in your opinions of religions and worships? which the apostles never did, nor intended any such thing; for the apostles warred and wrestled with the Jews and Gentiles, concerning their religions, doctrines, and worships, with spiritual armour, and spiritual weapons, and so did not wrestle with flesh and blood with carnal weapons, and destroy men's lives about religions and worships, as others have done since their days. And if that you do say, that' every soul must be subject to every higher power, and to every ordinance of man,' concerning religion and worship, and their doctrines and commandments, then you must be subject and conform to all religions, worships, and doctrines in the world, and to the Jews, Turks, and heathen, and all the sects in the world that will plead to be subject to their ordinances, commandments, and doctrines; and if the apostle had meant so, then had they never suffered, nor been imprisoned, nor put to death.

But the apostles made a distinction of being 'subject to the higher powers, and to every ordinance of man for the punishment of such evil doers,' as he speaks of, and the doctrines, and commandments, and ordinances of men, concerning religion and worship, which was not to be touched, tasted, nor handled; and therefore the apostle doth not say, that any should be punished for not obeying such commandments and doctrines of men, concerning religion.

And also the apostle doth not say, that the christians should be punished for not being subject, and their not obeying the Jews' law, and commandments, and ordinances, that commanded their altars, sanctuaries, temples, offerings, sacrifices, and priests, and their divine services and worships; for they knew that Christ was come, and had changed the law and priesthood by which it was made, and had abolished the law, and commandments, and ordinances, and offerings of the Jews' ceremonies and traditions, for Christ was offered up once for all. And so as the apostle rightly and truly saith, we know that the law is good in its place, if a man use it lawfully, which was not made for the righteous, but for the punishment of evil doers, unholy, profane, murderers of fathers and of mothers, and men-slayers, and whoremongers, and them that defile themselves with mankind, men-stealers, liars, perjured persons.' And such lawless, disobedient, ungodly sinners the law was made against; and the christians their souls were to be subject to the higher powers, and to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, for the punishment of such evil doers,' and the praise of them that do well.

And so the apostle doth not say, that the soul should be subject to every higher power, and to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake for the punishment of people that disobey the doctrines, commandments, and ordinances of men, concerning religion and worship.

But the apostle in this made a clear distinction betwixt the ordinances of men for the punishment of evil doers, and the doctrines, com!mandments, and ordinances of men concerning religion and worship, which were not to be touched, tasted, nor handled. And the apostle saith, 'Christ by the grace of God tasted death for every man.' Heb. ii. 19. And again the apostle saith, Christ is a propitiation for our sins, and not for our sins only, but for the sins of the whole world.' 1 John ii. 2.

And also the apostle saith in 1 Tim. ii. 1 to the 8th, I exhort therefore, that first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings, and for all that are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our saviour. Who would have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator betwixt God and men, the man Christ Jesus. Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ and lie not,) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.'

Now, here you may see what a good and general doctrine the apostle preached in the primitive times, that prayers and intercessions be made for all men, yea for kings and them that be in authority, and this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our saviour, who would have all men to be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth." Now you that do destroy men's lives about their opinions, religions, and worships, you have not patience to pray for all men, &c. that they may repent and be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth; therefore your practice cannot be acceptable in the sight of God the saviour, that destroy men's lives about religion and worship, whereas ye should pray to God for all men, who would have all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth; for there is one God, and one mediator betwixt God and man, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.'

Now if Christ hath given himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time, and this doctrine Christ had ordained the apostle to preach, and said, he spake the truth in Christ and lied not,' what spirit is that which hath led people to destroy men and women about religion and worship? Whereas God would have all men to be prayed for, and to be saved; and Christ hath given himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time,' and he came not to destroy men's lives, but to save them.'

And therefore, what spirit is this that hath destroyed men's lives about religion and worship since the apostles' days, seeing Christ hath VOL. VI.

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given himself a ransom for all? Surely it is not the spirit of God nor Christ? For he would have all men to be saved, and would have all men to be prayed for,' and all to come to the knowledge of the truth; and Christ that 'gave himself a ransom for all,' is the one mediator betwixt God and man.'

And that impatient spirit, that hath destroyed men's lives, concerning religion and worship, and hath preached up persecution in their blind zeal, without true knowledge, was not like to wait in patience, nor to pray for all men, that all men might be saved; that Christ who gave himself a ransom for all, might be testified in due time;' and therefore that spirit that destroyed them in their own time, hath not been the spirit of Christ, who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.' And Christ, who by the grace of God tasted death for every man, and hath given himself a ransom for all, and is a propitiation for the sins of the whole world.' So hath not he then purchased all mankind by his death, and ransomed them, and would have all men to be saved, who came not to destroy men's lives, but to save them? And, therefore, what spirit hath that been in Christendom, and from whom, that hath destroyed so many men and women, concerning their religions, and opinions, and worships, in Christendom, since the apostles' days? And have they not destroyed such as Christ hath purchased, ransomed, and died for, and is a propitiation for; seeing that Christ gave himself a ransom for all, and tasted death for every man, and is a propitiation for the sins of the whole world,' and ' came not to destroy men's lives, but to save them?' And so let the spirit of Christ be judge in this matter. From him that is a lover of God, and Christ, and all men, that desire liberty and eternal happiness in Christ Jesus. Amen.

It is said, 'Judah and Israel dwelt safely, every man under his vine, and under his fig tree, from Dan even to Beersheba, all the days of Solomon.' 1 Kings iv. 25. And what a rich and glorious kingdom had Solomon in his days, when every man sat under his vine and fig tree in his kingdom? And in Micah iv. 4. Every man shall sit under his vine, and under his fig tree, and none shall make them afraid; the mouth of the Lord of hosts hath spoken it.' And Zech. iii. 10. In that day, saith the Lord of hosts, shall ye call every man his neighbour, under the vine, and under the fig tree.' And is not this the day of Christ? For doth not Christ say, 'I am the vine, and ye are the branches.' John xv. and Solomon saith, My mother's children, &c. they made me keeper of the vineyards, but mine own vineyard have I not kept.' Cant. i. 6.

Now all ye that are made keepers of vineyards, see that your own vine and vineyard is kept and enclosed with God's power, and instead of keeping others' vineyards, ye do not destroy them and your own. And let all that profess God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the vine, sit under him their vine, peaceably and safely in this gospel day of

Christ, who is the new and living way to God; Heb. x. 20. and to serve God through Christ in newness of spirit; and also to walk in newness of life; Rom. vi. 4. chap. vii. 6. and to sit under their vine and fig tree, and none to be made afraid or terrified by persecutions, imprisonments, or spoil of their goods, by laws or ordinances, which were made for the punishment of evil doers, murderers of fathers and mothers, and man-slayers,' &c. such as the apostle speaks of, the law was made against. 1 Tim. i.

For Christ Jesus never made or gave any law, commandment, or ordinance to imprison, or spoil the goods of any for not believing in him, much less against those that did believe in him, and sat under him, and abode in him the vine, who hath enlightened all mankind, that they might believe in him, and sit under him, and abide in him the vine. And they that do not abide in him, nor sit under him in his light and grace, but hate his light, and turn his grace into wantonness, such by the light are condemned, and that will be punishment enough upon them. John viii. 19. And Christ saith, He will reward every man according to his works and deeds.' And is not this in matters of religion, who serves God through him, and who serves him not? And, therefore, 'Let the tares and the wheat grow together, till the harvest, which is the end of the world,' as Christ saith. Matt. xiii. 30 to 43. For he did not give any ordinance or command to any to be 'pluckers up of tares' in the field, which is the world; but on the contrary, he gave a command to stop them that would have been plucking up. And his heavenly wisdom and care was, Lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with the tares.'

And Christ hath enlightened all mankind, and his grace has appeared to all men, to teach them, and to bring their salvation, and his gospel is preached to every creature under heaven. Now if they do not abide in the light, grace, and gospel of Christ, who is the vine, he will reward every man according to his works.

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And the apostle saith, Rom. viii. 26, 27, The spirit also helpeth our infirmities; for we know not what we should pray for as we ought, but the spirit itself makes intercession for us, with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts, knoweth what is the mind of the spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints, according to the will of God.'

So here you may see the apostle did not tie up the church of Christ to only one outward form of prayer, but left them to the spirit of God, • which helpeth our infirmities, and makes intercession,' &c. teaches us to pray as we ought, with sighs and groans that cannot be uttered.'

And acts ii. 17. Joel. ii. 28. God poureth out his spirit upon all flesh,' namely, men and women: that all in the spirit of God might pray to

him, and serve, fear, and worship him in his spirit and truth; and not to grieve, rebel against, vex, or quench the motions of the spirit of God; for if they do, they go into bondage, and bring God's judgments upon them. But they that are led by the spirit of God, are his sons and daughters; and where the spirit of the Lord is walked in, and they are led by it, there is liberty, and the fruits of the holy spirit of God will show themselves forth, which are, love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance, righteousness and truth, proving what is acceptable unto the Lord;' against such there is no law. Gal. v. 22, 23. Ephes. v. 9. G. F.

London, the 30th of the 3d month, 1685.

Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts,' Execute true judgment, and show mercy and compassion, every man to his brother.' Zech. vii. 9.

And the Lord, saith,' He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God.' Micah vi. 8.

And the Lord saith, I desire mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God, more than burnt offerings.' Hosea vi. 6.

And Christ saith unto the Jews, Go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy and not sacrifice.' Matt. ix. 13.

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And Christ saith, Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.' Matt. v. 7.

And again Christ saith, Be ye merciful, as your heavenly Father is merciful.' Luke vi. 36.

POSTSCRIPT.

AFTER Cyrus, king of Persia, had made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom in writing, saying, 'Thus saith Cyrus, king of Persia, the Lord God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and hath charged me to build him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah.' And this proclamation was, that all the Jews in all his kingdoms, and wheresoever they sojourned, that had been in captivity, should have their liberty to go into the land of Judah, and build Jerusalem, as in Ezra i.

Now when the adversaries of the Jews that had been in captivity, saw that the Jews did begin to build, they hired counsellors against them, to frustrate their purpose of building, &c. all the days of Cyrus, until, the second year of the reign of Darius, king of Persia, and in the beginning of the reign of Ahashuerus, these accusers of the Jews wrote