9. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil, 1John iii. 10.

Jude the Zealous. He has gone in the way of Cain, persecuting the elect; and ran eagerly after the error of Balaam, for the reward of human applause; and, as he has withstood the doctrines of the Lord, let him perish in the gainsaying of Korah, Jude 11.

Luke. I acquiesce with you, my holy brethren; the prisoner is one that has justified himself before men, but God knows the hypocrisy of his heart. He has gained much applause by errors; but the doctrine of free-will, which is highly esteemed among men, is an abomination in the sight of God, Luke xvi. 15. And it is plain that the chosen flock of God hate him, and his ways too; therefore, I say, Woe unto him, for all men, but the saints, speak well of him; and so did their forefathers to the former false prophets, Luke vi. 26.

Isaiah. I approve, brethren, of your judgment; let the potsherds strive with the potsherds of the earth, but wo to the potsherd that strives with the potter, Isaiah xlv. 9. God says, he hath opposed Israel my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend; and surely they that strive with Jacob, and the men of Israel, shall perish, Isaiah xli. 8, 11.

Mark. Well hath Isaiah prophesied of that hypocrite; he hath honoured God at times with his lips, but his heart is far from him as a sove

reign; however, in vain he worships God, for he hath rebelled against God's laws, and taught for doctrines the commandments of men, Mark vii. 6, 7.

Job. I perfectly agree with my evangelical brother Isaiah, against the prisoner's striving with his Maker; I think he is condemned both by precept and precedent; for whoever hardened himself against God, and prospered? Job ix. 4. If God gives quietness, who then can make trouble? Job xxxiv. 29; and, if he shuts up, who can hinder him? Job xi. 10. God shuts up a man, and there is no opening, Job xii. 14; besides, he has spoken wickedly for God, and talked deceitfully for him, Job xiii. 7: Yea, he hath used the tongue of the crafty, Job xv. 5. Every saint ought to know his record is on high, Job xvi. 19; and, as he has fought against the secret records of eternity, let him know there is a judgment, Job xix. 29.

Jeremiah. Surely the Lord never sent Universal Charity to make people trust in a lie; the Lord saith, Cast him off from the face of the earth, and let him die this year, for he hath taught rebellion against the Lord, Jer. xxviii. 15, 16.

Matthew. He is neither a steward nor a shepherd; he only acts the part of a scullion, makes clean the outside of the cup and platter, but fights against the wedding garment; which plainly proves he never had that garment on himself, therefore cast him out, Matt. xxii. 12, 13.

Peter. I agree with you all. A man that

preaches must speak as the oracles of God, 1. Pet. iv. 11; but he has brought in damnable heresies, 2 Pet. ii. 1, therefore dispatch him, and let not his judgment linger.

David. You have all spoken agreeably to the laws of the celestial realm; and I say, Set a wicked man over him; and let Satan stand at his right hand. When he shall be judged, let him be condemned; and when he cries mercy, my Lord Judge, let his prayer become sin, Psalm cix. 6, 7.

Moses. Whet God's glittering sword, and let his hand take hold on judgment; let him render vengeance to his enemies, and reward them that hate him, Deut. xxxii. 41.

The jury, being all agreed to a man, came instantly into the court.

Judge. Gentlemen of the jury, answer to your names. Paul the aged, one; John the divine, two; Peter the champion, three; Luke the beloved, four; Matthew the evangelist, five; Jude the zealous, six; Mark the apostle, seven; Isaiah the wonderful, eight; Jeremiah the laborious, nine; Job the patient, ten; Moses the meek, eleven; David the penitent, twelve.

You, gentlemen of the jury, being impannelled for our sovereign Lord the King, to serve in matters of life and death, have heard the trial of the prisoner at the bar, What say you? Is he guilty of the many crimes for which he stands here indicted, or not?

Foreman. He has not been kept back from presumptuous sins, therefore he is not innocent, nor upright, but guilty of the great transgression, Psalm xix. 13.

The judge lifted up his eyes to heaven, and, uttering a short prayer, concluded with these words: Let my sentence come forth from thy presence, Psalm xvii. 2.

THE SENTENCE.

Judge. Mr. Universal Charity, a mongrel spirit, partly human, partly brutal, and partly infernal; thou hast for many years past covered thyself with the flesh and skin of many thousand freewillers, and mingled thyself with their souls, so as to deceive many of them, and teach them to deceive others; thou hast operated maliciously on them, and taught them to fight against the Most High; to withstand his firm decrees; to oppose his loyal subjects in behalf of rebels, traitors, and apostates; yea, thou hast imprisoned falsely the Lord's freemen, and staggered their confidence, though not their foundation; thou hast injured the Lord's shepherds, and taught the sheep bad habits; thou hast turned the blind out of their way, and hast tried to undermine the building of mercy; thou hast here been tried fairly by the best of laws, and by a jury of the best of men, and hast been found guilty.

Universal Charity. Mercy, my Lord Judge. Judge. Mercy is sovereign, and thou art cast for despising of it; besides, the prayer of the wicked is an abomination, Prov. xxviii. 9.

Universal Charity. Transportation, my Lord Judge.

Judge. No, no; you would do as much mischief abroad as you have done here. Therefore I, the judge for the King of all kings, commit Universal Charity, a false spirit, embodied in sinful flesh and blood, who has been assisted to deceive souls, in conjunction with brutal and corrupt affections; first, to the prison from whence he came, and to be guarded and kept in hold by every good soldier of Jesus Christ in the whole world; and that his rough garment be taken off from him, by way of degradation; and he not suffered to deceive the poor souls of men any more. And, when the last glorious day comes, which shall cover the earth with the knowledge of God as the waters cover the sea, that then the prisoner be brought forth out of the prison, and be set in the full blaze of the glorious Sun of Righteousness, that every saint may see him, when he shall be discovered by the brightness of the Lord's rising, and shall be consumed by the breath of his lips; and then let the saints utter a parable over the rebellious, and say unto them that stand by, Thus saith the Lord God, Set on a pot, set it on, and also pour water into it; gather the pieces thereof into it; the thighs and shoulders, and fill it with the bones: Make it boil well, and