, that righteousness may run down 
 as a mighty stream." p. 46.
 
 (Richard Moore.) 191 
 
 The Redemption of the Seed of God, at hand. Declaring 
 the Return of the True Chtirch out of the Wilderness 
 into her former State of Glory. By RICHARD MOORE. 
 Printed in the year 1677- 
 
 "NOW hath the Lord God remembered his poor 1677- 
 
 banished Spouse who sits mourning in the wilderness, 
 and the great persecution of her seed; and great Ba- 
 bylon is coming into his remembrance, and she shall 
 receive a just reward from the Lord God of life for 
 all the abominations that have proceeded from her since 
 the time the Virgin fled into the wilderness. And 
 though she hath long sat as a queen, and hath known 
 no sorrow, but hath had a husband, and hath brought 
 forth many children of fornication, and hath lived deli- 
 ciously for many generations, whilst the true spouse, 
 the Lamb's wife, hath sat desolate in the barren wil- 
 derness, where she hath been childless and deprived 
 of her husband, yet nevertheless, Thy judgments are 
 at hand, and thy downfal approacheth, O thou great 
 and antichristian Babylon ! for sorrow, desolation, and 
 misery are even ready to seize upon thee; and the 
 smoke of thy torments doth begin to arise, and thy 
 kingdom is full of darkness, and the Lord God hath 
 discovered thy nakedness, and thy sorceries, and thy 
 false divinations, whereby thou hast deceived the na- 
 tions, and caused them to receive thy beast-like mark. 
 And many are they that are come out from thee, and 
 will no longer be partakers with thee in thy sins, lest 
 they should partake with thee of thy plagues; for strong 
 is the Lord God who judgeth thee. And thy cup which 
 thou hast given to others shall be filled unto thee dou- 
 ble, even the measure that thou hast measured to others 
 shall be measured unto thyself double; and all that 
 \vherein thy soul delighted must depart from thee, and 
 thou must come down and sit in the dust, O daughter 
 of Babylon j and thou shalt no more be counted deli-
 
 192 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1677- cate nor fair; for the decree is gone forth against 
 thee, and thy judgment is assuredly coming upon thee." 
 p. 1416. 
 
 " Now as Babylon comes to be destroyed, so 
 
 likewise is the marriage of the Lamb prepared, and 
 preparing, and his Bride is making herself ready; even 
 the true virgin, the Lamb's wife, the true church, is 
 now returning out of the desolate and barren wilder- 
 ness, where she hath sat for many generations in a 
 mournful state and condition; a place not known to 
 the world, a place prepared for her of God for so 
 many days. And now, praises be unto the Lord our 
 God ! the days are near expired, and she is returning 
 again into her former state and glory; and the Lord is 
 now creating for her a new heaven and a new earth, 
 wherein dwelleth righteousness. And if any question 
 what her former glory was, and wherewithal she then 
 was beautified, let them with singleness of heart, stand 
 in the light of the Lamb, look into John's Revelations, 
 and there thou shalt see what he declareth of her, and 
 of her glory and beauty in ages past, even in his days. 
 For he saw her a woman exceeding glorious and beau- 
 tiful, even clothed with the sun, having the moon under 
 her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars : 
 she was clothed with the true light of heaven, even 
 with the brightness of the everlasting day, and the 
 moon with her changeable things was under her feet; 
 and she was 1 crowned with the brightness of the glory 
 of the Lord God of life, and she travailed to bring forth 
 the man-child that should rule the nations with a rod 
 of iron. Now this was the state of the true church in 
 the days of the apostles, before the time of her banish- 
 ment into the wilderness; and John saw this to be 
 wonderful, even in heaven. Now this will be the slate 
 and condition of the true church after she is returned 
 out of the wilderness again; and the time is assuredly 
 come wherein the Lord God will clothe her with his
 
 (William Penn.) 193 
 
 own brightness, and with his own eternal glory, and 1677. 
 she shall again bring forth the Heir, who shall rule the 
 nations with his rod of iron, and shall bind princes in 
 chains, and nobles in fetters of iron. And he that doth 
 deny this, doth deny plain scripture, for they bear wit- 
 ness that Sion shall arise and shall shine forth, for her 
 light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen and 
 arising upon her; and though the darkness doth cover 
 the earth, and gross darkness the people, yet the Lord 
 shall arise upon her, and his glory shall be seen upon 
 her ; and the gentiles shall come to her light, and kings 
 to the brightness of her rising; and she shall awake, 
 and put on her strength, and her beautiful garments 
 shall be put on; for henceforth there shall no more 
 come into her the uncircumcised nor the unclean. 
 Therefore, cleanse your hands ye sinners, and purity 
 your hearts ye double-minded, that you may be ac- 
 cepted in this the day of the Lord's large love and 
 mercies, that are so largely held forth and proffered unto 
 you, to invite you, that you may not partake of the 
 plagues of Babylon, which shall speedily come upon 
 her at unawares : in an hour when you least think of 
 it shall desolation and destruction come upon her, and 
 upon all them that are found in her, partaking with her 
 of her sins." p. 18. 22. 
 
 A Collection of the Works of WILLIAM PENN. In two 
 volumes. London : Assigns of J. Sowle, 1726. 
 
 " O MY friends and brethren, whether rich 1677* 
 
 or poor, in bonds or at liberty, in whatsoever state 
 you are, the salutation of the universal life of Jesus 
 is to you. And the exhortation is, to bow to what 
 is made known unto you ; and in the light, by which 
 ye have received in measure the knowledge of God, 
 
 o
 
 194 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1677. watch and wait diligently to the farther revelation of 
 the mind and will of God unto you, that ye may be 
 endued from on high with power and might in your 
 inward man, to answer the call and requirings of the 
 Lord ; that ye may he enabled to make known to the 
 nations, what is the riches of the glory of this blessed 
 mystery in the gentiles ; which is Christ Jesus the light 
 of the world, in you the hope of glory. For this I 
 have to tell you in the vision of the Almighty, That 
 the day of the breaking up of the nations about you, 
 and of the sounding of the gospel trumpet unto the inha- 
 bitants of the earth, is just at the door. And they that 
 are worthy, who have kept their habitation from the 
 beginning, and have dwelt in the unity of the faith 
 that overcometh the world, and have kept the bond of 
 peace, the Lord God will impower and spirit them to 
 go forth with his everlasting word and testament to 
 awaken and gather kindreds, languages, and people 
 to the glory of the rising of the gentiles' light; who is 
 God's salvation unto the ends of the earth." vol. 1. 
 p. 69. 
 
 1676. "And furthermore this know: now that God 
 
 hath made this passage in the land of our nativity, and 
 cast his firm anchor of hope in the souls of many thou- 
 sands in this island, he will suddenly break in upon 
 the nations about us; and all these distresses, that now 
 are in the bowels of Europe, are to prepare the way 
 of the Lord. God will thin the people ; he will pinch, 
 pine, and wither countries; and INTO CONFUSION SHALL 
 EUROPE RUN MORE AND MORE :* and when their distress 
 is complete, then shall they cry early and earnestly 
 after the Lord. And welcome, O beauteous shall the 
 feet of them be, that bring glad tidings to the weary 
 and the distressed. And when Europe is brought so 
 low as to see there is no helper in the earth, then shall 
 
 *See Note D.
 
 (William Penn.) 195 
 
 heaven be in request; and to heaven shall her inhabi- 1676. 
 tants look, and from thence shall he come into their 
 hungry souls, whom they have looked for." vol. 1. p. 184. 
 
 " Awake, O Christendom ! awake, and come to 1677- 
 
 judgment; for the great and notable day of the Lord 
 is drawing apace upon thee. Prepare to meet him, thou 
 and thy children, for the hour of his judgment hasteneth 
 upon you, as travail on a woman with child, in which 
 all your works shall be tried, and that by fire ; for the 
 day of the Lord shall burn as an oven, and all the proud, 
 and all that do wickedly, shall be as stubble. Yea, by 
 fire and by sword will the Lord God Almighty plead 
 with all flesh, with all fleshly worshippers and workers, 
 who live after the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof; and 
 with the spirit of judgment, and the spirit of burning, 
 that is, with spiritual judgment and burning, will he 
 visit all ranks and regions upon the earth : yea, his 
 holy terrors shall take hold of the rebellious, and an- 
 guish and distress shall fill the souls of the guilty. The 
 faces of nations shall gather paleness, and their knees 
 smite together, because of the anger of God, that is 
 kindling against them, and his fierce wrath, that is 
 revealing from heaven against all the ungodly, but more 
 especially against the children of the mystery of ini- 
 quity. It is in this day that the kindreds of the earth 
 shall mourn with a great lamentation." vol. 1. p. 187- 
 
 " And the cause of the confusion and contention, 
 
 that is about religion, in Europe, at this day, is, that 
 men have deserted this true light and Holy Spirit, and 
 so are degenerated from the life and power of pure and 
 unspotted religion, and have attempted to comprehend 
 Christ's doctrines without Christ's light, and to know 
 the things of God without the Spirit of God. And 
 being thus miserably erred by wicked works from the 
 one Spirit of truth, they have wandered into the fallible 
 conceits and opinions of men. And in this state one 
 party hath contended against another : from words they
 
 196 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1677 have fallen to blows, and the strongest hath oppressed 
 the weakest; and not knowing what spirit they were of, 
 have called light, darkness, and darkness, light ; put- 
 ting the sheep's skin upon the wolf, and the wolfs 
 skin upon the poor sheep of Christ; endeavouring by 
 canial weapons to enforce their opinions, and to extort 
 conformity by worldly laws and punishments to their 
 persuasions. All this is out of the light, life, and doct- 
 rine of Christ Jesus, and in the spirit of darkness, 
 confusion, strife, and bloodshed, which are of the devil. 
 All which Babel must and shall come down by the Light, 
 Power, and Spirit of Jesus now arising in the world; 
 and hell, death, and the grave, shall not be able to 
 hinder it; for, the set time, the appointed time of the 
 father is come, and the judgment is begun, vol. 1. 
 p. 189. 
 
 "Examine yourselves, and prepare, for the day 
 
 of the Lord hasteneth upon you. And have a care, 
 lest you partake of the plagues that God hath prepared 
 for Babylon, her that calleth herself the Lamb's bride, 
 and is a harlot, committing fornication throughout 
 all nations and sects, that is, those that by a lying 
 spirit, have had their hearts seduced from God and 
 his holy fear, yet in words professed to be his people ; 
 who call themselves Jews, but are not ; Christians, 
 and are not, but of the synagogue of Satan; being 
 strangers to the circumcision in spirit, and the baptism 
 that is with fire and with the Holy Ghost; with fire, 
 to consume the fleshly nature, and with the Holy 
 Ghost, to beget the heavenly nature in man. Oh, the 
 downfal of this great city, and the desolation of this 
 false church, through all the sects in Christendom, is 
 come and coming ! Yea, in one day shall it be accom- 
 plished, even in the day of the appearance of Christ, 
 who is the second Adam, the Lord from heaven, who 
 by the brightness of his coming, and by the breath 
 of his mouth in the hearts of nations, shali reveal
 
 (William Penn.) 197 
 
 and destroy this great antichrist, this man of sin, in 1677- 
 man, that sitteth in the place of God, yea, exalted 
 above all that is called God, requiring conformity to 
 all his inventions and injunctions upon pain of life, 
 liberty, and estate." vol. 1. p. 191. 
 
 " Oh ! Wo from the great and just God, that 
 
 made heaven and earth, upon all people, that work 
 iniquity, and forget God ! Wo to you kings and prin- 
 ces, that have crucified the Lord of life and glory ; 
 yea, you have crucified him in yourselves, and helped 
 to crucify him in others: he lieth slain at this day 
 in your streets. For you have not ruled for God, as 
 you ought to have done, but for yourselves, to please 
 your own lusts; and have not sought the glory of 
 the Lord, nor the prosperity of his work in the earth, 
 so much as the greatness of your own names, and to 
 enlarge your worldly dominions; often oppressing the 
 poor, and persecuting conscientious dissenters, but- 
 suffering almost all manner of vice and vanity to go 
 unpunished. How doth the lust of the eye, the lust 
 of the flesh, and the pride of life reign in your terri- 
 tories ! Are not your courts the very schools of vanity, 
 and nurseries of worldly lusts and pleasures, which 
 war against the soul, and lead to eternal destruction ? 
 Oh ! you have much to answer for before the great 
 God, at the day of his terrible tribunal, who have 
 power in your hands to chase away wickedness, and 
 to reform the world. It is written, A king upon his 
 throne of judgment scattereth all evil with his eye. 
 Oh! that the kings and princes of the world knew 
 this throne of true judgment ! that they had this god- 
 like majesty, that they would purge their lands of 
 evil-doers, that they and their people might escape 
 the wrath and vengeance of God, that is ready tQ be 
 poured forth upon them!" vol. 1. p. 193. 
 
 " But above all others, Wo to you scribes, 
 
 Pharisees, and hypocrites, you priests and pastors, who
 
 198 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1677- have taken a charge that God never gave you ; who 
 run, and he never sent you ; who say, Thus saith the 
 Lord, and he never spoke to you, or by you; that 
 steal the words of the prophets and apostles, and with 
 them make merchandize to the people, not knowing 
 the pure word of God in your hearts to be as a 
 hammer, a fire, a sword, to destroy sin and to purge, 
 redeem, and reconcile you to God, but boast in other 
 men's lines, and speak things made ready to your hands ; 
 that teach for hire, and divine for money ; who seek 
 honour of men, and love the uppermost places at feasts ; 
 who speak peace to the wicked, and sow pillows under 
 their elbows for reward; pleasers of men, more than 
 pleasers of God. Wo to you in the name of the Lord, 
 that counterfeit his commission, and deceive the people, 
 requiring their money for that which is not bread, 
 and their labour for that which doth not profit: at 
 your doors lieth the blood of souls, in which you have 
 
 traded. Oh! your practices shall more and more 
 
 come to light; and the day hasteneth, that your very 
 name and calling, as now held, shall be had in abhor- 
 rence by the nations." vol. 1. p. 194. 
 
 "To THE CHILDREN OF LIGHT IN THIS GENERATION, 
 called of God to be partakers of Eternal Life in 
 Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, and Light of the 
 World." 
 
 " My endeared friends and brethren," 
 
 1678. "MANY days and weeks, yea, some months, hath 
 my heart been heavy, and my soul unusually sad, for 
 the sake of this nation, the land of our nativity ! For 
 I have not only long beheld, with a grieved eye, the 
 many abominations and gross impieties that reign there- 
 in, the lusts, pleasures, wantonness, drunkenness, whore- 
 doms, oaths, blasphemies, envy, treachery, and perse-
 
 (William Penn.) 199 
 
 cution of the just, but for some time I have had a 1678. 
 deep sense that the overflowing scourge of God's wrath 
 and indignation was just ready to break out upon the 
 people ; confusion, amazement, and misery ! The weight 
 of which hath caused me to cry within myself, ' Who 
 shall save us? who shall deliver us? Are there none 
 to stay the stroke, to blunt the edge, to stop the fu- 
 ry, and intercede for the people, and mediate for this 
 poor land, that the Lord may not utterly depart, and 
 take his glory and his name from it, and make it a 
 desolation for the wild beasts of the field, and fowls of 
 the air; a land of judgment and not of promise, of 
 curses and not of blessings ?' 
 
 " My friends, whilst the sense of this distress (that 
 is coming as a dreadful visitation from the hand of the 
 displeased God upon this ungodly land, to stain its 
 glory, bring down its pride, and punish its forgetful- 
 ness of the Lord) and his many deliverances, lay so 
 heavy upon my spirit, the Lord presented before me 
 all the truly conscientious and well-inclined people in 
 these nations; and more especially you, his despised, 
 but chosen generation, for whose sake he would yet 
 have mercy. And, in the midst of his judgments, this 
 I received for you from the Lord, as his holy will and 
 counsel ; and it often sprung in my heart, with a very 
 fresh and strong life, 
 
 TO THY TENTS, O ISRAEL! 
 TO THY TENTS, O ISRAEL! 
 
 GOD is thy TENT; to thy GOD, O ISRAEL!" 
 
 " Prepare, O friends, to stand in this day before the 
 Lord (that is in the first place) for ye also shall have 
 your exercise: yea, great is that work which we have 
 to do for the Lord, by his powerful but very peaceable 
 Spirit; for God will, by all these hurries, confusions,
 
 200 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1678. and vexations that are at the door, drive people from 
 their false gods, and bring them home to himself. He 
 will throw down wickedness, and establish righteous- 
 ness; he will waste sin, but truth shall grow; he 
 will debase the mountain of empty profession, but the 
 'mountain of his holiness shall be exalted.' He hath 
 determined to raise up and renown the seed of light; 
 life, and truth, in the hearts of people: holy patience, 
 meekness, wisdom, love, faith, purity, and perseve- 
 rance (so much wanting in the world) shall be seen 
 to dwell in it, and only to come from it. And my 
 witness is, That ye are the people, through whom this 
 heavenly seed of righteousness must clearly and stead- 
 fastly so shine unto others, in these uneven and rough 
 times that are come and coming, as that your hea- 
 venly Father may be glorified by you." 
 
 " Wherefore, in the name of the Lord, be ye all 
 disencumbered of the world, and discharged of the 
 cares of it. Flee, as for your lives, from the snares 
 therein, and get you into your watch-tower, the Name 
 of the Lord ! which is not a dead name, or a mere 
 literal name, but a living, spiritual, and veiy power- 
 ful name; a strong tower indeed^ yea, an invincible 
 fortress; where dwell ye with God, and in him who 
 speaketh peace to his children, and ordains quietness 
 for them that trust in him. He will make you to lie 
 down safely, even then when darkness and confusion 
 shall be thick' about you; yea, ye shall live in the fire, 
 that will consume the stubble of the world, and your 
 garments shall not be so much as singed; for the Son 
 of God, whom the flames, as well as winds and seas, 
 obey, will be in the midst of you." 
 
 " Next, friends, this know; we are the people, 
 above all others, that must stand in the gap, and pray 
 for the putting away of the wrath, so as that this 
 land be not made an titter desolation; and God ex- 
 pects it at our hands. Prepare ye therefore to meet
 
 (William Penn.) 201 
 
 and sanctify the Lord in his coming and judgments ! 1678. 
 Why stand any of you gazing? Let none gaze or look 
 out, I beseech you; that is the enemy's work to weak- 
 en you within ; but be ye retired, be ye centered in 
 the Eternal One : and meditate upon the Lord, and 
 his living pure law, that ye may be wise in heart, and 
 travail in spirit for this poor land, and that for ene- 
 mies as well as friends. The Lord is ready to hear 
 you for this people, when you are ready to intercede: 
 and I testify, Abraham is amongst you, God's friend, 
 and his just Lot too; yea, Jacob that prevailed; and 
 one that is greater than all, Jesus, the Lamb of God, 
 whose blood speaketh better things than that of Abel, 
 in whom is the mediation and atonement. Be there- 
 fore encouraged to wait upon the Lord, and to bow 
 before him, and humbly to mediate, in the life of 
 Jesus, with him: I know he will put it in your hearts 
 so to do, if ye wait upon him; for he will not cast 
 off this land, as he did Sodom : he hath a right seed, 
 a noble people in it, that he hath and yet will gather : 
 many sheep there be, not yet of our fold, whom he 
 will bring in; and the foul weather and the storms 
 will but help to drive them home to Jesus, the living 
 and true witness and light within; that he, whom 
 God hath ordained to reign, may be great in them." 
 
 " And lastly, my dear friends and brethren, by how 
 much this day draws nigh, by so much the more do 
 ye stand loose in your affections to the world, but fast 
 in the faith; and assemble yourselves together, and let 
 God arise in you, and his Power and Spirit of life 
 among you, that ye may not only wrestle, but in the 
 end prevail, that it may be seen that ( salvation is of 
 the Jews,' the Jews inward, in spirit and in truth: 
 and truly the time hastens, that ' ten shall take hold 
 of the skirt of such a Jew, and they shall be saved.' 
 But, Wo to the hypocrite in that day, the formalist, the 
 Jew outward, the circumcision in the flesh, and fleshly
 
 202 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1678. Christian, that cannot resist the temptations of this 
 world; the temporizer; one that runs with the tide; 
 he will be divided: for there will be more tides, more 
 interests on foot at once, than one: wherefore, per- 
 plexity will take hold on him, his policy will be con- 
 founded; he will not know what to do to be safe, nor 
 what to join with : this ' double-minded man' will be 
 unstable in his counsels and in his actions; his sandy 
 < foundation will be shaken. Therefore, as I said, Wo 
 to the hypocrite, and to the covetous man too, for 
 his god will fail him; the thief, the moth, and rust 
 will invade his bags and surprise his treasure: his 
 anguish will be great in this day. But, my dear breth- 
 ren, as the Power and Spirit of our Lord God will 
 preserve and establish us, if we sincerely and entirely 
 confide therein, and that above our solicitation or 
 need of carnal consultations or contrivances, which we 
 have therefore laid aside, so shall it vindicate us, in 
 due time, in the eyes of all nations, and present us 
 a people owned, beloved, and protected of God, in 
 whom we have firmly believed. Nor is this presump- 
 tion, as some may think; who being not so well ac- 
 quainted with that entire resignation, and supreme 
 faith (of which Jesus is the author) that removes mount- 
 ains into the sea, conclude, from mere natural and 
 human considerations, against us : yet we know him in 
 whom we have believed; and the same that hath cured 
 us of our diseases, the same said unto us, * Arise, and 
 walk in this way of faith ; trust in me, and not in 
 another.' And truly, this is much of that wonder 
 which men shall have in their minds and mouths about 
 us in those latter days, 'In troubles not to be deject- 
 ed, and in jeopardies not to be concerned to make to 
 ourselves defences:' as the lilies, that neither toil nor 
 spio, yet feed and grow, so we may both be preserv- 
 ed, and become victorious, without worldly force or 
 projections: for we must shew ourselves to be that
 
 (IPilliam Penn.) 203 
 
 little city and hill of God, that hath only his salvation 1678. 
 for our walls and bulwarks; by whom he will renown 
 his arm, and magnify his power, above the arts and 
 contrivances of men. Our weapons and our armour is 
 spiritual; it hath prevailed, and it will prevail, if we 
 keep in the ' faith which was first delivered to us :' a 
 blessed shield, by which the just live." 
 
 "And, therefore, my dear friends, let us be careful 
 not to mingle with the crowd, lest their spirit enter 
 us, instead of our spirit entering them, and we thereby 
 come to fall into the same temptations they are liable 
 to, of fear, and flying to the hills and mountains to 
 protect them, confiding in the arm of flesh to deliver 
 them. No, no ; they must come to us, we must not 
 go to them. Yet can we not be insensible of their 
 infirmities, as well as we shall not be free from some 
 of their sufferings; we must make their case as our 
 own, and travail alike in spirit for them as for our- 
 selves. Let us stand in the counsel of our God, and 
 he will make us preachers forth to them of the works 
 of his divine power, and the virtue of that faith which 
 comes from heaven; yea, he will make us as saviours 
 to the people, that they may come to know the holy 
 law and word of the Lord, their Creator, in their 
 hearts, and have their minds and souls turned to him 
 and stayed ujpon him, that iniquity may no more 
 abound nor ungodliness find a place, but that in truth, 
 righteousness, and peace, they may be established, and 
 the land keep its sabbath to the Lord for ever ! Then 
 shall God lift up the 'light of his countenance upon 
 us,' and water us from heaven, and bless us with all 
 temporal and spiritual blessings; and we shall be yet 
 called, * The Island saved by the Lord.' Amen, Amen." 
 
 "This was upon my soul from God to you. I could 
 not visit you all with a distinct message upon many 
 accounts : besides, the time is short, and the confu- 
 sion appears to me to be at hand: therefore have I
 
 204 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1678. sent it by way of epistle, with the brotherly salutation 
 of unfeigned and unalterable love to you all, in your 
 respective meetings and families. And the Lord God 
 of our visitation and redemption stir you up to these 
 things, and keep us all in his holy fear, wisdom, love, 
 and patience, through all those travails and exercises, 
 to the end of our days; that having finished our test- 
 imonies, our heads may go down to the grave in 
 peace, and our souls be received into the rest which is 
 reserved for the righteous with God, and with his 
 blessed Lamb for ever." vol.1, p. 223 226. 
 "I am your brother and companion through the many 
 tribulations of our day and testimony," 
 "WILLIAM PENN." 
 
 <( Worminghurst in Sussex, the 4th 
 of the 9th month, 1678." 
 
 A Brief Collection of Remarkable Passages and Oc- 
 currences relating to the Birth, Education, fyc. of 
 MARGARET FELL, but by her second marriage, MAR- 
 GARET Fox; together with sundry of her Epistles, 
 Books, fyc. London: J. Sowle, 1710." 
 
 1677. "CHRIST Jesus shakes all foundations that are 
 
 not built upon him; and he is coming to rase out and 
 to root out that foundation which the old serpent hath 
 laid in the hearts of people ; he is coming to dispossess 
 him, and to destroy him and all his works: the right 
 is his; he was before ever the old serpent was; he 
 was set up from everlasting to everlasting; man and 
 woman were created in his image, and he is now 
 coming to claim his own, and to recover and restore 
 man again." 
 "The devil hath had a long reign; he may well be
 
 (Elizabeth Stirredge.) 205 
 
 called the old serpent, because he had a beginning; but 1677- 
 now his head and power are coining to be bruised, and 
 the word of the eternal God is coming to be fulfilled 
 upon him, which is, That the seed of the woman shall 
 bruise the serpent's head : and he will make a short 
 work in the earth, and cut it short in righteousness for 
 his elect's sake. The Lord God is now at work; his 
 Word, and Power, and Spirit, by which the heavens 
 and the earth were made, is at work; the grace, and 
 the truth, which comes by Jesus Christ, is at work; 
 and the light of the glorious gospel, the power of God, 
 is working, for the destruction of the devil and all his 
 works." p. 519. 520. 
 
 Strength in Weakness Manifest : In the Life, Various 
 Trials, and Christian Testimony of that faithful Ser- 
 vant and Handmaid of the Lord, ELIZABETH STIR- 
 REDGE. The third Edition. London: Mary Hinde, 
 1772. 
 
 "THE Lord will assuredly visit this nation, 1680. 
 
 and that for the treachery, and cursed oaths, pride, 
 and oppression of many therein, whose sins have reach- 
 ed unto heaven. And it is the determination of the 
 great God of heaven and earth to send his destroy- 
 ing angel amongst them, and shall thin them. Great 
 will be your sorrow, pain, and perplexity, terror and 
 amazement, horror and vexation of spirit. Alas ! for 
 the day will be great; who shall be able to stand in 
 it, but the pure in heart, and them that have made 
 the Lord Jehovah their choice, and love him above all 
 things, as well in times of peace as in times of dis- 
 tress; such shall dwell with the Lord for ever." p. 
 103. 
 
 "Surely, friends, it is in my heart to believe, 1683.
 
 206 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1683. that the great God of heaven and earth, who hath 
 been long provoked, and tried many ways, and hath 
 shaken his rod over this nation many a time, and no- 
 thing will prevail, therefore will he arise in his strength, 
 and go through this nation, and will afflict the inha- 
 bitants thereof: he will bring terror and amazement 
 upon them, that none shall be able to deliver out of 
 his hand; for he hath long called, and they have not 
 regarded; he hath long held out his hand, and they 
 have not laid it to heart, and therefore will their ca- 
 lamity come at a day unawares : and because they 
 have not regarded the call of the Lord, when they 
 cry aloud to him, he will not regard them. Oh ! then, 
 blessed eternally, and happy for evermore will all they 
 be, that have obeyed the Lord in their day, and have 
 not their portion with the wicked/' p. 193. 
 
 A Lamentation over England, and Faithful Warning 
 to the Inhabitants thereof. By WILLIAM BINGLEY, 
 London: 1682. 
 
 1682. " OH ! my soul mourns in the sight and sense 
 
 of that dreadful day which is coming upon you for 
 your transgressions and rebellion against the living God, 
 and for your thus abusing and shamefully entreating 
 them who have been sent unto you by the Lord, who 
 sought nothing but the good and everlasting peace of 
 your immortal souls." p. 5. 
 
 " The dreadful God of heaven and earth, 
 
 will render the recompence and reward of your own 
 doings into your bosoms ; and if you do not turn to him 
 while he strives with you, ye shall feel the weight of 
 his avenging hand and iron rod, with which he will 
 dash the rebellious nations to pieces like a potter's 
 vessel." p. 9.
 
 (William Bingley.) 207 
 
 "For behold, the cry of your iniquities hath reached 1682. 
 unto heaven, and your sins have come up before the 
 Lord, and into remembrance with our God; and the 
 day, wherein he will ease him of his adversaries and 
 avenge him of his enemies, maketh haste ; wherein he 
 will pour out his wrath, indignation, and judgment 
 upon you, the inhabitants of England, that continue in 
 your gainsaying and rebellion against God, without any 
 mixture of mercy." p. 10. 
 
 " I labour for, and seek nothing more, than 
 
 your turning to the Lord with broken, tender, and 
 penitent hearts, that you may find mercy with God to 
 your immortal souls : these are the desires and earn- 
 est breathings of him, whose soul hath been often 
 wounded, and his spirit grieved, in hearing and be- 
 holding the wickedness and abominations which have 
 abounded and yet do abound amongst many to this very 
 day; and also hath mourned, and been bowed before 
 the Lord, in the sight and sense of that dreadful day, 
 which will certainly overtake and come upon all those 
 who continue in their wickedness and rebellion against 
 God." p. 12. 
 
 A Faithful fTarning once more to the Inhabitants of 
 England. By WILLIAM BINGLEY. London: 1690. 
 
 " WHO can take a view, and consider the de- 1690. 
 
 bauchery and pride of this nation, and not mourn ? 
 
 Their very countenance and carriage demonstrate them 
 to be a hardened generation, and arrived to a high 
 pitch of open profaneness, if not of atheism itself; 
 which God is angry with, and abominates; and his 
 indignation, wrath, and heavy displeasure are near to 
 break forth because of these things." 
 
 " Let no man think that God will wink at evils of 
 so deep a die in our day, or forget to execute judgment
 
 208 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1690. upon such as are guilty thereof in our age. No, no; 
 such things were ever abomination to him, and did 
 always draw down his heavy wrath and displeasure upon 
 that person, nation, or people, that were guilty of such 
 evils, which at this day run through this nation as a 
 mighty current." p. 9. 
 
 " Oh ! that I might prevail with the inhabitants of 
 this poor nation, to cease to do evil, and learn to do 
 well ; and that all, both high and low, would fear God 
 (this is the beginning of true wisdom) and would sub- 
 mit to the teachings of his grace in themselves ; for that 
 would teach them both to deny ungodliness and worldly 
 lusts, and also to live a righteous, sober, and godly 
 life in this present evil world. And there is nothing 
 will ever make this nation happy, but a real and sincere 
 repentance and amendment of life : nor shall she ever 
 be settled in true and lasting peace, till the current of 
 iniquity is stopped, and the land purged from that 
 ungodliness and profaneness that abound in it. For if 
 men will not humble themselves while God in mercy 
 strives with them, but will set up themselves in that 
 which God has determined to pull down, he will humble 
 them in his wrath, and will break them to pieces in 
 his sore displeasure." p. 16. 
 
 The Hour of God's Judgments come and coming upon 
 the wicked World: Shewing how iniquity will prove 
 the ruin of all people who do not repent and turn 
 to God, whilst yet they have time. 
 
 With an Exhortation, in the love of God, to people 
 of all nations to cease to do evil, and to forsake those 
 provoking sins that have kindled the wrath of God; 
 that the judgments now threatening many nations may 
 be turned away. By JAMES PARKE. . London : 1690.
 
 (James Parke.) 209 
 
 "HEARKEN, all ye people, and give ear, ye 1690. 
 
 nations of the earth, for the sword of the Lord is 
 drawn forth against people and nations not a few; his 
 hand is lifted up in great fury and judgment against 
 all iniquity, and the provoking abominations of the 
 times, which are grown to that height and degree, 
 that the Almighty God now appeareth full of indig- 
 nation and displeasure against many people and nations; 
 and the nations wherein God hath shewn most love, 
 and done most for, who still remain sinful, the rebel- 
 lious in that nation will the Lord most punish and plead 
 with in his wrath. Where hath the Lord so much 
 appeared, as in this nation of England ? Hath he 
 dealt in so much loving-kindness and tender mercies 
 to any people or nation, as this our native country? 
 wherein the mighty and glorious day of God broke 
 forth, and, in these ages of the world, was first pro- 
 claimed, and the light of the glorious gospel that 
 caused the day to appear, was faithfully and with much 
 power and demonstration preached; and the tender 
 visitation of the day-spring from on high reached forth 
 universally in a very signal manner, and the sound of 
 the gospel, in life and power, love and good-will unto 
 all men, was heard through this nation, to call all 
 people to repentance and amendment of their ways 
 and doings, to turn to the Lord from all their grievous 
 sins and iniquities." p. 3. 
 
 "Are your hearts so hardened through the deceitful- 
 ness of sin, that you do not mind, nor at all consider? 
 Are your eyes so blinded by the God of this world, 
 that you do not see the heavy hand of the Lord, that 
 is so apparently lifted up, as if the iniquities of the 
 people of England would prove the ruin of many of 
 the inhabitants thereof? Could ever a nation be more 
 sinful, or more laden with iniquity of all sorts than 
 this; a nation so much professing God, and that he 
 hath done so much for the salvation and preservation of?
 
 210 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1690. For, what could the Lord have done more than he 
 hath done for the good and benefit of England ? And, 
 notwithstanding, where can there be greater wickedness 
 or abomination committed? although many nations are 
 horribly wicked, and cages of unclean birds, who re- 
 gard not the work of the Lord, nor the operation of 
 his hands. And though the dark places of the earth 
 are full of idolatry, blackness of darkness, and cruelty, 
 yet no people or nation hath more provoked God by 
 sinning against so much knowledge, and so many con- 
 victions, and reproofs of instruction from the manifest- 
 ation of the Spirit, Light, and Grace of God appearing 
 in you, and being given of God to you to profit withal, 
 that you might have been spared and saved in that 
 woful day of anguish and sore distress that is come 
 and coming upon nations, insomuch that many will 
 cry out in bitterness of spirit, What shall we do to be 
 saved ? We have no helper that can help or comfort 
 us ! And the mighty men of valour and strength will 
 grow feeble, and be full of fears and jealousies one of 
 another, and will hide themselves in the holes and 
 dens of the earth, and call to the mountains and hills 
 to fall on them, and cover them from the wrath of the 
 Lamb : for his great day, even the day of his ven- 
 geance, and hour of his judgments now appeareth 
 against all the wicked and ungodly of the earth, with- 
 out respect to persons, opinions, or profession what- 
 soever; and the mountains and hills, where many 
 expect safety, will God Almighty shake, and lay waste 
 by his power." p. 4. 
 
 " The eyes of the Lord are upon all the sinful 
 
 kingdoms, to punish and destroy many people with 
 great punishments and sore destruction, because ye 
 have so long hardened your hearts against the Lord; 
 ye have set at nought his counsel, and would have none 
 of his reproof; you have despised knowledge, and 
 , would not choose the fear of the Lord; therefore, great
 
 (James Par fee.) 211 
 
 calamity, and severe judgments hasten, and will come 1690. 
 upon them that do not repent; and the Spirit of the 
 Lord will not strive much longer with many people in 
 this and other nations, but God will laugh at their ca- 
 lamity and mock when their fear cometh." p. 7. 
 
 " For the sword of the Lord is drawn forth, fur- 
 bished, and made bright, to make a sore slaughter in 
 many nations and countries by his powerful hand, al- 
 though people will not see it when it is lifted up. They 
 shall see it, and be ashamed, astonished, and con- 
 founded ; and, by the immediate hand of the Lord, 
 many people will fall and be cut down as the grass, 
 whilst the carnal sword also doth its part, what the 
 Lord permits and suffers to be acted by it, in any 
 flourishing city or strong nation : and He can raise up 
 whomsoever he pleaseth, as instruments in his hand, 
 to make his power known, that his name may be de- 
 clared throughout all the earth. Therefore, he pulleth 
 down one prince and potentate, and raiseth up another 
 in his stead, in the kingdoms of this world, that they 
 may know that the MOST HIGH rules in the kingdoms 
 of men, and giveth them to whomsoever he will. And 
 who shall say unto Him, What doest thou, when he 
 poureth out contempt upon princes, and causeth them 
 to wander where there is no way ? For He hath their 
 hearts, and all men, in his hand; he can hold, limit, 
 and turn them as it pleaseth him; therefore, all ought 
 to look unto him, and be instructed by him in order 
 to eternal life, happiness, and salvation, and to be de- 
 livered by him from outward judgments, and wrath to 
 come from the Almighty God; and all ought to fear 
 and dread his holy Name, to believe really, and trust 
 therein ; for his Name he will exalt, and cause every 
 knee to bow, and tongue to confess to it." 
 
 " O all people upon the face of the earth ! stand in 
 awe, and sin not; commune with your own hearts and 
 be still; be still, and know that the eternal God, who
 
 212 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1690. is God from everlasting to everlasting, will exercise 
 great severity, and plead with the wicked in his wrath 
 and indignation, when his goodness, mercy, and for- 
 bearance are slighted and abused by renewing trans- 
 gression upon transgression, and adding sin to sin, that 
 hath brought upon many people and nations God's 
 fierce wrath, to the depopulating of many fair flour- 
 ishing cities and countries, where pride, debauchery, 
 and hellish cruelty abound; to bring down their pride 
 and vain glory, and to shake the foundations of the 
 earth, and the heavens also; to make way for that 
 which cannot be shaken, which shall remain, notwith- 
 standing any attempts which are or may be made to 
 overthrow and root it out of any kingdom or nation. 
 by any prince or people whatsoever; which will be 
 but an addition to the manifold sins and trespasses that 
 God will bring his judgments upon nations, and sorely 
 punish people for, if they do not repent whilst it is 
 called to-day. Terror upon terror, loss upon loss, per- 
 plexity upon perplexity, and trouble upon trouble will 
 come upon people in all nations when God shall plead 
 with them in the way of his judgments, by the sword, 
 by the famine, and by pestilence; but the wicked then 
 want that supporting hand of the Lord, whereby he 
 supports, bears up, and strengthens his people that 
 fear him; that, however it be, such are at rest and 
 peace with God." p. 10. 
 
 "Now many houses will be left desolate with- 
 out inhabitant in all nations, where there is or maybe 
 a seat of war ; and the sword, famine, and pestilence 
 will be seen in many countries, more or less, and 
 sweep away many people out of this present world; 
 husbands from wives, and wives from husbands, pa- 
 rents from children, and children from parents; many 
 women will be made widows, and children fatherless, 
 because of the crying sins and horrible abominations 
 in most nations of the earth committed against Him, 
 who gave them their being." p. 12.
 
 (James Parke.) 213 
 
 " Now desolation, perplexity, woe, and great 1690. 
 
 distress of nations hasten and are even ready to come 
 upon many people and nations, but especially nations 
 and people whom God hath loved and done most for, 
 and most appeared in by the light of his glorious 
 gospel of grace and truth, which the same have re- 
 jected, sinned against, and walked contrary to; such, 
 will the Lord shew most displeasure against, and pu- 
 nish most severely, when his hand is lifted up to 
 smite, hew down, and thin the people, and to bring 
 down the abominable pride and haughtiness of man- 
 kind in all nations: for he will make all nations tremble 
 and bow before him. Astonishment, fear, and trouble 
 on every side will appear, when the righteous Judge 
 shall plead with all flesh in the way of his judgments 
 being wrath, and come to punish the inhabitants of 
 the earth for their iniquity. Who shall stand before 
 him, or who shall stop him, or prevent the execution 
 of his wrath upon the ungodly?" p. 15. 
 
 " Oh ! foolish people and hard-hearted ! Is it a 
 
 time for feasting, and to invite one another to feasting, 
 mirth, and jollity, in such a day of distress and cala- 
 mity, as now threateneth almost all nations? Is it a 
 time to sit down to eat and drink, and then rise up 
 to play, when nation riseth up in war against nation, 
 and kingdom against kingdom, and every battle of the 
 warrior is with confused noise and garments rolled in 
 blood ? And when God is rebuking strong nations, 
 and when the just and righteous God is bringing his 
 judgments and plagues upon many peoples, ought not 
 every one, from the highest to the lowest, rather to 
 sit down solitary, be humbled, and call each other to 
 weeping and bitter lamentation, because of the abo- 
 minable crying sins of nations?" p. 18. 
 
 "The nations of the earth are angry because God's 
 glorious day is come, which discovereth and layeth 
 open their hidden works of darkness and dishonesty.
 
 214 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1690. which will come out, and by the light of Christ be 
 manifest; even that which hath been long hid, and 
 covered with thick darkness; and, the light, God will 
 cause to shine out of obscurity, and his day will break, 
 and the shadows of the night will vanish away, as the 
 heavenly rays of God's glory appear. For, his day wilt 
 dawn and break in peoples' hearts in all nations of the 
 earth, when he shall terribly shake the earth; and all 
 nations, and the keepers of the house, will tremble, 
 and all proud flesh shall be made to tremble before the 
 Lord at his appearance. He will make known his 
 voice, he will make the earth to hear, and the heavens 
 shall be astonished at his power, glory, and majesty; 
 and every false foundation shall be shaken, and every 
 high tower, and fenced city, built upon a false found- 
 ation, will fall and tumble down, though never so 
 strong, and lifted up in their forms of worship and 
 formal profession without life and power, that will not 
 be able to stand in the day of the Lord's fierce wrath, 
 which is against that city of confusion, which the Lord 
 God will break down and raze to the ground. Then 
 will her merchants, and such as have traded with her, 
 lament, and cry, Alas! alas! none will buy her mer- 
 chandize of us any more." 
 
 "Thus will the Lord bring down and destroy Ba- 
 bylon, that great whore, that hath, with her cup of 
 fornication, made drunk the kings of the earth, who 
 have committed fornication with her, and her mer- 
 chants that traded with her; who, with great endea- 
 vours, and all their Babylonish skill and trumpery, have 
 brought darkness and ignorance over the earth, and so 
 would still keep people, but the day of the Lord is 
 come and coming, and the knowledge of the LORD shall 
 cover the earth, and many shall hate the whore, and 
 burn her flesh with fire, for by fire and sword will the 
 Lord plead with all flesh. Wherever the flesh of the 
 great whore is, the sword and fire of the Lord of
 
 (James Parke.) 215 
 
 hosts will find it out, and pursue it till it be devoured, 1690. 
 to the end that that which is for the sword and fire of 
 the Lord may be cut down, burnt up, and consumed: 
 then envy, malice, cruelty, hatred, and unrighteousness, 
 so much abounding in man and woman, will have an 
 end, and people will not be overcome of evil, but will 
 overcome the evil with good." p. 21. 
 
 " Now it is as if I heard the noise of trumpets sound- 
 ing, and drums beating an alarm to battle in many 
 kingdoms and nations, and the sword drawn to execute 
 the wrath of God for sin and transgression, committed 
 by the ungodly to the great displeasure of the Almighty 
 God; who now will shew himself a terrible God to the 
 workers, of iniquity, by wars, famine, and pestilence, 
 with other judgments and calamities, which God will 
 bring upon many cities and strong nations, to bring 
 down their pride and haughtiness, and to abase them 
 for their slighting and contemning his appearance in 
 the light of his glorious gospel (which shines in their 
 hearts to give them the knowledge of the glory of 
 God) to humble them under his mighty hand, that 
 all might turn to him, who smites and corrects men 
 and women that they might see his hand, and acknow- 
 ledge his power arid sovereignty over all. How 
 
 soon can He make of a fair and flourishing city a 
 heap, and a strong city a desolation, when the inha- 
 bitants thereof will not be reformed from the evil of 
 their ways and doings, nor repent of the same ! How 
 often hath the Lord brought plagues and heavy judg- 
 ments upon such cities and nations ! Oh ! that 
 
 there were such a heart in all people of all nations, 
 that they would seek after the living God, and that 
 they might know him, and receive everlasting life by 
 Christ Jesus, and leave off* doing evil, and learn to 
 do well; that instead of hating and killing one another 
 about religion, and worldly glory and honour, they 
 might feel the love of God shed abroad in their hearts,
 
 216 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1690. and, in that, love God above all, and one another as 
 the children and offspring of God !" p. 23. 
 
 A Journal of the Life, Travels, and Labour of Love 
 in the Work of the Ministry, of that worthy Elder, 
 and faithful Servant of Jesus Christ, JAMBS DICK- 
 INSON. London : T. Sowle Raylton and Luke Hinde, 
 1745. 
 
 1694. U 'IN a few weeks after, I had a concern for the 
 
 city of London, which very much bowed my mind : my 
 wife understanding it, desired me to answer what I 
 believed to be my duty, and said, she only desired to 
 enjoy what she enjoyed, in God's favour, which did 
 greatly add to my comfort. So I took my journey and 
 went to Swarthmore, and proceeded, visiting several 
 meetings; and when I was about twenty miles from 
 London, tidings came of the Queen's death, which put 
 peoples' minds into some consternation. When I got 
 to London, I had a concern to go to Westminster 
 meeting, and there being a large gathering of people 
 of several persuasions, I preached the everlasting gos- 
 pel by and through the demonstration and power of God, 
 warning them to repent, turn to the Lord, and consider 
 their latter end; shewing them that the grave equals 
 all, as to the things of this life, and the great differ- 
 ence between the righteous and the wicked in another 
 world, referring to the parable of Lazarus and the rich 
 man. Many hearts were reached by the power of God, 
 for it was a day of visitation to them, the meeting 
 ending in a sense of God's love. Then the Lord shewed 
 unto me that I must go through the streets of that 
 great city, and warn the people to repent, which deeply 
 bowed my mind, and I laboured under the weight 
 , thereof several days, and would gladly have discovered
 
 (John Fothergill.) 217 
 
 it to my brethren in the work of the gospel; but the 1694. 
 word of the Lord came unto me, saying, See thou tell 
 it to no man until thou deliver it as I commanded thee ; 
 which was to begin at Whitechapel and go through 
 the main streets of the city, and proclaim this message, 
 Wo ! Wo ! Wo ! from the Lord to the crown of pride 
 in this place ; for the vials of his wrath will be poured 
 down upon it ; therefore I am made to warn all people 
 to repent, that the Lord may shew them mercy. And 
 in answering the Lord's requirings, I witnessed peace 
 to flow in my soul; his arm was stretched forth for 
 my deliverance, and gave me strength and boldness to 
 bear my testimony among the people, and not a hand 
 was lifted up against me. The consideration of the 
 Lord's dealings deeply bowed my spirit, and made me 
 to say, He is worthy to be obeyed in all his requirings, 
 for all his paths are paths of peace; blessed be his 
 holy name for ever 1" p. 69. 
 
 An Account of the Life, and Travels in the Work of 
 the Ministry, of JOHN FOTHERGILL. London: Luke 
 Hinde, 1753. 
 
 "LET me tell you, in the fear and dread of 1699. 
 
 the powerful God, that a knowledge of the truth, or 
 a profession thereof, is not sufficient; nay, although it 
 has been so obeyed, as that you have come out of 
 the open profaneness of the world, which may well be 
 called the open streets of Babylon, yet if you do not 
 obey its requirings, so as to bring forth fruits meet for 
 him who hath given you so many refreshing showers 
 of his pure love, and come out of the secret chambers 
 of Babylon also, you will be in danger of suffering 
 great loss, more ways than one. For God is deter- 
 mined to lay her waste, to make her a heap of ruins;
 
 218 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1699. and wo will be to all those who have been delighting 
 to drink in the cup of her fornications, whatever their 
 profession or appearance have been ; and the day of 
 her sorrow is hastening with speed." p. xvi. 
 
 " Thus as all come up in obedience unto the 
 
 word of truth, you will draw down the favour of God 
 upon you, and the Lord will be as a King to defend 
 you, a rock of refuge in the shattering day that is near 
 at hand, when the Lord will hide his faithful child- 
 ren as in the hollow of his hand." p. xxi. 
 
 A Lamentation over, and further Warning to Eng- 
 land's Inhabitants, before the day of the Visitation 
 of many of them be wholly over. By THOMAS RUDD. 
 1702. 
 
 1/02. " O ENGLAND, England, the land of my nativity ! 
 What shall I do for thee ! How am I concerned 
 for thee ! being made sensible of thy estate and con- 
 dition, and, oh! of that which is more, the day that 
 is coming upon many of thy inhabitants, and will over- 
 take, overtake them, as a thief in the night. Oh ! 
 what will the unfitted and unprepared do in that day, 
 the day of the Lord's pleadings with the people because 
 of their manifold sins and great provocations, whereby 
 they have and do provoke the Lord from day to clay, 
 though the Lord hath sent and afforded plenty of mer- 
 cies both spiritual and temporal ; but, oh ! how have 
 they been greatly abused, instead of being truly prized 
 and made right use of, and the praise of all returned 
 to the Lord, the great giver of all good things ! And, 
 oh ! how hath the Lord in great love and tender com- 
 passion, as a Father, been pleased to send forth his 
 children and servants to invite and warn thy inhabi- 
 tants, O England! but instead of taking warning, how
 
 (David Hall.) 219 
 
 many times have many of thy inhabitants evilly en- 1702. 
 treated the Lord's servants and messengers ! And how 
 hast thou evilly requited the Lord for his great love 
 and kindness towards thee, who hath not been willing 
 to leave thee as a prey to thy soul's enemies, nor to 
 thy enemies without ! And oh ! that thou mightest 
 consider and truly ponder these things, O England, 
 before it be too late. How am I concerned for thee, 
 O my native land! Where shall I find a place to 
 mourn for thee, being made right sensible, that too 
 many of thy inhabitants, O England! are not willing 
 to take warning." 
 
 " The way to amend the matter is, to turn to 
 
 the Lord by true and unfeigned repentance and amend- 
 ment of life. And oh! that it might be done with 
 speed ! for the day that is approaching calls for itj 
 for it will fall heavy upon the head of the wicked and 
 unprepared; they will not know whither to fly, nor 
 where to find a hiding-place. But a remnant, whom 
 the Lord hath gathered nigh unto himself, will be pre- 
 served; the Lord will keep and preserve them, as in 
 the hollow of his hand of divine power, and as under 
 the shade of the wing thereof, to his own praise, and 
 to the praise of his pure everlasting name, that lives 
 and abides the same from everlasting to everlasting 
 for evermore." p. 1. 
 
 Some brief Memoirs of the Life of DAVID HALL. Lon- 
 don : Luke Hinde, 1758. 
 
 "ON the twenty-second of the ninth month, a 1711, 
 
 great weight seized me, to go through the town of Skip- 
 ton, and call the inhabitants thereof to repentance, which 
 concern and burden grew heavier and heavier towards 
 the middle part of that day, so that I could rest in no
 
 220 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1711. place; however, keeping it to myself, I went to meet- 
 ing (it being our week-day meeting) where I was 
 in great distress, having not given up to the concern. 
 After meeting I returned home, and remained under 
 the same anxiety of soul: next morning came, and the 
 same concern fell again weightily upon me, growing 
 heavier and heavier, as before, insomuch, that I went 
 out of the school* into a place apart, to crave the 
 LORD'S assistance in the discharge of my duty. The 
 weight growing intolerable, I privately laid the matter 
 before my father, who, at the hearing thereof, broke 
 out into tears, and calling my mother into the parlour, 
 acquainted her therewith, whereupon she fell upon her 
 knees in humiliation before the LORD, to implore his 
 aid; and, at her rising up, she encouraged me, sayingj 
 Be not cast down. We all three wept. After some 
 little pause I gave up, and going to the street-door, 
 and pulling off my hat, cried out on this wise, There 
 is an exercise upon me to warn the inhabitants of Skip- 
 ton to repent of their fornications, drunkenness, pride, 
 covetousness, arrogancy, and all their evil ways, for a 
 dismal day is coming over England, for its ingratitude." 
 p. 8. 
 
 A Journal of the Life, Travels, Sufferings, and Labour 
 of Love in the Work of the Ministry, of that worthy 
 Elder, and faithful Servant of Jesus Christ, WILLIAM 
 EDMUNDSOX. The second Edition. London : Mary 
 Hinde, 1774. 
 
 1712. " ON the tenth of the sixth month, at night, 
 
 being in a heavenly frame and concern of mind, dis- 
 cernable to those near him, he spake thus; Heaven and 
 
 * See Note E.
 
 (Isaac Alexander.) 221 
 
 earth, sea and dry land, and all things shall be shaken; 1/12. 
 nothing must stand but what is according to the will 
 of God: so look to it friends." p. 309. 
 
 " At another time, he said to some intimate 
 
 friends present, There are wonderful things to be done; 
 the Lord hath a mighty work to do, that must be gone 
 through, and there be few that see through it." p. 
 309. " 
 
 " After a time of silent waiting, he was enabled 
 
 to sit up, and speak what was in his mind; the sub- 
 stance whereof was to this effect, That the Lord had 
 a great work to do in the earth, though many did not 
 see it; and that he would work a great regulation and 
 reformation among many; and that his glorious day, 
 which was broken forth, would rise higher and higher 
 upon his people." p. lix. 
 
 Piety Promoted, in Brief Memorials of the Virtuous 
 Lives, Services, and DYING SAYINGS, of some of the 
 People called Quakers : London : Phillips, 1789. 
 
 ISAAC ALEXANDER, of Bendrig in Killington, in 
 the county of Westmoreland. 
 
 " SOME friends visiting him, he related to 1705. 
 
 them, 'how the Lord had raised him from nothing to 
 bear a testimony for him, and wheresoever the Lord 
 drew me, I have followed him, both in this nation and 
 other nations, and sought not favour and interest among 
 men.' He warned and cautioned the negligent to 'be 
 diligent and faithful, and come up in the service of 
 truth ;' and said, ' The Lord will cause a dreadful day 
 to overtake the disobedient and the negligent; it is 
 sealed to my soul, that it hastens on apace.' '' vol. 2. 
 p. 72.
 
 222 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 THOMAS WILSON, of Kendal, in Westmoreland. 
 
 1709. " AFTER some time spent in prayer and praises 
 
 to the Lord, he said, 'what he had to say he had 
 said, save one thing,' which was as followeth, ' 1 believe 
 a trying day will come, that will try the foundations 
 of people; and I exhort you* (i. e. those present) ' to 
 get down to truth in yourselves, where you may be 
 able to stand ; for in the day of trial none will be able 
 to stand, save those that have their rooting in the 
 truth ;' for that it would be short and sharp. He then 
 prayed that friends might be able to stand in that day, 
 saying, 'God will be with all them that fear him. As 
 for me, I am ready, and wait to be dissolved, that I 
 may be with Christ for ever/ He closed his weighty 
 expressions with this serious admonition, 'Friends, I 
 desire you to remember what I have said, and mind 
 them, as they are the words of a dying man.' " vol. 2. 
 p. 128. 
 
 WILLIAM HORNOLD, near Baddiff-highway, in the 
 county of Middlesex. 
 
 J710. " IN the time of his bodily weakness he gave 
 
 many good exhortations, and spoke also at several times 
 as follows :" 
 
 "'Friends, I would have you take notice of what I 
 say ; the hand of the Lord God will be upon this nation 
 and other nations, and the day of the Lord will be 
 terrible to the wicked and ungodly; for he will assur- 
 edly shake their foundations, and will sever between 
 the sheep and goats, and he will winnow the chaff from 
 the wheat : but he will plead the cause of the right- 
 eous, and it shall be well with them; yea, and his 
 glorious truth shall prosper. He will make Zion the 
 beauty of nations, and Zion's king shall reign in glory 
 over all. The Lord will also try his own people ; they
 
 (Susannah Saunders.) 223 
 
 shall suffer troubles ; but he will save and succour 1710. 
 the righteous, that truly fear, serve, and love him. And 
 the Lord will divide between the righteous who have 
 served him in truth, and those that live only in a bare 
 profession, and have not been faithful to the Lord in 
 their day.' " vol. 2. p. 152. 
 
 JOSEPH WELSH, of Chesham, in the county of Bucks. 
 
 "A FEW hours before his death he declared, 1715. 
 
 ' The Lord hath a great work to do in the earth, and 
 that it would go well with the faithful, whom the Lord 
 would hide in the hollow of his hand.' " vol. 2. p. 252. 
 
 SUSANNAH SAUNDERS, of Clifton, in Bedfordshire. 
 
 " FRIENDS sitting in silence awhile, she ex- 1715. 
 
 horted them to faithfulness and diligence, and to love 
 
 truth, and to seek the honour of God, adding, 
 
 'Dear friends, keep near truth, and it will keep you 
 in a trying time; for there is a trying time approach- 
 ing, in which there will be great desolation.' ' 
 
 " The day she departed, sitting in a chair, the 
 
 pangs of death being upon her, she desired to lie down, 
 and R. H. being there, was concerned in supplication 
 for her; which being concluded, she said, * There is 
 a divine hand has laid some hold at this time;' and 
 went on sweetly, declaring of the goodness of God, 
 and desiring friends might be faithful ; warning them 
 of the judgments of God that were near to be poured 
 forth upon the nations, and exhorted them to flee to 
 the Lord, who would be their defence and strong tower, 
 in the time of distress. Having spoken much of the 
 wrath of God that was ready to break forth, she pro- 
 ceeded in a sweet manner, setting forth the glory of 
 the kingdom of Christ; that the Lord, after he had 
 punished the nations, would exalt the kingdom of his
 
 224 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1715. Son, and set him upon his holy hill of Zion, and all 
 nations should flow unto him, and he should exalt the 
 sceptre of his righteousness above all sceptres, and his 
 kingdom above all kingdoms." vol. 2. p. 256 258. 
 
 STEPHEN MANNING, of Edmondsbury, in Suffolk. 
 
 1715. " HE signified, the judgments of the Lord were 
 
 come, and coming upon this nation, and said, ' Do 
 nothing whereby to cause the Lord to be grieved ; but 
 be faithful in all things.' " vol. 2. p. 278. 
 
 RICHARD RANSOM, of North Walsham, in the 
 county of Norfolk. 
 
 1716. ON the second of the ninth month, several 
 
 friends came to see him, to whom he said, ' Friends, the 
 Lord hath given me an understanding, and hath let me 
 see, many years ago, but more especially of late, why 
 he afflicteth his little ones; it is in order to drive them 
 nearer home to himself, for the Lord is about to try 
 his people ; but, dear friends, be not discouraged, for 
 though you may go through the fire, and through the 
 water, the Lord's arm is underneath : my soul is a living 
 witness of it, I speak it for your encouragement ; for 
 Jesus carries his lambs in his arms, and leads his along 
 into the low valleys, in green pastures of life, and to lie 
 down as at noon-day, where none shall make them 
 afraid. The Lord is faithful to all those that trust in 
 him : therefore be you faithful and not wavering ; for 
 those that waver are like the waves of the sea. There 
 is a day coming, and will come, that shall try the foun- 
 dations of all, young and old; and those that are not 
 established on the rock, shall be blown away : but the 
 Lord is raising up some that shall stand as pillars for 
 his truth, and shall not value their lives unto the 
 death.''' vol.2, p. 280.
 
 (Jeremiah Waring.) 225 
 
 MARGARET FOTHERGILL, of Wensleydale, York- 1719. 
 shire. 
 
 " AFTER some little stillness, in the strength 
 
 of the word of life, she said, * There is a terrible day 
 of judgment coming upon the backsliders in Sion." 
 vol. 3. p. 3. 
 
 TOBIAS EDWARDS, of Fordmill, near Wanvick. 
 
 ."THE 6th of the seventh month, 1719, in his 1719. 
 
 testimony in Warwick meeting (being the last meeting 
 he was at) he declared, f That calamities would come 
 upon the careless professors of these times; and de- 
 sired the professors of truth might lay it to heart; for 
 if they were found unfaithful to the gift of God that 
 is manifested in their hearts, the Lord would be more 
 severe with them in judgment than to others that know 
 not the truth.' At the close of his testimony he said, 
 ' That he felt this lie upon his spirit with great weight, 
 so was Avilling to come to that meeting to clear him- 
 self, not knowing whether he might have the like 
 opportunity again.' ' 
 
 " He was taken ill the 13th of the same month, and 
 
 speaking of the merciful dealings of God towards 
 
 this nation, he said, 'What reformation hath it wrought 
 in a general way? but little as I can see, except in 
 here and there a poor creature ; but I believe the 
 Lord will deal in his severity, and make them know 
 that he is God.' " vol. 3. p. 9, 10. 
 
 JEREMIAH WARING, of Hayly, in the Parish of 
 Witney, in Oxfordshire. 
 
 " f I HAD once a desire, with submission, to 1730- 
 
 have visited two or three meetings more, observing in 
 my last journeys how thin the elders every where ap- 
 
 Q
 
 226 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1730. peared, and how religion seemed to be at a low ebb; 
 yet the principle of truth must prevail, for the Lord 
 has promised, t He will give his Son the heathen for his 
 inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for 
 his possession/ And though we see but little of this 
 yet, I shall die, as several elders have before me, in 
 the faith of it: Abraham saw but little of that large 
 promise made to him of multiplying his seed as the 
 stars of heaven, and as the sand upon the sea-shore/ : 
 vol. 3. p. 111. 
 
 Piety Promoted, Sfc. The ninth part. London: Phillips, 
 1796. 
 
 1775. 
 
 SAMUEL WARING, of Alton, in Hampshire. 
 
 " HE mentioned more than once, that he be- 
 lieved a time of great calamity was coming over the 
 nations, and that afterwards there would be a gather- 
 ing of the people to the principle of truth, when they 
 would flee to it, as doves to their windows." p. 33. 
 
 A Faithful Warning to the Inhabitants of Great Britain 
 and Ireland, to dread the Lord, and turn from their 
 evil doings, before his fury break forth upon them as 
 an overflowing scourge. Given forth in obedience to 
 the Lord, by JOHN BARCROFF. Printed at Dublin: 
 Reprinted at London, by the Assigns of J. Sowle, 
 1720. 
 
 1720. "THE Almighty God of heaven and earth hath long 
 striven with these nations in mercy and loving-kind- 
 ness, in order to reclaim us from those evils which
 
 (John Barcroft.) 227 
 
 greatly abound therein; but instead of being humbled 1720. 
 by his manifold mercies plentifully bestowed upon us, 
 many have exalted themselves, under a profession of 
 Christianity, and forgotten the Lord; having a name to 
 live, but wanting true life and rest to their souls. Also, 
 too many of the teachers have, both by example and 
 doctrine, indulged them in a liberty pleasing to the 
 flesh, whereby the strait gate and narrow way, spoken 
 of by our blessed Saviour, Matt. vii. 13, and his cross, 
 mentioned by the apostle Paul, Gal. vi. 14, which cru- 
 cifies to the world, have been much neglected; and 
 the broad way, which leads to destruction and eternal 
 misery, walked in pleasantly by many: and so the 
 fruits of Christianity in life and conversation have been, 
 and are greatly wanting. I could say more upon this 
 subject, but am willing only in brevity to clear my 
 conscience in the sight of God." 
 
 " In the year 1688, a dark cloud appeared over the 
 nations, and the sword threatened, which also fell heavy 
 on some parts of Europe, but the Lord was pleased 
 to spare the nation of England, which should have 
 caused her inhabitants to be greatly humbled, and 
 bowed in thankfulness unto him, the Lord God of 
 heaven and earth, who gives and changes the king- 
 doms of men as he pleaseth. And ye have had a long 
 space to repent and amend your ways, but have not 
 laid it to heart to give glory to God, who hath been 
 so gracious unto you ; but instead of bearing the mark 
 of true Christians in meekness and love one to an- 
 other, a bitter spirit of hatred and pride hath predo- 
 minated, which hath highly provoked the Lord to 
 anger, so that his wrath is great against thy inhabi- 
 tants, O England ! to be speedily executed, if there 
 be not repentance and amendment of your ways and 
 doings: for I being at London, in the year 1718, was 
 then made fully sensible that the destroying angel of 
 the Lord was nigh to execute judgment upon thine 
 inhabitants, and particularly that great city of London."
 
 228 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 J720. > " And whereas his mercies and gentle dealings 
 
 have not humbled the nations, his judgments will be 
 terrible to the workers of iniquity'; and I see no way 
 to divert the impending judgments of an offended God, 
 but such fasting as the Lord spake of by his prophet 
 Isaiah, chap. Iviii. ver. 6, 7- " Is not this the fast that I 
 have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo 
 the heavy burthens, and to let the oppressed go free, 
 and that ye break every yoke. Is it not to deal thy 
 bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor, 
 that are cast out, to thy house? when thou seest the 
 naked, that thou cover him ? and that thou hide not 
 thyself from thine own flesh?" And crying mightily 
 unto God, as the Ninevites did, Jon. iii. 8, from the king 
 to the meanest of his subjects. And if all turn from 
 the evil of their ways, I have some hope that the 
 Lord's anger may thereby be appeased, and our tran- 
 quility lengthened; and I am persuaded, as the apostle 
 declared, Acts x. 34, 35, That in every nation, he 
 that feareth God, and worketh righteousness, is ac- 
 cepted with him, and that it will be well with them." 
 
 "To THE PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS." 
 
 " Dear friends and brethren," 
 . Ju' */';. ic^r ,>.v* m of..-* 
 
 "I HAVE been in deep affliction of soul and spirit 
 before the Lord, because of his judgments, that are 
 likely to break forth speedily, if there be not great 
 humiliation and imploring him to grant unto the na- 
 tions a little longer time of mercy ; for we, as well as 
 others, have been too deeply concerned in offending 
 our gracious and long-suffering God. . Wherefore I fer- 
 yently entreat and beseech you eveiy where to lay it 
 to. heart; and that as the Lord hath been pleased to 
 reveal and make known his light and truth unto us in 
 our hearts, we may be obedient thereunto in a self-
 
 (John Sarcroff.) 
 
 denying life, as the followers of Jesus, according to our 1/20. 
 holy profession : but too many, not having practised 
 what they have known to be their duty, have greatly 
 afflicted many, both in this nation and elsewhere." 
 
 " And, my friends, the Lord hath not only often re- 
 proved us by his Holy Spirit and grace in our own 
 hearts, in order that we should turn from every evil way, 
 but also hath raised up, and concerned his servants, to 
 call unto all under our profession for humiliation, and to 
 let our moderation appear unto all men, as the Apostle 
 advised the primitive 'Christians, for the Lord is at hand. 
 He hath also raised up prophets amongst us, who have 
 foretold of the late wars, before they came to pass ; 
 and others since, to give notice of a great mortality 
 approaching, with warning to prepare to meet the 
 Lord in the way of his righteous judgments, and to flee 
 the evil and entanglements of this world : but oh ! 
 how many, have grown high-minded, and sat down at 
 ease in their outward enjoyments, and others made 
 haste to be rich, whereby they have fallen into tempt- 
 ation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful 
 lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition, 
 1 Tim. vi. 9, so that I may say, too many have been 
 as the deaf adder that will not hear. Wherefore I am 
 
 ^ 
 
 also now to warn you, my dear friends, to prepare to 
 meet the Lord our God, for his anger burns hot, and 
 he hath shewed me in his light, that he is about to 
 bring a TERRIBLE DAY upon these nations, because 
 they have rejected his reproof, and turned his law be- 
 hind their, backs. And I see nothing that will appease 
 his wrath, but true humiliation and fasting, with strong 
 and fervent cries unto him. I am also persuaded the 
 STROKE OF MORTALITY might have been given 
 before now, had not the sincere cries of many, to 
 stay his hand, prevailed with him that lives for eveij 
 and ever." 
 
 "And whereas the prophet Ezekiel, in the vi-
 
 230 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1720. sion concerning Jerusalem, saw one sent with a writer's 
 inkhorn by his side, to put a mark upon such as 
 sigh and cried for the abominations that were com- 
 mitted, so now such will be happy in that day, come 
 life or death. And after this cloud sliall pass over, the 
 Lord will raise up and send many ministers of his word 
 f Ufay to publish the gospel of peace and salvation 
 unto the nations abroad, to the hazard or laying down 
 of their lives for the testimony of JESUS." 
 
 " These things have been hard for me to write, 
 knowing it may meet with many censures; but the 
 word of the Lord burnt as a t fire in me, that I could 
 not be silent, nor find ease, until I gave up there- 
 unto: so leaving the issue to the Lord, desiring it 
 may have a good effect/' 
 
 " I subscribe, as I am a lover of the souls of all men," 
 
 " JOHN BARCROFT" 
 p. 1 12. 
 
 " Dublin, thirteenth of ninth month, 1720." 
 
 A Summary Account of an Extraordinary Visit to this 
 Metropolis in the year 1753, by the Ministry of ANN 
 MERCY BELL. By J. P. London: Reprinted in the 
 year, 1761. 
 
 1753. . IN the afternoon she attended the Savoy 
 Meeting; after which she appeared near the end of 
 Suffolk-street, by Charing-cross ; where she was fer- 
 vently concerned, and enabled to preach the necessity 
 of repentance, as a preparation against an approaching 
 time of trial, wherein the Almighty would thin the 
 multitudes of this metropolis, and other parts of the 
 nation, and make the most presumptuous of mankind 
 know, that HE is GOD, and that the supreme dominion
 
 (Mary Peisley.) 231 
 
 is rightfully his. She also expressed a further sight, 1/53. 
 she was then favoured with, of the wide-spreading of 
 the Light and Spirit of the Lamb, the flourishing state 
 of the true and living church, and the holy Sabbath 
 that should ensue." p. 13. 
 
 Extract of a Letter from MARY PEISLEY to Frances 
 Parven. MS. 
 
 Philadelphia, 1/56. 
 
 " DIVERS persons of this age have bent their 1756. 
 
 thoughts and desires too much to earth, to have a 
 clear, distinct discerning of the times and seasons, in 
 a spiritual sense, and of the sacred purposes of Him, 
 whose wisdom is inscrutable and past finding out by 
 all the penetration of finite understandings, uninflu- 
 enced by his own eternal light j and even then, we see 
 and know but in part, while here. But some of us 
 have believed, and seen in the visions of light, that 
 the gospel-day which has dawned will rise higher and 
 higher, until the thousand years, in which Christ is 
 to reign on earth, be come; although some clouds 
 may, at times, intercept its beauty and brightness, as 
 hath sorrowfully been the case among us as a people, 
 who have been highly favoured : Or rather, the earth 
 hath got between many and the sun, and brought an 
 eclipse, which has been almost total, over their under- 
 standings, who might otherwise have shone brightly 
 in a borrowed light ; which all do, who are stars 
 in the firmament of God's power, designed by him to 
 
 give light to the dark world. And although I have 
 
 not the least intention to derogate from the real worth 
 of those honourable sons of the morning, who were 
 made instrumental to break down, in a great degree, 
 the partition-wall or ceremonial structure, which car-
 
 232 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1756. nal, selfish 'men had erected and set up, as between 
 the people and the Sun of Righteousness, I am not 
 afraid to say and to give it under my hand, that it was, 
 and is, the design of God, that his people in future 
 ages should make an improvement on their labours, 
 and carry on the reformation farther then they did. 
 And notwithstanding a night of apostacy has come over 
 us as a people as the day and night natural suc- 
 ceed each other, and God keeps his covenant with 
 both 1 am of the judgment that that day has be- 
 gun to dawn, in which the Sun of Righteousness will 
 rise higher, and with greater lustre than heretofore; 
 and if those, who are called of God to be sons of this 
 morning, look back to the night, and to those who 
 have slept or been drunken in the night by drinking 
 of the golden cup of abominations, or even to the 
 latter day, they will frustrate the designs of providence 
 respecting themselves, although not respecting his own 
 work. For it is his sacred determination, to be glo- 
 rious in heaven, and glorified on earth, though those, 
 who would be called his Israel, be not gathered. And 
 I am of the faith, that when the gospel has first been 
 preached to them, as it is meet it should be, such as 
 neglect to embrace it, thereby rendering themselves 
 unworthy of so great salvation, will be left, and the 
 feet of the messengers turned another way, even to 
 the highways and hedges, with a power of compulsive 
 love, which will prevail on the halt, the maimed, and 
 the blind, to come to the marriage of the King's Son ; 
 and, by coming, they shall be made strong, beautiful, 
 and lively, and as a bride adorned for her heavenly 
 husband ; and who shall not look back to those things 
 that are behind, but press forward toward the mark, 
 for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus, 
 following no man's example further than they follow 
 Him/'* 
 
 *See Note F;
 
 (John Rutty.) 233 
 
 Extract of a Letter from SOPHIA HUME to Anthony 
 Benezet, which was found unfinished after her decease. 
 
 I FURTHER lament to find, both here, and 
 
 in the churches abroad, that blindness in part hath 
 happened to our Israel ; and the seeming unwillingness 
 to be healed continuing, makes me fear it will ere 
 long prove both fatal and total: but if Israel will not 
 be gathered, the Lord will cause the feet of his mes- 
 sengers to be turned to such, as will answer his call 
 and prove more faithful to his laws and precepts ; for 
 he never did, nor ever will leave himself without wit- 
 nesses to his mighty power and adorable love, which 
 in his own time will cover the earth, in a twofold 
 sense, as the waters cover the sea ; for his determination 
 is, He will be glorified on earth, as He is glorious 
 in heaven." 
 
 "Perhaps I am too anxious for this happy and glorious 
 period. I want to see the time, when the mountain 
 of the Lord's house shall be established on the top 
 of every exalted mountain, which poor unhappy mor- 
 tals have raised to their own destruction. I want to 
 see the people take the armour of God, as it is gra- 
 ciously offered by the Captain of our salvation; and, 
 disposed to fight under His banner, to take to them- 
 selves the whole armour of salvation, the weapons 
 whereof are mighty to the pulling down of the strong 
 holds of sin and satan, and bringing into captivity 
 every imagination, that exalts itself against the know- 
 ledge of God." 
 
 A Spiritual ^Diary and Soliloquies, By JOHN RUTTY, 
 M. D. Late of Dublin. London : Phillips, 1776. 
 
 "Eighth month, 7. ON reading the Apocalypse; 1757.
 
 234 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1757- Is it so really, that there is a false church, which is 
 the object of God's wrath, and shall be destroyed? 
 Then see that thou be out of her borders." 
 
 " Twelfth month, 4. The Apocalypse affords a won- 
 derful treasure of divine knowledge : God foreknoweth 
 and foretelleth all the evils befalling his church to the 
 comfort of the wavering and drooping ! Oh, what a 
 clear and distinct portraiture of the church of Rome 
 there !" 
 
 "21. On reading Newton on Daniel, a secret ex- 
 ultation on a conviction of the authenticity of this 
 prophecy, and of the truth of God's promise to set 
 up a kingdom that shall never have end. But what 
 are we poor men, that God should favour us with such 
 a revelation? Surely we must be accountable: Lord, 
 I bow before thee !" 
 
 "24. Are these things really so, even according to 
 Newton on Daniel, and the Apocalypse, that we are 
 really professing to come, and shall we not come, out 
 of the dreadful apostacy into which the church hath 
 fallen? Shall not I, according to the utmost of my 
 scantling ability, join, with every effort hereunto tend- 
 ing? And shall I not hence be animated to zeal in 
 our peculiar profession, as a people thus called ?" 
 1758. " First month, 1. Newton on Daniel and John has 
 given me a greater veneration for the Scriptures than 
 ever; and, also, conviction of their divine authority: 
 and now the grand impending consequence, which I 
 pray God to fix in my heart, is, to join with the wit- 
 nesses that prophesy in sackcloth, or with Sion in dis- 
 tress." 
 
 "Third month, 20. Adored be the tender, unmerit- 
 ed care of Providence over us unworthy mortals, in 
 leaving us such a description of Babylon as can hardly 
 be mistaken, and warning us to flee from it." 
 
 "Fifth month, 28. Oh, what a pity that so many 
 thousands should be so ignorant and thoughtless of the
 
 (John Butty.) 235 
 
 mysteries of grace displayed in the Apocalypse ! O un- 1758. 
 worthy world !" 
 
 * Eleventh month, 5. A prophecy that God will 1761. 
 raise up prophets and prophetesses, in this city, after 
 great overturnings." 
 
 "First month, 7- Jerom of Prague's prophecy: "A 1762. 
 new people shall be raised up, who shall renounce the 
 glory of the world, and seek after the cultivation of 
 the inward man, and shall have clerks and ministers 
 among themselves, whilst those of human appointment 
 shall gradually consume away like a moth." 
 
 " Eighth month, 11. Oh, the majesty of Christ as 1763. 
 displayed in the first chapter of the Revelation ! John 
 was now quite beyond himself, and his style is altered 
 accordingly; yet, behold the humble epithet he gives 
 of himself, viz. 'Your brother and companion in tri- 
 bulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus 
 Christ:' and truly this epithet is also applicable to the 
 saints of this day; they are also companions in tribu- 
 lation and patience." 
 
 "Fourth month, 18. God is now attacking Babylon 1764. 
 in the sight of all the world, even in the demolition 
 of that main body of her artificers called Jesuits: no 
 small event verily, and what I humbly hope will make 
 way for the introduction of the purity and simplicity 
 of the gospel." 
 
 " Sixth month, 11. A continued stagnation of busi- 1767. 
 ness among our manufacturers from the probability of 
 a want of demand from America : to this add the 
 expulsion of the Jesuits, not from one, but even 
 most states of Europe; and among ourselves the prac- 
 tical atheism of divers, and the prevailing lukewarm- 
 ness of others, notwithstanding repeated remonstrances, 
 and consider whether God is not arising to shake ter- 
 ribly the earth." 
 
 " Seventh month, 5. A prophetic declaration at 
 meeting, that amidst the prevailing spread of carnal
 
 236 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1/67". liberty, a cloud of true witnesses will be raised up. 
 Amen !'"' 
 
 1768. " Eleventh month, 10. Dismal apprehensions about 
 the British colonies j one great source of our riches 
 to be stopped up: and what then? Is it not just with 
 the supreme Disposer, to deprive us of what we abus- 
 ed ? Are we not grown to a most enormous degree 
 of wantonness, luxury, and forgetfulness of God, and, 
 as such, become the proper objects of divine chastise- 
 ment ?" 
 
 1769. " Third month, 26. Viewed our church and our 
 state, and the great ferment in the last, and said, The 
 Lord seeth all this, and we are punished, having not 
 improved his mercies; but he presideth over all these 
 things, and will conduct all to his own glory in the 
 issue." 
 
 " Eighth month, 24. In a silent meeting, a sum- 
 "niary view of the various states of the church in the 
 holy records, even from Genesis to the end of the 
 Revelations, even of various conflicts and revolutions, 
 until the glorious time of the kingdoms of this world 
 becoming the kingdoms of Christ; and' hence an en- 
 couragement under our present mournful state." 
 
 1770. " Seventh month, 2. I find no book so d, propos to 
 the state of the church as the bible, even as affording 
 consolation in times of the greatest distress, in a 
 sweet view of God's special providences in past events, 
 and in the prophecies of the future to the end of the 
 world, and consummation of all things to God's glory." 
 
 "6. Take comfort, O my soul; for the spirit of party 
 in religion is subsiding, and Christ hath assuredly many 
 sheep, not of our fold, The books lately published on 
 the spiritual life are a proof of this, calling for thank- 
 fulness and joy : these, though few in number, in 
 comparison of the multitude of hypocrites and sinners, 
 are truly amiable. May I be their companion now 
 and for ever!"
 
 (John Churchman.) 237 
 
 "Seventh month, 1. Looked into Daniel and the 1771- 
 Revelations with wonder, though many things there 
 are left obscure: but we are unworthy of more light; 
 for indeed we are so little affected by the other clearer 
 evidences of the truth of Christianity, as to render us 
 unworthy of more; and again, had all things been 
 clear, where had been room for faith, and the trial 
 of it ?" 
 
 An Account of the Gospel Labours, and Christian 
 Experiences of a faithful Minister of Christ, JOHN 
 CHURCHMAN, late of Nottingham, in Pennsylvania, 
 deceased. London : Phillips, 1780. 
 
 "SUCH build on a sandy foundation who refuse 1761. 
 
 paying that which is called the provincial or king's 
 tax, only because some others scruple paying it, whom 
 they esteem; yet I have now clearly seen, as well as 
 heretofore, that the testimony of truth, if deeply at- 
 tended to, will not be found to unite with warlike 
 measures, and that it will, in the Lord's time, be 
 exalted above all opposition, and come to possess even 
 
 the gates of its enemies. 1 have clearly seen, and 
 
 the prospect at this time adds divine strength to my 
 soul, that the God of Truth is determined, in due time, 
 to exalt the mountain of his holiness above all the hills 
 of an empty profession ; and all such who shall be ad- 
 mitted as clean inhabitants thereon, he wills them to 
 be quite clean handed; and that they should become 
 subject to the Lamb's nature in every respect, and not 
 shake hands with that nature which would tear and 
 devour, nor in any shape contribute to the price of 
 blood." p. 286. 
 
 " I have beheld the dawning of that precious 
 
 morning, wherein corruption shall be swept away from
 
 238 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 *lL 
 
 Iff 1. the church, and righteousness and truth begin to flour- 
 ish greatly. The day seems to me to be at hand; 
 and what if I say, / have a degree of faith that some 
 of the children now born may live to see it" p. 294. 
 
 " My mind has, for several days, been attended 
 
 with an uncommon sweetness, the like I never knew 
 for so long together; with a succession of soul-melting 
 prospects. I have freedom to relate what I had a 
 sight of this morning before day, as I lay in a sweet 
 slumber ; (which was nearly in these words, viz.) * I 
 thought I saw Noah's ark floating on the deluge, or 
 flood, with Noah and his family in it; arid, looking 
 earnestly at it, I beheld the window of the ark, and 
 saw Noah put out the dove, and I beheld her flying 
 to and fro for some time; but finding no rest for the 
 sole of her foot, I thought she returned, and I saw 
 Noah's hand put forth to take her in again. After 
 some time I thought I beheld her put forth a second 
 time, and a raven with her ; the dove flew as before 
 for some time, and then I saw her return with a green 
 olive leaf in her mouth, as a welcome token of the 
 flood's being abated: I thought I saw also the raven 
 fly, cawking, to and fro, but he did not return; and 
 it came into my mind, this is a ravenous bird, and seeks 
 only for prey to satisfy its own stomach, otherwise he 
 might have returned to the ark with good tidings, or 
 some pleasant token, as well as the dove. Again, 
 after a short space, I thought I beheld the mountain 
 tops, and some of the tree tops, beginning to appear 
 above the waters, and that I could perceive the flood 
 abate very fast ; and as the waters fell away, I saw the 
 trees begin to bud, and a gradual greenness of new 
 leaves come upon them, and I heard the voice of the 
 turtle, and saw many symptoms of a pleasant and happy 
 season approaching, more than I can now relate : and 
 the prospect thereof ravished my soul. I beheld the 
 trees blossoming, the fragrant vallies adorned with grass,
 
 (John Churchman.) 239 
 
 herbs, and pretty flowers, and the pleasant streams 1761. 
 gushing down towards the ocean. Indeed, all nature 
 appeared to have a new dress : the birds were hopping 
 on the boughs of the trees, and chirping ; each, in their 
 own notes, warbled forth the praise of their Creator. 
 And whilst I beheld these things, a saying of the pro- 
 phet was brought fresh in my memory, and appli- 
 cable, as I thought, to the view before me, viz. " The 
 mountains and the hills shall break forth before you 
 into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap 
 their hands. Instead of the thorn shall come up the 
 fir-tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the 
 myrtle-tree : and it shall be to the Lord for a name, 
 for an everlasting sign, that shall not be cut off." See 
 Isaiah, Iv. 12. 13." 
 
 " When I awoke, the prospect remained clear in my 
 mind, and I had a sweet relish, which now continues 
 with mej and the application of the vision seems to 
 me in this manner : the flood which appeared to cover 
 the face of the earth, is the corruption and darkness 
 which is so prevalent over the hearts of mankind ; the 
 ark represents a place of safe, though solitary, refuge, 
 wherein the Almighty preserves his humble attentive 
 people, who, like Noah, are aiming at perfection in 
 their generation. The dove sets forth the innocent, 
 harmless, and loving disposition, which attends the fol- 
 lowers of the Lamb, who are always willing to bring 
 good tidings, when such are to be had. The raven 
 represents a contrary disposition, which reigns in the 
 hearts of the children of disobedience, who chiefly aim 
 at gratifying their own sensual appetites. The waters 
 gradually abating, the trees appearing, and afterwards 
 budding, the voice of the turtle, and the pleasant notes 
 of the birds, all seem clear to me, to presage the ap- 
 proach of that glorious morning, wherein corruption 
 and iniquity shall begin to abate, and be swept away: 
 and then every thing shall appear to have a new dress.
 
 240 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1761. I am fully confirmed in the belief, that that season will 
 approach, which was foretold by the prophet, wherein 
 the glory of the Lord shall cover the earth, as the 
 waters cover the sea ; and in a sense of these things, 
 my soul is overcome. I feel the loving- kindness of 
 -the Lord Almighty, yet waiting for the return of back- 
 sliders with unspeakable mercy; and my soul, in a sense 
 of it, seems bound stronger than ever, in the bonds 
 of a gospel travail; which travail, I hope, will in- 
 crease, and spread amongst the faithful, for the enlarge- 
 ment of the church ; that the nations may flock unto 
 Sion, which shall become an eternal excellency, even 
 the joy of the whole earth." 
 
 . " Again he expressed his having a prospect of the 
 morning, and said, 'The day-star is risen, which pre- 
 sages the approach of the morning : I have seen it in 
 its lustre, and have a lively sense of that saying being 
 again fulfilled in the new creation:' (see Job xxxviii. 
 70 'The morning stars sang together, and the sons of 
 God shouted for joy.' I have heard their sound intelli- 
 gibly, and my heart is comforted therein. The pot- 
 sherds of the earth may clash together for a season; 
 but the Lord in due time will bring about the reform- 
 ation. The predictions of arch-bishop Usher, men- 
 tioned in the preface to Sewell's History* have come 
 fresh in my memory, and nearly correspond with the 
 sense I have, that a sharp and trying dispensation is 
 to come upon the professors of Christianity; wherein 
 the honest and upright-hearted shall be hid, as under 
 the hollow of the Lord's hand, when rents, divisions, 
 and commotions, shall increase among the earthly- 
 minded, and one branch of a family be at strife with 
 another, like the daughter-in-law against the mother- 
 in-law, &c. and happy will it be for those who endea- 
 vour to stand ready for the approach of such a dispen- 
 sation.'" p. 296 300. 
 
 *See Note G.
 
 (Samuel Father gill.) 241 
 
 Extract of a Letter from SAMUEL FOTHERGILL to 
 H. P. MS. 
 
 Eighth month, 16th, 1764. 1764. 
 " THE cause is not ours, it is not of the 
 
 flesh, nor of the will of the flesh, but of God. The 
 longer I live, the clearer I see it ; and it is a testi- 
 mony (the testimony of our Society against war) which 
 will gain ground and spread yet more and more among 
 mankind. I am convinced of it, as a most certain 
 truth ; not only from faith in the progress of the Spirit 
 and Power of our Lord Jesus Christ towards the re- 
 demption of the world, and beautifying the place of his 
 feet, but even from the conversation I have had with 
 some of eminent stations in the world. A person of 
 high distinction as a warrior told me some time ago, 
 that though he was a soldier, no part of our principles 
 was more just, in his apprehension, than our declining 
 war in every respect. He said, that he believed the 
 day would come, when nation should not lift up sword 
 against nation, and when they should not learn war 
 any more.* He remarked, that so mighty a change 
 must be gradually brought about, and that the morning 
 of that glorious day dawned, he believed, among us as 
 a people. Happy are they who abide in their ranks 
 in the Lord's service ! they will mingle at length with 
 the conquerors, and inherit all things 1" 
 
 *See Note H. 
 R
 
 242 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 A Journal of the Life, Gospel Labours, and Christian 
 Experiences of that faithful Minister of Jesus Christ, 
 JOHN WOOLMAX, late of Mount-Holly, in the Province 
 of New- Jersey, North-America. Dublin: Jackson, 1776. 
 
 1764. AT our yearly-meeting at Philadelphia, on the 
 
 twenty-fifth day of the ninth month, 1764, John Smith 
 of Marlborough, aged upwards of eighty years, a faith- 
 ful minister, though not eloquent, stood up in our 
 meeting of ministers and elders, and appearing to be 
 under a great exercise of spirit, informed friends in 
 substance as follows : to wit, f That he had been a 
 member of our society upwards of sixty years, and 
 well remembered that, in those early times, friends were 
 a plain, lowly-minded people, and that there was much 
 tenderness and contrition in their meetings. That at 
 twenty years from that time, the society increasing in 
 wealth, and in some degree conforming to the fashions 
 of the world, true humility was less apparent, and their 
 meetings in general not so lively and edifying. That 
 at the end of forty years, many of them were grown 
 very rich; that wearing of fine costly garments, and 
 using of silver and other watches became customary 
 with them, their sons and their daughters, and many 
 of the society made a specious appearance in the 
 world; which marks of outward wealth and greatness 
 appeared on some in our meetings of ministers and 
 elders; and as these things became more prevalent, so 
 the powerful overshadowings of the Holy Ghost were 
 less manifest in the society. That there had been a 
 continued increase of these ways of life even until 
 now; and that the weakness which hath now over- 
 spread the society, and the barrenness manifest amongst 
 us, is matter of much sorrow/ He then mentioned 
 the uncertainty of his attending these meetings in fu- 
 ture, expecting his dissolution was now near ; and 
 having tenderly expressed his concern for us, signified, 
 that he had seen in the true light, that the Lord would
 
 (John Thorp.) 243 
 
 bring back his people from these things into which 1764. 
 they were thus degenerated, but that his faithful ser- 
 vants must first go through great and heavy exercises 
 therein." p. 172. 
 
 Extract of a Letter from JOHN THORP to Frances 
 Dodson. MS. 
 
 Seventh month, 17th, 1777- 
 
 " ASSUREDLY, my friend, if it would avail 1777. 
 
 any thing to thy comfort, thou art very far from being 
 alone in tribulation: I speak not of outward troubles; 
 
 they, indeed, are light afflictions, and they are 
 
 but for a moment ; but of those which result from 
 
 the spiritual warfare, wherein we wrestle not with flesh 
 and blood only. Our concern, as individuals, is the 
 impending judgments of the Lord on a backsliding ge- 
 neration, and the general state of the churches among 
 ourselves ; wherein the painful prevalence of the nature 
 and spirit of the world, the famine of that word whose 
 entrance giveth life, furnishes abundant cause to the 
 living for mourning, for sackcloth, for unspeakable dis- 
 tress ! Nevertheless we are at seasons favoured to 
 behold, in the vision of divine light, a prospect into 
 better times, wherein the Lord will in mercy turn 
 again our captivity as the streams of the south j times 
 wherein the Lord will more eminently appear to be with 
 us, and the shout of a mighty king be heard among us ; 
 who will again make his angels spirits, and his ministers 
 a flame of fire. Thus is my faith, as an individual, 
 though I trust in concert with many others, strength- 
 ened to believe that the time will come, wherein the 
 gospel shall be preached in all nations with the Holy 
 Ghost sent doM'n from heaven; that from the rising of 
 the sun unto the going down thereof, his name shall 
 be great among the heathen ; and that, in every place,
 
 244 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS- 
 
 1777. incense shall be offered unto his name, and a pure 
 offering. Thus shall the knowledge of the Lord cover 
 the earth ; thus shall the whole earth be filled with his 
 glory ; then shall the morning stars sing together, and 
 all the sons of God shout for joy. Upon the whole, I 
 cannot forbear to add, that I wish myself more worthy 
 of the sufferings of the present day, more worthy to 
 partake the glory that shall follow, and that I were 
 more worthy to express these things in this manner to 
 thee." 
 
 Memoirs of the Life of CATHERINE PHILLIPS. London 
 Phillips and Son, 1797. 
 
 1779. "OH! what frequent occasions have Britons to 
 * praise the Lord for his mercy,' and wonderful inter- 
 ference in their favour! but alas! though in words they 
 acknowledge it, the generality of them are not con- 
 cerned to make those returns which he is calling for; 
 but continue in a course of conduct, and disposition 
 of mind, which dares his righteous judgments : which 
 will one day be poured forth upon the inhabitants of 
 this highly favoured but ungrateful nation, unless they 
 repent and turn from their manifold iniquity." p, 255. 
 
 1780. " I believe there will come a shaking time in 
 
 these favoured nations, wherein the false rest of many 
 will be disturbed, and the judgments of the Lord being 
 in the earth, the inhabitants thereof will learn right- 
 eousness; and many will be gathered from the barren 
 mountains of an empty profession of religion, and the 
 desolate hills of formality, to sit under the teaching of 
 Christ, manifested by his Spirit in their souls, and de- 
 light hi the extendings of the wing of his love and 
 power; whereby they will be solaced, and sheltered in 
 this state of probation, and therefore sing salvation and 
 strength thereto." p. 265.
 
 (Robert Walker.) 245 
 
 The Substance of a Communication made by ROBERT 
 WALKER of Gildersome, in the Monthly Meeting at 
 Brighouse, Wth month 26th, 1781. MS. 
 
 "AFTER he had broken up the meeting, which 1781. 
 
 had been held nearly in silence, he stood up and said, 
 He could not be quite easy to let friends part without 
 expressing unto them what he had seen in that meet-, 
 ing, viz. That he had seen a cloud arise like a mail's 
 hand, which overspread this land, and that all the in- 
 habitants of this land would certainly be tried with 
 greater trials than they ever had been before, but our 
 Society in particular would be sifted as from one sieve 
 to another: and added, I may not live to see it, but 
 there are in this meeting, at this time, that will live 
 to see it." 
 
 " He concluded with a short and living exhortation 
 to the people in general, but more particularly to the 
 visited of the Lord, to stand prepared, as with their 
 loins girt, and with their staves in their hands." 
 
 Some Expressions of ROBERT WALKER, at Netherdale 
 Meeting, in Yorkshire, 1783. MS. 
 
 " WHEN my head," said he, <f is laid in the silent 1783. 
 grave, the LORD will visit this nation in a very extra- 
 ordinary manner, and greater manifestations and dis- 
 coveries will be made in the Christian religion,* than 
 have ever been before; but a blasting, trying time will 
 first come, to try the foundations of many : but those 
 who have witnessed a change and renovation of heart, 
 will be preserved from falling, as on the right hand 
 and on the left/' 
 
 " A very solemn silence covered the meeting after 
 he sat down until its conclusion." 
 
 See Note I.
 
 246 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 A Journal of the Life, Travels, and Gospel Labours, 
 of that faithful Servant, and Minister of Christ, 
 JOB SCOTT. Warrington : W. Leicester, 1798. 
 
 1778 ' (t THE Lord, who is ever attentive to the good 
 
 of souls and the exaltation of his kingdom, is on his 
 way, and truth will more fully break forth; right- 
 eousness will come into dominion ; the mountain of the 
 Lord's house will surely he established above all the 
 other mountains ; but many of the called, through 
 want of faithful attention to the call, may never become 
 the chosen, and so never come forth valiantly in the 
 testimony, nor stand immoveable, nor triumph victo- 
 riously, in the Lamb's warfare." p. 51 
 
 1786. "Attended the quarterly meeting, where my 
 
 mind was favoured in testimony to the glorious gospel 
 of Christ, as effectually witnessed in and by many in 
 our own and our fore-fathers' days ; and which, as I be- 
 lieve, will yet more abundantly be witnessed among 
 the nations; for I do believe the Lord is arising to 
 shake terribly the earth, and that multitudes will be 
 brought to the inward knowledge of this glorious truth, 
 ' Christ in you, the hope of glory.' ' p. 1 12. 
 
 " Third-day, the 26th, we had a good meeting 
 
 at Springfield ; fourth-day, the 27th, another at 
 
 Middleton precious also, especially the last, where- 
 in truth rose into dominion, and its doctrines were 
 livingly and largely opened; a sifting time spoken of 
 
 better days or more reformed to succeed and 
 
 a more general spreading of the truth among the na- 
 tions." p. 141. 
 
 1793. " My mind has been deeply affected under some 
 
 serious considerations of the state of things in the world, 
 and particularly in this nation [England]. What a 
 number of men are there who assume the station of 
 gospel ministers; and, under that pretence, drain and 
 even violently force away large sums of money,
 
 (Job Scott.) 247 
 
 which they do very little to earn! Even if it were 1793. 
 right to preach for hire, and if Christ's true ministers ' 
 could freely and righteously receive money for their 
 ministry (which they by no means can) yet to see a set 
 of almost idle drones living on the honest labours of \ 
 the industrious, as great numbers of the upper clergy 
 do, whilst they not only thus oppress many poor laymen 
 as they choose to call them, but also press down to 
 a very low price and poor living, even many of the ' 
 lower clergy who do the work for them, as if a minis- 
 ter of Jesus could have his work done and his ministry 
 performed faithfully in the sight of God, by hiring an- 
 other to preach for him, while themselves live in \ 
 
 luxury and at ease, in their ceiled houses, and but - 
 seldom visit their flock; the prospect of these things 
 is deeply affecting." 
 
 " Oh ! most assuredly the land mourns, and God ; 
 is angry because of these things, and in some way I 
 or other he will arise and shake the earth, and also 
 
 this false heaven this vain and oppressive minis- ! ] 
 
 try; and rend the power from the idle, lordly clergy. 
 But whatever be the means, so that it is in the pure 
 counsel of God, my very soul breathes to the Almighty, '. 
 that he may, in the way of his own good pleasure, 
 hasten the downfal even of Protestant Babylon; rend 
 the power of the idle, useless clergy, and thus eman- 
 cipate the people from the bondage and oppression they 
 groan under, that the earth may enjoy her sabbaths 
 again. But how these deeply to be pitied, these too 
 worthless, too worldly, and too cruel pretenders to 
 the ministry of the gospel of Christ ; or how those ci- 
 vil rulers, who, to answer the purposes of aggrandize- 
 ment and power, support them, will be able to settle 
 their accounts in the great day of the Lord, the solemn 
 settlement of all things, is a consideration truly awful! " 
 
 " If these hints are ever published, let not delicacy 
 prevail to affect any unnecessary mitigation of the
 
 248 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1/93. (close expressions in which they are couched. It is 
 itime these deceivers of men, these dark bodies, who 
 jform an eclipse between God and the souls of men, 
 1 should hear and seriously hearken to the voice of 
 plain, honest, and undisguised truth. And whether 
 they will hearken and hear, yea or nay, let them be 
 assured God is arising 1 , and will shake and remove 
 them out of the way; and their domination shall be 
 remembered with abhorrence!" p. 243. 
 
 " We had a large meeting at Oxford, silent for 
 
 a considerable time; but truth gradually arose, and 
 light shined through and over great obscurity and hir 
 sensibility. Oh ! the deadness of professors ! Oh ! the 
 flat formality that too generally reigns ! The English 
 episcopal hierarchy must and will be shaken ! f Yet 
 once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven,' 
 One stone must not be left upon another, of mere 
 creaturely performances, where God is known to be ' all 
 in all,' and so he is known, where Christ has reigned 
 in the heart, until he has 'put down all rule and all 
 authority/ but that of the pure truth; for this is the 
 state in which is fulfilled the precious prediction and 
 promise, * that the Lord alone shall be exalted in that 
 day; and that the professors of Christianity may be sha- 
 ken from their dead forms and lifeless images, and 
 come to know 'that day/ and therein God's exaltation 
 over all that is of man, is the travail and prayer of 
 my soul to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus 
 Christ. And, O my God, if it be thy will, I pray 
 thee, hasten the more general coming and knowledge 
 of that day among the nations. Amen." p. 247. 
 " What dreadful wars have raged, through 
 almost all ages and nations' What rivers of blood 
 have human beings drawn from human beings ! and 
 what havoc are men still making of human lives, 
 who say they are Christians ! At this very day (oh, 
 pad to mention) . are France and England, and diver
 
 (Job Scott.) 249 
 
 other European nations embroiled in cruel wars! 1793. 
 Will the state of mankind never be meliorated ! Will 
 the sword devour for ever, and the glorious and be- 
 nign influence of the gospel, by the wrath of men for 
 ever be defeated ! Forbid it, gracious heaven ! Indeed, 
 I firmly believe, the time will yet come, when ' nation 
 shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall 
 they learn war any more.' Oh, blessed day ! Oh, pre- 
 cious state of peace, harmony, and happiness! My 
 spirit breathes unto God that he may arise and hasten 
 this great work of reformation on the earth; that the 
 kingdoms of this world may become the kingdom of 
 God, and of his Christ. Amen, saith my soul." p. 
 258. 
 
 " My very soul is grieved within me when I 
 
 view the fallen state of poor degenerated Christians, 
 and, above all, the dead, dark, and carnal-minded state 
 of the clergy, so called; like swarms of locusts they 
 darken the air, and in many places eat up almost every 
 green thing. Instead of turning the people to God, 
 they bring them under the administration of the letter 
 that kills, and thus the spiritual freshness or greenness, 
 begotten of God at times by his Holy Spirit in some, is 
 as it were eaten out. But God Almighty will sweep 
 them from the face of the earth. The time assuredly 
 cometh when great Babylon's merchandize and traffic 
 shall fail, and when her flesh shall be burnt with fire. 
 The Lord of hosts hath spoken it." 
 
 " The testimony at Athy was much by way of open- 
 ing the deceits, worldly-mindedness, and want of real 
 gospel qualification, in those hireling teachers, who, if 
 ever such in any age existed, are the ' blind leaders of 
 the blind/ And I am persuaded that no class of men in 
 these nations do more to obstruct the true work of the 
 gospel, and the coming of Christ's kingdom on earth 
 as in heaven, than these ; but I repeat it again, God 
 will do them away ! For false religion and worship
 
 250 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 J793. shall be shaken as well as earthly-mindedness and cor- 
 rupt government, in order to make way for that which 
 cannot be shaken, the work of God's Holy Spirit in 
 men's hearts, and that worship and religion which the 
 holy operation thereof enables man to persevere in to 
 his own unshaken peace, and the exaltation of the 
 divine glory." p. 259. 
 
 " At the present day things are considerably 
 
 ripening, and I have not the least doubt that, before 
 a great while, a high way will be opened through 
 kingdoms and nations, where darkness has long reign- 
 ed, for the publication of the everlasting gospel in its 
 true life and authority; and as what is revealed in the 
 ear, is in due time to be declared on the house-top, I 
 have little or no doubt that the true doctrine of Christ 
 will be much better understood, than has hitherto been 
 generally the case." p. 272. 
 
 The Substance of a Discourse which was delivered by 
 JOB SCOTT, in a Friend's family at Witney, at the 
 time of the Quarterly Meeting there, in the fourth 
 month) 1793, in the presence of several Friends. MS. 
 
 1793. " HE signified that, since his arrival in England, 
 nothing had more clearly impressed his mind, than a 
 sense that religion was at a very low ebb among the 
 professors of it; that he had not often, indeed but very 
 seldom, had any thing to hint in a prophetic line; but 
 that he did believe the time was near at hand, when 
 there would be a great shaking in this land in a reli- 
 gious respect; that the Babylon or hierarchy would fall 
 or be brought down; that the testimonies of truth had 
 not been supported by its professors, but had been suf- 
 fered to fall, or the standard of it lowered. That he 
 could see no prospect of friends being preserved from 
 the general confusion, but by the youth of the present
 
 (Job Scott.} 
 
 day giving up to service, and the more advanced in 1793. 
 life to example and encourage them therein; for that 
 the time was coming, when they, who had no sword, 
 should sell their coat and huy one; and that the plow- 
 shares must be beaten into swords, and the pruning- 
 
 hooks into spears ; the instruments of gain must 
 
 be laid aside, in order spiritually to prepare for war. 
 That it would become the duty of many to go forth 
 girded to proclaim it, and not to spare; for that it 
 must go even unto blood. That if friends kept their 
 places, and fulfilled their duties, there would be a 
 great gathering and flocking to Zion, whose cords 
 would be lengthened, and her stakes strengthened." 
 
 
 A Discourse delivered by JOB SCOTT, at the close of the 
 
 Yearly Meeting in London, 1/93. MS. 
 
 
 
 " I HAVE felt a little matter attend my mind during 1793. 
 several sittings of this meeting; and although some 
 part of it may appear to be rather of a delicate nature, 
 yet I think it right for me to communicate it. I be- 
 lieved, before the commencement of the present trou- 
 bles, that there would be commotions and overturnings 
 with rumours of wars, which I believe will not yet 
 be over, but will continue, and this land will have its 
 share." 
 
 "I have believed, and, for some of the latter years 
 of my life, I have been more and more convinced, 
 that Mystery Babylon, the Mother of Harlots, who 
 has made the nations and people drunk with the cup 
 of her fornication, would be destroyed ; and that those, 
 who have drunk of her cup, and partaken of her plea- 
 sures, would be made to partake of her plagues. Her 
 abominations have been, and are, supported by the na- 
 tions, and upheld by the civil powers among all people ; 
 and as they have assisted in supporting her, so it is
 
 252 PREMONITORY EXTRACTS. 
 
 1793. more than probable, that in her downfal they will be 
 shaken. All societies have partaken of her cup, some 
 in a greater and some in a lesser degree, but the Lord 
 is casting up a highway for his redeemed to pass 
 through." 
 
 " I desire that our Society may come out of her mix- 
 tures, and remain on that foundation, which cannot 
 be shaken. For the day is coming when all her works 
 and all her abominations, all those forms of religion 
 which are out of the life, will be cast as a mill-stone 
 into the depths of the sea, never more to rise. Aston- 
 ishment will surprise the people at her fall, for there 
 will be great commotions and overturnings in the na- 
 tions : then, wars and rumours of wars will be heard. 
 I earnestly desire that we may not go forth to look, or 
 wonder at her fall, but remain still in our habitations. 
 Go not out to meddle, nor give away your strength; 
 make not conjectures concerning it, or the various 
 commotions which may take place while the potsherds 
 of the earth dash one against another; for the Lord 
 is sufficient to carry on his own work, and will bring 
 it about without your interposition: nor yet make it 
 the subject of your conversation, but dwell deep in 
 that Power, which, as with an Almighty Arm, will de- 
 liver his people." 
 -ii -m>f Wi'rf hrtkl *iifl fowl t oi;flir:zoo MY/ tridf ^70 M
 
 APPENDIX.
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 rrjijJue ^rti'/oi ii;o to vn/tift 10 noUquriOD -Jill ol 
 A Proclamation of King WILLIAM, dated the 24th of 
 February, 1697. 
 
 " NOTHING can prove a greater dishonour to 
 a well-ordered government, where the Christian faith 
 is professed, nor is likelier to provoke God to with- 
 draw his mercy and blessings from us, and instead 
 thereof, to inflict heavy and severe judgments upon 
 this kingdom, than the open and avowed practice of 
 vice, immorality, and profaneness, which amongst 
 men has too much prevailed in this our kingdom of 
 late years, to the high displeasure of Almighty God, 
 the great scandal of Christianity, and the ill and fatal 
 example of the rest of our loving subjects, who have 
 been soberly educated, and whose inclinations would 
 lead them to the exercise of piety and virtue, did they 
 not daily find such frequent and repeated instances of 
 dissolute living, profaneness, and impiety," &c. 
 
 A Proclamation of Queen ANNE, for tlie encouragement 
 of Piety and Virtue, and for the preventing and 
 punishing of Vice, Profaneness, and Immorality : 
 dated the 26 day of March, 1702, in the first year 
 of her reign. 
 
 
 
 " WE most seriously and religiously considering, 
 that it is an indispensable duty on us, to be careful,
 
 256 APPENDIX. 
 
 above all other things, to preserve and advance the 
 honour and service of Almighty God, and to dis- 
 courage and suppress all vice, profaneness, debauch- 
 ery, and immorality; which are so highly displeasing 
 to God, so great a reproach to our religion and 
 government, and (by means of the frequent ill exam- 
 ples of the practisers thereof) hath so fatal a tendency 
 to the corruption of many of our loving subjects, 
 otherwise religiously and virtuously disposed, and which 
 (if not timely remedied) may justly draw down the 
 divine vengeance upon us, and our kingdoms,*" &c. 
 
 A Proclamation of the present King, GEORGE III, for 
 the Encouragement of Piety and Virtue, and for 
 preventing and punishing of Vice, Profaneness, and 
 Immorality : dated the first day of June, 1787> in 
 the twenty-seventh year of his reign. 
 
 " WHEREAS \ve cannot but observe, with inex- 
 pressible concern, the rapid progress of impiety and 
 licentiousness, and that deluge of profaneness, im- 
 morality, and every kind of vice, which, to the scan- 
 dal of our holy religion, and to the evil example of 
 our loving subjects, hath broken in upon this nation; 
 We therefore, esteeming it our indispensable duty to 
 exert the authority committed to us for the suppression 
 of these spreading evils, fearing lest that they should 
 provoke God's wrath and indignation against us, and 
 humbly acknowledging that we cannot expect the 
 blessing and goodness of Almighty God (by whom 
 kings reign, and on which we entirely rely) to make 
 our reign happy and prosperous to ourself and our 
 people, without a religious observance of God's holy 
 r-'.r !<.. ',''. l*off! M // "' 
 
 *See Note K.
 
 (Archdeacon Hook.) 257 
 
 laws: to the intent that religion, piety, and good man- 
 ners, may (according to our most hearty desire) flour- 
 ish and increase under our administration and govern- 
 ment, have thought fit by the advice of our Privy 
 Council, to issue this our royal Proclamation," &c. 
 
 A Charge delivered to the Clergy of the Archdeaconry 
 of Huntingdon, at the Primary Visitation in the 
 year 1815. By the REV. JAMES HOOK, L. L. D. 
 F. R. S. S. A. Archdeacon of Huntingdon, fyc. 
 London: Rivingtons, 1816. 
 
 " WE have lived in times, distinguished from 
 
 all others by the confusions and calamities, by the 
 wars, bloodshed, and revolutions, which Almighty 
 God hath permitted to be inflicted upon an apostate 
 world. These, in magnitude, extent, and duration, are, 
 I believe, unparalleled! Reverses, as you well know, 
 the most stupendous; downfals, the most precipitate, 
 have baffled all human foresight, all political sagacity; 
 and, in the unfathomable designs of the Almighty, 
 have levelled folly and wisdom ! Wild passions, and 
 perverted opinions, and sensual indulgence, have been 
 the precursors and concomitants of these mighty move- 
 ments. The minds of men have become self-willed, 
 and fierce, and zealous to trample upon those sanc- 
 tions, which in better times were the cement of all 
 that is dear and valuable in life. In opinions both 
 moral and religious, * the foundations of the great 
 deep' seem to have been l broken up/ and the true 
 representation, perhaps, of these events, is to be found 
 in the record, which proclaims, ' that the earth is 
 corrupt before God, that the earth is filled with vio- 
 lence.' " p. 1. 2. 
 
 " Certain, it is, my Reverend Brethren, that
 
 258 APPENDIX. 
 
 from the causes I have assigned, and from various cir- 
 cumstances of the awful times upon which we are 
 thrown, an unchristianlike lawlessness has pervaded all 
 ranks amongst us, producing a contempt of duty, of 
 order, and of that restraint, which religion imposes 
 upon the passions of men. Sound principles are in a 
 state of relaxation and decline, at a time, when they 
 should be most vigorous. The wreck, which philoso- 
 phical indifference, infidel scorn, political faction, and 
 luxurious indulgence have left, fanaticism and Antino- 
 mianism have occupied; so that of all the valuable 
 principle, which, through the medium of an Aposto- 
 lical Church,* united, in the best ages of our country, 
 the sanctions of conscience, to the integrity of faith, 
 it may almost be said * that, which the palmer worm 
 hath left, hath the locust eaten; and that which the 
 locust hath left, hath the canker worm eaten; and 
 that which the canker worm hath left, hath the cater- 
 pillar eaten !f Joel i. 4." p. 25. 26. 
 
 BISHOP BURNETT'S History of His Own Time. London: 
 1734. 
 
 " I HAVE always had a true zeal for the 
 
 Church of England; I have lived in its communion 
 with great joy, and have pursued its true interests 
 with an unfeigned affection : yet I must say there are 
 many things in it, that have been very uneasy to me. 
 The requiring subscriptions to the thirty-nine articles 
 is a great imposition : The greater part subscribe 
 without ever examining them; and others do it be- 
 cause they must do it, though they can hardly satisfy 
 their consciences about some things in them." vol. 2. 
 p. 634. 
 
 '.i; -Tattf j*> - tS iwwn * --'in T $i t8tT>3 *' ' 
 
 *See Note L. -fSee Note M.
 
 (Bishop Bumet.) 259 
 
 " I do not enter into the scandalous practices 
 
 of non-residence and pluralities, which are sheltered 
 by so many colours of law among us; whereas the 
 Church of Rome, from whence we had those and 
 many other abuses, has freed herself from this, under 
 which we still labour, to our great and just reproach. 
 This is so shameful a profanation of Holy Things, that 
 it ought to be treated with detestation and horror. Do 
 such men think on the vows, they made on their or- 
 dination; on the rules in the Scriptures, or on the 
 nature of their function, or that it is a care of souls ? 
 How long, how long shall this be the peculiar dis- 
 grace of our Church, which, for ought I know, is the 
 only church in the world that tolerates it." vol. 2. 
 p. 646. 
 
 " I have lamented, during my whole life, 
 
 that I saw so little true zeal among our Clergy. I 
 saw much of it in the Clergy of the Church of Rome, 
 though it is both ill directed and ill conducted. I saw 
 much zeal likewise throughout the foreign churches: 
 the Dissenters have a great deal among them: but I 
 must own, that the main body of our Clergy has al- 
 ways appeared dead and lifeless* to me; and, instead 
 of animating one another, they seem rather to lay 
 one another asleep." vol. 2. p. 638. 
 
 " I say it with great regret, I have observed 
 
 the Clergy in all the places through which I have tra- 
 velled, Papists, Lutherans, Calvinists, and Dissenters; 
 but of them all our Clergy is much the most remiss 
 in their labours in private, and the least severe in 
 their lives. Unless a better spirit possesses the Clergy, 
 arguments, and, which is more, laws and authority, 
 will not prove strong enough to preserve the church." 
 vol. 2. p. 641. 
 " As for the Ecclesiastical jurisdiction, it has 
 
 *See Note N.
 
 260 APPENDIX. 
 
 been the burden of my life to see how it was adminis- 
 tered : our Courts are managed under the rules of the 
 Canon Law,* dilatory and expensive; and as their con- 
 stitution is bad, so the business in them is small : and 
 therefore all possible contrivances are used, to make 
 the most of those causes that come before them; so 
 that they are universally dreaded and hated." vol. 2. 
 p. 634. 
 
 " The Law of England is the greatest griev- 
 ance of the nation, very expensive and dilatory: there 
 is no end of suits, especially when they are brought 
 into chancery." vol. 2. p. 658. 
 
 " As long as elections are set to sale, so long 
 
 we are under a disease in our vitals, that if it be not 
 remedied in time, must ruin us at last, and end in a 
 change of government; and what that may be, God 
 only knows. All laws that can be made, will prove 
 ineffectual to cure so great an evil, till there comes 
 to be a change and reformation of morals in the na- 
 tion: we see former laws are evaded, and so will all 
 the laws that can be made, till the candidates and 
 electors both become men of another temper and 
 other principles, than appear now among them." vol. 
 2. p. 656. 
 
 A Discourse of the Pastoral Care. Written by the 
 Right Rev. Father in God, GILBEHT BURNET, D. D. 
 Bishop of Sarum. Twelfth Edition. London : Baynes, 
 1805. [First Published in 1692.] 
 
 " I AM now in the seventieth year of my age, 
 
 and as I cannot speak long to the world in any sort, 
 so I cannot hope for a more solemn occasion than this 
 of speaking with all due freedom both to the present 
 
 *See Note 0.
 
 (Bishop Burnet.) 261 
 
 and to the succeeding ages. Therefore I lay hold on 
 it to give a free vent to those sad thoughts that lie 
 on my mind both day and night, and are the subject 
 of many secret mournings. I dare appeal to that God 
 to whom the secrets of my heart are known, and to 
 whom I am shortly to give an account of my ministry, 
 that I have the true interests of this church ever before 
 my eyes, and that I pursue them with a sincere and 
 fervent zeal : if I am mistaken in the methods I follow, 
 God, to whom the integrity of my heart is known, 
 will not lay that to my charge. I cannot look on, 
 without the deepest concern, when I see imminent ruin 
 hanging over this church, and by consequence over 
 the whole Reformation. The outward state of things 
 is black enough, God knows ; but that which heightens 
 my fears rises chiefly from the inward state into which 
 we are unhappily fallen. I will, in examining this, 
 confine myself to that which is the subject of the fol- 
 lowing book ; I mean the clergy." 
 
 " Our ember weeks are the burden and grief of my 
 life. The much greater part of those who come to 
 be ordained are ignorant to a degree, not to be appre- 
 hended by those who are not obliged to know it. The 
 easiest part of knowledge is that to which they are the 
 greatest strangers, I mean the plainest parts of the 
 scriptures, which they say, in excuse of their igno- 
 rance, that their tutors in the universities never men- 
 tion the reading of to them;* so that they can give 
 no account, or at least a very imperfect one, of the 
 contents even of the gospels. Those who have read 
 some few books, yet never seem to have read the scrip- 
 tures. Many cannot give a tolerable account even of 
 the catechism itself, how short and plain soever. They 
 cry, and think it a sad disgrace to be denied orders, 
 though the ignorance of some is such that in a well- 
 
 *See Note P.
 
 262 APPENDIX. 
 
 regulated state of things, they would appear not know- 
 ing enough to be admitted to the holy sacrament." 
 
 "This does often tear my heart. The case is not 
 much better in many, who having got into orders, come 
 for institution, and cannot make it appear that they 
 have read the scriptures or any one good book since 
 they were ordained, so that the small measure of know- 
 ledge upon which they got into holy orders not being 
 improved, is in a way to be quite lost; and then they 
 think it a great hardship if they are told, they must 
 know the scriptures and the body of divinity better, 
 before they can be trusted with a care of souls. These 
 things pierce one's soul, and make me often cry out, 
 Oh that I had wings like a dove, tor then would I fly 
 away and be at rest ! What are we like to grow to ? 
 In what a case are we, to deal with any adversary, 
 Atheist, Papist, or Dissenters, or in any sort to promote 
 the honour of God, and carry on the great concerns 
 of the gospel, when so gross an ignorance in the funda- 
 mentals of religion has spread itself so much among 
 those who ought to teach others, and yet need that 
 one teach them the first principles of the oracles of 
 God." Preface, p. iv. vi. 
 
 rr " In this critical state of things, we ought not 
 only to look at the instruments of the calamities that 
 have fallen so heavily on so many Protestant churches, 
 and of the dangers that hang over the rest; but we 
 ought chiefly to look up to that God, who seems to be 
 prpvoked at the whole Reformation, because they have 
 not walked suitably to the light that they have so long 
 enjoyed, and the blessings which had been so long 
 continued to them, but have corrupted their ways be- 
 fore him. They have lost the power of religion, whilst 
 they have seemed to magnify the form of it, and have 
 been zealous for opinions and customs; and therefore 
 God has in his wrath, taken even that form from them, 
 find has loathed their solemn assemblies, and brought
 
 (Bishop Burnet.) 263 
 
 them under a famine of the word of the Lord, which 
 they had so much despised. While these things are so, 
 and while we find that we ourselves are as a brand 
 plucked out of the fire, which may be thrown back 
 into it again, if we are not alarmed by the just, but 
 unsearchable judgments of God, which have wasted 
 other churches so terribly, while they have only frighted 
 us, what is more evident than that the present state 
 of things, and the signs of the times, call aloud upon 
 the whole nation to bring forth fruits meet for repent- 
 ance, since the axe is laid to the root of the tree ? 
 And as this indeed concerns the body of the nation, so 
 we, who are the priests and ministers of the Lord, are 
 under more particular obligations, first to look into our 
 own ways, and to reform whatsoever is amiss among 
 us ; and then to be intercessors for the people com- 
 mitted to our charge ; to be mourning for their sins, 
 and by our secret fastings and prayers, to be standing 
 in those breaches, which our crying abominations have 
 made ; and so to be averting those judgments which 
 may be ready to break in upon us ; and chiefly to be 
 lifting up our voices like trumpets, to shew our people 
 their transgressions. To be giving them faithful warn- 
 ing, from which we may expect this blessed success^ 
 that we may at least gain upon such a number, that 
 for their sakes, God, who will not slay the righteous 
 with the wicked, may be yet intreated for our sins; 
 and that the judgments which hang over us, being 
 quite dissipated, his gospel, together with peace and 
 plenty, may still dwell among us, and may shine from 
 us, with happy influences to all the ends of the earth. 
 And even such pastors as shall faithfully do their duty, 
 but without any success, may depend upon this, that 
 they shall save their own souls ; and shall have a dis- 
 tinguished fate, if we should happen to fall under a 
 common calamity; they having on them not only the 
 mark of mourners and intercessors, but of faithful shep-
 
 254 APPENDIX. 
 
 herds : whereas if an overflowing scourge should break 
 in upon us, we have all possible reason, both from the 
 judgments of God, and the present situation of affairs, 
 to believe that it will begin at the sanctuary; at those 
 who have profaned the holy things, and have made 
 the daily sacrifice to be loathed/' Preface, p. xxxi. 
 xxxiii. 
 
 " It is not our boasting that the church of 
 
 England is the best reformed, and the best constituted 
 church in the world, that will signify much to con- 
 vince others: we are too much parties to be believed 
 in our own cause. There was a generation of men 
 that cried, 'The temple of the Lord, The temple of 
 the Lord,' as loud as we can cry, 'The church of 
 England, The church of England,' when yet by their 
 sins they were pulling it down, and kindling that fire 
 which consumed it, It will have a better grace to 
 gee others boast of our church from what they observe 
 in us, than for us to be crying it up with our words, 
 when our deeds do decry it." Preface, p. xxxviii. 
 
 " Instead then of any historical deduction of 
 
 these matters, I shall content myself with giving the 
 sense of two of the Fathers of the Greek Church, and 
 one of the Latin, upon this whole business, of the 
 obligations of the Clergy. The first is Gregory of Na- 
 zienzen whose father ordained him a Presbyter, not- 
 withstanding all his humble intercessions to the contrary, 
 according to the custom of the best men of that age, 
 who instead of pressing into orders, or aspiring to 
 them, fled from them, excused themselves, and judging 
 themselves unworthy of so holy a character and so 
 high a trust, were not without difficulty prevailed on 
 to submit to that, which in degenerate ages men run 
 to as to a subsistence, or the means of procuring it, 
 and seem to have no other sense of that sacred insti- 
 tution, than mechanics have of obtaining their freedom 
 in that trade or company in which they have passed
 
 (Bishop Burnet.) 263 
 
 their apprenticeship. It were indeed happy for the 
 church, if those who offer themselves to orders, had 
 but such a sense of them as tradesmen have of their 
 freedom : who do not pretend to it till they have finished 
 the time prescribed, and are in some sort qualified 
 to set up in it : whereas, alas ! men who neither know 
 the scriptures, nor the body of divinity, who have made 
 no progress in their studies, and can give no tolerable 
 account of that holy doctrine, in which they desire to 
 be teachers, do yet, with equal degrees of confidence 
 and importunity, pretend to this character, and find 
 the way to it too easy, and the access to it too free." 
 p. 77, 78. 
 
 " The first question that is put in the office 
 
 of deacons, is, Do you trust that you are inwardly 
 moved by the Holy Ghost to take upon you this office, 
 to serve God for the promoting of his glory, and the 
 edifying of his people ? To which he is to answer, 
 J trust so. This is put only in this office, and not 
 repeated afterwards, it being justly supposed that where 
 one has had this motion, all the other orders may be 
 in time conferred pursuant to it; but this is the first 
 step by which a man dedicates himself to the service 
 of God, and therefore it ought not to be made by any 
 that has not this divine vocation. Certainly the answer 
 that is made to this ought to be well considered; for 
 if any says, I trust so, that yet knows nothing of any 
 such motion, and can give no account of it, he lies 
 to the Holy Ghost, and makes his first approach to 
 the altar with a lie in his mouth, and that not to 
 men, but to God: and how can one expect to be 
 received by God, or be sent and sealed by him, that 
 dares do a thing of so crying a nature, as to pretend 
 that he trusts he has this motion, who knows that 
 he has it not, who has made no reflections on it, and 
 when asked what he means by it, can say nothing 
 concerning it, and yet he dares venture to come and
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 say it before God and his church ? If a man pretends 
 a commission from a prince, or indeed from any per- 
 son, and acts in his name upon it, the law will fall 
 on him, and punish him; and shall the great God of 
 heaven and earth be thus vouched, and his motions 
 be pretended to, by those whom he has neither called 
 or sent? And shall not he reckon with those who 
 dare to run without his mission, pretending that they 
 trust they have it, when perhaps they understand not 
 the importance of it; nay, and perhaps some laugh 
 at it, as an enthusiastical question, who yet will go 
 through with the office? They come to Christ for 
 the loaves; they hope to live by the altar and the 
 gospel, how little soever they serve at the one, or 
 preach the other; therefore they will say any thing 
 that is necessary for qualifying them to this, whether 
 true or false." p* 111, 112. 
 
 " There is indeed one of my motives [for pub- 
 lishing this work] that I have not yet mentioned, and 
 on which I cannot enlarge so fully as I well might. 
 But while we have such an invaluable and unexam- 
 pled blessing, in the persons of those princes [William 
 and Mary] whom God has set over us ; if all the consi-^ 
 derations which arise out of the deliverances that God 
 has given us by their means, of the protection we enjoy 
 under them, and of the great hopes we have of them; 
 if, I say, all this does not oblige us, to set about the 
 reforming of every thing that may be amiss or defective 
 among us, to study much, and to labour hard; to 
 lead strict and exemplary lives, and so to stop the 
 mouths, and overcome the prejudices, of all that divide 
 from us; this will make us look like a nation cast off' 
 and forsaken of God y which is nigh unto cursing*, and 
 whose end is burning. We have reason to conclude, 
 
 that OUR PRESENT BLESSINGS ARE THE LAST ESSAYS OP 
 GOD'S GOODNESS TO US, AND THAT IF WE BRING FORTH 
 NO FRUIT UNDER THESE, THE NEXT SENTENCE SHALL BE,
 
 (David Simpson, A. M.) 267 
 
 CUT IT DOWN, WHY CUMBERETH IT THE 
 GROUND." p 204. 
 
 A Plea for Religion and the Sacred Writings, addressed 
 to the Disciples of Thomas Paine, and Wavering 
 Christians of every Persuasion. By the late REV. 
 DAVID SIMPSON, A. M. Third Edition, London: 
 Conder, 1804. 
 
 " WE are continually hearing of the rapid 
 
 spread of Infidelity. The Bishops of London and Dur- 
 ham, in their late excellent Charges, are loud in their 
 complaints. But what appears surprising to me, is, 
 that they and others should speak so strongly of the 
 overthrow of Christianity in France. By their leave, 
 and with all due submission, it is not Christianity which 
 has experienced a subversion there : is it the doctrine 
 of Antichrist; and its subversion will ultimately prove 
 one of the greatest blessings GOD could bestow upon 
 the nations.* But who is to blame for the spread of 
 Infidelity ? The Bishops and Clergy of the land, more 
 than any other people in it. We, as a body of men, 
 are almost solely and exclusively culpable. Our neg- 
 ligence, luke-warmness, worldly-mindedness, and im- 
 morality will ruin the whole country. And when the 
 judgments of GOD come upon the land, they will fall 
 peculiarly heavy upon the heads of our order of men. 
 
 Nothing can save us, unless we turn over a new 
 
 leaf, and become alive to the interests not of the 
 Church as a secular institution but to the interests 
 of pure, disinterested, evangelical religion." p. 75, 76. 
 
 " The increase of Dissenters, and the alarming 
 
 spread of Methodism,^ are both entirely owing to the 
 
 *See Note Q. -fSee Note R. .
 
 268 APPENDIX. 
 
 luke-warmness,' or negligence, or disorderly conduct, 
 or bigotry, or persecuting spirit of the Clergy in the 
 Establishment. And there is no way under heaven of 
 preventing the most mischievous consequences, but by 
 adopting new measures, reforming what is amiss, and 
 out-preaching, out-labouring, and out-living all our 
 opposers." p. 80. 
 
 " We must either simplify and evangelize our 
 
 ecclesiastical constitutions, or they must fall. I speak 
 this, not from any personal pique or disappointment, 
 not from a love of novelty and change, but upon the 
 authority of the Prophetic Scriptures with a view 
 to the near completion of the 1260 mystical years 
 and from a solemn and awful contemplation of the re- 
 volutions which are so rapidly taking place all through 
 Europe. England may, and I trust, will be protected 
 by DIVINE PROVIDENCE for a time; the iniquity of the 
 Amorites may not yet be full." p. 81. 
 
 " If any person will seriously consider the low 
 
 and superstitious state of the minds of men in general, 
 in the time of JAMES I, much more in the reigns of 
 his predecessors, he will not be surprised to find, that 
 there are various matters in our ecclesiastical constitu- 
 tion, which require some alteration. Our forefathers 
 did great things, and we cannot be sufficiently thank- 
 ful for their labours; but much more remains to be 
 done; and it will be found a task of no ordinary diffi- 
 culty, peaceably) and quietly to reduce things to a 
 pure evangelical state. This never can be done, indeed, 
 but by a strong concurrence of providential circum- 
 stances. The approbation of his Majesty, with a ma- 
 jority in the two Houses of Parliament, might easily 
 effect every thing that is desirable. This would render 
 a reformation practicable, without danger to the Throne. 
 But it should seem, that, with danger, or without dan- 
 ger, the prophecies of DANIEL being true, such a 
 change must take place sooner or later." p. 137.
 
 (David Simpson, A.M.) 269 
 
 " As things now are in this country, the reli- 
 gion of JESUS CHRIST, which was not only not to be 
 of this world, but in direct opposition to it, is certainly 
 in a great degree a temporal, worldly, civil institu- 
 tion. At least it is a strange mixture of things secular 
 and religious. It is nearly as much so as it is in the 
 Catholic countries." 
 
 " As the law now stands, the King is ab- i 
 
 solute Head of the Church, and the fountain of all 
 ecclesiastical power; but, so far as the patronage of 
 benefices* goes, this is more nominal than real; for, 
 in truth, there are as many heads as there are patrons 
 of livings. A drunken, swearing, libertine Lord Chan- 
 celfor, who is living in open fornication or adultery, 
 contrary to every law human and divine, if such chance 
 to be his character, as sometimes is the case, has the 
 appointment to a large number of livings. A corrupt, 
 vile, unbelieving, immoral, wicked Minister of State, 
 if such happens to be his character, has the nomi- 
 nation to abundance of others. A Roman Catholic or 
 some of the most immoral of the Nobility or Gentry 
 of the land, very frequently have the patronage of 
 others. In not a few instances, Ladies have the pre- 
 sentation to church preferments. These are all virtu- 
 ally and substantially so many Heads of the Churchy 
 while the King or Queen is only nominally and par- 
 tially so. This is surely a lamentable state of things. 
 Can any man wonder at the spread of infidelity and 
 irreligion 3 Can we justly expect other than the 
 downfal of such a system of corrupt, worldly policy ? 
 It is well known how harsh and disagreeable these 
 melancholy truths will sound in the ears of interested 
 men, and men who swallow every thing as gospel 
 to which they have been long accustomed ; but I affirm 
 it with all possible seriousness, again and again, that 
 
 *See Note S.
 
 270 O APPENDIX. 
 
 as I understand the Scriptures, a radical reform, and 
 the removal of all these secular circumstances alone, 
 can save us, for any length of time) from national 
 distress. I refer our Bishops and beg they will 
 seriously consider the awful declaration to Daniel ii. 
 35 44. Is not the time for its accomplishment fast 
 approaching and near at hand ?" 
 
 " The Bishops of the Establishment are, con- 
 trary to all ancient usage, chosen by the civil power, 
 the Clergy and People over whom they are to pre- 
 side, not having the least negative upon their election. 
 When they are chosen too, they take their seats in 
 the upper house of Parliament, and act in most re- 
 spects like unto the temporal Lords : I will not say 
 that this may not be good human policy, supposing 
 the kingdom of CHRIST to be a mere worldly sovereignty ; 
 but it appears, to me utterly inconsistent with the spi- 
 rituality of our SAVIOUR'S empire, and has had for 
 many ages a most unhappy effect upon the interests 
 of his religion in the world. Their emoluments are 
 of such a nature, their worldly engagements so nu- 
 merous, and the temptations to the pleasures, honours, 
 and amusements of life so strong, that their minds 
 become secularized, and they lose all lively relish 
 for the peculiar duties of ministers of the Gospel ; 
 which they, therefore, very generally commit to the 
 inferior orders of the Clergy. They are nearly as much 
 officers of the crown as the Judges and Magistrates 
 of the land. They are chosen by the civil power, they 
 are virtually paid by the civil power, they are amen- 
 able to the civil power alone, the clergy and people 
 not possessing the least controul. And then as to 
 the titles, by which they are designated, they appear 
 to carry the most indisputable marks of the anti- 
 christian apostasy.: His GRACE THE MOST REVEREND 
 FATHER IN GOD, WILLIAM, BY DIVINE PROVIDENCE 
 LORD ARCH- BISHOP OF CANTERBURY! THE RIGHT
 
 (David Simpson, A. M.) 2/1 
 
 REVEREND FATHER IN GOD, JOHN, BY DIVINE PER- 
 MISSION, LORD BISHOP OF LONDON ! What is there 
 in the titles of the Pope of Rome, that is more mag- 
 nificent than the sound of these words ! How unlike 
 is all this to the spirit of the Gospel, and the character 
 and conduct of the lowly SAVIOUR of mankind ? Mat. 
 xi. 28 30; xxiii. 1 12. How much calculated are 
 such high sounding titles to swell the pride of frail 
 mortals ! Popes, and Bishojis, and Parsons, are made 
 of like stuff with other men !"* 
 
 "And then, what shall we say to the secular, and 
 luke-warm condition of the generality of the Clergy 
 of the land ? to the patronage of benefices before 
 mentioned ? to the common and abominable sale of 
 livings ? to our simoniacal contracts ? our sinecures, 
 pluralities, non-residencies? to our declaring we are 
 moved by the HOLY GHOST to preach the Gospel, when 
 we are moved by nothing more than a desire to obtain 
 a good living, and, perhaps, even deny that there is 
 any HOLY GHOST? to our reading one species of doc- 
 trines in the desk, and preaching directly opposite in 
 the pulpit ?" 
 
 " Abundance of persons, moreover, object to several 
 things in the thirty-nine Articles of Religion to seve- 
 ral things in the book of Homilies and, above all, 
 to the imposition of subscription to any human creeds 
 and explications of doctrines whatever. No man, or 
 set of men upon earth, as it seems to them, has a fl 
 right to demand any such thing of a fellow Christian." Ax*v/ 
 
 " Can any thing in the whole absurd system of 
 Popery be more improper, than to make every young 
 man, without exception, subscribe, when he becomes 
 a member of either of our English universities, he be- 
 lieves from his soul, ex animo, that every thing con- 
 tained in the Articles, Homilies, Common Prayer, and 
 
 *See Note T.
 
 272 APPENDIX. 
 
 offices of Ordination, is agreeable to the Ward of GOD? 
 when in all ordinary cases, he has never seriously and 
 attentively read either one or another of them? How 
 is it likely, that a hoy, raw from school, should be 
 competent to such a task ? And if he is to subscribe 
 upon the faith of others, on the same principle he 
 may subscribe to the Mass-book, the Koran, or any 
 other book whatever." 
 
 " Moreover, there are not a few persons again, 
 
 who object to some things in the Baptismal Office 
 in the office of Confirmation in the office for the 
 Sick in the Communion office in the Ordination 
 office in the Burial office in the Common Prayer 
 in the Litany in Athanasius's creed in the Calendar 
 
 in our Cathedral worship in our Spiritual courts 
 
 in the management of our Briefs in the Test and 
 Corporation Acts in our Tithe laws/* 
 
 " There are some again, who earnestly de- 
 plore our total want of discipline, and our incomplete 
 toleration that our church holds out other terms of 
 communion than the Scripture hath enjoined &c. &c," 
 p. 139. 148. 
 
 "I, for one, give up all these abuses [mono- 
 polies of livings, non-residence, &c.] as indefensible. 
 Every man of common sense and observation, whose 
 eyes are not blinded by prejudice, and whose mind 
 is not closed by sinful habit and self-interest, must see 
 that they are wrong. But, be it remembered, that 
 whatever means DIVINE PROVIDENCE may use to cor- 
 rect them for corrected in due time they must be, 
 the Gospel of CHRIST is not to be blamed for 
 them. It gives them no countenance ; it predicts their 
 rise, their continuance, their downfal: and it denoun- 
 ces nothing less than the most extreme condemnation 
 against all those who pervert the Divine Ordinances 
 to secular and self-interested purposes. It is neither 
 Emperors, nor Kings, nor Popes, nor Archbishops,
 
 (David Simpson, A. M.) 273 
 
 nor Bishops, nor Clergymen of any inferior descrip- 
 tion, that shall escape the just sentence of the uni- 
 versal JUDGE." p. 78. 
 
 " I have no pleasure in exposing the naked- 
 ness of the established religion of my country, or in 
 exciting against myself the indignation of my clerical 
 brethren ; but the times are alarming ; the great 
 HEAD of the church is evidently displeased with us; 
 and there is now no mincing the matter any longer. 
 We ought to examine the ground upon which we 
 stand. If it is in any respect found untenable, we 
 should change our measures; follow the determina- 
 tions of HEAVEN ; and by complying with its high 
 behests, put ourselves under his guardian care. If 
 without looking forward, or giving ourselves any con- 
 cern what is right or what is wrong, we are deter- 
 mined to defend, through thick and thin, whatever 
 in former ages has received the sanction of law, and, 
 in our own day, the force of custom, we must take 
 the consequences. We shall, most assuredly, in due 
 time, share in the general wreck of the nations. I 
 have no more doubt of this, than I have of the autho- 
 rity of the Sacred Writings." p. 89. 
 
 " { But, is there no possibility of preventing, 
 
 or avoiding, the universal subversion awaiting both 
 us and all the other kingdoms of Europe, which con^ 
 stituted parts of the ancient empire?' 
 
 " There seems to be one way, and but one, in the 
 nature of things. And what may that be ? I am 
 sorry to say it is one which is by no means Hkely to 
 take place. It is a thorough reformation both in theory 
 and practice; in church and state; a general reform- 
 ation in the moral and religious conduct of the inha- 
 bitants of this country. For these purposes, must not 
 religion be reduced to gospel purity and simplicity? 
 must not the Church be totally unconnected with, and
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 J separate from, the Civil Constitution}* This is the 
 opinion of some respectable men. Must not our 
 Bishops and Clergy be reduced to the scriptural stand- 
 ard? JESUS CHRIST left sole king in his own church? 
 and human ordinances in things sacred, give way 
 to divine prescriptions ? Without these great moral 
 and religious changes, can we expect to be preserved 
 from the general wreck of Europe ? and whether these 
 changes are likely to take place among us, let any 
 
 " *It should seem that the civil part of the British 
 constitution is also capable of considerable improvement. 
 Every thing of both kinds, however, might easily be ac- 
 complished by the enlightened endeavours of our present 
 legislature. Do not the criminal laws of the country like- 
 wise stand in need of revisal? Let any man judge of the 
 truth of this, when it is considered that we have upwards 
 of 160 offences punishable with death." 
 
 "The jurisprudence also of the country seems to want 
 reform in a variety of respects. + The court of chancery 
 in particular is enormously tedious and expensive. Do not 
 other departments of the law too need much reform? In 
 the county of Middlesex alone, in the year 1793, the num- 
 ber of bailable writs, and executions for debts from ten 
 to twenty pounds, amounted to no less than 5,712, and 
 the aggregate amount of the debts sued for, to ^81,791. 
 The costs of these actions, although made up, and not 
 defended at all, would amount to ^68,728. And, if defend- 
 ed, the aggregate expense to recover ^8 1,791, must be no 
 less than j285,920 ; being considerably more than three 
 times #e amount of the debts sued for or defended. At 
 present the rule is, to allow the same costs for 40s. as for 
 ^10,000. Why are these abuses permitted to continue ? 
 Is not the case but too clear ? In short, the whole head 
 is sick, and the whole heart faint; from the sole of the 
 foot even unto the head there is no soundness among us." 
 
 f See Note U.
 
 (David Simpson, A. M.) 275 
 
 cool and impartial observer judge* Should not our 
 learned Bishops and Clergy see these things, and zeal- 
 ously attempt a reformation in themselves, in the ec- 
 clesiastical part of the constitution of the country, and 
 among the great body of the people ? Should they 
 not universally cry aloud and not spare; and sound 
 the trumpet in God's holy mountain ? Should we not 
 all set ourselves in good earnest to stem the torrent 
 of iniquity, which overflows these happy lands, and 
 threatens to involve us in one general calamity? The 
 time is come. God hath sent forth the sword among 
 the nations, and it is REFORMATION or RUINATION. 
 Without this, it may be declared by the authority of 
 the Word of the LORD, that as soon as ever the pre- 
 dicted 1260 years are accomplished, we shall be swept 
 with the besom of destruction" p. 130 133. 
 
 " We may look at the neighbouring nations, 
 
 and learn, at their expense, what our own fate will 
 assuredly ere long be. Who is so blind ? Who is so 
 ignorant ? Who is so selfish and secure ? Who is so 
 unread in history? W T ho is so unacquainted with the 
 prophecies, as not to see, that the salvation of Europe 
 is suspended on its wisdom, in correcting what is amiss 
 in its morals, and unevangelical in its ecclesiastical 
 constitutions?" p. 314. 
 
 " The ingratitude and rebellion of the country 
 
 against the laws of the DIVINE BEING must terminate 
 in our severe chastisement. The wickedness of the in- 
 habitants is inconceivably great. Compare the lives 
 of the Clergy the Lawyers and Attornies the Me- 
 dical class the Soldiery the Sailor s\ the Common 
 people with the Gospel of JESUS CHRIST, and how 
 alarming the contrast ! The Nobles and Gentry of the 
 land, with some few exceptions, are become incura- 
 bly immoral, as well as irreligious. The trading part 
 
 *See Note X. f See Note Y.
 
 276 APPENDIX. 
 
 of the nation are all set upon their gain. Serious, uni- 
 form, and conscientious godliness, is only found among 
 a few solitary individuals. The sabbath-day is fashion- 
 ably, and very generally, prostituted to secular pur- 
 poses. The public worship of ALMIGHTY GOD is griev- 
 ously neglected by all ranks of men. The Sacrament 
 of the LORD'S Supper is very thinly attended, and this 
 only occasionally, and not as a serious duty and 
 privilege. In short, the signs of the times are such 
 as to give the most serious apprehension to every well- 
 wisher to his King and Country" p. 223. 
 
 "The French themselves, at this moment, though 
 
 ready to overturn heaven and earth to banish the SA- 
 VIOUR out of the world he created by his power, 
 redeemed by his blood, and governs by his wisdom, 
 are but tools in his hand, to bring forward his designs; 
 to purge the Gospel of its contracted impurities: to 
 manifest to mankind the truth of the prophetic Scrip- 
 tures-, to punish the kingdoms for their abominations; 
 to rouse them from their long sleep of guilty security; 
 to remove all the rubbish of superstition and human 
 ordinances, out of the way; and to bring in the reign 
 of universal righteousness, when contending nations 
 shall learn war no more. Much is to be done, and 
 they are suitable instruments, admirably adapted to 
 answer these purposes of DIVINE PROVIDENCE. They 
 are made with this view. A virtuous nation would 
 not be fit for the business. In the mean time there 
 is great reason to apprehend, there will be no small 
 degree of human misery throughout the several coun- 
 tries professing Christianity, before these halcyon days 
 come forward." 
 
 " It is a melancholy circumstance, that before the 
 present French war broke out, there were fought, in 
 little more than a century, an hundred bloody battles 
 by land, besides what were fought by sea, between the 
 several Christian governments of Europe. This state
 
 (David Simpson, A. M.) 2/7 
 
 of things is awful. It is the pouring out of the vials 
 of GOD'S wrath upon the churches. The time, how- 
 ever, is fast approaching, when these miseries shall have 
 an end. The Beast shall be destroyed, and his domi- 
 nion taken away. The several kingdoms which have 
 supported him shall be overturned. False, superstitious, 
 and idolatrous doctrines, rites, and ceremonies, shall 
 all be swept off", and the pure, simple, unadulterated 
 Gospel of JESUS shall spring up. The present bloody 
 war is of GOD.* The French are GOD'S rod, to scourge 
 the nations of Europe for their unchristian abominations. 
 They are GOD'S besom, and intended to sweep the 
 Christian church of its filth, and nonsense, and super- 
 stition, and idolatry. It is true they have no such in- 
 tention. They mean no good to the Gospel. But when 
 the LORD has accomplished his whole work upon the 
 corrupt Christian nations and churches, then he will 
 lay them aside, cause the indignation to cease, and pure 
 and undefined religion shall spring up." p. 161, 162. 
 
 " As to myself, I am thoroughly satisfied with 
 
 that GOD, that REDEEMER, and that SANCTIFIER which 
 the Christian Scriptures hold out to the view and ac- 
 ceptance of mankind. I am perfectly pleased with those 
 Scriptures, and with all the divine dispensations therein 
 recorded. Our GOD hath done, is doing, and will do 
 all things well. It is altogether fit he should govern 
 his own world, and bow the rebellious nations to his 
 sway. The present degenerate state of Christendom is 
 too disgraceful to his government, to be permitted to 
 continue beyond the predicted period. He will, there- 
 fore, arise and plead his own cause, and all the wicked- 
 ness of men, and the convulsions and distress of nations, 
 shall wind up to his eternal credit. The LOB D is 
 King, be the people never so impatient; he sitteth be- 
 tween the Cherubim, be the earth never so unquiet. His 
 
 *See Note Z.
 
 278 APPENDIX. 
 
 Gospel is no other than the plan devised by infinite 
 wisdom for the melioration of mankind. The immortal 
 seed is sown ; the principle of life has vegetated ; the 
 little leaven is diffusing itself far and wide. Much 
 has been done ; much is doing ; much shall be done. 
 Millions of reasonable creatures have already found 
 eternal rest in consequence of the REDEEMER'S dying 
 love : multitudes of souls at this moment are happy 
 in their own bosoms under a sense of the divine fa- 
 vour ; and innumerable myriads of men shall arise, 
 believing in his name, trusting in his mediation, and 
 rejoicing in his salvation, maugre all the opposition 
 of fallen Christians and apostate spirits. Wise and 
 gracious is the DIVINE BEING in all his ways, and I 
 rejoice that he is the GOVERNOR among the people. 
 To his service I avowedly devote my feeble powers, 
 as long as he shall vouchsafe me the exercise of them ; 
 nor will I cease to speak the honours of his MAJESTY, 
 while the breath continues to actuate this mortal frame." 
 p. 309 312. 
 
 Miscellaneous Tracts, By RICHARD WATSON, D. D. 
 F. R. S. Lord Bishop of Landaff. London: Cadell 
 and Davies, 1815. 
 
 THE apprehensions of the wisest and best 
 
 amongst the Clergy upon this occasion [subscription 
 to established articles of faith] have no respect to self; 
 they are altogether of a public nature, and grounded 
 upon a maxim, which has been sanctified by the expe- 
 rience of ages. That all innovations are dangerous. 
 True; they are not only dangerous to, but in their 
 full extent destructive of, the Establishments they are 
 designed to amend. It was the innovating spirit of 
 Christ and his Apostles, which overthrew the Jewish
 
 (Bishop Watson.) 2/9 
 
 polity, demolished the altars of paganism, and turned 
 the world upside down. It was the innovating spirit 
 of our ancestors, which extorted Magna Cliarta from 
 King John, plucked the triple crown from the head of 
 the pope, and wrested an arbitrary sceptre from the 
 hands of a Stuart. The innovations introduced into 
 our religious Establishment at the Reformation, and 
 into our civil Constitution at the Revolution, were great 
 and glorious, for those times: but some further inno- 
 vations are yet wanting (would to God they may be 
 quietly made !) to bring them both to perfection." vol. 
 2. p.'lG, 17. 
 
 " The doctrines of our Articles no longer influ- 
 ence any part of our Clergy, either in their belief or 
 their composition, farther than as each individual finds 
 them conformable to his own interpretation of scrip- 
 ture. Many look upon them as obsolete, and the sub- 
 scription to them as a matter of form." vol. 2. p. 19. 
 
 "With respect to the second question 'Do the 
 
 Articles of the Church of England want a revisal?' 
 Undoubtedly. In speaking thus explicitly, I cannot 
 be supposed to deliver any thing but my private opi- 
 nion, and that subject to the correction of wiser heads 
 and future information ; but it is my opinion at present." 
 " What should you think of a Comment an- 
 nexed, about two hundred years ago, by a learned man 
 or two, to particular passages of a book printed from 
 the worst manuscripts, written in a strange language, 
 and in a style wholly different from that which prevails 
 in Europe, containing in every page references to an- 
 cient history, allusions to the religious rites, to the cus- 
 toms and manners, of a particular people ? You would 
 not, I am convinced, suppose, that this comment could 
 receive no amendment from emendations of the text 
 itself, no illustration from a more intimate acquaintance 
 with the style of the original, no lights from the labour 
 of learning employed for above two centuries in study-
 
 280 APPENDIX. 
 
 ing the history of this people, nor from the observations 
 of travellers upon their manners. And when you were 
 further told, that the contents of this book had for 
 many ages been gutted and garbled by a crafty priest- 
 hood, in support of the idolatrous superstitions and 
 astonishing corruptions of a particular church ; and 
 that these commentators, though not under the imme- 
 diate apprehension of being cast into the fiery furnace, 
 if they did not fall down and worship the image which 
 this church had set up, yet had their minds enslaved 
 by a sanctimonious reverence for the idol of their an- 
 cestors ; you would think a review of what they had 
 written still more expedient." vol. 2. p. 25 2/. 
 
 " If there is one Spiritual Lord in the present 
 
 Parliament, who thinks that no reformation is wanted, 
 who believes that every thing in our Liturgy and Arti- 
 cles is agreeable to the Word of God, and calculated 
 to promote Christian edification amongst the thinking 
 part of the laity assembled in our churches; let all 
 thoughts of innovation be laid aside, even for that one's 
 sake. Let the laity still continue to think of religion 
 with disgust, to speak of it with contempt; let them 
 still mistake for the beautiful and unadorned figure of 
 genuine Christianity, a motley monster of bigotry and 
 superstition, a scarecrow of shreds and patches, dressed 
 up of old by philosophers and popes, to amuse the spe- 
 culative and to affright the ignorant ; but which is now 
 become a butt of scorn, against which every unfledged 
 witling of the age essays his wanton efforts, and before 
 lie has learned his catechism, is fixed an infidel for 
 life. This, I am persuaded, is too frequently the case; 
 for I have had too frequent opportunities to observe it. 
 I have ever heard the scoffs of unbelievers directed 
 against the trappings of religion, against the meretri- 
 cious ornaments, by which the collusion of priests, and 
 the insanity of enthusiasts, have polluted the chastity 
 and simplicity of our faith. Give us for our belief,
 
 (Bishop Watson.) 281 
 
 Christianity as delivered in the Word of God : give us 
 for our spiritual edification, an Established Church, in 
 which there is nothing to affront the first suggestions 
 of common sense. Expunge from the Ritual of our 
 worship, the absurd pretensions of the Church of Rome, 
 and thereby spare the blushes of every minister in our 
 own : let us not be more tenacious of the despondent 
 doctrines of Calvin, than the Church of Geneva itself." 
 vol.2, p. 49, 50. 
 
 " Whatever truth then there may be in the 
 
 proposition, which asserts, that the multitude is fond 
 of innovation (and I do not deny that there is some 
 truth in it, for we know that the multitude can on 
 some occasions see what is right) I think that the pro- 
 position, which asserts that the priesthood is averse 
 from reformation, is far more generally true. Who 
 was it that crucified the Saviour of the world, for 
 attempting to reform the religion of his country ? The 
 Jewish priesthood. Who was it that drowned the 
 altars of their idols with the blood of Christians, for 
 attempting to abolish Paganism? The Pagan priest- 
 hood Who was it that persecuted to flames and death 
 those who, in the time of Wickliffe and his followers, 
 laboured to reform the errors of Popery? The Popish 
 priesthood. Who was it, and who is it, that, both in 
 
 England and Ireland, since the Reformation but 
 
 I check my hand, being unwilling to reflect upon the 
 dead, or to exasperate the living, whom would to God 
 I could conciliate (I say not to any opinion of mine, 
 for that might be construed an arrogant expectation, 
 but) to a charitable temper of mind towards those 
 who differ from them, and to a dispassionate consider- 
 ation of the subjects concerning which they differ !" 
 vol.2, p. 6'2 64. 
 
 " I will produce two quotations, from two dif- 
 ferent authors, not with a view of either defending or 
 finding fault with the justness of their observations,
 
 282 APPENDIX. 
 
 but simply to shew, that the opinion which I have 
 taken the liberty to advance that the Athanasian 
 doctrine of the Trinity has contributed to the increase 
 of Deism is not advanced merely to support an ar- 
 gument, but on solid grounds. JPhitby, whose piety 
 and learning are above all question, in his Last 
 Thoughts writes thus ' This doctrine, that the Father, 
 Son, and Holy Ghost, are of one and the same indi- 
 vidual and numerical essence, seems to burlesque the 
 Holy Scriptures, or give them an uncouth and absurd 
 sense, from the beginning of the Gospel to the end 
 of the Epistles.' Now, if the Athanasian doctrine of 
 the Trinity burlesques and renders absurd the Holy 
 Scriptures from the beginning of the Gospel to the 
 end of the Epistles, I know not how it can be ex- 
 pected, that any man of common sense, who looks no 
 farther than to his Liturgy for his faith, and there are 
 many such, can escape the infection of infidelity. I 
 take the other quotation from a book published in the 
 course of the last year, entitled, ' Observations upon 
 the Liturgy; with a Proposal for its Reform, &c. by 
 a Layman of the Church of England, late an Under 
 Secretary of state.' I have thought it reasonable to 
 produce the opinion of this gentleman, in preference 
 to that of many others which might have been pro- 
 duced, not only out of the respect which is due to 
 his good intentions; but from thinking, that the tes- 
 timony of a man who professes himself a friend to 
 the Established Religion, and who from his situation 
 must have mixed much with the world, would, as to 
 the point for which I quote it, be of as much im- 
 portance as that of any other man. f The Athanasian 
 Creed is represented and defended as so literally copied 
 from the Evangelists and Apostles, that whosoever re- 
 fuses his assent to every tittle of it, is considered as 
 a disbeliever of Christ's Divinity, and a denier of the 
 three distinctions in the Divine Nature in which we
 
 (Bishop Watson.) 283 
 
 are commanded to be baptised: And what is still more 
 to be lamented, many who go to that creed to learn 
 Christianity, as conceiving it to be nothing but what 
 all Christians must and do believe, come away shocked 
 or confounded, and in compliment to their own reason, 
 or to preserve it, enlist under the banners of deism; 
 insomuch, that I really believe that creed has made 
 more deists than all the writings of all the oppugners 
 of Christianity, since it was first unfortunately adopted 
 in our liturgy.' " vol. 2. p. 79 82. 
 
 " A man (nobody now certainly knows \vho he 
 
 was, or when he lived) of like passions, prejudices, and 
 infirmities with the rest of his species, has had the 
 presumption to declare, that everlasting punishment 
 will be the lot of all those who do not believe a doc- 
 trine, and his exposition of that doctrine, which, if 
 revealed at all in Scripture, is confessedly above human 
 comprehension, and incapable of explanation. It is 
 trifling to say that the damnatory clauses are not parts 
 of the Creed, and declare nothing more than the opi- 
 nion of the composer, for they extend from the begin- 
 ning to the end of the creed, and denounce damnation 
 against all who do not believe every part of it." 
 
 " Whosoever will be saved : before all things it 
 
 is necessary that he hold the catholic faith. Which faith, 
 except every one do keep whole and unde filed: without 
 doubt he shall perish everlastingly. And the catholic 
 faith is this: that we worship one God in Trinity, and 
 Trinity in Unity. Shew me, thou that judgest another 
 man's servant so harshly, thou that boldly sayest with- 
 out doubt he shall perish everlastingly, shew me in 
 what part of the Bible, men are commanded to wor- 
 ship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity the 
 
 sanction is dreadful, the law should be plain produce 
 the passage itself, and presume not by inference and 
 argumentation, by metaphysical notions, scholastic dis- 
 tinctions, and unscriptural phraseology, to damn with-
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 out doubt all men, for not believing as thou believest. 
 I know that the Divine displeasure is, in many places, 
 denounced against those who reject the Gospel, when 
 it has been offered to them; but I deny that it is in 
 any one place denounced against those, who do not 
 worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity, nei- 
 ther confounding the persons nor dividing the substance."* 
 
 " Gracious God ! whence is it that men are so 
 
 little conscious of the imperfection of human know- 
 ledge in all sciences; of the utter impotency of hu- 
 man reason in whatever respects Deity; of the falli- 
 bility of human judgment in every thing; that they 
 have so little humility as men, so little charity as 
 Christians, as not to blush at erecting their interpret- 
 ation of Scripture, into an idol, which all men must 
 either worship, or perish without doubt everlastingly! 
 That there are several Gospel truths in the Creed of 
 St. Athanasius is not denied; but it is argued, though 
 every particular of the Creed could be proved from 
 Scripture to the satisfaction of every Christian in the 
 world, except one, that all the Christians in the world 
 would err against Gospel charity, in adjudging, with- 
 out any doubt, that one to everlasting damnation, for 
 not believing as they believe." vol. 2. p. 106 113. 
 
 " I beg the reader to remark, that the general 
 
 excellency of our Liturgy is not here either denied or 
 questioned; a review of it is the only thing contended 
 for. A great many learned men, both in the last cen- 
 tury and in -this,f have justly spoken of the Liturgy 
 in terms of commendation; and some have spoken of 
 it in such an extravagant style of panegyric, as can- 
 not with propriety, I had almost said, as cannot with- 
 out impiety, be applied to any human composition. 
 Notwithstanding this, I know of no period of church 
 history, from the beginning of the Reformation to the 
 
 ' ^^vilAt^m^d' ,aof^si^^:inr : n^ 
 
 *See Note A a. fSee Note Bb.
 
 (Bishop Watson.) 285 
 
 present time, in which objections of weight have not 
 been made to various parts of it, by men of probity 
 and competent knowledge of the subject, and more 
 particularly, since the last establishment of the Liturgy 
 in 1661. There have frequently arisen (not Puritans 
 or Dissenters of any kind) but men nursed up in the 
 bosom of the church,* who have not scrupled to 
 maintain, that a revisal both of the worship and doc- 
 trines of the Liturgy, and of the Articles of Religion, 
 would tend to the ease of men's consciences, to the 
 furtherance of piety and good morals, to the reputa- 
 tion of the church, and the purity of religion. To 
 speak of such men as of prodigies in the moral world, 
 who are to be noticed for their singularity rather than 
 revered for their integrity; to represent them as ano- 
 malous and eccentric characters; to charge them with 
 being enemies to all establishments, or to that of the 
 Church of England; as being destitute of justice and 
 honour, in endeavouring to amend an establishment, 
 
 which they receive wages for defending what is 
 
 all this ? It is loving darkness rather than light) it is 
 damping the spirit of enquiry, it is conducting con- 
 troversy in a manner, neither calculated to increase 
 the moderation of the church, or to promote the in- 
 vestigation of truth." vol. 2. p. 132 134. 
 
 "The most leading feature of my humble opi- 
 nion is that every obstruction to a free and impartial 
 examination of the word of God, should be removed 
 from the minds of all men, and especially from the 
 minds of the clergy. They are now bound to sub- 
 scribe Articles of Religion,f and to declare that every 
 thing contained in the Book of Common-Prayer is 
 agreeable to the Word of God, at an age when, it 
 may reasonably be presumed, few of them have an 
 accurate knowledge of what the Word of God is, in 
 
 *Sec Note Cc. +See Note Dd.
 
 286 APPENDIX. 
 
 many important points. A prejudice in favour of par- 
 ticular doctrines is, by these means, unwarily planted 
 in their minds, it grows with their growth, it chokes 
 that freedom of understanding which can alone pro- 
 duce truth, and overpowers in a thousand instances 
 their utmost endeavours to root it out. And when it 
 is further considered, that the religious opinions which 
 were thus at first imbibed, are through life strength- 
 ened by a prospect of emolument held out to those 
 who adhere to them; and that a profession of other 
 opinions is attended with danger to a man's fortunes, 
 and with disgrace to his reputation, I cannot see how 
 it can properly be expected that any, except a few 
 anomalous and eccentric characters should have courage 
 to examine the ground on which their faith is built." 
 vol. 2. p. 139, 140. 
 
 1 Swear not at all? containing an Exposure of the 
 JVeedlessness and Mischievousness, as well as Anti- 
 Christianity, of the Ceremony of an Oath : a View 
 of the Parliamentary Recognition of its needlessness, 
 implied in the practice of Both Houses : and an In- 
 dication of the unexceptionable securities, by which 
 whatsoever practical good purposes the ceremony has 
 been employed to serve would be more effectually pro- 
 vided for. Together with Proof of the open and per- 
 severing contempt of moral and religious principle^ 
 perpetuated by it, and rendered universal, in the two 
 Church of England Universities; more especially in. 
 the University of Oxford. Pre-detached from an In- 
 troduction to the Rationale of Evidence. By JEREMY 
 BENTHAM, Esq. formerly of Queen's College, Oxford, 
 A.M. London: Sold by R. Hunter, St. Paul's. 
 Church-yard, 1817-
 
 (Jeremy Bentham.) 287 
 
 " IT is not without that extreme reluctance, 
 
 of which the causes may, without much difficulty, 
 be imagined, that the necessity is here yielded to of 
 adding University Oaths: English University-Statute- 
 enforcing oaths." 
 
 " When the question has been concerning a Maho- 
 metan, a Hindoo, a Chinese, or even a Christian, if 
 a Catholic, great doubts have been entertained, by 
 pious and learned Church of England men lawyers 
 and non-lawyers concerning the degree of bind- 
 ing force, which, in any such heterodox bosom, ought 
 to be ascribed to the ceremony of an oath." 
 
 " But, in the case of one of the two English Uni- 
 versities, thence in the case of about one half of 
 the English Church of England clergy, the right 
 reverend prelates not excluded, if conduct be any 
 proof of opinion, no room can be found for doubt. 
 Ask what regard ? answer, Not a particle. Ask 
 what binding force ? answer, None whatever." 
 
 " In the University of Oxford, on the admission of 
 every member, an oath is administered to him, by 
 which, without exception, 'all the statutes, privileges, 
 and customs of the University,' and for aught appears, 
 present and future, cognoscible and uncognoscible, are 
 promised by him to be observed.*" 
 
 " Of this treasure of antique wisdom, part polish- 
 ed, part recast, part originally cast nobody knows in 
 what proportions by the hand of Laud, so much 
 as is contained in about 261 closely printed latin pages, 
 and which makes but a part, nor that a determinate 
 one, of the whole body, is at the same time put into 
 the young man's hand : what else there may be of 
 it remaining locked up in the archives, invisible to 
 
 *Page 261. " The oath at the matriculation of a scholar. 
 Tu fidem dabis ad observandum omnia statuta, pririlegia, et 
 consuetudiues hujus Universitatis Oxon. Ita Deus te aclju- 
 vet, tactis Sacro-Sanctis Christ! Evangeliis."
 
 288 APPENDIX. 
 
 every eye but to those of the members of the govern- 
 ing aristocracy the heads of houses." 
 
 "Amongst the provisions in these statutes are to be 
 found articles in no small abundance, which, to every 
 member without exception, are objects of continual, 
 notorious, and open violation. Every member vio- 
 lates them himself, every member sees them continually 
 
 violated by every other." p. 11, 12. 
 
 
 
 " APPENDIX." 
 
 " IN page 54, in speaking of the rulers of the 
 
 University of Oxford, mention being made of a docu- 
 ment, in and by which the guilt of perjury is in an 
 especial manner declared to attach, upon every person 
 who shall comport himself in the manner therein, de- 
 scribed; the same being a manner, in which to his 
 own knowledge and in the sight of the whole popu- 
 lation of that city and its University, every such per- 
 son does continually comport himself; an extract is 
 thereupon announced, as intended to be here subjoined, 
 for the purpose of bringing to view the contents of 
 that document, in so far as material to the present 
 purpose. In the original, the following are the terms 
 of it : annext to it is a translation, in the penning of 
 which, polish being considered as falsification, the 
 most scrupulous fidelity has been observed. Misrepre- 
 sentation pro tanto would have been the result, if, 
 any where, in place of that which is, any thing, of 
 which it were supposed that it might better have been, 
 had been subsituted. N. B. Of this document a 
 copy is contained in every edition of that extract from 
 the body of the University Statutes which is put into 
 the hands of ever} 7 member at his entrance." 
 
 EIIINOMI2, APPENDIX TO THE LAWS, 
 
 " Seu Explanatio Jura- " Or Explanation of the
 
 (Jeremy Bent ham.) 
 
 289 
 
 menti quod de observandis 
 Statutis Universitatis a sin- 
 gulis prasstari solet : quate- 
 nus, scilicet, seu quousque 
 obligare jurantes censen- 
 dum est." p. 86. 
 
 " Magistratibus de- 
 
 nique, prout major eis de- 
 betur reverentia, quam ut 
 poenis passim intentatis co- 
 erceri ipsos et in ordinem 
 cogi par sit, ita major con- 
 sdentice obligatio incumbit; 
 utpote qui non solum ea 
 quas sui muneris sunt fide- 
 liter administrare ; verum 
 etiam, ut alii onmes suis of- 
 ficiis fungantur, sedulo cu- 
 rare tenentur. Neque ta- 
 men eos ubicunque officiis 
 suis defuerint, perjurii pro- 
 tenus se obligare intendi- 
 tur. Verum quoniam ip- 
 sorumjidei Statutorum cus- 
 todia et tutela concredita 
 est, si (quod absit) per neg- 
 ligentiam aut socordiam su- 
 am Statuta queecunque in- 
 usu ac desuetudine exoles- 
 cere, et tacite quasi abrogari 
 patiantur, ipsos etiam fidei 
 violates ac perjurii teneri 
 decernimus. 
 
 ' 
 
 Oath, which concerning the 
 observance of the Univer- 
 sity Statutes is by each per- 
 son wont to be taken : how 
 far, to wit, or to what ex- 
 tent it is to be regarded as 
 obligatory on the swearers." 
 p. 86. 
 
 " Lastly, on Ma- 
 gistrates^ acccording as to 
 them greater reverence is 
 due, than that it should be 
 right that they should be 
 coerced and kept in order 
 by such punishments as are 
 all along threatened; so 
 is a greater obligation of 
 conscience incumbent; to 
 wit as being they who are 
 bound not only faithfully 
 to administer those things 
 which belong to their func- 
 tions; but also diligently to 
 take care that all others 
 do perform their respective 
 duties. Nor yet is it un- 
 derstood, that they, as of- 
 ten as they shall have been 
 wanting to their duties, do 
 altogether bind themselves 
 in perjury. But forasmuch 
 as to their fidelity is intrust- 
 ed the keeping and guard- 
 ianship of the Statutes, if 
 (far be it from them !) they 
 suffer through their own 
 negligence or indifference
 
 290 APPENDIX. 
 
 any Statutes whatsoever to 
 be rendered obsolete by 
 non-use or desuetude, and 
 tacitly as it were to be ab- 
 rogated, them also do we 
 declare to be bound in the 
 bonds of violated faith and 
 perjury." 
 
 " These ' Magistrates' these perjurers in grain 
 these ipso facto convicted and thus placarded perjurers, 
 who are they? The Reverend the V ice-Chancellor 
 The Reverend the Heads of Houses the Reverend 
 and non-Reverend, but for the most part Reverend, 
 Masters of Arts and other the graduates of higher de- 
 grees, being members of the House of Congregation 
 and of the House of Convocation respectively : for of 
 these is' the Legislative body composed. The Rev- 
 erend the Vice-Chancellor the Reverend the Proctors 
 and Pro-Proctors, all for the time being yea, and 
 within the precincts, logical and geographical, of their 
 respective jurisdictions, the Reverend the Heads of 
 Houses^ with their respective local subordinates: for 
 of these is the Executive body composed."* p. 88, 89. 
 
 The Confessional: or, A Full and Free Inquiry into 
 the Right, Utility, Edification, and Success, of esta- 
 blishing Systematical Confessions of Faith and Doc- 
 trine in Protestant Churches. Third Edition. Lon- 
 don : S. Bladon 1770. [ By ARCHDEACON BLACK- 
 BURN."] 
 
 "I BELIEVE, no book of equal importance ever 
 *See Note Ee.
 
 (Archdeacon Blackburn.) 291 
 
 sunk so suddenly into oblivion as the Free and Candid 
 Disquisitions ;* nor was any other ever treated with 
 more contempt and scorn by those who ought to have 
 paid the greatest regard to the subject of it. In short, 
 its pernicious tendency was echoed in the conversa- 
 tion of every expectant of church-preferment, whose 
 success depended, in any degree, upon the favour of 
 his ecclesiastical superiors." 
 
 " But in spite of all these arts, and all this con- 
 tumely, the book has had no inconsiderable effects 
 among particular persons. It has caused the forms 
 of the church to be weighed in the balance of the 
 sanctuary, where they have been found greatly want- 
 ing. Many, who formerly paid an implicit veneration 
 to them, begin now to compare and reason upon 
 them, and to draw inferences and conclusions by no 
 means in their favour. These impressions may pos- 
 sibly be working silently and imperceptibly to a good 
 endj and they who wish well to the prosperity of our 
 Israel, may reap the good fruit of them, either in the 
 present or a future generation. In the mean time, 
 others may sleep on, and take their rest, perhaps, for 
 many years to come, secure in their numbers. and in- 
 fluence, against the importunity of clamorous Disqtii- 
 sitors. The Almighty works those things which are 
 well-pleasing to him, in his own way, and in his own 
 time, by methods to us inscrutable, and out of the 
 reach of human projects. Methods of violence seldom 
 advance the interests of peace and truth. The wrath 
 of man worketh not the righteousness of God. And 
 though the spirit of slumber should have seized the 
 public for the present, the drowsiness will in time be 
 shaken off, and the hearts and understandings of pas- 
 tors and people opened, as of one man, and prepared 
 to receive those truths, which at present are confined 
 
 *See Note Ff.
 
 292 APPENDIX. 
 
 to the breasts of a few, who, by the blessing of God, 
 have found the means of emancipating themselves from 
 the bondage of fear, the idolatry of lucre, and the 
 enchantments of worldly wisdom, and who, having borne 
 their testimony in due season, though without effect 
 for the present, will be found to have delivered their 
 own souls in the solemn hour of visitation." p. 417 
 419. 
 
 The Nature of the Kingdom, or Church, of Christ : 
 A Sermon preached before the King, at the Royal 
 Chapel at St. James's, on Sunday, March 31, 1717- 
 By the Right Reverend Father in God, BENJAMIN, 
 Lord Bishop of Bangor. Published by His Majesty's 
 Special Command.* The Fifteenth Edition. London : 
 Knapton, 1717- 
 
 "St. John, xviii. 36. JESUS ANSWERED, MY KING- 
 DOM IS NOT OF THIS WORLD." 
 
 " AS the church of Christ is the kingdom of 
 
 Christ, He himself is King : and in this it is implied, 
 that He is himself the sole law-giver to his subjects, 
 and himself the sole judge of their behaviour, in the 
 affairs of conscience and eternal salvation. And in 
 this sense therefore, His kingdom is not of this world ; 
 that he hath, in those points, left behind Him, no visi- 
 ble, human authority; no vicegerents, who can be 
 said properly to supply his place ; no interpreters, upon 
 whom his subjects are absolutely to depend ; no judges 
 over the consciences or religion of his people. For if 
 this were so, that any such absolute vicegerent autho- 
 rity, either for the making new laws, or interpreting 
 old ones, or judging his subjects, in religious matters, 
 
 *See NoteGg.
 
 (Bishop Hoadly.) 293 
 
 were lodged in any men upon earth; the consequence f 
 would be, that what still retains the name of the church 
 of Christ, would not be the kingdom of Christ, but 
 the kingdom of those men, vested with such authority. 
 For, whoever hath such an authority of making laws, 
 is so far a king : and whoever can add new laws to 
 those of Christ, equally obligatory, is as truly a king, 
 as Christ himself is : nay, * whoever hath an absolute 
 authority to interpret any written, or spoken laws, it 
 is he, who is truly the law-giver, to all intents and 
 purposes, and not the person who first wrote, or spoke 
 them." 
 
 "In human society, the interpretation of laws may, 
 of necessity, be lodged, in some cases, in the hands 
 of those who were not originally the legislators. But 
 this is not absolute, nor of bad consequence to society ; 
 because the legislators can resume the interpretation 
 into their own hands, as they are witnesses to what 
 passes in the world ; and as they can, and will, sensibly 
 interpose in all those cases, in which their interposi- 
 tion becomes necessary. And therefore, they are still 
 properly the legislators. But it is otherwise in reli- 
 gion, or the kingdom of Christ. He himself never 
 interposeth, since his first promulgation of his law, 
 either to convey infallibility to such as pretend to han- 
 dle it over again; or to assert the true interpretation 
 of it, amidst the various and contradictory opinions of 
 men about it. If He did certainly thus interpose, He 
 himself would still be the legislator. But, as he doth 
 not ; if such an absolute authority be once lodged with 
 men, under the notion of interpreters, they, then be- 
 come the legislators, and not Christ; and they rule in 
 their own kingdom, and not in his." 
 
 " It is the same thing, as to rewards and punish- 
 ments, to carry forward the great end of his kingdom. 
 If any men upon earth have a right to add to the sanc- 
 tions of his laws, that is, to increase the number, or
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 alter the nature, of the rewards and punishments of 
 his subjects, in matters of conscience, or salvation, 
 they are so far kings in his stead, and reign in their 
 own kingdom and not in his. So it is, whenever they 
 erect tribunals, and exercise a judgment over the con- 
 sciences of men ; and assume to themselves the deter- 
 ' 
 
 mination of such points as cannot be determined, but 
 by One who knows the hearts ; or when they make any 
 of their own declarations, or decisions, to concern and 
 affect the state of Christ's subjects, with regard to the 
 favour of God : this is so far, the taking Christ's king- 
 dom out of His hands, and placing it in their own." 
 
 "Nor is this matter at all made better by their de- 
 claring themselves to be vicegerents, or law makers, 
 or judges, under Christ, in order to carry on the ends 
 of his kingdom. For it comes to this at last, since it 
 doth not seem fit to Christ himself to interpose so as to 
 prevent or remedy all their mistakes and contradictions, 
 that, if they have this power of interpreting, or adding, 
 laws, and judging men, in such a sense, that Christians 
 shall be indispensably and absolutely obliged to obey 
 those laws, and to submit to those decisions; I say, if 
 they have this power lodged with them, then the king- 
 dom, in which they rule, is not the kingdom of Christ, 
 but of themselves; He doth not rule in it, but they: 
 and, whether they happen to agree with him, or to 
 differ from him, as long as they are the law-givers, and 
 judges, without any interposition from Christ, either 
 to guide or correct their decisions, they are kings of 
 this kingdom, and not Christ Jesus." 
 
 " If therefore, the church of Christ be the kingdom 
 of Christ, it is essential to it, that Christ himself be 
 the sole law-giver, and sole judge of his subjects, in all 
 points relating to the favour or displeasure of Almighty 
 God; and that all his subjects, in what stations soever 
 they may be, are equally subjects to him; and that no 
 one of them, any more than another, hath authority,
 
 (Bishop Hoadly.) 295 
 
 either to make new laws for Christ's subjects, or to 
 impose a sense upon the old ones, which is the same 
 thing; or to judge, censure, or punish, the servants 
 of another master, in matters relating purely to con- 
 science, or salvation. If any person hath any other 
 notion, either through a long use of words with incon- 
 sistent meanings, or through a negligence of thought, 
 let him but ask himself, whether the church of Christ 
 be the kingdom of Christ, or not : and, if it be, whe- 
 ther this notion of it doth not absolutely exclude all 
 other legislators and judges, in matters relating to con- 
 science, or the favour of God ; or, whether it can be 
 His kingdom, if any mortal man have such a power of 
 legislation and judgment in it. This inquiry will bring 
 us back to the first, which is the only true, account 
 of the church of Christ, or the kingdom of Christ, in 
 the mouth of a Christian : that it is the number of men, 
 whether small or great, whether dispersed or united, 
 who truly and sincerely are subjects to Jesus Christ 
 alone, as their Law-giver and Judge, in matters relating 
 to the favour of God, and their eternal salvation." 
 
 " The next principal point is, that, if the church 
 be the kingdom of Christ, and this kingdom be not 
 of this world, this must appear from the nature and 
 end of the laws of Christ, and of those rewards and 
 punishments, which are the sanctions of his laws. Now 
 his laws are declarations, relating to the favour of God 
 in another state after this. They are declarations of 
 those conditions to be performed, in this world, on our 
 part, without which God will not make us happy 
 in that to come. And they are almost all general 
 appeals to the will of that God ; to his nature, known 
 by the common reason of mankind ; and to the imi 
 tation of that nature, which must be our perfection. 
 The keeping his commandments is declared the way 
 of life; and the doing his will, the entrance into the 
 kingdom of heaven. The being subjects to Christ, is 
 
 :
 
 296 APPENDIX. 
 
 to this very end, that we may the better and more 
 effectually perform the will of God. The laws of this 
 kingdom, therefore, as Christ left them, have nothing 
 of this world in their view ; no tendency, either to the 
 exaltation of some in worldly pomp and dignity; or 
 to their absolute dominion over the faith and religious 
 conduct of others of his subjects; or to the erecting 
 of any sort of temporal kingdom, under the covert and 
 name of a spiritual one." 
 
 " The sanctions of Christ's law are rewards and pu- 
 nishments. But of what sort ? Not the rewards of this 
 ! world ; not the offices, or glories, of this state ; not 
 the pains of prisons, banishments, fines, or any lesser 
 and more moderate penalties; nay, not the much less- 
 er negative discouragements that belong to human 
 society. He was far from thinking that these could 
 be the instruments of such a persuasion, as he thought 
 acceptable to God. But, as the great end of his king- 
 dom, was to guide men to happiness, after the short 
 images of it were over here below; so, he took his 
 motives from that place, where his kingdom first be- 
 gan, and where it was at last to end; from those re- 
 wards and punishments in a future state, which had no 
 relation to this world: and, to shew that his kingdom 
 was not of this world, all the sanctions which he 
 thought fit to give to his laws, were not of this world 
 at all." 
 
 " St. Paul understood this so well, that he gives an 
 account of his own conduct, and that of others in the 
 game station, in these words, Knowing the terrors of 
 the Lord, we persuade men : whereas, in too many 
 Christian countries, since his days, if some, who pro- 
 fess to succeed him, were to give an account of their 
 own conduct, it must be in a quite contrary strain ; 
 Knowing the terrors of this world, and having them 
 in our power, we do, not persuade men, but force their 
 outward profession against their inward persuasion."
 
 (Bishop Hoadly.) 297 
 
 Now wherever this is practised, whether in a great 
 degree, or a small, in that place there is so far a change, 
 from a kingdom which is not of this world, to a king- 
 dom which is of this world. As soon as ever you hear 
 of any of the engines of this world, whether of the 
 greater or the lesser sort, you must immediately think 
 that then, and so far, the kingdom of this world takes 
 place. For, if the very essence of God's worship be 
 spirit and truth; if religion be virtue and charity, under 
 the belief of a supreme governor and judge; if true 
 real faith cannot be the effect of force ; and, if there 
 can be no reward where there is no willing choice : 
 then, in all, or any of these cases, to apply force or 
 flattery, worldly pleasure or pain, is to act contrary 
 to the interests of true religion, as it is plainly opposite 
 to the maxims upon which Christ founded his kingdom; t 
 who chose the motives which are not of this world, to 
 support a kingdom which is not of this world. And 
 indeed, it is too visible to be hid, that wherever the 
 rewards and punishments are changed, from future to 
 present, from the world to come, to the world now 
 in possession; there, the kingdom founded by our Sa- 
 viour is, in the nature of it, so far changed, that it 
 is become, in such a degree, what he professed his 
 kingdom was not : that is, of this world ; of the same 
 sort with other common earthly kingdoms, in which 
 the rewards are, worldly honours, posts, offices, pomp, 
 attendance, dominion ; and the punishments are, prisons, 
 fines, banishments, gallies, and racks ; or something 
 less, of the same sort," 
 
 " If these can be the true supports of a kingdom 
 which is not of this world; then sincerity, and hypo- 
 crisy; religion, and no religion; force and persuasion; 
 a willing choice, and a terrified heart; are become; 
 the same things; truth and falsehood stand in need of 
 the same methods, to propagate and support them; 
 and our Saviour himself was little acquainted with
 
 298 APPENDIX. 
 
 I the right way of increasing the number of such sub- 
 jects, as he wished for. If he had but at first en- 
 
 / lightened the powers of this world, as he did St. 
 Paul; and employed the sword which they bore, and 
 the favours they had in their hands, to bring subjects 
 into his kingdom ; this had been an expeditious and 
 an effectual way, according to the conduct of some 
 of his professed followers, to have had a glorious and 
 extensive kingdom, or church. But this was not his 
 design, unless it could be compassed in quite a dif- 
 ferent way." 
 
 " And therefore, when you see our Lord, in His 
 methods, so far removed from those of many of his 
 disciples ; when you read nothing, in his doctrine 
 about his own kingdom, of taking in the concerns 
 of this world, and mixing them with those of eter- 
 nity; no commands that the frowns and discourage- 
 ments of this present state should in any case attend 
 upon conscience and religion ; no rules against the 
 inquiry of all* his subjects into his original message 
 from heaven; no orders for the kind and charitable 
 force of penalties, or capital punishments, to make 
 men think and choose aright; no calling upon the 
 secular arm, whenever the magistrate should become 
 Christian, to enforce his doctrines, or to back his 
 spiritual authority ; but, on the contrary, as plain a 
 declaration as a few words can make, that his king- 
 dom is not of this world : I say, when you see this 
 from the whole tenor of the gospel, so vastly opposite 
 to many who take his name into their mouths, the 
 question with you ought to be, whether he did not 
 know the nature of his own kingdom, or church, bet- 
 
 I ter than any since his time; whether you can suppose, 
 he left any such matters to be decided against him- 
 self, and his own express professions; and whether 
 
 *See Note II h,
 
 (William Wilberforce.) 299 
 
 if an angel from heaven should give you any account 
 of his kingdom, contrary to what he himself hath 
 done, it can be of any weight, or authority, with Christ- 
 ians."* p. 1123. 
 
 A Practical View of the Prevailing Religious System 
 of Professed Christians, in the Higher and Middle 
 Classes in this Country, contrasted with Real Christ" 
 ianity. By WILLIAM WILBERFORCE, Esq. Member 
 of Parliament for the County of York. The Sixth 
 Edition. London : Cadell and Davies, 1798. 
 
 " THE tendency of religion in general to pro- 
 mote the temporal welfare of political communities, is 
 a fact which depends on such obvious and undeniable 
 principles, and which is so forcibly inculcated by the 
 history of all ages, that there can be no necessity for 
 entering into a formal proof of its truth. It has in- 
 deed been maintained, not merely by schoolmen and 
 divines, but by the most celebrated philosophers, and 
 moralists, and politicians of every age." 
 
 " The peculiar excellence in this respect also of 
 Christianity, considered independently of its truth or 
 falsehood, has been recognized by many writers, who, 
 to say the least, were not disposed to exaggerate its 
 merits. Either or both of these propositions being ad- 
 mitted, the state of Religion in a country at any 
 given period, not to mention its connection with the 
 eternal happiness of the inhabitants, immediately be- 
 comes a question of great political importance: and in 
 particular it must be material to ascertain whether 
 Religion be in an advancing or in a declining state; 
 and if the latter be the case, whether there be any 
 
 * See Note IK
 
 300 APPENDIX. 
 
 practicable means for preventing at least its farther 
 declension." p. 375, 376. 
 
 " Every where we may actually trace the ef- 
 fects of increasing wealth and luxury, in banishing one 
 by one the habits, and new modelling the phraseology, 
 of stricter times; and in diffusing throughout the mid- 
 dle ranks those relaxed morals and dissipated manners, 
 which were formerly confined to the higher classes of 
 society. We meet, indeed, with more refinement, and 
 more generally with those amiable courtesies which 
 are its proper fruits : those vices also have become 
 less frequent, which naturally infest the darkness of a 
 ruder and less polished age, and which recede on the 
 approach of light and civilization: 
 
 Defluxit numerus Saturnius, & grave virus 
 Munditiae pepulere : 
 
 But with these grossnesses, Religion, on the other 
 hand, has also declined; God is forgotten; his provi- 
 dence is exploded; his hand is lifted up, but we see 
 it not; he multiplies our comforts, but we are not 
 grateful; he visits us with chastisements, but we are 
 not contrite. The portion of the week set apart to 
 the service of Religion we give up, without reluct- 
 ance, to vanity and dissipation. And it is much if, 
 on the periodical return of a day of national humili- 
 ation, having availed ourselves of the certainty of an 
 interval from public business to secure a meeting for 
 convivial purposes, we do not insult the Majesty of 
 Heaven by feasting and jollity, and thus deliberately 
 disclaim our being included in the solemn services of 
 this season of penitence and recollection." 
 
 " But when there is not this open and shameless 
 disavowal of Religion, few traces of it are to be found. 
 Improving in almost every other branch of knowledge, 
 we have become less and less acquainted with Christ- 
 ianity. The preceding chapters have pointed out, 
 among those who believe themselves to be orthodox
 
 (William W 'ilberforce.) 301 
 
 Christians, a deplorable ignorance of the religion they 
 profess, an utter forgetfulness of the peculiar doctrines 
 by which it is characterized, a disposition to regard it 
 as a mere system of ethics, and, what might seem an 
 inconsistency, at the same time a most inadequate idea 
 of the nature and strictness of its practical principles." 
 p. 388, 389. 
 
 " Can there then be a doubt, whither tends 
 
 the path in which we are travelling, and whither at 
 length it must conduct us ? If any should hesitate, 
 let them take a lesson from experience. In a neigh- 
 bouring country, several of the same causes have 
 been in action; and they have at length produced 
 their full effect. Manners corrupted, morals depraved, 
 dissipation predominant, above all, religion discredited, 
 and infidelity grown into repute and fashion, termi- 
 nated in the public disavowal of every religious prin- 
 ciple, which had been used to attract the veneration 
 of mankind. The representatives of a whole nation 
 publicly witnessing, not only without horror, but, to 
 say the least, without disapprobation, an open un- 
 qualified denial of the very existence of God; and at 
 length, as a body, withdrawing their allegiance from 
 the Majesty of Heaven." p. 398, 399. 
 
 " Let it be remarked, that a weakly principle 
 
 of religion (and even such an one, in a political 
 view, is productive of many advantages) though its 
 existence may be prolonged if all external circum- 
 stances favour its continuance, can hardly be kept 
 alive, when the state of things is so unfavourable to 
 vital religion, as it must be confessed to be in our 
 condition of society. Nor is it merely the ordinary 
 effects of a state of wealth and prosperity to which 
 we here allude. Much also may justly be appre- 
 hended, from that change which has taken place in 
 our general habits of thinking and feeling, concerning 
 the systems and opinions of former times. At a less
 
 302 APPENDIX. 
 
 advanced period of society, indeed, the religion of 
 the state will be generally accepted, though it be not 
 felt in its vital power. It was the religion of our 
 forefathers : with the bulk it is on that account en- 
 titled to reverence, and its authority is admitted with- 
 out question. The establishment in which it subsists 
 pleads the same prescription, and obtains the same 
 respect. But in our days, things are very differently 
 circumstanced. Not merely the blind prejudice in 
 favour of former times, but even the proper respect 
 for them, and the reasonable presumption in their 
 favour, has abated. Still less will the idea be en- 
 dured, of any system being kept up, when the im- 
 posture is seen through by the higher orders, for the 
 sake of retaining the common people in subjection. 
 A system, if not supported by a real persuasion of 
 its truth, will fall to the ground. Thus it not unfre- 
 quently happens, that in a more advanced state of 
 society, a religious establishment must be indebted for 
 its support to that very religion, which in earlier 
 times it fostered and protected ; as the weakness of 
 some aged mother is sustained, and her existence 
 lengthened by the tender assiduities of the child whom 
 she had reared in the helplessness of infancy. So in 
 the present instance, unless there be reinfused into 
 the mass of our society, something of that principle, 
 wlych animated our ecclesiastical system in its earlier 
 days, it is vain for us to hope that the establishment 
 will very long continue: for the anomaly will not 
 much longer be borne, of an establishment, the actual 
 principles of the bulk of whose members, and even 
 teachers, are so extremely different from those which 
 it professes." p. 417 419. 
 
 " To those, who really deserve the appellation 
 
 of true Christians, much has been said incidentally in 
 the course of the present work. It has been main- 
 tained, and the proposition will not be disputed by
 
 (tPilliam Wilberforce.) 303 
 
 any sound or experienced politician, that they are 
 always most important members of the community. 
 But we may boldly assert, that there never was a 
 period wherein, more justly than in the present, 
 this could be affirmed of them; whether the situation, 
 in all its circumstances, of our own country be at- 
 tentively considered, or the general state of society 
 in Europe. Let them on their part seriously weigh 
 the important station which they fill, and the various 
 duties which it now peculiarly enforces on them. If 
 we consult the most intelligent accounts of foreign 
 countries which have been recently published, and 
 compare them with the reports of former travellers; 
 we must be convinced, that religion and the standard 
 of morals are every where declining, abroad even 
 more rapidly than hi our own country. But still, the 
 progress of irreligion, and the decay of morals at 
 home, are such as to alarm every considerate mind, 
 and to forebode the worst consequences, unless some 
 remedy can be applied to the growing evil. We can 
 depend only upon true Christians for effecting, in any 
 degree this important service." 
 
 " Let these then, with becoming earnestness, 
 
 strive in all things to recommend their profession, and 
 to put to silence the vain scoffs of ignorant objectors. 
 Let them boldly assert the cause of Christ in an age 
 when so many, who bear the name of Christians, are 
 ashamed of Him: and let them consider as devolved 
 on Them the important duty of suspending for a 
 while the fall of their country, and, perhaps, of per- 
 forming a still more extensive service to society at 
 large; not by busy interference in politics, in which 
 it cannot but be confessed there is much uncertainty; 
 but rather by that sure and radical benefit of restoring 
 the influence of religion, and of raising the standard 
 of morality." p. 495 49/. 
 
 " Let them pray continually for their country
 
 304 APPENDIX. 
 
 in this season of national difficulty. We bear upon us 
 but too plainly the marks of a declining empire. 
 Who can say but that the Governor of the universe, 
 who declares himself to be a God who hears the 
 prayers of his servants, may, in answer to their inter- 
 cessions, for a while avert our ruin, and continue to 
 us the fulness of those temporal blessings, which in 
 such abundant measure we have hitherto enjoyed. 
 Men of the world, indeed, however they may admit 
 the natural operation of natural causes, and may 
 therefore confess the effects of religion and morality 
 in promoting the well-being of the community ; may 
 yet, according to their humour, with a smile of com- 
 placent pity, or a sneer of supercilious contempt, 
 read of the service which real Christians may render 
 to their country, by conciliating the favour and call- 
 ing down the blessing of Providence. It may appear 
 in their eyes an instance of the same superstitious 
 weakness, as that which prompts the terrified inha- 
 bitant of Sicily to bring forth the image of his tutelar 
 saint, in order to stop the destructive ravages of JEtna. 
 We are, however, sure, if we believe the Scripture, 
 that God will be disposed to favour the nation to 
 which his servants belong; and that, in fact, such 
 as They, have often been the unknown and unho- 
 noured instruments of drawing down on their country 
 the blessings of safety and prosperity." 
 
 " But it would be an instance in myself of that 
 very false shame which I have condemned in others, 
 if I were not boldly to avow my firm persuasion, 
 that to the decline of Religion and Morality our na- 
 tional difficulties must both directly and indirectly be 
 chiefly ascribed; and that my only solid hopes for the 
 well-being of my country depend not so much on her 
 fleets and armies, not so much on the wisdom of her 
 rulers, or the spirit of her people, as on the persuasion 
 that she still contains many, who, in a degenerate age,
 
 (Robert Lowth, D. D.) 305 
 
 love and obey the Gospel of Christ; on the humble 
 trust that the intercession of these may still be pre- 
 valent, that for the sake of these, Heaven may still 
 look upon us with an eye of favour" p. 498 500. 
 
 A Sermon Preached at the Visitation of the Honour- 
 able and Right Reverend, Richard, Lord Bishop of 
 Durham, held in the Parish Church of St. Mary 
 le Bow in Durham, on T/iursday, July 27, 1758: 
 By ROBERT LOWTH, D. D. Prebendary of Durham, 
 Rector of Sedgefield, and Chaplain in Ordinary to His 
 Majesty : [afterwards Bishop of London] . Published 
 at His Lordship's request. London : Dodsleys, 1758. 
 
 "Matt. vi. 10. THY KINGDOM COME." 
 
 " TO rescue Christianity from this miserable 
 
 state of depravation and oppression [introduced by Pope- 
 ry]; to restore it to its original purity, and to replace it 
 on its time foundation; to put an end to the insolent 
 usurpation of human authority upon the rights of pri- 
 vate judgment, of reason, and conscience, and upon 
 the divine authority of the Holy Scriptures themselves 
 this was the great design of the Reformation. A fair 
 prospect was now opened for the re-establishment of 
 the kingdom of God in purity and truth, such as never 
 had offered itself since the first ages of Christianity. 
 But the fulness of the time was not yet come: it 
 pleased God in his unsearchable wisdom to suffer tbe 
 progress of this great work to be stopped in the mid- 
 way, and the effects of it to be greatly weakened by 
 many unhappy divisions among the reformed. Yet 
 hath it been, notwithstanding its imperfection, of most 
 effectual service to the cause of true religion; and 
 herein seems to be laid the foundation for executing 
 
 x
 
 306 APPENDIX. 
 
 the great plan of divine wisdom, for raising the super- 
 structure of universal Christianity. It has shewn to 
 the world what the gospel really is; it has laid open 
 the Holy Scriptures, and introduced a more accurate 
 and judicious study, and a more perfect understanding 
 of them : and in consequence, the great principles of 
 our religion have not only been rationally explained, 
 and fully vindicated; but a more enlarged view of the 
 gospel dispensation, a more complete system of divine 
 knowledge, has been given to the world, than ever 
 it was blest with since the days of inspiration. And 
 though the reformation may seem to have been now 
 at a stand for near two centuries ; though in a political 
 view it has manifestly lost ground, and many consider- 
 able advantages have been gained against it; though 
 among ourselves we frequently hear complaints, and 
 probably not without cause, of the success of Popish 
 emissaries, who compass sea and land to make prose- 
 lytes : notwithstanding this, I think we may be assured, 
 that upon the whole the reformation is every day ac- 
 quiring new strength, and that its principles prevail in 
 the world more and more.* Learning, and knowledge 
 of all kinds, and a spirit of inquiry, are still evidently 
 increasing ; and even in those countries where they are 
 most discouraged, they are continually spreading them- 
 selves silently and secretly, in spite of all the vigilance 
 of policy, and all the efforts of power : and where 
 knowledge increases, it is a plain and infallible conse- 
 quence, that Popery must diminish." 
 
 " This view of the state of Christianity through the 
 several ages down to our own times, short and very 
 imperfect as it is, may however furnish sufficient occa- 
 sion for observing, that the kingdom of God has never 
 hitherto, in its most pure or most flourishing condition, 
 seemed to make any near approach, or any effectual 
 
 *See Note Kk.
 
 (Robert Lowth, D. D.) 307 
 
 advances, towards that perfection and universality, to 
 which it is decreed that it shall one day arrive. While 
 it was in its most exalted state of purity, it laboured 
 under oppression and persecution : when it flourished 
 most in outward prosperity, and was strengthened in 
 numbers and enlarged in extent, it proportionably decay- 
 ed in its inward graces : and, even in its most enlarged 
 extent, never possessed more than about a sixth part 
 of the present known world. Whereas it is decreed, 
 that 'the kingdoms of the world shall become the 
 kingdoms of the Lord and of his Christ ; that all people, 
 nations, and languages shall serve him; that the ful- 
 ness of the gentiles shall come in; and that all Israel 
 shall turn unto the Lord and be saved.' The time is 
 not yet come for the accomplishment of these predic- 
 tions : neither can we rely upon the authority of some, 
 who, by a plausible interpretation of certain prophecies, 
 confessedly very obscure, have presumed to determine 
 the seasons, which God hath put in his own power, so 
 far as to conclude, that it is near at hand. Yet we 
 may be allowed to observe, that the present state of 
 mankind, and the circumstances of the world in gene- 
 ral, seem to indicate a preparation for this wonderful 
 event, and a tendency towards this important period, 
 however distant it may be. The great progress, which 
 learning and useful knowledge of all sorts have made 
 within these two last centuries, particularly in the cul- 
 tivation of human reason, and the study of divine reve- 
 lation ; the prodigious advances, that have been made in 
 navigation and commerce, vastly enlarging the bounds 
 of the known habitable world, yet at the same time 
 drawing nearer to one another the several nations, by 
 opening a free and easy communication between the 
 most distant; the great numbers of Christian colonies, 
 that have been sent into every part, and planted in the 
 most remote corners of the earth : all these circum- 
 stances continually increasing and multiplying, and the
 
 308 APPENDIX. 
 
 daily improvements, which with unwearied diligence 
 and with evident success are still pursued in all; though 
 we see not the fruit as yet formed, nor so much as the 
 blossom unfolded, yet seem to point out to us the seed- 
 time and the spring, which is already preparing, and 
 will in its due season bring forth, a plenteous harvest. 
 This particular sign of the times seems to be pointed 
 out by the Angel to the prophet Daniel; 'But thou, 
 O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book even 
 to the time of the end : many shall run to and fro, and 
 knowledge shall be increased.' ' 
 
 " But whatever be the secret determination of Al- 
 mighty God with regard to the particular time destined 
 for the completion of these gracious promises, it cer- 
 tainly behoves us to be always intent upon making the 
 best advantage of every opportunity, that shall seem 
 to offer itself, of promoting this great end ; to keep it 
 ever in view, and to pursue it by every method, that 
 shall appear in the least conducive thereto.* As we 
 make it the daily subject of our prayers, so it ought 
 to be the constant object of our most earnest endea- 
 vours. It is the duty of every Christian, as the glory 
 of God and the Salvation of mankind is highly con- 
 cerned in it : it is more especially the duty of every 
 minister of Christ, as the dispensation of the gospel 
 is committed to him, and he is appointed to attend 
 continually upon this very thing." p. 9 12. 
 
 - " An unhappy persuasion has too generally pre- 
 vailed, that church-communion demands unity of sen- 
 timent in the strictest sense ; and that all of the same 
 profession should think just alike, not only as to a few 
 plain fundamental articles, but as to many other parti- 
 culars neither necessarily required, nor clearly revealed : 
 the consequence of which is, that there must be almost 
 as many sects in the world, as there are men. And 
 
 *See Note LI.
 
 (Robert- Lowth, D. D.) 309 
 
 this in effect hath for many ages most miserably dis- 
 tracted the church of Christ; hath divided it against 
 itself, and again subdivided every part of it into new 
 factions and schisms: it hath been the cause of sedi- 
 tions, slaughters, massacres ; of the peculiar cruelties 
 and barbarities, that are always the effects of false zeal, 
 to the reproach of the Christian name, and even to 
 the disgrace of human nature. It is not to be won- 
 dered that Christianity has made no greater progress; 
 while, instead of being exhibited to the world in its 
 native beauty, as the most amiable religion that ever 
 was, it has been exposed in such a horrible disguise, 
 as the cause of the greatest mischiefs ; as the parent of 
 strife, and confusion, and every evil work. But thanks 
 be to God, we seem at present to have a better pros- 
 pect before us : whatever other reasons we may have 
 to complain of our own age, yet it must be allowed, 
 that a spirit of true Christian charity, and benevolence, 
 and moderation, has of late prevailed among us beyond 
 the example of former times. A more liberal and 
 generous way of thinking and acting, with regard to 
 those that differ from us, is every day gaining ground ; 
 and hath already had visible effects, in allaying former 
 animosities and jealousies, and seems making way for 
 reconcilement and unity. The different sects of Pro- 
 testants seem to have lost much of that bitterness and 
 distaste, which have so long most unreasonably reigned 
 between them, and to be every day drawing nearer to 
 one another. Even those of the church of Rome, 
 though they do not give it up, yet begin at least to 
 be ashamed of their horrid principle of persecution; 
 and, while they have no power or opportunity of acting 
 to the contrary, can say, * If we had been in the days 
 of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with 
 them in the blood of the prophets.' If this happy 
 temper of meekness, forbearance, and charity, should 
 continue to increase, and should diffuse itself more 
 widely through the Christian church, one great offence
 
 310 APPENDIX. 
 
 will be removed, which hath ever hindered the pro- 
 gress of the Gospel : the gainsayer and unbeliever, 
 when they shall observe the true spirit of Christianity 
 to prevail among Christians, will be more easily induced 
 to glorify God, and ' to confess that God is in us of 
 a truth.' The prophet Isaiah seems to represent the 
 increase of universal charity and religious knowledge 
 in the Christian church, as the preparation and prelude 
 of the conversion of the Gentiles, and of the restoration 
 of the Jews, in that remarkable prophecy, which cer- 
 tainly has not yet been fully accomplished : * The wolf 
 shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie 
 clown with the kid : they shall not hurt nor destroy 
 in all my holy mountain : for the earth shall be full of 
 the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the 
 sea. And it shall come to pass in that day, the root 
 of Jesse, which standeth for an ensign to the people; 
 to it shall the Gentiles seek, and his resting-place shall 
 be glorious. And it shall come to pass in that day, 
 that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time 
 to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be 
 left: and he shall set up an ensign for the nations, 
 and shall assemble the out-casts of Israel, and gather 
 together the dispersed of Judah, from the four corners 
 of the earth.'" p. 1719. 
 
 ISAACI NEWTONI Opera Quce Extant Omnia. Commen- 
 tariis Illustrabat Samuel Horsley, L. L. D. R. S. & 
 Londini: Excudebat Joannes Nichols, MDCCLXXIX. 
 [The Works of SIR ISAAC NEWTON.] 
 
 " IF the last age, the age of opening these 
 
 things, be now approaching, as by the great successes 
 of late interpreters it seems to be, we have more en- 
 couragement than ever to look into these things. If 
 the general preaching of the gospel be approaching 1 ,
 
 (Sir Isaac Newton.) 311 
 
 it is to us, and our posterity, that these words mainly 
 belong: 'In the time of the end the wise shall un- 
 derstand, but none of the wicked shall understand. 
 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the 
 words of this prophecy, and keep those things which 
 are written therein/ As the few and obscure pro- 
 phecies concerning Christ's fast coming were for setting 
 up the Christian religion, which ALL NATIONS HAVE 
 SINCE CORRUPTED; so the many and clear prophecies, 
 concerning the things to be done at Christ's second 
 coming, are not only for predicting, but also for 
 EFFECTING, a recovery and re-establishment of the 
 long-lost truth, and SETTING-UP a kingdom wherein 
 dwells righteousness. The event will prove the apoca- 
 lypse; and this prophecy, thus proved and understood, 
 will open the old prophets, and all together will make 
 known the true religion, and establish it. For he 
 that will understand the old prophets must begin with 
 this ; but the time is not yet come for understanding 
 them perfectly, because the main revolution, predicted 
 in them, is not yet come to pass. In the days of the 
 voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to 
 sound, the mystery of God shall be finished, as he 
 hath declared to his servants the prophets: and then 
 ' the kingdoms of this world shall become the king- 
 doms of our Lord and his Christ, and he shall reign 
 for ever/ Apoc. x. 7: xi. 15. There is already so 
 much of the prophecy fulfilled, that as many as will 
 take pains in this study may see sufficient instances 
 of God's providence: but then, the signal Revolutions, 
 predicted by ALL the holy prophets, will at once both 
 turn men's eyes upon considering the predictions and 
 plainly interpret them." 
 
 "Amongst the interpreters of the last age there is 
 scarce ONE of note, who hath not made some discovery 
 worth knowing; and thence I seem to gather, that 
 God is about opening these mysteries." Conclusion of 
 the first chapter on the Apocalypse, vol. 5. p. 448 450.
 
 312 APPENDIX* 
 
 The Providence of God Manifested in the Rise and Fall 
 of Empires. A Sermon preached at St. Mary's, in 
 Oxford, at the Assizes: before the Honourable Mr. 
 Saron Eyre, and Mr. Baron Hotham; and before 
 the University; on Thursday, July, 27, 1775. By 
 GEORGE HORNE, D. D. President of Magdalen Co/- 
 lege, Oxford, and Chaplain in ordinary to His 
 Majesty : [afterwards Bishop of Norwich] . Oxford : 
 At the Clarendon Press; and Rivingtons, London, 
 1775.* 
 
 " 1 Sam. ii. 30. THEM THAT HONOUR ME I WILL 
 HONOUR; AND THEY THAT DESPISE ME SHALL BE 
 LIGHTLY ESTEEMED." 
 
 " WHEN we peruse the instructive page of history, 
 we behold empires in the world, like waves in the 
 ocean, successively rising and disappearing again. Ex- 
 alted for a moment, one glitters before our eyes in 
 power and majesty; but is suddenly overwhelmed and 
 absorbed by the superior force of another; which, 
 itself, perhaps, hardly stays to be gazed at, but as 
 quickly vanishes from the sight, and is no more. In 
 silence we contemplate the affecting scene. We adore 
 the providence of him who ruleth in the kingdoms of 
 men; who putteth down one, and setteth up another; 
 ordering all things according to the counsel of his 
 own will." 
 
 " From the sacred Scriptures we learn what that 
 will is, and how gracious an aspect it always bears 
 towards the servants of the tine God. We see the 
 most untractable of things and persons secretly work- 
 ing together for good to them that fear and worship 
 the Creator of the universe. We perceive the poten- 
 tates of the earth becoming subservient to the king- 
 
 *See Note Mm.
 
 (George Hvrne, D.D.) 313 
 
 dom of Messiah, and carrying on the dispensations of 
 mercy and judgment towards his people, as their obe- 
 dience, from time to time, pleads for the one, or their 
 transgressions call for the other. Our hearts are filled 
 and warmed with a sense of his goodness, who causeth 
 the world and all that is in it to conspire in promoting 
 the felicity of his chosen." 
 
 " Considered in this light, let us take a view of the 
 Divine oeconomy in the government of the world from 
 the beginning, by an induction of those particular 
 facts, together with the grounds and reasons of the 
 same, with which we are furnished by history, sacred 
 and profane." p, 1, 2. 
 
 " Among these western kingdoms, in the 
 
 bosom of the Church, and in the pretended name of 
 Christ, hath arisen a tyrannical and oppressive power, 
 exercising dominion over the understandings and con- 
 sciences of men, and arming itself with fire and 
 sword, for the punishment of all who presume to call 
 in question the infallibility of its decisions. About 
 the same period were laid the foundations of another 
 power, destined to be the scourge of God to the cor- 
 rupt and degenerate Christians of the eastern part of 
 the Roman empire; the Pharaoh, the Nebuchadnezzar, 
 and the Antiochus of latter times. These have their 
 stated task to perform, after which, they likewise, ac- 
 cording to the prophecies recorded in the Scriptures 
 (to the interpretation of which learned men are very 
 commendably turning our attention, with increasing 
 probability of success, as the events predicted ap- 
 proach) they likewise will go into perdition. ' The 
 Lord will consume them by the spirit of his mouth, 
 and destroy them by the brightness of his coming/ 
 Then the happy day, foretold by the prophets, shall 
 arrive, when all earthly rule and authority and power 
 shall be put down, and * the kingdoms of this world 
 shall become,' in the most exalted sense of the words, 
 ' the kingdoms of our Lord and his Christ.' "
 
 314 APPENDIX. 
 
 "Thus, by going into the sanctuary of God, we see 
 the end of all human glory. There taking our stand, 
 we behold the empires of the world passing swiftly 
 by us, and vanishing away, to give place to that king- 
 dom which shall endure for ever; while the Almighty, 
 by suffering them to continue no longer than they 
 served his designs, affords us sufficient ground to 
 apply to all, his own declaration concerning one of 
 them; 'For this cause have I raised thee up, to shew 
 in thee my power, and that my name may be declared 
 through all the earth.' The fate of empires being 
 interwoven with that of religion, it pleased God to 
 communicate to his servants the prophets, the secrets 
 of his administration with regard to them; and the 
 view which we have now taken of it demonstrates, 
 that they are so many instruments in the hand of Pro- 
 vidence, to execute its designs of mercy or judgment 
 on those who successively become the objects of either, 
 according to the uniform tenor of the Divine oeco- 
 nomy, from the beginning to the end of time." 
 
 " From a survey of God's proceedings, learn we to 
 rectify and regulate our own. To punish wickedness 
 and vice, to preserve and promote true religion and 
 virtue, appears to have been the end and design of 
 all his dispensations. Let it be the end and design of 
 all our transactions, upon the present and upon every 
 other occasion. The series of events which has been 
 exhibited points out the difference between that which 
 is of the earth, earthy, and that which cometh from 
 above; and directs us where to fix our choice. Not 
 princes only, but empires, you see, are mortal. They 
 sink, to rise no more. The Assyrian, the Babylonian, 
 the Persian, the Grsecian, the Roman where are 
 they? They are gone They sleep among the dead. 
 And, what they are, the states now subsisting around 
 us, which have so often disturbed the repose of Christ- 
 endom, and, with their numerous and well appointed
 
 (George Home, D. D.) 315 
 
 armies, threaten again to disturb it, shall one day be. 
 All below is inconstancy and agitation. But the king- 
 dom of God shall stand. Its foundations were laid 
 before those of the world; and when that shall be in 
 ashes, when the powers of the earth and the lights of 
 heaven shall fall, and be extinguished for ever, its 
 superstructure will appear in perfect beauty. Death 
 dissolves the relation we bear to an earthly govern- 
 ment, and all civil distinctions drop into the dust to- 
 gether. But our citizenship, as saith the apostle 
 ypwv ifoXirsvpa, is in heaven. As Christians, we be- 
 long to a polity not subject to dissolution; a society, 
 whose duration runs parallel with the days of eter- 
 nity. We form a body, of which Messiah is the head, 
 and to which angels are therefore enjoined to minis- 
 ter. What wonder is it, that we find exceeding 
 great and precious promises made to this high and 
 heavenly community, and fulfilled, with regard to the 
 empires of the world, from age to age ? c Kings shall 
 be thy nursing fathers, and queens thy nursing mo- 
 thers; they shall bow down to thee with their faces 
 toward the earth, and lick up the dust of thy feet. 
 The sons also of them that afflicted thee shall come 
 bending unto thee, and all they that despised thee 
 shall bow themselves down at the soles of thy feet, and 
 they shall call thee the city of the Lord, the Zion of 
 the Holy One of Israel. Therefore thy gates shall be 
 open continually; they shall not be shut day nor 
 night; that men may bring unto thee the forces of 
 the Gentiles, and that their kings may be brought; 
 for the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee 
 shall perish; yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted.' " 
 " Thus * glorious are the things spoken of thee, 
 thou city of God!' May we not, therefore take up 
 our parable with Balaam, and say, * Surely there is 
 no enchantment against Jacob, neither is their any 
 divination against Israel ! How shall we curse whom
 
 316 APPENDIX. 
 
 God hath not cursed; or how shall we defy whom 
 God hath not defied ? Behold, we have received com- 
 mandment to bless; He hath blessed, and we cannot 
 reverse it.' If the dealings of the Almighty with a 
 people be squared by their dealings with his religion, 
 the state of religion will always be the surest criterion 
 whereby to judge of the state of that nation wherein 
 it is planted; and there can be no greater enemies to 
 their country, than those who are enemies to her; 
 since concerning her He hath declared, who cannot 
 deceive, or be deceived f No weapon that is formed 
 against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall 
 rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn.' " 
 
 " God doth not every day manifest his will, by his 
 prophets, respecting the kingdoms which he setteth 
 up and putteth down. But having so often done it 
 in the cases of those great empires of which we 
 have been speaking, he showeth us, by such remark- 
 able and prominent instances, how he acts in all others, 
 and thereby enables us to form a competent idea of 
 our own situation and circumstances. Sacred histoiy 
 informs us what was the particular state of the ancient 
 people of God, when he punished them by the 
 heathen nations; and both sacred and profane history 
 inform us what was the state of each empire, when 
 subverted by another. Similar causes produce similar 
 effects. For though God's counsels are always exe- 
 cuted, yet they are executed, for the most part, in 
 that way which we are wont to call the natural 
 course of things. He who has ordained that all the 
 parts of the universe should have a mutual depend- 
 ance on each other, and operate regularly, by a 
 due concatenation of causes and effects, has likewise 
 ordained that the course of human affairs should have 
 its progression and proportion. Individuals and com- 
 munities arise, accordingly, at proper times, with 
 qualities suited to the station they are destined to fill,
 
 (Bishop Newton.) 317 
 
 and the work which they are intended to perform. It 
 is, therefore, no less useful than curious, in reading 
 history, to mark the different dispositions, manners, 
 and characters of nations, and their rulers; since 
 these are the instruments working under the direction 
 of Providence, for the accomplishment of its designs, 
 without any infringement of man's free will. If you 
 hehold a nation distinguished by irreligion and con- 
 tempt of things sacred, by licentiousness, faction, lux- 
 ury, dissipation, and effeminacy, be assured that, 
 without a reformation, and a return to first principles, 
 the conquest of that nation by some other is becom- 
 ing more and more feasible every day; the same vices, 
 which provoke divine vengeance, preparing the way 
 for its execution." p. 19 26. 
 
 Dissertations on the Prophecies. By THOMAS NEWTON, 
 D. D. now Lord Bishop of Bristol. Fourth Edition. 
 London: 
 
 " SELDOM any state is ruined, but there are 
 
 evident signals and presages of it. Few people have 
 their fate particularly foretold by prophets, like the 
 Jews ; nor indeed can the fate of any people be so par- 
 ticularly foretold, the time, the manner, and all the cir- 
 cumstances preceding and succeeding, without divine 
 inspiration. So many passages and circumstances can- 
 not be particularly foretold unless particularly revealed : 
 but in the general, without the spirit of prophecy, it 
 is no difficult matter to perceive when cities and king- 
 doms are tending towards their final period and disso- 
 lution. There are as certain tokens and symptoms of 
 a consumption and decay in the body politic, as in the 
 body natural. I would not presage ill to my country ; 
 but when we consider the many heinous and presump-
 
 318 APPENDIX. 
 
 tuous sins of this nation, the licentiousness and violation 
 of all order and discipline, the daring insolence of 
 robbers and smugglers in open defiance of all law and 
 justice, the factions and divisions, the venality and 
 corruption, the avarice and profusion of all ranks and 
 degrees among us, the total want of public spirit, 
 and ardent passion for private ends and interests, the 
 luxury and gaming and dissoluteness in high life, and 
 the laziness and drunkenness and debauchery in low 
 life, and above all that barefaced ridicule of all virtue 
 and decency, and that scandalous neglect, and I wish 
 I could not say contempt, of all public worship and 
 religion; when we consider these things, these signs 
 of the times, the stoutest and most sanguine of us all 
 must tremble at the natural and probable consequences 
 of them. God give us grace, that we may know, at 
 least in this our day, the things which belong unto our 
 peace, before they are hid from our eyes." vol. 2. 
 p. 261, 262. 
 
 " We Christians cannot indeed be guilty of the 
 
 very same offence (viz. as the Jews) in crucifying the 
 Lord of glory : but it behoves us to consider, whether 
 we may not be guilty in the same kind, and by our 
 sins and iniquities crucify the Son of God afresh, and 
 put him to an open shame ; and therefore whether being 
 like them in their crime, we may not also resemble 
 them in their punishment. They rejected the Messiah, 
 and we indeed have received him : but have our lives 
 been at all agreeable to our holy profession, or rather 
 as we have had opportunities of knowing Christ more, 
 have we not obeyed him less than other Christians, 
 and trodden under foot the Son of God, and counted 
 the blood of the covenant wherewith we are sanctified 
 an unholy thing, and done despite unto the spirit of 
 
 grace ? God bore long with the Jews ; and hath 
 
 he not borne long with us too? But he cut them off, 
 when the measure of their iniquities was full; and
 
 (Bishop Newton.) 319 
 
 let us beware lest our measure be not also well-nigh 
 full, and we be not growing ripe for excision. What 
 was said to the church of Ephesus, is very applicable 
 to us and our own case, Remember therefore from 
 whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first 
 works ; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will 
 remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou 
 repent." vol.2, p. 356 358. 
 
 Observations on Man, his Frame, his Duty, and his 
 Expectations. By DAVID HARTLEY, M. A. London : 
 First Printed in 1749. Re-printed by J. Johnson, 
 St. Paul's Church-yard, 1791. 
 
 " ALL the known governments of the world 
 
 have the evident principles of corruption in themselves. 
 They are composed of jarring elements, and subsist 
 only by the alternate prevalence of these over each 
 other. The splendour, luxuiy, self-interest, martial 
 glory, &c. which pass for essentials in Christian govern- 
 ments, are totally opposite to the meek, humble, self- 
 denying spirit of Christianity ; and whichsoever of these 
 finally prevails over the other, the present form of the 
 government must be dissolved." 
 
 " The dissolution of ancient empires and re- 
 publics may also prepare us for the expectation of a 
 dissolution of the present governments. But we must 
 not carry the parallel too far here, and suppose that as 
 new governments have arisen out of the old ones, re- 
 sembling them in great measure, subsisting for a cer- 
 tain time, and then giving place to other new ones, 
 so it will be with the present governments. The pro-, 
 phecies do not admit of this ; and it may be easily seen 
 that the situation of things in the great -world is very 
 different from what it has ever been before. Christianity
 
 320 APPENDIX. 
 
 must now either be proved true, to the entire convic- 
 tion of unbelievers ; or, if it be an imposture, it will 
 soon be detected. And whichsoever of these turns up, 
 must make the greatest change in the face of affairs. 
 I ought rather to have said, that the final prevalence 
 and establishment of Christianity, which, being true, 
 cannot but finally prevail, and be established, will do 
 this : but it may perhaps be of some use just to put 
 false suppositions." vol. 2. p. 366 368. 
 
 " There are many prophecies, which declare 
 
 the fall of the ecclesiastical powers of the Christian 
 world. And though each church seems to flatter itself 
 with the hopes of being exempted ; yet, it is very plain, 
 that the prophetical characters belong to all. They 
 Ijave all left the true, pure, simple religion; and teach 
 for doctrines the commandments of men. They are all 
 merchants of the earth, and have set up a kingdom of 
 this world, abounding in riches, temporal power, and 
 external pomp. They have all a dogmatizing spirit, 
 and persecute such as do not receive their own mark, 
 
 and worship the image which they have set up. 
 
 It is very true, that the church of Rome is Babylon 
 the great, and the mother of harlots, and of the abomi- 
 nations of the earth : but all the rest have copied her 
 
 example more or less. The corrupt governors of 
 
 the several churches will ever oppose the true gospel, 
 and in so doing will bring ruin upon themselves." 
 vol.2, p. 370 371. 
 
 " If the infatuation of princes was not of the 
 
 deepest kind, they could not but see, that they hold 
 their dominions entirely by the real Christianity, that 
 is left amongst us ; and that, if they do succeed in 
 taking away this foundation, or weakening it much 
 farther, their governments must fall, like houses built 
 upon sand." vol. 2. p. 447. 
 
 " As things now are, one can scarce expect, 
 
 that, in any impending danger, those who have in.
 
 (David Hartley, M. A.) 321 
 
 their power to save a falling state, will attempt it, un- 
 less there be some prospect of gain to themselves. 
 And, while they barter and cast about for the greatest 
 advantages to themselves, the evil will become past 
 remedy. Whether or no it be possible to administer 
 public affairs upon upright and generous principles, 
 after so much corruption has already taken place, may 
 perhaps be justly questioned. However, if it cannot 
 be now, much less can it be hereafter; and if this 
 evil increases much more in this country, there is 
 reason to fear, that an independent populace may get 
 the upper hand, and overset the state. The wheels 
 of government are already clogged so much, that it is 
 difficult to transact the common necessary affairs, and 
 almost impossible to make a good law." 
 
 "The licentiousness of inferiors of all ranks, 
 runs higher in this country perhaps, than in any other. 
 However, the infection will probably spread. The in- 
 feriors in other countries cannot but envy and imitate 
 those in this ; and that more and more every day, as 
 all mutual intercourses are enlarged." vol. 2. p. 449. 
 
 " That worldly-mindedness, and neglect of duty 
 
 in the clergy, must hasten our ruin, cannot be doubted. 
 These are the salt of the earth, and the light of the 
 world. If they lose their savour, the whole nation, 
 where this happens, will be converted into one putrid 
 mass ; if their light become darkness, the whole body 
 politic must be dark also. The degeneracy of the 
 court of Rome, and secular bishops abroad, are too 
 notorious to be mentioned. They almost cease to give 
 offence, as they scarce pretend to any function or authO" 
 rity, besides what is temporal. Yet still there is great 
 mockery of God in their external pomp, and profana- 
 tion of sacred titles; which sooner or later, will bring 
 down vengeance upon them." vol. 2. p. 450. 
 
 The clergy in this kingdom seem to be what 
 
 one might expect from the mixture of good and bad
 
 322 APPENDIX. 
 
 influences that affect them. But then, if we make 
 this candid allowance for them, we must also make it 
 for persons in the high ranks of life, for their infi- 
 delity, lewdness, and sordid self-interest. And though 
 it becomes an humble, charitable, and impartial man, 
 to make all these allowances; yet he cannot but see, 
 that the judgments of God are ready to fall upon us 
 all for these things; and that they may fall first, and 
 with the greatest weight, upon those, who, having 
 the highest office committed to them in the spiritual 
 kingdom of Christ, neglect it, and are become mere 
 merchants of the earth, and shepherds, that feed them- 
 selves^ and not their flocks" vol. 2. p. 451. 
 
 " If the state of things in this and other na- 
 tions be, in any measure, what I have above described, 
 it is no wonder, that the education of youth should 
 be grossly perverted and corrupted, so that one may 
 justly fear, that every subsequent generation will exceed 
 that which went before it in degeneracy and wicked- 
 ness, till such time as the great tribulation come" 
 vol. 2, p. 453. 
 
 " It would be great rashness to fix a time for 
 
 the breaking of the storm that hangs over our heads, 
 as it is blindness and infatuation not to see it ; nor to 
 be aware, that it may break. And yet this infatuation 
 has always attended all falling states. The kingdoms 
 of Judah and Israel, which are the types of all the 
 rest, were thus infatuated. It may be, that the prophe- 
 cies concerning Edom, Moab, Ammon, Tyre, Egypt, 
 &c. will become applicable to particular kingdoms 
 before their fall, and warn the good to flee out of them. 
 And Christendom, in general, seems ready to assume 
 to itself the place and lot of the Jews, after they had 
 rejected their Messiah, the Saviour of the world. Let 
 no one deceive himself or others. The present circum- 
 stances of the ivorld are extraordinary and critical 
 beyond what has ever yet happened." vol. 2. p. 455.
 
 (Bishop Porteous.) 323 
 
 An Introduction to the Study of the Projrftecies con- 
 cerning the Christian Church : By RICHARD 
 
 KURD, D. D. [afterwards Bishop of Worcester.'} 
 Fifth Edition. London : T. Cadell, 1788. 
 
 " LET us then, on a principle of self-love, if 
 
 not of piety, keep the sayings of this book) concern- 
 ing THE MAN OF SIN. From many appearances, the 
 appointed time for the full completion of them may 
 not be very remote. And it becomes our prudence 
 to take heed that we be not found in the number of 
 those, to whom that awful question is proposed 
 How is it, that ye do not discern the signs of this 
 time ?" 
 
 " Nay, there are prophecies, which, in that case, 
 may concern us more nearly, than we think. St. Paul 
 applied ONE of these, to the unbelieving Jews ; of 
 whose mockery, and of whose fate, ye have heard 
 what their own historian witnesseth: And, if we equal 
 their obdurate spirit, that prophecy may clearly be 
 applied, and no man can say, that it was not intend- 
 ed to be applied, to ourselves." 
 
 "Beware therefore (to sum up all in the tremen- 
 dous words of the apostle) Beware lest that come 
 upon you, which is spoken by the prophets : BEHOLD 
 
 YE DESPISERS, AND WONDER AND PERISH ; FOR I WORK 
 A WORK IN YOUR DAYS, A WORK, WHICH YE SHALL IN NO 
 WISE UNDERSTAND, THOUGH A MAN DECLARE IT UNTO 
 
 YOU." vol. 2. p. 228, 229. 
 
 A Charge delivered to the Clergy of the Diocese of 
 London, at the Visitation of that Diocese, in the year 
 1794, by BEILBY PORTEOUS, Lord Bishop of London. 
 
 "THE present times, and the present scene
 
 324 APPENDIX. 
 
 of things, in almost every part] of the civilized world, 
 are the most interesting and the most awful that 
 were ever before presented to the inhabitants of the 
 earth; and such as must necessarily excite the most 
 serious reflections in every thinking mind. Perhaps 
 all those singular events to which we have been wit- 
 nesses, unparalleled as they undoubtedly are in the 
 page of history, may be only the beginning of things, 
 may be only the first leading steps to a train of events 
 still more extraordinary ; to the accomplishment possibly 
 of some new and unexpected, and at present unfathom- 
 able, designs hitherto reserved and hid in the counsels 
 of the Almighty. Some we know there are who think 
 that certain prophecies, both in the New Testament 
 and the Old, are now fulfilling; that the signs of the 
 times are portentous and alarming; and that the sud- 
 den extinction of a great monarchy, and of all the 
 splendid ranks and orders of, men that supported it, 
 is only the completion in part of that prediction in 
 the gospel, that the sun shall be darkened, and the 
 moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall 
 from heaven, before the second appearance of the 
 Messiah, to judge the earth ; all which expressions 
 are well known to be only figurative emblems of the 
 great powers and rulers of the world, whose destruc- 
 tion, it is said, is to precede that great event. As 
 to myself I pretend not to decide on these arduous 
 points ; I pretend not either to prophesy or to interpret 
 prophecy; nor shall I take upon myself to pronounce, 
 whether we are now approaching (as some think) to 
 the Millennium, or to the Day of Judgment, or to any 
 other great and tremendous and universal change pre- 
 dicted in the sacred writings. But this I am sure of, 
 that the present unexampled state of the Christian world 
 is a loud and powerful call upon all men, but upon 
 us above all men, to take peculiar heed to our ways, 
 and to prepare ourselves, as well as those committed to
 
 (Bishop Porteous.) 325 
 
 our care, for every thing that may befall us, be it ever 
 so novel, ever so calamitous." p. 28. 
 
 The Works of the Right Reverend BEILBY PORTEOUS, 
 D. D. late Bishop of London. Cadell and Davies, 
 1816. 
 
 . ON the 8th of May 1808, the Bishop en- 
 tered into his 78th year; and it is remarkable, that 
 on the same day he preached his last sermon in St. 
 George's church. It was a discourse on the following 
 text from the Revelation of St. John : ' Blessed is he 
 that readeth, and they that hear the words of this 
 prophecy, and keep those things which are written 
 
 therein : for the time is at hand.' In the course 
 
 of the sermon he adverted particularly to that part of 
 St. John's Revelation, which predicts the rise, con- 
 tinuance, and fall of the Popish and Mahometan cor- 
 ruptions. These, the best commentators agree in 
 opinion, were to commence in the sixth century, and 
 at the expiration of 1260 years, calculated from that 
 period, were finally to cease. There remained, then, 
 as the Bishop justly observed, according to the com- 
 monly received interpretation, but a short term of 
 about fifty or sixty years before the prophecy would 
 be fulfilled; when Antichrist would be extirpated 
 from the earth, and the Millennium, or the reign of 
 Christ, would commence." 
 
 " I believe that no sermon ever attracted more 
 
 attention than this. The veneration universally felt 
 for his exalted character; the general idea, which pre- 
 vailed, that this was the last occasion of his public 
 preaching ; the interest, which his feeble and emaci- 
 ated form so powerfully excited; the energy with 
 which, notwithstanding his infirmities, he delivered 
 many of those sublime passages, which are interspersed
 
 326 APPENDIX. 
 
 through the Revelations; the animated picture which 
 he drew of the unprecedented and portentous aspect 
 of the times; and the hope which seemed to fill and 
 elevate his soul, that this country might possibly be 
 the chosen instrument in the hand of God to diffuse 
 the light of the gospel throughout the world, and ul- 
 timately to accomplish the great schemes of Provi- 
 dence; all these circumstances conspired to render this 
 discourse uncommonly affecting." (Life by the Rev. 
 Robert Hodgson, A. M. F. R. S.) vol. 1. p. 236 
 240. 
 
 Three Letters on the subject of the British and Foreign 
 Bible Society ; Addressed to The Rev. Dr. Marsh, and 
 John Coker, Esq. By The Right Hon. NICHOLAS 
 VANSITTART. Second Edition. London: Hatchard, 
 1812. 
 
 "I WILL own that there are possible cases in 
 
 which I think danger may arise to the Church one 
 
 of them would be, if the abuses of the Church should 
 be confounded with its interests. The spirit of the age 
 is liberally attentive to all fair claims; but it is an 
 inquisitive and scrutinizing age, and many circumstances 
 which formerly attracted little notice, are now drawn 
 into full light. The returns of the non-resident clergy,* 
 for instance, are now annually printed. If the friends 
 of the Church, instead of taking the lead in a mild 
 reform of abuses, contend obstinately for their protec- 
 tion, and treat every man as an enemy who aims at 
 reform, THEY WILL CERTAINLY BE OVERPOWERED AT 
 LAST, and the corrective applied by those who will apply 
 it with no sparing hand"\ 
 
 * See Note N n. +See Note O o.
 
 (Nicholas Fdnsittart.) 327 
 
 " The voice of the public is now with the Church 
 
 it may, by a pertinacious resistance to reasonable 
 
 expectations, be turned against her." Second Letter 
 to Dr. Marsh, p. 51, 52. 
 
 "To say that either the Church or the State 
 
 is free from danger, would in times like the present, 
 be an empty and presumptuous boast. The earthquake 
 by which so many churches and so many states have 
 been shattered into ruin, still continues to heave the 
 ground ; and it appeal's evident that these dreadful 
 convulsions of the moral and political world are, by 
 the unseen counsels of Providence, directed to bring 
 about some great renovation in the religious state of 
 man. We cannot doubt indeed that the end is wise 
 and beneficial, yet it is impossible for us to judge with 
 what degree of temporary calamity the means may be 
 attended. What part, whether of action or of suffering, 
 we may be doomed to bear in these awful changes, it 
 is' not for human wisdom to pronounce; and is perhaps 
 kindly hidden in the darkness of futurity." Ibid. p. 
 55, 56. 
 
 " It is indeed an important crisis for the Church 
 
 of England. Greatness and glory wait on her decision 
 
 one way 1 forbear to state the consequences of the 
 
 contrary decision which you would recommend ; for 
 I trust the Church has already decided, and that the 
 triumphs of the BIBLE SOCIETY, which you already 
 compare to the enthusiasm of the crusades, are but 
 the prelude to more extensive triumphs; when this 
 
 nation shall indeed take up the cross to carry, not 
 
 the sword, but the SAVIOUR, throughout the world, 
 and when you will be, I trust, not the last to cast 
 away your unfounded apprehensions, and to hail with 
 unmingled satisfaction the opening of A NEW .SRA OF 
 
 LIGHT AND TRUTH."* Ibid. p. 57, 58. 
 
 Great George Street, 23d March, 1812, 
 *See Note Pp.
 
 328 APPENDIX. 
 
 God's Controversy with the Nations: Addressed to the 
 Hitlers and People of Christendom. By THOMAS 
 HARTLEY, M. A. Rector of Winwick, in Northamp- 
 tonshire. London : Printed by M. Lewis, No. 1, 
 Paternoster-row, 1775. 
 
 " MY dear country, how art thou fallen ! how 
 
 do thy wounds bleed, and thou knowest it not ! and 
 how have thy sins, next to my own, lain heavy upon 
 my heart, and made me a man of a sorrowful spirit ! 
 for indeed, among many others, I see the heavens 
 black with clouds, and both sensibly feel the judg- 
 ments that are already begun, and have very affecting 
 presentiments of those we have cause to fear. Repent, 
 O England ! for thy destruction is nigh at hand, ex- 
 cept thou repent." p. 67. 
 
 " The state of Christendom, at this time, in 
 
 her civil and ecclesiastical governments and people, 
 appears deplorably corrupt ; insomuch that, if there 
 be any standard for our judgment in the sacred wri- 
 tings; any tenor observable in God's dealings with 
 nations heretofore ; any premises from whence to draw 
 consequences, natural, moral, or judicial ; we are war- 
 ranted to pronounce, that THE ROD OF THE ALMIGHTY 
 
 HANGS OVER IT." p. 86. 
 
 "There are certain conjunctures in national 
 
 affairs, the tendency of which falls not within the 
 sphere of common observers ; and may be compared 
 to that critical period, which determines the recovery 
 of the patient, or the farther progress of the distemper. 
 The latter seems to be the case with us at this time 
 [1775] and as T lay no pretensions to the gift of pro- 
 phecy, I have a right to the same indulgence, if under 
 a mistake, with those who think too favorable con- 
 cerning the state of the national malady." p. 89. 
 
 " I dedicate this little work to you, the child- 
 ren of Zion, wherever you are; and address myself
 
 (Thomas Hartley, M.A.) 329 
 
 to you again in the conclusion of it. Loving and be- 
 loved of the Lord ! however you are dispersed or dis- 
 tressed in these perilous times of apostasy, your new 
 name and your new nature is one; and your center 
 is one, and this center is LOVE ! and here you are 
 neither dispersed nor distressed, but meet in blessed 
 unity. Be the earth never so unquiet, yet you are 
 inwardly in that peace which passeth the understand- 
 ing of others, and which the world can neither give 
 nor take away. Faithful is he that hath promised, 
 and fully will he perform his promise, that he ' will 
 not leave you comfortless, he will come unto you.' 
 The time of your warfare is short; the time of your 
 victory is sure; and the time of your triumph will be 
 everlasting. If there be any truth, if there be any 
 virtue, if there be any praise, if any things are lovely, 
 if any things be of good report, they are all yours; 
 for you are the household of faith unreprovable, with- 
 out heresy, schism, or dispute: you are the true 
 church, whether you be in the public assembly, or in 
 the desert; nay, the faithful and fruitful spouse of 
 Christ, bringing forth many children from among your 
 brethren in the outward visible churches, into that 
 invisible fellowship which is the communion of saints, 
 that they may be a righteous and godly seed for future 
 generations, to build up the New Jerusalem on earth. 
 And indeed I see with the eye of faith (through the 
 present thick surrounding gloom) that happy time ad- 
 vancing, as foretold by the prophets, when THE DESIRE 
 OF ALL NATIONS shall erect his throne in 25ion, and 
 gather to himself a glorious church on earth from 
 among people of all languages, which shall be fol- 
 Imvers of God as dear children; neither shall they 
 learn war any more, but love one another, and be as 
 a city which is at unity in itself, whose ( walls shall 
 be called salvation, and whose gates praise.' BUT WHO 
 
 SHALL DECLARE THE THINGS THAT MUST FIRST COME 
 UPON THE EARTH?" p. 90, 91.
 
 330 APPENDIX. 
 
 A Christian's Survey of all the Primary Events and 
 Periods of the World; from the Commencement of 
 History, to the Conclusion of Prophecy. By GRAN- 
 VILLE PENN, Esq. The third Edition. Murray, 1814. 
 
 " THERE never was a period, when the 
 
 JUDGMENTS of GOD' were more signally or more aw- 
 fully ' upon the EARTH.' Though we may abstain 
 from expressing any observation to this effect, in our 
 social meetings, it is impossible we can escape from 
 the necessity of frequently making the reflection, in 
 the secrecy of our own thoughts. We see the 
 World, in a state of sensible evanescence before our 
 eyes; and we behold a new and monstrous counte- 
 nance, spread over the whole face of Christendom." 
 preface, p. xxi. 
 
 " Q. How does it now appear, that we are to 
 
 contemplate the PRESENT EXTRAORDINARY CRISIS of 
 the WORLD, in relation to THE SCHEME OF DIVINE 
 
 PROPHECY IN GENERAL?" 
 
 " A. The PRESENT PERIOD appears to be no other 
 than 'the FULFILMENT' of the regular 'TIMES of THE 
 GENTILES/ declared by our Saviour (Luke xxi. 24.) 
 and the commencement of that last disorderly con- 
 cluding time, which was immediately to succeed: 
 when the firmament of the CHRISTIAN WORLD was to 
 be shaken, the luminaries of its ancient sovereignties 
 to be obscured or extinguished, its sea of nations 
 thrown into universal tumult, and the hearts of men 
 moved by a general anxiety, and dread of the things 
 which are coming next upon the earth." p. 207- 
 
 " Q. This question is become a high, and 
 
 most awful subject of consideration. Can WE venture 
 to contemplate so great a CRISIS as that which you 
 represent to be the NEXT PRIMARY EVENT and PERIOD 
 of the WORLD [the FINISHING of THE MYSTERY OF GOD, 
 Revel, x:. 7] as really near in the order of time; in
 
 (Granville Penn.) 331 
 
 the same manner that we speak of nearness with res- 
 pect to the ordinary occurrences of life?" 
 
 "A. We cannot contemplate it otherwise than as 
 near, and very near, in the most common and fami- 
 liar sense of the word, if we place any helief in the 
 indications of the prophecy; and if we look with 
 moderate attention, upon the present and passing scene 
 of the world." p. 212. 
 
 " Among the many perversenesses of the hu- 
 man nature, there is one which operates in us to 
 withhold a practical assent to a truth, even after the 
 mind can no longer find any speculative reason to 
 oppose to its evidence. This, which is the most irra- 
 tional and indefensible effect of prejudice, produces a 
 reluctancy to believe it possible that certain great 
 events can take place in our time, which we yet can 
 believe to be possible in any other time. There is not 
 a state of error more tremendously dangerous than this 
 may prove to be. It was thus that many of the Jews 
 who lived in the days of our Saviour, and who 
 professed to expect the MESSIAH, could not bring 
 their minds to the practical belief that HE was actually 
 come in their days; although HE had reduced them 
 to a dilemma, that l they were unable to answer HIM 
 a word, neither durst ask HIM any more questions' in 
 opposition to the evidence which he produced. Yet, 
 they would not allow that their reluctaucy proceeded 
 from any want of faith; because they declared that 
 they would have yielded their belief to the ancient 
 prophets, if they had lived in those earlier days. 
 (Matt, xxiii. 29, 30.) In the same manner, many 
 Christians who entertain a firm belief that our Lord 
 has once appeared; and who moreover profess to be- 
 lieve with equal firmness, that HE will appear AGAIN 
 in glory to judge both the living and the dead; ex- 
 perience nevertheless a certain blind and undescribable 
 reluctancy to admit the evidences of HIS near appear-
 
 332 APPENDIX. 
 
 ing in THIS PRESENT AGE of the world, notwithstanding 
 the fulness and clearness of those evidences." p. 228 
 230. 
 
 Christian Researches in Asia: with Notices of the 
 Translation of the Scriptures into the Oriental Lan- 
 guages. By the Rev. CLAUDIUS BUCHANAN, D. D. 
 Late Vice-Provost of the College of Fort-William in 
 Bengal. Cambridge, 1811. 
 
 " IT is evident, indeed, from the sure word of 
 
 prophecy, that there will be a long time of general 
 holiness and peace, which will succeed to the present 
 reign of vice and misery, probably ' a thousand years,' 
 during \vhich, righteousness will be as common as 
 wickedness is now; and further, that this period is at 
 hand, even at the door." p. 327. 
 
 Dissertation on the Prophecies, that have been ful- 
 filled, are now fulfilling, or will hereafter be ful- 
 filled, relative to the Great Period of One Thousand Two 
 Hundred and Sixty Years, 8$c. fyc. By the Rev. GEORGE 
 STANLEY FABER, B.D. Rector of Redmar shall in the 
 County of Durham. Fourth Edit. Rivingtons, 1810. 
 
 "BE this however as it may, we are undoubt- 
 edly living in the last days of blasphemous infidelity, 
 in that awful period which is the peculiar reign of 
 Antichrist. The signs of the times all concur to teach 
 us, that we are fast approaching towards the catastro- 
 phe of the great drama." vol. 2. p. 499. 
 
 " Never were there more awful times than 
 
 these of the third woe-trumpet. All civilized govern-
 
 (Bishop Horsley.) 333 
 
 ment has been in a state of commotion; and the 
 powers of Europe have been shaken to their very 
 centre. The end however is not yet. The calamities 
 of the harvest are but the harbingers of those which 
 shall take place under the last vial during the period 
 of the vintage" vol. 2. p. 504. 
 
 \ 
 
 The Charge of SAMUEL Lord Bishop of Rochester, to 
 
 the Clergy of his Diocese, delivered at his Second 
 General Visitation, in the year 1800. Published at 
 the Request of the Clergy. Second Edition. Lon- 
 don: Robson, 1801. 
 
 " My Reverend Brethren," 
 
 " NO crisis, at any period of time since the mo- 
 ment of our Lord's departure from the earth, has 
 more demanded, than the present, the vigilant atten- 
 tion of the Clergy of all ranks and orders, from the 
 Prelate to the Village -Curate, to the duties of the 
 weighty charge, to which we are. called. When our 
 Lord withdrew from us his visible presence, and com- 
 mitted the family to our stewardship, he left us not 
 without explicit warning of the conflict, we should 
 have for ages to sustain with the powers of darkness ; 
 the dangers, we should have to encounter ; and the 
 sufferings, which, with remissions at one time, and 
 aggravations at another, but never without a gracious 
 succour duly proportioned to our need, we must expect 
 to undergo. We are particularly premonished, that, 
 previous to the commencement of that happy state of 
 internal purity and external peace, which is promised 
 to the Church on earth in the latter ages, a season of 
 trial will fall upon his chosen servants (brief we hope, 
 in its duration but) severe, far beyond any thing that
 
 334 APPENDIX. 
 
 hath been yet endured. And they must have given 
 little attention to the prophetic word, who discern not 
 in the features of the present times, awful signs of its 
 approach, p. 1 4. 
 
 A Dissertation on the Seals and Trumpets of the Apo- 
 calypse, and the Prophetical Period of Twelve Hun- 
 dred and Sixty Years. By WILLIAM CUNINGHAME, 
 Esq. Author of Remarks on David Levi's Disser- 
 tations on the Prophecies relative to the Messiah. 
 London : Hatchard, 1813. 
 
 " THE extraordinary aspect of the present times 
 
 cannot but arrest the attention and excite the awe of 
 all thinking persons, whether they believe in the scrip- 
 tures or not. But it is the Christian only that is 
 enabled to see light in the midst of darkness, to behold 
 undismayed the convulsions which agitate the nations 
 of the earth ; and, possessing his mind in perfect peace, 
 to rejoice in the near prospect of a better and brighter 
 day, when ' the earth shall be full of the knowledge 
 of the Lord ;' and the Lord shall arise upon Sion, and 
 his glory shall be seen upon her." 
 
 " The events of the period in which we live, call 
 upon us to sit loose to temporal things, and to re- 
 member that the fashion of this world passeth away. 
 We have indeed no warrant in the scriptures to neglect 
 the duties of our secular callings : on the contrary, 
 we are commanded to be diligent in all lawful busi- 
 ness, and God has in various instances marked with 
 his peculiar approbation the industrious performance 
 of worldly duties. When he first appeared to his ser- 
 vant Moses at Mount Horeb, Moses was occupied in 
 tending the flock of his father-in-law Jethro. When 
 the nativity of Christ was announced by an angel from
 
 (William Cuninghame.) 335 
 
 heaven, he was sent to shepherds who kept watch 
 over their flocks by night in the plains of Bethlehem. 
 The true secret of Christianity is to attend diligently 
 to all the duties of life, yet to do it not in the spirit 
 of the world, but with the temper and feelings of those 
 who are habitually impressed with the great realities 
 of eternity to do all to God, and not to man. Pos- 
 sessed of such views, the true servant of Christ, amidst 
 the whirlwinds of divine wrath, which go forth to de- 
 stroy the wicked, shall be enabled to lift his head above 
 the storm, and to stand unmoved. He must indeed 
 expect to partake of suffering, in common with the 
 world in which he lives : but ( his heart is fixed, trust- 
 ing in the Lord.' He rejoices that, * there is a river, 
 the streams whereof shall make glad the city of 
 God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the Most 
 High." 
 
 " We may infer from the present state of the* world, 
 connected with the declarations of prophecy, that there 
 is no safety either for individuals or communities, but 
 in repentance and faith in the Son of God. It is, how- 
 ever, in an especial manner to the great and the noble, 
 the counsellors of princes, and princes themselves, that 
 the calamities of the times, and the awful judgments 
 of God, address themselves, as with a voice of thunder.* 
 
 * "It is impossible for the Christian not to look with much 
 anxiety to the conduct which shall be pursued by government 
 and parliament in legislating for British India." 
 
 "The providence of God has placed a vast empire, con- 
 taining fifty or sixty millions of Mahometan and Pagan sub- 
 jects, under the power of Britain. Hitherto the East India 
 Company has impeded the preaching of Christianity in 
 India, by refusing permission to missionaries to proceed to 
 that country. An opportunity now offers itself to the govern- 
 ment of Great Britain, to make such provisions in the new 
 arrangements as shall have the effect of facilitating the com-
 
 336 APPENDIX. 
 
 Nor does this voice sound with less loudness or impor- 
 tunity, in the ears of the rulers and ministers of the 
 protestant churches. No human establishments are now 
 safe; we are surrounded with the ruins of thrones and 
 kingdoms which have crumbled into dust. Where is 
 the earthly throne under which we may now take shel- 
 ter, and say, Here are peace and safety f " 
 
 "Let us however acknowledge, with the deepest 
 humility and gratitude to God, that to us, of this 
 highly favoured country, the voice of these judg- 
 ments is still the voice of mercy calling to repentance. 
 Hitherto we, and we alone of the nations of Europe, 
 have been delivered from the devouring sword and the 
 overwhelming tempest, and our God mercifully calls 
 on us to take warning by the example of surround- 
 ing nations, and to turn to him with our whole hearts. 
 
 munication of the light of the gospel to its Indian subjects. 
 Toleration for Christianity, and liberty and protection to 
 Christian ministers and missionaries, is all that is asked ; and 
 surely they will not be asked in vain from a Christian govern- 
 ment. On this point I shall subjoin a passage, from a 
 masterly writer of the present day, to show the guilt and 
 danger of continuing that system of spiritual exclusion, which 
 has hitherto prevailed with regard to British India. ' If there 
 ever was a period when the propagation of true religion 
 might be resisted with impunity, that period is passed ; and 
 the Master of the Universe is now addressing the greatest 
 potentates, in the language of an ancient oracle, Be wise 
 woo?, ye kings ; be instructed, ye judges of the earth ! En- 
 compassed as we are with the awful tokens of a presiding 
 and avenging Providence, dissolving the fabrics of human 
 wisdom, extinguishing the most ancient dynasties, and tearing 
 up kingdoms by their roots, it would be the height of infatu- 
 ation, any longer to oppose the reign of God, whose purposes 
 will pursue their career, in spite of the efforts of human 
 policy, which must yield their co-operation, or be broken 
 by its force.' Hall's Address to the Public, &c. p. 18.' "
 
 (William Cuninghame.) 337 
 
 " The repentance which Christianity requires, is not 
 merely an outward reformation. The gospel of Jesus 
 Christ calls upon us to feel and acknowledge that we 
 are sinners. In this respect it tells us, that all men, 
 from the prince upon the throne to the meanest of 
 the people, are upon a level. None are exempt from 
 the corruption of a fallen nature, or the pollution of 
 many actual transgressions. The prince, therefore, 
 and the peasant, the noble and the plebeian, are 
 equally called upon to acknowledge that corruption, 
 and to confess these transgressions, to amend their 
 ways, and to believe in the Son of God, who came 
 down from heaven to save us from our sins by the 
 sacrifice of himself upon the cross." 
 
 " It seems evident that the dashing to pieces of the 
 nations, like the vessels of a potter, which is mentioned 
 in the second Psalm, is now taking place. That Psalm, 
 though it is quoted in the Acts of the Apostles, in 
 the way of accommodation, as relating to the oppo- 
 sition made to the kingdom of Christ, in the days of 
 our Lord's personal ministry, does yet properly refer 
 to the events of the last times, which immediately pre- 
 cede the establishment of the kingdom of Christ. The 
 solemn and affectionate counsel which is addressed in 
 the above Psalm, to the kings and rulers of nations, 
 belongs therefore, in an especial manner, to the pre- 
 sent period. * Be wise now, therefore, O ye kings, 
 be instructed ye judges of the earth ; serve the Lord 
 with fear, and rejoice with trembling. -Kiss the Son 
 lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when 
 his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they 
 that put their trust in him.' " p. 3673/2.
 
 

 
 NOTES. 
 
 . : : ' : " 
 
 I
 
 
 V
 
 NOTES. 
 
 NOTE A. 
 
 p. 100. THE original reading is here restored from the first 
 edition. 
 
 NOTE B. 
 
 p. 132. This was probably the last production of this 
 heavenly-minded and deeply experienced Christian : he died about 
 six weeks after the date affixed to it, viz. upon the eighth of the 
 eighth month, 1679. It has often occurred to me, and I will 
 now take the liberty of suggesting it, that a judicious selection 
 from the writings of this friend, would prove a very acceptable 
 present to many individuals in our Society, who are now precluded 
 by the expence of two quarto volumes from obtaining any 
 acquaintance with them. 
 
 NOTE C. 
 
 p. 142. This ancient and faithful soldier in the Lamb's 
 warfare departed this life in the year 1 699, and the eighty-second 
 of his age. " About three weeks before his death," says Sewel 
 (Hist. vol. 2, p. 547) " though he was weak in body, yet he 
 " said powerfully, and after a prophetical manner, ' Truth must 
 " prosper ; truth shall prosper ; but a trying time must first 
 " come, and afterwards the glory of the Lord shall more and 
 " more appear.' "
 
 342 NOTES. 
 
 NOTE D. 
 
 p. 194. The remarkable coincidence of the following 
 
 interesting narrative with some of the preceding declarations, 
 and the highly respectable authority from which it proceeds, have 
 induced the Editor to give it a place here. It is extracted from 
 a work entitled, "The Life and Studies of BENJAMIN WEST, 
 Esq. President of the Royal Academy of London, Prior to his 
 Arrival in England ; Compiled from Materials Furnished by 
 Himself, By John Gait. London: Cadell and Davies, 1816." 
 
 " In the autumn of 1738, Edmund Peckover, a celebrated 
 " orator among the Quakers, came to the neighbourhood of 
 " Springfield, and on the 28th of September preached in a 
 " meeting-house erected by the father of Mrs. West at the dis- 
 f< tance of about a mile and a half from his residence. Mrs. 
 " West was then the mother of nine children, and far advanced 
 te in her pregnancy with Benjamin. Peckover possessed the most 
 " essential qualities of an impressive speaker, and on this occasion 
 " the subject of his address was of extraordinary interest to his 
 tf auditors. He reviewed the rise and progress of society in Ame- 
 " rica, and with an enthusiastic eloquence which partook of the 
 <e sublimity and vehemence of the prophetic spirit, he predicted 
 <c the future greatness of the country. He described the condition 
 " of the European nations, decrepid in their institutions, and 
 " corrupt in their morality, and contrasted them with the young 
 f ' and flourishing establishments of the New World. He held up 
 " to their abhorrence the licentious manners and atheistical prin- 
 " ciples of the Court of France, where God was disregarded 
 " or forgotten ; and, elevated by the importance of his subject, 
 " he described the Almighty as mustering his wrath to descend 
 " on the nation, and disperse it as chaff in a whirlwind. He 
 " called on them to look towards their home of England, and 
 " to see with what eager devotion the inhabitants of that illus- 
 " trious countiy worshipped the golden image of Commerce, 
 ff and laid the tribute of all their thoughts on its altars ; believing 
 ' ' that with the power of the idol alone., they should be able to 
 " encounter all calamities. ' The day and the hour, are, how- 
 " ever, hastening on, when the image shall be shaken from its 
 ff pedestal by the tempest of Jehovah's descending vengeance, 
 " its altars shall be overturned, and the worshippers terribly 
 " convinced that without the favour of the Almighty God there
 
 NOTES. 343 
 
 fc is no wisdom in man ! But,' continued this impassioned orator, 
 " ' from the woes and the crimes of Europe let us turn aside our 
 " eyes ; let us turn from the worshippers of Commerce, clinging 
 " round their idols of gold and silver, and, amidst the wrath, 
 " the storm, and the thunder, endeavouring to support them ; 
 *' let us not look at the land of blasphemies ; for in the crushing 
 " of engines, the gushing of blood, and the shrieking of wit- 
 " nesses more to be pitied than the victims, the activity of God's 
 " purifying displeasure will be heard j while turning our eyes 
 " towards the mountains of this New World, the forests shall 
 " be seen fading away, cities rising along the shores, and the 
 " terrified nations of Europe flying out of the smoke and the 
 " burning to find refuge here.' " p. 6. 
 
 It may not be unacceptable to the reader to place before him 
 the following testimonial respecting the minister here referred to, 
 our friend Edmund Peckover, viz. 
 
 " He was indeed an elder worthy of double honour, being of 
 " an exemplary life and unstained character, and in the exercise 
 " of his gift, frequently opened and enlarged in divine counsel, 
 " and as a cloud filled with ccelestial rain, to the reviving and 
 " refreshment of the living heritage of Godj zealous for the 
 " prosperity of the church, and for the ingathering of all, he 
 " spared not to spend himself in the strength of his days j and 
 11 divine goodness was pleased to preserve him a strong man, and 
 " an able minister, for a long course of years. He usually 
 " delivered himself with great fervency, in the flowing forth of 
 " divine love upon his spirit." 
 
 Piety Promoted, Edit. 1789, vol. 3, p. 221. 
 
 NOTE E. 
 
 p. 220. He was, at this period, about 28 years of age, and 
 kept a boarding-school at Skipton. 
 
 NOTE F. 
 
 p. 232. There is an extract from this letter in the printed 
 Memoirs of Mary Peisley's Life, with which the Editor collated 
 his MS. some years since 5 and, as far as his recollection serves
 
 NOTES. 
 
 him, the variations between them are not considerable : to account 
 for such as may be found to exist, he must acknowledge that he 
 neglected to note them at the time, and has not now the printed 
 *york at hand. 
 
 NOTE G. 
 
 p. 240. As Sewel has given only a partial account of Arch- 
 bishop Usher's prophecy, it is here subjoined entire, extracted 
 from the Biographia Brittanica, vol.6, part 1, p. 4079 : yet as 
 our friend John Churchman speaks of the coincidence of his ap- 
 prehensions with the prediction as related by Sewel, the reader 
 will be* careful not to extend that coincidence to any part of it 
 which is not mentioned by that author. 
 
 " With regard to his predicting the restoration from the wicked- 
 " ness of the tunes and the prevalence of popery, we shall present 
 " the reader with the following particular account from a manu- 
 " script in the Musaeum Thoresbianum, intitled, The Predictions 
 " of that learned and holy man, Bishop Usher." 
 
 <c That year wherein he died [1656], being asked by a gentle- 
 ff man ' what his present apprehensions were of a very great 
 tf persecution that would fall upon the church of Christ in these 
 " nations of England, Scotland, and Ireland (concerning which 
 " he had ever confidently spoken many years past, when we were 
 *.' in the fullest peace and settlement) whether he did not believe 
 " these sad times to be passed, or whether yet to come?' He 
 " told me they were yet to come, and that he did as confidently 
 " expect them as ever he had done. That they would fall upon 
 " ourselves, the Protestant churches in Europe. I answered, I 
 " hoped they might have been passed as to this nation, since that 
 " I thought, though we in them had been punished less than our 
 " sins deserved, and that the wars had left much less devastation 
 " than by that means had been brought upon other countries, yet 
 " many a house, fair and great, had been left without inhabitants, 
 " many a family had been impoverished, and many thousand lives 
 ' ' lost in that war ; that Ireland and Scotland had drank deep of 
 "the cup of God's anger, to the overthrow of government, and 
 " almost utter destruction of a great part of those nations." 
 
 " He turning to me, and fixing his eyes with that ireful look 
 f ' which he used to have when he spake God's words, and not his
 
 NOTES. 345 
 
 " own, and the power of God upon him to constrain him so to do, 
 " Fool not yourself with such hopes ; for, I tell you, all that you 
 fj have yet seen have been but the beginning of sorrows to what 
 '' is yet to come upon the Protestant churches of Christ ; which 
 " shall, e'er long, fall under sharper persecutions than ever yet 
 " hath been upon them. And therefore, said he to me, look you 
 " be not found in the outer court, but a worshipper in the temple 
 " before the altar j for Christ will measure all that profess his 
 " name, and call themselves his people, and the outward wor. 
 " shippers he will leave to be trodden down by the Gentiles." 
 
 " The outward court, said he, is the formal Christians, whose 
 " religion stands in performing the outside duties of Christianity, 
 " without having an inward life and power of faith and love 
 " uniting them to Christ ; these God will leave to be trodden 
 " down and swept away by the Gentiles. But the worshippers 
 " within the temple and before the altar are those who worship 
 " God in spirit and truth, whose souls are made his temples, 
 " where he is honoured and adored in the most inward thoughts 
 " they have, and who sacrifice their lusts and foul affections in 
 (C their own wills to him. God will hide them in the hollow of his 
 " hand and under the shadow of his wings. And that will be one 
 f< great difference between these last and all other preceding per- 
 " secutions : In them the most eminent and spiritual ministers 
 " were, first or last, violently fallen upon ; but in this last, these 
 11 will be preserved by God, as a seed of that glory that shall 
 " immediately fall to the church as soon as these storms are over ; 
 " for as they will be the sharpest, so they will be but short, and 
 " shall take away but the gross hypocrites and formalists, while 
 " the true spiritual believers shall be preserved till the calamity 
 " be past." 
 
 " I then asked him by what instruments this great trial would 
 " be brought on. He answered, by the Papists. I replied, that 
 " seemed to me very improbable, since they were less counte- 
 " nanced, and less in number in these nations, and the hearts of 
 " the people were more set against them, than ever since the 
 " Reformation. He answered that it would be by their hands, 
 " and in the way of a sudden massacre, and that the now Pope 
 " would be the instrument of it. And these things he spoke with 
 " the assurance and ireful look that I have observed him to speak 
 " with, when I have heard him myself predict things very un- 
 ." likely, in human appearance, to come, which I myself had then
 
 346 NOTES. 
 
 " lived to see happen according to his predictions ; which made me 
 " give the more attention to what he uttered." 
 
 " And he then added, that the Papists were, in his opinion, the 
 " Gentiles spoken of in Rev. ii. to whom the outward court should 
 " be left, that they may tread it under foot, they having received 
 " the gentile worship in their adoring images and saints departed, 
 " and taken to themselves many mediators. And this, said he, 
 " is now designing among them, and therefore look you be ready." 
 
 " This was the substance, and, for the greatest part (I think) 
 " the words themselves, which that holy man spake to me at the 
 " time beforementioned, which I set down, that so great a pre- 
 " diction may not be lost to myself or others." 
 
 Many persons will, perhaps, be disposed entirly to disregard the 
 prediction of this pious prelate, on account of his misapprehension 
 of the time designated for its accomplishment ; and the Editor is 
 aware, that to express any expectation of it, might be considered 
 as a calumny upon those who now constitute, the Roman Catholic 
 Church, amongst whom he has no doubt there are many pious 
 persons j yet a reference to history, and even to some recent 
 events, must apologize for the uneasiness which he feels, and will 
 justify him in wishing, in common with many others, to see an 
 official and explicit renunciation of principles upon which that 
 church has, in times past, acted, and which, as it appears, she 
 still holds. 
 
 Amongst the recent events may be noticed, the republication, 
 in Ireland, of the Rhemish Testament, with such annotations as 
 the following : 
 
 " That though the Son of God rebuked his disciples, for pro- 
 " posing to invoke fire from heaven, against the Samaritans, as 
 " Elias had done, yet that Elias's act was not reprehended, nor 
 ?' the church, nor Christian princes blamed for putting heretics 
 " to death." Luke ix. 55. 
 
 " The good must tolerate the evil, when it is so strong that it 
 " cannot be redressed without danger or disturbance of the whole 
 <( church, and commit the matter to God's judgment in the latter 
 " day : otherwise, where evil men, be they heretics, or other 
 " malefactors, may be punished and suppressed, without distur- 
 " bance and hazard of the good, they MAY AND OUGHT BY PUBLIC 
 
 " AUTHORITY, EITHER SPIRITUAL OR TEMPORAL, TO BE CHASTISED 
 
 " OR EXECUTED." Matt. xiii. 29. 
 
 Not having succeeded in my endeavours to obtain a copy of the
 
 NOTES. 
 
 late edition of this work, the above quotations are selected from 
 several which are given in the British Critic for September, 1817, 
 partly because they are expressed in nearly the same words in a 
 copy in my possession, published in London, in 1617, with 
 Fulke's Confutation. 
 
 The extracts which follow are amongst many others given in 
 the British Critic, as above. 
 
 " The prayer of a Protestant cannot be heard by Heaven." 
 " That the translators of the English Protestant Bible, ought 
 " to be abhorred to the depths of hell." Heb. v. 7. 
 
 " That when Rome puts heretics (i. e. Protestants) TO DEATH, 
 tf and ALLOWS THEIR PUNISHMENT IN OTHER COUNTRIES, their 
 " blood is not called the blood of saints, no more than the blood 
 "of thieves, man- killers, and other malefactors, for the shedding 
 " of which, by order of justice, no common- wealth shall answer." 
 Rev. xvii. 6 xxii. 18. 
 
 ' ' That the zeal of a catholic man ought to be so great toward 
 " all heretics and their doctrines, that he should give them the 
 '' curse the execration the anathema though they were never 
 *' so dear to him though they were his parents." 
 
 This Work professes to be published under the patronage of 
 Dr. Troy, the Titular Archbishop of Dublin " Corrected and 
 Revised, and approved of by the Most Rev. Dr. Troy, R. C. Arch- 
 bishop of Dublin." The title-page bears the date of 1816, yet, as 
 stated in the British Critic for Feb. 1818, it appeared originally in 
 Numbers, at least as early as 1813, and had such an extensive 
 circulation, that an advertisement accompanies the tenth Number, 
 announcing that the addition of two thousand new subscribers had 
 made it necessary to have all the numbers from I. to X. reprinted. 
 It is, indeed, very extraordinary, that, under these circumstances, 
 the work should have been " entirely unnoticed by Dr. Troy or 
 any other member of the Catholic hierarchy," until Oct. 24th, 
 1817, upon which day Dr. Troy published his " Declaration," con- 
 taining a disavowal of his approbation of the work, a few days 
 after, as it appears in evidence, Dr. Troy had seen the animadver- 
 sions in the British Critic of September. Upon the appearance 
 of this "Declaration," Richard Coyne, the publisher, to clear his 
 character from the implied charge of having forged Dr. T.'s 
 approval, gives to the world a plain statement of facts without 
 any comment, which must be allowed to place Dr. T. in a very 
 unpleasant predicament. But not to go into the particulars of
 
 NOTES. 
 
 this controversy, important as it is, and of which the reader 
 will find a very distinct account in the British Critic for February, 
 1818, the disavowal on the part of Dr. Troy of the sentiments 
 inculcated in the Rhemish Testament, even if unaccompanied by 
 the direct contradiction and other suspicious circumstances by 
 which it is at present impugned, appears to be of very little 
 consequence so long as he maintains the same sentiments when met 
 with in another place. Dr. Troy, in his "Pastoral Instructions," 
 has directed Protestants to "judge of the civil and religious 
 principles" of Roman Catholics, by the " doctrinal decisions of 
 their GENERAL COUNCILS." He has likewise stated it as an 
 article of Catholic faith, " that the Church of Christ is infallible 
 in her doctrinal decisions and canons," and that " Catholics there- 
 fore are obliged to adhere implicitly to such decrees and canons." 
 Now, in the decisions of these General Councils, it is stated by 
 the writer in the British Critic, we find "every thing asserted, 
 which is asserted in the Rhemish Notes j" " the persecution, nay, 
 even the extermination, of heretics, that is of their Protestant 
 brethren, is inculcated j" and, in proof of this, an ample extract 
 is given from the fourth Lateran, which is one of the most 
 esteemed of their General Councils, and the doctrines of which 
 are " most fully and decisively confirmed by the great council of 
 Trent." If Dr. Troy has publicly rejected the Notes in the 
 Rhemish Testament, as " appearing to countenance opinions and 
 " doctrines, which," he says, " in common with the other Roman 
 " Catholics of the Empire, I have solemnly disclaimed upon oath," 
 is he prepared in like manner to reject and disavow the same 
 opinions and doctrines when expressed in the decisions of General 
 Councils, to the belief and observance of which, he has, I pre- 
 sume in common with every other Roman Catholic Priest, also 
 solemnly sworn ? to which it may be added he has informed us, 
 "Catholics are obliged implicitly to adhere;" and, by which, 
 '-' he wishes Protestants may judge of the civil and religious 
 principles of Roman Catholics." Or, will he say, of two contra- 
 dictory oaths, which, or whether either of them, is to be considered 
 as binding. 
 
 It is true that many individuals of the Roman Catholic Com- 
 munion, besides Dr. Troy, have expressed their disapprobation 
 of the principles inculcated in the Rhemish Testament. The 
 subjoined extract from the Works of Bishop Porteous may assist 
 us in estimating the value of these protestations : It is taken
 
 NOTES. 
 
 from a statement drawn up by that prelate upon the agitation 
 in Parliament of the question of Catholic Emancipation in the 
 year 1805. 
 
 " I believe that it would be difficult to produce a single instance, 
 " where they [the Roman Catholics] have possessed political 
 "power in a Protestant country, without using it cruelly and 
 " tyrannically. And this indeed follows necessarily from the 
 " very doctrines of their church, several of which are well known 
 "to be hostile not only to the Protestant Religion, but to a 
 " Protestant Government. It has been said, indeed, that these 
 " are not now the tenets of the Church of Rome ; that they may 
 " be found perhaps ' in some old musty records,' but that they 
 " are now grown obsolete and invalid, and are held in utter 
 " detestation by the whole body of Roman Catholics both in 
 " England and Ireland. But those ' musty records,' in which 
 " these doctrines appear, are nothing less than the decrees of 
 " general councils confirmed by the Pope ; and Dr. Troy, Titular 
 " Archbishop of Dublin, in his pastoral instructions to the Roman 
 " Catholics of his diocese, published in 1793, tells his flock 
 " that ' they must adhere implicitly to decrees and canons of the 
 " church assembled in general councils and confirmed by the 
 " Pope' ; and the celebrated lay Roman Catholic writer, Mr. 
 " Plowden, in his 'Case stated,' published in 1791, maintains 
 " the same doctrine, and the infallibility of general councils- 
 " These therefore are unquestionably at this day the tenets of 
 " their church ; they have never been renounced or disavowed j 
 f( arid, till they are so disavowed by authority, every good 
 " Catholic is bound to obey them." 
 
 " It is true, that they have been renounced by the Petitioners 
 " from Ireland : but they can renounce them only for themselves ; 
 " they cannot renounce them for the whole body of Catholics 
 " in that country j and this renunciation besides comes unaccom- 
 " panied by any competent authority. It is neither authorized 
 " by the Pope, by a general council, by their bishops, or by 
 tf their clergy. On the contrary, it is very remarkable, that not 
 <c one of the latter signed the petition ; and one cannot therefore 
 " help fearing that the same thing may happen in this case that 
 " happened in 1793, when the Lords Petre, Stourton, and 
 " many other Roman Catholic gentlemen, on applying to Parlia- 
 " ment for further indulgence, made the same renunciation of 
 " the same obnoxious doctrines, that appears in the Irish Petition.
 
 350 NOTES. 
 
 " The church of Rome immediately took the alarm, and an- 
 " nounced their entire disapprobation of that measure by her 
 " Apostolical Vicar in England, who wrote an energetic letter 
 1 " to those gentlemen, condemning what they had done ; and that 
 " condemnation was sanctioned by the Pope, and by all the 
 " Catholic bishops in this country and in Scotland." Life of 
 the Right Rev. Beilbey Porteous, D. D. Late Bishop of London. 
 By the Rev. Robert Hodgson, A.M. F.R.S. London, 1811. 
 p. 201204. 
 
 Under my present views of this subject, I have no hesitation 
 in adopting the language of the Dean of Carlisle, Dr. I. Millner, 
 as expressed at p. 396, of his ff Strictures on some of the 
 Publications of the Rev. Herbert Marsh, D.D. London: 1813." 
 
 " I am far from being willing to incur the imputation of being 
 " an alarmist ; yet I cannot deny that enough has already hap- 
 " pened to convince me that the period may be at no great distance 
 tf when churchmen, and especially the clergy, may be called 
 fc upon to give their testimony to the excellence of the contents 
 " of their Prayer-book under very different circumstances from the 
 " present." 
 
 [To this note, already undesirably long, it is thought proper 
 to add the following extract from the third chapter of the fourth 
 Lateran Council ; in which the implacable disposition of the 
 Church of Rome, not only towards Heretics, that is, Protestants, 
 but also towards such of their own communion as shall harbour 
 them, or even favour their cause, is explicitly avowed. 
 
 " Moneantur autem et inducantur, et, si necesse fuerit, per 
 " censuram ecclesiasticam COMPELLANTUK sseculares potestates, 
 " quibuscunque fungantur officiis, ut sicut reputari cupiunt et 
 " haberi fideles, ita pro defensione fidei praestent publice jura- 
 " mentum, quod de terris suae jurisdiction! subjectis universos 
 " h&reticos ab Ecclesia denotatos, bona fide pro viribus EXTERMI- 
 tf NARE studebunt, ita quodamodo, quandocunque quis fuerit in 
 " potestatem sive spiritualem sive temporalem assumptus, hoc 
 " teneatur capitulum juramento firmare." 
 
 ' f Si verb dominus temporalis requisitus et monitus ab Ecclesia, 
 " terram suam purgare neglexerit ab hac h&retica FCEDITATE per 
 " metropolitanum et caeteros comprovinciales Episcopos excom. 
 " municationis vinculo innodetur. Et, si satisfacere contempserit 
 " infra annum, significetur hoc summo Pontifici ; ut extunc ipse
 
 NOTES: 351 
 
 ' vasallos ab ejus fidelitate denuntiet absolutos, et terram exponat 
 " catholicis occupandam, qui earn exterminatis hareticis sine ulla 
 " contradictions possideant, et in fidei puritate conservent, salvo 
 " jure domini principalis, dummodo super hoc ipse nullum praestet 
 " obstaculum, nee aliquod impedimentum opponat, eadem nihi- 
 " lominus lege servata circa eos, qui non habent dominos prin- 
 " cipales." 
 
 " Catholic! verb, qui crucis assumpto charactere ad haereticorum 
 " exterminium se accinxerint, ilia gaudeant indulgentia, illoque 
 " sancto privilegio sint muniti, quod accedentibus in Terrae 
 " sanctas subsidium conceditur." 
 
 " Credentes vero, praeterea receptores, defensores, et fautores 
 " haereticorum, excommunicationi decernimus subiacere, firmiter 
 " statuentes, ut postquam quis talium fuerit exconimunicatione 
 ff notatus, si satisfacere contempserit infra annum, extunc ipso 
 "jure sit factus infamis, nee ad publica officia seu consilia, nee 
 " ad eligendos aliquos ad hujusmodi, nee ad testimonium ad- 
 " mittatur. Sit etiam intestabilis, ut nee testandi liberam habeat 
 te facultatem, nee ad hasreditatis successionem accedat. Nullus 
 " prasterea ipsi super quocunque negotio, sed ipse aliis respondere 
 " cogatur. Quod si fort^ judex extiterit, ejus sententia nullam 
 " obtineat firmitatem, nee causae aliquae ad ejus audientiam 
 " perferantur. Si fuerit advocatus, ejus patrocinium nullatenus 
 " admittatur. Si tabellio, ejus instumenta confecta per ipsum 
 <e nullius penitus sint momenti, sed cum auctore damnato dam- 
 " nentur. Et in similibus idem prascipimus observari. Si verd 
 " clericus fuerit, ab omni officio et beneficio deponatur, ut in 
 " quo major est culpa gravior exerceatur vindicta." 
 
 " Si qui autem tales, postquam ab Ecclesia denotati fuerint, 
 " evitare contempserint, excommunicationis sententia usque ad" 
 " satisfactionem idoneam percellantur. Sane clerici non exhibeant 
 " hujusmodi pestilentibus ecclesiastica sacramenta, nee eos Christ- 
 " iante pr&sumant sepultures tradere, nee eleemosynas out obla- 
 " tiones eorum accipiant."] 
 
 The reader, it is hoped, will judge for himself of the im- 
 portance of the facts adverted to in this note, and of their rele- 
 vance in relation to the object for which alone, upon this occasion, 
 they have been brought forward, Premonition: yet as they are 
 brought forward by the writers from whom they are cited, with 
 another object, with the intention of influencing the public
 
 352 NOTES. 
 
 opinion upon a subject with which the Editor has at present no 
 concern, what is termed the Catholic Question, it may not be 
 improper to caution the reader against inadvertently attributing 
 to him the same sentiments upon this subject, as are avowed by 
 the individuals by whom these facts have been thus brought 
 forward. Upon this subject of " Catholic Emancipation" he does 
 not conceive himself called upon to give an opinion} nor, con- 
 nected as he is with a religious Society, whose tenets are con- 
 sidered by the government as a disqualification for possessing 
 legislative power, does it appear necessary that he should even 
 have an opinion to give. He may, however, be permitted to 
 observe in general terms, in reference to the right determination 
 of this question, that it is incumbent upon all who profess the 
 Christian religion, on no occasion to lose sight of its injunctions } 
 in no case to render evil for evil, but so to do unto others as they 
 would that others should do unto them ; and as we cannot consider 
 ourselves at liberty to do evil that good may come, so, neither, 
 perhaps, will it be readily admitted, that we are at liberty even 
 to refrain from doing good lest evil come. See James iv. 17 ; Matt. 
 v. 44 48 j Prov. iii. 27. 
 
 NOTE H. 
 
 p. 241. A similar belief was expressed by the Bishop of 
 Landaff, in the House of Lords, in the discussion of a proposed 
 
 Commercial Treaty with France, anno 1787. " Would to 
 
 " God, my Lords, that the spirit of the Christian religion would 
 " exert its influence over the hearts of individuals in their public 
 " capacity, as much as, we trust, it does over their conduct in 
 " private life ; then would revenge, avarice, and ambition, which 
 " have fattened the earth with the blood of her children, be banished 
 " from the councils of princes, and there would be no more war. 
 " The time will come, the prophet hath said it, and I believe it, the 
 " time will assuredly come, when nation, literally speaking, shall 
 " no longer lift up hand against nation. No man will rejoice, 
 " my Lords, more than I shall, to see the time when peace shall 
 " depend on an obedience to the benevolent principles of the 
 " Gospel ; but whilst it is simply made to depend on the selfish 
 " prospects of commercial policy, I can have no confidence in 
 " its continuance." Anecdotes of the Life of Richard Watson, 
 Bishop of Landaf, 4to. \8\7.p. 168.
 
 NOTES. 353 
 
 The reader is probably aware, that the Christian testimony 
 against war, which our religious Society has been, from its earliest 
 origin, the honoured instrument of bearing to the world, is, at 
 length, through divine mercy, making such progress in the minds 
 of people, that societies, under the denomination of " Peace 
 Societies," for shewing the inconsistency of war with the spirit 
 of the Gospel of Christ, have been for some time established in 
 America, and are now spreading in Europe. 
 
 The following letters from the Emperor of Russia and Prince 
 Gallitzin, on this subject, although in general circulation, possess 
 too much interest to be omitted here. 
 
 " To the Rev. Noah Worcester, Secretary of the Massachusetts 
 Peace Society. 
 
 " SIR, Your letter in behalf of the Massachusetts Peace 
 " Society, with the books accompanying it, were received. The 
 " object which this philanthropic institution has in view, the 
 " dissemination of the principles of peace and amity among men, 
 " meets my cordial approbation. My endeavours to procure peace 
 " and good-will among nations are already known ; and the power 
 " and influence which Almighty God has committed to me, shall 
 " ever be employed, I trust, in striving to secure to the nations 
 ** the blessings of that peace which they now enjoy. 
 
 " Considering the object of your Society, the promotion of 
 tf peace among mankind, as one eminently congenial to the spirit 
 " -of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, I have judged it proper to ex- 
 " press these my sentiments respecting your labours in answer tq 
 " your communication to me on this subject. 
 
 \* ALEXANDER." > 
 
 " St. Petersburgh, July 4, 1817." 
 
 " SIR, I received your letter of the 9th of April, -with the 
 " Numbers of the " Friend of Peace" accompanying it, for 
 " which 1 return you my hearty thanks. The object which your 
 " society has in view is of great importance to the well-being and 
 " happiness of the human race. Indeed it seems to me to be 
 <f almost the same as that of Bible Societies ; for it is only in 
 f f proportion as the divine and peaceable principles of the Gospel 
 " of Jesus Christ prevail in the hearts of men, that lasting and 
 " universal peace can be expected. A blessed period is promised 
 ' iu the word of God, when men shall learn the art of war nu 
 
 A a
 
 354 NOTES. 
 
 " more. This period I understand to be the same as that in 
 " which it is prophesied that all men shall know the Lord, even 
 " from the least unto the greatest, and that the earth shall be full 
 " of the knowledge of the Lord? These latter promises seem to 
 ' ' be daily fulfilling in every quarter of the world, by the exertion 
 " of Bible and other Christian Societies to disseminate among 
 " men the saving and pacific principles of Jesus Christ. They 
 " are preparing the way for your Society's gaining its object 
 " peace universal peace, when men shall learn the art of war 
 " no more. Most earnestly praying for every blessing to accom- 
 " pany your labour, in promoting peace on earth and good-will 
 " among men, I shall reckon it a peculiar honour to be among the 
 <f members of such a humane society. 
 
 " I remain, Sir, 
 " Your most obedient servant, 
 
 " PRINCE ALEX. GALLITZIN." 
 
 NOTE I. 
 
 p. 245. This sentiment will be repeatedly met with in the 
 course of these Extracts. It occurs also amongst the last ex. 
 pressions of our Friend Joseph White, of the Falls Monthly 
 Meeting, in Bucks County, North America, of whose triumphant 
 close a remarkable account is preserved in a Testimony from the 
 said monthly meeting concerning him, subjoined to John Church- 
 man's Journal. 
 
 " I have for some time," said this highly-favoured man, 
 tc believed and lived in the hopes thereof, and am now in measure 
 " confirmed, of more glorious things yet to be revealed to the 
 " church of Christ, and that further and greater discoveries will 
 tf yet be made, with respect to the Christian religion, than ever 
 " yet have been since the apostasy." 
 
 Thus also William Penn ; " God is and will be with his 
 f( people, in this holy dispensation we are now under, and which 
 " is now amongst us, unto the end of days : it shall grow and 
 ( ' increase in gifts, graces, power, and lustre ; for it is the last 
 <f and unchangeable one." Fruits of a Father's Love, chap. 1, 
 sec. 5. 
 
 The Editor, it is hoped, will be excused in remarking, that 
 until these gracious " discoveries" shall be made, it seems most
 
 NOTES. 355 
 
 safe, as well as most becoming our weak and dependent state, 
 not to attempt to be wise " above that which is written." 
 
 NOTE K. 
 
 p. 256. A Proclamation with a similar title and preamble 
 was issued in the first year of the present reign, 1760. 
 
 NOTE L. 
 
 p. 258. It is not difficult to apprehend what the Archdeacon 
 would wish to be understood by the expression, " Apostolical 
 Church j" and, perhaps, he would not choose to be reminded of the 
 definition of " the visible church of Christ," given in the XlXth 
 Article ; as this church is there affirmed to be " a congregation of 
 faithful men," and the bulk of those who compose the Church of 
 England, have, if his description of them is correct, no pretensions 
 to that character : nor would the definition given in the Homilies, 
 of "the true church," be much more favourable} one of the 
 " three notes or marks whereby it is known," and which such a 
 church is there asserted " ALWAYS" to possess, being "the right 
 use of ecclesiastical discipline," which is still a desideratum in the 
 Church of England ; and so, annually, upon the first day of Lent, 
 acknowledged to be by the said Church. 
 
 If, by the words, " Apostolical Church," the Archdeacon 
 intends the Clergy, as the legitimate successors of the Apostles, 
 he may recollect the sentiments of the great Locke upon this 
 subject. " Some, perhaps, may object, that no such society [as 
 " the voluntary society before- mentioned] can be said to be a 
 " true church, unless it have in it a bishop, or presbyter, with 
 " ruling authority, derived from the very apostles, and continued 
 " down unto the present times, by an uninterrupted succession. 
 
 " To these I answer, in the first place, Let them shew me the 
 *' edict, by which Christ has imposed that law upon his church j 
 " and let not any man think me impertinent, if, in a thing of this 
 " consequence, I require that the terms of that edict be very 
 ff express and positive : for the promise he has made us, that 
 " ' wheresoever two or three are gathered together in his name, he 
 " will be in the midst of them,' seems to imply the contrary.
 
 NOTES. 
 
 " Whether such an assembly want any thing necessary to a true 
 " church, pray do you consider. Certain I am, that no thing can 
 " be there wanting unto the salvation of souls ; which is sufficient 
 " to our purpose." Locke's Works, Edit. 1/40. vol. 2, p. 254. 
 (First Letter on Toleration.^ 
 
 For some curious information on the manner in which this 
 succession has been kept up, the reader will do well to consult 
 the "Appendix" to Dr. Whitby's eleventh sermon, on Matt. xii. 7. 
 " Ritual Observations to give place to Charity." Some informa- 
 tion on this subject is also given in the " Homily for Whitsunday," 
 part the second. 
 
 NOTE M. 
 
 p. 258. The melancholy picture which the Archdeacon has 
 drawn of the state of religious principle and morals in this highly 
 professing and much-favoured country, unhappily is not new. 
 Almost half a century ago, Archdeacon Cooper, amongst others, 
 could allow himself the use of language scarcely less strong. 
 " A spirit of idleness and dissipation," says this clergyman, " of 
 " luxury and intemperance hath pervaded, and, in some sort, 
 " infected all ranks and degrees of people. A TOTAL attention 
 " to the pleasures of this world, an ENTIRE neglect of the mo- 
 " mentous concerns of the next, a disregard, nay, I fear, a 
 " disbelief of the great principles of Christianity, are the dis- 
 " tinguishing characteristics of the present age." p. 5. 
 
 " The moral virtues are lightly esteemed. Covenants, 
 
 " bonds, suretyships, oaths, are considered as unimportant. 
 " Protestations, promises, solemn engagements, even those con- 
 " tracted at the altar itself, are made without affection, and 
 " dissolved without remorse." p. 8. A Charge delivered at York, 
 May 7, 1 778, to the Clergy of his ArcMeaconry, by William 
 Cooper, D. D. F. R. S. Archdeacon of York. 
 
 Nor is it confined to England. Dr. Leland, in his " Sermon 
 .at St. Anne's Church, Dublin," about the same period, viz. 
 Feb. 10th, 1779, at p. 11, says, "Shall he, who is to bear 
 " testimony against every transgression, speak ' smooth things,' 
 **' to the dissolute excesses of our lower orders, to die indifference 
 " and insensibility of their immediate superiours, to the prevailing 
 "defiance of EVEBY religious motive, and contempt of EVERY
 
 NOTES. 357 
 
 " sacred truth, the scorn of EVERY moral principle, and the 
 " licentiousness so headstrong, and so shamefully undisguised, 
 " which have rendered the exalted of our people vile in the sight 
 " of God and man ?" 
 
 Archbishop Seeker appears to have anticipated this state of 
 things: He thus expresses himself ; "An open disregard to religion 
 tf is become, through a variety of unhappy causes, the distin- 
 " guishing character of the present age. This evil is grown to 
 " a great height in the metropolis of the nation, is daily spreading 
 " through every part of it, bringing in such dissoluteness and 
 " contempt of principle in the higher part of the world, and 
 " such profligate intemperance and fearlessness of committing 
 " crimes in the lower, as must, if this torrent of impiety stop 
 " not, become absolutely fatal ; and God knows, far from stop- 
 " ping, it receives, through the ill designs of some, and the 
 " inconsiderateness of others, continual increase." Cited by Tow- 
 good, Dissent, p. 269. 
 
 Even the Quarterly Reviewers, although in general tremblingly 
 alive to the interests of our Ecclesiastical Establishment, and 
 untired in its praise, incautiously perhaps, yet not unfrequently, 
 suffer a similar representation to escape them. 
 
 " ' Two thirds of the lower order of people in London,' 
 " Sir Thomas Bernard says, ' live as utterly ignorant of the 
 " doctrines and duties of Christianity, and are as errant and 
 " unconverted pagans, as if they had existed in the wildest part 
 " of Africa.' The case is the same," say these Reviewers, " in 
 " Manchester, Leeds, Bristol, Sheffield, and in all our large 
 " towns ; the greatest part of the manufacturing populace, of the 
 " miners and colliers, are in the same condition, and if they are 
 " not universally so, it is more owing to the zeal of the Meth- 
 '.' odists than to any other cause." Quart. Rev. April, 1816, 
 p. 233. 
 
 Yet, notwithstanding this state of things, the Archdeacon has 
 employed nearly the whole of his elaborate Charge and Appendix, 
 occupying ninety-nine closely printed quarto pages, in an attempt 
 to expose the tendency of the Bible Society to weaken the attach- 
 ment of our population to the cause of Religion. This requires 
 no explanation. The state of our population, by his own shewing, 
 is so desperate, that, were the giving of a Bible to a poor man, 
 even through the joint ministration of Churchmen and Dissenters, 
 a more ambiguous remedy than 1 am disposed to admit, we
 
 358 NOTES. 
 
 ought not to be deterred from adopting it. And the Archdeacon 
 should recollect, that it is not the maintenance of an expensive, 
 and, as himself and his brethren seem desirous of convincing 
 us, an inefficient Establishment, but that it is, RIGHTEOUSNESS 
 which exalteth a nation, whilst SIN is a reproach to any people. 
 He might consider the state of this country as admitted in his 
 Charge the unchristianlike lawlessness, the contempt of duty, 
 of order, and of that restraint which religion imposes upon the 
 passions of men, and which, he asserts, have pervaded all ranks 
 amongst us ; he might consider these things in connexion with 
 the awful, but very just declarations and acknowledgments in the 
 preceding royal Proclamations, and tremble, I do not say, 
 for the security of his order, but for the security of the entire 
 nation. Let us not be deceived. Assuredly, GOD neither is nor 
 will be mocked. The Archdeacon tells us what we are sowing ; 
 we have been long since told by higher authority, *' Whatsoever 
 " a man soweth, that shall he also reap." 
 
 NOTE N. 
 > 
 
 p. 259. It can be no cause of surprise that the main body of 
 the clergy should have appeared dead and lifeless to this pious 
 Bishop, if we advert to the information which himself has furnished 
 us with in his "Discourse of the Pastoral Care," as cited at p. 
 261 et seq. of this work : and notwithstanding the numerous 
 examples of genuine piety and zeal, which have, of later years, 
 arisen in the Church of England, there is too much reason to 
 fear, that the same causes continue, generally, to produce the same 
 effect. Many melancholy instances might be adduced of those who 
 style themselves Ministers of Christ discovering such unacquaint- 
 ance with the spirituality of the Gospel dispensation, not to speak 
 of the qualifications and duties inseparable from the office of a 
 Gospel-Minister, (1 Pet. iv. 10, 11.) that the want of true ani- 
 mation and zeal must cease to excite surprise : nor, indeed, so 
 long as the present parliamentary mode of " making" gospel- 
 ministers (5. & 6. Edw. vi. c. 1. 1 Eliz. &c.) a human qualifi- 
 cation for a spiritual office shall be continued, can such instances 
 be reasonably expected to be unfrequent. 
 
 Archdeacon Paley, in reply to the question, What do such 
 Scripture expressions as the following mean, " regenerate and
 
 NOTES. 359 
 
 " born of the Spirit" " new creatures" " sons of God" &c. ? 
 explicitly answers, "Nothing : nothing, that is, to us ; nothing 
 " to be found, or sought for, in the present circumstances of 
 " Christianity." Sermons and Tracts. Faulder, 1815. p. 58. 
 
 Doctor Marsh, the celebrated opponent of the Bible Society, in 
 the Lectures contained in his two first Courses of Divinity, as 
 cited in Peter Gandolphy's " Second Letter," p. 52, says, " As I 
 " am not able to teach Divinity in any other way than I have been 
 ' ' able to learn it ; as my own conviction of the truth of Christi- 
 " anity is the result, not of sudden impulse, but a long and 
 " laborious investigation ; as I have no other knowledge of its 
 " doctrines than that which is founded on the Bible, interpreted 
 <f by human learning, my hearers must be satisfied, if they continue 
 " their attendance, to follow with patience and perseverance in all 
 " the portions of Theology through which it is prepared to lead 
 " them." 
 
 The following extracts are taken from " Four Essays, on the 
 ordinary and extraordinary operations of the Holy Spirit, &c. 
 By Thomas Ludlam, A. M. Rector of Foston, Leicestershire. 
 London j Rivingtons, 1797." 
 
 " In the ordinary operations of the Spirit, it is by no means ne- 
 " cessary for the sanctification of any man that he should know 
 " either when he has the assistance of the Spirit, or in what manner 
 <c that assistance is administered unto him. It is sufficient if the 
 " certainty of this assistance, at some time and in some manner, is 
 " declared by those to whom the revelation was originally made. 
 " An apprehension in men that they know these two circumstances 
 " may possibly be attended with much mischief 3 while it is utterly 
 " impossible, that any the least benefit can be derived from such 
 " knowledge." Essay ii. p. 26. 
 
 " When therefore we are told that believers can speak of Christ's 
 " power, faithfulness, and love ; of his ability to save ; of his 
 " power, mercy, &c. ; from their OWN EXPERIENCE ; we are 
 " told what is no more possible than that we should speak of 
 " Christ's miraculous cures from our OWN EXPERIENCE ; or that 
 " we should have the evidence of SENSE for his various miracles." 
 Essay iii. p. 42. 
 
 " The apostles exhort the followers of Jesus to ascertain the. 
 " certainty of their convictions and the ground of their expecta- 
 " tions, NOT by any INWARD FEELINGS and EXPERIENCES, but 
 " by the weight of rational evidence there is for them : and it
 
 360 NOTES. 
 
 " was from external proof (whatever may be said to the contrary) 
 " that they expected the efficacious principle of faith." Essay 
 iii. p. 44. 
 
 " Our Lord's reply in answer to St. Peter's confession of him, 
 " ' Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona ; for flesh and blood hath not 
 " revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven,' has 
 " been esteemed not only an instance of immediate revelation, 
 " but a sufficient ground to expect the like in these days ; and 
 " that men may still look for supernatural information ; that is, 
 te such information as they cannot acquire, by the use of their 
 ef natural faculties, from the Scriptures. We apprehend the pur- 
 " port of this address has been entirely misunderstood ; and that 
 " our Lord did, and could only, mean, that Peter was led to this 
 " confession of him as the Messias, by attending to that revelation 
 " which God had made in the Jewish Scripttires, by the mouths 
 " of all his holy prophets, since the world began." Essay iv. p. 76. 
 
 " When then it is inquired, ' whether we are SENSIBLE of any 
 " communion between Jesus and our own souls ?' it should first have 
 " been shewn (whatever we may be to understand by such com- 
 " munion) -that the existence of it is a doctrine of Scripture j 
 " for, till that point is ascertained, it is of no use to inquire into 
 " the meaning of it." 
 
 " Now, in the first place, I do not find any mention 
 
 " of this communion with Jesus in Scripture." Essay iii. p. 
 46, 47. 
 
 After these specimens, we may be almost tempted to think the 
 writer had himself in view, when he says, Essay iii, p. 60, 
 " However necessary zeal may be for the furtherance of the 
 " gospel, in these days of trouble, and rebuke, and blasphemy ; 
 " however commendable the piety of those may be who dare to 
 " stand forth as instructors of the world in this sinful and 
 " adulterous generation ; yet we have the authority of an apostle 
 " to assure us, that there may be a zeal even for God, which is 
 " not according to knowledge." 
 
 It would be tedious to multiply quotations : opportunity 
 abounds : opinions, similar, or equivalent in error, to those above 
 cited, are now very frequently, if not generally, to be met with 
 in the writings of the clerical opponents of the Bible-Society 
 and the Church Missionary Society, although they are utterly 
 inconsistent with the Articles, Liturgy, and Homilies of the 
 Church of England, and with the opinions of its most eminent
 
 NOTES. 361 
 
 Bishops and Clergy of an earlier date, Bishops Taylor, Sander- 
 son, Bull, Pearson, Smalridge, &c. Ample evidence of this may 
 be seen, in very appropriate citations, in Knox's " Christian 
 Philosophy." 
 
 NOTE O. 
 
 p. 260. Bishop Warburton, who was educated to the pro- 
 fession of the law, and was for some years engaged in business 
 as an attorney and solicitor, says, vol. 4. p. 192 of his Works, 
 " The CANON LAW rarely cultivated a truth, but in order to graft 
 " a lie upon it." A more grave, but not more flattering, account 
 of the Canon Law, and of the Civil Law also, may be found in 
 Burn's Ecclesiastical Law, vol. 3. p. 369, 370. 5th. Edit. Article, 
 Supremacy. 
 
 NOTE P. 
 
 p. 261. However extraordinary, or even incredible, this 
 complaint may appear to some persons, yet we are not left at 
 liberty to doubt its correctness. It appears in the " Memoirs 
 " of the Rev. David Simpson, M. A." prefixed to the Liverpool 
 Edition of his " Plea for Religion," that this pious clergyman, 
 when a divinity student at Cambridge, " had not a Bible in his 
 " library." The invaluable volume having been strenuously 
 recommended to him by a friend whom he visited during a 
 vacation, he procured it on his return to the University ; ^ind 
 his biographer adds, " the light of heaven shining upon the 
 " sacred word, became efficacious, and a change of heart and 
 " character succeeded." 
 
 . Archdeacon Blackburn says, " At the Universities, the point 
 " [with students] for the first four years, is to qualify themselves 
 " for their first degree, which they may take with the utmost 
 " honour and credit, without ever having seen the inside of a Bible." 
 Confessional, p. 435. And in the note, p. 436, Dr. Humphrey 
 Prideaux is cited, than whom, I believe, more unexceptionable 
 authority cannot be cited, asserting that "young men are usually 
 " admitted to their first degree of Bachelor of Arts, with the same 
 " ignorance, as to all sacred learning, as when first admitted into
 
 NOTES. 
 
 rf the university ; and many of them, as soon as they have taken 
 " that degree, offering themselves for orders, are too often ad- 
 " mitted to be teachers in the church, when they are only fit to be 
 tf catechumens therein. Life of Dr. H. Prideaux, printed for 
 "Knapton, 1748. p. 91." 
 
 Dr. H. Prideaux also relates that Dr. Busby's offer to found 
 two catechistical lectures, with an endowment of .100. per 
 annum each, for instructing the under-graduates in the rudiments 
 of the Christian religion, was rejected by both Universities j and 
 he adds, that " the church hath ever since suffered for the want 
 " of it." 
 
 It really looks as if Bishop Hare's ironical tract, on " The 
 Difficulties and Discouragements which attend the Studij of the 
 Scriptures in the way of Private Judgment" had been under- 
 stood by some persons in a literal sense. 
 
 NOTE Q. 
 
 p. 267. The Bishop of Landaff (Watson) appears to have 
 entertained a similar opinion. In his speech in the House of 
 Lords, on the Duke of Bedford's Motion, January 27, 1795, he 
 uses these words. " Allow me, my Lords, for a moment, a word 
 " on the subject of French infidelity ; it certainly will not be a 
 ff word of excuse or extenuation ; it will be a word of comfort 
 " and consolation to every sincere believer in the Gospel of Jesus 
 " Christ. I am then, my Lords, full of hope, full of expectation, 
 <c grounded on some knowledge of the Scriptures, that this aban- 
 <e donment of all religion in France will be followed in due time, 
 " in the time known only to the Ancient of Days, by the establish- 
 " inent of a purer system of Christianity than has ever taken place 
 ' ' in that country, or perhaps in any other country, since the age of 
 " the Apostles. Voltaire, Rousseau, Helvetius, Diderot, and the 
 " rest of the philosophers in France, and perhaps I may say many 
 " in our own country, have mistaken the corruptions of Christian- 
 " ity, for Christianity itself, and in spurning the yoke of supersti- 
 " tion have overthrown religion. They are in the condition of men 
 " described by Plutarch ; they have fled from superstition, have 
 " leapt over religion, and sunk into atheism. They will be fol- 
 " lowed by future Newtons and by future Lockes, who will re- 
 " build, with more than mortal strength and beauty, the altars
 
 NOTES. 363 
 
 " which the others have polluted and thrown down ; for they 
 " will found them on the pure and unadorned rock of Christian 
 " verity, and the attacks of infidels shall no more prevail against 
 " them." Anecdotes of the Life of the Bishop of Landaf, p. 284. 
 285. 4to. Edit. 
 
 NOTE R. 
 
 p. 267. Upon this subject Archdeacon Daubeny has thus 
 expressed his apprehensions. 
 
 " The effect to be expected from the alarming separation from 
 " our church, should it be carried to that extent which present 
 " appearances almost justify us in apprehending, must be THE 
 
 " ULTIMATE DESTRUCTION OF OUR ESTABLISHMENT. For should 
 
 " the time ever arrive, which God forbid, when the number of 
 " Christians without the walls of the church shall exceed in any 
 " degree that of those assembled within them ; the ground of pub- 
 " lie opinion on which every establishment, as such, stands, being 
 " withdrawn, I see nothing, according to the general course of 
 " things, that can prevent its falling to the ground. In this 
 " view of our subject, the language of the wise Cato becomes 
 " most applicable to the situation in which we ministers of the 
 " church are at this time placed, ' Hoc nisi provideris ne accidat, 
 " ubi evenerit, frustra judicia implores.' " 
 
 " The present subject has been introduced, not with a view 
 " to alarm, so much as to forewarn. The prophecies of the New 
 " Testament justify the expectation that in the latter days peril- 
 " ous times will come. The signs of the present are such as 
 " create an apprehension that these times are now at hand." 
 A Charge delivered at the Primary Visitation of the Rev. the 
 Archdeacon of Sarum on the 9th, 10th, \\th, and \2thof July, 
 1805: By the Rev. Charles Daubeny, Archdeacon of Sarum. 
 London: Rivingtons, 1805. p. 14 16. 
 
 Notwithstanding so much is said of the increase of Dis- 
 senters, to me it has long appeared probable, that the num- 
 ber of Dissenters within the Establishment much exceeds the 
 number of those who are without its pale. Consistency re- 
 quires that dissent should be accompanied by non-conformity, 
 yet we often see conformity to the established religion coupled 
 with public disapprobation of its formularies of faith and doctrine.
 
 NOTES. 
 
 
 
 Some evidence of this inconsistency has already appeared in the 
 course of this work, and it may not be improper to adduce in this 
 place a remarkable instance of it which occurred in the debate 
 which took place in the House of Commons on the Clerical 
 Petition for relief in the matter of subscription to the XXXIX 
 Articles, February 6, 1772; when, although the petition was 
 thrown out, by 217 voting against 71, the members generally 
 expressed themselves in terms of great disapprobation of the 
 Articles themselves; nobody attempting to defend them (though 
 so many defended subscription to them) except the member for 
 Oxford, Sir Roger Newdigate, according to the report of John 
 Lee, Esq. afterwards Solicitor General. 
 
 The Articles were stated by Sir William Meredith, to be " con- 
 
 " tradictory," " absurd," " not thoroughly believed, in the 
 
 " literal and grammatical sense, as is required by the nature of 
 
 "his subscription, by a single clergyman in England:" 
 
 " that several of them are damnable, not only in a religious and 
 <f speculative light, but also in a moral and practical view." 
 
 Lord George Germain: " I am persuaded they are not war- 
 " ranted by Scripture, and I am sure they cannot be reconciled 
 " to common sense." 
 
 Lord John Cavendish: " The Articles, I am sure, want a 
 " revisal ; because several of them are heterodox and absurd, 
 <f warranted neither by reason nor by Scripture, and savouring 
 " strongly of the dark ages, in which the doctrines inculcated 
 " in them were originally fabricated. Many of them seem cal- 
 " culated for keeping out of the church all but those who will 
 " subscribe any thing, and sacrifice eveiy consideration to the 
 " mammon of unrighteousness." 
 
 Sir George Savile : " As to the Articles which the petitioners 
 " protest against, and from the subscription to which they earn- 
 " estly desire to be freed, I speak it with submission to man, 
 " but I speak it in the presence of God, some of them in my 
 " opinion are unfounded in, some of them inconsistent with, 
 " reason and Scripture, and some of them subversive of the 
 " very genius and design of the Gospel." 
 
 " Mr. Sawbridge said, the Articles were so strikingly ab- 
 " surd, that he wished them to be read, and would read them 
 " himself; but having gone through a few of them, declared 
 " he would not attempt to expose them further than they did 
 " themselves."
 
 NOTES. 365 
 
 Lord North, who, as minister, opposed the Petition on the 
 plea of endangering the tranquillity of the country, yet refused 
 to lie under the imputation of defending the Articles : 
 
 " Lord North denied saying the Articles were conformable 
 " to Scripture." Parl. Hist. Longman and Co. 1813. vol. xvii. 
 pp. 245297. 
 
 With the correctness of the opinions thus expressed, the Editor 
 of this work has nothing to do; it is not his present business 
 either to impugn or to defend the Articles ; his object is to shew 
 that these speakers, with many others who took part in the debate, 
 although passing current as Church-of-England men, may yet 
 fairly be placed upon the list of Dissenters. 
 
 It should be observed to the honour of the writer who has 
 given occasion to this note (David Simpson) that he forms an 
 exception to the above observation. He was on the point of re- 
 linquishing his situation as a Minister in the Establishment, when 
 all his anxieties were terminated by death. The reader is referred 
 to Appendix II. of his " Plea" for a very pathetic account of the 
 conflicts which he underwent upon finding his peace of mind con- 
 cerned in coming to this determination : indeed, I cannot refrain 
 from recommending the entire work to his perusal, as it contains 
 many impressive views of the importance of religion, and of the 
 present awful state of things amongst us, together with much 
 curious miscellaneous information ; and I do this the more con- 
 fidently, having ascertained by careful inquiry before I had seen 
 the Memoirs of his Life prefixed to the 7th Edition, what indeed 
 his writings, and the silence of those who would think themselves 
 interested in lessening the reputation of the author, had not per- 
 mitted me to doubt, that his life was, in an eminent degree, a 
 transcript of the doctrines which he preached, and that his memory 
 is still embalmed in the affectionate recollections of the surviving 
 part of his congregation and friends. 
 
 It will not be impertinent to remark, that all these " impugners 
 " of the Articles of Religion," which it seems were " agreed 
 " upon for avoiding diversities of opinions, and for the establishing 
 " of consent touching true religion," were excommunicated ipso 
 facto by the 5th Canon, which enacts, " Whosoever shall here- 
 " after affirm, That any of the nine and thirty Articles are in 
 " any part superstitious or erroneous, or such as he may not with 
 " a good conscience subscribe unto; let him be excommunicated 
 '* ipso facto, and not restored, but only by the Archbishop, after
 
 366 NOTES. 
 
 " his repentance and public revocation of such his wicked 
 ef errors." 
 
 It is presumed that all these impugners of the Articles died 
 excommunicate; yet it does not appear but the same hope was 
 expressed at their interment as if they had been in full unity with 
 the church. 
 
 [ " We meekly beseech thee, O Father, to raise us from 
 
 " the death of sin unto the life of righteousness ; that when we 
 " shall depart this life, we may rest in him [Christ] as our hope 
 " is this our brother doth." Collect in the Burial Office.] 
 
 It is not, however, meant to be concealed, that the number 
 of non-conformists, or acknowledged dissenters, is rapidly in- 
 creasing. The Earl of Harrowby in his Speech in the House of 
 Lords on the 18th of June, 1812, whilst he places this circum- 
 stance beyond the reach of doubt, appears induced by it to enter- 
 tain the same apprehensions for the security of the Church of 
 England, as Archdeacon Daubeny cited at the beginning of this 
 note. 
 
 ' ' While," said he, " the licences for the erection of dissenting 
 " places of worship are increasing, from the average of ninety 
 " per annum during the first fourteen years of the present reign, 
 " to an average of five hundred and eighteen, during the last 
 <e fourteen years ; and the licences for dissenting preachers in a 
 " still larger proportion; while there are 1,881 parishes, con- 
 " taining a population of nearly five millions of persons, in which 
 " the churches and chapels are 2,553, capable of containing only 
 <f 1,856,000 persons, and the places of dissenting worship are 
 " 3,438 ; do not let us shut our eyes to the dangers of our 
 " situation." p. 32. And in the next page, " While the cha- 
 " pels of every sect are rising round them day by day, and in- 
 " viting congregations by every species of accommodation, and 
 "by the repetition of their services at different hours, the parish 
 " church is open perhaps only once on the Sunday ; is insufficient 
 " to accommodate the rich 5 and in too many places is almost 
 
 " shut against the poor. If any part of this picture is over- 
 
 " charged, I shall most sincerely rejoice in being convicted of 
 " my error, because every mistake which may be pointed out will 
 " be pro tanto a diminution of the dangers which I apprehend. 
 " Much indeed might be deducted from them, and yet enough
 
 NOTES. 
 
 367 
 
 f( would be left to excite alarm, and to demand attention ; if that 
 " attention is given, the result must be beneficial. If this measure 
 " is rejected, something better will be adopted. It is impossible 
 "for things to remain as they are." p. 33, 34. 
 
 NOTE S. 
 
 p. 269. " Advowsons, though originally perhaps mere 
 " trusts, are now become lay fees. They are bought and sold, 
 " and are lay property, just as much as any other tenements or 
 " hereditaments. And they are not merely lay property in law, 
 " but a very large proportion of them is so in fact ; for of the 
 " eleven thousand six hundred and odd livings in this kingdom, 
 " two thousand five hundred may be in ecclesiastical patronage, 
 " the rest (exclusive of those which belong to the crown, amount- 
 " ing to near eleven hundred) either belong to various lay cor- 
 " porations (for even colleges are such) or to lay individuals, 
 " who alone possess near six thousand of the whole number." p. 41. 
 
 Substance of the Speech of the Right Honourable Sir WIL- 
 LIAM SCOTT, delivered in the House of Commons, Wednesday, 
 April 7, 1802, upon a motion for leave to bring in a bill 
 relative to the non-residence of the Clergy, and other affairs of 
 the Church. London: 1802. 
 
 NOTE T. 
 
 p. 2/1. In the debate in the House of Lords on the Bill 
 for the Relief of Protestant Dissenters, May 19, 1772, the 
 Earl of Chatham spoke very warmly in favour of the Bill. " In 
 " replying to one of the bishops who had spoken a great deal of 
 " the dogmas of foreign colleges, he said, there was a college 
 " of much greater antiquity, as well as veracity, which he was 
 " surprized he never heard so much as mentioned by any of his 
 " lordship's fraternity ; and that was the college of the poor, 
 " humble, despised Fishermen, who pressed hard upon no man's 
 t( conscience, yet supported the doctrine of Christianity both 
 " by their lives and conversations superior to all ; but, my lords, 
 " probably I may affront your rank or learning, by applying to
 
 368 NOTES. 
 
 " such simple, antiquated authorities ; for I must confess there 
 " is a wide difference between the bishops of those times and the 
 " present." Parl. Hist. vol. xvii. p. 440. 
 
 NOTE TJ. 
 
 p. 274. Some remarkable evidence in support of this opinion 
 may be seen in the work entitled " Swear not at all/' by 
 Jeremy Bentham, p. 1 9 22, note. 
 
 Some of our revenue laws may also be added to the list of those 
 which require reformation. The following quotation from a very 
 interesting work by Sir Thomas Bernard, lately published, will 
 shew the opinion of that distinguished patriot and philanthropist 
 on this subject as it regards the salt duties ; and it is to be feared 
 that his observations are applicable, in a greater or less degree, 
 to some other branches of the revenue. 
 
 " Another sore evil remains to be noticed, the CRIMES AND 
 " PERJURIES, peculiarly and necessarily connected with the system 
 " of our salt laws ; and their baneful effects, in spreading the 
 " infection of evil among the great mass of the people, and cor- 
 " rupting the integrity, and debasing the character of the Eng- 
 " lishman, by the temptations which so excessive a tax inevi- 
 " tably produces. The oaths to be taken, are considered as 
 "mere matter of form, and recur on every trivial occasion ; the 
 " profanation of our Creator's sacred name is hourly renewed 5 
 " while the temptation to theft and pillage is perpetually present 
 " to the minds of the poor and indigent. If the common enemy 
 " of mankind had to devise the means of corrupting honesty 
 " and simplicity, and promoting vice and iniquity among the 
 " poor and necessitous, he would find it difficult, with all his 
 " acuteness and experience, to improve on this branch of our 
 
 "laws. Let the serious Christian weigh these circumstances, 
 
 " and estimate their effects on the morals and happiness of the 
 " country and then let him consider, how little the instruction 
 " of schools and churches will ever be available, to supply an 
 " antidote for the continued renewal of so fatal an infection." 
 Case of the Salt Duties. With proofs and illustrations. By Sir 
 Thomas Bernard, Baronet. London: Murray, Dec. 1817. 
 p. 38 41.
 
 NOTES. 369 
 
 NOTE X. 
 
 p. 275. " There is no instance in sacred or profane history, 
 "of a rich, luxurious, immoral state ever reforming itself, it 
 " proceeds from bad to worse, till, in the course of God's provi- 
 " dence, its fall is accomplished by the sword, by famine, or by 
 "pestilence," Bishop of Landaus Miscellaneous Tracts, vol. 1. 
 Sermon 7, p. 518. 
 
 NOTE Y. 
 
 p. 275. The Editor wishes (o introduce to the reader's ac- 
 quaintance an interesting little narrative, which exposes some 
 prominent causes of this depravity in the navy, and the means 
 by which it may, at least, be lessened. It is entitled, "The 
 
 Retrospect : or, Review of Providential Mercies. By 
 
 Aliquis, formerly a lieutenant in the Royal Navy, and now -a 
 ]Vlinister in the Established Church. London: 1817." 
 
 NOTE Z. 
 
 p. 277. In the year 1801, Bishop Porteus writes thus: 
 " In truth, the sudden, frequent, and astonishing vicissitudes of 
 " this war have no parallel in history, and are plainly out of the 
 " ordinary course of human affairs. They bear the most evident 
 " marks of an Almighty over- ruling hand ; and, sure I am, that 
 " nothing but the interposition of the same irresistible Power in 
 " our behalf, can rescue us from ruin." Works' of Bishop Por- 
 teus, vol. 1, p. 159. 
 
 NOTE A a. 
 
 p. 284. " It hath been," says the learned and pious Hales, 
 " the common disease of Christians from the beginning, not to 
 " content themselves with that measure of faith, which God and 
 " the Scriptures have expressly afforded us j but out of a vain 
 " desire to know more than is revealed, they have attempted to 
 f< discuss things, of which we can have no light, neither from 
 
 B b
 
 s;o 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 " reason nor revelation : neither have they rested here, but upon 
 " pretence of church-authority, which is none, or tradition, which 
 " for the most part is but figment, they have peremptorily con- 
 " eluded, and confidently imposed upon others, a necessity of 
 " entertaining conclusions of that nature." A Tract concerning 
 Schism and Schismatics. By the ever-memorable Mr. John Hales, 
 of Eton-College. 
 
 And in the same tract : ' e Wheresoever false or suspected 
 " opinions are made a piece of the church-liturgy, he that se- 
 " parates is not the schismatic ; for it is alike unlawful to make 
 " profession of known or suspected falsehoods, as to put in prac- 
 " tice unlawful or suspected actions." 
 
 NOTE B b. 
 
 p. 284. This tract was written in the last century. 
 
 NOTE C c. 
 
 p. 285. " At the close of the year 1772, and the beginning 
 " of the next, an attempt was made," says the pious Bishop 
 Porteus, " by myself and a few other clergymen, among whom 
 " were Mr. Francis Wollaston, Dr. Percy, now Bishop of Dro- 
 e< more, and Dr. Yorke, now Bishop of Ely, to induce the 
 " Bishops to promote a review of the Liturgy and Articles, in 
 " order to amend in both, but particularly in the latter, those 
 " parts which all reasonable persons agreed stood in need of 
 
 " amendment. The answer given by the Archbishop (Corn- 
 
 " wallis) February 11, 1773, was in these words: 'I have con- 
 " suited severally my brethren the Bishops, and it is the opinion 
 " of the bench in general, that nothing can in prudence be done 
 " in the matter that has been submitted to our consideration.'" 
 Works of the Right Reverend BEILBY PORTEUS, D.D. late Bishop 
 of London. Cadell and Davies, 1816. vol. 1. p. 3840. 
 
 After the lapse of almost 50 years, in addition to above 200 
 which had preceded, it may be inquired, What has yet been done 
 to amend, in the Liturgy and Articles of the Church of England, 
 " those parts, which all reasonable persons agreed stood in need 
 " of amendment ?" Alas ! for any thing that appears to the
 
 NOTES. S/l 
 
 contrary, it is still " the opinion of the bench in general, that 
 " nothing can IN PRUDENCE be done in the matter" Whatever 
 may have been the prudential hesitation of the Bishops upon this 
 subject, it is very well known that, since the time of the Stuarts, 
 opposition to reform cannot be laid to the charge of our Monarchs. 
 History leaves us nothing to doubt upon this head. A writer, 
 now known, says Archdeacon Blackburn, to be the Reverend 
 John White, B.D. whilst he attempts to vindicate the Clergy from 
 the charge of opposition to reform, at the same time fully excul- 
 pates the Monarch of his day. " Is there any thing, my Lord, 
 " you would have me do for the Church of England ? If there is, 
 " let me know it," was repeatedly, says this writer, the language 
 of King George II. to a certain great prelate, when paying his 
 duty at court. (Confessional, p. 357, et seq.). Yet, as the blame 
 must attach sbmewhere, and this writer cannot admit of any in 
 the Clergy, he has thought proper to heap it, with a sufficiently 
 liberal hand, upon the Laity. " The gross body of the people," 
 he says, " are weak, ignorant, injudicious, capricious, factious, 
 " headstrong, self-willed, and self-sufficient, and never less dis- 
 " posed than at this time [anno 1751] to acquiesce in the wisdom, 
 " and submit themselves to the decisions, of their superiors, nor 
 f< ever more impatient to be driven from their old habits, and put 
 " out of their way in the offices, or any other matters of religion ; 
 " especially those which they themselves are to practise, and have 
 <f a personal concern in. This is now grown to be the general tent" 
 " per of the people. I don't call it their bigotry. No j 'tis a spirit 
 <f of mutiny and independence. And this, I think you must allow, 
 " is still increasing." 
 
 Upon this, Archdeacon Blackburn remarks, " We have here the 
 " general temper of the gross body of a Christian people described 
 " in terms, which, with the addition of one or two epithets, 
 " would perfectly characterize the inhabitants of a Pandaemonium." 
 And, perhaps, the Archdeacon, equally interested with this writer 
 in the credit of the clerical order, will be considered as nearer the 
 truth, when, in another place, he retorts the charge from the 
 people back upon the clergy, in the following terms. 
 
 " In all exclusive establishments, where temporal emoluments 
 " are annexed to the profession of a certain system of doctrines, 
 " and the usage of a certain routine of forms, and appropriated 
 " to an order of men so and so qualified, that order of men will 
 <e naturally think themselves interested that things should continue
 
 372 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 " as they are. A reformation might endanger their emoluments. 
 ' ' For though it should only begin with such things as are most 
 "notoriously amiss, the alteration of which would no way affect 
 " their temporal interests, yet, by opening a door to farther 
 " enquiry (which would be the natural effect of it) their dignities 
 " and revenues might possibly be brought into question, and be 
 " thought to need some regulations, which it can hardly be sup- 
 tf posed they would approve. So that they who ask, Who knows 
 " where a reformation may end, by way of giving a reason why it 
 te should not be begun, are certainly not unwise in their genera- 
 " lion" Confessional, pref. p. xiii. xiv. 
 
 NOTE Dd- 
 
 p. 285. It was well expressed by Erasmus Johannes, a 
 schoolmaster at Antwerp, in the 16th century, "If any man 
 " finds himself obliged to use new terms to express the articles 
 " of his faith, so that the words of the Prophets and Apostles 
 " are not sufficient for him, that man's doctrines and religion are 
 " certainly new, as well as his terms: for otherwise he would 
 " easily find, in the scripture, language proper enough to express 
 ff his notions." Confessional, p. 24. 
 
 David Hartley, in his " Observations on Man," vol.2, p. 352, 
 says, " How can a person be properly qualified to study the word 
 " of God, and to search out its meaning, who finds himself 
 " previously confined to interpret it in a particular manner ? If 
 (t the subject matter of the article be of great importance to be 
 " understood and believed, one may presume, that it is plain, 
 ' ( and needs no article ; if of small importance, why should 
 " it be made a test, or insisted upon? If it be a difficult, ab- 
 f< struse point, no one upon earth has authority to make an 
 " article concerning it. We are all brethren ; there is no father, 
 " no master, amongst us ; we are helpers of, not lords over, 
 " each other's faith." 
 
 And at p. 354, "Men can put as different senses upon arti- 
 " cles, as upon texts, and so dispute without end."
 
 NOTES. 373 
 
 NOTE Ee. 
 
 p. 290. The charge brought forward in this quotation is so 
 grievous, that the introduction of it appears to call for some 
 apology. A very sufficient one will be found in the pamphlet 
 itself, to which I must refer the reader for full and ample prooi 
 of all that the author asserts, as well as for information on the 
 other important subjects mentioned in the title-page. Long- 
 continued, determined inattention to remonstrance and complaint, 
 is of itself a sufficient apology, and of this some evidence may 
 be here given." 
 
 The author states that <( the Rev. R. Newton, D. D. at that 
 " time Principal, in a tract intituled ' Hints and statutes for the 
 " Government of Hertford College, in the University of Oxford: 
 "London, 1747,'" complains much of the imposition of Uni- 
 versity oaths : " ' Young men will often break them without 
 " adverting that they do so. To them an oath to observe the 
 f< statutes will be a snare.' In conversation, in conduct, and 
 " in print, from some year earlier than 1725, to some year 
 " later than 1747, did this truly conscientious divine continue 
 " to give vent to the uneasiness occasioned by this load." p. 13. 
 note. 
 
 Again, same page, note., " Here follows what is said in a 
 " book, intituled ' Liberal Education, by Ficesimus Knox, M. A. 
 " late Fellow of St. John's College, Oxford, in two vols. 10th 
 "edit. 1789;' to which is added, ' A Letter to Lord North,' 
 " then Chancellor." 
 
 " In vol. 1, p. 120, ' The following,' says he, ' are miscel- 
 
 " laneous passages from Dr. Newton and Mr. Amhurst : To 
 
 " give a just account of the state of the University of Oxford, 
 " I must begin where every fresh man begins, with admission 
 " and matriculation ; for so it happens, that the first thing 
 " a young man has to do there, is to prostitute his conscience^ 
 " and enter himself into perjury at the same time that he enters 
 " himself into the University.' Whereupon, in the same quo- 
 " tation, follow instances in abundance, out of others that in, 
 " much greater abundance might have been adduced." 
 
 Even the very tract, from which the quotation in the text is 
 taken, was printed, as appears by a prefatory Advertisement, 
 so long since as the year 1813, and in the summer of that year, 
 a copy of it was delivered into the hands of one of the Heads.
 
 374 
 
 N O T E S. 
 
 of Houses at Oxford, who was considered to be least opposed to 
 innovation: the author deferred the publication of it till the 
 year 181 7, and he informs the reader that it might still have 
 slept upon the shelf, hut for some recent events noticed in the 
 said advertisement. It is, consequently, with great justice that 
 the author remarks, " Whatever other imputations the publi- 
 <f cation of this tract may be thought to lie open to, precipitation 
 " therefore will at any rate not be of the number : neither on the 
 " one part precipitation, nor on the other part want of notice." 
 And it is with no less reason that he asks at page 54, upon 
 reiterating the charge of perjury, " Is it the fault of those who 
 " thus act, or of those who, that it may be no longer acted, 
 " thus speak of it ?" 
 
 As collateral evidence of the correctness of the author's state- 
 ment, it may be observed, that Archdeacon Paley, in his <{ Moral 
 " Philosophy," treating on the subject of oaths, and, amongst 
 others, of " Oaths to observe local statutes," says, " Members 
 ' ' of colleges in the Universities, and of other ancient foundations, 
 " are required to swear to the observance of their respective sta- 
 " tutes ; which observance is become in some cases unlawful, in 
 " others impracticable, in others, useless, in others inconvenient.' 1 
 vol. 1. p. 213. The Archdeacon meets with no difficulty where 
 the observance is unlawful, or impracticable: " Unlawful direc- 
 " tions," he observes, " are countermanded by the authority 
 f< which made them unlawful j" and " impracticable directions 
 " are dispensed with by the necessity of the case." If the <f mo- 
 (f ral sense" of this author had not been injured by oaths and 
 subscriptions, it is difficult to imagine that he should so readily 
 consider it lawful to take an oath, which was known beforehand 
 to be " unlawful," and even " impracticable" to observe. 
 The measure of obligation imposed by oaths, the observance of 
 which would involve an " inconvenience," is not so easily deter- 
 mined ; the laxity of the term giving room for difference of 
 ppinion ; however, as a specimen of the quantum of ' ' incon- 
 ff venience" justifying an entire disregard of the oath, he says, 
 " The statutes of some colleges forbid the speaking of any lan- 
 (( guage but Latin, within the walls of the college ; direct that 
 te a certain number, and not fewer than that number, be al- 
 re lowed the use of an apartment amongst them ; that so many 
 " hours of each day be employed in public exercises, lectures, 
 " or disputations j and some other articles of disciplihe adapted
 
 NOTES. 375 
 
 " to the tender years of the students who in former times 
 " resorted to universities. Were colleges to retain such rules, 
 " nobody, now-a-days, would come near them. They are 
 " laid aside therefore, though parts of the statutes, and as 
 " such included within the oath, not merely because they are 
 " inconvenient, but because there is sufficient reason to believe, 
 " that the founders themselves would have dispensed with them, 
 " as subversive of their own designs." Principles of Moral and 
 Political Philosophy. By William Paley, D. D. Archdeacon of 
 Carlisle. 20th edit. vol. 1. p. 215. 
 
 On this it may be remarked, that if " there is sufficient reason 
 " to believe that the founders themselves would have dispensed 
 " with them" [the rules] there is, it may be hoped, *s much 
 reason to believe that they would have dispensed with the oath 
 to observe them; especially, when they became "subversive of 
 " their own designs," and also, when it became understood, 
 both by the party who administered the oath as well as by him 
 who took it, that they should not be observed. At all events, 
 If it is thought essential to the continuance of the college, 
 that the "rules" should be "laid aside," it might have been 
 expected that the dread of perjury would have occasioned the 
 oath to observe those rules to be "laid aside" also. It is the 
 more remarkable that the Archdeacon should have thought it 
 allowable thus to trifle with oaths, as he had said but a very 
 few pages before, " Whatever be the form of an oath, the 
 " signification is the same. It is the calling upon God to witness 
 " i. -e. to take notice of, what we say, and it is invoking his 
 " vengeance, or renouncing his favour, if what we say be 
 " false, or what we promise be not performed." p. 193. 
 
 We can scarcely forbear the question, Why are abuses so 
 obvious, and so easily removed, suffered to continue ? Must we 
 say with the author quoted in the text, p. 92, " because in regu- 
 " larly Reverend and Right Reverend, not to speak of Honour - 
 " able and Noble, eyes, if perjury be a bad sin, innovation is a 
 " still worse ?" The Archdeacon himself seems, in some degree, 
 to favour this opinion. Writing, elsewhere, on the subject of 
 Subscription and a Review of the Liturgy and Articles, he says, 
 " Reflection, we hope, in some, and time, we are sure, in all, 
 " will reconcile men to alterations established in reason. If 
 
 " there be any danger, it is from some of the clergy, who 
 
 " would rather suffer the vineyard to be overgrown with \veeds
 
 376 
 
 tfOTES. 
 
 te than stir the ground, or, what is worse, call these weeds the 
 <( fairest flowers in the garden. Such might be ready enough to 
 ft raise a hue and cry against all innovators in religion, as 
 (f ' overturners of churches' and spoilers of temples." A Defence 
 of The Considerations on the propriety of requiring a Subscription 
 to Articles of Faith, p. 35. 
 
 The opinion with which the Archdeacon concludes this last 
 mentioned tract is however very discouraging, and must give 
 rise to reflections truly awful. " If we are to wait for improve- 
 " ment," he adds, "till the cool, the calm, the discreet part 
 " of mankind begin it, till church governors solicit, or ministers 
 
 " of state propose it 1 will venture to pronounce, that (with- 
 
 te out His interposition with whom nothing is impossible) we 
 " may remain as we are till the ' renovation of all things.'" p. 43, 
 edit. 1815, 
 
 [See also on this subject, An Address io his Grace the Arch~ 
 bishop of Canterbury, as a visitor of Colleges in the University of 
 Oxford, and as Primate of all England ; the second edition. By 
 a Country Clergyman. London: Robinsons, 1791. 
 
 It may be added, that Sir Roger Newdigate, member for 
 Oxford, who distinguished himself by his opposition in Parliament 
 to the Clerical petition for relief in the matter of Subscription 
 to the XXXIX Articles in the year 1772, expressed himself 
 strongly, in the course of that debate, upon the indelible obligation 
 of an oath. "Suppose," said he, "you should now pass an 
 " Act to repeal the Oath of Allegiance and Supremacy, do you 
 " imagine that I should think myself absolved fi-qm the obligation 
 " which I have contracted? You cannot look upon me as so 
 " void of religion. Oaths are matters of conscience, matters 
 " that pass between God and our hearts, and their force is not 
 tf to be taken away by human authority." Parl. Hist. vol. xvii. 
 p. 256.] 
 
 " This is the thing which the LORD hath commanded, IF 
 " a man vow a vow unto the LORD, or swear an oath to bind 
 " his soul with a bond, HE SHALL NOT BREAK ins WORD, HE 
 
 " SHALL DO ACCORDING TO ALL THAT PROCEEDETH OUT OF HIS 
 
 te MOUTH." Moses. 
 " But I say unto you, SWEAR NST AT ALL." Jesus Christ,
 
 NOTES. 377 
 
 NOTE Ff. 
 
 p. 291. This book is entitled, "Free and Candid Disqui- 
 fe sitions relating to the Church of England, and the means 
 " of advancing Religion therein. Addressed to the Governing 
 "Powers in Church and State; and more immediately directed 
 " to the Two Houses of Convocation." It appears by the 
 preface, page xvii. that a copy of this work in MS. was pre- 
 sented to the Convocation in January 1746, which from the 
 date affixed to the postscript, p. 236, was probably about two 
 years and a half before it was communicated to the public by 
 the press. The second edition was published in 1750. It is 
 a closely printed octavo of 371 pages, and has the following 
 dedication : " To our illustrious, religious, and highly honoured 
 " GOVERNORS, in every rank and distinction of Church and 
 " State : To the venerable and learned CONVOCATION, of 
 tf both Provinces, being the body representative of the Clergy 
 sf and Church of England; These DISQUISITIONS (drawn up by 
 " dutiful Sons of the said church, and calculated with a sincere 
 " view to serve her interest) are, with all becoming submission, 
 '* and respectful deference, presented and Dedicated." It con- 
 tains an enumeration of many particulars in the Articles, Canons, 
 Homilies, and Public Service of the Church of England, with 
 which the authors and many other serious and considerate persons 
 have long been dissatisfied, and supports the obvious necessity 
 of a Review by numerous extracts from the works of prelates 
 and other writers of eminence of their own communion. I must 
 refer the reader who is interested in knowing these particulars 
 to the work itself, and shall only present him here with one 
 or two passages of more general concern. 
 
 In a note upon the answer to an objection, " that being a 
 " time of war, it is a time not so seasonable for entering upon 
 " consultations about affairs of the church," the authors say, 
 p. 209, " Our duty in the present case seems as clear, as our 
 " obligations to it are cogent ; and is, in one word, to reform. 
 " A reformation of public disorders may be supposed to be no 
 " less necessary, than that of private ones. And the latter 
 " will be too apt to grow, where the former are overlooked. To 
 " speak our minds freely ; it appears to us to be a duty as much 
 ft incumbent upon Governors, to rectify what is amiss in (lie 
 ff Concerns of the church, as it is upon private person? to reform
 
 378 NOTES. 
 
 " what is so in their respective morals. God unquestionably 
 "expects the one; and it will be difficult to shew, that he less 
 " expects the other. We believe, and do hitherto maintain, 
 <l that he expects both alike. Which will not appear strange to 
 " any, who shall be pleased to consider, that the great Ruler 
 " of the world regards public communities, as much at least 
 " as he does individuals. A reflection this, though perhaps less 
 " common, yet certainly not less just, for its not being more 
 " commonly taken notice of; and we presume to add, that it 
 " is a reflection of far greater importance to communities, than 
 " our general partiality and indifference are apt to represent it 
 " to our thoughts. We could wish the Governors of every 
 " Christian community would be pleased to allow it some weight." 
 
 The authors of this publication discover, through the whole 
 course of it, much earnestness and well-grounded concern for 
 the cause in which they are engaged, expressed in sufficiently 
 cautious and submissive language ; and whilst they frequently 
 betray their apprehensions of the failure of their application, they 
 cannot but anticipate, however reluctantly, the inevitable con- 
 sequences of continued hostility to reformation. 
 
 Under this impression, they say at page 189, " Is there yet 
 " time left us for considering and reforming? Let us not delay, 
 " for fear a still greater evil should come upon us than this 
 " very want of reformation, upon the very account of delaying 
 "it; and, that too sensible a demonstration should sometime 
 te or other be given, either to us or our posterity, that we have 
 ff delayed too long." And at page 182, " If these, and the 
 " like things, are not looked to in time, and a proper remedy 
 " sought, and found, and effectually applied, it is easy to fore- 
 " see, and we dare venture (though with the utmost concern) to 
 " foretel, the ruin of religion in the Church of England. But 
 
 Di talem avertite casum, 
 Et placidi servate pios .'" 
 
 If, however, our Disquisitors, with their commendable zeal 
 for reformation, had possessed the disinterestedness and noble 
 intrepidity of some of their early predecessors in that great 
 and glorious cause, they would scarcely have put the question 
 with which I shall conclude this brief notice of their labours. 
 
 " If we have spoken only the words of truth and sober- 
 
 " ness, according to the principles of Reason and of the Gospel ; 
 " and if, upon examination, and applying to conscience, it can-
 
 NOTES. 
 
 379 
 
 <s not be denied but we have done both ; then the single question 
 " remaining will be, whether our requests should be granted ? 
 ft or, if not, whether the Gospel and Reason are of any far- 
 " ther use, in an affair of this nature, than to shew men that 
 ' c truth, which they are not permitted to follow .-" preface ; 
 " p. xvii. For, the censure, which is hereby intended to be 
 passed upon their " worthy and gracious Superiors," for not 
 " permitting" them to "follow that truth" which both " the Gos- 
 " pel and Reason" had "shewed" them, and which censure 
 it is not the intention of this remark to invalidate, recoils 
 with undiminished force upon themselves, for neglecting to " fol- 
 " low that truth" even in opposition to the judgment of such 
 " Superiors." It is not without much compassionate feeling for 
 the infirmity of our common nature, that I inquire, What is the 
 authority which these advocates for reform thus acknowledge to 
 be superior to the obligations of the " GOSPEL" and of "REA-. 
 ' f SON r" Is it the opinions of their fellow men, or their own 
 secular interest ? 
 
 Should it be alleged that the continued acquiescence of 
 such persons in nothing short of acknowledged conniption and 
 error is induced by a fear of disturbing the peace of the church, 
 and interrupting the harmony of Christ's kingdom; let it then 
 
 be replied in the words of Bishop Hoadly, " The peace 
 
 " of Christ's kingdom is a manly and reasonable peace, built 
 " upon charity, and love, and mutual forbearance, and receiving 
 " one another, as God receives us. As for any other peace, 
 f f founded upon a submission of our honesty, as well as our 
 " understandings, it is falsely so called. It is not the peace 
 " of the kingdom of Christ, but the lethargy of it, and a sleep 
 " unto death, when his subjects shall throw off their relation 
 " to Him, fix their subjection to others, and even in cases, 
 " where they have a right to see, and where they think they 
 " see, his will otherwise, shall shut their eyes and go blindfold 
 " at the command of others, because those others are not pleased 
 " with their enquiries into the will of their great Lord and 
 " Judge." Hoadly' s Works, folio edit. vol. 2, p. 409. 
 
 It is indeed an awful declaration of our Saviour, Matt. x. 38. 
 " He that taketh not his cross, and FOLLOWETH AFTER ME, is 
 " not worthy of me."
 
 380 NOTES. 
 
 NOTE Gg. 
 
 p. 292. It is sufficiently understood, that a command to 
 publish a sermon does not of necessity involve an approbation 
 of the sentiments it contains ; as in the well-known instance 
 of Dr. Tillotson's before Charles II. The King's satisfaction, 
 however, upon the present occasion, is placed beyond doubt, by 
 the removal of Drs. Sherlock and Snape from the list of King's 
 Chaplains, the former for writing against this sermon, and the lat- 
 ter for some part which he took in the controversy to which it 
 gave rise. It is observable also, that a few years prior to the date 
 of this sermon, viz. in 1709, the House of Commons gave this 
 prelate a " particular mark of their regard, by representing in 
 " an address to the Queen, the signal services he had done to 
 " the cause of civil and religious liberty." (Vide Chalmers's Biog. 
 Diet. vol. xvii. p. 514.) How much the Bishop's principles con- 
 tinued to be approved at court, may appear from his successive 
 translation to the sees of Hereford, Salisbury, and Winchester. 
 
 NOTE Hh. 
 
 p. 298. It is curious to observe, how much some clerical 
 writers of the present day differ from this worthy Bishop, and 
 from many other Bishops of an earlier date, and also from the 
 Homilies of their Church, in respect of the capacity, as well 
 as of the right of individuals, to think for themselves on the 
 subject of religion. 
 
 John Hume Spry, M. A. Minister of Christ's Church, Bath, 
 in his " Enquiry into the Claims of the British and Foreign 
 Bible Society," complains at p. 18, that " the poor illiterate 
 " labourer, instead of going to church to learn his duty, is taught 
 " to read and judge for himself.'" And at p. 22 he adds, " The 
 " continual agitations of religious controversy, rendered unavoid- 
 " able by the active propagation of sectarian notions, more par- 
 " ticularly among the lower classes j have made it necessary to 
 " appeal so often to the judgment of individuals, that men have 
 " begun to claim a right to frame a religion for themselves : and 
 " the good old method of seeking wisdom at the mouth of the 
 " priest, is daily growing more and more into disrepute." 
 
 Thus also, Dr. Marsh (now Bishop of Landaff) " Men,
 
 NOTES. 381 
 
 *' whose education and habits have not prepared them for profound 
 <e enquiry, whose attention is wholly directed to the procuring 
 " of the necessaries of life, depend, and MUST depend) for the 
 <f truth of the doctrines which are taught them, on the authority 
 " of their teachers and preachers, of whom it is taken for granted, 
 " that they have investigated and really know the truth." 
 Dr. Marsh's Lectures on Divinity, cited by Peter Gandolphy, in 
 his Second Letter to Dr. Marsh, p. 39. 
 
 Charles Daubeny, L.L. B. Archdeacon of Sarum, in his " Rea- 
 sons for supporting the Society for Promoting Christian Know- 
 ledge," and in his " Guide to the Church," reiterates the 
 sentiment, " That every man is not qualified to form a judg- 
 " ment for himself in religious matters ;" Guide, p. 157. Yet 
 this writer might have saved some of his readers, if not himself, 
 some trouble, if he had chanced, a little earlier in this work, to 
 stumble on a discoveiy which is reserved for nearly the conclusion 
 of uV viz. at p. 486, that, " In a matter of this importance, 
 "men WILL take the liberty to judge for themselves: and if 
 " they have reason to think that they are not fed with the true 
 tf bread of life within the walls of the church, they WILL ux- 
 " QUESTIONABLY seek it, where they fancy it may be found^ 
 " either in fields or in conventicles.'' 
 
 Dr. Balguy, Archdeacon of Winchester, in his fifth Charge, 
 delivered in the year 1/72, says, " I only deny the use of 
 " reason to the bulk of mankind on religious subjects, because 
 " they cannot use it ; because many of them want capacity, 
 " most of them opportunity, to think and judge for themselves. 
 " They must be content, in all ordinary cases, with that religion 
 " which chance has thrown in their way, because they can do 
 "no better. But let those who can, enquire ; and let those who 
 " are capable of instruction, receive it. Every improvement in 
 " knowledge, especially in religious knowledge, conduces to the 
 " increase of human happiness." 
 
 " Nothing is clearer than that the uniform appearance 
 
 " of religion is the cause of its general and easy reception. 
 <f Destroy this uniformity, and you cannot but introduce doubt 
 tf and perplexity into the minds of the people. When they hear 
 " in the same town, perhaps in the same church, the most irre- 
 f< concileable contradiction of doctrine ; when they are told 
 tl (suppose in the morning) that Christ came down from heaven, 
 " that he died for the sins of the world, that he ha* sent bis
 
 382 NOTES. 
 
 " holy Spirit to assist and comfort us j and are told in the after- 
 " noon, that he did NOT come down from heaven, that he did 
 " NOT die for the sins of the world, that he did NOT send his 
 " holy Spirit to assist us, what must they, what can they 
 " think ? Would you have them think for themselves ? Would 
 " you have them hear and decide the controversies of the 
 "learned? Would you have them enter into the depths of 
 *" ' criticism, of logic, of scholastic divinity ? You might as well 
 <c expect them to compute an eclipse, or to decide between the 
 <c Cartesian and Newtonian Philosophy. Nay, I will go farther, 
 " for I take upon me to say, There are more men capable, 
 " in some competent degree, of understanding Newton's Phi- 
 " losophy, than of forming any judgment at all concerning the 
 *' abstruser questions in Metaphysics and Theology." 
 
 " If it should be thought that I am here offering a defence of 
 " Popery, is would only be too candid an interpretation. I mean 
 " to defend not Popery only, but Paganism itself. I mean to 
 <l defend EVERY ESTABLISHED RELIGION UNDER HEAVEN." p. 
 255 259. Nine Discourses on various subjects; and seven 
 Charges delivered to the Clergy of the Archdeaconry of Winchester. 
 By Thomas Balguy, D. D. Archdeacon and Prebendary of Win- 
 chester, #c. 2nd edit. Rivington, 1817. 
 
 It is to little purpose that one of these writers at least, Dr. 
 Balguy, upon some other occasions, advances more correct senti- 
 ments, especially in his Concio habita in Templo Beatos Marias 
 Anno 1758. I leave others to reconcile his inconsistencies if they 
 can: I confess that I cannot. 
 
 NOTE I i. 
 
 p. 299. The reader may compare the tenor of this Sermon, 
 with the sentiments of some later writers, distinguished advocates 
 of the Church of England. 
 
 Dr. Marsh (now Bishop of Landaff) in <( A Letter to the 
 Reverend Peter Gandolphy, 2nd edition, Rivingtons, 1813," 
 thus speaks of the Union which subsists between the Civil and 
 Ecclesiastical authorities. 
 
 " In fact, the establishment of a religion in any country 
 " (as both Bishop Warburton and Dr. Paley have clearly shewn) 
 " is not founded on the consideration of its truth,"
 
 NOTES. 383 
 
 (< The immediate and direct motive, which operates in 
 tr the establishment of a religion is its UTILITY TO THE STATE : 
 <f and that utility (namely to the state) will be greater or less 
 " in proportion to the number and influence of the party, which 
 " professes it. Thus, before the Reformation, the Church of 
 " Rome was the established Church in this country: but when 
 " the great body of the people agreed to profess Christianity 
 " under a different form, this form became the established reli- 
 tf gion : and it would cease to be the established religion, if at 
 " any time the great body of the people should determine to 
 " profess Christianity under another form." p. 6, 7. 
 
 [Upon tbis passage, Peter Gandolphy, (who is a Roman Ca- 
 tholic Priest,) in his reply to Dr. Marsh cannot forbear exclaim- 
 ing, " God forbid that I should ever subscribe to this principle, 
 " or charge it against any Christian government. Mahomet 
 " indeed is accused of having made his religion purely subser- 
 " vient to the state, but I will not confound Mahometan prin- 
 <f ciples with those of Christians ; I will not place the KORAN in 
 " society with the BIBLE. However, is not the very admission 
 <f which you have made of this governing principle, sufficient to 
 " shake that misplaced confidence which so many repose in a 
 " religion because it is established." Second Letter to the Rev. 
 H. Marsh, D. D. fyc. confirming the opinion that the vital prin- 
 ciple of the Reformation has been lately conceded by him to the 
 Church of Rome. By the Rev. Peter Gandolphy, Priest of the 
 Catholic Church. London : Keating, 1813. p. 26, 27.] 
 
 Bishop Warburton, in his celebrated and very elaborate treatise 
 on " The Alliance between Church and State," among many 
 passages of the same nature, has the following. 
 
 ' ' I will conclude, in requesting my reader to have this always 
 " in mind, THAT THE TRUE END FOR WHICH RELIGION is ESTA- 
 
 t( BLISHED IS, NOT TO PROVIDE FOR THE TRUE FAITH, BUT FOR 
 
 " CIVIL UTILITY, as the key to open to him the whole mystery 
 ' ' of this controversy ; and the clue to lead him safe through 
 " all the intricacies, and perplexities, in which it has been in- 
 " volved." Works of Bishop Warburton, (1788) vol. 4. p. 240. 
 
 That this " ALLIANCE," however, may occasionally be inju- 
 rious to the interests of religion, cannot have escaped tbe Bishop, 
 for he informs us, p. 79, that " an unequal and unjust government.
 
 384 NOTES. 
 
 " which seeks its own, not public utility, will ALWAYS have 
 " occasion for error ; and so MUST corrupt religion, both in prin- 
 " ciple and practice, to serve its own wrong interests." Nor 
 does the Bishop appear to think that the Church would be 
 unaccommodating, \vhen the government may have this " occa- 
 " sion :" " For," he says, " an alliance laying an obh'gation on 
 " the state to protect and defend the church, and to provide a 
 " settled maintenance for its ministers, such benefits must needs 
 " produce the highest attachment to the benefactor ; which will 
 " be shewn, from motives both of gratitude and interest, in the 
 " most zealous labours for the service of civil government." 
 vol. 4. p. 82. 
 
 He agrees also with Dr. Marsh as to the conditions which 
 should determine the duration of this alliance. " Hence too may 
 " be seen the truth of what was before observed, concerning the 
 " DURATION of this alliance : that it is PERPETUAL, but not 
 " IRREVOCABLE ; i.e. it subsists just so long as the church, 
 " thereby established, maintains its superiority of extent : which 
 " when it loses to any considerable degree, the alliance becomes 
 ff void. For the united church being then no longer able to per- 
 " form its part of the convention, which is formed on reciprocal 
 " conditions, the state becomes disengaged. And a NEW ALLI- 
 " ANCE is, of course, contracted with the now prevailing church, 
 Cl for the reasons which made the old. Thus, formerly, the 
 " alliance between the PAGAN CHURCH and the empire of Rome 
 te was dissolved j and the Christian established, in its place ; and, 
 " of late, the alliance between the POPISH CHURCH and the 
 " kingdom of England was broken j and another made with the 
 ff PROTESTANT, in its stead." vol. 4. p. 204. 
 
 Dr. Paley condemns, whilst he confirms, in the following para- 
 graph, the opinion held by the preceding writers. 
 
 " The /authority therefore of a church-establishment is founded 
 (C in its UTILITY: and whenever, upon this principle, we deli- 
 " berate concerning the form, propriety, or comparative excel- 
 " leucy of different establishments, the single view under which 
 " we ought to consider any of them, is, that of ' a scheme of 
 " instruction ; ' the single end we ought to propose by them, is, 
 " ' the preservation and communication of religious knowledge.' 
 " Eveiy other idea, and every other end, that have been mixed 
 " with this, as the making of the church an engine, or even an 
 " ally ,- of the state 5 converting it into the means of strength-
 
 NOTES. 385 
 
 lf ening or diffusing influence ; or regarding it as a support of 
 " regal, in opposition to popular forms of government ; have 
 *' served only to debase the institution, and to introduce into it 
 " numerous corruptions and abuses." Principles of Moral and 
 Political Philosophy. By William Paley, D. D. Archdeacon of 
 Carlisle. 20th Edit. vol. 2. p. 304. 
 
 And at p. 340, of the same volume, " If the dissenters from 
 " the Establishment become a majority of the people j the Esta- 
 " blishment itself ought to be altered or qualified." 
 
 The reader will decide, whether the sentiments of Bishop 
 Hoadly, cited in the text, or the sentiments of these later writers, 
 are more in unison with the declaration of our Saviour, " MY 
 
 " KINGDOM IS NOT OF THIS WORLD." 
 
 [Having noticed Bishop Warburton's treatise on " The Alii. 
 " ance between Church and State," it may not be amiss to 
 remark, that the notion of an alliance appears to have originated 
 with this prelate, and to have no existence but in imagination j 
 the church being as much a subject and creature of the state, 
 " a system as much contrived, disposed, and enacted by the civil 
 " magistrate, as the Army, the Treasury, or the Courts of West- 
 <f minster- hall." Bishop Warburton asserts that the union be- 
 tween the Church and the State is " no other than a politic league 
 "and alliance for mutual support and defence;" vol. 4. p. 74. 
 and, at p. 296, " What contract is it, which I suppose to 
 " have been made between Church and State ? I tell the reader 
 " in express words, it is a mutual compact by FREE CONVENTION. 
 " Now the entering into a free convention, is at the pleasure of 
 " the contracting parties. But parties, who have this liberty, 
 " must needs be independent on one another." 
 
 Now supposing the Bishop could reconcile his theory with 
 the Submission of the Clergy, in the reign of Henry VIII. or 
 with some statutes passed in that reign which are very much 
 opposed to it, it is not easy to imagine how he could accom- 
 modate the notion of a " mutual compact by free convention" 
 to the Act of Uniformity, 1 Eliz. c. 2, upon which the present 
 Church of England is founded j to which Act, the Bishops from 
 their attachment to Popery were so hostile, that it was passed 
 with the dissent of the whole bench, and in direct opposition 
 to their will, so that the style of lords spiritual is of necessity 
 omitted throughout the whole Statute. Black$tone's Comment, 
 
 cc
 
 386 NOTES. 
 
 Book 1, c. 2, p. 156, note. If this fact is not considered 
 subversive of the Bishop's theory, I must refer the reader to a 
 small volume which will abundantly supply the deficiency. It 
 is entitled, " A Dissent from the Church of England fully 
 Justified, and proved to be the genuine and just consequence 
 of the allegiance which is due to Jesus Christ, the only Lawgiver 
 in the Church ; Being the Dissenting Gentleman's Letters, fyc. 
 in answer to the Letters of the Rev. Mr. White on that subject. 
 By MICAIAH TOWGOOD." 
 
 From this Work, two short quotations only shall be given, in 
 support of what is advanced above. 
 
 " At her majesty's (Queen Eliz.) accession, and even after 
 " religion was restored to the same state as under King Edward, 
 " the universities were so entirely lost, that there were scarcely 
 " two of the same opinion with the reformers. As to the bishops 
 " and clergy (Bishop Cox adds) they were unanimous for popery, 
 " firm as a rock." p. 128. 
 
 " Ask the meanest novice in the history of the reformation, 
 " and of the establishment of your church, and he will presently 
 " acquaint you, that your ceremonies and forms were not 
 " ordained by BOTH ecclesiastical and civil authority, but by 
 (< civil authority ONLY ; the ecclesiastics in convocation and in 
 " the two universities obstinately refusing to give their con- 
 " currence, and even entering their very solemn and zealous 
 " protest against it." p. 239. 
 
 The Editor feels the more interest in recommending this work to 
 the reader's notice, as he not long since met with an instance of 
 an individual of no small consideration in the Society of Friends, 
 and of much general information, who, at an advanced age, re- 
 gretted that he had not met with this work till late in life ; " for," 
 he added, " although I have never wanted an answer to such as 
 " inquired the reason of my non-conformity to the Church of 
 " England, I was not aware, until I read that book, of many 
 " very strong and cogent reasons, which are there given for it." 
 It contains much premonitory matter.] 
 
 NOTE K k. 
 
 p. 306. " The morality of our holy religion is so salutary 
 to civil society j its promise of a future state so consolatory
 
 NOTES. 387 
 
 " to individuals ; its precepts are so suited to the deductions of 
 " the most enlightened reason, that it must finally prevail 
 " throughout the world. Some have thought that Christianity 
 " is losing ground in Christendom ; I am of a different opinion. 
 " Some ascetitious doctrines of Christianity derived from Rome 
 " and Geneva are losing ground 5 some unchristian practices 
 " springing from bigotry, intolerance, self-sufficiency of opinion, 
 " and uncharitahleness of judgment, are losing ground j but a 
 " belief in Jesus Christ as the Saviour of the world, as the 
 ". author of eternal life to all who obey his Gospel, is more and 
 " more confirmed every day in the minds of men of eminence 
 " and condition, not only in this, but in eveiy other Christian 
 " country." " Letter to the Rev. Claudius Buchanan, Vice- 
 President of the College of Fort William, in Bengal, from the 
 Bishop of Landaff" Anecdotes of the Life of Richard Watson, 
 Bishop of Landaff. p. 432. 
 
 NOTE LI. 
 
 p. 308. Had this prelate imagined the formation of so 
 powerful and so appropriate an instrument for the promotion of 
 this great work, as is the Bible Society, he would perhaps 
 scarcely have anticipated the opposition to which it has been 
 exposed from his brethren of the clergy. " It is only, so far as 
 " I am aware," says a Minister of the Establishment, " in 
 " episcopal charges and visitation sermons, in volumes and pam- 
 " phlets written by the clergy, that any regular and systematic 
 " attempt has been made to check the progress and to defeat the 
 " objects of this Society." Cooper's Letters, p. 205-6. And in 
 the British Critic, for June, 1818, the reviewer exults in the 
 success which has attended this hostility on the part of the 
 clergy ; " To their intrepid and unceasing exertions is it to be 
 " imputed, that the former of these institutions, [the Bible 
 " Society] stripped of the mask of delusion, which had so long 
 te concealed its true features, and weighed in the balance of 
 " truth, can no longer boast of increased and increasing sup- 
 " port." p. 569.
 
 388 NOTES. 
 
 NOTE Mm. 
 
 P, 312. This Sermon is also published in a collection of 
 Sermons by the same author, entitled, Discourses on several Sub- 
 jects and Occasions, 2 vols. 8vo. Oxford, 1779. 
 
 NOTE Nn. 
 
 p. 326. A summary of these returns for the year 1810, is 
 thus given in the Speech of the Earl of Harrowby, before cited. 
 
 " The whole number of places, (including some dignities, 
 *' sinecures, and dilapidated churches, but exclusive of the dio- 
 " cese of St. David) which are contained in the Bishops' returns 
 "for 1810, is 10,261. The number of incumbents resident is 
 " 4,421 : the incumbents who do their own duty, although non- 
 " resident, are 970 : the whole number, therefore, who either 
 " reside or do their duty, is 5,391. The number of incumbents 
 " non-resident by exemption, is 2,671 : non-resident by licence, 
 "2,114: non-resident from other causes, 1,055: the whole 
 " number non-resident, 5,840. Deducting from these 970 who 
 " do their own duty, the whole number of places in which the 
 " incumbent neither resides nor does his own duty, and which 
 " must therefore be served by curates, is 4,870. Amongst these, 
 " are comprehended a large portion of the most valuable livings, 
 " and of the most populous places." p. 3. 
 
 " A hope had been entertained, that although so many parishes 
 " were deprived of the presence of their incumbents, that want 
 " was in a great degree supplied by the residence of their curates. 
 " The returns upon your Lordships' table have put an end to that 
 " delusion, and have proved a fact which struck me with sur- 
 " prise, I could almost say with horror. The number of curates 
 " returned (exclusive of the diocese of St. David) being the 
 " curates of non-resident incumbents only, is 3,694 : of these 
 '' curates the number returned as resident is only 1,587 : the 
 " number of curates non-resident is therefore 2,107: there are 
 " also 970 incumbents non-resident, but doing their own duty ; 
 " the number of parishes therefore which appear to be left with- 
 " out either an incumbent or a curate legally resident, is above 
 " 3,000. This is much above one-fourth of the whole number
 
 NOTES. 389 
 
 " of parishes and dignities contained in the returns of the Bishops 
 " for the same year." 
 
 " Such w the state of things in a country which flatters itself 
 " that it has the benefit of an Established Church." p. 19. 
 
 NOTE O o. 
 
 p. 326. A similar anticipation is thus expressed by Bishop 
 Law. 
 
 " May all those, who wish well to it [our constitution] be in- 
 " duced to consider, that if a false, obdurate policy among the 
 " Jewish rulers, refusing to be reformed when the time was fully 
 " come, and rather determining to crush all those who proposed 
 " and urged the proper means of any reformation, brought on 
 " the dissolution of that degenerate state, which such weak 
 ( ' policy was purely calculated to avoid j whether a like settled 
 " resolution to support the maxims and traditions of our fore- 
 " fathers, and adhere to the same measures for securing some 
 " present ease and advantage, while we reject all those things 
 " that belong to our lasting peace, how frequently soever they 
 ' ' have been pointed out and pressed upon us ; whether, I say, 
 " this may not hasten the destruction of our Jerusalem, when we 
 " are equally insensible of its approach, and unable to with- 
 '' stand it !" Considerations on the Propriety of requiring a Sub- 
 scription to Articles of Faith. [By Edmund Law, D. D. Bishop 
 of Carlisle.] Cambridge : Printed by J. Archdeacon, Printer 
 to the University, 1774. 
 
 Even Archdeacon Daubeny, although in his " Guide to the 
 Church," p. 476 and 479, he considers the " distinction," 
 which some persons make " between the church of Christ and 
 " the church of England" to be " imaginary," and at p. 486, 
 " that those Christians, who would offer up to God the most rea- 
 " sonable service, must come to the Church of England to do it," in- 
 stead of discovering the confidence which such a persuasion should 
 inspire, cannot but give expression to the most gloomy fore- 
 bodings. At page 482 of the work above cited, he says, " That 
 " God, who spared not the countries where his church was ori- 
 " ginally planted, but in consequence of their corruption suf- 
 " fered the light of his truth to depart from them, will most 
 
 ' assuredly not spare this country under similar circumstances.
 
 390 NOTES. 
 
 " When the purpose for which the church has been established 
 " is not answered, it will not long be suffered to mock the design 
 " of its divine Founder. In the prophetic language, when the 
 " vineyard which God has inclosed shall cease to be duly culti- 
 " vated, and the vine be suffered to take its wild and natural 
 (C growth, the hedge by which it had been separated from the 
 " waste will be pulled down, and the boar out of the wood and 
 <f the wild beast of the field be permitted to devour it. Some 
 " antichristian power, intent upon nothing but plunder and de- 
 " struction, or a domestic enemy having the same object in view, 
 " will sooner or later be let loose upon a church when in this 
 <e degenerate condition, and become the instrument of executing 
 " upon her the vengeance due to her crimes. May God give 
 " the people of this nation such a sight of their danger, as may 
 " tend effectually to guard them against it !" 
 
 <f Indisposed, as I think I am, to superstition and enthusiasm, 
 " the present events of Europe are nevertheless of so awful and 
 " alarming a kind, as to affect me with the most serious and 
 " interesting concern. Upon the authority of sacred writ we 
 " are assured, that the time must come, when ' the kingdoms 
 " of this world shall become the kingdoms of God and of his 
 " Christ.' That Being ' who seeth the end from the beginning,' 
 " ' before whom all nations are as nothing, yea, less than no- 
 " thing,' will make human policy subservient to the accomplish- 
 " ment of his wise purposes. What important page in the great 
 " history of the world may now be turning over, it is not for 
 " us to determine. As Christians, we look with reverence to 
 " the issue of the divine councils, whatever it may be, knowing 
 " that all things will work together for good to those who have 
 " the Lord for their God. At the same time we should want 
 " the feelings of men, did we not tremble at the threatening 
 ff aspect of that black cloud, which has been long pouring forth 
 ec sweeping destruction upon the nations around us." Daubeny's 
 Guide to the Church. Cadell and Davies, 1798. 
 
 NOTE Pp. 
 
 p. 327. It is cheering to observe an individual so high in 
 rank and public estimation as the Chancellor of the Exchequer, 
 thus engaged, amid the important duties of his office, in advo-
 
 NOTES. 391 
 
 eating the cause of the Bible Society. The instances of this 
 description, which we occasionally observe, would almost induce 
 us to augur well of our country, amidst all our occasion for 
 despondency ; but our rising hopes are soon blasted by over- 
 powering evidence of the fact, that notwithstanding many ho- 
 nourable exceptions, the Church of England, as a body, or, to 
 speak more correctly perhaps, the clerical members of that 
 church, are increasingly unfriendly to the interests of this ad- 
 mirable institution. Many persons justify their indisposition to 
 it upon the prior claims of the Society for Promoting Christian 
 Knowledge : but in addition to the exclusive principles of this 
 Society, which present a barrier to the consistent union of Christ- 
 ians of different denominations, in a work which demands the 
 united efforts of all, its adoption and marked approbation of 
 Dr. Mant's tract on Regeneration, in open hostility and direct 
 opposition to nearly fifty of its previous publications, has afforded 
 another argument to the friends of consistency, if not to the 
 friends of vital Christianity itself, against a cordial co-operation 
 with it. 
 
 [Dr. Mant's tract, which this Society has so warmly espoused 
 and defended against the remonstrances of many of its own mem- 
 bers, maintains, That regeneration does invariably accompany 
 baptism when administered according to the rites of the Church 
 of England, and that after the administration of this ceremony, 
 to look for regeneration, or even to admit its possibility, is here- 
 tical, enthusiastic, and dangerous ; whilst above forty tracts on 
 the Society's list inculcate the contrary opinion the independ- 
 ence of the thing signified upon the sign. See " A Respectful 
 Address to the Most Rev. the Archbishops, the Right Rev. 
 the Bishops, the Rev. the Clergy, and the other Members of 
 the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, on certain In- 
 consistencies and Contradictions which have appeared of late in 
 some of the Books and Tracts of that Society. By a Member 
 of that Society." London: Hatchard, 1816. Or, the Christian 
 Observer, for February, 1816. 
 
 As this Society appears scarcely to know its own sentiments 
 on the subject of Baptism, it may seem unreasonable to expect 
 it should be well informed respecting the opinions of others ; yet, 
 surely, it is hardly excusable in a Society established expressly 
 for the purpose of promoting Christian knowledge to assert,
 
 392 NOTES. 
 
 at this time of day, that ee the Quakers hold that when the 
 " parents or masters of families are baptized, there is no need 
 " that their children or posterity ever after should be baptized, 
 " but that all use of baptism may cease in a Christian nation." 
 See one of this Society's tracts entitled " A Conference between 
 two Men that had doubts about Infant-Baptism." Ninth edition: 
 Rivingtons, 1809. p. 65. 
 
 It is not, surely, on the distribution of such pamphlets as 
 these, that the friends of the " Society for Promoting Christian 
 " Knowledge" would found its vaunted superiority over a So- 
 ciety, which stands charged with circulating alone that Sacred 
 Volume, of which the great and pious Locke could say, " It has 
 (( God for its author ; salvation for its end 5 and truth, without 
 " any mixture of error, for its matter."] 
 
 Whether there is any connection between the adoption of such 
 sentiments as Dr. Mant's tract contains, and opposition to the 
 Bible Society, the reader who is acquainted with the whole case, 
 will be at no loss to determine. A Minister of their own com- 
 munion, after speaking of the " indisposition of the Church of 
 " England, as represented at least by the great body of its eccle- 
 " siastical members," towards the Bible Society, expresses his 
 fear, " that this indifference really proceeds from an indifference 
 " to the great objects which that Society embraces ; from a want 
 " of lively feeling in the spiritual interests of mankind at large , 
 fc from a deficiency of zeal for promoting the universal kingdom 
 <e of the Redeemer" p. 220. After acknowledging the reluct- 
 ance with which he is compelled to admit this conclusion, and 
 the pain with which he states it, the author thus adverts to the 
 awful and alarming prospects which it opens to him. 
 
 ff If our church, however pure in doctrine and principle, be yet 
 <e chargeable in the persons of those who constitute the great body 
 ff of her members, with the guilt of indifference to the general 
 " cause of Christianity, how precarious is her situation, how 
 " imminent her danger ! If she thus partake of Laodicean luke- 
 " warmness, what can she expect but Laodicean treatment ? If, 
 " forgetful of her duties, her obligations, and her privileges, she 
 <( has left her first love, what can she anticipate, except she re- 
 " pent, but that her candlestick will be removed out of its place ? 
 " Let her remember Who hath said, ' He that is not with me 
 " is against me 5 and he that gathereth not with me, scattereth.'
 
 NOTES. 393 
 
 " Let her remember that if she coines not out of Babylon, she 
 " will perish with Babylon. If she partakes of its sins, she 
 " will also receive of its plagues. Let her remember that the 
 " only ecclesiastical power which has yet opposed or discounte- 
 " nanced the free circulation of the Word of God, has been 
 " the Church of Rome. And shall the Church of England, in 
 " such an opposition, unite and identify herself with One 
 " whom she regards as antichristian and apostate ? Shall she 
 " prominently stand forward the opposer of an institution, which 
 " strikes at the root of papal corruption, and aims a deadly 
 " blow at heathenism and idolatry ? Does she not see that by 
 " such a conduct she is undermining also her own foundations, 
 " and .bringing herself down to the grouud ! Would that the 
 " voice of an humble individual might be heard ! Would that 
 " the ecclesiastical members of our Establishment might be pre- 
 " vailed on calmly and dispassionately to reflect on the probable 
 " consequences of then: hostility or indifference to the Bible 
 " Society !" 
 
 " What is the basis on which our Church is established ? She 
 " stands not by prescription. She is indeed supported by law. 
 '' But her foundations are laid in the hearts and affections of 
 " the people ; in then: admiration of her excellence ; in their 
 " conviction of her expediency and fitness for the great end for 
 " which she is established the support and enlargement of the 
 " kingdom of Christ. Let these foundations be once removed 
 " and where are the buttresses which are to prevent her from 
 " falling ? Let the affections of the people be estranged from her ; 
 " let them cease to admire her ; let them regard her as useless j 
 " and what power on earth can sustain her? We might wrap our- 
 " selves up in the consciousness of our own superior dignity, 
 " and might shut our ears against clamour and complaint : 
 " but the foundations of our Zion would in the mean time be 
 " crumbling away beneath our feet, and would quickly bury us 
 " in the ruins." " Letters addressed to a Serious and Humble 
 Enquirer after Truth, with a peculiar Aspect to the Circumstances 
 of the Present Times. By the Rev. Edward Cooper, Rector of 
 Hamstall-Ridware," %c. London: Cadell and Davies, 1817. 
 p. 225228. 
 
 In order that any connection subsisting between the Extracts 
 may not be interrupted, it appears eligible that the reader should
 
 394 NOTES. 
 
 turn back and finish the little which remains of the Appendix, 
 before he proceeds to the following 
 
 CONCLUDING OBSERVATIONS. 
 
 Before the Editor takes leave of his readers, he thinks it right 
 to notice three publications, two of which have made their ap- 
 pearance in the present year (1818) whilst these sheets have 
 been passing throiigh the press ; one from the pen of Archdeacon 
 Daubeny, entitled, "On the nature, progress, and consequences 
 of Schism;" the other entitled, "Reflections," &c. &c. by 
 Samuel Wix, A.M. F.R. & A. S. Vicar of St. Bartholomew 
 the less, London : and he anticipates that, in the very cursory 
 view which he purposes to take of these books, an opportunity 
 may be offered of allowing himself in a few reflections of a 
 more general nature, which have repeatedly occurred to him in 
 the progress of this compilation, and which he has hitherto 
 refrained from expressing. 
 
 The reader can scarcely have failed to observe the existence of 
 a very prevailing apprehension for the security of the ecclesiastical 
 establishment of this country, both as it has been explicitly stated 
 on various occasions by many of those who are most interested 
 in the continuance of that Establishment, and also as it has 
 discovered itself more openly or covertly in some public measures 
 and institutions. Amongst those who have been most assiduous 
 in their endeavours to put a stop to the defection from the 
 Church of England, which is alleged to be a principal ground 
 of this apprehension, Archdeacon Daubeny, whose writings have 
 been already cited in these notes, holds a conspicuous place. 
 This writer brands separation from the Church of England with 
 the formidable appellation of " Schism," and represents it as 
 involving the very serious consequences of separation from the 
 church of Christ. It matters not that the fallacy of the mode 
 of argument adopted in his Guide to the Church has been ably 
 and abundantly exposed; he has returned to the charge in the 
 treatise on Schism just noticed, in which the same arguments 
 are again resorted to, and we are again expected to consider 
 the particular Church of England and the universal Church of 
 Christ as convertible terms. This sophism of the Archdeacon is 
 scarcely worth noticing ; yet the repetition of it in his late work 
 is the less excusable, as he therein expressly acknowledges the 
 necessity of " a proper distinction of terms" in order to " the
 
 NOTES. 395 
 
 " formation of correct ideas." Such disingenuousness argues a 
 bad cause, and a disposition rather to impose upon the ignorant 
 than to inform them. The Archdeacon would reprobate this 
 gratuitous assumption in a Roman Catholic, perhaps as warmly 
 as is done by a late writer of his own communion, whose lan- 
 guage upon that occasion is so appropriate to the present, that 
 it shall be given here. ft But the Romish [add and the 
 " English] Church has no more a promise of perpetuity or of 
 " freedom from heresy, than the Church of Constantinople or 
 " any other particular Church. If she have, let it be produced ; 
 " and we have done : but the merest tyro in logic can never 
 " allow the Romanist [add nor the Church-of-Englandist] 
 " to adduce certain promises to the Universal Church, and then 
 " apply them to his own particular Church on the paradoxical 
 " ground that this particular is the intended Universal. Yet 
 " does this gross petitio principii run through all the reasonings, 
 " if reasonings they can be called, of the Popish [add and 
 " of some of the Church-of-England] doctors. One is absolutely 
 " weary of exposing 'it : at every turn we meet this unblushing 
 " and indefatigable Ecce iterum Crispinus." Faber's Dissert. 
 vol. 3, p. 355. 
 
 If any instances of this fallacy should occur in the citations 
 which I am about to adduce, they will be only incidental, as 
 these are brought forward with another design, that of giving 
 the author's definition of the sin of Schism, and shewing that 
 he considers it to be incurred by all dissenters from the church 
 of England. He states Schism, p. 68, to '" consist in an un- 
 " necessary separation of Christians from the communion of a duly 
 "constituted Church j" that it consists, p. 149, "precisely and 
 " distinctly, in its being a rebellion against the divine ordinance ;" 
 and, more diffusely at p. 104, "But the essence of the sin of 
 " Schism, consists in its being a breach of that union, which 
 " Christ has enjoined ; and an opposition to that method of pro- 
 " moting religious knowledge prescribed in the gospel ; it is there- 
 " fore at least indirectly, a rebellion against that authority which 
 " Christ expressly appointed for the government of his Church 
 " upon earth ; a sin consequently with which all Separatists 
 " from that Church, wherever that Church is to be found, stand 
 " equally chargeable: and it is in fact, so far as it goes, the 
 " opposition of the will of man to the will of God." After 
 building the pretensions of the Church of England to Apostolical
 
 396 NOTES. 
 
 authority on the ground of the commission originally delivered 
 by Christ to his Apostles, as handed down in regular succession 
 to the ministers of that Church, p. Ill, he says, p. 143, "Ad- 
 " mitting the Church of England to be what it has been here 
 " represented, Schism, occasioned by separation from the divinely 
 " appointed ministers of that Church, must be the same sin now, 
 <e that a departure from communion with the Apostles was in 
 " the primitive days : the sin in both cases being the same species 
 tc of rebellion against the divine ordinance, in which the essence 
 " of the sin of schism consists. Before this conclusion can be set 
 " aside, it must, it is presumed, be proved, that the counsel of 
 " the Lord, which, we are told in scripture, ' standeth for ever,' 
 " has, so far at least as respects the affairs of his Church, under- 
 " gone a most important change." 
 
 With the assumption of these modest postulates, and the assist- 
 ance of his usual mode of reasoning, " if reasoning it can be 
 " called," the Archdeacon finds no difficulty in establishing his 
 conclusion, that the sacraments " having been delivered to the 
 " keeping of God's Church, and the Ministers of that Church 
 " having been designated in sacred writ by the title of stewards 
 " of the mysteries contained in them, and embassadors for Christ, 
 " to carry on in his name the work of reconciliation between 
 " God and man, it follows that all who would partake in the 
 " benefits attached to these sacraments, must come to the church 
 " [read must go to that church] for them. Hence, in an 
 " ecclesiastical point of view, the necessity of communion with 
 " the church, and the sin and danger of separation from it." p. 
 66. And at p. 63, " Since then the sacraments of God, have 
 " been committed, and the promises of God made to his church, 
 " it appears, at least so far as we can judge, to have been in- 
 " tended, that through the Church, as the divinely appointed 
 " channel of communication between God and man, that sal- 
 " vation should be conveyed." The Church of England being 
 thus gratuitously identified with the Church of Christ, our 
 author very much at his ease marks out the principle on which 
 that Church " is justified in bringing the charge of Schism against 
 " all Christian professors in this country, who are separatists 
 " from her communion," p. 50 : and at p. 161, he states, 
 that he has " distinctly marked the ground, on which the charge 
 " of Schism is brought against all Christian professors in this 
 " country, who are in. a state of separation from that Apostolic
 
 NOTES. 397 
 
 " branch of the Church of Christ, which has, through divine 
 "grace been established in it:" and this sweeping "charge 
 " of Schism" is thus fearlessly advanced, although he allows 
 it to involve the dreadful consequences of an opposition set up 
 " against the revealed, and only authorized method of conducting 
 " the oeconomy of divine grace in the world," and as placing 
 the offender out of " a state of covenanted security with respect 
 " to the most important of all human concerns." p. 63. 
 
 If prejudice and zeal were not unfriendly to cool recollection, 
 the Archdeacon might perchance have bethought him of Scot- 
 land, where Presbyterianism is the established religion ; esta- 
 blished by the same authority, and as solemnly sworn to be 
 maintained without innovation by the King at his coronation,* 
 as is Episcopacy in this part of the empire : for there the Arch- 
 deacon would be a schismatic, if a dissenter from the Esta- 
 blishment must be called a schismatic. He might have be- 
 thought him of the numerous foreign churches, which must be 
 unchurched by his theory of schism, unless indeed orthodoxy 
 is made to consist, as some will have it, in the defence of 
 ft every established religion under heaven." He might have 
 recollected the paramount importance and the acknowledged suffi- 
 ciency of vital Christianity, the religion of the heart, described 
 by the Apostle James to consist in visiting the fatherless and 
 widows in their affliction, and in keeping himself unspotted from 
 the world ; by the Apostle Peter, in fearing God and working 
 righteousness ; and by our Saviour, in obedience to the command- 
 ment, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and 
 with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind, 
 and thy neighbour as thyself ; THIS DO AND THOU SHALT LIVE : 
 which " life of God in the soul of man" does not of necessity 
 involve outward communion, but that union alone which always 
 subsists between members of the one body with each other, and 
 with Christ their holy Head j whose power alone, they well know, 
 has thus changed their hearts and purified their affections. 
 He might have bethought him of some defects in the Church of 
 England, in her articles, her liturgy, and her offices, acknow- 
 ledged by many of her own " dutiful sons" to be exceedingly 
 burdensome and oppressive ; whilst others, who have felt their 
 duty to Christ, their alone Lord and Master, paramount to their 
 
 *Blaekstone's Comment. Intiod. sec. 4.
 
 398 NOTES. 
 
 duty to their fellow men when enacting terms of religious com- 
 munion which neither He nor his Apostles had required, have 
 found them quite intolerable. And lastly, he might have con- 
 sidered the present state of that Church, divided as it now is 
 on some highly important points of doctrine the "new rege- 
 " neration heresy," as one of her own ministers terms it, not 
 to mention others ; and also, in respect of the actual irreligious 
 and depraved state of the mass of its members ; acknowledged 
 to be such by numerous and undeniable authorities,* and that 
 acknowledgment rendered superfluous by the melancholy evidence 
 of facts. "Among what body is it," says a late writer, " that 
 "we find the mass of criminals, male and female, aged and 
 " young, by which our calendars and our country are so pecu- 
 " liarly disgraced ? Among members of the Established Church 
 " of Scotland ? Among the Methodists, Baptists, Quakers, or 
 " the immense body of Independents ? No : but, with very 
 <f few exceptions, among the members of the Church of Eng- 
 land; and those few exceptions are generally to be found 
 " among the members of the Church of Rome." Without 
 pledging myself to the correctness of this statement, and freely 
 acknowledging that there is much cause for abasement and 
 sorrow amongst all professions, it might have been pi'esumed 
 that some of these considerations would have occurred to an 
 unprejudiced mind, and would have induced the Archdeacon to 
 hesitate a little before he had pronounced Separation from the 
 Church of England to be a crime of so deep a dye. But, 
 no such thing : this same dissent outweighs every other consi- 
 deration : it is the sin of "Schism;" and this he considers to 
 be a sin " committed more directly against God, than any other 
 " sin, to which the frailty of man's fallen nature has subjected 
 " him, can well be. It is indeed" he goes on to say, " that 
 " great mother sin, as it may be truly called, on account of 
 " the abundant progeny which it never fails to produce, which 
 " has done, and perhaps will do, MORE to counteract THE DIVINE 
 " SCHEME OF HUMAN REDEMPTION, than any other mean that 
 " the great Deceiver of Mankind has ever yet employed against 
 " it. And it is on this account, it may be, that this Deceiver, 
 " in these latter days, when his time is drawing to an end, is 
 " permitted more generally to employ it, as preparatory to that 
 
 *Sce Appendix, p. 256 et seq.
 
 NOTES. 399 
 
 " awful period, when it seems to have been made a question, 
 " whether the Son of Man shall find faith on the earth." pref. 
 p. viii. 
 
 .This language may appear rather too strong, as the Arch- 
 deacon does not scruple here to assert, what his friends, generally 
 more cautious, only venture to surmise. Thus a writer in the 
 British Critic for February, 1818, in his review of " A Sermon 
 preached at St. Mary's, Oxford, August 29, 1817," modestly 
 supposes the Christian Religion itself to depend for its existence 
 on the support which it receives from the Church of England: 
 these are his words. " This masterly and elegant Sermon is, 
 " in every respect, worthy of its reverend author. The time 
 " and occasion of its delivery were happily suited to its object 
 
 " a consideration of the dangers which hang over our coun- 
 
 " try, and which threaten the very existence of the Christian 
 " Religion, from the impious and treasonable machinations of 
 " the disaffected." p. 219. 
 
 It could scarcely be expected that the cause of truth should 
 be thus insulted with impunity : her powerful influence often 
 extorts, from those who would obscure her beauty or distort 
 her lovely proportions, in one single admission enough to refute 
 all their calumnies and lay their Babel in the dust. The Arch- 
 deacon makes many such admissions : thus having told us in 
 one page that the Church of England "is justified in bringing 
 " the charge of Schism," grievous as he shews it to be, " against 
 " all Christian professors in this country, who are separatists 
 " from her communion," he assures us in another, that he 
 " readily subscribes to that principle, by which every Christian 
 " professor is justified in maintaining that religious system, which 
 " he in his conscience believes to be true;" p.. 29 : not only 
 that " the scripture forms the only sure standard of judgment 
 " for the Christian in religious matters," p. 76, but that even 
 in " forming our judgment on religious institutions, we are to 
 " consider, NOT what the world may think or practise, but what 
 " God has taught," p. 67: that "the practice of the world, 
 " however general or approved, draws not the line of direction 
 " for the Christian, who is called out of the world to serve a 
 
 " better master," p. 147 : and that " the great and most serious 
 " consideration with Christians is, or at least ought to be, that 
 " when standing before the tribunal of Christ, they will as 
 " Christians, be judged not by the laws of fallible man, but by
 
 NOTES. 
 
 <c the infallible standard of God's revealed word." p. 99. N a y 
 at p. 117, he frankly acknowledges, "we are perfectly per- 
 " suaded that in tne present day, some of the most pious and 
 " best intentioned Christians are unhappily, as we think, to be 
 " found out of the Church,"* 
 
 Now, how shocking this is to common sense is obvious. If 
 r< some of the most pious and best intentioned Christians," can 
 be such, whilst they are living in the commission of a sin ' ' com- 
 " mitted more directly against God, than any other sin, to 
 <f which the frailty of man's fallen nature has subjected him, 
 
 " can well be/' in "an opposition set up against the revealed 
 
 tf and only authorised method of conducting the oeconomy of 
 " divine grace in the world j" if every Christian professor is 
 " justified" in doing, what the Church of Christ is "justified" 
 in condemning, and that as a very heinous sin, what is there so 
 absurd which may not be established by such reasoning ? Is 
 this the person to be considered as a " Guide to the Church," 
 as a Pharos to direct our Christian course, and not rather as a 
 beacon to warn us of insidious rocks and quicksands ? Happily 
 a clue offers itself to conduct us through the maze of these con- 
 tradictions. He tells us in his preface, p. xiii. that this same 
 terrifying sin of Schism, this " wide spreading torrent of Schism," 
 " seems threatening to bear down our sacred inclosure" and that 
 
 " unless some judicious and active steps be taken no great 
 
 " portion of time, under present circumstances, can be expected 
 " to elapse, before the great body of the people will be lost to it " 
 p. 183. And "if matters in our Christian world proceed, with- 
 " out counteraction, in their present course, it may soon become 
 " a question how long we shall have a church to be zealous about." 
 p. 168. But even this apprehension, with all its train of melan- 
 choly and alarming anticipations, ought not to be allowed to 
 convert truth into falsehood, the 'pious, nay the " most pious" 
 into impious, to justify the judge in his condemnation of the 
 culprit, and yet justify the culprit in the crime for which he 
 is condemned. 
 
 The present Bishop of London, Dr. Howley, appears to labour 
 under a similar apprehension of danger to the Establishment. In 
 
 *O magna vis veritatis, quce contra hominum ingenia, calliditatem, soler- 
 tiam, contrdque fictat omnium insidias, facile se per se ipsa defendatf 
 Cic. Orat. pro Ccelio.
 
 NOTES. 401 
 
 his primary Charge, delivered in the year 1814, he thus expresses 
 his fears. ' ' We are indeed exposed to dangers, and those of 
 " no ordinary magnitude. The opposite extremes of defect or 
 " excess of religious belief and feeling prevail among us, in a 
 (f variety of modifications and degrees, to an alarming extent. 
 " The partizans of these several errors, disjoined in all other 
 " respects by discordancy of principle, sentiment, and ultimate 
 " views, are not the less disposed to unite in offensive alliance 
 " against the object of their common aversion, the Established 
 
 " Church." p. 19. "The evil to be reasonably apprehended 
 
 " is a gradual diminution of attachment to the national Church, 
 " which in its immediate effects would abridge the sphere of 
 f< her beneficial influence, and might lead in its possible conse- 
 ' quences to the subversion of an Establishment, the firmest 
 " support and the noblest ornament of Christianity." p. 25. 
 
 Hence, this prelate also insists on the " guilt of Schism," 
 extols the Church of England as " the bulwark of pure religion, 
 '' the pillar of divine truth," and applauds his predecessor Dr. 
 Randolph, for "his jealousy of innovation however specious," 
 and also "for his endeavours to replace ecclesiastical discipline 
 " on its ancient footing, and to recover the rights and assert the 
 " legitimate authority of the Spiritual Governor: for," he adds, 
 "he had been taught by the records of antiquity no less than 
 " by the deductions of reason, that the prosperity of our insti- 
 " tutions depends on attention to the spirit of their laws, and 
 " that the vigour of discipline is relaxed, and its benefit lost, by 
 " weakening the hands and fettering the discretion of the ruling 
 " poicer."* p. 6. 
 
 If this be indeed a correct statement of Dr. Randolph's in- 
 tentions, there seems but little occasion to " expatiate on his 
 " claims to our gratitude," and but little difficulty in "estimating 
 " the sum of advantage which might have accrued from his active 
 " piety, had the . dispensations of Providence allowed a longer 
 " tune for the effect of his labours, and the complete eocpansion 
 " of his plans." p. 7. If it were indeed "in pursuance of this 
 " wise policy" that Dr. Randolph exerted himself so zealously 
 
 * The state of things which these prelates appear desirous of introducing 
 amongst us is ably exposed by Sir Michael Foster, sometime one of the 
 Judges of the Court of King's Bench, in his "Examination of the scheme 
 of Church-power laid down by Bishop Gibson, in the Codex juris ecclesi- 
 astici Anglicani." 
 
 Dd
 
 402 NOTES. 
 
 in the establishment of the National Schools, that is, the schools 
 of the self-styled National Society for promoting the education of 
 the poor in the principles of the Established Church, there is 
 strong ground for a belief that he hoped to find in them a mean 
 of enslaving, rather than of emancipating, the youthful mind. 
 And whether Dr. Howley has not contributed to strengthen this 
 belief, and also given occasion for a similar suspicion as it re- 
 spects himself, when, after earnestly recommending these schools 
 to their vigilant and unremitting attention, he addresses his 
 clergy in such language as the following, the reader is left to 
 }udge : "In proportion to the success of your attention to this 
 " important point, the course of your ministry will become 
 " smooth and easy. Your parishioners, from their infancy initi- 
 " ated in the principles, and inured to the practice, of pure 
 " Christianity, will crowd with pious affection to the altars of 
 " their Mother Church; and will learn to regard the pretences 
 " and artifices of corrupt or illiterate instructors with indiffer- 
 " ence or disdain. Your instructions and exhortations received 
 " with humble docility, as the oracles of God, by congregations 
 " who revere in your persons the dispensers of divine truth, will 
 ( no longer be wasted on a barren soil." p, 32. 
 
 One of Dr. Howley's clergy, Samuel Wix, A.M. F.R. & 
 A.S. Vicar of St. Bartholomew the less, London, has, however 
 discovered so much want of confidence in the means which his 
 Diocesan has thus recommended for their common security, and 
 perhaps not without some apprehension that this dangerous wea- 
 pon, education, guarded as it is in their hands and reluctantly 
 used at all, may eventually be turned against those whom it was 
 intended to defend, that he has boldly proposed to strengthen 
 the hands of the Church of England by a union, on certain 
 mutual concessions, with the Church of Rome; thus to set all 
 danger from further separation at defiance, and even, as it ap- 
 pears, to prevent separation altogether. The reader will probably 
 be gratified with a copy of the title-page of the work which conveys 
 this extraordinary proposal : viz. " Reflections concerning the 
 expediency of a council of the Church of England and the Church 
 of Rome being holden, with a view to accommodate religious 
 differences, and to promote the unity of religion in the bond of 
 peace : humbly, but earnestly, recommended to the serious atten- 
 tion of His Royal Highness the Prince Regent ; the Most Re- 
 verend the Archbishops j the Right Reverend the Bishops ; the
 
 N O t E S. 403 
 
 Reverend the Clergy, and all lay persons, who are able and 
 willing dispassionately to consider the important subject. By 
 Samuel Wix, A.M. F.R. & A. S. Vicar of St. Bartholomew 
 the less, London." London: Rivingtons, 1818. 
 
 About two years ago, some advertence was made in the Quar- 
 terly Review which way be considered as demi-official authority 
 in what regards the interests of the Church of England to 
 the desirable aspect of a union with the Society of Methodists. 
 Under the reigning impression of the danger to be apprehended 
 from the increasing separation from the Establishment, and, 
 perhaps, with a view of sounding or preparing the public mind 
 upon the question, these Reviewers say, " No person can con- 
 " template the organization and the rapid increase of the Metho- 
 " dists, without perceiving the imminent danger with which the 
 " national church is threatened : but a full sense of these dangers, 
 " and a full perception of the evils which they have done, and 
 <f the heavier evil to be apprehended from their- further success, 
 " must not prevent us from acknowledging that they have done 
 " good also, and sown the seeds of the Gospel in many places 
 
 " which would otherwise still have remained waste ground. 
 
 " With the Methodists a union is possible-, yet even here the 
 "difficulties are so many, such a concession of dignity is 
 " required from the one side, and of power from the other, with 
 " perhaps some sacrifice of prejudice from both, that it 
 " would appear absurd to recommend a measure which is so 
 " devoutly to be wished." Quart. Review, April 1816, pp. 
 2278. 
 
 As this hint to the Methodists does not appear to have been 
 taken, or, at least, to have led to any decisive measures, the 
 Vicar of St. Bartholomew the less, Samuel Wix, discards the 
 idea of a union with the Dissenters, and professes a decided 
 preference for the Church of Rome. " There is," he says, p. 99, 
 " among the Roman Catholics, a fixedness in their religious prin- 
 " ciples," and " a decided attachment to their faith," which 
 appear to have great charms for him ; and further, that " what- 
 " ever may be the errors of the Church of Rome, they are not 
 " in the view of the writer, so alarming, nor should they be, 
 " in the view of any sound member of the Church of England, 
 " as the errors of the Socinians, the Anabaptists, the Quakers, 
 " and others, who reject Episcopal discipline, and depart widely 
 " from Apostolical faith," Thus Archbishop Wake, in the last
 
 404 NOTES. 
 
 century, having failed in his attempt at a comprehension with 
 the Dissenters, deserted their interest and opposed their claims 
 in Parliament when he engaged in a correspondence with one 
 of the doctors of the Sorbonne with the view of forming a union 
 with the Gallican church : not that it is intended to put the 
 ingenuous and truly protestant conduct of .the Archbishop on that 
 occasion, upon a level with the sophistry, misrepresentation, and 
 intolerance of this temporising vicar. It must be allowed that 
 this latter writer has succeeded, far beyond what could be wished 
 or what many of his own communion will thank him for, in 
 shewing, both by his own observations and by large quotations 
 from respectable authorities, that there is already so close an 
 approximation of the Church of England to the Church of Rome, 
 that much less concession will be required on either side in order 
 to bring about the proposed union, than many have been accus- 
 tomed to apprehend. Yet there are many points respecting 
 which I am well assured he will not be admitted to have spoken 
 the general opinion of his brethren of the Church of England. 
 That the reader may be enabled to judge more satisfactorily of 
 the views and sentiments of this writer, and that less risk may 
 be incurred of misrepresenting them, a longer extract than usual 
 shall be here given. 
 
 " Among the errors which are commonly objected against 
 " the Church of Rome, are Transubstantiation, and the invo- 
 <c cation of Angels and departed Saints. These are the grand 
 " sources of many other errors, as the Church of England con- 
 " siders them, of the Romish Church. But here, surely, if 
 " a proper Christian temper on both sides were cultivated, mutual 
 <f advances to conciliation might be made." 
 
 " The words of our Saviour, who, ' as they were eating, took 
 ".bread and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, 
 " and said, Take, eat, this is my body,' and who, also, ' took 
 " the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink 
 " ye all of it, for this is my blood of the New Testament,' are 
 " mysterious, and are differently understood by some of the most 
 " pious, and most learned members of the Church of England. 
 " While some consider the Sacrament, thus instituted by our 
 " blessed Lord, simply as a memorial, others understand the 
 " words in a sense which induces them to believe, that, when 
 " they receive the consecrated elements, they do more than barely 
 " commemorate the death and passion of Christ ; and some
 
 NOTES. 4Q5 
 
 <e conceive that, in the administration of the eucharist, a solemn 
 ff sacrifice is offered. But, who shall say the precise point at 
 " which our faith should stop, in our humble adorations at the 
 " altar ? Here each individual, according to the spirit of our 
 " tolerant Church, must be left to judge for himself, and the 
 <e Roman Catholic seems, in some degree, warranted in the 
 " language with which he adverts to the real presence of Christ 
 " in the Sacrament, by the words of our Saviour, ' Take eat, 
 " this is my body;' by the words of St. Paul, ' The cup of 
 fc blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood 
 " of Christ ? the bread which we break, is it not the communion 
 " of the body of Christ ?' and by the answer in the Church of 
 " England Catechism, to the question relating to the Sacrament j 
 " 'What is the inward part or thing signified?' which answer 
 " is, 'The body and blood of Christ, which are verily and indeed 
 " taken and received by the faithful in the Lord's Supper.' On 
 " this, as on various other occasions, of divine mystery, it be- 
 ff comes us devoutly to pray with the father in the Gospel, who 
 c ' would benefit from a belief in the almighty power of Jesus ; 
 " ' Lord, I believe ; help thou mine unbelief;' and, having of- 
 " fered up this prayer, to adopt the language of Scripture, and 
 " as nearly as we can ascertain it, the language of the earliest 
 " Christian professors, humbly aspiring after that belief which 
 " the language was intended to command, and judging, at the 
 " same time, with all meekness and charity, of the opinions of 
 " our brethren of like weakness with ourselves, and never al- 
 " lowing different shades of opinion on matters above our compre- 
 " hension, to lead to Schism in the Church of Christ." 
 
 " Another practice of the Church of Rome, considered as 
 " fundamentally erroneous by the Church of England, is, her 
 " addressing prayers to angels and departed saints. But these 
 " prayers should be understood to be addressed, as they are by the 
 " Romish Church, not to the angels or saints, as possessing in 
 " themselves any godlike authority, or power, but as intercessors 
 " for good on our behalf to God and our Saviour. Prayers to 
 " angels and departed persons, thus considered, are uncharge- 
 " able with being idolatrous as offered to beings inferior to God 
 " for divine help : and prayers offered for intercession to those 
 " pious persons, now supposed to be in the presence of God, 
 "in an humble sense of our own unworthiness to approach at 
 " once the Godhead, are offered in a feeb'ng, which, however
 
 406 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 " it may have been abused, and certainly it has been greatly 
 " abused, does not call for unmingled censure, nor need be fatal 
 " to the union so much desired. For the abuses have been as 
 " much censured by the Roman Catholics themselves, as they 
 " have justly been by Protestants." 
 
 " There are other practices of the Church of Rome, which, 
 " however erroneous they are supposed to be, have been greatly 
 " misrepresented, and referred to principles which the Roman 
 " Catholic himself does not acknowledge. Thus, the praying 
 " before a crucifix has been uncandidly represented as idolatrously 
 " praying to a crucifix. The frequent signing with the sign of 
 " the cross, the use of consecrated water, the bowing at the 
 (f altar, all these have been denominated superstitious, and some- 
 " times worse ; whereas, they are, in reality, ceremonies harm- 
 " less in themselves, which may be either beneficial, or otherwise, 
 " as they are used properly, or as they are abused." 
 
 " These however, were practices which were bitterly inveighed 
 " against during the heat of the Reformation, when the members 
 " of the Church of Rome and the Protestants, had mutually 
 " irritated each other, and were neither in a temper to come to 
 " any harmonious conclusion." pp. 14 27. 
 
 [Whether " the praying before a crucifix has been uncandidly 
 " represented as idolatrously praying to a crucifix," may appear 
 from the following decision of the council held under Pope 
 Stephen III. cited by Faber, Dissert, vol. 3, p. 363. " The 
 " holy images of Christ, the blessed Virgin, and other saints, 
 
 " ARE WORTHY OF HONOUR AND WORSHIP." " Accordingly," 
 
 he adds, " that sound expositor of scripture, James Naclantus, 
 " Bishop of Clugium, thus undertakes to elucidate St. Paul's 
 " Epistle to the Romans. ' Therefore it is not only to be con- 
 <e fessed, that the faithful in the church do worship before an 
 fe image (as some too cautious souls may perhaps be inclined to 
 " speak) but THEY LIKEWISE WORSHIP THE VERY IMAGE ITSELF 
 
 <e WITHOUT ANY SCRUPLE OR DOUBT AT ALL. Nay, more : 
 
 " they worship the image WITH THE VERY SAME KIND OF 
 
 " WORSHIP AS ITS ORIGINAL PROTOTYPE." And to shew that 
 
 intercession alone, even were that allowable (see 1 Tim. c. ii. 
 v. 5.) is not that which the Romanists supplicate from their 
 demon-gods, the same author, G. S. Faber, cites the two 
 following out of many similar prayers. " Comfort a sinner,
 
 NOTES. 
 
 407 
 
 " and give not thine honour to a stranger or the cruel j I pray 
 " thee, Queen of Heaven. Have me excused with Christ, thy 
 " Son, whose anger I dread ; for against thee only have I sinned. 
 " O virgin Mary, be not estranged from me, thou who art full 
 " of heavenly grace. Re the guardian of my heart ; impress me 
 " with the fear of God; bestow on me integrity of life ; and give 
 " me honesty of manners: and grant that I may avoid sin and 
 " love what is righteous, O virgin sweetness." To those who 
 should use this prayer, Pope Celestine granted three hundred 
 days of pardon. 
 
 " We now beg you, patron, industrious preacher, holy Alban, 
 " who art our true glory, loose the crimes of thy servants by thy 
 " supplications." 
 
 It should be observed, that it will be little to Samuel Wix's 
 purpose to shew that some pious and enlightened individuals of 
 the Romish Church have diapproved of this " blasphemy :" 
 exceptions do not destroy, but confirm the rule. The question 
 is not, what is the practice of a few individuals, but what is the 
 genuine doctrine of the church of Rome : this has been shewn 
 already, and additional proof, sufficient, it is presumed, to satisfy 
 the most captious, might be adduced, if this were the proper 
 place ; but let it be remembered, that as Bishop Walmesley 
 assures us, " when a dogmatical point is to be determined, the 
 " Catholic Church speaks but ONCE, and her decree is IRREVO- 
 CABLE." Gen. Hist. p. 224. cited by Faber, ut supra.'] 
 
 The reason why Samuel Wix thus appears as the advocate of 
 popish superstitions, in opposition to the "godly and wholesome 
 "doctrine" which he has acknowledged by his subscription to 
 the articles to be contained in the Homilies, is sufficiently ob- 
 vious. He, too, is infected with the dread of " Schism. " " He 
 "views with horror the schismatic spirit of the day." It is 
 " the schismatic spirit now prevailing among protestants, " which 
 has " retarded the benefits intended by the Reformation." I 
 look in vain in this publication for any apprehension of danger 
 to the Church of England from the " rapid progress of impiety 
 " and licentiousness, and that deluge of profaneness, immorality, 
 " and every kind of vice which hath broken in upon this nation, " 
 or of fear, "lest that these things should provoke God's wrath 
 " and indignation against us," as is so justly and so piously 
 expressed in his proclamation by our beloved and now afflicted
 
 408 NOTES. 
 
 Monarch. No : in the estimation of this writer, as in the 
 estimation of so many of his brethren, the sin of Schism appears 
 to outweigh all these enormities. What is it that induces him 
 so grossly to misrepresent and calumniate the Bible Society, as 
 " a delusive and mischievous society, organized on a wild plan 
 " of comprehension, regardless of the purity of Christianity, 
 " and injurious to the unity of faith, so earnestly desired by 
 " Christ and his Apostles }" He considers it to be " the grand 
 " modern engine of religious Schism and insubordination." 
 
 The remedy for this alarming evil lies in a small compass j 
 and I cannot forbear my acknowledgments for the unambiguous 
 and explicit terms in which he has described it in the following 
 paragraph. " A conference, therefore," says he, " with her 
 " [the church of Rome] by the church of England, now that 
 " the heat of the Reformation has, in a great degree, subsided, 
 " might, under Almighty blessing, given to fervent prayer, be 
 " the happy means of leading to the renunciation of error, and 
 " of bringing about a CHRISTIAN UNION, which might restrain 
 " the alarming progress of that UNSCBIPTURAL VARIETY OF 
 " OPINION which prevails, to the great injury of our common 
 " religion." p. 94. And as if this were not quite plain enough, 
 he adds, at p. 99, " SECTARISM SHOULD NOT EXIST AT ALL." 
 
 The reader may perhaps now begin to suspect that the worthy 
 Dean of Carlisle, Dr. Milner, had more ground for his appre- 
 hension (cited in Note G. p. 350.) than he had before imagined. 
 " Smooth and easy," indeed, as the Bishop of London expresses 
 it, would be " the course of their ministry," when the clergy 
 of the Establishment, through the strength acquired by this pro- 
 posed " Christian Union," shall have succeeded in reducing the 
 prevailing " unscriptural variety of opinion" to, what may then 
 be deemed, the orthodox standard. Their "instructions and ex- 
 " hortations" would then, it is much to be feared, be "received," 
 as that prelate anticipates, "with humble docility as the oracles of 
 " God." Our ears would again be assailed with the slavish cry, 
 Who is like unto the beast ? who is able to make war with him ? 
 from all who should prefer ignominious security, to the conse- 
 quences, then inevitable, of an open avowal of their allegiance to 
 Christ, their rightful Lord. Instead of " the unity of the Spirit in 
 " the bond of peace," we should have, either " a union of opin- 
 ion in the bond of ignorance," or "a uniformity of practice in the 
 " bond of hypocrisy." Societies for the distribution of the Bible
 
 NOTES. 409 
 
 would no longer be thought of, and if the precious volume were 
 suffered to appear at all, it would certainly be accompanied with a 
 " safeguard;" for it must now only speak the language of a mer- 
 cenary faction : its pure and sublime doctrines, its exhilarating 
 promises, the free publication of which amongst us has been ob- 
 tained through so much blood and suffering, must be again ex- 
 changed for the arbitrary dogmas of ecclesiastical tyranny, caprice, 
 and ignorance. Leaving the reader to contemplate at his leisure 
 the certain consequences of the completion of this hopeful project, 
 let us rejoice in the belief that there are thousands and tens of 
 thousands of this writer's own communion, who would cheerfully 
 lay down their lives rather than they would impose upon others, or 
 would themselves submit, to such an execrable usurpation of the 
 rights of conscience. Or, should this expectation fail us, we may 
 repose with unshaken confidence in the sure word of prophecy for 
 the happy issue of every trial and conflictwith which the faithful 
 and devoted followers of the Lamb may be permitted to be 
 assailed. 
 
 If this were the proper place, it would not be a difficult task to 
 repel this charge of Schism, and firmly to substantiate it against 
 that same church, whose members thus fearlessly bring it forward 
 against others. " Schism," says Archbishop Laud, in conference 
 with a popish priest, " Schism must needs be theirs whose the 
 " cause of it is. The woe runs full out of the mouth of Christ, 
 " even against him that gives the offence, not against him that 
 " takes it. It was ill done of those, whoe'er they were, who first 
 " made the separation [that is, from the church of Rome] I mean 
 " not actual, but causal ; for, as I said before, the Schism is 
 " theirs whose the cause of it is; and he makes the separation 
 " who gives the first cause of it, not he that makes an actual 
 " separation upon a just cause preceding." Archbishop Laud on 
 Separation, pp. 133 142. cited in Brook's Dissent. Thus also 
 the ever-memorable John Hales, of Eton : " There is a Schism, 
 " in which only one party is the schismatic : for where cause of 
 " Schism is necessary, there not he that separates, but he that 
 " occasions the separation, is the schismatic." And further, from 
 the same great authority ; ' ' Yet the great benefit of communion 
 " notwithstanding, in regard of divers distempers men are subject 
 " to, dissention and disunion are often necessary : for when either 
 " false or uncertain conclusions are obtruded for truth, and acts 
 " either unlawful or ministering just scruple, are required of us
 
 410 NOTES. 
 
 "to be performed; in these cases consent were conspiracy, and 
 
 " open contestation is not faction or Schism, but due Christian 
 
 " animosity." Tract concerning Schism. Bishop Porteus, in his 
 
 "Confutation of the errors of the Church of Rome," which 
 
 book, be it noted, is adopted by the Society for promoting 
 
 Christian Knowledge, a society which reckons on the list of its 
 
 members some thousands of Church-of -England clergymen, 
 
 amongst whom I observe the names of Archdeacon Daubeny, 
 
 Samuel Wix, and the present Bishop of London, Dr, Howley, 
 
 Bishop Porteus, in this tract, has the following expressions : 
 
 " Let any person but keep close to the Creed and the Com- 
 
 fl mandments, believe those things which Scripture hath made 
 
 " necessary to be believed, and do those things which Scripture 
 
 " hath made necessary to be done, and he is under no manner 
 
 " of obligation to enquire, what any church on earth thinks fit 
 
 " to believe or do besides. Many opinions may be true and 
 
 f< useful many practices may be innocent and edifying ; but 
 
 " nothing can be matter of necessity, except what Christ and 
 
 " his apostles have required as terms of salvation. Every person 
 
 " that complies with these, is a true Christian; every church that 
 
 " teaches these, is a true church; and neither ignorance nor 
 
 " error about any other matters can forfeit our title to everlasting 
 
 " life. When once Christ hath said, Believe and do such and 
 
 " such things, and you shall be saved, who is it that shall dare 
 
 " to say, Believe and do more, or you shall not be saved ? 
 
 " It is dreadful arrogance, therefore, which the Church of Rome 
 
 " shews in this respect." pp. 71. 72. This is the language 
 
 of " Scripture and Common Sense; " * a language, we may 
 
 observe, in which the partizans of the Church of England are 
 
 no ill proficients when they are combating the charge of 
 
 Schism preferred against them by the Church of Rome, that 
 
 is to say, when it suits their purpose, but which they will 
 
 neither employ nor admit when preferring that charge against 
 
 others. " Every sectarian now, " says Samuel Wix, " affects to 
 
 " justify his Schism, from the asserted conduct of the Church of 
 
 * The reader is referred to a very excellent pamphlet under this title, 
 vyritten by Melville Horn, Curate of St. Stephen's, Salford ; a striking in- 
 stance of light elicited, and which could scarcely fail of being elicited, by 
 the controversy on the subject of Baptismal Regeneration, excited by the 
 Bishop of Lincoln, Dr. Mant, and others, which still disturbs the repose 
 and alarms the fears of the Church of England.
 
 NOTES. 
 
 " England ; not considering that the Church of England's separa- 
 " tion is a separation from error, and not a separation from the 
 " Church." Reflections, &c. p. 30. This is vastly pleasant, 
 and appears as if written under the impression that the an- 
 ticipations of his Diocesan were already realized, and that 
 this Vicar's " instructions" were now to be received with hum- 
 ble docility as the oracles of God." The proposed " Christian 
 " Union" is, however, not yet accomplished, and until it is, 
 such an insult to common sense will be considered rather ominous 
 than oracular, and certainly will not be allowed to supply the 
 place of argument. In the mean time we shall not suffer our- 
 selves to be disturbed, although, it must be confessed, a closer 
 approximation to reasoning might have been expected from a 
 beneficed Clergyman, who is also a graduate of one of our 
 Universities and a member of two learned Societies : but we 
 ought not to forget that it is the logic of -the sect ; that, without 
 it, neither this writer, Archdeacon Daubeny, nor any of their 
 coadjutors, can at all hope to establish their position ; that it 
 is truly worthy of their cause, and stamps its character beyond 
 redemption. 
 
 If these " merchants of the earth," who trade in " slaves 
 "and souls of men," will come forward and declare, that sepa- 
 ration from the Church of England is a sin "committed more 
 "directly against" the secular interests of the ministers of that 
 church, "than any other sin," &c. it might be granted them; 
 but when they alledge that this separation is a sin "committed 
 "more directly against God, than any other sin to which the 
 "frailty of man's fallen nature has subjected him, can well 
 "be," it is denied, and the reader shall be left to apply the 
 appropriate epithet to so foul a calumny. For by representing a 
 conduct which is so obviously opposed to their secular interest, 
 and which, if it should become general, must be destructive of 
 it as connected with their present function, to be a sin "com- 
 "mitted more directly against God than any other sin can well 
 " be," whilst at the same time, this conduct is allowed by them 
 to be met with in the " most pious" persons, and piety is that in 
 which the Almighty most delights, do they not plainly intimate 
 that their secular interest is of more value in their account than 
 the dearest interests of God himself? The Almighty would fain 
 be supreme in our affections ; he calls for the heart, to subdue 
 there alj that would rise up to oppose his holy and peaceful
 
 412 NOTES. 
 
 government, that he may reign without a rival. If we love him 
 with the whole heart, and our neighbour as ourselves, we shall 
 live before him : if we fear him and work righteousness, we shall 
 be accepted of him : and " the true Light, which lighteth every 
 "man that cometh into the world," the word nigh in the heart 
 and mouth, is indeed near, to enable us, that we may hear it and 
 do it. No 5 says Archdeacon Daubeny : church order the 
 outward polity of the church, is a matter of more consequence 
 than the change of heart and the heavenly dispositions which you 
 are speaking of;* for, with all these holy dispositions, which we 
 might have supposed should most recommend you to God and 
 man, if you separate from our Church, you are in the commission 
 of a sin "more directly against God, than any other sin, to which 
 " the frailty of man's fallen nature has subjected him, can well 
 "be;" a sin which "has done MORE to counteract the Divine 
 "scheme of human Redemption, than any other that the great 
 "Deceiver of Mankind has ever yet employed against it;" for 
 you are living in "an opposition set up against the revealed 
 " and only authorized method of conducting the oeconomy of 
 " divine grace in the world." 
 
 If this is the fair and legitimate meaning, not of a few insulat- 
 ed sentences in the Archdeacon's publication, but of the entire 
 work, in unison with its whole tenor and drift, I presume it is un- 
 
 * The Archdeacon of Bath, Josiah Thomas, in his Protest against the 
 establishment of a Church Missionary Society in that city, appears to be 
 much of the same way of thinking with his Brother of Sarum, and seems 
 quite at a loss to imagine why they who profess and swear alike should not 
 be equally good Christians. 
 
 "Serious Christians!' 1 '' he exclaims, "What? Is no man in earnest re- 
 " specting the mercies of God in the redemption of mankind ? is no man 
 " serious in his faith, and earnest in his religious and moral duties? has no 
 ' man a regard for the salvation of souls, except this party ? Evangelical 
 ' Ministers too! Why more evangelical than their brethren who have 
 ' received the same Apostolical ordination; profess the same faith; have 
 ' taken the same oaths ; use the same form of sound words in the services 
 ' of the same Church; and exercise the same priesthood at the same 
 4 altar?" Protest, p. 10. 
 
 Strange indeed ! that they who profess and swear the same, and unite in 
 using the same form of toords, should not be alike serious, evangelical, and 
 orthodox ! Is true religion then to be restricted to a party ? Indeed it is; 
 and that consisting exclusively, not of those who profess and swear, but, of 
 those who love. " If a man love me, he will keep my words ; and my Father 
 " will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him," 
 saith Christ. Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these tilings ?
 
 NOTES. 413 
 
 necessary to pursue the argument any farther; and, if it is not, I 
 may spare myself the trouble, for I must confess that I do not un- 
 derstand him nor the language in which I am writing. Much is 
 said by the writers last noticed of the existence of a conspiracy to 
 overturn the Church of England of which the principal if not 
 the only evidence is to be found amongst its own members, the 
 clergy in particular, in their departure from its articles and in their 
 mutual animosities but it may with more reason be enquired, 
 Has the reader discovered no symptoms of a conspiracy amongst 
 the ministers of that church to overthrow liberty of conscience, 
 the right of individual judgment, nay, to suppress vital religion 
 itself, if this should threaten to endanger the secular interests of 
 that Establishment ? If proof is still wanting, let him acquaint 
 himself with the controversy which exists amongst its members on 
 the subject of Regeneration, and also with the controversy to 
 which Archdeacon Thomas's Protest against the formation of a 
 Church Missionary Society in Bath has given rise. 
 
 But to revert to the arguments of Archbishop Laud and 
 others, mentioned above Does the Church of England indeed 
 give NO " cause of separation" ? does she " obtrude" NO " false 
 " or uncertain conclusions for truth," nor " require" any " act 
 "either unlawful or ministering jusf scruple" from such as would 
 be her communicants ? Is it, for instance, so clearly and express- 
 ly enjoined by Christ or bis Apostles as to be made an essential 
 condition of church-fellowship, that every child should be submit- 
 ted to the Church-of-England mode of baptism? that persons 
 should be procured to vow for it what no individual who wishes 
 to be credited ought to promise for himself, however ardently he 
 might desire it that it shall "renounce the devil and all his 
 " works, the pomps and vanity of this wicked world, and all the 
 "sinful lusts of the flesh; that it shall "believe" (after a lapse of 
 many years and whatever may be its capacity) " all the articles of 
 "the Christian faith;" and that it shall "keep Gods holy will 
 "and commandments, and walk in the same all the days of its 
 "life?" Is the minister by the aforesaid authority empowered to 
 say, upon the performance of this ceremony, "We yield thee 
 " hearty thanks, most merciful Father, that it hath pleased thee to 
 "regenerate this infant with thy Holy Spirit" ? Or is the Bishop 
 either enjoined or empowered by the authority of our Saviour or of 
 his Apostles, to say at the ceremony of Confirmation, "Almighty 
 "and ever-living God, who hast vouchsafed to regenerate these thy
 
 414 NOTES. 
 
 "servants by water and the Holy Ghost, and hast given unto them 
 "forgiveness of all their sins." "We make our humble supplica- 
 tions unto thee for these thy servants, upon whom (after the ex- 
 " ample of thy holy Apostles) we have now laid our hands; to 
 " certify them (by this sign) of thy favour and gracious goodness 
 " towards them : " and all this upon the inadequate evidence that 
 they can repeat the catechism, and acknowledge themselves bound 
 by the vow made for them at baptism ? Is there then neither sin 
 nor inconsistency in thus vowing perfection, by those who, in doc- 
 trine, deny its possibility, and in practice, themselves being judges, 
 exhibit the constant breach of it? Is there here no presumptuous 
 assumption of power on the one hand, nor danger of inducing 
 false security and disregard of holy living on the other, by assur- 
 ing the willing servants of sin* and that by an awful appeal to 
 the Almighty and everliving God, that they are regenerated by 
 the Holy Ghost and that all their sins are forgiven ? Is there no- 
 thing " uncertain," nothing " ministering just scruple" in all 
 this? And if there is, Who are the schismatics? It may be 
 further enquired, in reference to the sentiment adduced from 
 Bishop Porteus, In what part of the Scripture must we look 
 for any warrant for the entire Office of Confirmation ? 
 
 But, leaving particulars, I proceed to state, in plain terms, 
 that the constitution of the Church of England appears to me 
 to be not only unscriptural, but antichristian. I might find 
 an apology for this plainness of speech in the conduct of the 
 Church of England herself, who uses this language to the Church 
 of Rome, at the same time that she will not refuse to acknow- 
 ledge the numerous instances of exalted piety, which have existed 
 and I doubt not still exist, in that church ; thus justly marking 
 a strong line of distinction between the nature and tendency of 
 
 * I could name a young man, who, becoming thoughtful about his spiritual 
 concerns, looked forward with 'strong desire to the time of Confirmation. 
 It arrived. Surprised to find himself the same burdened sinner as before 
 the performance of the ceremony, and shocked at the riotous and licentious 
 behaviour of a multitude of young persons of both sexes thus recently 
 assured of being regenerated by the Holy Ghost who were returning 
 to their homes from the town where the ceremony had taken place, he was in- 
 duced to consider the subject more closely. He left the Church of England in 
 consequence; and after some years spent in a very pious and exemplary 
 manner, as a Dissenter, or as others would express it, in an opposition to 
 the " only authorized method of conducting the ojconomy of divine grace 
 "in the world," he quitted this scene of insincerity and deception, in much 
 assurance and peace.
 
 NOTES. 415 
 
 religious tenets and observations on the one hand, and that devout 
 love and fear of Almighty God, on the other, in which true 
 piety consists ; which may subsist under much error of judgment 
 even on important points of doctrine, and which has a strong 
 tendency to counteract the injurious effects of such errors. I 
 cordially adopt this distinction. I acknowledge with equal plea- 
 sure and thankfulness, the numerous and increasing instances 
 of piety and zeal, which are met with in the Church of Eng- 
 land : " Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, 
 " deceiving and being deceived ;" but there is in that church cheer- 
 ing evidence, and that in many respects, of a large increase 
 of those good dispositions, which satisfactorily demonstrate the 
 nature of the root from whence they spring. " Every one that 
 " loveth him that begat, loveth him also that is begotten of 
 " him." And if we do indeed "know that he is righteous, we 
 "know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him. 1 ' 
 Next to the love of God, which at one time we did not 
 possess, what stronger proof have we that "we have passed 
 " from death unto life," than that " we love the brethren," 
 under every name and denomination ? Sincerely and ardently 
 desiring to cherish this love, and being satisfied that it neither 
 is, nor can justly be construed into, a violation of it, I shall 
 not forbear to speak plainly of an evil, which, in my appre- 
 hension, has been a fruitful source of a large proportion of those 
 under which this country now labours. 
 
 For a church to be unscriptural, it is enough that it requires 
 terms of communion which are not warranted by scripture : that is 
 antichristian, whether in individuals or in churches, which opposes 
 the will, limits the power, or usurps the exclusive privilege and 
 prerogative of Christ. The former has been already spoken to ; it 
 remains to notice the latter. The Church of England, as a reli- 
 gious incorporation, is founded on the statute-law of the land. 
 The form or manner of making, ordaining, and consecrating 
 spiritual officers, Bishops, Priests, and Deacons, in that church, 
 with the order of baptism, confirmation, &c. together with the ar- 
 ticles, liturgy, and the entire contents of the book of Common 
 Prayer, are affixed to, and make a part of, an Act of Parliament. 
 Hence it has been justly asserted by an eminent writer, that 
 " the Church of England is really a parliamentary church; that 
 ' ' it is not properly an ally, but a mere creature of the state : 
 " it depends entirely upon the acts and authority of Parliament
 
 416 NOTES. 
 
 " for its very essence and frame : the qualifications of its minis- 
 " ters, their power to officiate, the manner in which they are 
 " to administer the sacraments, are all limited and prescribed 
 " by authority of Parliament ; and this authority, which at first 
 " made, can alone alter and new make it 5 can abolish or add 
 " to its articles or rites, according to its pleasure, even though 
 " the whole body of Bishops and Clergy should ever so much 
 " dislike or protest earnestly against it." Towgood's Dissent, 
 p. 10. Now it may .well be enquired, How came the civil 
 authorities to possess this great power? Can they produce an 
 appointment or deputation to make and qualify ministers of the 
 Gospel? to determine beforehand the mode and form in which 
 the Almighty shall be addressed and worshipped, not for the 
 present generation only, but, as much as in them lieth, for all 
 that are to come ? Is there not in this an obvious usurpation 
 of a power, which indeed belongs not to man, but to Him, who, 
 although he may long forbear, will not fail in his own time to 
 assert his prerogative and vindicate his invaded rights ? This 
 country, as represented by its constituted authorities, appears 
 to me to say, in the emphatic language of conduct, "We will 
 " not have this man to reign over us;" "we will eat our own 
 " bread and wear our own apparel, only let us be called by thy 
 " name, to take away our reproach." We will address the 
 SUPREME as our Father, although we have not been begotten 
 by him to newness of life ; although we have not received him 
 by his good Spirit into our hearts, and thereby become his chil- 
 dren ; we wilj call him Lord, although we obey him not ; we 
 will say, Hallowed be thy name ! whilst we are exalting another 
 power ; we will say in words, Thy kingdom come ! thy will 
 be done ! whilst in deeds we oppose it, in ourselves and in the 
 world. In short, it seems thus to address the Almighty; In what 
 do we want thy assistance, or desire thy interference? By the 
 means of forms which we have adopted, we can regenerate and 
 renew in infancy, and we can absolve from all the sins of adult 
 age; so that we have enjoined the appointed officer to declare 
 at the performance of the last rites, that "it hath pleased thee 
 " of thy great mercy, to take unto thyself the soul of our dear 
 " brother here departed," although his life has been licentious 
 and his end without hope. We can qualify and appoint for the 
 work of the ministry ; we can preach, and pray, and sing praises 
 to thy great Name when we please; nay, we can give the Holy
 
 NOTES. 417 
 
 Spirit, and have accordingly authorised and enjoined our bishops 
 to address every priest whom they ordain, in the following 
 words, " Receive the Holy Ghost for the office and work of 
 " a priest in the Church of God, now committed unto thee by 
 " the imposition of our hands. Whose sins thou dost forgive, 
 " they are forgiven ; and whose sins thou dost retain, they are 
 {< retained. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and 
 " of the Holy Ghost. Amen." And even this appears superfluous) 
 for our prayers and whole religious service being already fixed and 
 determined, even to the words in which thou shalt be addressed 
 for every day in the year and for every year henceforth whilst 
 our church continues, it is to no purpose that the mind of the 
 minister should become impressed with a sense of his own wants 
 or of those of the congregation, otherwise than is expressed 
 in the prayers we have adopted ; for if, neglecting these, he 
 should give utterance to the most pressing solicitations of thy 
 Holy Spirit, we would cast him out and declare that he was no 
 minister of thine. And as we thus decline thy interference in 
 the greater part of thy service, it would be unreasonable to expect 
 it in our sermons ; and of these there are indeed many published 
 to the world which do abundantly testify that they were not 
 composed under the influence of thy illuminating presence, and 
 that the preachers were utter strangers to the things of thy 
 kingdom : although there are amongst us some, whose hearts 
 are much turned towards thee, who consider themselves more 
 bound to thy service than to ours, who are sincerely engaged 
 to yield obedience to thy will concerning them, so far as it may 
 be made known, even in opposition to our injunctions, whom, 
 we doubt not, thou dost at tunes abilitate to "preach the 
 " word, to be instant in season, out of season, to reprove, re- 
 " buke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine," in a good 
 degree of thine own power and heart-tendering influence; and, 
 how these are reviled and evil entreated, () Lord, thou knowest ! 
 If I am mistaken in judgment, let it not be imputed to me 
 as a crime, whilst love for my country, sorrow for her errors, 
 and an anticipation of her impending troubles, have taken strong 
 possession of my heart. Am I therefore become her enemy, be- 
 cause, according to the best of my understanding, I tell the 
 truth ? My conscience acquits me of ill-will to any one, and 
 bears me witness that I earnestly desire the happiness of all. Let 
 it be candidly considered, How can our blessed Saviour be more 
 
 Be
 
 418 NOTE S. 
 
 effectually shut out of his own Church, than he is in the Church 
 of England ? To what purpose has he said, Lo, I am with you 
 alway, even unto the end of the world; and, Where two or three 
 are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them, 
 if he is thus excluded from conducting their devotional exercises ? 
 Why should they who might be free, even Christ's free-men, 
 come under bondage to the opinions and practices of others ? Our 
 first reformers from the errors of popery did much, and we should 
 be thankful for their zeal and their labours ; but is it in the 
 ordinary proceeding of Providence that they should have come, 
 at once, out of the midnight gloom of papal ignorance and 
 superstition into the meridian splendour of the Gospel-day? or 
 can we suppose, that they would not rather have been blinded 
 than enlightened by the sudden transition ? Why should we limit 
 the power by w r hich their eyes were opened, and by self-imposed 
 decrees, oaths, and subscriptions, restrain ourselves, and so far 
 as we can, those who come after us, from following on to know 
 the Lord ? The knowledge of his ways and obedience to them, 
 will injure neither individuals nor nations ; they may confidently 
 entrust themselves to his leading ; in following it they will find 
 safety and protection the best security for all their interests, 
 both in this world and the next. Surely we have abundant 
 and melancholy evidence of the fruits of following the devices 
 of our hearts, and of being wise in our own conceits. Surely the 
 tendency and consequences of worldly policy and mere human wis- 
 dom have been sufficiently manifested, to demonstrate that "it is 
 " not in man that walketh to direct his steps;" and calls loudly 
 for a change of conduct. If it could be, if it were indeed 
 possible, that this nation, after having abused such great mer- 
 cies as I believe no nation under heaven ever before enjoyed, 
 such fatness of the earth with the dew of heaven, so many 
 outward blessings and civil privileges with such abundant and 
 powerful visitations of the Lord's love and mercy, both imme- 
 diately and through his servants amongst various denominations ; 
 I say, if it were possible, that after having thus long abused 
 his goodness and forbearance and wasted his substance in riotous 
 living, we could yet return, like the prodigal, and, as with the 
 heart of one man, in deep contrition of soul approach the Father 
 of mercies with the language, Father we have sinned against 
 heaven and in thy sight and are no more worthy to be called thy 
 children, to bear thy holy name, make us of the number of thy
 
 NOTES. 419 
 
 hired servants, oh ! would he not hear us ! would he not pity 
 our distress, and overcome our hearts with the endearing tokens 
 of his love and fatherly forgiveness ! Oh ! could this hope be 
 realized, what a paradise might this country yet become ! what 
 a nation of saints, loving God above all, and each other as 
 themselves, in sweet accordance with the heavenly anthem sung 
 by angels at the birth of the Saviour, Glory to God in the highest, 
 on earth peace, good will toward men. 
 
 A merciful man may forbear long, before he will execute the 
 severity of the law upon one who keeps him out of his rightful 
 possession ; yet he will not always withhold judgment, lest his 
 enemies boast themselves against him and countenance others 
 in their crimes. Christ has purchased his church with his own 
 blood, and he rightfully challenges the supremacy of every heart. 
 He claims the attachment of all our affections, and the direction 
 of all our faculties. He will be the alone Lord and Lawgiver of 
 his people ; and although he may long bear with those who have 
 usurped his province and claimed a dominion which belongs 
 to him alone, there is a time when, after many calls and warn- 
 ings, he will assert his injured rights, and, in awful severity, 
 will bow the rebellious to his sway. Judging from the united 
 current of testimony through many of his dear and suffering 
 servants, and from many awful signs of the times which he is 
 now displaying, there is great cause to apprehend that this time 
 of vengeance and righteous retribution, as it concerns this country, 
 is very near at hand. The " strong man armed" will keep pos- 
 session, until dispossessed by a stronger than he. The contest, 
 we have reason to believe, will be most severe ; but we have the 
 consoling assurance that, however deep the suffering or discou- 
 raging at times the prospect, the Lamb and bis followers shall 
 have the victory. 
 
 ROSE, PRINTER, BROADMEAD, BRISTOL.
 
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