I told Major Wiggan, The leaft Babe there might fee 1664. him and prefently ftood up one Richard Cubham, and proved him an Anti-chrift, and a Deceiver, by Scrip. Lancafter ture. Then the Jailer had me away to my Prifon again. And afterwards Wiggen wrote a Book of this Difpute, and put in abundance of abominable Lies: But his Book was foon Answered in Print; and he himself not long after was Cut off, as afore is faid.

This Wiggan was poor; and while he was a Prifoner at Lancaster, he fent into the Country, and got Money gathered for Relief of the Poor People of God in Prifon and many People gave freely, thinking it had been for Us; when-as indeed it was for himfelf. But when we heard of it, we laid it upon him: and writ alfo into the Country, that 'Friends might 'let the People know the Truth of the Matter; that it was not our manner to have Collections made for us: and that thofe Collections were only for Wiggan and another, a drunken Preacher of his Society; who would be fo drunk, that once he loft his Britches.

. After this it came upon me to write a Paper to the Judges, and other Magiftrates, concerning their Giving Evil Words and Nick-names to fuch, as were brought before them. And that which I writ, was after this manner, and thus directed:

To all you that be Judges, or other Officers whatfoever, in the whole World, who profess your felves to be Chriftians.

Friends,

HE

[Erein and by reading the Scriptures, ye may fee both your own Words and Carriage, and the Words, Carriage, and Practice of both Jews and 'Heathens; and of the great King of Kings, the great Law-giver, and Judge of the whole World. First, For the Words and Carriage of the Jews, when fuch as were worthy of Death, were brought before

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1664. before fuch as were Rulers amongst them. When Achan had taken the Babylonifh Garment, and the Lancafter Two-hundred Shekels of Silver, and the Wedge of Prifon Gold of Fifty Shekels weight, and Joshua, who was then Judge of Ifrael, had by the Lot found him out; he did not fay unto him, Sirrah, nor, Tou Rafcal, Knave, Rogue, as fome, that are called Chriftian Magiftrates, are too apt to do. But Fofhua faid unto Achan, My Son; Mark his clean Language and favoury Expreffion, and gracious Words, My Son, faid he, give, I pray thee, Glory to the Lord God of Ifrael, and make Confeffion unto him; and tell me now, what thou haft done; hide it not from me. Then Achan confeffed, that he had finned against the Lord God of Ifrael; and thus and thus he had done. And then Joshua, the Judge, faid; Why haft thou troubled Ifrael? The Lord hall trouble thee this day: and they ftoned him and his with Stones, and burnt his Goods with Fire. But there was no unfavoury Word given to him, that we read of; though he was worthy of Death, Joh. 7.

So when the Man, that gathered Sticks upon the Sabbath-day, was taken, and brought before Mofes, the Judge in Ifrael, and put in Ward, until the Mind of the Lord was known concerning him; We read not of any reviling Language given him: but the Lord faid to Mofes, and Mofes to the People; The Man fhall furely be put to Death, Numb. 15.35.

So likewife in the Rebellion of Coran, Dathan and Abiram, where Mofes called them to Trial, he did not Sirrah them, or mis-call them but faid to Corab and the reft, Hear, I pray you, ye Sons of Levi, Numb. 16. 8. And when he gave the Sentence against them, he faid; If thefe Men die the common Death of all Men, &c. He did not fay, If these Rafcals, or Knaves, as many, that profefs themfelves Chriftians, will now do.

When Elibu fpake to Job, who was a Judge, and to his Friends, and faid, Let me not, I pray you, accept any man's Perfon, neither let me give flatter

ing Titles unto Man; for I know not to give flattering 1664. Titles: in fo doing my Maker would foon take me away, Job 32. Job did not fay, Sirrah, hold thy Lancafter Tongue; nor gave him any unfavoury Expreffion. Prison. Then for the Words of David and Solomon, and other Kings and Officers, fee in the Books of the Kings and Chronicles the favoury Language, that they gave to them, that were brought before them. Nay, though Shimei curfed David the King, yet neither did David then, or afterward, nor Solomon, when 'he caufed him to be put to Death, give him any reproachful Language, or fo much as call him Sirrah, 2 Sam. 16. and 1 Kings 2.

Read the Prophecies of Ifaiah and Micha, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the reft of the Prophets, who Prophefied to feveral Peoples, and against Rulers, Kings and Magiftrates; yet where can it be found, that they had any bad Language given them, as Sirrab, or the like, by any Ruler either of the fews or Heathens? Nay, though Jeremiah was caft into the Prison, and into the Dungeon; yet there was no fuch word as Sirrah, or Knave, given to him, Fer. 37.

Then for the Words and Carriage of the Heathens: • When Abraham was brought before Abimelech, who was a King, he gave Abraham no unfavoury Expreffions, Gen. 20. And when Ifaac came before Abimelech, he gave him no taunting Language neither, Gen. 26. When Jofeph was caft into Prifon, and that in Egypt, we do not read, that he had any railing Language given him, Gen. 39. Neither did Pharaoh, when Mofes and Aaron went before him, give them bad Language, as Sirrah, Knave, or the like.

"When Nebuchadnezzar Sentenced the Three Chil'dren to the Fiery Furnace, there was no fuch Language given them, as Sirrah, Knave, Rafcal; but called them by the Names, they were known by, Dan. 3. And when Daniel was brought before King Darius, and fentenced to be caft into the Lion's D 2

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Part II. 1664. Den, he had no fuch Ill Names given him, as many give now; who call thofe Heathen Rulers, but themLancafter felves Chriftians.

Prifon.

"If ye look into the New Teftament, there, in the Parable of the Wedding Supper, the King, that came to view his Guefts, did not fay unto him, that was found without a Wedding-Garment, Sirrah, how 'cameft thou in bither? but, Friend, how cameft thou in hither? &c. though he was one, that was to be 'bound hand and foot, and caft into utter darkness, Matth. 22. Nay, when Judas had betrayed his Ma fter, Chrift Jefus the Lord of Life, and had fold him to the Priefts, Chrift did not call him Sirrah, ⚫ when he came to apprehend him, but Friend, Matth. 26. 50. Stephen in his Examination, Sentence and Death had no fuch reproachful Word given him, as Sirrah, or Knave, Acts 6. & 7. Chapter. When the Apoftles Peter and John were brought before the High-Prieft, and Rulers of the Jews, and commanded not to preach in the Name of Jefus, Acts 4. they were not called Sirrah, or Knaves, nor had any fuch Ill Names given them. And when Paul and Silas were caft into Prifon by the Magiftrates, "there was no fuch Word given them in their Examination, nor in their Sentence, Aus 16. They called them Men, not Rogues, Sirrahs, nor Knaves. And when the Magiftrates had done contrary to Law, they feared: So ye may fee, how fhort of this Example many are, that call themfelves Chriftian Rulers; who are not afraid to caft Innocent People into Prifon, and give them Ill Names befides, be'low both Jews and Heathens.

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When the Uproar was at Ephefus about Diana's Shrine, Demetrius, who bore great Sway among the Crafts-men, did not call Paul Sirrah; but called him by his Right Name Pau!, Acts 19. And when Paul was brought Prifoner before the High-Prieft Ananias, and the Council of the Jews, and told them, He had lived in all good Confcience towards • God, until that day; though they (who profeffed

the

Prifon.

the Scriptures, but lived out of the Life of them) 1663. 'could not abide to hear of Living in a good Confcience (as Profeffors of the Scriptures now, that Lancat. • live not in the Life, cannot abide to hear of Living ' in a good Confcience now-a-days:) But Ananias 'caufed Paul to be fmitten on the Mouth, yet he did. not call him Knave, nor Sirrah, Acts 23. The Apoftate-Jews indeed, (who, though they profeffed Scripture, were out of the Life thereof, and had re'jected Chrift) in their accufing Paul before the Roman Magiftrates, did once call him a Peftilent Fellow, Acts 24. as the Accufing Profeffors, who live out of the Life, will fometimes call us now. But Felix gave Paul no fuch Language; neither did Feftus, nor King Agrippa in all their Examinations of him, give Paul any fuch Words, as Sirrah, Rafcal, 'Knave, or the like: but heard him patiently. So now Chriftians may fee through all the Scriptures, that when any Perfons were brought before Rulers, Kings, or Magiftrates, whether Jews or Heathens, they did not ufe to call them Evil Names, as Sirrah, Rafcal, Knave, and the like: they had no fuch foul'mouth'd Language in their Courts: Nor did they 'ufe to fay to them, Sirrah, put off your Hat. Now ye, that profefs Christianity, and fay, the Scripture is your Rule, may fee, that more Corrupt Words proceed out of your Mouths, than either out of the Jews or Heathens; if ye will Try your Practice by the Scriptures: And doth not the Apoftle tell you 'that no Corrupt Communication fhould proceed out of your Mouths? and that your Words fhould be gracious? Now I query, Where and whence ye, that call your felves Chriftians, have got all these 'bad Words and Names, feeing, neither God, nor Chrift, nor the Prophets, nor the Judges, nor Kings, nor Rulers ever gave any fuch Names, fo far as appears by Scripture, either amongst the Heathens, Fews or Chriftians?

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