Eminently concerned in the Division threatned should be the Anvil to beat upon and interceded that we would forbear making mention of the Names of Persons reflected on To this the Answer was That it seemed unlikely to bring forth a Credible History touching Religious Differences without naming the Authors of Books Papers and Names of Persons reflected on evidencing the Reality of such Principles Doctrines and Practices which occasioned Disunion and Separation amongst some of the aforesaid People However Truth obliged us to have a Tender Regard unto those who came unto us in Brotherly Love and for the Sakes of such our Desires have been that the Lord might permit us to Bear Forbear and Suffer having a secret Hope that the Lord might make such Instruments in his Hand by a Tender and Brotherly Mediation to cause the High and Lofty to bow to Truth and Righteousness that so the Government of Christ might be exalted in every Heart where his Law is written and that none who make mention of his Name might conclude themselves entred into an Heavenly Possession or Inheritance because of a Strict Observance of some Outward written Order prescribed by Man After we had long born it then more particularly became my Concern to prepare another Manuscript and that chiefly out of the Second Part of what was first prepared in relation to divers Persons concerned in the Divisions to discover that one Man George For guilty of many Things reproachful to the Truth and that because it was and yet is clearly manifested unto me and as I have understood many others that that ONE PERSON hath been the very Chief Instrument or at least an Abettor of such as have whereby a Biting Devouring Spirit is entred in amongst the Flock and yet great Part of the Contention of one Party with another seems to be but about the Shell and not the Kernel My Meaning thereby is about Outward Forms and Methods relating to Marriages Relief of the Poor c. as if Hells Gates must be opened to receive all such as walk not in that Outward Path which in Relation thereto hath been prescribed by that ONE MAN Moreover 'T is observable that before I undertook to prepare the Manuscript relating to that ONE MAN I writ unto him Seven Letters Dated as followeth viz. the 27th of the 1st Moneth 1677. the 3d. of the 10th Moneth 1677. the 4th of the 11th Moneth 1678. the 11th of the 11th Moneth 1678. one other on the same Day signed by Thomas Gouldeny William Forde and My Self one other the 22th of the 2d Moneth 1679. signed by My Self and Three other Friends directed to Him and two Others and one other from My Self only Dated the 6th of the 12th Moneth 1679. manifesting the Ground of my Dissatisfaction with relation to many Things of a Publick Concern amongst Friends as well as Personal Injury which became him to clear or else give Satisfaction And yet to this Day being the 16th Day of the 6th Moneth 1680. I cannot in Truth say That any Answer is come from him to me notwithstanding Messengers were sent unto him on purpose with several of them and Advice given me of the Delivery And though a Paper came once to my Hand in which Mention is made of Two of the said Letters yet I cannot take it to be his Answer but rather as by the Language thereof appears the Answer of another on his behalf and chiefly stuff'd with Queries so that my Concern to expect Satisfaction or Detect him is encreas'd At length when I perceived 't was not probable to obtain what I expected from him by making manifest my Burthen and Exercise either to Him or One or Two whom I supposed he might esteem to be of the Church nor yet from the General Meeting though as I suppose they are esteemed by some though not by all the Representatives of the Church in general I then for the Sakes of many Brethren Travelled in several Parts of the Nation manifesting that according to the Understanding given me of God I had proceeded toward that ONE PERSON G. F. in a Gospel-Method and that if I then should have proceeded to Print against him nothing could be justly laid to my Charge for want of Orderly Proceeding to obtain Satisfaction which hitherto was not given me But yet my Condescension to my Brethren was such as that though the Manuscript relating to him was prepared I very publickly proposed in Writing under my Hand and spread the same abroad directed to Friends in several Counties signifying that if any one of them were free to write unto that ONE PERSON or at least to give this Testimony under their or any of their Hands that since I Charge him to be Guilty of Things reproachful to the Truth 'T is but Just and Reasonable that he should submit to a Hearing thereof before Friends in Truth to the end that if Guilty he may Condemn the same if not he may be Justifyed and I Condemned for Accusing wrongfully I should then forbear Printing against him until such time I should send such a Letter or Testimony unto the Place of his Habitation And if he should be pleased to give Answer thereto on Request to him to be made by the Messenger that should go therewith then my Purpose was as I then declared to Communicate such Answer to Friends that so we might consider further what might be agreeable to Truth to be done on this Occasion One Part of my End in thus doing was To discover whether there be such an Erroneous Principle in any so to stand by a Man charged to be guilty of Things reproachful to the Truth as that he must be exempted though Guilty from the Stroke of that Justice which in the like Cases of Guilt he hath prescribed for others For though the Apostle testifyed That Charity suffereth long beareth and endureth all things yet his Meaning was not that any Member of the Church of Christ of what Degree soever should not be treated withal when over-taken in a Fault else the same Apostle would not have given these Testimonies Gal. 6.5 Every Man shall bear his own Burthen Col. 3.25 He that doth Wrong shall receive for the Wrong which he hath done and there is no Respect of Persons Besides 't is observable from the Scriptures of Truth Rev. 2.2 that 'T was Praise-worthy not to bear Lyars though they might say they were Apostles I now come to inform the Reader that the ensuing Treatise is for the most part Collected out of the Manuscript first made mention of But yet with the Omission of some Marginal Memorials directing the Reader to the several Sections of the Second Part of the said Manuscript that so from Matter of Fact therein contained the Truth of Reflections made and the Reasonableness of Objections raised and that from the Books Writings or Practices of some particular Person or Persons reputed of the People called Quakers might be proved And therefore since it is not thought fit
Mouthes of his Prophets or from the Appearance of Christ by his Light in us or from the Scriptures of Truth given forth by inspiration since the appearance of Christ in the flesh to Expect that any should be Invested with Power from on high to Establish such things relating to the Conscience much less to Expect that the Children of Light under the New Covenant should be led by the Eternal Spirit and Word nigh in the Heart unto such a conformity Moreover 't is Observable Pauls Plain confession thus was After the Way which they call Heresy so Worship I the God of my Fathers Believing all things which are Written in the Law and the Prophets c. And herein do I Exercise my self to have always a Conscience Void of offence towards God and towards Men. If all those unto whom God hath given the Knowledge of his Truth in this Gospel-day had had so much Zeal as to have walk't according to this example they might have all become Honourable in their day have kept a Conscience Void of offence towards God and towards men and then none of them would have been afraid of being Stigmatized as Sect-Masters by such who Like the Outward Jew have Gloryed in things Outwardly Pretended to be Established in this Gospel-day and have made such things to be as a Rule whereby they have indeavoured to try their Brethren who at this day have approved themselves Jews in Spirit Zealously exercising themselves in the Word nigh in the Heart according to Knowledge even as the outward Jews would have done by Paul For such a Reflection would never have hurt them in the Breasts of those that had continued truly Faithfull and this many are given to Understand from that Honourable esteem that some antient and faithfull Brethren have in the Hearts of such as have not in a Temporizing Spirit changed their Way notwithstanding they are Stigmatized with the name of Sect-Masters even by those who Like the Gentiles appear to Exercise Lordship over their Brethren In the Next Place we come to take a little notice of those who abound in Confidence without either Knowledge or Zeal this sort may be well compared unto those Beasts with whom 't is reputed Paul Fought at Ephesus which if it were so was doubtless a contest had with Unreasonable Men. The bait by which this sort are enticed to appear Some-Body in probability is this The Door is open for any under the Profession of Truth whose Lives are not Outwardly Scandalous to appear amongst some of the Society of the People called Quakers as Governours and though 't is hard for us to suppose who amongst such are the Persons that are to be Governed when Liberty is taken and admitted as aforesaid whereby none of the society is excluded to appear as Governours yet so it is and of this have our Eyes and Eares been Witnesses A Part of the Doctrine of this sort we have understood to be on this wise If you do not see your selves you must follow us that do see Alass 't is easily to be savoured where all may then run if such an Exhortation from any one thus qualified and that with respect to follow the Exhorter should take place he then that leads and those who might be led would quickly fall into the Ditch together and so the Kingdom of Sathan come to be advanced instead of being Destroyed But Blessed be the Name of the Everlasting God that Sun which hath arisen amongst us that Glorious Appearance if the everlasting Light which hath shined in many Hearts is not yet set in Obscurity and our Faith is that it will not The Lord hath had a regard to his own Name and to the Glory of his Eternal Power so that though many ancient and honourable Brethren whom the Lord Commissioned in these latter Days to publish his Everlasting Gospel Exhorting all to yield Obedience unto the Appearance of Christ by his Light in them are fallen asleep yet there are many of the same Stock yet remaining upon whom he hath not only poured forth of his Spirit and Anointed them to publish his Everlasting Gospel but also hath kept them in Integrity and their Garments undefiled from the Spots and Polutions of this World and not only so but hath given unto them True Zeal according to Knowledge thorough which the Way unto the Kingdom of God in the Demonstration of his Spirit hath been declared and hath continued them in the Service whereunto they have been called and these have not in a Temporizing Spirit for fear of the Threats and Frowns of Men changed their Way nor yet followed any for the Loaves and though some of these have of late been accounted dark Spirits leavened Spirits Troublers of Israel Sect-masters Leaders into a Seperation and into down-right Independencies Parishes and Schisms yet this Testimony lives with us that the Power of the Eternal God on which alone we are perswaded their Dependencies have been and are hath accompanied such when thus Judged Despised and Reviled by that Generation who unto us appear as if their Dependencies were upon Men that labour and travel to gather unto themselves To conclude this further Testimony lives with us that the Righteous God bears us this Day Record that the very Reason wherefore this Treatise is now prepared is because our very Consciences on the behalf of God's Truth and People are concerned and therefore we cannot but encourage this so necessary a Work having amongst many other our Brethren long waited and born in Patience to see if peradventure the Lord might change the Hearts of those who have occasioned Contention Strife and Division to arise amongst the Families of the Lords People for what-ever Measures others may take of us yet this Evidence we have in our selves that our Souls Desires are That the bright Appearance of the Everlasting Day might not set in Obscurity in any Heart where it hath been both manifested and received nor yet that any of the Lords People might be ensnared to build again the things which in the Light of Christ our Lord they have destroyed William Rogers William Forde Here now follows that Paper made mention of in the Title Page touching the Scattered of Israel given forth in the Year 1661. by Edward Burroughs Minister of the Everlasting Gospel ON the 22th of the 8th Month 1661. I was grieved in my Spirit for the Scattered of Israel and my Thoughts troubled me very much for the Afflicted in Jerusalem for I also was greatly afflicted with them and I prayed unto God that he would shew me his Purpose concerning them and these words came unto me Abide thou in me thou helpless Lamb and I will shew thee great things only stir not from me for thou hast no Helper but me and if thou goest never so little from me behold a Wild Beast seeketh to devour thee therefore I say Abide and then I weeped greatly because I saw what great danger I was in for I
on the behalf of the Truth for that therein is plainly demonstrated the Qualifications of such as Sathan hath made use of to rend and divide the Church of Christ SECT IX An Epistle evidencing the Qualications of such whom Sathan makes vse of to Rend and Divide the Church of Christ A Paper given forth by Edward Burroughs Anno 1661. Touching the Scattered in Israel wherein by a Parable is lively described a part of what hath happened amongst the Flock of God in these latter dayes The Conclusion manifesting Several Passages very material and worthy observation as a further discovery of the Fruit and Cause of Division An Epistle prefixed to the Historical Manuscript mentioned in the Preface to this Treatise Evidencing the Qualifications of such whom Satan hath made use of to rend and divide the Church of Christ THe great Evidence of pure and undefiled Religion is a Conscience void of Offence towards God but the contrary is attended with Anxiety and Trouble He that in the Light of Christ Jesus inclines to preserve such a Conscience must not so value his Repute and Name amongst men as thereby to loose his Peace with the Lord. The consideration whereof hath abundantly satisfied us to encourage the preparing of this Treatise knowing that the Long-suffering Patience and Warnings of many Faithful Friends have had little place with many such persecuting Opposers of the Friends of Truth as are under the Profession thereof And therefore it may be Just with the Lord to suffer their long-suffering to have an End We also know that the Unsavoury Testimonies and Unchristian-like Discourses of many such in our Meetings for the Worship of God have been so frequently as well as publickly manifested as that 't is thereby known both to Professors and Prophane that the People called Quakers are now Divided by which 't is to be doubted that some may really conclude that though their Name is not extinguish't yet that the Nature Doctrine and Life which accompanied them at their first coming forth hath of late suffered Shipwrack This having been seriously pondered by us hath encreased the concern of our Consciences thus to appear that so as the Door hath thereby been so far shut in some parts of this Nation as that there hath been of late but few gathered into a Belief of the Everlasting Light so it may again in the Lords time be more opened by a clear Discovery that there is yet remaining a Remnant of that Ancient Stock who have been and our Faith in God is that they will be preserved in his Fear to persevere in his unchangable Way Light and Life of Truth unto the End That now the Reader may have some short Account of what the Lord hath manifested unto us on this Occasion we further thus Declare The Original Cause of Division and Seperation between the Members of any Society once at Unity in the Truth touching Religious Matters hath sprung from Satan The Persons in whom he hath chiefly appeared to accomplish the same have been such as usually appear more publick than other their Brethren and that under various Qualifications some have had Zeal without Knowledge and some have had Knowledge without Zeal and others have abounded in Confidence without either Knowledge or Zeal and none of these whilst exercised under these Qualifications have found Acceptance with the Lord And as Satan hath made use of Persons thus variously Qualified for the Preservation of his Kingdom so Christ Jesus whose Appearance hath been and is to destroy the Works of the Devil hath and doth make use of such Instruments in his Hand whom he hath furnished with true Zeal and that according to Knowledge for though all have not the like Degree of Knowledge yet that Zeal which is exercised according to the Measure of Knowledge given by God and received by Man finds Acceptance with the Lord of Life Now forasmuch as in this Treatise variety of Matters is Discourst wherein Divers Persons have been concerned many of whom were once at Unity which we are perswaded consisted in the Everlasting Truth and that every one of them might reasonably have been taken to be under one of the aforesaid Qualifications 't is with us at this time considering that the Tree is to be known by its Fruit to note a few things attending such respective Qualifications and that Chiefly for the sakes of such as have Zeal without Knowledge and so if the Lord make us Instruments in his Hand to open the understanding of any whereby they may come to have a true Savour of and Unity with those who have so received the Spirit as to be exercising themselves in true Zeal and that according to Knowledge we then shall have our End We now begin to speak of those who have Zeal without Knowledge Charity obliegeth us not to conclude that they design any thing more than to Live well that so they may dye well or any thing less than to appear what they know they are not but yet this we certainly know that albeit these have professed Christ Jesus to be their Foundation yet many of them for want of Knowledge have been building thereon the Wood the Hay and the Stubble of other Mens Inventions whereby they have suffered loss having exalted their own Righteousness thorough a Zealous Submission to other Mens Lines made ready to their Hands as if therein the Righteousness of Faith consisted or that it were lawful contrary to the Counsel of the Apostle to Glory in Men The Apostle Paul Rom 10.2 thus saith I bear them record they have a Zeal of God but not according to Knowledge and from the next Verse we learn that they were such as being ignorant of Gods Righteousness and going about to Establish their Own Righteousness have not Submitted themselves to the Righteousness of God This was spoken of Israel for their Information that they might not have a dependency on the Righteousness of the Law as if thorough the Strict Performance and Observations of Outward Things Establisht under the Law they should come to know the Salvation of God thorough Christ but rather that their Dependency should be upon the Righteousness which is of Faith which according to the Apostles Doctrine Vers the 8th of the same Chapter informs us thus The word is nigh thee even in thy mouth and in thy Heart that is the Word of Faith which we Preach So that by this Doctrine and what Elsewhere is written in other of his Epistles it appears that the Apostles care for Israel was that they might be brought off those Outward and carnal Ordinances which were Established for a season untill the time of reformation unto the Word nigh in the Heart which undoubtedly was and is no other than that Law which according to the word of the Lord by the mouth of the Prophet Jeremiah Jer. 31.33 Was to be put in their Inward Parts and written in their Hearts All which leads us to make this Observation that whosoever
they are though under ever so specious Pretences that have indeavoured to Establish Outward indispensible Rules and Orders in matters relating to Conscience for the Church of Christ in this Gospel Day to Walk by neglecting to commit and Commend every one unto the Word nigh in the heart that thereby they may be preserved from subjection to any thing outwardly ordained which they may either scruple in Conscience or are not led by the Word nigh in the Heart to Practise are such as in the best and most Fovourable Construction act from Zeale without Knowledge in which kind of Zeal Paul himself Phil. 3.6 though as to the Righteousness of the Law blameless yet Persecuted the Church This kind of Zeal is accompanied with that Ignorance which the chief amongst Apostatized Churches have accounted the Mother of Devotion by which Thousands in Ages past in the Dark Night of Apostacy have been led into the Observation of many Unsavoury Dictates Erroneous Decrees Unwarrantable Traditions and Superstitious Examples either of one Man or assemblies of men not knowing what they have either believed or Practised to be an incumbent duty upon them through an inward evidence from Gods Witness in their Consciences or Tryal thereof by the Light of Christ May not the same Cloud of Darkness overshadow any of the Children of Light in this our day saith our Souls Moreover 't is observable that if Report be true this doctrine hath of late been exalted NO UNITY BUT IN CONFORMITY which if applyed to the Outward Prescriptions of one Man or Assemblies of men assuming to themselves authority to act and determin in matters appertaining to the Gospel and its Order thereby to become a Bond upon the Consciences of those who have Believed in the Everlasting Light of Christ Jesus as the great Order and Ordinance of God in this Gospel Day may occasion the Continuation of Discord Distraction and Division contrary to the Gospel and Doctrine of Truth which hath been publisht received and believed amongst the Children of Light in these latter days who neither have nor can receive any Doctrine contrary to this Testimony of the Apostle 2 Cor. 3.6 The Letter Killeth but the Spirit giveth Life We now appeal unto every understanding ingenious and impartial Reader whether since the Labour of the Apostles of Christ in the primitive dayes was to draw the Outward Jew off from the observation of these ordinances which were realy established by the appointment of God himself having exalted instead thereof the word nigh in the heart and Law written therein as a fulfilling of that which according to the Word of the Lord by the mouth of his Prophet was to come to pass under the new Covenant which was not to be like unto the Old can consist with the tenour of the new Covenant for any to attempt the establishment or giving forth of Outward Orders Prescriptions Sentences or Decrees to be on that foot a Bond upon the Consciences of those who have believed in the Everlasting Light Especially if they are of the Gentile Stock according to the Flesh unto whom the Law appertained not for so the People of England are and if not whether those who are otherwise perswaded and according to such a perswasion may be found acting may not though under the Outward Profession of Truth it self justly be numbered amongst those of whom in the best sense it may be said They have Zeal without Knowledge and Ignorance is the Mother of their Devotion And now as to those who have Knowledge without Zeal Charity doth not Oblige us to conclude that such in that state chiefly design to live well that so they may dye well for as Christ said so may we Luk. 12.48 Unto whomsoever Much is given of him shall be Much required the want of Zeal in a known Good Cause is as we take it the neglect of a Known Incumbent Duty wherein God hath given Power else how could it have been said to the Luke-Warm Church of Laodicea after an understanding was given unto her how she might come to see viz. by anointing her eyes with Eye Salve Lev. 3.19 be Zealous amend for doubtless Power was given of God into her to amend as well as direction how to see but of the want of Knowledge it cannot be so said as of the want of Zeal Because 't is not equally in our Powers to attain unto Knowledge when we want it as it is Zealously to Practise what we know to be our duty we may therefore conclude that where Knowledge is not accompanyed with Zeal though requisite t is in the best sense a token of a Luke-warm Spirit and in some where it hath predominated we have clearly discerned that first they have been over-awed by the Frowns of man or men and then under the Pretence of bearing all things neglect to give their Testimony for the Truth without respect to any Person whatsoever more than the Truth might require and by this means some have undoubtedly been the occasion whereby many have been caught in the Snare of the Evil one not Knowing through a Neglect of their Inward Teacher which way to turn and that Loads and Burthens have been the Portions of others who whil'st they have kept Stedfast unto the antient Doctrine Exalting the appearance of Christ by his Light to be our Law Rule and Guide have beheld some of their Brethren not only captivated with a kind of a slavish Fear but also in their Practices receeded from what their first Principle would have led them to having used politick Contrivances to retain the Favour and Affections of some who perhaps in their View have appeared to be like unto the rising Sun and so have given more way to a Temporizing Spirit than to acquit themselves as Good Christians in the sight of God by which the Conscience comes to be kept voyd of offence towards God and Man and all this as with respect to some 't is doubted for fear lest they should be termed Sect-masters by such as in this Gospel-day have assumed a Pretended Authority to establish Outward Orders to be a Rule for and Bond upon the Children of Light to walk by without any exception thereby to avoid oppressing a tender Conscience But this is far wide of that Zeal which accompanyed the Apostle Paul in his Converted State who was termed a Ringleader of the Sect of the Nazerenes by the Unbelieving Jews that would have Judged him according to their Law which undoubtedly would then have inflicted Severe Punishment on him which being duly considered we may well say 't is far wide of Pauls Zeal to fear under this Gospel-day the Title of a Sect-Master on the score of refusing Outward Conformity to Outward Rules and Orders relating to the Conscience under the Notion of Gospel-Orders establisht amongst the People called Quakers not only Because they have no Law whereby corporally to Punish but also because we have no Ground either from the Word of the Lord by the
9th and 5th As long as I am in the World I am the Light of the World And Chap. 12.35 Yet a little while is the Light with you walk while you have the Light And ver the 36. While ye have the Light believe in the Light that ye may be the Children of the Light To this may be answered That these last recited Scriptures do in the most favourable construction on the objectors part intimate that Christ the Son of God while he was in the World was the Light of the World but doth not say that he is or would be no longer the light of the world Such a saying or sense would limit the Appearance of Light to that Body only and dispensation of time wherein the said Body appeared on Earth which is contradictory to the very words of the Evangelist before quoted viz. That was the true Light that lighteth every man that cometh into the World Which Scripture sentence relating to every man is so universal that it cannot but extend to those who never beheld the face of Jesus in his fleshly and Bodily Appearance nor yet came to be informed by any outward Instrument of his Doctrine though Partakers of his Light which therefore may properly be termed by such his Light within that is the Appearance of Christ by his Light shining in their hearts agreeable whereunto in effect we take the Testimonies of the Apostle to be viz. That which may be known of God Rom. 1.19 is manifest in them For God hath shewed it unto them Seeing you seek a proof of Christ speaking in me 2 Cor. 13.3 which Riches is Christ in you Col. 1.27 the hope of Glory Who shall descend into the deep that is Rom. 10.7 8. to bring Christ again from the dead but what saith it the Word is near thee even in thy mouth and in thy heart this is the word of faith which we preach And all this appears agreeable unto what the Prophet Isaiah hinted at who speaking of what should be in the last daies signified Isa 1.2 3 5. That the God of Jacob will teach us of his Ways and therefore said Oh house of Jacob come ye let us walk in the Light of the Lord which being compared with what the same Prophet said in relation to a people Isa 5â— â— In whose hearts was the law of the Lord and with what the Prophet Jeremiah saith I will put my law in their Inward Parts Jer. 31.33 34. and write it in their Hearts and they shall teach no more every man his Neighbour and every man his Brother saying Know the Lord for they shall all know me from the least of them to the greatest 'T is evident to us that this written Law in the Heart is that Light Within whereof the faithful Messengers of the Lord in our day have born witness unto and whereof the same Prophet gave testimony when he said as before O house of Jacob come ye let us walk in the Light of the Lord. Besides such a limitation as aforesaid would have a tendency to make void the virtue and efficacy of the blood of Christ who was offered up a sacrifice to take away the sins of many and on this score doth the author to the Hebrews testify Heb. 9.28 that unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without Sin unto Salvation which is a clear Evidence unto us that the benefit of the blood of Christ is not witnessed effectually in this our day but by those who having looked for his second appearance have received him in his Appearance this Appearance we take to be his Appearance by his light and spirit in the hearts of those who through faith in his blood have known their Consciences purified from Dead Works and so come to serve the living God in Truth and righteousness 'T is now to be considered Whether these words Turn in your Minds be agreeable to truth for that this kind of objection may be raised Objection Doth not this put the Creature upon Action in his own Self-will when as the Will of Man cannot bring forth that Birth unto which power is given to become the Sons of God For answer hereto 't is necessary to consider that the faithful Labourers in the Gospel of Christ commended their Exhortations and testimonies to the Consciences of the Hearers in the Sight of God and the reason doubtless was because there is a Capacity in Man which through the assistance of the Grace of God renders Man capable to do the will of God in righteousness unto life and those who are so acted cannot be said to be acted in the Self-will of Man And on the contrary the same Capacity letting in Tempration and joyning thereto renders Man a servant of Sin unto Death and being once so dead in Sin no redemption comes to be obtained but through Christ as the Apostle testifies Ephes 2.1 You hath he quickned that were dead in Trespasses and Sins These things considered 't is evident that through the Appearance of Christ those who have cast off the Old Man are become renewed in the Spirit of their Minds unto God and so have put on the New Man which after God is created in Righteousness and true holiness and therefore since there is such a capacity in man as aforesaid 't is agreeable to Truth to exhort the sons of men to turn in their Minds unto the appearance of Christ by his Light that through the Assistance thereof the will of God may be done in their earthen vessels The next thing to be considered is whether there is any weight in this objection Do you not think that the Jews who crucified Christ acted not from the light within since some of them at least thought they did God good service therein To this may be answered That the friends of Truth never preached up the Light Within but with respect to the Appearance of Christ by his Spirit as that Light Within intended by them and since Christ cannot be divided to act against himself therefore the Jews did not therein act from that Light Within unto which we have been directed From what then may the objector say did those of them act who verily thought they did God good service therein Ans Phil. 3.6 From Zeal without knowledge not having their Minds staid and ordered according to that universal Principle of Truth Acts 26.9 11. which if hearkned unto would teach all men to do as they would be done by in which zeal Paul verily thought in himself that he ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus and in that Self-thought being exceeding mad persecuted the Church of God consented to the death of the Saints and compelled them to Blaspheme but when the Lord was pleased to appear unto him and to make him a Minister of his everlasting Gospel he was sent unto the Gentiles to open their eyes that they might turn from
designed to be treated upon is the Government of Christ which we do not believe to be represented by visible persons certainly known by outward Names distinguish'd by outward marks and tokens and invested with Power from him to execute Outward Laws in an Outward Form of Government visible by our Carnal Eyes as aforesaid That the Government of Christ is an Inward Government is evident from the words of the Prophet Jeremiah Jer. 31.31 32 33. I will make a New Covenant with the house of Israel c. not according to the Covenant that I made with your Fathers but this shall be the Covenant that I will make c. After those days I will put my Law in their Inward Parts and write it in their Hearts and will be their God and they shall be my People and they shall teach no more every man his Neighbour and every man his Brother saying know the Lord for they shall all know me from the least of them to the greatest of them saith the Lord. This we believe was spoken with respect to the Reign of Christ by his Spirit in the Hearts of the Sons and Daughters of Men and clearly shews that the Laws of Christ's Government under the new Covenant are written in the Hearts of his People and therefore an Inward Government Objection But if any shall object That the words of the Prophet relate not to those who are of the Gentile Stock of which Stock according to the Flesh it may be said that we are We thereto say That the words of Paul do effectually answer that Objection Rom. 10.12 There is no difference between the Jew and the Gentile for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him Col. 3.9 10 11. Lie not one to another seeing that you have put off the Old Man with his deeds and have put on the New Man which is renewed in Knowledge after the Image of him that created him where there is neither Gentile nor Jew Circumcision nor Uncircumcision Barbarian Scythian Bond nor Free but Christ is all and in all Many other Scriptures both out of the Prophets and Apostles Writings might be quoted to evidence the matter intended We are yet sensible that this further Objection may be raised Viz. Objection That neither the words of the Prophet nor of the Apostle cited by us make mention of Government over Jew or Gentile but doth shew as from the scope of the Scripture appears that the Apostle so writ to convince the Jews of the difference between the Righteousness of the Law and that of Faith and to shew unto Believers whether Jews or Gentiles that though some might appear in a Voluntary Humility Worship Angels intrude into those things they had not seen and be vainly puffed up in their fleshly minds and not give all Obedience unto the Head Christ through whom alone there is an increase in the increases of God yet they were therein reproveable as not being risen with Christ and further also to shew that those who were dead with Christ from the Rudiments of the world ought not to be subject to nor yet to touch taste or handle such Ordinances as were after the Commandments and Doctrines of Men. To this Objection we answer That though the word Government is not expressly mentioned yet there are words in what is cited out of the Prophet Jeremiah importing the three material Objects of Government viz. A Lawgiver the Place where the Law is to be found written and the People for whom it is given Besides from these words of Paul viz. The same Lord over all a Governour is implied viz. Christ Jesus our Lord and so consequently a Government over that All. And from what hereafter follows it will appear that the End of this Government is to lead into all Truth Moreover it leades us to observe That there are divers true Marks whereby the Opposers of Christ's Government may be distinguisht First They are such as are in a Voluntary Humility Secondly Such as Worship Angels which may reasonably be taken to be a Worshipping of some Messengers whom God hath sent because the signification of the word Angel is a Messenger Thirdly Such as intrude into those things they have not seen Fourthly Such as are puft up in their fleshly minds Fifthly Such as give not all obedience unto the head Christ And lastly Such as are Subject to Ordinances after the Commandments and Doctrines of Men. And to be very plain for the clearing the Truth we must give this our Testimony that we are really perswaded from what our Eyes Ears have been witnesses that many of those amongst the People called Quakers who have Zealously contended for the Observation of Outward Rules and Orders given forth by One Man bear all the aforesaid Marks for whosoever they are that pretend Zeal to promote submit unto and exercise themselves in other mens lines made ready to their hands and that on a pretended religious score when thorow the word of true Faith they see it not their duty or if they shall pretend they do and thereupon strive to enforce others to submit thereto there being no ground from the Scripture of Truth or Light of Christ so to strive it naturaly follows that the aforesaid Marks accompany such and this we confidently aver that thorough the whole Scriptures of Truth there is not one word from whence we may rationally expect and that according to the meaning of the Spirit that Christ hath or will Commissionate any One Man or Men to prescribe Outward Rules and Orders relating to Faith or Discipline in the Church to be binding on the Consciences of the Subjects of his Kingdom whether they should see it to be their duty from the Law written in their hearts or no. Besides if we consider the nature of Christ's Kingdom and Government it will appear to be such unto which outward written Laws visible by our carnal eyes and to be executed by perishing objects according to an outward Magistratical or Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction are wholly unsutable becaus Christs Kingdom is not of this world but is an Everlasting Kingdom and therefore 't is said That of the encrease of his Government there shall be no end and though John in the Revelations Chap. 11. V. 15. gives this Testimony That there were great voices in heaven saying the Kingdoms of this World are become the Kingdomes of our Lord and of his Christ And he shall Reign forever and ever Isa 61.11 yet there is nothing said to signify that the manner of his Reign was or should be otherwise then as before is described Moreover if any Man or Men have or may pretend him or themselves to be such on Earth on whom the weight of Christs Government which is Spiritual is laid it is not like to have any Evidence in our Consciences First Not only because we find no such Prophecy or Promise in the Scriptures of Truth but also for that we rather find the contrary for
Basis and Foundation To which I thus say This kind of Language with respect to divers Practices in Discipline amongst the People called Quakers or any outward Form and Order which is or hath been by any called the Order of the Gospel I do not understand to be rightly applicable to those amongst the said People who have retained their first Love to and Savour of the Truth and right Understanding of the Principle thereof not that I would hereby be understood that it s not necessary to be in the Exercise of Outward Order with respect to that Gospel-discipline which becomes the Church of Christ but that which I understand not to be rightly applicable unto them is manifested in what follows Though the principle of Truth in these latter dayes hath and may further lead into the Practice of Outward Order in Discipline with relation to the Church of Christ yet I affirm that part of that Outward Order in Discipline wherein divers of the People of the Lord called Quakers have been acted is such as that there is not the least Footsteps thereof to be found in the Scriptures as exhorted to or as practised by the Apostles I could give many Instances hereof but one shall suffice viz. The Form of Proceedings in Marriages wherein the Scriptures are wholly silent as to the Primitive Christians and tho the Papists pretend to Tradition yet the People of the Lord called Quakers do not Besides 't is evident by the Scriptures of Truth that the Apostles were found in the Practice of that which the People called Quakers do not only out of Conscience to God forbear but have had many Contests with others touching the same as esteeming it though permitted for a season by reason of the Weakness of the People amongst the number of those Outward Ordinances out of which the Lord hath at this day gathered his People witness Water-Baptism The word Order with respect to Outward Government Establish't by the Church of Christ over it self I remember not in the Scriptures of Truth yet much of late is spoken of the Order of the Gospel and of establishing the same and that with respect to Outward Prescriptions and Orders practised or endeavoured to be introduced amongst the People of the Lord called Quakers and in perticular R. B. Page 40. speaks of the Truth and Faith we have been and are in the Lords Hands building up To which I say The Consideration that Christ is the Truth and the great Power of God and that an Establishing in the Faith cannot Properly be termed A building up of Faith gives me occasion to treat a little touching the words establish and build up We know from the testimony of truth in our selves as well as from the Scriptures of Truth without us that we may be Instruments in the hands of the Lord to build up one another in the most Holy Faith in Christ the Truth the Power of God but 't is neither agreeable to the Testimony of Truth in us nor yet the Scriptures of Truth without us for any to account themselves of Ability to establish God's Power for its that by which the World was made Now the Order of the Gospel is the Power of God and nothing else according to the declared sence of our ancient Friends can properly be called the Order of the Gospel but the Power of God for though some outward Form or appearance may be according to the Order of the Gospel yet it can no more properly be called the very Order of the Gospel than the Fruit of a Tree can be called the Tree it self and therefore those who pretend to establish the Order of the Gospel may as well pretend to establish the Power of God it self 'T is true this Power is of Ability to establish Man in the Faith of God's Elect but Man is not of Ability to establish it those who understand the Nature and Tenours of the two Covenants may easily discern the Truth hereof Under the First Covenant which was outward the mind of God was manifested to the People from the Priests Lips which were to preserve Knowledge and this Covenant did consist in divers Outward Ordinances c. establisht and impos'd upon the People until the Time of Reformation Under the Second Covenant being the New Covenant or Gospel dispensation the Mind and Will of God is manifested in his People through the Revelation of his Spirit according to that of Paul Rom. 1.19 That which may be known of God is manifested in them Christ also said John 14.26 The Comforter which is the Holy Ghost whom the Father will send in my name he shall teach you all things The Law under this covenant is written in the heart Heb. 8.10 11. I will write my Law in their Hearts they shall not teach every man his neighbour and every man his brother saying Know the Lord for all shall Know me c. Here 's not the least ground of encouragement for any man under the New Covenant which was not to be like unto the Old to pretend that Gods Spirit doth or will lead any to establish Outward Orders relating to matters of Conscience as the Order of the Gospel for if that which is to be known of God is manifested in us then though it may be needfull to stir up according as the Lord shall move in his servants the pure Mind in us that so we may be in the Exercise of what God requires through the maifestation of himself in us there is no need to establish any thing without us to shew it If the Spirit of Truth is to lead into all truth those who would be leading us in another way will prove little better then Thieves and Robbers which Climb up another way to enter in than by the door If the Law be written in the heart and that no Obedience finds Acceptance with the Lord but Obedience to his Law from an inward Impulse and Drawing of his Spirit thereunto in our selves there 's no need of establishing Outward Indispensible Rules which may relate to the Conscience to walk by for were it possible so to do and any should yield Obedience on no better ground then because'tis so establish't by such a Man or Assembly of Men this sort of Obedience would find no more acceptance with the Lord than the offering of Swines flesh or the Halt and Blind for a Sacrifice under the First Covenant did For though many may be so Weak as not to know the difference between the two Covenants in some respects yet there are Few of the Lord's People called Quakers but have this undoubted Truth sealed in their hearts That none of their Outward Practices under the Exercise of Christ's Government find's acceptance with the Lord but as they have an Evidence in their Consciences that therein they Answer the measure of Truth in themselves Paul writing to the Colossians thus saith As ye have received Christ Jesus the Lord so walk in him Rooted and built up
he spoke to a People who were redeemed out of those begganly Elements and were come past those Rudiments which is evident by those his words How turn ye again and soâ—e might well exhort such neither to Circumcise nor yet be in the Observation of Dayes for that God hath not usually led into those things which he hath led out of and this might well consist with the truth even at such a time and season when others through a consciencious scruple might in a Plea for both with respect to themselves respectively according to their differing Faith be Uncondemned I shall now leave it to the Consciences of unprejudised Readers whether what G. F. hath said touching Circumcision and Observation of Dayes Meats and Drinks is sufficient to justifie his advising Mary Penington to secure her Estate from the Spoilers when she durst not remove her moveable goods nor made it as her principle and condemn others that are principled so to do querying of such Whether 't is not from the Spirit of the World that lusteth to Envy With this Testimony I shall conclude this my reply to G. F. that I certainly know him to be a Man guilty of many things which he hath condemned in others and forasmuch as he under the form of Government hath prescribed the giving forth of Papers of Condemnation as a proper means whereby such as in his sense are departed from the Truth may be received into Fellowship with some others again so he must expect that some at least of his known Errors and Failings must lie on Record unless he repent and manifest such his Repentance by an Acknowledgment so publickly spread as his Errors and Failings have been not but that an Acknowledgment unto and Repentance before the Lord in some Cases may be sufficient but because as he hath been an Instrument to lay Stumbling-Blocks in the Way of many so he may even as James Naylor did before him by a candid Acknowledgment unto the Lord's People be an Instrument as much as in him lyes to remove such Stumbling-Blocks and so come into Unity again with the Lord and his People in the Truth from which he hath departed William Rogers I now come to take Notice of a Postscript to G. F's Answer written by John Blaykling who lives at Sedbergh in Yorkshire which by the Way puts me in remembrance thus to premise That though G. F. in his Answer to some part of my Paper which he accounted a False Charge hath thus said And I do believe that are there many in Bristol that have not let in Prejudice and Enmity against me that will witness against this False Chrrge Yet I doubt not but he might on as goodground have said the same with respect to John Blaykling and many in other Places though they may know nothing of the Matters whereof they may pretend to vindicate him because I have lately had over and besides what John Blaykling adds in his Postscript no less than six Letters in Vindication of George Fox and condemnation of me right or wrong some whereof are subscribed with Two Letters whose Names thereby I cannot understand and dated from no Place other some with a Name not known to me nor yet dated from any Place this I may justly term a sort of mean and underly work that is so far from adding Credit to G. F's cause as that 't is to me plain enough that he can get a Iohn Blaykling a T. B. or an S. H. to write or sign any thing when written right or wrong that may in his sense tend to his Vindication and my Condemnation And now to proceed As to John Blaykling's Postscript I find it contains about a Sheet of Paper which thus begins Here followeth the Testimony and Certificate from John Blaykling to the clearing of the Aspersions that William Rogers and others would cast upon George Fox as afore-mentioned Therein he gives a large Testimony for George Fox as a man that renders not Evil for Evil that 's blessed with Honour above many Brethren and that thousands will stand by him in an Heavenly Record unto the Integrity of his Soul to Truth that still lives with him that his Life reigns and is Spotless Innocent and still retains his Integrity whose Eternal Honour and Blessed Renown shall remain yea his Presence and the Droping of his Tender VVords in the Lord's Love was my Souls Nourishment On which I observe that if those thousands are such as John Blaykling John Ware and the twenty seven other persons that signed the aforementioned False Certificate they will never add by that Spirit that led them so to testifie as aforesaid unto his nor their own Credit and though in a Dark Spirit they may term it an Heavenly Record yet I testifie such a Record can never bear date from Heaven because nothing that maketh a Lye can therein enter Moreover as John Blaykling hath given so large a Testimony to George Fox's life as Spotless and as one still keeping his integrity to God and his Truth though he is hereby detected of many Lyes which Method of general Applause at so high a rate used by John Blaykling when undeserved is more like a Parasite to an Earthly Prince than a Serious Well meaning Consciencious Christian to a Servant of Christ that seeks not the Praise of Man so on the other hand hath he vilified me at so large a rate as better became the tongue of a Scold than a Sober Man for therein amongst many other prophane and Scandalous unjust Reproaches in general terms without assigning particular Matters of Fact to prove his general Accusations he hath rendred me one that hath cast lying Slanders upon George Fox though no Lye is proved either by him or George Fox to lie at my Door and that also from a Spirit that through its Envy and Rage against the Government of Christ in the hearts of them that believe ceases not with all its devices with Lying Aspersions to defame the Instruments in God's own Hand calling my Paper a Lying Paper to defame the Brethrens Care in the Church of God whenas there is not a word in all my Paper that can bear any such Construction neither doth he quote any of my words that in Truth do manifest what he so asserts and 't is well known that I have been so far from being in Envy and Rage against the Government of Christ in the hearts of them that believe as that it hath been a great Concern of Conscience to me for several years past both by Word and Writing to contend earnestly for the Exaltation of Christ's Government in the hearts of Believers which is clearly manifested by the import of what I have written in Answer to a part of Robert Barclay's Book of Government my Postscript to my Narrative of Passages at Drawel my Answer to the Brethrens so termed Narrative after the Meeting at Drawel several of my Letters to George Fox the Dissatisfactions subscribed by several as well as
the contrary of what is intended for the PRESS I reasonably conclude that whatever is written in the above cited Sheets was there approved I should now proceed to cite a few Sentences out of it which amounts to a Publication of Divisions Page 4. The Lord hath suffered Blindness in part to happen to some through declining their First Love who came out amongst us and had a Part in the Belief and Discovery of the Way of Truth but now some only have the Sheeps-Cloathing and others have lost that too who through a prejudiced Mind are alienated from that Unity of Spirit and Bond of Peace in which we keep our wholsome Practices which we have received in the Unity and Order of the Gospel of Peace and Truth of Christ Jesus in the Fellowship of the Spirit in Bowels of Mercy being like-minded and of one accord in whatsoever things are True Just Honest and of good Report not that we should think of them only but be in the Practice of them as we are In the same Page it is further thus written But to our Burthen and Grief we find amongst some a Contrary Spirit that will not subject to Unity in wholsome Practices amongst us and that will needs Interpose to destroy Unity in some Places and obtrude it self to Confound our wholsome Order and Practices received amongst us as a Church and People and through this contrary Spirit and Prejudiced Mind the Accuser of the Brethren is broken out under a specious Pretence crying Liberty of Conscience Liberty of Conscience in Opposition to those needful convenient and wholsome Practices exercised amongst us in outward Things Also Page 5th thus This Note An accusing Spirit is now accounted a Confounder of Order by this Rule may not the Accusers of I. W. and I. S. be accounted Confounders of Order Accusing Opposing Dividing Spirit that is at work in this our Day to confound Order against the Peaceable Government of Christ amongst his People This Dividing Accusing Prejudicial Worker would introduce a Belief that an Apostacy is Entring and we are gone from the Beginning and First Principle and the Power lost and now Forms are setting up and Imposition on Consciences and the like and amongst whom is all this say they but amongst us who are in Unity of Spirit both in Faith and Practices and 't is amongst such that they imagine this Fearful Imposture and Arbitrary Rule Imposing Prescriptions and Laws on the tender Consciences of the Weak is now gotten up to exercise and so the Liberty of the tender Conscience is lost and you say they are intangled with the Yoak of Bondage to this Day And Page 10th thus Inasmuch as the envious Worker is suffered to proceed that would even race out the Foundation of Christ's Kingdom and Government under which his Subjects do only own their Christian-Freedom and true Liberty of Conscience c. In the 12th Page it is thus written And he meaning G. F. as by his Name before cited in the same Page appears was moved of the Lord to advise to a Womens Meeting c. and when Dear G. F. declared unto us what the Lord had made known unto him by his Power that there should be a Womens Meeting that so all the Sick the Weak the Widdow and the Fatherless should be Note here is no mention made of bringing Marriages before them minded and looked after in their Distresses And Page the 13th thus I have a word in my Heart to say unto you all Back-Sliders Obstructors Opposers and such as Countenance them secretly of this our heavenly Order of Men and Womens Meetings which the Lord by his Power hath set up and further thus You that have despised Dignities to speak Evil of the Servants of the Lord such that faithfully have laboured amongst us from the Beginning which the Lord hath found worthy of double Honour for I do know and the Lord hath sealed it in my Heart that that Spirit which hath opposed the Blessed Unity and Order of Truth in those our Mens and Womens Meetings shall never prosper nor they who are in it inwardly to God without Repentance And in the 15th Page 't is thus written And a true Sense hath been upon me of our Dear Friends up and down the Nation of their great Tryal and Exercise that hath been upon them because of this Wicked Dividing Spirit and especially in my Native Country viz. Willshire Thus much out of the aforesaid Sheets to manifest that this Treatise containes not the first printed and published Papers evidencing Divisions amongst the People called Quakers I am now sensible some may be apt thus to Object If the Meeting held on every Second Day whereof thou makes mention may be Justifyed in approving the aforesaid sheels to be printed yet it can be Plea to Justify thy Printing because thou hast descended more particularly to describe wherein the Difference doth consist and hast mentioned some Names of both Parties concerned in the Difference But in the aforecited Sheets we find but some Names of one Party only viz. G F. and the two Subscribers of the said two Sheets Answ I confess the latter Part of the Objection to be true but yet not sufficient for any to condemn my printing who may Justify the printing of the aforesaid Sheets For if the mentioning of one particular Matter wherein the Difference is reputed to consist even as in the said Sheets it is be according to Truth in one Party I know not why the mentioning of more may not be justifiable in the other Party and if it be justifyable to mention a Part of the Names of one Party concerned in the Difference why not also of the other And though in the aforesaid Sheets there is not so particular a Description wherein the Differences do consist as in this Treatise is mentioned Yet the understanding Reader may collect many things of importance from it and in particular that in the Sense of the Subscribers thereof and such as are at Unity with them who may reasonably be taken to be of one Party they are such as are for True Love Unity Order of the Gospel of Peace Fellowship of the Spirit Bowels of Mercy and things that are True Honest Just and a good Report c. And that the other Party whom they oppose are such as are for Disorder Confusion unto whom Blindness hath happened and that they are declined from their First Love having only the Sheeps-Cloathing of Prejudiced Minds Opposing Dividing Confounding Order against the Peaceable Government of Christ Envious Workers that would raze at the very Foundation of Christs Government Despisers of Dignity c. All which leads me to this Observation that since no matter of Fact is signifyed to evidence any under the Profession of Truth worthy of those General Reflections nor yet any thing referred to for Evidence I may reasonably conclude that the Intended Opposition to Christ's Government is in their Sense no other than a supposed Dislike
was they should not forbear might thereby come to lose their strength in the Lord for that we believe 't is the duty of every Christian to think nothing too dear to offer up for the Lord when he commands or calls for it Mark We do not say at every time that any Informer that thirsteth after our ruin and Estates thorough Malice especially when not prompted thereto by such as are Ministers of the Law calls for it but we say when the Lord Commands or Calls for it And if peradventure any should be so overcome as through Disobedience Fear or Weakness not to stand stedfast to the Testimony of Truth in the day of Tryal even in that manner that the Lord willeth it is then the Duty of those that are strong to deal gently with such and in that Charity spoken of by the Apostle 1 Cor. 13. That beareth all things that endureth all things endeavour to convince them of such their weakness that so their Faith and Strength in the Truth may come to encrease and not be so remote from bearing the Infirmities of the Weak which was the Apostles Counsel to those who were Strong as instead thereof to publish such their Weakness by way of Recrimination through the Nation especially whilest such Weakness might truly be termed want of Sight or clear Conviction We also do believe that the Government of Christ is an Inward Government that the Laws thereof are Inward and that the only place wherein they are to be exalted is in the Heart of Man for that Christ's Appearance is there to be waited for and that this Government cannot be established by Man because 't is already on Christ's Shoulders and he that sits on the Throne of David is to establish it Notwithstanding 't is well known that some called Quakers by writing under their hands have declared themselves to be the Establishers of the Churches in the Holy Order of Truth We also do believe that those who have lived under this Government of Christ bring forth the peaceable Fruits of Righteousness strive not for Preheminence nor yet like the Gentiles exercise Lordship over one another but are meek gentle humble and easie to be entreated ready to pass by and forgive Offences even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven us and so shew forth the Fruit of that Love whereof Christ our Lord and Master did declare when he said By this shall all men know that ye are my Disciples if ye Love one another But on the contrary we cannot but testify that those who are so far from following Peace with all men which was the Apostles Counsel as to raise Contention amongst their Brethren endeavouring to make them Offenders for those things which in the Sight of the All-seeing God are no Offence do not appear to be Subject unto Christ's Government though they may stile themselves Establishers of the Churches in the Holy Order of Truth Object But perhaps some may here Object How come you and those your Opposers who run against you as dark leavened superate Spirits thus to disagree for certain we are that we have heard them testifie to the sufficiency of Gods Grace in Opposition to the Teachings of Man magnifie the Light of Christ Jesus as the Guide to the Father and bear witness against Tyth-payers and Fleers in time of Persecution Answ Yes verily we believe so too but yet we are not of those who can hold an Unity with such who sometimes tell us We must walk according to the Measure of Gods Grace in our selves and that magnifie the sufficiency thereof as the only unerring Rule and yet be Judging their Brethren because they cannot have an Eye to some Outward Rules and Orders given forth by such who have said Look not unto us but unto the Lord when at the same time such as may be so Judged shall solemuly affirm it reaches not to their Consciences unto which all Papers Outward Rules and Prescriptions are to be brought that so by the Light of Christ Jesus therein they may be tryed and not our Consciences brought unto Papers or any thing Outward to be a Bond thereon before an Inward Conviction from the Measure of the Grace of God received neither can we be at Unity with the Appearance of that Spirit in any one that villifies others for Fleers in time of Persecution Backbiting instead of endeavouring to restore in the Spirit of Meekness such when such an one hath appeared a Fleer at such like times himself neither can we be at Unity with the Appearance of that Spirit be it in whomsoever it will that can recriminate men as Tyth-payers who have been Faithful in their Testimony relating to Tythes and yet advise a Friend to Purchase Tythes which is G. F's Case with relation to his Advice unto Nathaniel Crips and Robert Arch according as is treated on and proved by Certificates under their hands recorded in the 21th Section of the Manuscript first mentioned in the Preface ready to be seen We are now sensible that some of our Opposers may take occasion from a part of our fore going words thus to Object Obj. This your Language of Offering up all seems not according to the sence of some to square with the practice of securing any part of your Estates when you foresee a probability of incurring a Premunire or being fined for Meeting which as report saith hath been the Case of some of you and not only so but that you have Justified the same notwithstanding some whom we account faithful have in Publick Meetings for Worship declared against it instancing the words of Christ when he said unto Peter Get thee behind me Satan thou art an Offence to me for thou savourest not the things that be of God which was so spoken by Christ because Peter said unto him Be it far from thee Lord this shall not be unto thee meaning as the Context shews that he would not have Jesus go to Jerusalem there to sufer though 't was manifested to him that he must go thither and suffer c. Read Mat. 16.21 22 23. and so by consequence it appears that Christ reproved that Spirit which exhorted to save Self Besides 't is well known that on this occasion the rebellions and condemned Action of Saul in saving Agag and he best of the Sheep and Oxen alive being a part of what by the Commandment of the Lord he took of the Amalakites hath frequently been brought as an instance against some of you to shew that all ought to be offered up Read 1 Sam. 15. Answ Forasmuch as this very Objection hath been made use of as a prevailing Argument to affect some ignorant People against the Friends of Truth 't is needfull it should receive a particular Answer and Observation which now followeth Peters words had a tendency to divert Christ from what he knew to be his Duty Sauls Action was known and confest Rebellion in saving that which was no part of his own proper Substance but
understood the most pertinent Arguments might be produced to prove Church-Government or a Government in some Member or Members over the rest Mat. 18.15 16 17. We find Christ thus saying Moreover if thy Brother shall trespass against thee go tell him his Fault if he will not hear thee take with thee one or two and if he shall neglect to hear them tell it to the Church but if he neglect to hear the Church let him be unto thee as an heathen man Verily I say unto you whatsoever ye shall bind in Earth shall be bound in Heaven Comparing this Scripture touching the Trespass of one Brother against another with what Paul Writes 1 Cor. 2.4 Dare any of you having a matter against another go to Law before the unjust do ye not know that the Saints shall Judge the World if then ye have Judgment of things pertaining to this Life set them to Judge who are least esteemed in the Church we reasonably conclude that the words of Christ and of the Apostle only hinted at either Personal Offences or Differences touching Worldly Matters and that therein the Duty of the Church was only to exhort to submit to their Counsel which If they did not they might Justly be esteemed as Heathen Men but this is nothing to the purpose of those who have approved a Plea for such a Church-Government as Claimes a Power of Deciding Matters relating to Conscience and outward things also on the occasion of Differences raised touching Worldly Estate and that others ought to obey such Decisions which in its natural Consequence hath as we take it no Less Tendency than to claim Power over our Properties as well as Consciences We are now sensible that many Friends who have not been acquainted with the secret Cause of all the Differences amongst Friends will be even startled at this and be ready to query Are there any such amongst the People called Quakers We Answer Yes Verily and that those who may be accounted Christians too viz. those who approved in the Second Dayes Meeting at London the before-cited Book of R. B. relating to Government in the Church We shall begin first with the Matter of Conscience the Title of the sixth Section thereof runs thus How far this Government doth extend in matters Spiritual and purely Conscientious and then treating thereon the Author thus saith in which the great Question is How far in such Cases the Church may give Positive Orders or Rules and so proceeds to ask this question viz. Whether the Church of Christ have Power in any Cases that are Matters of Conscience to give a Positive sentence or Decision which may be Obligatory upon Believers and then goes on thus answering viz. I answer affirmatively She hath which being compared with what he writes Page 68. of his said Book on this wise viz. that their De facto giving a Positive Sentence in such Cases will not import Tyranny and Usurpation neither will the pretences of any contradicting them or refusing to submit on the account they see it not excuse them of being guilty of Disobeying God clearly shewes to us his meaning to be That in some Cases the Consciences of Believers ought to be bound by the Positive Sentence of Others without leaving any Liberty for a Believer to refuse to submit on account of not seeing it his Duty to submit This Meaning and Government over the Consciences of Believers we take to be contrary to the Principle of Truth and Liberty we have in Christ Jesus for that no Outward Sentence or Matter whatsoever can obliege the Conscience to be approving this or that Exercise or Practice or to be in the Belief of this or that Judgment Sentence or Decree until such time that the Conscience thorough the inshining of Christ's Light therein comes to be satisfied and thereby to be bound and obleiged and though we find the Author to the Hebrewes Chap. 13. Vers 7. saying on this wise Remember them which have the Rule over you yet he doth not say Such who had the Rule were the Church but discribes them in the next following words to be such who had Spoken unto them the Word of God so that if any Authority be given to any to Rule as Members of Christ's Body it appears from the Scriptures of Truth to be unto such who had Spoken the Word of God unto them over whom they had the Rule and therefore can be no President or Proof that mixt and uncertain Assemblies as to Number and Qualification may call themselvs the Church and under that Notion give forth Orders Rules and Sentences telling the rest of those whom they may account their Fellow-Members 'T is your Duty to Obey though you pretend YOU SEE IT NOT. Besides it doth not appear that those who spoke the Word of God did give forth any Sentence by vertue of their Authority that might become a Bond on the Conscience before Conviction by the Grace of God and Why Because it is by that Grace that the heart comes to be Established according as the Author to the Hebrews writes Vers 9. of the same Chapter For 't is a good thing that the Heart be established with Grace But Perhaps some may quote Paul 2 Thes 3.6 Who thus saith Now we Command you Brethren in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ that you with-draw your selves from every Brother that walketh disorderly and not after the Tradition which he received of us To this we say Paul in the following Verse gives the Reaon for the Urging Obedience to his Precept viz. For ye your selves know how ye ought to follow us hence we may conclude that their Hearts were so established in the Grace of God as that the Knowledge of their Duty became a greater Obligation upon them then Paul's Command Verse the 14th of the same Chap. Paul saith If any Man obey not our Word by this Epistle note that Man and have no Company with him that he may be ashamed This may some say seems very positive to imply that God hath given Authority to some to Rule in the Church Our Answer to this is Paul's words related to such of whom Vers 11 12 13. of the same Chapter he saith We heard that there were some amongst you that walked Inordinately and work not at all but are Busy-Bodyes therefore them that are such we Command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ that they work with quietness and eat their own bread and ye Brethren be not weary in well-doing and then he exhorts Vers 14th If any man obey not our Word by this Epistle note that Man and have no company with him This clearly shewes what the Apostle had relation unto viz. to that necessary and commandable Duty mentioned in Vers the 11th that such who were Busie-Bodies walking inordinately might not in their busie inordinate Spirit eat the Bread of others but work that they might eat their own Bread were this Command of the Apostle obeyed by many of those who run
which the enemy of the Soul of Man hath spread before him since his first coming forth to Preach the Light c. to concern himself so much as he hath against some that cannot own an urging with severity his Directions or Prescriptions on Gods Faithfull People and in Particular to appear a Persecutor of such which can certainly be proved against him if endeavouring unjustly to take away a mans Good Name and Reputation can be termed such To this the Answer is As the Serpent beguiled Eve so Eve beguiled Adam in prevailing upon him to eat of the Forbidden Fruit which she had eaten and the Argument used by the Serpent to tempt Eve was this Ye shall be as Gods Even so are we persuaded that there hath not been wanting unto him to speak comparitively a tempting Eve which hath been too aspiring after such a State which with respect to humble self-denying Persecuted Members of Christs Church is neither fit nor presidented and yet 't is to be doubted that this aspiring Mind hath had so much place with him as that he hath taken too much upon him which hath occasioned Rents and Divisions amongst the flock and sometimes to pretend that he hath seen things in the Vision of the Almighty which hath been no other than the Imagination of his own Heart and having given way thereto and finding a fear upon Friends thorough a tender respect unto him to Judge or dislike what he might bring forth under pretence of the Motion of the Spirit it in Probability encreast his Confidence especially when he considered what had been written unto him by some Friends in the Day of their Infancy which being in such Language as was suitable to an aspiring mind might tend to his hurt At length his fame grew so great as that amongst some Weak Friends it became even as a Proverb that none would prosper who should oppose him This by others hath clearly been seen to be a subtil way to obliege all such as should so believe to be Servants to his Will and for ought we know this Perswasion hath the more easily obtained him the repute with some of being set by the Lord in the like place amongst the Children of Light at this Dayas Moses had amongst the Children of Israel in his Day and this we doubt is the Occasion that the Rebellion of Corah Dathan and Abiram is much treated on to affrighten Simple People in our Publick Meetings for Worship of God since the Divisions amongst Friends especially in those Places where G. F's Papers relating to Church-Government have little place But alas those who are sound in the Faith cannot be affrighted with such things no more than they can be convinced with the sight of such False Certificates * Note The Reader may peruse the Fifth Part of the Christian Quaker and therein the said Certificates are more largely treated on recorded in the 21st Section of the Manuscript first mentioned in the Preface and ready for perusal of any Friend desiring the sight thereof as of late have been spread abroad in his Favour to render him an Innocent Man and to acquit him from the Guilt of some Matters of Fact laid to his charge when the Certifiers knew nothing at all thereof and of this he himself could not be Ignorant though the Occasion of spreading such Certificates abroad if he knew what was contained therein which would have been proved to his Face had he been but so Just to the cause of Truth as to have submitted to a hearing according as was desired and in the Preface signified before Friends of things Reproachful to the Truth whereof he is guilty But notwithstanding all this we dare not say that his Preaching the Light in the beginning of his Travels abroad as well as the Preaching the Light by others his Fellow-Servants in the Beginning with him was not the Ministration given them of God for at the sound thereof many Faces gathered Paleness Horror and Amazement seized many who then became sensible of their Lost State and Condition whilest they were admiring their Teachers and busied in Outward Ordinances more than in the Cross of Christ And that Day wherein many were not only so strucken with Amazement but through Faith received the Testimony given touching the Light of Christ might truly be termed The Day of their Infancy in the Truth and so the more likely to be prevailed upon by the Enemy who in that Day as in Ages past sought how he might destroy that Tenderness to the Truth which was so begotten for 't is certainly known that many whose Eyes ought to have been unto the Creator Admiring and giving Glory unto him for his Gifts of Grace and Ministration of Light then revealed did on a sudden admire the Creature in such an abundant manner as if not only the planting and watering were by him but the Encrease also and in that Day some whom the Lord hath made as Watchmen in the House of Israel were concerned thereat and Jealous with a Godly Jealousie and though at present 't is not with us to declare what that Jealousie was yet if the Tree may be known by its Fruit we may with Boldness affirm that the then admiring the Creature might be truely paraleld with that State out of which the Lord through the Ministration of Light or Spirit of Life had led many at that Day who had so learned the Truth as according to the Testimony thereof to have their Eye to the Light within viz. the Light of Christ and not instead thereof to any Outward Person through whom amongst other Brethren the Ministration of Light was revealed But yet notwithstanding some there were as before is signified that admired the Creature which not only became unto them a snare but 't is much to be doubted unto the Creature also that was admired for the Acceptation of more respect than was meet stands in the same ground with the Offering thereof and 't is too much to be feared that the imprudent Acceptation of what was unduely offered hath begot a Spirit of Pride and Exaltation in G. F. which the Lord is determined for his Name-Sake to bring into the Dust and if he did but seriously mind his State and Condition and was but more ready to appear little in his own eyes than to be accounted Great in the Eyes of others and not give way to such a false Imagination that true Judgment was committed to him in all things which can now be Testified was spoken by him and that at that time wherein his Judgement was known to be false and that he may take a Liberty knowingly to put Stumbling Blocks in the way of Gods People and yet be justified therein * Note When William Rogers discoursed with him touching this particular Passage in his Book of Womens Meetings And was not Micahs Mother a virtuous Woman Read Judges 17 and then a few Lines after though she was an Idolotrous Woman sayeth these and such
neglect of their own Gifts And so such may become but little honour to the Brother who Ministred in his own Gift as the Oracle of God and not only so but little credit to the Truth if such by medling in things without their Line bring forth Confusion and Disorder For what can be the Off-spring of such who labour and travel in the things they understand not but the Brats of Babylon Besides those who are of such forwardly spirits as to pin their Faiths on other Mens Sleeves and say Amen to what other Men say before they have an Understanding opened to see the same may oft times approve notwithstanding this usual saying Can the Brethren Err of such things which are not ministred as the Oracles of God though pretended so to be And if any whose Understandings God hath opened to discern this kind of weakness in such who boasting in other Mens Lines of things made ready to their Hands in very deed take too much upon them do out of true Love endeavour to convince them that so they might wait on their own Gifts There are some ready to bring forth what befel Corah Dathan and Abiram because they said to Moses and Aaron Ye take too much upon you and what befel Miriam because she said Hath the Lord indeed spoken only by Moses hath he not spoken also by us and make such a use of these Scriptures as that they give occasion of Jealousy to some to conclude That there are some do believe that God hath raised up some Outward Person to be amongst the Children of Light at this Day like unto Moses and as he was in that Day amongst the Children of Israel Amongst the Children of Light in these our latter Dayes I never understood of any deserving an higher Title than an Elder or Ministring Friend But if such mean That God hath raised up any Outward Man or Men from whose Lips Gods People must at this day receive the Law of Christ and Record it in Books for Generations to come as his Law I know there are many of the Children of Light who retain their First Love and Integrity for the Truth to this day and Honour enough in their hearts for every Brother both Younger and Elder that keep faithful in their Place and in very deed take not too much upon them can receive no such Testimony not only because they know it to be against the Nature of the Second Covenant to expect such an appearance but also because they believe that Christ is that Prophet whom the Lord promised He would raise up like unto Moses whom we are to hear in all things and that his appearance is and will be in the heart where his Voice as a Law-giver is to be heard and accordingly to be obeyed Thirdly Though I pretend not to know the Occasions whereon the Apostles writ further than the Scripture manifests yet I do know how Truth was Preacht in the begining amongst those who through the Power thereof being gathered were called Quakers and that many would have undoubtedly fallen both on the right hand and on the left should the antient Labourers after they had been Instruments in the Lords hands to gather Thousands unto the Truth have thus said We are your Fathers who in Christ Jesus have begotten you through the Gospel and we have on that foot a certain Authority in the Power over you and to command such things as are needful for Order and Vnities sake and that there lyes an Obligation on you to Reverence Honour and Obey us And though you are our Witnesses that we have often Declared that our Commission from God was to turn People from Darkness to Light and from the Power of Satan to God that so they might all come to be Ordered and Governed by the Appearance of that Power in themselves Yet we did not mean but that when we had gathered any unto the Truth we should be those who ought to have the Rule over them and that such should observe our Traditions or follow us without giving them a Reason why And though they might in truth be submitting themselves one unto another in the Lord according to the Apostles Counsel yet all of them must submit to us and Reverence Honour and Obey us and not think it any Contradiction to the being led by the Measure of Gods Grace in themselves Should our antient Brethren Labourers in the Gospel have thus said I do not see that therein they would render themselves of another mind than R.B. is of if his Lines may be lookt upon as the product of his Mind but should they have so done doubtless as I have said before many would have fallen and Jealousies have enter'd the breasts of Thousands That though these our travelling Brethren exalted the Spirit of God in man as the only sufficient Rule for man and declared that the Scriptures were not a sufficient Rule to man yet in stead of leaving us to that Rule which they have declared to be sufficient they strain that which they have declared not sufficient to make it as much as in them lyes a Rule for them to Rule over their Brethren R. B. in his first Section which treats of the Ground and Cause of the Controversy speakes Page 15. of a sort of Persons that would needs be Innovators and given to change and introducting New Doctrines and Practices not only differing but contrary to what was delivered in the Beginning and Page 17. speaks of such who with swelling words talkt of and Preach'd up a higher Dispensation To which I say This Language leaves the Reader still Ignorant of what sort of Persons they are he hints at for that he tells not his Reader what was delivered in the Beginning and what is introduced contrary thereunto neither do I know how he well could unless by report from others since his Age would not admit him as a sufficient and sensible Witness thereof I shall therefore take the pains to do it for him The Doctrines delivered in the Beginning were chiefly these and such like viz. That a Measure of Christ's Light and Grace of God was given to every Man to profit withal that this Grace was sufficient that that which may be known of God was manifested in us that the Scriptures were not the Rule but the Spirit that that which was not of Faith was Sin that we should draw Water out of our own Wells let it be your own and not anothers that we should not boast in other Mens Lines of things made ready to our hands but that since every one must give account for himself we should see for our selves believe for our selves and savour for our selves and not pin our Faiths on the Sleeves of any lest we should become Will-worshippers But now there are a sort of Innovators given to change who introduce such Sayings and Doctrines as these are First That this Light will undo all or at least a Pretence to the Light which I
our Way was before the Devil was and all the Words Wayes and all Apostates and will be when they are gone and this I tell Thee and Them But these Words of thine are not from the Light of Christ nor the Spirit of God for I know no New Way nor New Form carryed on with Church-Authority as thou Reproachfully sayest But here thou hast manifested thy Separate Spirit and Mind For the Authority of our Men and VVomens-Meetings is the Power of Christ Jesus who is the New and Living Way and never changes And all Men and Women that believe in his Light and receive him he gives them Power to become the Sons of God and such are Heirs of the Power which is the Authority of the Meetings And they ought freely to come and go to that which they are Heirs of without your Imposition or Opposition And all that receive him in the Light he gives them Power and they are Heirs of his Power and his Life So they are Heirs of the Authority of the Men and VVomens-Meetings and every Man and Woman that is an Heir has Right to the Authority and they have taken their Possessions and are taking their Possessions And you in your Separate Spirit from the Divine Light of Christ say Your Chosen Men and them whom you have given Power unto And say Usurpers of Authority have come amongst your Chosen Men whom you have given no Power unto And that None shall sit amongst your Chosen Men neither of your own County nor others but to tell their Message and go their wayes And so this kind of Church-Order amongst you as you call it is worse than any Court or Assizes or Sessions or Courts And much I could say to it but you may read your Paper though you make a great Pretence of Liberty in it But I have not heard yet of any that like your Prescription that keep their First Love and Habitation And therefore as I said before the Way to come into Unity is to Condemn it all and give over your Spirit of Strife and Fightings and come into that which did first Convince you that by it you may be made true Members and so come into Meekness and Unity For I saw many Years before I went forth that such should rise in Opposition and so it is nothing to me because it is the same Spirit that hath risen formerly in many others and the Peaceable Truth and Gospel of Peace is over it and it is out of the Kingdom that stands in Peace And the efore what I write is for your Good and it had been well for Thee and You had you taken what I writ before patiently For I see the more you stir the more you will heap upon your own Heads and the further ye will put your selves except you come to Repentance and come down in the Humility for thee and you are too high and I Judge this Spirit as I said before and its Works with the Spirit and Light of Christ For in the Spirit and Light of Christ is my Unity that is atop of this Spirit and its Works and in that is my love to all for their everlasting good whether they will hear or forbear and my Life is out of your Spirit of Strife and over it for the Seed of Life reigns which had you kept in it you would have seen me the same now as I was in the beginning and being gone from that and gone into Doubts Jealousies and Questions and Evil Surmisings by which you are blinded so as you see not me as I was in the beginning as many others have done the same before you and when they are gone from the unlimited Spirit of Christ then they are afraid to be limited And therefore be advised and come to judge that Spirit lest your Bonds be made strong and you grow worse and worse and find not a Day of Repentance and the Lord give you up to Hardness of Heart and to your Hearts Lusts and that your Latter-End be not worse than your Beginning for it is the Universal Spirit and Life that your Spirits fight against which as I said before God will blast And so mind your End for it will manifest it self and has manifested it self to all you that be in the Light which I fay once again come unto and condemn this Spirit and its Works and your Separation that in it you may have Unity for it s out of the Paradise in the Transgression I thought to have written nothing to thee but to have sent thy Letter back unto thee again knowing what Spirit it came from which indeed was not worth Answering but only to the intent that thou and you might Repent and come into that which you were brought into in the beginning and in that you will see what a spirit is gotten up in you that by it you may judge it and not die and perish in your Gainsaying for the word which I writ to you will stand and you will find it and I shall be manifest to that of God in all though it be the Condemnation of them that walk not in it and my Unity is with them that walk in it and such need no outward Prescriptions that are written with the Spirit of God in one anothers Hearts to gather them withal who are written in Heaven and whose Names are written in the Book of Life before the Foundation of the World was Glory to God for Ever And I shall not much take notice of You if you continue in Strife except it be by publick Testimonies And the Jewes might have reflected against the Prophets who spoke the Word of the Lord often to them but they did not regard it neither would they be convinc'd who stood in their Own Wills And truly John I must needs tell thee Thou and You are gotten up into the same and I have been sorry for You and my Spirit has sometimes Travelled but I saw there was a perverse Spirit in thee when thou wert at Swarthmore though I dealt tenderly and plainly and faithfully with you and spoke the word of the Lord to You and told You that If You did not come to that which did first convince You and bring all others whom you had drawn into a separation with You to Condemn it the Blood of all them would be required at your Hands and that was and is the Word of Truth which will stand and is Sealed And I was grieved that the Glory of the Lord which had appeared in the North and his Name should be dishonoured by your cross thwarting Spirit and that You should bring an Evil Report upon it into the South of any difference but that was and is a true Word You are got up into a wrong Spirit that is Rough and Course which I feel and see that is not savoury nor gracious which had you retained your primitive Love and Light and Faith that works by Love and been in the quiet meek Spirit and
in have their minds much Exercised to consider whether this Report of such an one be True or that Report concerning another False though neither of them True and so through their Affection or weakness of Understanding being too Credulous of other Mens Words and too much affected with other mens Lines made ready to their Hands joyn to one party and despise another and all this while believing a false Report are led by another Leader than that whereby Gods people in the beginning were led viz. Christ's Light in the Conscience Such are in a ready way Eternally to Perish and the Blood of such if by reason thereof they Perish will be required at some Hand May the Righteous God in his Mercy turn the Hearts of such Watchmen as have been guilty of this sin saith my Soul that so they may therein sin no more for such things are stumbling Blocks in the way If that Body which is called George For which must return to Earth from whence it came remains but a few Years upon the Earth I have this firm Perswasion that Experience will inform Thee that my plain Lines are not only the Fruit of a plain hearted Friend but also a seasonable Caution more worthy thy Notice than the Words of a flattering Tongue with my Love to thee c. I Remain A Friend to thee and the Vnchangeable Truth William Rogers 'T is now to be observed That suddenly after I had sent the above-said Letter to G. F. which I solemnly affirm I did for the Clearing of my Conscience and could not with Peace of Conscience pass by the same I had some occasion calling me to the City of London where being come the afore-said private Letter was very publickly spoken of amongst Friends for which I was compared to Pennyman and Muggleton Whereupon being startled that such a Report should go forth against me on the writing of a private Letter before I had been written to or treated withal about it I did desire to have an Hours private Discourse with G. F. which he granted though some Persons interrupted us that we staid not so long together At that time and at some other time after G. F. urged me to Take my Letter back and Tear it and he would Pass it by but never spoke a word nor yet ever writ any Answer thereto whereby I might be satisfied in the Matters whereof it treated Aud therefore since I have been compared to Muggleton and Pennyman for writing that private Letter 't is thought meet it may be now Publish't and Recommended to the Consciences of every Reader Here now follows the other of the Two Letters whereof I make mention as before written unto G. F. by me for the further Clearing of my Conscience Bristol the 3 d. of the 10 th Moneth 1677. George Fox I Have once more a Constraint on my Spirit to write unto thee and in Singleness of Heart thus to say On the the 25 th of the last Moneth a Separate Meeting was held in our City unto which my Self and divers other Friends went on these Two Considerations First To bear a Testimony against the Appointment of that Meeting because it was held in our Publick Meeting-House though divers Friends of the Monethly Men and Womens-Meeting did Oppose the same when ‖ ‖ Note The said Proposition was made after several Friends were departed and the Meeting broken Proposed And Secondly To prevent such Designs which was believed might have a Tendency to Deceive the Simple by bringing forth Scandalous Papers against John Story and John Wilkinson towards whom many Friends dare not demean themselves as if they were Apostatized from the Antient Truth Being thither come a Testimony was born Against the Appointment and Holding the said Meeting and some I believe were made Instrumental to preserve others out of the Snare which was laid to Betray the Simple But that which greatly grieved my Heart and which at this time is a Concern upon me to signify to thee was The Reading a Letter which was said to be from thee If that Letter was really given forth by Thee and made use of in the Meeting according to thy Intent and End and so will stand by the Person or Persons introducing the same to be read as to their End and Intent therein then 't is plainly evident That thou art at least the Espouser if not the Head of the Cause of Men that have appeared Partial Vnrighteous in Iudgment and Persecutors in a high Degree And blessed be the Lord for in Zeal to the Cause of Truth I speak it that he hath not only given me a Sight hereof but also Boldness in which I have Peace to testify against that Partial Unjust Persecuting Spirit in whomsoever it appears that under a Pharasaical Pretence of Love and Bowels of Compassion or such like would destroy and murther the Name and Reputation of the Lord's Servants whenas I am fully fatisfyed if they would but Bow to Men they might avoid the Stroke of their Passion Alas Friend little did I in Dayes past think that thou wouldst appear either as a Head or Espouser of the Cause of such nor yet of any who should cast Stumbling-Blocks in the Way of God's People But now 't is evident that thou art the Man under whose Name Papers are spread which seems as a Strenghening to such as well as one that puts Stumbling-Blocks before the Lord's People thy self And therefore if thou hast any Regard to the Flock of God it becomes thee to cease sending abroad such Papers or putting Stumbling-Blocks in the Way of the Simple Perhaps thou may'st think the Language unbecoming me yet I must tell thee That though Darkness hath over-shadowed the Hearts of many so that they seem like Men Void of all Wisdom and all Reason whereby it seems to me as if they were Proselytes of such amongst the Sixty-Six Subscribers at Ellis Hook's Chamber who coming with another Gospel than that which stands in the Wisdom of God have Preach't against All Wisdom and All Reasoning yet the Eyes of many of the Antient Flock of God continue yet open and have beheld the Whimsies and Imaginations that have entred some whereby the Name of God hath been but too frequently Blasphemed and the Word and Power of God abominably Abused by such whom the Papers seems to be a Strength to which hath long since created Jealousies that the dread of that Antient Power which many Brethren testifyed Was with thee in the Beginning is departed The Consideration whereof puts me in remembrance First That though thou and many have judged John Perrot as an Apostatized Person from the Truth for introducing a New Practice in the Church yet those who as far as I know stand in and for the same Faith and Practice they were in from the Beginning are now judged Apostatized because they cannot imbrace for Conscience sake some New Prescription which thou art accounted either the Author or Countenancer of Secondly That
my self at Bristol Anno 1677. and in divers other Papers in the giving forth whereof I have been concerned since that day wherein it hath evidently appeared that such as cannot be subject to some Outward Orders or Prescriptions given forth by George Fox or some others assuming Authority so to do are judged and condemned for refusing submission without true regard to a Consciencious Scruple as if the exaltation of Christ's Government in the heart consisted in Conformity to other mens lines made ready to our hands a lively Instance hereof may be easily discerned by those who shall peruse the forty four Articles of Accusation drawn up against John Wilkinson and John Story and proceedings in Relation thereunto both before and after the four dayes Meeting at Drawel especially if compared with the Paper given forth from Ellis Hook's Chamber dated the 12th of the 4th Month 1677 subscribed by Charles Marshal and 65 persons more and the Answers thereunto all which are recorded in the Manuscript first made mention of in the Preface to the 1st Part of the Christian Quaker ready for perusal of any Friend desiring to view the same In the sense of these things can I truly say that my heart is even melted before the Lord that Iniquity should grow to so high a pitch in any that are Professors of Truth as to write at so wicked and ungodly a rate as John Blaykling hath done and yet bring forth nothing that doth in truth prove me worthy of the least of his evil Reflections which now leads me to manifest unto the Reader what are the particular Matters of Fact that he chargeth me with since 't is reasonable that that should have been by him laid down as evidence that I am worthy of his general and gross Reflections In order hereunto I say I have diligently perused his Postscript several times over on purpose to notifie every particular Matter of Fact which in his or any ones sense I did suppose might be accounted Evil and do not find more than these two particulars following here cited word for word out of John Blaykling's Postscript The First is on this wise And as to that particular Reflection cast upon him which William Rogers if his Interrogation be an Affirmation of the Matter would ground an Accusation upon viz. Art not thou the man that hast taken Liberty to stay almost a Quarter of a year from Meeting and did not John Blaykling by name manifest his Burthen and Exercise of spirit on thine and the truths behalf for thy so doing and having thus repeated my words he proceeds and saith I answer if William Rogers affirm that I had a burthen on my Spirit with respect to George Fox as out of God's Counsel in that matter or as departing from the Truth I do testifie that he affirms an Untruth and that it doth arise in him from a Spirit of Envy watching for Evil against the Innocent whom God justifies On this I observe that John Blaykling cannot lay all his general and gross Reflections at my Door on that account because he himself doth not take it to be a Charge unless my Interogation be an affirmation which he doth not there affirm it to be neither did I ever intend it so yet 't is rational to conclude from the aforesaid words of John Blaykling that I had ground so to query and therefore I now appeal unto God's Witness in all Consciences whether John Blaykling be not found contradicting himself since in his Postscript he thus saith Is this the Shift you are put to that he meaning John Wilkinson should not be found a False Prophet to charge a Lye upon me to defame the Innocent withal meaning as may reasonably be taken with respect to what I query as aforesaid with relation to him and George Fox which to me is an Evidence that the Word of the Lord by John Wilkinson is fulfilling since it appears as aforesaid that my Query was not groundless and that George Fox accounts it a False Charge And though John Blaykling proceeds to query doth not the Lord confound you in all your undertakings yet there appears to me no Ground for his so querying but rather that his and G. F's Confusion to their Shame is abundantly manifested from what may be visible to every Impartial Understanding Reader that will be at the pains to compare all written by George Fox John Blaykling and my self on this Occasion without other proofs The Second particular matter of Fact laid by John Blaykling to my Charge is on this wise And whereas William Rogers asks if George Fox would not have accounted this in another the Fruit of a Careless Slothful Libertine or Dark Spirit that was either departed or departing from the Truth c implicitly thereby charging him with it To which John Blaykling thus saith Might not William Rogers have applied this at home who knows in his Conscience what a Libertine Loose and Dark Spirit departing from his Subjection to the Truth he hath given way to and hath taken a Liberty to himself to make away his visible Estate or at least a considerable part of it to avoid suffering thereby On this I observe that as to this particular with respect to securing a part of my Estate Jo. Blaykling cannot lay all his prophane and wicked Charges against me at my door on that account without contradiction to his large Testimony for George Fox as a man that is spotless and still keeping his Integrity because George Fox denies not as before is manifested that he advised Mary the Wife of Isaac Penington to secure her or their Estate from the hands of the Spoilers My last Observation is on John Blaykling's beginning of his Postscript by which it appears to me that one of his ends was to appear thus publick as a witness on behalf of George Fox to clear all Aspersions that my self and others had cast on him as afore mentioned and indeed he hath done it excellently well if testifying that G. F. is spotless without entring into the Merit of Matters of Fact be a sufficient proof but if not his Testimony and Certificate is for the most part of no Credit However it occasions me to note what Irreligious Confidence attends him thus to appear as a Witness to clear G. F. of many things he knows nothing of for John Blaykling was not with George Fox at Bristol and with Nathaniel Crips when Occasion of Nathaniel Crips his Charge touching G. F 's advising him to buy his Tythes was taken and yet John Blaykling's Certificate as by the Scope thereof doth plainly appear to me is to clear G.F. from all Aspersions whatsoever or from whomsoever To be plain such Attempts are a Shame and Scandal to Religion and are an Abhorrency to men of common and moral Honesty but 't is to be doubted that since that day wherein John Blaykling Robert Barrow and two others gave it under their hands in a Letter to Friends at Bristol That they by