Quaker Women

A Warning for the Spirit of the Lord (in his Handmaid) Anne Audland, to the Priest and persecuting peole in Banbury, and all such as may be found in their nature, and falsly accusing and imprisoning the Servants of the Lord Jesus. (1655)

Although I was unjustly imprisoned at the first in the town of Banbury, for no other thing but speaking the truth, as in a true Declaration of the suffering of the innocent, who are hated without a cause may be seen, as it is declared in a printed paper, which was a Letter sent to William Allen, called Justice of peace, with an answer to the false accusations charged upon the innocent, wherein their proceedings are laid open, and proved to be contrary to the Scriptures, as also their proceedings at the last Assize or Sessions holden at Banbury, the 26. day of the 7. month, 1655. Where I was called to a tryall after long imprisonment or bonds, and there in the Court an Indictment was read against me, charging me with blaspheny, and on they did proceed, called a Jury, and brought in their witnesses, which differed one from the other, and was in confusion, though they pretended to bear witness to one and the same thing, and falsly was I accused, as it did appear, when the Jury gave in their verdict, they found no blasphemy, though for it I was accused, as the unchristian proceedings may further be seen both in the printed paper, (called The Sufferings of the innoncent,) & in what before is said in this Book, about my Examination and Tryall, which is plainly made manifest dayly, yet more in these things before mentioned, and in many other things which are committed, for which the righteous Judge of all the world will deal righteously, and call you all to an account, and weigh you in the equall ballance, and measure you in a just measure, and from the hand of the Lord shall you receive a reward according to your deeds, good weight, prested down and running over, such measure as you meeted;. . .

...Oh ye foolish people and without understanding! How long wil ye walk after our own inventions? How long wil ye harden your hearts against the Lord? How long wil ye resist his Holy Spirit? Ye stiff-necked and Uncircumcised in heart and ears, how long wil it be ere you return to him who hath often smitten you? Shal the innoncent alwaies be your mark to shoot at? and will you make a prey upon the harmless Lambs of Jesus Christ? truly you will be found as stubble before the fire, and as dust before the wind,...

..The Lord of Hosts will accomplish his word by his mighty power and outstretched arm: Therefore now Magistrates, people and Priest, take warning while you have time and return; consider of it, what account can you give in the day of your calamity? How wil you stand before the righteous Judge, and to him answer it, your persecuting the innocent, and your shamefully entreating the harmless? Ye devouring wolves, who would tear the poor Lambs of Jesus, how wil you stand before the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah, if they shall depart into utter darkness that visits ot Christs little ones in prison? How shall those escape that casts them into prison? And in as much as you do it to one of the least of his, you do it unto him, and better had it been for you that a Milstone had been hanged about your necks, and you drowned in the depth of the Sea, than to have offended the little ones of Jesus Christ....
-Anne Audland