Truth Held Forth and Maintained, Part 1 · Chapter 28 – Chapter 28
CHAP. XXVIII. The Subſtance of my Letter to the Committee of the Militia in Salem, in anſwer to what they did deſire of me.
I Received yours, by one of the Committee, relating to my joyning with your laying out Disburſments for a Town ſtock of Ammunition and Proviſion, againſt a time of Invaſion. Now you your ſelves well know, that I never did with-hold the promotion of any Work among you, or any other of Power in this place, ſo far as it hath not been inconſiſtent with the Truth of God, according to my Faith, which leadeth me to aſſiſt and help, according to my meaſure, when and where God ſhall direct, until which time, if I ſhould conform to your deſire, where then will follow my Reward? And as to your War, both Temporal and Spiritual, where doth the benefit of it appear to a People whoſe unrighteous cruel Bloody Laws yet remain, only wanting Power againſt the Lives and Eſtates of their honeſt Neighbours, whom your Prieſts eſteemed, as thoſe of your Church Members, whom your ſelves do now put to Death as Witches, which poſſibly ſome of them may be ſo; and if that God ſhould further permit the Devils Power againſt the Rulers, Prieſts and Hearers, it would follow to be the greateſt of all other of Gods juſt Judgments that ever have befallen New-England, ſince they began to ſtock, whip, cut off Ears, baniſh, order for Bonds men and women, long and cruel Impriſonment, and taking away to the value of twenty hundred Pounds, beſides the Lives of them four Righteous …e ſons put to Death at Boſton; all which hath been the afflicted ſtate of the Lords People, which in Deriſion have been known by the Name of Quakers. And if the Children of them that deſtroyed the Lives and Eſtates of the Lords People in that day, will ſay, That they had no hand in the ſame I ſay that their aſſertion is utterly falſe (ſo long as they condemn not their Predeceſſors actions) and I prove it by the rebellious Jews, many thouſands of whom had no actual hand in deſtroying the Righteous in thoſe days, and they could ſay even as theſe in this day, That they had no hand in the ſame; but foraſmuch as they did not bear a faithful Teſtimony for Gods holy Truth, againſt the Unrighteouſneſs of their Prieſts and Rulers, the juſt Judgments of God hath reacht their Poſterity to following Generations; even ſo is it with New England, while the Land remains defiled with the Blood of the Lords Servants ſlain at Bo…on, which New-England former Prieſts and Rulers have done, in the Name of God, and the Kings Name, without any warrant or example from either; but in their blind perſecuting Spirit have maintained their perſecuting way, from a command in the Law, which relates to falſe Worſhippers in that day, which in this Goſpel Day they have charged upon the Lords People, which worſhip the only true God in the Spirit and in the Truth; which if God ſhould permit the Power of the Devil, by the ſpirit of Perſecution, then might more than three parts of the People of the World loſe their Lives, among whom it is evident the Lord hath a Number belonging unto him, though at preſent ſt…angers to the outward Sufferings of Chriſt; for he is the Light of the Gentiles, and Salvation to the ends of the Earth, and by him the Remnant of the Nations which fear God and work Righteouſneſs are ſaved; and he hath commanded, That Wheat and Tears ſhould grow together until the Harvest, of which things I only hint to you, for your underſtanding my Mind concerning the Proceedings in New-England, whoſe former Prieſts and Rulers have not manifeſted the like Repentance as that of Judas, who repenting himſelf o… betraying innocent Blood, and withal returned the Money which he had unrighteouſly taken, which Doctrine ought not to find itching Ears among any the Children of them who have perſecuted the Lords Servants to Death at Boſton; but as the Lords Se… vants and Meſſengers of his Truth have born the mercileſs Rod of that perſecuting Generation, ſo ought every man concerned, either actually, or by conſent, to bear the Charity of the Lords People, which is great Charity indeed to inform them of their unrighteous ways againſt the Lord and his People.
The fore-going Letter ſome of them called Railing, but the Day will come, in which they ſhall know, and that from the juſt God of Heaven and Earth, that it is no railing to info…m People of the Truth, which in the time of my Letter was both lawful and expedient for me ſo to do, neither are they to have forgiveneſs of God, further than they turn and repent, neither are the Lords People to forgive that on Earth which is not forgiven in Heaven, but to pray that his Will may be done on Earth, as it is done in Heaven.
CHAP. XXVIII. Concerning the Covering and Ʋncovering of the Head, in Honour to Man or Men.
WHere there is liberty by the Law of God for one man to remain with his Head covered before another, it can be no tranſgreſſion of any Righteous Law among men; and as to Cuſtoms of that nature, it is better to obey God than Man… for all things which a man is perſwaded of God in his own heart, to be comely, decent and of good report, that men ought, in obedience to God, to follow; but that which hath no Scripture Example from any command of Chriſt, nor Practice of any of his Apoſtles, for one man to ſtand bear-headed in honour to another, is that which cannot proceed from the Life and Power of God, becauſe it is not found in the holy Scriptures to be commanded of God, neither in practice by any of Chriſts Diſciples, nor his holy Apoſtles b…t only a bea… Cu…tom got up among ſome of the Nations, which inde…d by many of them are ſo accuſtomed to the Hat, Hand and Knee, by or with which they beſtow ſo much Honour one towards the other, that by that practice, with other of their Works among men, they have not due regard to the Works of Righteouſneſs and Holineſs, for the honour o… God, before whom, in the time of praying & prophecying, the Head is to be uncovered, for the Head of every man is, Chriſt, and the Head of Chriſt is God; which proves a diſhonour to the Name of the Lord, to honour men whoſe hearts they know, not as to God, but honour them in the ſa…e form as they do the Lord, when their Prayers are made to him, who is the ſearcher of all hearts, and giver to every man according to the fruits of his doings, which to the faithful will be a Crown of Righteouſneſs to the hoary Head, but to the Sinner, though a hundred yea…s old he is accurſed, which alſo doth of Hat-Honour, by which men honour that which is accurſed of God.