A TESTIMONY CONCERNING George Russel , Who Dyed a Prisoner upon Truth 's account for bearing his Testimony against TYTHES . Together with a Few Lines once more ( after many ) by way of Information , Caution and Warning unto all Persecutors , from the Example of the Jews , To beware what they do , how they persist and go on in such Practices , lest the Judgments of the Just God take hold on them , and there be none to deliver out of his Hand . For certainly he will arise ere long in his Anger , and plead his own Cause in the Earth ; and then he will ease himself of his Adversaries , and be avenged upon his Enemies .

These to all People may inform ; THat George Russel , of the Parish of Burliscombe in the County of Devon , being Aged about Eighty Three Years ( whose Body is now Rescued by the God of Heaven and Earth , from the Envy and Rage of his Cruel Persecutors ; and as concerning him , that Testimony is now finished , his Soul being gathered unto God , and to the Spirits of Just Men who formerly suffered , he now sleepeth and is at Rest with them , where the Wicked cease from troubling , and where the Weary be at Rest , where the Prisoners Rest together , they hear not the Voice of the Oppressor . ) He for Conscience sake in Obedience to the Commands of Christ , refusing to pay Tythes to one William Chamberline , alias Luckly , of the same Parish , Tythemenger , for about one Acre and — of Wheat ( the Tythe of which is valued to be worth about 7 s. ) was subpaened into the Exchequer , and for not Appearing , a Writ was taken out against him to attach and imprison his Body , in the Name of one Anne Jones Widow of Greencham in the Parish of Ashbritle and County of Somerset , Impropriator of the Tythe of Burliscombe aforesaid . And about the 17th day of the 4th moneth , 1679. his Body was attached , and committed unto Prison in Thomas Parish in Exon , where he remained a Prisoner about seven or eight Weeks ; in which time of his being there , some Friend of his considering his Age , and perceiving the Weakness of his Body , in tender Love and Respect to him , he being several Miles distant from his Children , who should take Care of him as Age and Weakness doth require , thought good to seek his Releasment , which was accordingly obtained : But the Adversary not regarding his Age , Weakness , nor the Ground of his detaining Tythe ( which was only for Conscience sake ) nor the Smalness of the Sum demanded to be due ( which if G. R. had paid , he must make Shipwrack of a Good Conscience and Peace with God ) in much Hardness of Heart by this Adversary the Action was again revived , and another Attachment came forth , and his Body was apprehended and carryed unto Prison upon the 11th of the 12th moneth , 1679. and there he remained Prisoner about eleaven Weeks ( having some Liberty from the Keeper to be without the Keys ) until the Second day of the 3d Moneth , 1680. and then ( it being the First day of the Week ) in the Morning Weakness coming on much upon him , so that before any could send for his Children to come unto him he gave up the Ghost , and Peaceably Dyed ( as many Hearts are perswaded ) in the Love and Favour of God , yielding up his Spirit unto him that gave it , there being present with him at that time , another Friend , by Name Robert Welch , who hath been also in the Sheriff , Custody , a Prisoner several Years , and still remaineth there upon the Account of Tythes . And now his Body being removed from off the Earth , and his Bed made in the Dust , his Life shall Reign in Dominion over the Hearts of his Adversaries : And by Death he having Overcome and gotten Victory over them all , through Christ , who hath strengthened him ; and having thus Suffered for him , shall undoubtedly Reign with him in that Glory at the Right Hand of God , where with the Son was Glorified with the Father from the Beginning , where the Destroying , Persecuting Spirit shall never come .

And his Testimony to the Truth against Tythes , he having thus suffered in Prison till Death for it , hath as it were in some sence sealed it with his Blood , and it shall stand as a Memorial , and standing Testimony recorded to Ages and Generations to come , against and over all the Heads of such Persecuting Priests , Impropriators and Tythemongers whatsoever , who endeavour to make void the Law of Christ , and the Gospel of Christ ; and who walk contrary to him , and are not found treading in his Foot-steps , nor in the Foot-steps of the Flock , viz. his Disciples and the Primitive Christians , who received not Tythes , neither Sued any man at the Law , nor cast any in Prison for the not Payment thereof : But otherwise their Lord and Master Christ commanded them , saying , As ye go , Preach , saying , the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand , &c. Mat. 3.2 . Freely ye have received , freely give ; freely minister of the Ability God hath given to you , whether things Spiritual or Temporal as also saith the Apostle . — And further saith Christ , Into whatsoever City , Town or House ye come , inquire who is Worthy , and if they receive you well , let your Peace then rest upon it , and in the same House remain eating and drinking such things as they give ; for the Labourer is worthy of his Hire : Go not from House to House . But if they receive you not ; What then ? Shake off the Dust of your Shoes that cleaveth to your Feet as a Testimony against them ; and it shall be ( saith Christ ) more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the Day of Judgment than for that City , Luke 10.8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12. as more largely in the Scriptures may be read .

So all may see how contrary such are , in Life and Conversation , in Work and Practice to the Doctrine of Christ , and to the practice of the Primitive Christians ( though they pretend themselves to be Christians ) who take and plunder away by a Law the Goods of innocent sober People , and who cast in Prison their Bodies , and many times detain them there till Death . But certainly this will not serve their turn in the Day of Account , when God shall Judge the secrets of all Hearts ; their Law then will not stand them by in any stead to appease or pacify the Anger and Wrath of God that will break forth upon such , if they Repent not ; neither will it excuse them for their Cruelty in the sight of God , no more than did that Law which the wicked Jews made use of to crucifie Christ by , who thought they did well in putting him to Death , cryed out and said , We have a Law , and by our Law he ought to dye : Crucifie him , Crucifie him ; let his Blood be upon us and upon our Children .

But some may say , What Law had they ?

A Law given by Moses the Servant of God , Lev. 24.16 . And he that blasphemeth the Name of the Lord shall surely be put to Death .

Now the chief Priests and Elders falsly accusing Christ , said he was a Blasphemer : Why ? Because , said they , he hath made himself the Son of God . Then said the High Priest , He hath spoken Blasphemy ; what further need have we of Witnesses ? Behold now ye have heard his Blasphemy : What think ye ? They Answered and said , He is guilty of Death .

So in some sense it is with many in this Nation , who cry out , and say , Tythes ( that unjust Oppression , under which the Nation groans ) are our Due , we have a Law for it ; and though there is a People that for Conscience sake refuse to pay it , and say , it s not our Due by the Law of God and Christ ( though you claim it by the Law of Man ) yet say we ( Priests and Impropriators ) by our Law they ought to Pay , if not , they shall surely Suffer , we will prosecute the Law ; And as for the Judgments of God that may ensue therefore , either here or hereafter , wee 'l venture it , let them fall on us : And as to the Curse that may follow for our Cruelty ; if any be , let that rest upon our Posterity . Well , if of such a mind , who ever thou art , mind a little further , and consider the sad state afterwards of those Persecuting , Mudering Jews , ( of whom Christ said , It was almost impossible for a Prophet or a man of God to Perish but amongst them ) of whom once Tythes under the Law were required , and freely without any Carnal Compulsion was it then to be brought into the place appointed ; and it was for such uses and purposes as God by his Servant Moses had ordained it in that Day : which Tythes and Offerings under that Levitical Dispensation . Priesthood and Ministry , when thus brought into the Store-Houses , were allotted for the Tribe of Levi , who had no Inheritance or share of Land among their Brethren , and who served the Tabernacle , and who waited on the Altar , and also for the Relief of the Poor , the Strangers , the Fatherless , and the Widows that were within their Gates . So then not only for the Priests to enrich themselves thereby , nor to Feed and Cloath themselves only with the Profits thereof ; Nay , nay : Nor yet for greedy Impropriators , who through Covetousness , and for the Love of Money , which is the Root of all Evil , that they might build their Nests high , and be greater in the Earth , by joyning House to House , and by adding Field to Field , purchased to themselves ( meeting with a cheap Bargain ) as their Inheritance , that which was other mens Rights ; and now such live upon , as may be said , the Labour and and Sweat of other mens Brows , which Purchase they never had from God , Truth and Equity any just Right unto , nor by the Law of Moses can demand or recover it ; for at that time these things were accounted Holy things , and as Offerings were to be dedicated to the Lord ; not to be Bought , not to be Sold , not to be Set or Let after such a manner , unto Impropriators , Tythe-mongers or Farmers , there was no such Doings then — neither did Moses ordain a Prison to cast mens Bodies in if they brought not in their Tythes according to appointment , nor did he or the Magistrates then issue forth Writs , Warrants and Executions ( as the men of our Nation have done ) that Wicked Prophane Bailiffs , and such like , should take mens Goods away by force , who are , many of them , of the vilest of men , who matter not to make what Havock and Spoil they can , of what men have Honestly and Industriously Laboured for , and many times they will take three times more than what they can demand : See , see , O People ! see how far short of the Jewish Religion ●o these men come ; and on the other hand ( may it not be said ) how ●ar Wo●se and more Cruel than the Jews do the Practices of these pretended Christians herein exceed !

And yet all this is done and suffered to be done in this Nation under a Profession of the Gospel , and of Christianity , and under pretence of Laws made by Christian-Magistrates , who think to uphold their Christian-Ministers ( as they suppose ) thereby ; and so hereby they have much strengthened the hands of all cruel persecuting Priests and Impropriators , who are ready enough to take the utmost Advantage that the Law will give them herein against such Honest Sober People : all which Doings are very contrary unto the Mind of God , who hateth Oppression , and to the Command of Christ Jesus , who came to set Free from the Yoke of Bondage ; and to the Scriptures of Truth , which do not at all justifie them ; & also to that very Law and Dispensation that came by Moses , which never did allow of such Practices as these , who in that very Day , as on this account , annexed no corporal Penalty thereunto , but left the People under the sense of the Severity of that Judgment , Curse or Punishment , that God himself might inflict upon them , i● they were Disobedient herein , and did not answer to do what God thu● required of them in the time of that Dispensation , which if they did , then on the other hand , the Blessing of the Lord God of Heav●n and Earth was to come upon them . As it s written , Deut. 8. And it shall come to pass , if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the Voice of the Lord thy God , to observe and to do all his Commands , which I command thee this day , that the Lord thy God will set thee on High , above all the Nations of the Earth ; and all these Blessings shall come upon the● , and overtake thee , if thou shalt hearken unto the Voice of the Lord thy God ; Blessed shalt thou be in the City , and blessed shalt thou be in the Field , in the Fruit of thy Body , and in the Fruit of thy Ground , &c. Blessed shall be thy Basket and thy Store ; Blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out , and when thou comest in , &c.

But a little further consider , as hath been hinted ●o , the sad State of that People and Nation the Jews , in and soon after the dayes of Christ , who came to Fulfil the Law , and to put an End to Tythes , Oblations and Offerings , and to abolish that Levitical Priest-hood and Worship , and to set up and establish a better , to bring People to Worship and Serve God in Spirit and in Truth , for such Worship and Worshippers the Father seeketh , and is well-pleased with , concerning which , much might be written : Oh! that all sorts of Persecutors whatsoever would but consider what Judgments and Calamities soon after came upon them for their Evil Works , in that they Despised , Resisted , Opposed and Rejected Christ ; Haled before Magistrates , Abused , Imprisoned and put to Death them that were his Disciples ; and as the Scriptures testifie , Crucified him their Lord and Master , the Prince of Life and Peace , whom the World knew not , nor the Princes of it ; for if they had ( as it s written ) they would not have Crucified the Lord of Glory , and that after the most Vilest manner , delivering him up to be Buffetted , and his Person to be Abused ; they cloathed him in Purple , and crowned him with Thorns , Mocked at him with a Salutation , Hale King of the Jews , Spit in his Face , and Bowing their Knees , Revilingly Worshipped him ; and some smote him with the Palms of their Hands , saying , Prophecy now whom it is that smiteth thee : gave him Vineger to drink mingled with Gall ; and thus Scoffing at him , and wagging their Heads , said , He saved others , let him now save himself : If he be the Son of God , let him now come down from the Cross ; who was Crucified between two Thieves : And all this was done unto him , that they might to the uttermost , as much as in them lay , Trample under , Contemn and Despise his Glory : So that the Saying of the Prophet was fulfilled , as it s written , He was Oppressed , and he was Afflicted , yet he opened not this Mouth : He is brought as a Lamb to the Slaughter , and as a Sheep before her Shearers is Dumb , so he openeth not his Mouth . — He hath poured out his Soul unto Death , and was numbered with the Transgressors , as many of the Innocent Servants of Christ in some respect have been , and are now in this Age and Generation , accounted as Evil-doers , numbered with Transgressors of the Law , Seditious , Stubborn , Rebellious People , Plotters and Contrivers of Insurrections , and such like ; brought before the Magistrates of the Nation , and as such , by some of them , they have been Fined , and their Goods Spoiled , their Bodies Imprisoned , and cast into stinking Goals with Thieves , Murderers and other Malefactors , and many of them have there lain and suffered Imprisonment till Death , for Truth's-sake and good Conscience-sake , both towards God and Man . And of all which slanderous Accusations , that they have thus falsly charged them with , the God of Heaven beareth them Record , and his Light in all Consciences doth testifie , that they are a Harmless Innocent People , clear from all such things : Oh! that the Magistrates and People of this Nation would but consider ! Oh! that they would but lay it to heart a little , what happened soon afterward unto that People and Nation , the Jews , who in that day Abused the Servants and Messengers of Truth ( concerning whom Christ said , It shall be better for such that a Mill-stone were hanged about their Necks , and that they were cast into the Sea and drowned , than that they should offend one of th●se little Ones ) and also who Crucified Christ the Prince of Life and Glory , despising him , said , We will not have this Man to Rule over us he shall not be our King ; away with him , Crucifie him ; Release unto us Barrabas ; as much as to say , Let Thieves , Murderers and other Malefactors have their Liberty , and be set Free before him ; secure him , let him not go , Punish him severely by the Law , take his Life from him ; he is a Blasphemer , he ought to dye ; who indeed was the Son of God , and an Innocent man , Holy , Harmless , Separate from S●n , whose Life and Conversation among the Jews in Righteousness , did shine , and was without Spot , Pure and Clean , in whose Heart there was found no Deceit , and in whose Mouth there was found no Guile ; and yet all this was done unto that Just One , who in the Sence and Fore-sight of his Enemies Misery , and that Calamity which was coming upon them , having Bowels of Pity and Compassion , tenderly Weeped and Lamented over them , as it s written ; O Jerusalem , Jerusalem ! thou that Killest the Prophets , Abusest and Stonest them that are sent unto thee ; how often would I have gathered thy Children together , even as a Hen gathereth her Chickens under her Wings , and ye would not ! behold , your House is left unto you Desolate : Oh! if thou hadst known , even thou , at least , in this thy day , the things which belong to thy Peace ! but now they are hid from thine Eyes ; now thy Day is over , now the time of thy Visitation is past , now thy Judgment is at hand : Oh! thou Foolish People and Nation , who didst Reject , Despise and Wonder , now thou art nigh to Perishing .

And may it not be said concerning some , in the same Spirit of Lamentation , which he hath poured forth in these Latter-dayes upon his Sons and Daughters ; and he being ascended up on High , and leading Captivity Captive , hath made them Partakers of , in and by which it may be said , Oh foolish People of this Nation , Perverse and Unwise , ye who have been Fighters against God , and Opposers of his Truth ; ye who have Rejected his Light , and Resisted his Grace that bringeth Salvation , which to all men hath appeared ; ye who have despised the Truth , and wondered at the Appearance of it ; ye who have Slighted , Reviled , Imprisoned and Abused the Servants and Professors of it ; May you not fear that ye are nigh unto Perishing , that your Calamity is at hand ? May you not dread that the Day of your Visitation is over , and that Distress and Trouble as a Whirlewind is coming upon you ? May you not fear that your Habitations and goodly Scituations , may be laid Waste , your Houses may be left unto you Desolate , and that your End may be Everlasting Misery ? Oh ye foolish People ! not desiring the Truth , not willing to be gathered ; for accordingly the thing came to pass upon the Jews , as it was said by Christ in the dayes of his Flesh , unto whom all Judgment is committed and given , both in Heaven and in Earth , who shall judge both Quick and Dead , as it s written , and who changeth not , but is the same still , yesterday , to day , and for evermore , who will come speedily , and his Reward is with him , to recompence every man according to his Deeds , and according to his Works ; Mercy to whom Mercy belongs , and Judgment to whom Judgment is due ; Fury to his Enemies , and Vengeance upon the Heads of his Adversaries ; as it s written , Judgment is mine , I will Recompence ; and Vengeance is mine , I will Repay , saith the Lord .

This is written in Love to Truth , and the Souls of Men , by one who desireth , that Truth and Righteousness may enter , and that Justice and Equity may take place more and more in the Hearts of many People in this Nation , and else-where , who am known to some by the Name of

Written about the 8th of the 3d Moneth , 1680. Robert Ford.

The Testimony of Jasper Batt for GEORGE RVSSEL .

I Have well known the said George Russel for more than twenty years past , and since my Knowledge of him I have this Testimony for him , That in the general he was a man of an Honest Harmless Conversation towards all men , loving his Neighbour as himself , and willing to do to all men as he would they should do unto him ; he received Truth in the Love of it ; he was a man of a very Tender Spirit , being often melted into Tears in the sense of the Lord's Presence , and Love of God towards him ; and made it his Concern in his Capacity to gather & bring others to the Knowledge & Enjoyment of the same Love , often visiting his Neighbours and Acquaintance , inviting and perswading them to accept of , and not to neglect the Day of their Visitation , putting them in mind of their Latter-end and Day of Account ; inviting and calling upon his Neighbours and Friends , as Opportunity might be had , to come and hear the Declaration of Truth , freely giving up himself and all that he had for its Service , it being the Joy of his Heart to obtain an Opportunity to be serviceable to the Lord and his People , and to Receive and Entertain the Lord's Servants , especially such whom the Lord sent forth as Labourers in his Vineyard ; and the Lord's Blessing in all was with him ; for he saw Truth 's Prosperity , and many of his Acquaintance brought to the Knowledge of it . He was faithful in his Testimony against the False Worships and Vain Customs of the World , and in particular against that great Oppression of TYTHES , wherein his Concern was but small , having but a small Estate as to the outward ; and though the Matter was but small on that account required of him , yet he chose rather to lay down his Life a Prisoner , than to make shipwrack of a good Conscience .

And I cannot well omit the taking notice of the Sottish Cruelty and Desperate Hardness of his Adversary ( not often to be parallell'd ) who not regarding his Age of Eighty Three Years , his Weakness ( which usually attends such Old Age ) the Smallness of the Sum required , or that by their Law might be due , ( viz. ) Seven or Eight Shillings , nor the Ground or Cause of his Refusal to pay it , which was only for Good Conscience sake , of which he could not make Shipwrack for all the Riches of this World ; however ( it seems ) such was the Hard-hearted Cruelty of this Adversary ( as being of that Generation whose Tender Mercies are Cruel ) he resolved to have his Tythes or his Life . But honest G. R. chose rather to lay down this Mortal Life than hazard the Loss of Everlasting Life . He was a man greatly satisfied in the Love of God towards him , and in the Prosperity of the Lord's Work , and of a very Contented and Chearful Life and Conversation , even living above Visible Things . I was with him in the time of his late Imprisonment , where though he was weak and feeble of Body , lying on the Bed , yet he manifested great Joy and Gladness of Spirit , rejoycing in the Goodness and Love of God towards him , saying , It was never better with him .

And so having sealed his Testimony with his Life , his Memorial is blessed , and his innocent harmless Life , his tender melting Spirit , and the often appearance of the Springs of Life in him , and the precious Fellowship which therein we enjoyed with him , still yields a good Savour to many of the Lord 's Faithful Ones which are left behind , and is fresh in our Remembrance , and though dead , herein he yet lives amongst us , and we refresht in the sense and feeling thereof .

And so , let his Name stand recorded amongst the Noble Army of the Lamb's Followers , as one of them who loved not his Life to the Death , and hath overcome through Sufferings , by the Blood of the Lamb and the Word of his Testimony , and is now with the Lord's Redeemed Ones on Mount Sion , where there is an End of Sorrow and Suffering , and all Tears are wip't away ; and where everlasting Praises and Halelujah , Honour , Dominion and Thanksgiving are sounded forth and returned to the Lord , and to the Lamb , who was dead and is alive , who sits upon the Throne , and lives and raigns over all forever and for evermore , Amen .

The 22th of the 4th Moneth , 1680. Jasper Batt .