ance of our Christian warfare, during this natural life,the truth and efficacy of Chrifts own Institutions, &c. Amidft which digladiations, our Lord Jefus is fighting gainst them with the Sword of his mouth, and him wee'l truft with the issue of the battel; whereupon

the Quakers

I humbly fupplicate, That every perfon whatsoever may not, impunè, strike them corporally, in the Steeple-house, streets or prifon; for they think it a great triumph to have this to object, That any are tolerated with this matinous word in their mouths, * Fight Lads for the Gofpel; and they'l ftill cry* Answer to out Perfecution, as they have done, if every Catch. p.19. Turn-key or Tapfter in the prison, may, without check, be permitted to wreak their teem and fpite upon them, with some base, illegal and inhumane ufage or other. But while any of this Sect, for their exorbitant courfes, meet with legal and due correction, Be pleased to let them all know that we are guarded by a better Law then what they upbraid us with, enacted in the Marian times And, that while they carry Popish and Jefuitical Doctrine along with them, b 2

they

the

Teachers of world un

vail'd,p 29,30

they are to have no more liberty for divulging it in our Affemblies, then the men of that profession.Popish Doctrines and Idolatries are as abominable as ever were the Paganish And some of these mens Tenents are as reprobate stuff as the Jefuits; Their blafphemies as horrid as the Popish Parafites. What is Rome but Babylon the Mother of Abominations? And what is this Sect, but a daughter of that great whore? who doubts but the Romish Emiffaries are abroad to feduce? Some quondam Profeffors of the Gofpel have loft their Garments, and men see their fhame. They bid farewel to Imputed Righteousness, in the Scripture-fenfe, and how they can be girt with inherent Graces, who put off the Saints, or believing finners beft robe, I see not. The Setters and Abettors of this Sect, would be more narrowly watched,and according to their crimes ftig*This for matized. There is one hath fuggefted to each Parlia, the Right Honorable Parliament, after George Fox, this maner, All that have a word from the Lord feek not to stop them, and limit them from Speaking it, by the counsel of thofe Teachers which are made by the will of man, and have not the

page ult.

*

word

word of the Lord; according to the word of the Lord they are to be stopt, and to be filent. And after the fame measure, fhall it not be meted out to them? But whereas he concludeth with an Interrogation that hath a fting in the tayl, Is there any law or limit to be made to limit the Spirit of God & I shall close with Chrift his own charge (for the purity and peace of the Churches) which fome of no mean account do conceive* Brightman was partly fulfilled by the Edict of Darius,Ezra 6.11 13. *Take us the Foxes, the little * Cant.2.15. Foxes, that poit the Vines, for our Vines have tender grapes.

Now, that Your Highness, and Your Honors may be all as Angels of God, difcerning the falfe fpirits and the true; fuch as proceed out of the mouth of the Dragon, and out of the mouth of the Beaft, and out of the mouth of the falfe Prophet, from Him that proceedeth from the Father, and from the Son; that Ye may be established in the old and prefent Truth; that Ye may be preferved blameless; that all men may acknowledge their Mercies under Your Govern

ment;

Cotton.

ment;

that Your Graces may be heightned yet to farther Service of the Lord, and his peoples Intereft in the three Nations; And, that Ye may be profpered in all Your high undertakings,” at home and abroad, for Glory to the Higheft, is, and shall be the Prayer of

.

TO THE

CHURCH of CHRIST

Which is at

TERLING,

Grace be with you, mercy and peace from God the Father, and from the Lord Jefus Chrift, the Son of the Father, in Truth and Love.

Beloved in our Lord Jesus,

A

S you were obedient in my abfence while I was removed from you for a feafon, fo I have endeavored fince my return,that the Truth of the Gospel might continue with you; and therefore have I not given place, by fubjection, no not for an hour to any that have attem pted to bring another Gospel among you, though there is not another; but there be fome that have troubled others, and would, by perverting the Gospel, have troubled you alfe; Yet bleed and praifed be God who hath kept you in the hour of tempta tion, and helped you to keep the Word of his Patience, and not deny his Name.

That you and your's may ever be preferved, when this my earthly tabernacle shall be diffolved, I have drawn up this. REPLY, and do commend it to your diligent pernfal,charging you in the Lord, that you redeem fome time for the read. ing of it; especially, fuch of you as have allowed spare bours for the reading of the Adverfaries Pamphlets.

It is above a year fince the firft of the Sect, called Quakers, came into the Town, and fcattered his opinions. You had then. cantions given you from the Lord. Remember them, I beseech you, left you be carried about (as the stubble whisked and Heb, 13. whirl'd about here and there in a circle) with the wind of di- un me verse.