THE PREFAC C E.

THIS trial is printed from the author's fecond edition, even without altering fuch phrafes as are peculiar to that denomination of chriftians with whom he generally affociated, and whose style he adopted; and certainly the quakers ought to think themselves honoured even by this kind of relation to Mr. Elwall. Such firmnefs in the caufe, of truth, and fuch prefence of mind in afferting and vindicating it, as appear in this trial, are truly apoftolical, and have had but few examples fince the first promulgation of christianity. It is impoffible for an unprejudiced perfon to read this account of it (which is written with fo much true fimplicity, perfpicuity, and ftrength of evidence) without feeling the greateft veneration for the writer, the fulleft conviction and love of the truth, and a proportional zeal in maintaining it. I should even think it impoffible for the most prejudiced perfon to read it attentively, but, if he ufe no violence with his own mind, he will receive fome favourable impreffions both of the author, and of that caufe, which he fupports with fuch becoming dignity, and with a temper and difpofition of mind, in every respect worthy of a true chriftian.

So great was the force of truth on this memorable occafion, that a reputable and honeft jury, directed by a good-natured and fenfible judge, acquitted the criminal

criminal contrary to the exprefs laws of this country, according to which this glorious man ought to have been fentenced to a fevere punishment, as a convicted and avowed blafphemer. What must a lover of truth and of free enquiry, as fubfervient to truth, think of fuch laws, and of the ecclefiaftical conftitution of the countries, in which they are in force!

It is to be wifhed that fuch a monument of the TRIUMPH OF TRUTH might be constantly held out to the view of all mankind, and particularly in this country where it was exhibited.

The dedication of the treatife, on account of which Mr. Elwall was profecuted, is dated the eighth day of the fecond month, 1724; he speaks of his trial in a treatise intitled, A declaration against all kings and temporal powers under heaven, printed in 1732: and judge Denton, before whom he was tried, went the Oxford circuit in 1726 and 1728. From thefe circumstances it may be concluded, that the former of thefe years is the date of this remarkable trial, especially as in fome part of the fame year 1726 Mr. Elwall published another defence of the unitarian fyftem, in a treatise which he intitled Dagon fallen before the Ark of God, which would probably have been mentioned in the course of the trial, if it had been published at that time.

TRIAL OF MR. E. ELWALL, &c.

BECAUSE so many persons have earnestly defired to read this trial, I have here published a fecond edition of it, in order to encourage all honeft men, who have the eternal law of God on their fide, not to fear the faces of priests, who are gencrally the grand adverfaries of liberty and truth, and the baftions and bulwarks of all ceremonies, fopperies, and abfurd doctrines that are in the world.

I do this for the glory of the Moft High God, and for the honour of his facred law, and for the good of all my fellow-creatures; that they may obey God, and not man; Chrift, and not the pope; the prophets and apoftles, and not prelates and priests; and God knoweth this is my fincere defire, that all religion and spiritual things may be perfectly free, neither forced nor hindered; this being the true liberty of the gospel of Jefus Christ, who faid, The kings of the gentiles exercife authority, but it shall not be fo with you.

About fourteen years ago I wrote a book entitled, "A True Teftimony for God and his "facred Law; being a plain, honeft defence of "the first commandment of God, against all the trinitarians under heaven, Thou shalt have no "other Gods but me." I lived then at Wolverhampton in Staffordshire, where my ancestors have lived

above eleven hundred years, ever-fince the Saxons conquered the Britons.

When this book was published, the priests in the country began to rage, especially the priests of Wolverhampton; who had a great hand in the several troubles I underwent. In fhort, they never ceased 'till they had procured a large indictment against me at Stafford affizes; where I felt the power of God, enabling me to speak before a great number of people; being accused of herefy, &c. But I truly answered, as my beloved brother Paul did in his day, viz. In that way which fome call herefy, fo chufe I to ferve the God of my fathers, believing all that is written in the law and the prophets.

Afterthe long indictment was read, I was asked if I pleaded guilty, or not guilty. I faid I was not guilty of any evil, that I knew of, in writing that book; but if they meant whether I wrote the book or not (for they had quoted many pages of the book in that indictment) I owned I did write it; and that if I might have liberty to speak, I believed I fhould make it manifeft to be the plain truth of God.

of it.

Then the judge ftood up, and faid, "Mr. Elwall, "I fuppofe you have had a copy of your indict"ment?" I told him I had not had any copy Upon which he turned towards the priests, and told them that I ought to have had a copy of it. But they not answering he turned to me, and said,

That

That if I would give bail, and be bound to appear at the next affizes, he would defer my trial 'till then. But I told him, I would not give bail, neither fhould any man be bound for me; that if the prince of Wales himself would, he should not; for, faid I, I have an innocent breaft, and I have injured no man; and therefore I defire no other favour, but that I may have liberty to plead to the indictment myself.

Upon which he faid, very courteously, You may. The judge having given me liberty of pleading to the indictment, I began my fpeeeh with the facred first commandment of God, viz. Thou shalt have no other gods but Me. I infifted upon the word Me being a fingular; and that it was plain and certain, that God fpake of himself, as one fingle perfon or being, and not three diftinct perfons. And that it was manifeft, that all the church of God, which then heard those words, understood it in the fame plain obvious fenfe as I do; as is most evident from the words of the prophet Mofes: who faid to Ifrael thus s; Unto thee it was fhewed, that thou mightest know, that the Lord he is God, there is none elfe befides him; out of heaven he made thee hear his voice, &c. I told them, that from the words he, and him, and bis, it was certain God was but one fingle perfon, one fingle he, or him, or his. I told them that all the patriarchs from the beginning of the world did always address themselves to God, as one fingle being.

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