THroughout all Ages and Generations , he that was born after the Flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit ; even so it is now , as this last Age ot ours hath fully manifested , which hath brought forth much cruelty and Persecution , which hath been insticted upon many for the answer of a good Conscience ; but more especially upon them whom the Lord hath called from their own Country , to bear witness unto his Truth and Righteousness in the earth ; for which Testimony alone they have undergone a great sight of affliction from the chief Priests and Rulers , throughout most Counties of this Nation , as hundreds can witness .

But now I shall unfold the proceedings and dealings of the Priests and Rulers of this County of Sussex towards me , who came as a stranger amongst them , not wronging any man of any thing , nor eating any mans bread for nought , but freely declaring the Message of the everlasting Gospel amongst them , according to the Word and Command of God unto me , when he led me from my own Country and Fathers house above seaven years agoe , much contrary to my own Will : In which Testimony the Lord promised to be with me in all my tryals and sufferings , though never so many and great , charging me to take no thought before-hand what I should say when I was brought before Rulers and Governours for his Name and Gospel , for he would direct me in that hour , and give me a mouth and wisdome to answer all my Adversaries ; whose Promise and Word ( I set to my Seal ) he hath fully performed and confirmed to this very hour ; for he never yet suffered the Devil to draw me before any Rulers , nor to cast me into Prison , but his Presence hath been with me , and his right hand hath upheld me , to the confusion of all my Adversaries ; Glory , Honour , and living Praises and Thanksgiving , be unto him for evermore ; in whose Name I perfectly trust , and I hope shall unto the end , whereby I have been , and am kept safe from the fear of evil .

I shall fully demonstrate unto all sober People who hath but the least measure of Christianity lest in them , how far contrary to the Scriptures of truth the Rulers and Priests of this County , hath dealt with me for obedience to the above said Word and Command of God ; in obedience to which , I came amongst them as a stranger , according to the practise of the true Ministers of Christ throughout the Scripture , who vexed and oppressed me contrary to the Word and Command of God , Exod. 22. 21. who said to the Rulers of Israel , Thou ( halt neither vex a stranger nor oppresse him , for ye were strangers in the Land of Egypt . For their disobedience to which , the wrath of God arose against his people , till there was no remedy , even because they mocked his Messengers , and despised his Words , and misused his Prophets whom he sent unto them in compassion , as he hath done at this day , 2 Chron. 36. 15 , 16. And again the Lord warned them not to vex a stranger , saying , If a stranger sojourn in your Land , ye shall not vex him , but the stranger that dwelleth with you , shall be as one born amongst you , and thou shalt love him as thyself , Levir . 19. 34. And Moses said , The Lord doth executre Judgement of the Fatherlesse and Widdow , and loveth the stranger , in giving him food and raiment . And said , Love ye therefore the stranger , for ye were strangers in the Land of Egypt , Deut. 10. 18 , 19. And The Lord preserveth the strangers , and releeveth the fatherlesse and widdow , but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down , Psal. 146. 9. And Christ said to them on his right hand , Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdome prepared for you , from the foundation of the world ; for I was an hungred , and ye gave me meat ; I was thirsty , and ye gave me drink ; I was a stranger , and ye look me in , who answered , when saw we thee an hungry , and fed thee ? or naked , and cloathed thee ? or thirsty , and gave thee drink ? or a stranger , and took thee i● ? who said , Inasmuch as you have done it unto the least of these my Brethren , you have done it unto me , Mat. 25. 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 ; 38 , 39 , 40. But to the wicked he said , Depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels ; for I was an hungred , and ye gave me no meat ; I was thirsty , and ye gave me no drink , I was a Stranger , and ye took me not in ; vers. 41 , 42 , 43. who answered , When saw we thee an hungred , or sick , or naked , or a stranger , or in prison , and did not nunister unto thee ? but Christ said , Inasmuch as ye have not done it to the least of these , ye did it not to me ; and they shall go into everlasting punishment , but the righteous into everlasting life , vers. 44 , 45. Now it they was to go into everlasting fire , who had not cloathed , nor fed , nor victed in prison , the least of the brethren of Christ , what shall become of such as Leonard Letchsord of Hurst ; and George Vinter of Coveold , metamorphosed Ministers in Sussex , who instead of taking in of his Brethren when they were strangers , and feeding and cloathing of them , hath stirred up the Rulers and Magistrates through their lyes and false reports , to send such to prison , as they have done against me ? for the aforesaid George Vinter did raise a report that Ambrose Rigge did run away from his Wife and Children out of Lincolnshire , and lest them to the Parish , which was as false as the Devil , as was afterwards proved by many Witnesses ; yet by this he incensed the Rulers against me , being here a stranger ; in which false aspersion Leo : Letchford of Hurst Picrpoint , did joyn wich him , and stirred up Nisel Rivers , Walter Burrell , and Rich: Bridges , to send for me by Warrant the 28. day of the 3. Month called May , in the year 1662. out of my peaceable habitation at Hurst , who forthwith committed me to Prison , wich more of my Friends for the exercise of our Consciences towards God , where they kept us prisoners till the Assizes . And then the aforesaid Leo : Letchford appeared against us , and incensed the Judge ; insomuch that he sined all my Friends , for being met together in the worship of God ; and then said to the Judge , One word more to aggravate the matter against Ambrose Rigge , for which the Judge reproved him , but yet he knowing that I could not swear at all , and being incensed against me , did cause the Oath of Allegiance to be tendered me in the Court ; and because I could not swear at all ( in obedience to Christ and the Apostles Words and Commands , Mat , 5. James 5. ) Judge Brown did forthwith Judge me to lose all my Lands and Tenements , during my life , and all my Goods and Chattels for ever , and to be out of the Kings Protection , and to be imprisoned during the Kings pleasure ; and afterwards sent for the Goaler , and gave him a strict charge to keep me close , in which condition I have continued for the most part this seaventeen Months , and my Friends who were fined as above , some of which hath continued Prisoners to this day with me , in much patience , in many hardships , which hath adde affliction to our bonds ; but in all , the secret hand of God hath upheld us to this day , Glory , Honour , & Praises be unto Him for evermore , whose hard is not shortned to them who trust in his name , but makes them as Mount Zion that cannot be moved .

In which long imprisonment Leonard Letchford hath often threatned me with the Gallowsin word and writing ; and one time some of my Friends coming to visit me , did ask Leo. Letchford , if he would come to visit me ? to which be answered , If I were to be hanged , he would come to see it done . And now of late he hath said , If it come to cutting of Throats , he would cut Thomas Luxford's Throat and mine : By which , all people fearing God may Judge , whether this man be not a Murtherer , who would act it himself , when he cannot get others to do it for him . This is the entertainment that Leonard Letchford gives to strangers , and the love that he hath to his Neighbour . But Paul , who was a Minister of Christ , said , Be not forgetful to entertain strangers , for thereby some have entertained Angels unawares , Heb. 13. 2 , But instead of entertaining of strangers , Leo. Letchford and George Vintor persecutes them as Vagrants ; by which the impartial Reader will clearly see , how far they act contrary to the Scriptures , both of the Old and New Testaments ; and they may judge whether they are Ministers of Christ , or of Antichrist .