# bib

id: A94201
author: Sankey, William.
title: An exhortation to friends in and about the county of Worcester and elsewhere
date: 1689.0
extension: .xml
mime: application/xml
words: 1572
sentence: 56
flesch: 65
cache: cache/A94201.xml
txt: txt/A94201.txt
summary:
  (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A94201) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 150261) Dear and Well-beloved Friends , Brethren and Sisters , my Spirit salutes you in the Lord Jesus Christ , who hath Gathered us Together out of the Land of Darkness into his Marvellous Light , that we might Walk before God in the Land of the Living , to the Praise and Glory of God our Father , and the Lord Jesus Christ , World without End , Amen .


id: A80764
author: R. C. (Richard Crane)
extension: .xml
mime: application/xml
words: 1835
sentence: 55
flesch: 59
cache: cache/A80764.xml
txt: txt/A80764.txt
title:
  God's zeal thundered forth, against all those magistrates, bishops, priests and people of this city of London, who have deserted their brethren in this day of sore calamity.

summary:
  Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements). Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 172566)


id: A34912
author: R. C. (Richard Crane)
date: 1664.0
extension: .xml
mime: application/xml
words: 2123
sentence: 61
flesch: 57
cache: cache/A34912.xml
txt: txt/A34912.txt
title:
  An appeal for judgement unto the righteous principle of God in every conscience, against the persecutors of the innocent.

summary:
  Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements). An appeal for judgement unto the righteous principle of God in every conscience, against the persecutors of the innocent.


id: A41791
author: Grantham, Thomas, 1634-1692.
date: 1691.0
extension: .xml
mime: application/xml
words: 2112
sentence: 77
flesch: 65
cache: cache/A41791.xml
txt: txt/A41791.txt
title:
  The slanderer rebuked, or, The vindication of Thomas Grantham against the malicious slanders of one Mr. Toathby, a seller of wool in the city of Norwich

summary:
  The slanderer rebuked, or, The vindication of Thomas Grantham against the malicious slanders of one Mr. Toathby, a seller of wool in the city of Norwich Grantham, Thomas, 1634-1692. 1691 Approx. The slanderer rebuked, or, The vindication of Thomas Grantham against the malicious slanders of one Mr. Toathby, a seller of wool in the city of Norwich Grantham, Thomas, 1634-1692.


id: A93430
author: Smith, William, d. 1673.
date: 1664.0
extension: .xml
mime: application/xml
words: 2878
sentence: 73
flesch: 52
cache: cache/A93430.xml
txt: txt/A93430.txt
title:
  Some queries proposed to the bishops and ministers of England, for them, or any of them, to answer that there may be an understanding why persecution is so violently prosecuted / [by] W.S.

summary:
  VVhether do you sprinkle Infants from any Precept or President of Christ or his Apostles , or whether hath not the Pope introduced it ? 24. VVhether is the whole , or any part of your Practice and Worship according to the plain Truth of Scripture ? if it be , then prove it by the Scripture ; but if you cannot , then it is not to be owned as Infallible . 25. VVhether is it Error in the sight of God to dissent from your Practice and Worship ? if it be , then convince the Dissenters by sound Doctrine , and maintain your practice in the Spirit of Love and Meekness , without Persecution and Violence . VVhether is a Peaceable Meeting a Seditious Conventicle , or what makes a Seditious Conventicle ? and whether is not the late Act wrested , when executed upon such as meet peaceably ? 30. VVhether must not the Lamb and the Saints have the Victory , and what must they have victory over ; and whether must not the Lamb reign over all that war against him ? and whether doth not Persecution war against him ? and whether such as persecute be not his enemies , that would not that he should reign , and whether must they not be overcome and slain before him ? 31. VVhether is it not the Lamb and his Followers that patiently endure Persecution ; and whether is not Persecution the Dragon's flood ? 32.


id: A34916
author: R. C. (Richard Crane)
date: 1662.0
extension: .xml
mime: application/xml
words: 3131
sentence: 71
flesch: 53
cache: cache/A34916.xml
txt: txt/A34916.txt
title:
  A hue and cry after bloodshed, or, A short relation of that inhuman, barbarous, cruel, and bloody tragedy acted upon the innocent people of God called Quakers at their meeting at Bull and Mouth within Aldersgate, upon the 31 and the 6th month, 1662, by some of the trained bands of the city of London

summary:
  Oh vain man , what art thou doing ! wilt thou that comes forth of time , and ends in time , go about to comprehend eternitie in thy vain imaginations ? thou pot-sheard , thou heap of dust , thou Attome of dust , not seen but in the Suns ray , for littleness ; hast thou not read , that the Nations of the earth are as grashoppers about his Throne ? how darest thou then go about to limit and set bounds to his holy Spirit , in any appearance whatsoever in his People ? Now consider these things in the pure fear of God , for they are wonderful weighty , and if you can , stop those bloody incursions and inroads that are daily made upon Gods innocent people in their Meetings , it may be well for you ; but if you persist and persevere in these Tragical works , know this , and be it known unto you from the Lord God , that as you thirst after blood , blood shall be given you to drink , with which you shall be choaked , and you shall be spewed out of every mind , as nautious , unsavoury , indigested meat is cast out of the stomack , when it is burdened with it . A hue and cry after bloodshed, or, A short relation of that inhuman, barbarous, cruel, and bloody tragedy acted upon the innocent people of God called Quakers at their meeting at Bull and Mouth within Aldersgate, upon the 31 and the 6th month, 1662, by some of the trained bands of the city of London R. C. (Richard Crane) 1662 Approx.


id: A79991
author: Coale, Josiah, 1632?-1668.
date: 1664.0
extension: .xml
mime: application/xml
words: 3310
sentence: 72
flesch: 51
cache: cache/A79991.xml
txt: txt/A79991.txt
title:
  To the king and both houses of Parliament, (who have made laws and decrees, and caused them to be put in execution, to restrain and prohibit people from having the liberty of their consciences in the exercise of the worship of God) : this is sent as a warning from the Lord.

summary:
  To the king and both houses of Parliament, (who have made laws and decrees, and caused them to be put in execution, to restrain and prohibit people from having the liberty of their consciences in the exercise of the worship of God) : this is sent as a warning from the Lord. Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English Books, 1641-1700 ; 2638:23) To the king and both houses of Parliament, (who have made laws and decrees, and caused them to be put in execution, to restrain and prohibit people from having the liberty of their consciences in the exercise of the worship of God) : this is sent as a warning from the Lord.


id: A91792
author: Richardson, Samuel, fl. 1643-1658.
date: 1647.0
extension: .xml
mime: application/xml
words: 3481
sentence: 128
flesch: 69
cache: cache/A91792.xml
txt: txt/A91792.txt
title:
  Fifty questions propounded to the Assembly, to answer by the Scriptures: whether corporall pnnishments [sic] may be inflicted upon such as hold different opinions in religion. By S.R.

summary:
  28 Whether there be any Scripture that saith , that any mans conscience is to be constrained , and whether the Magistrate can reach mens consciences ; and whether he be fit to make a law to conscience , who cannot know when conscience keeps it , and that cannot reward conscience for keeping it , nor punish the conscience for the breaking of it ? 29 Whether it be not in vain for us to have Bibles in English , if against our souls perswasions from the Scriptures , we must beleeve as the Church beleeves ? 30 Whether the Magistrate be not wronged , to give him the title of Civill Magistrate onely , if his power be spirituall ? 31 Whether laws made meerly concerning spirituall things , be not spirituall also ? 32 Whether if no civill Law be broken , the civill peace be hurt or no ? 33 Whether in compulsion for conscience , not only the guilty , but the innocent suffer also ? And if a Magistrate be in darknesse , and spiritually blind , and dead ; be fit to judge of light , of truth and errour ? and whether such be fit for the place of the Magistracy ? then whether it be not a scruple to a tender conscience to submit to such in civill causes , because not appointed to that place by God ? whereas if the Magistrates power be onely civill , the doubt is resolved , because such as may be fit for Magistrates , and men ought in conscience in civill things to submit unto them .


id: A63511
author: F. E. (Francis Ellington)
date: 1655.0
extension: .xml
mime: application/xml
words: 4794
sentence: 87
flesch: 47
cache: cache/A63511.xml
txt: txt/A63511.txt
title:
  A true discoverie of the ground of the imprisonment of Francis Ellington, Thomas Cocket, and Edward Ferman whose outward dwellings is in Northamptonshire, who are cast into the common goale in Northampton by the men that are now in commission to do justice, who never read us any law, or any evidence came against us, shewing our transgression as the following lines make manifest : he that hath an eye to see, let him see, and he that hath an ear to hear let him hear.

summary:
  being in my Calling and employment at a Faire at Harborough in Lecestershire , and hearing that there was one Willing Dewsbury a Yorkeshire man at a friends house there ; and he was that day to declare the word of the Lord to the Consciences of the people ; and being free in my spirit to go to hear him , I went to the friends house , and heard him declare the word of life to my Conscience , which raised the witness of God in me , that did own what he spake to be the Word of the Lord ; which my understanding did enlighten to see the way to eternal life , which I had long sought in my imagination of the Saints condition . THus saith the Lord God ▪ Be wise ye Kings , be learned ye that are Judges ( or Justices ) in the earth ; serve the Lord in fear , stand not in your own will when you judg between man and man ; but stand in the will of God , and execute true judgment ; for you must all give an account to him of your deeds done in the flesh , whether good or evill ; and now the Lord begins to roar out of Sion , and to utter his voice from Jerusalem , and wo to all the inhabitants of the earth , saith the Lord God ; and now the time is come that we shall no more say , the Lord liveth that brought the children of Israel out of the Land of Egypt ; but the Lord liveth that hath brought up , and led the seed of Israel out of the North Country , and from all Countrys where I have scattered them , and they shall dwell in their own Land , Jer. 23. 7 , 8. and now the Lord hath made the tidings out of the North to trouble the inhabitants of Babel , and it will more trouble them yet : it will make them gnaw their tongues for sorrow , and blaspheme the God of Heaven ; for their plagues shall be exceeding great .


id: A26351
author: Addamson, William, 17th cent.
title: The Persecution of them people they call Quakers in several places in Lanchashire
date: 1656.0
extension: .xml
mime: application/xml
words: 5800
sentence: 161
flesch: 68
cache: cache/A26351.xml
txt: txt/A26351.txt
summary:
  Pr●●sts there laboured ●o ensnare the said Tho. Holm , by pu ting the Magistrate on to give him the Oath of Abjura●ion . The meeting was at Richard Johnsons house of Lunt in Sefton Parish ; there came a man ( who goes by the name of Cornet Hikson ) rudely into the house , amongst the Lords people , and gave forth many threatning words , which within short space was brought forth into actions , by hayling and pushing with much violence against the said people , by beating them , and cutting some with the edge of the sword , one very dangerously with other cruelty , as cutting bridles , stirrup-leathers and pillions into pi●ces , yet did not this harmless people so much as say , why haft thou done so to us ? but prayed to the Lord freely to forgive them .


id: A55466
author: Gentleman of that nation.
date: 1689.0
extension: .xml
mime: application/xml
words: 5998
sentence: 162
flesch: 57
cache: cache/A55466.xml
txt: txt/A55466.txt
title:
  Popish treachery, or, A short and new account of the horrid cruelties exercised on the Protestants in France being a true prospect of what is to be expected from the most solemn promises of Roman Catholick princes / in a letter from a gentleman of that nation, to one in England, and by him made English.

summary:
  The Massacre of the Waldenses so often reiterated : The general Massacre of the Protestants all over Europe , in the beginning of the Reformation : The Persecution and Massacre of the Low-Countries , under Philip the Second : The Massacre of St. Bartholomew in France : The Gun-powder Treason in England : The Massacre of Ireland : The last Persecution of Hungary ; and the late one of the Valleys of Piedmont , shew sufficiently , how that Communion thirsts after the Blood of men , and is Ingenious in satiating it self therewith , from time to time . So it was that she heretofore look'd on that sad and dreadful Night of St. Bartholomew , wherein many thousand Protestants were Massacred by the Papists in times of Peace , and in cold Blood : One of her Orators made the Encomium thereof , with a thousand Transports of Admiration and Joy , in a Speech which he pronounced before Pope Gregory the XIII .


id: A41028
author: H. F. (Henry Fell)
date: 1661.0
extension: .xml
mime: application/xml
words: 8392
sentence: 255
flesch: 65
cache: cache/A41028.xml
txt: txt/A41028.txt
title:
  A plain record, or declaration shewing the origin, root and race of persecutors together with the nature, practice and end of that generation ... so their reward will be according to their work / [by] H.F.

summary:
  The Caldeans were Persecutors of Faithful Abraham , from among whom God brought him ; who denied his Acquaintance , Relations , and Friends , and Nation , and Country , Worship and Fathers House , and went into a strange Land to Dwell ; And afterwards Abraham's Seed were Strangers in the Land of Egypt , who by the Egyptians were four hundred years Afflicted and Persecuted , but the Lord did Overthrow the Egyptians in the Red Sea , and so Destroyed those Persecutors . And this was their reward from the Lord for their wickedness & Persecution , Who divined for money , and taught for hire , and judged for gifts & rewards ; they had no Answer from God ; and this was the fruit of their Persecution and Persecutors , Formality and Blindness , Whom the Prophets had foretold how they had served God with their lips , but their hearts were removed far from him ; And how they would Sacrifice , and Offer , and cry the Temple of the Lord , and yet live in their Abominations : Which Offerings and Sacrifice God had no respect to more than Cain's , whose hands were full of blood : And told them , their Oblations , and Sacrifices were no more to him , than to blesse an Idol , and he that Offered a Sacrifice as he that cut off a Doggs neck , or slew a man ; For they were Persecutors .


id: A39308
author: Ellwood, Thomas, 1639-1713.
date: 1683.0
extension: .xml
mime: application/xml
words: 5351
sentence: 204
flesch: 68
cache: cache/A39308.xml
txt: txt/A39308.txt
title:
  A seasonable disswasive from persecution humbly and modestly, yet with Christian freedom and plainness of speech, offered to the consideration of all concern'd therein, on behalf generally of all that suffer for conscience sake, particularly of the people called Quakers / by Thomas Ellwood.

summary:
  But if it be of God , ye cannot overthrow it , Acts 5. 38 , 39. If this People and their Meetings be not of God , you need not thus bestir you , you may spare your pains ; they 'll come to nought ; But if they be of God , ye cannot overthrow them .


id: A86665
author: Hubberthorn, Richard, 1628-1662.
date: 1654.0
extension: .xml
mime: application/xml
words: 8795
sentence: 158
flesch: 46
cache: cache/A86665.xml
txt: txt/A86665.txt
title:
  The immediate call to the ministry of the Gospel, witnessed by the spirit: vvith a true declaration of the persecution and suffering of Richard Hubberthorne, James Parnell, Ann Blayling, by Will. Pickering, who is Mayor of Cambridge. Also an answer to divers letters and mittimusses, against the said prisoners, answered; by them who are sufferers for the truth, and for the testimony of Jesus, Richard Hubberthorn, James Parnell.

summary:
  Here thou art a false accuser , and a lier , for this she did not say , but thou that pleadest for sin livest in sin , and art in the fall under the curse , upholding the devils kingdome , which is sin , and so art no Minister of Christ , who comes to destroy sin , but a Minister of the devil , who comes to uphold sin , and he , who was a Minister of Christ witnessed , that he that is born of God sinnes not , neither can be sin , because his seed remaineth in him , 1 John 3. 9 and all the Ministers of Christ witnesse the same ; and thou , who art a Minister of the devill , pleads against the Ministers of Christ , because thou art a drunkard , and live in sin , and so must have the wages of sin , which is destruction , and all who lives in this generation , pleading for sin , for he that cannot witnesse cleansing here , shall never be cleansed , for as the tree falls so it lies ; and thou that calls this damnable doctrine , art in the damnable estate of the devill , blaspheming the truth of God , and denies Christ come in the flesh , and so art Antichrist , and who have the image of God are like one another , and who are not like , they have the image of the devill , and so are in the state of condemnation . Reply That is false , but thou that pleadest against perfection in this life , wast never in this life which is perfect , nor art no Minister of Christ , but of the devill , who pleads for imperfection ; whereas Christ said , Be ye perfect , even as your heavenly Father is perfect , Luke 5. 48. and the Minister of Christ witnessed and said , as he is so are we in this present evill world , and he that hath this hope purifieth himself , even as he is pure , 1 John 2. 3. and here thou art found in the kingdom of the devill , which stands in imperfection , and all who witnesse with thee ; for the Kingdome of God is pure , and nothing that is impure can come therein .


id: A71043
author: Bourne, Edward, d. 1708.
date: 1663.0
extension: .xml
mime: application/xml
words: 9275
sentence: 419
flesch: 79
cache: cache/A71043.xml
txt: txt/A71043.txt
title:
  A cry against oppression & cruelty being a short account of the tryal, and of the sentence that was passed on several innocent people called Quakers, who are inhabitants of the city of Worcester, at the assizes holden there the 16, 17 and 18th days of the 5th month called July, who were imprisoned because they refused to swear in obedience to the commandment of Christ Jesus, &c, and for assembling themselves together peaceably in the name and fear of the Lord, to worship him in spirit and truth, according to his will.

summary:
  God vvho knovveth our hearts , can bear us vvitnesse to the contrary , unto vvhom vve do appeal , and to his faithful Witness in every mans Conscience , vvhich vvill let them see that vvhat vve do , vve do it not in contempt of Authority , but for Conscience sake tovvards God ; and if men require that from us vvhich God doth forbid to be done , vvhether it be not better in such a case to obey God rather than man ? It is a custom in England to shew their subjection to Authority by putting off their Hats . R. S. It is a custom in England for men to wear , or to come before Courts with Coats or Cloaks , and I am here without either ; and is not the one as much a contempt as the other ? Judge .


id: A65876
author: Harwood, John. To all you rulers, gentry, priests, and people.
date: 1655.0
extension: .xml
mime: application/xml
words: 9256
sentence: 178
flesch: 50
cache: cache/A65876.xml
txt: txt/A65876.txt
title:
  The path of the just cleared, and cruelty and tyranny laid open, or, A few words to you priests, and magistrates of this nation, (who say we deny the Scriptures, and that we are antichrists and deceivers, and that we deny the Word of God) wherein your oppression and tyranny is laid open, which by you is unjustly acted against the servants of the Living God, who by the world which hate the light of Christ, are in derision called Quakers : wherein also is something declared both to judges and justices ... : also the ground and cause of the imprisonment of George Whitehead and John Harwood ... / from the spirit of the Living God in me, whose name in the flesh is George Whitehead ... ; also a paper against the sin of idleness ...

summary:
  But these were not the world , for the world was persecuters and revilers , and haled them out of the Synagogues ; and such as Christ sent we owne , and the Scriptures we own , and Christ come in the flesh we owne and witnesse ; but you Magistrates and you Priests of this nation who are upholden by such as persecute and hale out of the Synagogues , and imprison , and whip , & despitefully now use such as are sent freely to witnes forth the truth , and for that Christ , and against Antichrist , and deceivers , such as Christ cryed wo against : here , you priests of this nation , who are found in their steps which Christ cryed woe against , even the steps of the Scribes & Pharises , & you Magistrates , Justices , Judges , & Rulers , who uphold such , and persecute , imprison & cause to be whipped : and fine such as are sent to bear witness against them that are found in Scribes and Pharises steps ; who lay heavy burthens upon the people , and are called of men masters , stands praying in the synagogues , and have the cheifest places in the assemblies : you are filling up the measure of their iniquities , who persecuted Christ , & upheld them which Christ cryed wo unto , and them who persecuted the true prophets , who was sent to cry out against the false prophets , these cryed against such as sought for their gain from their quarters , & such as were hirlings , & such as bare rule by their means , and taught lyes , who said they were sent of God ; when God never sent them but man , before they were sent : and these were the prophets who cryed against the false , who said ; thus said the Lord , and Heare the Word of the Lord . But Jeremiah was mocked , & they were stoned & some killed , and Jeremy was set in the stocks for witnessing forth the truth against the false prophets ; and put into adungeon and here we are witnessed by the true prophets , Christ , & his Apostles , who ever witnessed against deceivers , and such as lived in pride and coveteousness : and Amos who was a true witness for God , witnessed against the abomination of rulers , and people ; he was not made a Minister by the will of man , nor upheld by a carnal weapon , nor an outward Law ▪ but when he prophesied against the house of Jeraboam , then Amaziah , the priest of Bethel complained to Jeroboam the King against Amos ; and said , the Land was not able to bear his words , and bad him flee away into the Land of Judah , and prophesie no more at Bethel ; for he said It was the Kings Chappel , and the Kings Court , as you may read , Amos 7 , 10 , and ●o you priests of England complain : moreover many of you do swear to the Magistrates against us , who are witnessed by Christ , the true Prophets , and Apostles : both in our sufferings , and testimony w●ich is against all deceit and deceivers ;


id: A43660
author: Hickes, George, 1642-1715.
date: 1685.0
extension: .xml
mime: application/xml
words: 9616
sentence: 206
flesch: 46
cache: cache/A43660.xml
txt: txt/A43660.txt
title:
  A letter from a person of quality to an eminent dissenter to rectifie his mistakes concerning the succession, the nature of persecution and a comprehension.

summary:
  But this , as often as it happens , is the misery of the Church of England , which all true Church men lament though the men of the short Cloke take all such occasions to expose her to the scorn of the common people who judge by Sense , and not by Reason and who are taught by you , to make no distinction between the Bishops and the Church . With respect to the First ; a man is persecuted either on a negative account , for not worshiping a False God , as the three Children in Daniel ; or for not worshipping the True in a False way : as St. Paul and the other Apostles were persecuted by the Pharisees , for not worshipping the True God according to the Jewish manner after it was abrogated : Or as our Fore fathers in England , For not worshiping God and our Saviour after the Romish Rites . Or Secondly , on a positive account , For worshipping the true God in a way that is true ; or to express it yet more clearly and absolutely in your own terms , For serving of God : as Daniel was cast into the Lyons Den , for praying to God against the King's Decree .


id: A60650
author: Smith, William, d. 1673.
date: 1673.0
extension: .xml
mime: application/xml
words: 9475
sentence: 397
flesch: 76
summary: Court. Court.
cache: cache/A60650.xml
txt: txt/A60650.txt
title:
  A second relation from Hertford containing the unjust proceedings of some called justice there at the general quarter sessions, upon the tryal of one and twenty innocent persons called Quakers for a pretended breach of the late act, with an account of the most material passages between the prisoners and the court, the 3d, 4th, and 5th dayes of the 8th moneth, 1664 : whereby it appears that meeting to worship God in spirit and truth is the great crime for which they are under so grievous a sentence, and that whatever is pretended by those that love the title of justice, yet in very deed they hate justice it self, as by their proceedings appears / by W.S.


id: A31659
author: Chandler, John, 17th cent.
date: 1662.0
extension: .xml
mime: application/xml
words: 8078
sentence: 201
flesch: 59
cache: cache/A31659.xml
txt: txt/A31659.txt
title:
  A true relation of the unjust proceedings, verdict (so called) & sentence of the Court of Sessions ... against divers of the Lord's people called Quakers, on the 30th day of the 8th month, 1662 / published for the honour of God, the vindication of the innocent, and the information of people, by John Chandler.

summary:
  Other things were uttered amongst us , as christianly witnessing a good Confession before their Judgment-Seat ; and if any one particular of us , through a forward Zeal , rather than from any evil desire toward the Court of Jury , ( for we do pray for our Persecutors ) uttered any words that might give our Enemies any just occasion , for the honour of Truths sake , we declare a disowning of it , and that the Light of Jesus Christ , to which our minds and hearts are turned , judgeth and condemneth it . It was also questioned , whether that Court had any lawful Authority to proceed against us , seeing it is enacted in a Statute , made and provided in the first year of Queen Elizabeth , That no matters of Religion , or Causes Ecclesiastical , shall be judged Errour , Heresie , or Schism , but by Ecclesiastical Authority by especial Commission , by Letters Patents under the Great Seal of England .


id: A58811
author: Scott, John, 1639-1695.
date: 1673.0
extension: .xml
mime: application/xml
words: 10992
sentence: 176
flesch: 28
cache: cache/A58811.xml
txt: txt/A58811.txt
title:
  A sermon preached before the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor, and Court of Aldermen, at Guild-Hall Chappel, upon the 5th of November, 1673 in commemoration of Englands deliverance from the Gun-powder treason / by John Scott, Minister of St. Thomas's in Southwark.

summary:
  For how is it possible , considering the passions of humane nature , that the Persecuted Party should love their Persecutors , whom they see armed with Fire and Faggot to destroy them ? and when once they hate them ( as they will soon do when they 〈◊〉 them ) their passion will immediately provoke their Reason to damn and censure them , which is the only means that Persecuted People have a stay to the stomach of their hungry Vengeance , till they have power , and opportunity to glut it in the blood of their Persecutors : and if in the revolution of things , the Persecuted should get above their Persecutors , what can be expected , but that to preserve themselves , they will destroy them from whom they can expect nothing but destruction , should another revolution mount them uppermost again ; and so Christendom will be made a Cock-pit of Cruelties , and as often as mens understandings are deceived , and abused ; so often there will be new Executions and Massacres , which must therefore needs be the more cruel and unmerciful , because they are so Consecrated with a pretence of Religion : for when Religion , which should be the Antidote of our Cruelty , proves its greatest Incentive , it must needs run on the faster into mischief , by how much that which stopped its course before , drives it on with the greater violence ; so that by Persecuting men upon the score of Opinion , we do what in us lies , to banish Charity out of the World ; and in the room of that Love and Union , which our Religion injoyns , to introduce nothing but Rage , Revenge , and Cruelty ; and to make Christendom more Barbarous th●● America . Thirdly , That the Proposition is not be understood of our practice , but of our Judgements and Opinions : for every man hath a natural Right , as he is a Rationable creature , to judg for himself ; and to punish any one for so doing , is the greatest tyranny in the world ; it being an exercise of dominion over the minds of men , which are subject only to the Empire of God ; but as for our practice , that 's liable to the restraints of humane Laws ; and that as well in Sacred , as in Civil Affairs ; they cannot indeed oblige us to do what God hath forbidden us , because his , being the supreme Authority , ought to take place against all the countermands of any inferiour power whatsoever : but then there are a world of things which remain in a state of indifferency , and are left undetermined both by the natural , and positive Laws of God : and these are all liable to the commands and determinations of humane Authority , and are the proper matter of Civil and Ecclesiastical Laws ; to the extent of whose jurisdiction , there can be no other restraint , than only the countermand of a Superiour Authority ; and therefore if there be nothing antecedently evil enjoyned by the Laws , whether Civil , or Ecclesiastical , we are bound to obey them ; and if we do not , we are justly punishable for our disobedience .


id: A52706
author: A. N.
date: 1687.0
extension: .xml
mime: application/xml
words: 12528
sentence: 252
flesch: 40
cache: cache/A52706.xml
txt: txt/A52706.txt
title:
  A letter from a gentleman in the city to a gentleman in the country, about the odiousness of persecution wherein the rise and end of the penal laws for religion in this kingdom, are consider'd : occasioned by the late rigorous proceedings against sober dissenters, by certain angry justices in the country.

summary:
  Is it lawful to Persecute , and to make and Execute Laws for the Inflicting of Pains and Penalties upon quiet and peaceable People , for Matters meerly of Religion ; and in particular , For meeting together meerly for matter of Religion ? After the Papists had some time continued the alone-Persecuted Party for Matters of Religion , several Differences , in Matters meerly of Religion , happened to divide the Protestants into distinct and separate Parties , during some part of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth ; and also during the several and successive Reigns of King James , and King Charles the First : And about the beginning of the Reign of King James , some few desperate Male-contents , professedly of the Popish Religion , being found Guilty of a wicked Plot , whereby they had designed the Destruction both of that King , and of his Parliament , by Gun-Powder ( for which they were deservedly Executed ) several new and more severe Laws were then , and at several times after , made against the Papists in general , by which several Punishments were Inflicted on them for Matters of meer Religion ; and several Penal Laws were also made , by which the then Governing Protestant Party , ( then , and still distinguished by the Name of the Church of England , or the Episcopal Party ) persecuted Them.


id: A54026
author: Penington, Isaac, 1616-1679.
date: 1661.0
extension: .xml
mime: application/xml
words: 13152
sentence: 392
flesch: 65
cache: cache/A54026.xml
txt: txt/A54026.txt
title:
  Concerning persecution: which is, the afflicting or punishing that which is good, under the pretence of its being evil. Which practice is contrary to the very nature of mankind (so far as it is drawn out of the corruption and depravation) which would be good and do good, and have good cherished, and evil suppressed, both in it self and others. ... Yet this unhappy error will always be committed in nations and governments, until the proper right and just liberty of men's consciences be discerned, acknowledged and allowed. Likewise, there are some answers given to that common objection, against affording conscience in its due liberty, because evil persons may pretend conscience to escape the just punishment of their evil deeds. With a brief account of that supposed stubbornes, which by man is objected against the people called Quakers. ... By Isaac Penington the younger.

summary:
  But that man who is of a prophane spirit , or comes easily by his Religion ( even by the wisdom , industry and parts of man , and not by the gift of God ) and is exercised in that Fear of God which is taught by the Precepts of men , but knoweth not that Fear which God puts in the heart ( from whence the true Religion and Worship springs ) either of these may be drawn to persecute , yea indeed , it will be hard for either of them to abstain there-from . And if those who are apt and liable to mis-judge of them , did but see the sincere desire of their hearts not to offend man , but to be subject to the utmost according to the will of God , and knew what breathings there are in their hearts to God ( in relation to the Magistrate , and when they appear before Him ) that they may be preserved in the pure fear , and in righteousness and inoffensiveness , and how they cannot but refuse to break any of God's commands , because He is their Supream Lord , and they dare not disobey Him to please man , or avoid their own sufferings from man : I say , if men did see this , surely they would not call it stubbornness and self-willedness , but a pure subjection and denial of the self-will in God's fear , joyned with an holy and humble boldness in His power .


id: A39302
author: Ellwood, Thomas, 1639-1713.
date: 1683.0
extension: .xml
mime: application/xml
words: 8982
sentence: 376
flesch: 68
cache: cache/A39302.xml
txt: txt/A39302.txt
title:
  A discourse concerning riots occasioned by some of the people called Quakers, being imprisoned and indicted for a riot, for only being at a peaceable meeting to worship God / written by one of that people, Thomas Ellwood.

summary:
  It is used again , Tit. 1.6 . where it is required that the Children of such as were to be ordained Elders , should be [ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ] not accused of Riot , that is , of leading a dissolute and profuse life . But on the other hand , if they had gone in privy Coats of Plate , Shirts of Mail , or the like , to the intent to defend themselves from some Adversary , This ( saies he ) seems not punishable within these Statutes ; and the Reason he gives is , For that there is nothing openly done in terrorem populi , to the terrour of the People Keeble ( treating of Riots , and reciting the words of Lambard though he cites Crompton for the Author ) saies , to use Horns on Midsummer-night in London , or on May-day in the Country , for sport only , is no such offence ( that is , is no Riot ) seeing no terrour followeth it ; and the words [ in terrorem populi ] seem , saies he to be material in an Indictment of this kind . Assist.


id: A86649
author: Burrough, Edward, 1634-1662.
date: 1654.0
extension: .xml
mime: application/xml
words: 12513
sentence: 152
flesch: 20
cache: cache/A86649.xml
txt: txt/A86649.txt
title:
  The fiery darts of the divel quenched; or, Something in answer to a book called, a second beacon fired, presented to the Lord Protector, and the Parliament, and subscribed by Luke Fawne, John Rothwel, Samuel Gellibrand, Thomas Underhill, Joshua Kirton, Nathaniel Web. Wherin, their lies and slanders are made manifest against the innocent, and those books which have been published by them they call Quakers, owned and vindicated, and all the rest which is in that book disowned, and their deceite laid open; how they have perverted the truth and our words in those books which they cry out of as blasphemy, that the truth may not suffer under the reproach of the heathen. / By one who is a witnesse for the truth against Gog and Magog, called after the flesh, Francis Howgil. Also something in answer to a booke called a voice from the Word of the Lord, by one John Griffith, against us, whom the world calls Quakers, wherein his false accusations is denied, and he proved to be a slanderer, and the truth cleared from his scandals. By one who is a witnesse against the deceits of the world, called Edward Burrough.

summary:
  Faith was before the Scripture was , and therfore the Scripture is not the ground of it , but a declaration of it , and no other faith we owne but the faith which Abel had , and which Moses had , which was when no Scripture was written , and that we own to be the rule of our conversation , which they walked by , the immediate spirit of God which was before the Scripture was written ; and all you who professe the Scripture to be your rule , your own rule shal testifie against you when the eternal God judges you , and they vvho vvitness that to bee their rule which gave forth the Scripture , walkes up in the life of the Scripture more then you all ; and you are proved to be but the Jew outward , who bosts of the Ordinances from the letter , but persecutes them by slanders and false reproaches , who witnesse the substance ; and your praise is only of men , and not of God ; and the same woe which thou pronounces upon us wil fall upon thy owne head for this thy grievous slander , that we neglect the law , and teach men so to do ; and whereas thou brings many Scriptures , and saith thus saith the Lord , I answer , the Scriptures we owne , and by that spirit which speaks them forth , wee witnesse them to be true , and they are ours ; and though you say they are the savour of death to us that perish , yet thou art found a lier , for wee are saved out of the perishing state , and death is destroyed through death , and thou hast diminished ( through faith ) from that Scripture 2 Tim. 3. 15. false prophet like againe , and so art both an adder and a diminisher , and thou maist read thy portion in Rev. 22. 18 , 19. and whereas thou saiest , know this thou perverter of the right way of God , thou shalt bee judged by the word of Christ spoke . O thou lier and false accuser , the Lord who takes our part against thee will plead with thee , and render upon thy head according to thy deedes ; prove what thou speaks that we are fleshly minded and spiritually proud , or else let thy mouth be stopped and shame cover thee for ever ; sorceries and witchcraft and drawing from the simplicity of the Gospel wee doe deny ; but the plaine single truth wee doe declare , by which the eye of the blind is opened in many to see your deceits who call your selves Churches and Preachers of the Gospel ; which is not the Gospel that the Apostles preached but an adding your own Imaginations upon their words , who witnessed the Gospel , and it shal stand for thy own condition , thou art in the sorcery and witchraft ; who draws people to observe an outward visible thing , from the light of Christ within them ; which leades to the simplicity of the Gospel , which is inward and not outward ; and thou art in thy fleshly and corrupt thoughts , crying up the Ordinances and Oracles , of God , which are but carnal and beggerly rudiments of the world , which passeth away ; and here thou art seen and made manifest in the light of Christ , to be a hypocrite , who false accuses others of that which thou art guilty of thy selfe ; the same Gospel as ever was , doe we declare ; and not another , which wee received not from man , neither was taught it by man : and as the Oracles of God it shall stand for ever for a witnesse against thee , and all the world who doth not believe , for even the Father beares witnesse of us , and therefore our witnesse is true ; and the righteous God will plead with thee thou lyar and false accuser , and here be a witnesse against thy selfe that the Lord moved thee not , but the Divil , acting in thy owne imaginations , and in the vanity of thy one minde , and in thy one fleshly and corrupt thoughts ; and whereas thou sayest to us thou directs thy speech from the Lord , thus saith the Lord to thee O Quaker , thou art fleshly minded .


id: A02730
author: Harrison, John, fl. 1610-1638.
date: 1633.0
extension: .xml
mime: application/xml
words: 9240
sentence: 278
flesch: 64
cache: cache/A02730.xml
txt: txt/A02730.txt
title:
  The tragicall life and death of Muley Abdala Melek the late King of Barbarie With a proposition, or petition to all Christian princes, annexed therevnto: VVritten by a gentleman imployed into those parts.

summary:
  And not long after immediatlie vpon the death of his Father , being nevvlie proclaimed King , his brother Muley Flvvallid ( this King ) comming against him vvith a great force , better affected of the comminaltie than the other , in respect of his crueltie : ( vvhich they greatlie feared , and not vvithout cause , as aftervvards they found ) Muley Abdala Melek giuing order first for his ordnance , to be dischardged , immediatlie after himself , being the first , man ( hauing but a fevv horse ) chardged so furiouslie , and so throughlie , as he rovvted them all ▪ vvhervpon his brother fled tovvards Sallie , but not long after vvas betrayed & brought back againe by Alkaid Hamuda dvvelling neare Azamore , vvhose horma or sanctuarie he tooke , invited and encouraged by him to some further attempt : but indeed betrayed , vvho after vsed him in a verie base & vnseemlie manner , stripping him , beating him , and carying him , chained vpon a horse to the King. VVherevpon some of his frends ( as at such a time , and in such a case all are frends , & happie he that can be the first ; and svviftest Messenger ) running in all hast to the prison doore , and crying out aloud to him to come forth : he thinking it had been to execution , to be put to death : lingering , & excusing himself , that he vvould but take leaue of his vvife , and make himself readie ( vvhich he did only to die ) they calling , and crying more and more , at length he came forth , and so vvas pregoned , and proclaimed King of a prisoner ( I say ) on a sodaine become a King.


id: A60632
author: Smith, William, d. 1673.
date: 1668.0
extension: .xml
mime: application/xml
words: 11792
sentence: 205
flesch: 41
cache: cache/A60632.xml
txt: txt/A60632.txt
title:
  A general summons from the authority of truth, unto all ecclesiastical courts and officers wherein they may see what truth objecteth against their practice and proceedings in cases of conscience / by William Smith.

summary:
  Doth not this manifest that you want his Spirit , Power , and Authority ; and so the Magistrates must help you by their Power and Authority ; and their Laws , in some cases , must be the ground of your proceedings , and in other cases , your own Inventions without Law , and that makes your Excommunications null and void ; for the Magistrates have not that power given unto them as to what they do for you in such cases , though you , or some before you may have urged them , and drawn them to provide Laws for you , yet they are all dead in themselves , as wanting power to serve unto that end for which they are provided , because the Conscience is not to come under the power of any man in things pertaining to God ; and though we that are called Quakers do own Magistrates as they are for the punishment of evil-doers , and for the praise of them that do well ; which is their proper place as Magistrates , and in such cases we are actively subject to their Power , not only for fear , but for Conscience sake , yet wherein they extend their Power to the Conscience , and thereby would give you power to exercise Lordship over the Conscience , we cannot in that place be actively subject ; because in so doing , they give you power to intrude into the Authority of Christ Jesus : And as for Conscience sake we are actively subject to their Power in their right place , so for Conscience sake we cannot be actively subject when they stretch their power unto spiritual things , which is out of their place ; and both these are for Conscience sake unto us , who are cal'd Quakers . W.S. A General Summons from the Authority of TRUTH , unto all Ecclesiastical Courts and Officers , &c. Friends , YOU have taken upon you a Work of great concernment , but how you are qualified and fitted for it , is the thing to be considered ; for there are several Objections may arise against you , and this is not the least ; Whether you be in such a Spiritual capacity , as to judge of Spiritual matters , or fully to determine cases of Conscience , from a spiritual discerning and understanding ? for many are unsatisfied concerning the proceedings in such cases , and it is not without some ground , when your practice and proceedings in such cases are truly examin'd and rightly compared , with the practice and proceedings of Christ and his Apostles , who had power and authority , in the true Spirit , to try and judge of all things pertaining to the Conscience ; and though you pretend the same thing , and have given your selves the title of Spiritual Men , and your Courts Spiritual Courts , and so sit to try and judge of things pertaining to the Conscience , yet you are not found upon the true Judgment Seat , neither do your proceedings in such cases , run in a true Line of Spiritual Men before you .


id: A61464
author: Dyer, Mary, d. 1660.
date: 1660.0
extension: .xml
mime: application/xml
words: 15666
sentence: 161
flesch: 6
cache: cache/A61464.xml
txt: txt/A61464.txt
title:
  A call from death to life and out of the dark wayes and worships of the world where the seed is held in bondage under the merchants of Babylon / written by Marmaduke Stephenson, who (together with ... William Robinson) hath (since the writing hereof) suffered death, for bearing witnesse to the same truth amongst the professors of Bostons jurisdiction in New England ; with a true copy of two letters, which they writ to the Lords people a little before their death ; and also the true copy of a letter ... from a friend in New England, which gives a brief relation of the manner of their martyrdom, with some of the words which they exprest at the time of their suffering.

summary:
  So all People turn home into your own tents , that you may see where you are , and what you are feeding upon , and wander no longer abroad with your minds in the earth , after that which will perish and come to an end , where the moth & rust doth corrupt , and thieves break through and steal , and deprive you of your substance that you have gathered together by fraud and deceit , which may be soon taken from you , and you left desolate , naked and bare ; therefore it stands you all in hand to seek after that which will endure for ever , the Pearl of great price , which doth exceed all the treasures in Aegypt , for its durable and will last for ever , the Rock of Ages on which the Saints was built , the chief Corner Stone Elect and Precious , the sure foundation of many generations , the pillar and ground of Truth , Christ the light the bright and morning Star , the Sun of Righteousnesse which is now arisen with healing in his wings , to cleanse the Lepar of his leprosie , and hath caused the dumb to speak and the deaf to hear his Voice and follow him , and this hath he done in this day of his power , which makes the Heathen to wonder and be confounded at his appearance in his Sons and Daughters , who beare his Image , who are meek and lowly , Lamb-like , the Righteous knows him who loves his appearance , but to the wicked his presence is dreadful and terrible like a Lyon of the Tribe of Iudah , to consume with the Breath of his Mouth , and break to pieces like a Potters vessel all the stiffe necked and strong ones who lives in the pride of their hearts and at ease in the flesh , like fat Bulls of Bashan , spending the Creation upon their Lusts ; Oh the day is at hand that all such must be as chaffe before the wind , and as stubble before the fire which will consume them , & leave them neither root nor branch , the Mouth of the Lord of Hosts hath spoken it ; therefore take heed what you do , and follow not the multitude to do evil , for they walk in the broad way which leads to destruction and to the Chambers of Death , where the Souls of men and women are plunged into misery and torment , and into the Pit of perdition , where they cannot come out nor be loosed from their cruel bonds , where they are chained and fettered fast , under the powers of darknesse , who is King of the bottomlesse Pit , the old Dragon which goes about like a roaring Lyon seeking whom he may devour , and they that are from the watch , watch , they are from the Rock and sure Foundation , Christ the Light and Life of his People , and all that are from him , they are in darknesse and such are taken in the snares of the Devil , who rules in the dark , for there he hath his seat , in the Earthly part of man which is one with him , who is the unclean spirit , which seeks to destroy and lay wast the Heritage of God , that so his kingdom might be set up , Who is a lier & a murderer ; but now is the day come that Christ is risen to Reign as Lord and King in his People , & therefore doth Antichrist rage in his members because his destruction is at hand , and his torment is coming upon him , wherein he must have and receive a just recompence of his reward , and all that joyns with him must partake of his torment for what they have done against God and his People ; And so dear Neighbours and People , joyn with him no longer who is the Enemie of God , least you be cut off from the Face of the Earth , and destroyed with Leviathan that crooked Serpent , which must go into everlasting burning there to remain for evermore , where there is weeping and gnashing of Teeth , and no comfort nor ease to be found , but howling & bitter lamentation night and day , and this will be the portion of the wicked that live wantonly upon the Earth ; Oh! the day will come that they will wish they had their time to spend over again , when their misery comes upon them , and the darts of the Almighty striks them & wounds them to the heart , then will their pain be great , which cannot be expressed , which they must feel night and day ; Oh consider dear Neighbors and People , what you have been doing ever since you came to years of maturity , and let the witnesse of God which is faithful and true in you all arise and answer , to which I speak , and it will let you see that you have provoked the Lord , and vexed his righteous soul from day to day , and have pressed him with your sins and iniquities , as a cart is pressed with sheaves , yet hath he born it with patience and hath suffered long , not willing that you should perish and dye in your sins but still he hath waited year after year upon you to be gracious to you , but you have refused to return , and hearken to his Call and Counsel , but have run on in the broad way , as your Forefathers have done so do ye , and follow their Customs and Traditions which are vain , and will not profit you at all in the day of the Lord , when he comes to call you to an account how you have spent your time ; so consider and lay it to heart , before the evil day come upon you , least the Spirit of the Lord cease striving with you , for verily the day is coming on apace that the Spirit of the Lord will cease striving with man , who puts the Day of God far from him , then it will be said , He that is Righteous let him be Righteous still , and he that is filthy , let him be filthy still .


id: A77940
author: Burrough, Edward, 1634-1662.
date: 1659.0
extension: .xml
mime: application/xml
words: 15230
sentence: 445
flesch: 65
cache: cache/A77940.xml
txt: txt/A77940.txt
title:
  A declaration of the present sufferings of above 140. persons of the people of God (who are now in prison,) called Quakers: with a briefe accompt of about 1900. more ... Together with the number of 21. persons who were imprisoned and persecuted until death. All which was delivered to Tho. Bampfield, then Speaker of the Parliament, on the sixth day of the second month, 1659 ... As also an accompt of some grounds and reasons, why for conscience sake we bear our testimony against divers customes and practices at this day in use amongst men. Also a cry of great jndgement [sic] at hand upon the oppressors of the Lords heritage, as received from him on the 18. day of the first month called March. With an offer to the Parliament of our bodies, person for person to be imprisoned, for the redemption of our brethren, who are now in bonds for the testimony of Jesus.

summary:
  Thomas Beal at the suit of WILLIAM BENET Priest of T●●ligh was for Tythes cast into Glocester Goal , in which time the said Priest BENNET took away some of his Corne and Hay , the said Priest being an officer in the late Kings army , and the said Thomas Beal was in the service of the Parliament both in England and Ireland for divers years , the value of the tythes being but four shillings , and for which he hath been a prisoner 18. moneths . ( we have a Testimony before us ) hath it not been upon that Rock of limiting tender consciences in former dayes , that hath broken many before these , which might be examples to these , not to do the same things ? and many sober people are offended at such newes , and it makes their hearts sad , whose conscience and the witnesse therein doth answer that we are the Lords people , and it ought not thus to be done concerning us , as the newes reports ; so that by this newes of the intended purpose , to break the Lords peoples meetings , the ungodly and prophane , are gratified , and strengthened in their wickednesse , and the righteous are made sad ; And further , as for us , we have been trodden down , and made a prey unto our enemies , and the gates of death and Hell have stroven against us already , but have not prevailed unto this day ; for the Lord is with us , and who is it that shall prevail against us , and I may say what is this that is reported to be done ?


id: A28594
author: Bold, S. (Samuel), 1649-1737.
date: 1682.0
extension: .xml
mime: application/xml
words: 16689
sentence: 587
flesch: 64
cache: cache/A28594.xml
txt: txt/A28594.txt
title:
  A sermon against persecution preached March 26, 1682, being the 4th Sunday in Lent (on Gal. 4:29, part of the Epistle for that day) and the time when the brief for the persecuted Protestants in France was read in the parish church of Shapwicke ... / by Sa. Bolde ...

summary:
  Can any thing reflect more upon a Church , than to have those Men countenanced in Prosecuting others , who do themselves discover no real Love to God or Religion , and of whom no good can be said by others , nay who have nothing to say in their own Vindication , but that when they are in the height of their Debauches , when they are Drunk and Prophane enough to be the Reproach and Abhorrence of all Society , they do then pretend to admire and applaud the Church , and to decry , and rail at , and swear against Dissenters ? 2. This is an old Hypocritical pretence with which the Enemies of God and Religion have usually cover'd their wicked Persecutions and barbarous Cruelties .


id: A96961
author: Halhead, Miles, 1613 or 14-1689 or 90.
date: 1656.0
extension: .xml
mime: application/xml
words: 26642
sentence: 494
flesch: 44
cache: cache/A96961.xml
txt: txt/A96961.txt
title:
  The wounds of an enemie in the house of a friend. Being a relation of the hard measure sustained by Miles Halhead, and Thomas Salthouse, for the testimony of Jesus: particularly in a long, and sore, and close imprisonment, first at Plymouth, and then at Exeter in the county of Devon, though they have neither offended the law of God, or of the nation. Published for the clearing of their innocency from the cloud of transgression, of which they are supposed highly guilty, and by reason of their silent abiding such sharp, and long, and cruell sufferings.

summary:
  And for the Reasons aforesaid , could they be in Law , or equity , expected any otherwise to doe ; yet plead they did , and to Tryall they submitted , by the bench , whom they owned to be set in Authority by the Lord God of power to Judge righteously between man and man , &c. And desired that their accusers might be brought in , and their liberty to speak in their own defence , and had Witnesses in their own behalf ready , and from them expected an issue , according to equity , and Justice , and refused not to be tryed by the Country , but submitted to be tryed by those whom God had set in Authority to Judge righteously , and such Judgement is the Lords , for God is Judge , and no other Judgement can the Children of light put themselves upon , but his upon which as it rules man they put themselves , but not on the wills and lusts of men , as added or equall unto God , or joyned with him ; for man not guided by the ligh● of Jesus Christ , is blind , and dark , and erres in Judgement , and is as the Beast that perisheth , though even the wills and lusts of men in imposing sufferings upon them in their bodies , they doe not resist , as all parts of the Nation sadly testifie , and particulary the Town of Plymouth , and City of Exeter , and County of Devon , the black Habitations of cruelty , and persecuting of the Just . Nor is this the end , but rather the beginning of their sufferings , for the 16 of the said fifth Month called July , being removed from the common Goal in the Castle of Exeter , to Bridewell in Thomas Parish near Exeter , over and above the Order of Sessions , a Guard of Souldiers under the Command of Col. Coppleston High Sheriff of the County , who was formerly a Commander for the late King in the Wars against the Parliament , was placed upon them , with strict Warrant in writing , signed by one Joyce a Captain , to detain all such Prisoners who came to visit them , whom in the Warrant he in scorn calls Quakers ( giving the Prisoners aforesaid no other Name therein ) especially such as they should suspect to be such ; who having shut them up in a close dark room , where they lay on the ground many dayes , kept them close Prisoners , and with much violence intreated , and detained Prisoners , those who came to visit them , whether of the Town , or Country , and to relieve them with necessaries , though they were strangers in that place , and above two hundred miles from their outward Habitations ; yea such as looked in but at a hole where they lay , did they so use . The Standard of the Lord being thus set up , many people flock thereunto , insomuch that the house of John Harris , a friend near the Town , where a meeting was appointed to be on the first day of the week following , being not able to receive them , they went into his garden , and to them both in the fore and afternoon did they declare the truth of the experience of what they had found of the free grace of God which brings salvation manifested in them , provoking them unto love , and to good works , according to the Scriptures of the Prophets , and Apostles , as the Spirit gave them utterance , exhorting them in the words of sobernesse and truth full of plainnesse and simplicity , and tending onely to the advancement of the Kingdome of Christ amongst men , without using any inveighings against men , or opinions , and were approved of by those that heard them , though severall came onely to hear some new thing .


id: A48024
author: Burnet, Gilbert, 1643-1715.
date: 1687.0
extension: .xml
mime: application/xml
words: 31145
sentence: 599
flesch: 44
cache: cache/A48024.xml
txt: txt/A48024.txt
title:
  A relation of the death of the primitive persecutors written originally in Latin by L.C.F. Lactantius ; Englished by Gilbert Burnet, D.D., to which he hath made a large preface concerning persecution.

summary:
  Men likewise receive with their Impressions of Religion such a respect for them , as makes them look on every thought that calls them in question as criminal : and when persons are bred up to disquiet themselves with Scruples , if they have so much as made a doubt of their Religion , it is not hard to see them adhere so firmly to the Principles of their Education , which stick so fast to the worst sort of men , that even Atheists themselves after all the pains they take to get rid of them , cannot shake them off so entirely , but that they will be apt to return oft upon them . The Officers came with their unreasonable Demands , and those who had not wherewith to satisfy them , were subjected to great Variety of Tortures from which they had no way to save themselves , but by doing that which was impossible for them : Men were beset with such numbers of Souldiers , that they could hardly breath for them : there was little or no cessation in the Trouble to which they were put all the year round ; the very Iudges and the Souldiers that attended upon them , fell into many Quarrels amongst themselves : there was not a Barn nor a Vineyard that was not severely visited ; nor indeed was there enough left to preserve men alive .


id: A54212
author: Penn, William, 1644-1718.
date: 1676.0
extension: .xml
mime: application/xml
words: 36988
sentence: 861
flesch: 55
cache: cache/A54212.xml
txt: txt/A54212.txt
title:
  The second part of The continued cry of the oppressed for justice being an additional account of the present and late cruelty, oppression & spoil inflicted upon the persons and estates of many of the peaceable people called Quakers, in divers counties, cities and towns in this nation of England and Wales (chiefly upon the late act made against conventicles) for the peaceable exercise of their tender consciences towards God in matters of worship and religion.

summary:
  Galloway of Lewes he took Goods to the value of 14 l. 15 s. and from Thomas Mosely for 9 l. 15 s. demanded he took Goods to the value of 12 l. 6 s. 8 d. the 20 l. for the House imposed for the first Meeting being not then levied ; and from Mary Akehurst , a Widdow , that hath Five Children , for two fines , being both 8 l. 10 s. took Goods to the value of 1● l 18 s. 10 d. and from Elizabeth Shuter Widdow he took two Looking-glasse ▪ for 5 s. demanded ; from Samuel Baker , a Blacksmith at Newhaven , for 6 l. 18 s. 4 d. fine , was taken half a Tun of Iron which cost 7 l. odd money . several of the aforesaid People were fined by William Spence Justice , upon the Information of Walter Jones and William Purser Informers , for two Preachers 40 l. and for several Persons as Hearers , 5 s. apiece , to be levied as followeth , Upon Ambrose Galloway 10 l. 5 s. upon John Ellis 10 l. 5 s. upon Thomas Mosely 10 l. 5 s. and upon Henry Scrase 10 l. 5 s. and upon some other Persons 5 s. apiece .


id: A14395
author: Buckland, Ralph, 1564-1611.
date: 1605.0
extension: .xml
mime: application/xml
words: 34856
sentence: 1415
flesch: 68
cache: cache/A14395.xml
txt: txt/A14395.txt
title:
  The memorable and tragical history, of the persecution in Africke: vnder Gensericke and Hunricke, Arrian kinges of the Vandals. Written in Latin by the blessed Bishop Victor of Vtica, who personallie (as also S. Augustine the famous doctor) endured his part thereof. With a briefe accomplishment of the same history, out of best authors: togither vvith the life and acts of the holy Bishop Fulgentius, and his conflicts vvith the same nation

summary:
  Some they tormented with wresting their foreheads & legges with sinewes , ⸬ vntill they twanged with stretching . For euen at this day what so may be found remayning , ⸬ are eftsoones laid wast & desolate : as they vtterly haue in Carthage ruinated the Theatres , the Temple Memory , with the passage surnamed ⸬ Celestis .


id: A42036
author: Gregory, of Nazianzus, Saint.
date: 1662.0
extension: .xml
mime: application/xml
words: 36686
sentence: 764
flesch: 48
cache: cache/A42036.xml
txt: txt/A42036.txt
title:
  A most excellent and pathetical oration, or, Declamation of Gregory Nazianzen's stigmatizing, and condemning the Emperor Julian for his apostatising from the truth and containing, by way of history, the persecution of the Christians during his reign, the confutation of pagan abominations and the obscenity, as well as absurdity, both of the substance and ceremonies of their pretended religion, with respect unto its doctrine and the ... ceremonies approved of among the primitive Christians.

summary:
  Na●●ons , and Languages , all sorts of Men and Ages , every one that ●ow is , or hereafter shall be : Yea , ( to make my Summons the more universal ) listen , I say , all ye Powers of Heaven , and Angels altogether , by whose irresistable means a great Tyrant was destroyed ; a great one , and not such a one as Sihon King of the Amorites , or Ogge the King of Bashan , petty Potentates , and destructive to the Israelites onely , a small portion of the Universe , but the Apostate Dragon , the great Wit , the All-daring Assyrian , and common Enemy of the whole world ; who not onely threatned ruine and destruction to all the Earth , but also hatcht despiteful imaginations , and belched out most abominable blasphemies against the Almighty . HEAR this , all ye people , give ear unto me , every inhabitant of the earth ; for with a strong loud Trum●et , and as mounted on a high ●ower , looking on all sides , every way , I call , to assemble you toge●her : Hearken , Countries ,


id: A40369
author: Foxe, John, 1516-1587.
date: 1677.0
extension: .xml
mime: application/xml
words: 44462
sentence: 1558
flesch: 72
cache: cache/A40369.xml
txt: txt/A40369.txt
title:
  Martyrologia alphabetikē, or, An alphabetical martyrology containing the tryals and dying expressions of many martyrs of note since Christ : extracted out of Foxe's Acts and monuments of the church : with an alphabetical list of God's judgements remarkably shown on many noted and cruel persecutors : together with an appendix of things pertinent to martyrology by N.T., M.A.T.C.C. [i.e. Master of Arts Trinity College Cambridge]

summary:
  They freely and boldly all with one accord confessed themselves to be Christians , and told him their names ; and being endeavour'd with to win them by fair words as well as by threats of torments , they said , They desired not Life , Liberty , honours or dignities , or Mony , but the Celestial Kingdom of Christ : For the love of whom and Faith in God they were ready to endure the Cross , Wheel , Fire ; and were sentenced to be all that night in a Pond of water in cold weather , and next day to be burnt ; who when they were putting off their cloaths , said , We give thanks , O Lord , that with these our cloaths we may also by thy Grace put off the sinful Man ; for by means of the Serpent we once put him on , and by the means of Jesus Christ we put him off . SO great an enmity hath Satan evidenced , ever since his own Apostasie , against Mankind , that he must be conceded to have bin very sedulous and vigilant in all Ages to destroy Souls , one while alluring them to sin against God , by his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of worldly or sensual propositions , or else deterring them from adhering to God , vi & armis , by his assaults and persecutions ; the verity of which hath been continuedly evidenced in the successive Ages of God's Church , wherein the first member dying , dyed a Martyr on the account of his Religion , and the several Prophets and Children of God before Christ have been so persecuted , sawn asunder , cast into Dungeons , fiery Furnaces , Lyons dens , &c. That if to these we add the consideration of St. Paul's Martyrology in Heb. 11.


id: A28159
author: Billingsley, Nicholas, 1633-1709.
date: 1657.0
extension: .xml
mime: application/xml
words: 53650
sentence: 2146
flesch: 76
cache: cache/A28159.xml
txt: txt/A28159.txt
title:
  Brachy-martyrologia, or, A breviary of all the greatest persecutions which have befallen the saints and people of God from the creation to our present times paraphras'd by Nicholas Billingsly ...

summary:
  Sir Caspar Kaplitz , eighty six years old , Said to the Minister , Behold behold Me a decrepit wretch , whose frequent pray'rs Have beg'd deliverance from this vale of tears ; But all in vaine : for to be gaz'd upon By the worlds eyes I 'm kept ; God's will be done , Not mine ; my death to mortal eyes may seem Disgraceful , but 't is rich in Gods esteem . The zeal-inflam'd young men do vilify His threats , intreats , retorting this reply , Speak Tyrant say , say , why art thou so bent To persecute us that are innocent ? We will observe , for all afflictions rod , What Moses taught us from the mouth of God ; Know , we detest your sense-deluding shows , Nor will we be seduc'd by words or blows : No Tyrant , no , do thou the best you can To do thy worst , we will fear God , not man : Our cause is God's , and death is our desire ; Heaven is our portion , yours eternal fire .


id: A38744
author: Caton, William, 1636-1665.
date: 1698.0
extension: .xml
mime: application/xml
words: 64076
sentence: 1753
flesch: 58
cache: cache/A38744.xml
txt: txt/A38744.txt
title:
  The abridgment of Eusebius Pamphilius's ecclesiastical history in two parts ... whereunto is added a catalogue of the synods and councels which were after the days of the apostles : together with a hint of what was decreed in the same / by William Caton.

summary:
  Have not some of the true Christians been put to death of late in New England ? and have not many of them suffered the spoiling of their Goods , and their Bodies to be cast into Prison , to be Whipt , and shamefully intreated by the Anti-Christians , and that about their Religion ? And have not many of the true Christians been in derision called Coblers , Taylers , Weavers , Plowmen , &c. Note , Though the true Christians now are Vilified and Falsly accused by Anti-Christians as the ancient Christians were in former Ages , yet wise men can see their Innocency , and therefore do they love them in their Hearts , and some time some have been Convinced , by beholding the Patience , Long-suffering , and Innecency of the Innocent in these latter days : who now some time do suffer the loss of their Liberty , and the spoyling of their Gods , if not Banishment , either by vertue of Proclamations , or of Decrees , or of corrupt Laws , which true Christians now can no more observe and obey , then the antient Christians observed the aforesaid Preclamation of the King ; and this hath been evident , that sundry of the true Christiant in these later days have died in Prison [ as some did in the aforesaid Persecution ] where they-Sealed their Testimony with their Blood , as many have done before them : And sometimes it hath hapened that Affliction hath been added to the Bonds of some of the true Christians , when they have told a Judge or an Inferior Officer , that Malefactors have had more freedom and liberty then they , and more favour shewn them , by such as were in place of Trust ; and this hath been manifest enough in many parts of the Nation as is well knowd to many .


