To our persecutors: I seek the welfare of your souls

“You Magistrates of the City and County of Gloucester, who have been active in this unchristian work of Persecution against an In­nocent People, if this should come to your Hands, I entreat you to read it with Moderation, and take Counsel in time, for as I have sometime said to some of you, Good Counsel will not hurt you, or any Man. Oh, that I may prevail with you to take Counsel of the Lord, and obey the Light of his Son Christ Jesus in your own Hearts, that will teach you to do as you would be done by, and not to continue in such an unchristian frame of Mind, still to Oppress the Poor…

And although you have in time of Persecution drove on the Work very furiously against us, with a design to Ruin us (as some have been heard to say) because we could not Conform, and come to your Church, and at that time you would not hearken to Coun­sel when it was given you, yet the Lord hath put it into my Heart once more to warn you, to mind the things that belongs to your Peace, before they are hid from your Eyes; for there is yet a Door of Mercy open for you, if you Repent with speed, and meet the Lord by amendment of Life, before the Door of Mercy be shut against you; therefore shut not your Ear against the Counsel of the Lord; for I can truly say, that I seek the Peace and Wel­fare of your Souls.”