the holy ghost, and with fire.' 'Baptized by one spirit into one body:' ⚫ not the washing away the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience towards God by the resurrection of Jesus Christ;' without which no other baptism can save us, they being but figures or shadows; but this baptism of Christ is the substance, whereby we are baptized into his death; and those that are baptized into Christ have put on Christ.'

4. Concerning the Lord's supper. The true supper of the Lord is the spiritual eating and drinking of the flesh and blood of Christ spiritually; which the spiritual man only eateth, and is thereby nourished up unto eternal life: without which eating there can be no life in the creature, profess what you will. And all who eat of this bread, and drink of this cup, have real communion in Christ the head, and also one with another, as members; and are of one heart, and one mind, a complete body in Christ. Now the world, who take only the outward signs, and are not brought into 'discerning of the Lord's body, eat and drink damnation to themselves,' and become 'guilty of the body and blood of Christ;' and call this a communion, but live in envy, strife, and debate, fighting, and going to law one with another, for earthly things. 5. Concerning the resurrection. That all shall arise to give an account, and receive at the last day according to their works, whether good or evil.' These bodies that are dust, shall turn to dust, but God shall give a body as pleaseth him; that which is sown in corruption shall be raised in incorruption; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body; and as we have borne the image of the earthly, so we shall bear the image of the heavenly:' but flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of heaven; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption; for we must be changed.' But they who cannot witness the first resurrection within themselves, know nothing of the second, but by hearsay; and therefore, say some of your teachers, that Christ is in heaven with a carnal body. Now that Christ, who is the first fruits, should be in heaven with a carnal body, and the saints with a spiritual body, is not proportionable.

6. Concerning magistracy. It is an ordinance of God, ordained for the punishment of evil doers, and an encouragement for them that do well;' where justice and righteousness are the head, and ruleth without partiality, that land is kept in peace; and those that judge for the Lord, I honour as my own life, not with a flattering honour, putting off the hat and bowing of the knee, which is the honour of the world, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage,' for selfends; but from my heart, for conscience' sake, as to the power which is of God, not to men's persons. For the scripture saith, he that respects persons commits sin, and is convinced of the law as a transgres

sor;' and the apostle James commands the saints, not to have the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons;' for, saith he, such are partial in themselves, and become judges of evil thoughts.' And saith Paul, Let every soul be subject to the higher power; for,' saith he, there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God;' and that whosoever resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God;' and saith, We must needs be subject, for conscience' sake.' And therefore, though the prophets were often sent by the Lord to pronounce judgment against unjust men, who had the power committed to them, and did not judge for God, but for selfends; yet they never attempted any violence against them, but used all means to persuade them to love mercy, do justice, and walk humbly with God,' that they might be established, and the wrath of God turned from them; for those that be of God cannot rejoice in the sufferings of any, but would have all to turn and find mercy.

7. Concerning the ministry. The true ministers of Jesus Christ have always been, and are still, such as come not by the will of man, but by the will of God; neither are they fitted for the work by any thing of man, but by God alone; for the true ministry is the gift of Jesus Christ, and needs no addition of human help and learning: but as the work is spiritual, and of the Lord, so they are spiritually fitted only by the Lord, and therefore he chose herdsmen, fishermen, and ploughmen, and such like. And as he gave them an immediate call, without the leave of man, so he fitted them immediately without the help of man; and as they received the gift freely, so they were to give freely. And whenever they found any of the false ministry, that taught for hire, they cried out against them, and pronounced woes against them, and showed them that they lay in iniquity, because they thought that the gift of God could be bought and sold for money.' And Christ calls them' hirelings,' and saith they care not for the sheep.' And Micah cries out against the priests that taught for hire; and, (saith he,) they build up Sion with blood, and Jerusalem with iniquity.' And Jeremiah cried out against the priests in his days, that bare rule by their means,' and calls it a horrible thing;' and saith that, from least the of them to the greatest, they are all given to covetousness.' And Isaiah cries out against those in his days, and calls them greedy dogs, that can never have enough;' and, saith he, they all look for their gain from their quarter.' And Peter saith of such as should come, that they through covetousness should make merchandise' of the people; and saith, they have hearts exercised with covetous practices, who have forsaken the right way, and have followed the way of Balaam, who loved the wages of unrighteousness.' And Jude cries, Wo unto them, for they go on in the way of Cain,' in his murder, and run greedily after the error of Ba

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laam' for reward. But those that were sent out by Christ, counted it their gain to make the gospel without charge;' neither ever had they any set means, but went about, having no certain dwelling place; never were masters, but 'servants to all for Christ's sake: nor ever went to law for tithes, or any other earthly thing.

Now all people, try your priests by the scriptures, whether they be of God or of the world, and never think to hear the word of the Lord from their mouths, who walk contrary to the scriptures. For such were never sent of God: for had they been sent of God they would abide in his doctrine; and saith John, such have not God, but he that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, hath both the Father and the son.' 'And if there come any to you, and bring not this doctrine,' you are forbidden to 'receive them into your house, or bid them God speed:' for if you do, you are partakers of their evil deeds. And unto the wicked, God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldst take my covenant into thy mouth? seeing thou hatest instruction, and castest my words behind thy back,' and art a partaker with the thief, the adulterer, evil-speaking, slandering, and deceit; and such as these, think God to be like themselves.'

Divers particulars of the persecutions of James Nayler, by the priests of Westmoreland.

JAMES being at a meeting at Edward Briggs' on the First-day, where many people met, he was desired by divers Friends to meet the day following at widow Cocks' house, about a mile from Kendal, whereof the priests having notice, raised the town of Kendal against him; but being long in gathering together, the meeting was done. But spies being out upon the steeple top, and other places, notice was given what way James passed from thence; and coming down towards Kendal, two priests, accompanied with a justice of peace, and some other magistrates of the town, with an exceeding great multitude of people following them, met him, one of them saying, 'Nayler, I have a message from the Lord Jesus Christ to thee, but that there is not a convenient place.' To which James answered, "The Lord Jesus Christ is no respecter of places.' The message that he had to declare, was this: 'I conjure thee that thou tell me by what power thou inflictest such punishment upon the bodies of creatures.' James answered, 'Dost thou remember who it was that did adjure Christ to tell if he were the son of God, and asked by what authority he did those things?' for James saw him to be one of that generation. But the priest still conjuring him to tell by

what power he did it; James answered, Dost thou acknowledge it to be done by a power?' 'Yea,' said he, 'I have the spirit of God, and thereby I know it is done by a power.' James said, 'If thou have the spirit of God, as thou sayst thou hast, then thou canst tell by what power it is done.' The priest said, When God comes, he comes to torment the souls and not the bodies.' James said, 'He comes to redeem the souls.'

But after much jangling the priest began to accuse him before the justice and magistrates of many things; as, that he taught people to burn their bibles, children to disobey their parents, wives their husbands, people to disobey the magistrates, and such like accusations.' To which James answered, 'Thou art a false accuser: prove one of these things if thou canst, here, before the magistrates.' But not being able to prove any one, he began to accuse James for holding out a light that doth convince of sin, which,' said the priest, all have not.' To which James said, 'Put out one in all this great multitude that dare say he hath it not?' Said the priest, 'These are all christians, but if a Turk or Indian were here, he would deny it.' James said, 'Thou goest far for a proof; but if a Turk were here, he would witness against thee.'

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The people beginning to fight, the priest turned away, saying, 'Here will be a disturbance.' Said James, These are thy christians, and these are the fruits of thy ministry.' But the justice, with some others, did endeavour to keep the rude people off him, so that they could not come to their purpose there: but he being to pass over the bridge, and through the town, they that were of the priests' party ran before, swearing they would throw him off the bridge into the water; but coming thither and seeing their purpose, he was encouraged in his God, who gave him assurance of protection, and did wonderfully keep him, and those that were him: for when he came unto the bridge, the word of the Lord came unto him, and he was made to cry out against their rage; and the power of the Lord was with him, so that he received no harm, though he was made to speak all along, and in the market-place, and till he came out of the town. But the raging people continued shouting, crying, and throwing of stones at him a quarter of a mile out of the town: but such was the power of the Lord, that neither he nor any with him, received any harm. The work was wonderful, and we were brought much to admire it, and praise the Lord, who is blessed for ever and ever.

Another time, James being desired of many christian friends to be at a meeting at Orton, there to wait upon the Lord for what he would make known to his people, did accordingly; and many Friends and

brethren accompanied him; but the priests having intelligence some days before, five of them were gathered together, and many people from all quarters. A Friend in the town desired James to come to his house; and being come into his house, a message was sent from the priests, desiring him to come into the field, under pretence of a more convenient place for the great multitude. To which James answered, It is my desire that all may be edified: and coming into the field the priests came with a great multitude, and asked him by what authority he came thither, and had gathered together so many people to break the peace;' and tempting him, said, 'Wilt thou be bound that none here shall break the peace? To which James answered, 'We come not hither to create offences, but if any break the law, let him suffer by the law' for he perceived they intended violence, as it appeared afterwards.

But seeing they could not prevail in that, another of them desired him to go into the church, as he called it, tempting him, saying, 'The people may all sit and hear better.' But James perceiving their deceit, said, All places were alike to him; he would abide in the field.' Whereon they pulled out an ordinance of parliament, forbidding any to speak but such as were authorized to speak either in church or chapel, or any public place; and bade him speak at his peril, as he would answer the contempt of it. To which he answered, saying, 'This is not a public place.'. No,' said one of the priests, is not this a public place, the town field!' and charged the constable of the town to do his office; and examined his authority. James answered, 'Those that are sent to declare the things of God have not their authority from men.' But they bade him prove that. He said, 'Paul received not his commission from man, nor by man.' To which one of them answered, 'That was his gospel, but they would prove that Paul had a call from man to preach;' and for that end he named that place in Acts xiii. 2. where the holy ghost said, 'Separate me Barnabas and Saul:' and the apostles laid their hands upon them, 'which,' said one of them,' was the laying on of hands of the presbytery." But when he had found that place, James asked him if that was Paul's call to the ministry? (three times,) but he answered nothing. Then said James, ‘If, that was his call, he had preached long without a call before that;' and instanced to prove it, Gal. i.

Whereupon that business ended; but another priest stood up, and said, Thou oughtest to give an account of thy faith to every one that asketh;' whereupon he asked divers questions; whereunto James answered, insomuch that some that stood by, cried out,' Answer not all, but ask him some.' A while after, James asked him, 'how he would prove himself a minister of the gospel, and live upon tithes? To which he