the Law nor the Executors thereof nor in the Kings Cause and the Nations Peace is the Witnesses Evidence although Complainers detectable nor the Sentence given accordingly to be Condemned and that this is the state of our Cause on the account of the God of Heaven and Earth the King of Saints his Peoples Peace and that our proceedings have been justifiable on the account thereof we do leave it before the Lord to be Judge and it s very clear that William Rogers has gained no credit to his Cause of Vilifying and Condemning the Discipline and Order used in the Church of God by his proclaiming these men in his Printed Book to be such as that he hath heard of none to exceed them in Doctrine and Life who are thus Stout and Ambitious Stuborn and Self-Willed And on what justifiable account before the Lord or amongst men he placeth the dreadful Judgment upon us of being Apostates from God and the Life of Christianity as he is pleased to do we yet see not let them appear boldly and 〈◊〉 themselves that do and give over this deceitful hidden Guile and creeping Work which the holy and just God abhors as an hateful thing and our first Principle condemns forever But to go on things running at this rate and they growing up to this height of Impudency in their opposit Work it now became the great concern of our Brethren at London and other parts of the Nation seeing what a Combination there was amongst John Story' s Adherents to rebel against the Lord and the ancient Truth that keeps in Unity such as abides in it and that it was the Practice of the Church of God throughout the whole Nation that with respect to our Monthly and Quarterly and General Meetings in order to the Discipline of the Church of God they were resolved to set themselves against with the might and force they could engage themselves into and that according to their former declared purpose they had set up a sign of defiance in a separate Meeting to be kept when they saw meet or as occasion offered as they themselves declared was intended by them to be done and they seeing that it was not the rafling loose sort that were readily drawn into their Snare that the Temptation only reached unto but that several also of the more Innocent to God that loved Righteousness were hurt thereby whose Names they had got into the List to subscribe amongst them to their Paper in their contentious Work many of whom blessed be the Lord to their Joy are comfortably come off again as hereafter may be more fully declared and they seeing also now how the design lay of gathering to them every where as the oppertunity served and knowing that their contentious Papers were sent abroad up and down the Nation where any reception could be obtained for them and that John Story principal in the whole design was very officious in the matter thereof in the Western parts where his Travels were wont to be and that in those parts he then was and had proselited into his factious Work several of the Earthly-wise and looser sort and that the Innocent also were in danger to be betrayed the Temptations being so guilefully laid whereupon at a Meeting on the account of suffering Friends held at the House of James Claypoole Merchant in London the 18th of the 8th Month 1675. It was agreed upon amongst the Brethren there and concluded as followeth Whereas there hath been depending an unhappy Difference between several Friends and Brethren in the North on the one Party and John Wilkinson and John Story on the other Part and that all the Endeavours hitherto have not prevailed to that healing composure desired and since the said Brethren in the North for the more effectual conclusion of the said matter have desired the Brethren of this Meeting to take it into their serious Consideration that if any thing can be further offered by them then what has been already done for the Service of the Truth and Peace of the Church of God It is from the deep sence of the thing and the sad consequences thereof unamimously desired by the 〈◊〉 Brethren that George Whitehead John Whitehead William Gibson and Alexander Parker or Gerard Roberts go from London and two from Bristol to be chosen by the Persons hereafter nominated either out of themselves or any other Friends of that City The Friends nominated to chuse two Friends as aforesaid are as followeth Dennis Hollister Thomas Gouldney Charles Hartford Richard Snead Richard Vickris 〈◊〉 Love William Ford Charles Jones William Rogers The said two Friends with the four before named to go into the North to give the Brethren a Meeting with John Wilkinson and John Story if they will be perswaded to return for the assisting the Church and Friends there to hear and determine the said Difference as in the Wisdom and Council of God they shall be directed for Peace and Unity in the Church Stephen Smith Stephen Crispe Thomas Green Ambrose Rigg and William Penn desired to meet together this Evening and draw up two Letters one to John Wilkinson and John Story and an other to Friends at Bristol aforesaid It may be taken notice of that Friends in the North although they were satisfied with the Labours and Travels of the Brethren concerned in the afore-mentioned Meetings from a true sence of the presence of Almighty God with them as also with the Testimony and Judgment aforesaid upon the afore-mentioned Spirit of Opposition and Strife and against all whomsoever that were found in the Works thereof being one and the same with that which had lived on their Hearts in relation to that Spirit as that which the pure God would never bless nor the Works thereof as also in a sence and knowledge of what a Noise was gone out through them of that Spirit against the aforesaid Proceedings of our Brethren and Judgment on the case to the leaving a jealousie upon the minds of some that probably things might not be so bad with respect to John Story and John Wilkinkinson as matters seemed to import and the Judgment given did imply We being also conscious to our selves of any deficiency on our parts whereby to invalidate the Judgment given or to have our selves detected in the matter of the occasion of the Difference amongst us having also a sincere desire that what dissatisfaction remained upon any with respect to the Judgment given without hearing c. although the default in that matter lay on John Story and John Wilkinson their part that our Innocence before the Lord which our Consciences bore record to might also the more appear and that whosoever had a mind might have the oppertunity of hearing matters relating to us on the score of being culpable as well as they as we had been rendred up and down the Nation by them of that Spirit and having also a sence of the continuation of the Exercise and Sorrow that we
were yet likely to be exposed to through the separate Meeting to the blemish of Truth and our holy Profession It s true we did signifie our inclination yea our desires that on some or all the aforesaid accounts our dear and respected Brethren might have under their tender consideration our continuing Exercises through the hardness and obstinacy of that wrong Spirit amongst us which as yet was likely further to occasion the Churches Trouble and the want of its Peace and for that end we moved if they pleased that some might come down into the North for their and others further satisfaction if they desired or saw cause for a further examination and hearing of matters relating to the depending Difference In order unto which Meeting agreed upon at London amongst our Friends there they signified unto us what was intended God willing to be done by them if all concerned would signifie their free and acceptable complyance therewith in answer whereunto Friends in the North signified by a Paper under many Hands a free and ready closing therewith unto the Meetings satisfaction there as in an answer to ours from them was signified It may be noted also that the Brethrens tenderness towards John Story and John Wilkinson was such they being then both in the West parts as also that they might the more readily be perswaded to submit to an hearing of matters and things relating to the Difference with Friends here in the North Face to Face which formerly they had refused to do in a resolve to come at no more Meetings on that score but that they again a little retracted that resolve and proffered as aforesaid to refer the matter to two chosen by each party one We say the afore-mentioned Friends being iealous whether they would submit to a Meeting or not for condescention sake gave the Friends at Bristol liberty to chuse two c. where John Story s and John Wilkinson's great Interest as was then expected stood and in persuance of the aforesaid agreement amongst Friends at James Claypool's London two Letters were writ Coppies whereof we have not inserted here but are produceable with many more material Letters of Advice Answers and Replies in Papers and Books in Maniscript Material and Satisfactory in order to the concern of a more large Hystorical Relation of matters on the account of the unhappy Differences occasioned through this ungodly Spirit as the day will declare which aforesaid Papers and Books in Maniscript are preserved ready for the service of Truth against the coming forth in Print of William Rogers s Book in Maniscript so often made mention of by him or upon what other occasion as the Lord may direct shall be seen meet with respect to all which this our present Relation of things may be taken only as a small yet perfect and impartial Abstract Yet upon the matter of the two Letters being sent as aforesaid the one to John Wilkinson and John Story in the West and the other to the Friends at Bristol William Rogers happening to be one for the Journey into the North on the aforesaid account without whose Company and Assistance 't is likely John Story had not been prevailed upon to have come being a man of a Turbulent Boysterous Spirit and one that likes the Applause of men and loves Preheminence as in his quarrelling contentious Work in the Ambition and Stoutneses of his Mind in several Papers and Concerns observable he hath manifested himself to be as many Ear and Eye Witnesses will Evidence to which also some of us are not Strangers with respect to our particular knowledge he now buckled himself to carry on the espoused matter of f. Story' s and J. Wilkinson's Cause even with all the eagerness he could work himself into like a Champion for the Work and desparate Design contrived and taken in hand which in plain words tended if the Lord had not blockt up their way to have laid waste the whole Heritage of God and not have left his People a-name where by to be known So that many opposite wrangling Papers and Letters past from him with some few more of his Adherents tending to delay the Journey into the North as was desired on the Meetings account to be had there which together with John Story' s and John Wilkinson's aversness and perverse replies to the London Brethren that were tender and friendly to them-wards gave daily a more and more perfect knowledge of what sort they were and what their Work tended to many also of the truly conscientious sort who were of their Adherents once having been hurt by them in and about the City of Bristol and the Country adjacent became in measure satisfied that they were wrong and that their Work did to Strife 〈◊〉 and began to draw back in the Spirit of their Minds from any such complyance with them as formerly they were inclined to and many in those parts of the upright hearted to God and lovers of Righteousness are come away from touching with them any more and are truly and livingly concerned in a Testimony for God against them and the Work they are concerned in which hath been their Hearts Joy and the Comfort of the Ransomed Ones Much ado 〈◊〉 was before any solid hopes our Brethren could be wrought into that any Meeting with them would be got but at last about the first Month. in the Year 1676. George Whitehead on purpose coming by them with the influence 〈◊〉 had upon them got John Story perswaded to give up to the matter desired for their lakes and for the 〈◊〉 of all Differences whatsoever that the Church might again enjoy its Peace The four 〈◊〉 from London and William Rogers only from 〈◊〉 being come into the North 〈◊〉 Benson of Kendal in Westmerland was added to them to be concerned in the aforesaid matter John Story and John Wilkinson being now come into the North also a Meeting was agreed upon to be the third Day of the second Month 1676. at the House of John Blaykling at Draw-well in Sedbergh in York-shire and accordingly that day begun and many good Friends and Ministers of the blessed Truth out of several parts of the Nation were there together with 〈◊〉 of the nine Friends that had heard the matters alledged in charge against John Story and John Wilkinson at Pow-Bank asoresaid and had given their Judgment upon that Spirit from which the said matters and things had proceeded not leaving John Story and John 〈◊〉 uncapable of clearing themselves thereof if they were able to do it and many Friends to the Truth were also come from Westmerland to the Meeting Gods eternal Power evidently broke forth through many in Living Testimonies for God and his Truth and in Heavenly Supplications that the Presence of the Eternal God might be with his People in that Exercise for which that Assembly was gathered which to the Comfort of many there present was truly felt during four days Exercise for the space of ten or twelve
called The Christian Quaker distinguished from the Apostate and Innovator The Second Part VVherein it is plainly demonstrated First That John Story and John Wilkinson in a dividing Spirit together with the aforesaid William Rogers who hath espoused their Cause with those of party with them have opposed the visible Rule Discipline and Order used in the Church of God the true Christian Quakers Wherein they have been the Exercise and Grief of the Faithful through the offence they have caused in the Church of Christ to the breach of its Peace Secondly A sincere account is given therein of the care and brotherly treating according to Gospel Order that hath been used in a Christian Spirit as the Exercise and Travels of many dear Brethren sustained do demonstrate concerning the aforesaid John Story and John Wilkinson and others of party with them before the Judgment of Truth according to Church Power and Order was given forth against them By Thomas Pearson John Pearson Robert Tompson Robert Battow Brian Lancaster Joseph Baines and John Blaykling on behalf of themsels and many other Brethren of the Quarterly Meeting in Westmerland Now I beseech you Brethren mark them which cause Divisions and Offences contrary to the Dectrine which ye have learned and avoid them Rom. 16. 17. Blessed are the Peace-Makers for they shall be called the Children of God Matth. 5. 9. Antichristian Treachery Discovexed AND Its Way Block'd up IN A clear Distinction betwixt the Christian Apostolical Spirit and the Spirit of the Antichristian Apostate BEING Something in Answer to a Book put forth by William Rogers falsely called The Christian Quaker distinguished from the Apostate and Innovator The Second Part THAT Eternal God by whom the World was made the Alpha and Omega the First and the Last with the blessed Message of Glad-tidings to our Immortal Souls appeared amongst us here aways in the North and in the glory of that eternal Word by which all things are upheld broke in upon us to the opening our Hearts and giving us the knowledge of the heavenly Light and Life in Christ Jesus through which by believing in it we were brought back again unto God from whom the Alienation was in the Sin and Unbelief and we became a People and were through the Truth which we had received gathered into a visible Society and Profession thereof the visible Character of the Family of God during the Tabernacle in this World we were settled through the power of our Principle and Spirit of Truth in the comely Discipline and Order in the Church of God and that no neglect might be in the concerns thereof in the Spirit of Jesus accompanying us as in the Apostles care in his day that Elders every where might be appointed faithful men were chosen to attend and inspect the matters thereof and the principal weight of matters about the concerns of the Churches affaires for a time lay upon them till Truth grew up in the Hearts of many so that many became meet in the power to appear in the service of Truth in a Gospel care and then our Meetings became more free for any of the Faithful to be concerned amongst us to the strengthening and encouraging in the way of Truth to Gods praise and while all kept to the first love and regard to Gods glory according as the Lord was pleased to concern us all things were well and we were comforted together in the obedience to the spirit and Truth received our Testimonies sincerely born and the Sufferings attending the same patiently undergone and we were each others help and encouragement and strength and the Unity and Concord that we mutually enjoyed was our refreshment glorying and our rejoycing yet in succeeding days the Temptation that ever was from the old Adversary of the Lambs 〈◊〉 and the Churches Peace begun to creep in and prevail upon some of the antient Professors and Sufferers for the Truth and set to work according to his kind to draw back from the antient Integrity formerly kept to and some that were to have been as Watchmen in Israel and Valiants for God and were appointed at the first or early of the day for that very end let the Standard of Gods power fall and gave their glory to the second Beast that arose out of the Earth and instead of keeping to the antient power in it to be as 〈◊〉 on Mount Sion Instrumentally in Gods hand for the glory of his People some became Instruments to lead several back from Truth 's Integrity by an evil Example laid before the weak and unskilful the ancient Record against all Antichristian Bondages being discouraged they became wofully to be let fall the nobility of Gods power being much departed from even in them that should have been as Pillers in the House of God the weaker and younger sort whose hearts were enclined to Liberty and Ease again looked out and took example at them they had esteemed of and became subject to a timerous distrustful Spirit of the earthly One shrunk in the day of Tryal and started aside like broken Bows in the suffering times to the causing our Enemies to Triumph and make their boast of a Conquest got upon us to the spreading our disparagement abroad in many parts of the Nation and amongst this unfaithful and shrinking sort was John Story concerned and overcome and led aside with them from the Integrity of the Lambs Life and Dominion these things grieved the Church of God in many parts of the Nation where the noise of them was gone through the Magistrates means or others that had taken notice thereof to Truths dispraise and the Churches exercise and grief for some 〈◊〉 ready to take example thereat to let the like Temptation prevail over them in suffering times because John Story was conversant amongst them and justified the same so also John Wilkinson encouraged the like things and gave his advice to others accordingly proved by a Certificate under the hand of a faithful Friend These things were the Exercise and Grief of the upright-hearted to God amongst us and of our neighbouring faithful Brethren of other Counties and the Churches concern was great because thereof in a tender desire that such as had been overcome with the Temptation on that wise might see it and in a tender acknowledgment thereof clear the Truth and the Nobility of the Principle we had received and the Testimony we had born in Doctrine and Practice accordingly at this the Disobedient started and the Rebellious to Truths ancient Power such as likes not sound Judgment were grieved thereat Then John Story of party with them in that creeping work appeared with his old slavish shrinking Spirit which he was generally known to be a man of and demonstrated the same upon several eminent occasions that the very principally concerned now in this Spirits work knew well enough and took example by him Now we say he appeared with a more open Face to vindicate the said shrinking work to the 〈◊〉
Monthly and Quarterly Meetings with reflecting words against them calling them Courts and Sessions and of our Citing into them and the like Secondly That they had discouraged Friends Testimonies against Tyshes with reflecting opposite loose Words Thirdly That they had opposed reflected upon and greatly discouraged Womens Meetings Fourthly That they had opposed recording Condemnations upon scandalous loose Practices in such as professed the Truth Fifthly That they had discouraged and weakned Friends in their Stability in the time of Persecution and had justified leaving their Houses and going into private places in the time thereof to keep their Meetings Sixthly That they had disorderly and irreverently judged Friends tender Exercises in breaking forth in Mellodious Singings and Soundings to Gods praise in their Meetings under the exercise of the power which breaks and fills the Heart out of the abundance whereof breaks forth Sighs and Groans and Spiritual Songs as the Lord is pleased to exercise them that waits upon him The Reader may observe that in the former part of the aforesaid Paper it is expressed That John Story and John Wilkinson not being there viz. at the said Meeting at Pow-Bank the Friends were enclined as also desired to hear what was writ in relation to charge against them which being 〈◊〉 and though good proof was made thereof accordingly yet they were 〈◊〉 to see John Story and John Wilkinson Face to Face before they gave their Judgment thereupon wherefore they took the pains that Night to go to find out John Story at Kendal six Miles off and perswaded him to go to John Wilkinson's House next Morning which accordingly he did where they meeting with them both together told them that they had heard read several matters alledged in charge against them relating to Friends disatisfaction desired them to go along with them to the Meeting at Milnethorpe which was that Day appointed again on purpose to hear what they had to say in their own Defence or to alledge against any proof made of things or against the Witnesses in order to any thing acted by them or any other Friends that might occasion their Discontent or Opposition as the charges seemed to import or words to that purpose but they refused to go on that score they proffered only to refer the hearing of the matter to two men chosen by each Party one and that in relation to that they might have a Coppy of the Charges but Friends seeing that it was not only a disorderly thing in them to absent themselves from the aforesaid Meeting appointed by the Quarterly Meeting but also to make such a motion as that in opposition to Friends care and endeavours amongst them for Peace as their travels and seeking of them did imply Friends refused as in all reason they ought to have done to take any notice thereof yet told them They should have a Coppy of the Charges at the Meeting if they would go if when they were read they desired the same to make their defence the better and they should have time also if there was need for it But go they would not as they had resolved and said That they would come at no more Meetings upon such matters But poor men they forgot that or else mattered not what they had said on that wise for they offered to refer the matter to two c. which is not Truth-like Orderly or Discreet in the case of Gods Truth many Brethrens Testimony and Concern and the Churches Peace The Friends proffered to read them the matters in charge against them if they pleased as in the aforesaid Paper is expressed but they refused to hear the same Now let all sober and discreet men that fear God consider what this Spirit is whether it be not the same as was said of it before not Pure not Peaceable nor easie to be Entreated but Wilful Stubborn and leading to Strife and to work Distractions in the Church of God it is evidently seen to have had a design But blessed be the Lord its way is blockt up it hath done its worst there it s turned out now too amongst the Gainsayers to get an entrance amongst them that are in the Unbelief and Rebellious to the Truth 's Life and there it makes a Clutter and Noise as the Wind which the Lord weighs as a little thing and its passing away that Truth may Reign and take the Dominion over all for evermore Here follows that part of the Paper given forth at Milnerhorp in relation to the opposite Spirit against Friends Practices in the Church of God which demonstrates the sence of the aforesaid Brethren viz. After all which Travel and Labour in the Love of God for no other end but that Differences might be ended Unity and Peace come into lived in we having used all endeavours that was in our power at this time to enform our selves of the truth of things relating to these Differences as before Written we judge it our Duty that in defence of our godly Order and holy Practices which by the Power of God we are led into owned and justified in to give our Judgment upon such Words and Passages as hath been charged upon the abovesaid John Story and John Wilkinson and evidenced before us by many Witnesses that whether from them or any other such have proceeded it is clear that they cannot come from any Spirit or Mind but such as is in real opposition to the Spirit of Truth and Power of God in his People in this Age manifested by which we have been led into the heavenly and holy Order of the blessed Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ and to bear a faithful Testimony unto him and of his coming and appearance to end all Types and Shadows and also into such Practices as is according to the Example of those good Men that were before us for we find that it expressly strikes against us in the ground in our godly order and proceedings which is for no other end but for the putting forward and keeping up of Rightcousness and a holy and unspotted Life amongst us and the maintaining of our Testimony without Violation as we received it from God in the beginning and this may all understand that do but read the Charges as they were evidenced unto us how that they tend to the weakening of Friends Faith in their Testimony against Tythes which by the Faithful hath been born from the beginning for which many have suffered deeply even unto Death and also what opposition doth appear against recording of Confessions and 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 and Transgressions which is no other but according to the former example of them that gave forth the Scriptures and how such Words and Passages doth shew forth opposition and a contrary mind to Gods Faithful Children in that profitable practice and godly order of Mens and Womens Meetings as now according to the Wisdom and in the Power of God is set up amongst us for the advancing of the honour of the
heavenly Truth of God in which we have believed which Words and Passages doth also tend to the weakening Friends in keeping up their Testimony according to the nobility of the heavenly Truth of God which we have received in which our Faith stands in that honourable practice of our open and publick Meetings in times of Persecutions as at other times as also to the quenching and stopping of such holy Breathings Groanings and Living Sounds which may arise and pass through one while another is Praying Preaching or Prophecying which is not inconsistant with the Truth but in unity with those that act therein and therefore in the love of God we entreat and beseech all Friends to beware of that Spirit where-ever it is that doth bring forth such things either in Words or Actions as have this tendency in them so much to undervalue and overthrow our heavenly Testimony that we have to bear for him and for the appearance of his blessed Son in our Age by which the evil one labours to weaken the hands of Gods faithful Witnesses that so he might bring back again into an Apostacy from the nobility of that Life by which all the Faithful must be upheld in their living Testimony for God which he hath raised them up unto as also the obstructing of the Lords faithful Children in their holy Zeal for God in the performance of their duty in the Mens and Womens Meetings and to the discouragment of any to be concerned therein which are for no other end but for putting forward and propagating of Truth Righteousness Mercy and Justice amongst us that so as the Lord hath called us to shew forth his Praise in all things we may endeavour the promotion of that which rends unto the same and surely we can say with the rest of the Faithful That the holy God doth own us with his Presence to our great Refreshment and Confirmation in this our holy Practice and heavenly Order and therefore we cannot but in the Power of God place Judgement upon the Head of that Spirit where and however it doth appear that would put stumbling Blocks in the way of Gods People to cause any to stumble or to weaken their Faith in those things that tends both to their comfort and growth and the Unity and the edification of the true Body and so as such who have had experience of the evil tendency of this Spirit and the sad effects it hath brought forth in all its appearances to the overthrowing of the Faith of some and to the making of Rents and Divisions in the Body we desire that all may keep to the Power of the Lord God who will preserve in the Unity of the Spirit and Bond of Peace where the Body will edifie it self in Love that there may be always a building up in the most holy Faith which Faith will forever give us the Victory over the World in which our Testimony standing we shall not be overcome So with our Love to you all we remain Your Friends and Brethren in the holy fellowship of the Gospel Milnethorpe the 24th of the 5th Month 1675. John Burnyeat Richard Robinson Robert Lodge John Grove and the rest It may be observed also that besides some Letters tending to Peace that George Fox writ to them from Swarthmoore where he was about this time weak in Body he sent to them also to desire them to come over to him there for he had a desiro to speak with them about the matter of Difference amongst Friends in Westmerland he was neither of ability to come to them nor to the Meeting at Pow-Bank but they did not take any notice thereof nor went to him though we are fully satisfied that what he did was in his tender care for their Preservation and the Churches Peace but this William Rogers our present Adversary accounts in George Fox Ambition in his sending for them but where the Stoutness and Ambition was its easily seen for the time was when they would have gone much further when they were Poor and Low in their own Eyes but now being Full and Rich in their own Esteem thinking they want for nothing will not step out of their way nor turn aside for Truth nor the unity therein because of the Ambition they are filled with and therefore will the Lord scatter them with all the Imaginations of their corrupt Hearts And instead of giving the Friends a Meeting as aforesaid they put an evading slighty Answer to the Charges against them and sent it abroad amongst those they hoped to make of party with them which with a large Answer thereunto is ready to be seen when a further occasion by William Rogers or any of them is given And not withstanding all this care and tender respect used and reached out towards them they still heardened their Hearts against the Lord and the fellowship of Brethren in the Churches concerns stuck to the loose and unfaithful ones as was said before and grew more and more opposite to Friends in their Exercise for Truth and sit in the Confederacy that was hatched amongst themselves and the design laid to break off from Friends into an open Seperation they betook themselves and up and down the Nation was the cry amongst those of party with them from an unchristian mis-representing of things by them here in the North That a Judgment was out against them without hearing upon the evidence of Persons being both the Accusers and Witnesses of which as the matter is in short truly stated according to the Circumstances relating to it we desire the honest and impartial Reader to judge Whether the Persons before mentioned are justified in the sight of God the order of the Gospel and amongst Gods People according to the rule of Truth in the aforesaid matter and transactions relating to them Or whether they are manifested by their doings to have the pure peaceable Spirit that is easily entreated and that they have upon them any design for the Churches Peace Or whether they are not the Self-Willed the Heady and High-Minded who have the Form of Words only without the Power that unites and knits together and whether to work Distractions in the peaceable Family of God their design be not laid And whether their plea for their not receiving dear Brethrens Advice and Care over them and orderly proceedings to have done them right every way if they could have manifested the contrary and their obstinately absenting themselves from the Meeting aforesaid on any such account be not a very ridiculous thing amongst men and not worth taking notice of For it is according to our Judgment that the just Law of Nature and Nations that gives an 〈◊〉 priviledge to be heard before Judgment be given if he will accept of it upon notice given according to the rule of it is contemned by an obstinate wilful and on purpose absenting himself and the want of his privile 〈◊〉 thereby of being heard is his own default and not imputable to
III. Opposition to the Recording of Condemnations IV. Their discouraging the antient Testimonies against Ty hes V. Their judging 〈◊〉 Singings and Soundings c. And First Their Opposition to Monthly and Quarterly Meetings c. To which they say That they do approve of Monthly and Quarterly Meetings for the necessary Service of the Truth c. Answer Then why did John Wilkinson say It was more Gospel-like to have these Meetings as there was Occasion and not so formally And why did John Story in contempt call such our Meetings Courts and Sessions and our general Meeting the High Court of Judicature and in disdain spoke of citing into our Courts such as did 〈◊〉 c These things were proved against them at Drawell to the stopping of their Mouths And why then did they of the Separation in Westmerland according to the revolting Paper of Subscription withdraw from our said Meetings and contemn the very Name of our Quarterly Meetings And why did they meet but now and then when they had a mind without any Regard toour monthly or quarterly Meetings These things are so true against the 〈◊〉 that we are perswaded they have not the Force to deny them And how durst John Story and John Wilkinson say as in the Presence of Almighty God That it becomes them to be in Unity with their Brethren in the Serviees thereof When as such the aforesaid Slight and 〈◊〉 was put upon them during the time of their being with us and seeing their Separation from them out of the Unity is continued by them unto this Day Secondly They say as to Womens Meetings That though they see no Necessity for them in the Country but as much as to say in the Cities there may as they have sometimes confessed yet they say it s not agreeable with the Line of Truth to oppose others in those Meetings Answer 〈◊〉 then were they called by them an Idol and a new Invention and a Ceremony Why did John Wilkinson ask Margaret Fox what Ground they had to observe things imposed upon them in the Will of 〈◊〉 meaning the Women Meetings although he himself had once subscribed a Paper for the Incouragement of them as is before inserted And why did John Story say He would have been in the River to the Middle before he had subscribed such a Paper And why did they say That such Meetings would cause Women to usurp Authority over their Husbands These things and others such like were proved against them at Drawell And why did they of Party with them say The Women were more fit to wash the Dishes And such like contemptible Terms they put upon them And seeing they say Although they see no need of bringing Marriages before the Womens Meetings yet they ought not to oppose others who are conscientious therein Why then did they and those of Party with them upon the Occasions of some bringing their Marriages before the Mens Meetings being desired to lay them before the Women say What need is there for that Saying also Are all Marriages that have not been before the Womens Meetings imperfect or must they be married over again This Dissembling the just God abhors Thirdly As to Condemnations they say as inserted in William Rogers Book Part 4. page 39. That although it be according to their inward Sence that there is no need of such Records to Posterity c. Yet say they that this our inward Sence may be no straitness to others c. Ans. Then why would John Wilkinson say in a Straitness in such Cases which we use for the clearing of the precious Truth That such Recording renders a Man a Knave to Posterity And why did John Story move to alter our Meeting-Books and to put all Papers of Condemnation out of them And after John Story had been so concern'd one of the Preachers amongst them of that Party who had been married with a Priest tore his Condemnation out of the Book Was not this as great an Obstruction with respect to those Records as possibly could have been These things also were possitively proved against them at the aforesaid Meeting at Drawell before many Brethren Fourthly As to Discouragement of the Testimony against Tythes they say It was never on their Hearts to speak any Words relating thereunto Ans. Then why did John Wilkinson and John Story put a clear stop to the Exercise amongst Friends relating to an Help and Incouragement in the matter thereof And John Story in a quarterly Meeting did bring in an Instance That some faithful Men in the Truth had paid them all their 〈◊〉 and said They never saw Evil in so doing and that they had paid them and would pay them Was not this enough to discourage the Testimony and weaken Friends in the Sufferings that attends the same Fifthly As to their judging Groanings Sighings and Soundings which was charged against them William Rogers inserts their Paper in which they say That they are only against them where they proceed from deceitful Spirits and not the other c. Ans. Why then did John Story judg by some Words he spoke during the same such Exercises which in Gods heavenly Power broke forth in a Meeting where the Presence of the Lord was felt to the breaking of many Hearts and the Spirit of Life sprung up in the Meeting amongst many tender People And being spoken to and asked why he would discourage such melodious Exercises as the Lord was pleased to concern some in did say That whosoever did sing sound or make a Noise whilst another was preaching or praying it was Confusion and Disorder and it was a Spirit of Division that led them to it and that he had born his Testimony against it and he would do it and bring it down or leave Preaching And why did he compare it to the Catter-wauling of Cats or Belching of Calves or at least as he himself confest spoke in derision we say 〈◊〉 some that did so compare it These things we do declare were proved against them at Drawwell aforesaid to their Shame and Confusion before many Brethren according to the Testimony born there and the Relation given by Friends of the Passages in the said Meeting and the Sence and Judgment of Gods People 〈◊〉 upon them on the hearing and trying the matters relating thereunto Now this we observe that some may object and say That although John Story and John Wilkinson had been thus concerned formerly before the said Meeting had with them at Drawwell for their Restoration sake into Unity with their 〈◊〉 again in the Spirit of Life and into a clearer Vnderstanding then formerly they were 〈◊〉 in which State such and such opposite loose Words might come from them or such Opposition 〈◊〉 have been made by them Yet may it be said they may now be of a better mind and that what they now declare seemes to be consistent with your Practice and they also gave forth a Paper some may say against themselves acknowledging
judged as a malicious perverter of George Fox's sincere Intent in the aforesaid Directions and his drawing his false 〈◊〉 there from tending to make People believe that George Fox's Directions were 〈◊〉 forth with Severity to be urged upon People as he hath often said and as William Rogers hath Suggested and Printed that George Fox's 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 are urged to be Practiced before Conviction and before they 〈◊〉 it their duty to observe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 we say William Rogers his Inserting John Story' s Words on that wise as it tends to a malicious Charge against George Fox its false and abusive as we have often 〈◊〉 for George Fox's Testimony for Truth and his Directions in relation to Church 〈◊〉 and Government have ever been commended to the 〈◊〉 leaving the Issue to the Lord alone and to his Faithful Witness in all and the Faithful to God do receive the same with Gladness as that which answers their Consciences with Satisfaction in the performance whereof as they have felt it their Duty they have found the Presence and Blessings of God with them We say again it is the Fruit of a dark Spirit and imports great Confusion as the reply at large manifests to make this jumbling Work about a clear and plain Truth which would darken Knowledg How can George Fox in the Spirit of the Lord Jesus or any other Instrument in the Lords hand be moved to give forth any Directions or Advice to the Church to be observed and put in practice but there is a necessity thereof and so consequently to be practised amongst Gods People in his leading Grace And what is that Severity they are offended with and thus clamour against Is it any thing else but the laying things home upon the Consciences of them who make mention of Gods Name What other Severity have we used or ever appeared in When William Rogers Prints again let him tell us if ever George Fox or any of us were otherwise concerned in the matter of the Directions which John Wilkinson once confessed to but in commending them to the Conscience and to be led in the Practice thereof by Gods leading Grace as their Duty and if any in a wrong fleshly mind resist the same to declare Dis-union with such as not worthy of that Fellowship which the Faithful are in as William Rogers in his Christian Quaker hath confessed may be done Paul charged before God and the Elect Angels to observe the things he had directed to in the Spirit which he knew would attend them who were innocent in the Practice of those things which he was moved to lay before them But let us ask William Rogers or any of Party with him Do they think that George Fox was moved of God to give forth things to be practiced in the Churches in the Spirit of Truth that fleshly minds should be justified in Gods sight in putting a 〈◊〉 thereupon as John Story did as the Fruit of his dark Mind in any smooth ungodly pretence whatsoever And shall any be Blessed in saying That George Fox only recommended these things to our Consciences to be practiced as we saw need and that we see no need of Womens Meetings or of Monthly and Quarterly Meetings so constant as both John Story and John Wilkinson have said And we see no need of keeping our Meetings in our Houses when twenty Pound Fine is imposed on them that do so We see no need of such Inspection or such Strictness with respect to the bringing of Marriages twice to the Meetings unless there be 〈◊〉 apparent Cause Under these pretences hath Disobedience been sheltered and Loosness nursed up and Weakness prevailed in the time of Persecution and on the score of other antient Testimonies sor God And we testifie that the great ground of Dis-satisfaction about Church Care which John Story and others of Party with him wofully fell into and the great cause of all the Contention which hath been made by them spoken of and which William Rogers says George Fox hath been erroneously concerned in and whom he and John Wilkinson would charge to be the occasion of was the Churches practising in the Life of God those things that were commended to the honest Hearted according to the Directions given forth by George Fox and other Brethren on which occasion the Unfaithfulness of many came to be searched into and found out and judged in the power of the pure Truth which they liked not they could easily have born the reading of them and their being commended to Friends Consciences so that the Practice might have been suspended and not come into but room left for their loose Minds and backsliding Work for John Wilkinson said Thas those things which George Fox 〈◊〉 commended to the Churches were necessary and good things But when Friends desired that all might be found in the Practice thereof and accordingly were concerned and their flying in Suffering times and their backfliding from other Testimonies once born for the precious Truth coming to be spoken to that Judgment might be felt thereupon then John Wilkinson struck in with John Story and others of the same Spirit and of the loose sort and hath continued since in the Opposition and Strife which led into the Separation in which they are unto this Day Divers other smiting Reflections against George Fox William Rogers appears in in his tedious Observations on John Story and John Wilkinson their Answers with his deducted Inferences from George Fox's Words and sincere demeanure in the Church of Christ which he would draw his Accusations from which are not worth the Trouble that we might put our selves and the Reader unto if we should take notice of every circumstance thereof the which we intend not in this place seeing the most that he hath said or can say in his own defence and on the behalf of them of party with him is insufficient whereby to acquit him and them of the Charge that we are bold to stand to against them of Opposition and labouring to work strife amongst Gods People which all who have seen his Book and what hath been said in Answer to it and have a true sence of his Spirit and Work may easily see as insufficient also to detect George Fox of being erroneously 〈◊〉 in the aforesaid Difference as he very abusively hath accused him of and Condemns him and others of the Brethren for their appearing in Judgment against the Spirit that John Story and John Wilkinson have been led by William Rogers goes on and Inserts an Epistle of George Fox's occasioned through an Objection he frames up Object Thy whole Discourse seems to carry a kind of an Edge against the Spirit that of late Years had acted through George Fox 〈◊〉 whom its certainly known from his Writings yet extant that he hath thus Advised Take heed of Judging one another and Judge not one another I command 〈◊〉 in the Presence of the Lord neither lay open one anothers Weaknesses behind one 〈◊〉 Backs
Antichristian Treachery DISCOVERED AND Its Way Block'd up In a clear Distinction betwixt the Christian Apostolical Spirit and the Spirit of the Antichristian Apostate Being an Answer to a Book put forth by William Rogers falsly called The Christian Quaker Distinguished from the Apostate and Innovator Shewing the backsliding State of him the said William Rogers and them of party with him from the Gospel Spirit the Life of Truth and the first Love Wherein he tother with John Story and John Wilkinson as principally concerned in an Apostate Work have set themselves in opposition to Evangelical Church-care and have asperced and abusively slandered the Instruments which God hath made use of touching the same In Three Parts First shewing that under the Gospel despensation Church-Government Discipline and Visible Order is justifiable necessary and commendable in the Visible Family of God according to the Doctrine of Christ and the Apostolical practice Being brought forth by and practiced in the invisible power of God Secondly That John Story and John Wilkinson together with William Rogers who hath espoused their Quarrel and others of party with them have opposed the aforesaid Visible Discipline and Order used in the Church of God to the grief of Gods people and to the Breach of the Churches peace Shewing also what Godly care and brotherly Treating according to Gospel order hath been used to and concerning the aforesaid John Story and John Wilkinson and others of party with them before the Judgment of Truth according to the power of God in his people was given out against them Thirdly That William Rogers in a prejudiced malicious mind that watcheth for evil hath laboured to Asperce and abusively to Calumniate the Church of Christ with respect to the Government and Order setled therein and particularly George Fox by name and divers others whom by name he hath also with false Accusations treated on that wise Several whereof are herein Inserted and spoken to for the Satisfaction of the honest hearted to God where this may come Behold the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the Table Luke 22. 21. For if they had been of us they would no doubt have continued with us but they went out that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us 1 John 2. 19. THE PREFACE Tender Reader THou mayest be satisfied that it hath been the Lot of Gods People the Birth of the Righteous Seed ever since Abel to this Day who have desired to live a Righteous and Godly Life void of Offence towards God and Man during their abode in this World and to leave a Memorial that might not rot to suffer Persecution of which the Scriptures of Truth doth largely make mention being also demonstrated by the Testimonies of Antient and Modern writers touching the Affairs of the Church of God from Age to Age even to this Generation of which we are And that we the People called by the Name of Quakers who have believed in the Light of Christ Jesus and testified thereof in Doctrine and Life have had a large Portion thereof let the many Reproaches Mockings Reviling 〈◊〉 the watchings for Evil the Hatred the Fury of malicious Men we have undergone the many Slanders and false Accusation that have been cast upon us being numbered amongst Plotters and Peace-breakers and the like though not any thing of that Nature was ever proved against us or we guilty of And for the Testimony of Jesus and Word in the heart have we been hated all the Day long by a wicked and perverse Generation Yea let the spoyling of our Goods and Imprisonments that we have sustained that we might keep our Consciences clear in the Lords sight testifie on this wise concerning us ever since we have been a People for the space of nigh Thirty Years And blessed be the Lord who hath been our Defence our Hiding-place our Refuge and the Rock of our Salvation unto this present time that notwithstanding the many perils and dangers we have met withall to the undoing of us as Men and to the causing of us to decline the Testimony God gave us to bear if that Spirit had prevailed we are a People at this Day saved by the Arm of the Lord who is God and changeth not let him have the Praise for ever The good Apostle and faithful Servant of Christ Jesus and one who laboured truly in the Gospel had his share in the tribulating Exercise that attends Gods Heritage and making mention of the Perils that he had met withal in his Travels and concerns for the Gospels sake speaks on this wise Often in Perils of Water Perils of Robbers Perils by my own Country-Men Perils in the City in the Wilderness Perils on the Sea and Perils amongst false Brethren It may be taken notice of that amongst the Exercises that had happened to him in his Day for the Gospels sake he closes up the matter of his Lamentation and Grief because thereof with this viz. And Perils amongst false Brethren God hath suffered the like Exercise to befal his People in this our Day and of all the Enemies that we have met withal according to Antient Experience the greatest with respect to every particular Exercise for God and his Kingdom have been them of our own House And with respect to the general concern of Truth the furtherance whereof is more in our eye then human Repute that which we have met withal from the Treachery of False Brethren led aside from the Simplicity of the Gospel to the wounding of their own Souls and tending to the breach of the Church's Peace hath been our Sorrow and Grief That God which brought Israel out of Egypts Land and was their Rock and sure Defence their Walls and Bulwarks against their Foes their Conduct Deliverance and Rest to the Joy of that People and his own eternal Praise hath been the God of our Salvation and none other whose eminent Hand hath so appeared for us that not a Tongue that hath in Judgment risen hath prevailed nor a Weapon formed against us prospered And this is the torment of the cursed Serpent the old Enemy to that innocent Life Man was placed in in the beginning and he hath once more attempted to set himself against the Lord and his People who in sincerity desires to be approved in his sight and hath a Witness in many Consciences accordingly and to break in upon the Heritage of God by his subtil Satanical Transformings when by no other means he can prevail is the design that of late he hath had in Hand and hath entered a few that came out with us and were Eye-Witnesses of that inestinable Glory through the bright shining whereof many were turned from Darkness to Light to behold the excellency of that Kingdom that never hath an end and yet through an evil Heart of Unbelief are departed from that eternal Power which once they knew and from the fear of his name that appear'd for them and only
was the backsliding sort with grief concerned seeing their Spirit Judged and the way of it like to be blocked up Now was the time of their looking about and to speak after the manner of men to their Arms they betook them John Story making his boast what he could do when he put on his Sword in opposition to Church Care the Inspection the Discipline and the Judgment thereof for that was it that alone was in their way and now John Story and John Wilkinson buckled them to it and as leading men assumed a contest against the Faithful on behalf of the withering backsliding sort which the Lord did not bless them in but withdrew by little and little till he left them as to the 〈◊〉 Power and their Hosues desolate It cannot be expressed what work they begun to make and appear in against the Exercises that the upright were concerned in in the Church of God what finding fault therewith its admirable to think what Obstructions they lay in our way and instead of being 〈◊〉 and Governments amongst us became our Burden and 〈◊〉 Our Monthly and Quarterly Meetings was that which was their Grief and the very name of them therefore dispised 〈◊〉 Story calling them Courts and 〈◊〉 and our General Meeting the higher Court of Judicature to make the 〈◊〉 as being grieved therewith as that which was 〈◊〉 ready in their way to inspect miscarriage in Doctrine and Life and upon an orderly proceeding to 〈◊〉 Judgment thereupon this could not be digested of their foul corrupted Stomach of which the Hony-Comb is loathed They rendred our Meetings on 〈◊〉 wise for Friends concerns Formal and not Gospel-like and moved that we should not keep them so constantly but as occasion offered and if this loose Spirit had prevailed there when should an occasion have been seen and made use of let the upright Judge they 〈◊〉 not allow that Marriages should be twice published or 〈◊〉 of in our Meetings unless there happened to be occasion before the accomplishment thereof which sor clearness sake the Church of God judgeth a 〈◊〉 thing They allowed the accomplishment of a Marriage upon 〈◊〉 first times proposing it which within 〈◊〉 days was efsected and yet they were signified to that the Man was not clear of another Woman to whom he had promised Marriage and they were desired by many Friends to put a stop to that till things were clear on the 〈◊〉 account but they took no notice thereof They disliked our Womens Meetings and spoke 〈◊〉 of them though contrary to many of their own Subscriptions once as afterwards may be spoken to and would never allow Marriages to come before them which we account a decent thing that every one Male and Female who have received of the good Spirit may keep in the exercise of it to a profiting 〈◊〉 in their place in Gods House They would not allow that the Church of God should be concerned with any of the weaker sort when Temptations had prevailed upon them to draw back the Testimony for Truth once born but would have those things left to the publick Preaching or any ones particular motion They would not have any made mention of in the Church though in subjection to Gods Power for any such affair contrary to the Churches antient practice who said It seemed good to the holy Ghost and us to send chosen men c In a word to slubber over things and indulge Deceit was their design as their practice and their degeneration from 〈◊〉 Life and Testimonies demonstrates They would not admit of the recording Scandalous and Reproachful Transgressions of any and the Judgment of Truth upon them though with the Repentance of such as had found a place for it John Wilkinson alledging That it tended to render 〈◊〉 maen an Apostate in his day and an Knave to Posterity contrary to the sence of the holy men of God who gave forth the Scriptures and have recorded Noah David 〈◊〉 and Peter their Weaknesses and others with their acknowledgment thereof with Grief and their Repentance also who stand not recorded as Knaves to Prosperity nor is the Record 〈◊〉 to Truths dispraise but tends to 〈◊〉 the Righteousness of God in his Judgments and Mercies for the furtherance of the Gospel and the work of God among all both in our Day and in Generations to come and John Wilkinson yet in Contradiction again and Confusion 〈◊〉 like up and down off and on expresseth himself thus after his denial allowing it again saying He would have the Condemnation to go no further then 〈◊〉 Knowledge of the Transgression nor the Record of it to remain any longer then the Memory of the Offence Thus he confutes his own assertion in his denial in saying It renders a man a Knave to Posterity But we looking over this as the product of his inconsiderate haste in venting such Confusion and granting the other which indeed we do and is that 〈◊〉 we aim at We ask How will John Wilkinson without a Record of the Transgression Condemnation Repentance c. keep the knowledge of the Judgment and Repentance to go as far as the knowledge of the Offence or the memory of the one out-live the memory of the other when as the Envious one on the one hand will not cease to keep in remembrance that which may 〈◊〉 the Truth but to have that alive which may clear the Truth and give God the Praise will be his Grief and his utmost endeavours will be to obstruct the same let the Wise Judge whose work this Spirit of theirs is concerned in A large Catalogue might be here inserted of the contentious Works by them of this seperate Spirit wrought amongst us animated and strengthened by John Story and John Wilkinson as our Quarterly Meeting from sad experience 〈◊〉 Testifie an account whereof we have in readiness at large to publish as occasion may be seen plainly demonstrating the Slight the Contempt and Dis-esteem of that Gospel care we were concerned in for Truths Praise which produced in them the great Opposition that was made to our tender justifiable practice therein which occasioned great Content and Satisfaction to the loose backsliding sort from the holy Way and 〈◊〉 of God and the great sadness of Heart to the Innocent amongst us on theirs and the Truths account Resolved they seemed to be not to 〈◊〉 to the wholsom practices we were concerned in according to the example of the most of the Churches of Christ throughout the whole Nation and if they could not with open Face and with the Instruments they made use of stop our way but that Truths care Inspectision and sound Judgment must be placed in the Order and Discipline thereof and that they could by no means obstruct the same because of that Eternal Power that accompanied Friends care and courage therein to the causing of them when they could not prevail on that wise with conquest over it to bethink them how to betake themselves to
another Course as hereafter shall appear And thus much at present in short as a little of the Flood that broke forth upon us to have been our ruin from that Spirit of Enmity that has been at work against the appearance of Truth ever since God gave us to believe therein and would not have had the Lord Jesus to Reign nor the Government to be established upon him whose right it is which we are sufficiently able to demonstrate to all in relation to the Exercises we met withal thereby and through the partakers with it against our godly concerns for Truth and the Family of God to the unutterable Grief of many Hearts before they broke off from us and we desire in the Love of God that from what we have said and of which proof hath been already made as the occasion offered demonstrable to the upright that have been concerned therein and indeed we say it is but a little of what we have to say and publish as occasion may fall out which we may expect and are ready for it because of the restless state that this Spirit is in under the torment that is upon it that 's sooner come for its destructions sake then it looked for and will not cease to fret and some till amongst the Swine it make its end and be no more seen we desire that all the upright hearted to God we say would but consider and give 〈◊〉 Judgment in the Light of Christ Jesus whether these things hinted at in relation to the Troubles that have been met withal in the Church of God in 〈◊〉 through the Spirit that hath wrought in John Story and John Wilkinson with those encouraged by them to appear in the Quarrel and dividing Work against the Family and Heritage of God in the matter of their Order Discipline and Government amongst them as a visible People gathered into an heavenly Society therein to be Truths Praise do not manifest them to be in a backsliding 〈◊〉 from Truths Life and Love to Righteousness and against the Government of Truth in the Kingdom of Jesus and apparently concerned to Indulge and Gratifie the Spirit of Death and the Grave of Sin that would come over again if the Lord and his People in his hand were not zealously concerned in the defence of Truth and the holy way and practice of it against every contrary thing And whether William Rogers is not a man given up to great Delusion that stands so much in the vindication of these two men thus charactered according to the naked Truth as if none did exceed them in Doctrine and Life And whether he has not set himself with open face against the antient Truth and Life of Religion in the practice thereof that has espoused to himself the management of such a Cause as they of the separation in the North have been concerned in And whether he hath not as obvious to every Eye Blasphemed the Lord and the honourable way of Truth abused Gods People against whom he together with them of party with him have set themselves as to render them Apostates from God such as in whom the Life of Christianity is extinct yet for no other cause then that we are established through the Spirit of Truth and in subjection to it in a Christian care for Gods Glory in the practice of that Religion which is Justified of all that loves Righteousress that is to say to visit the Fatherless and the Widow and to keep our selves unspotted of the World Now we come to speak something of what more particularly relates to them of the seperate Spirit on the account of their opposite dividing Work in seperating from us as to concerns relating to us as a Family and visible Society gathered into Church 〈◊〉 to be each others Help Comfort and Joy The Authority of Gods Power continuing with us blessed be his Name with an encrease thereof to our unspeakeable Comfort and Strength so that many were knit together in the vindication of our Cause and Concern to the great Grief of the other Party and a disappointment to their Expectation to have driven down before them and to have made us subject The course they now consulted to take as appeared was a seperation from us and that they might do it upon some seemingly justifiable account some of them drew up a Paper and got what hands they could to it of any sort that had any shew of profession of Truth in them in which several Proposals was offered to us and Conditions upon which assented too by us they alledged an 〈◊〉 to abide with us otherwise to with-draw and do their Business amongst themselves By their Proposals unto us we were to covenant with them That none of our own Country should be 〈◊〉 in Church affairs but our chosen men to whom we had given Power This was to debar the fresh and living Witnesses of the younger sort to be concerned with us such as were grieved with the disturbance they had made and that the old backslided ones at first chosen of the Rich and Wiser sort in the Wisdom that is from below might over-rule and carry matters as they would We were to covenant with them according to their terms That none should come out of other Countries nor of our own Country not chosen by the Churches and sit amongst our chosen men c. But if they had any thing to offer there they might declare their Messuage and with-draw and such as did otherwise come amongst us though in the Spirit of the Lord Jesus which is but one in all and is not to be limited by mens Laws and Prescriptions were to be looked upon as usurpers of Authority having no Power given them by the Churches as they alledged and several other things as in the said Paper at large is inserted tending to the limiting of the Spirit and Power of God and to bring in such Prescriptions indeed as the like has not been heard of among a People professing the 〈◊〉 and universal Spirit and to be in the Life of Christianity as is pretended too It s a shame to think what Tyes and Bondages they would have brought in contrary to the 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 in the universal concern of the whole Family of God which is but one if ten Thousand and contrary to the Rules of Common Societies and the Liberty granted in places of Judicature What a Jurisdiction would this have been and a Lording it to purpose over the Exercise of the Spirit in the Conscience By this rule Paul might not have come although the care of the 〈◊〉 was upon him into any Church but his own to see the order that was among them and sit amongst them but have been accounted an usurper of Authority as one to whom the Churches had not given power so to do Was there ever the like of this Prescription and yet these are the men that crys down Church Government and Church Order under the name of usurping
have desired you should have done to your further disparagement and great loss it is upon me once more to let you know that it seems strange to me that it should be so upon you being as you may remember at the last Meeting we had I told you seeing no other means would do we must now be constrained to bring things to open view against you which I desired we never might have been caused to have done if it could have been avoided and should be our last shift I told you also that all that ever you have by any of us been charged with would be proved against you and you have altogether accused us both before that Meeting and since for not doing so wherefore now in our own defence and in the defence of Truth 's Testimony at this Meeting you may expect sufficient proof of such things as I know the Brethren will be sorrowful for upon your accounts considering the honorable esteem we have 〈◊〉 of you unless you can pretty much clear your selves and as I judge that which will be your strongest plea in your defence in the case will be to make out that against us or others of the Brethren which in many Expressions and Passages that have come from you in opposition to Friends holy Care and Exercise you have pointed at to wit our imposing things in the will of man which undoubtedly in the straitness and opposition of you Spirits you have rendered us to be in both hereaways and in many parts of the Nation which charge if you can make good against us then you may be some little more excusable though not one fold of many sufficiently in what you have done which said Charge against us and the Unity of the Brethren hath such a reflection upon us and hath jumbled the Minds of the Weak to the Churches great Trouble breach of its Peace that it is expected you should appear to make it good against us if you can which if so that it can be proved against us we shall willingly acknowledge if required and no occasion of Discord shall remain upon our part otherwise and that which I doubt not but we shall be able to do through Gods help we may clear our selves of all such Aspersions in the sight of the Lord and before our dear Brethren to Truth 's Satisfaction and in the Unity of Gods Life we may stand to go on in our Exercise for God against whatever may oppose the same wherefore Friends in true love I would have you to mind things and consider what you do in these cases for undoubtedly the God of Heaven is at work to carry on his own Cause in Righteousness who will be found too strong for all that lifts up a hand against him and the Unity of his own Life I am thus far clear in the Lords sight concerning you remaining still Your Friend in singleness of Heart John Blaykling The Meeting gathered at Pow-Bank aforesaid and many good Friends there with them also of other Countries agreed upon to be with us as the Lord made way John Wilkinson and John Story came not but only sent a Paper of slight and disregard of Friends weighty concern in relation thereunto alledging That at the Meeting at Draw-Well we had no matter in charge against them in Writing which in Truth and Righteousness was no plea for their absenting now because we told them how unwilling we were to appear on that wise if it could be avoided and an end put to things without it but seeing they said they would not take any notice of any thing we would say unless it were writ we told them then before the breaking up of the Meeting that we would do it at our next Meeting which we were to have with them by the advise of our Brethren seeing nothing would be effected there that day we told them also we did believe forty matters would be brought against them to manifest their Opposition and John Story replyed You must prove them it was answered he need not question that for it was so intended and several things we told them then by word of Mouth when together in order to the proof that should be made thereof They alledged also in the said Paper That they told us at that Meeting that they intended to meet no more about such matters the truth of which we own not for we cannot hear that any one of all the Meeting heard any such Words amongst us and if any thing of that nature was spoken vve believe it vvas privately to some after the Meeting broke up upon their jealousie hovv things vvould go All vvhich signifies nothing but meer Deceipt and an absolute unvvillingness to come to Tryal at all as aftervvards vvill be more clearly manifested alledging also That if they had been clear of the purpose of giving no more Meetings they did not find themselves obliged to take notice of our summoning of them who were both Accusers and Witnesses and chose the Judges Which is all impertinent and silly Discourse seeing the Persons chosen vvere chosen by the agreement of the Quarterly Meeting long before they separated from us and they might have been there as usually they vvere vvont to do if they had not at that time absented on purpose and vvhat vve did vvas also in persuance of the Brethrens request from London and to object against the Witnesses vvas not only 〈◊〉 as amongst men but also frivolous inconsistant with Truth 's Power and order thereof as also insufficient in the sight thereof to ground a plea upon for their contemptuously absenting themselves and thereby avoid the Tryal and Judgment as probably they expected it might do in that it vvas the Cause of Almighty God the King of Heaven and his Subjects Peace hovvever right or vvrong it served them to absent upon But to proceed the Exercise that the Friends chosen for to hear and examine matters in order to give their Sence and Judgment as they found the Case had that day and the day following at Milnethorpe a Meeting being there appointed for that end we shall refer the knowledge thereof to what hereafter follows as an abstract taken out of the former part of their own Paper to which their Sence and Judgment is 〈◊〉 The Friends of Westmerland according to what was intimated at Draw-Well asoresaid and in persuance of Friends advice from London as also what John Story and John Wilkinson called for at the said Meeting had there fairly writ down several matters in charge against them which they gave to the Friends there which notwithstanding the two John's abstance in contempt of the Churches Order and Care they the aforesaid Friends chosen by the Quarterly Meeting could not but take notice of it being the general concern of the Church of God taking notice also what proof could be made thereof which said matters alledged in charge related to prove viz. First That John Story and John Wilkinson had opposed our
hours a day as to the matter of the Articles in charge alledged and writ down against J. Story and John Wilkinson little was said of them the first day but some other Discourse the Friends of London had with them relating to the ground of the Controversie depending in relation whereunto there was two Queries proposed by J. Story and 〈◊〉 Wilkinson writ down desiring that the Friends there would give their Answer to them whereby it was supposed they expected to have an understanding given them of Friends 〈◊〉 and Aim with respect to Church Government and the Order and Practice of Friends in relation to it about which the Wrangling and 〈◊〉 by them had been made and against which the Opposition in them had stood to the Exercise and Grief of Gods Faithful People and upon the Brethrens-Resolve and Answer thereunto no Dissatisfaction from them appeared in any respect and John Story 〈◊〉 acknowledged his good Satisfaction therein After all this concerne Friends desired to come to the matters in charge John Story and John Wilkinson seemed unwilling on a jealousie that remained with them that the Friends concerned in the former Meetings intended with the six last nominated as 〈◊〉 c. to concern themselves in the present hearing of matters amongst us in order to a final determination and shewed the same by some words cast out by them now and then although the said Brethren did not at present appear to concern themselves in the matter of the tryal relating to them concerning which as the Friends in the North did not desire to put them thereinto neither did in their minds conclude it rational nor according to the order of 〈◊〉 to have them excepted against from any concern therein without their own desire or free consent thereunto being formerly chosen by the Quarterly Meeting for that affair and exercise therein and what had been done by them in that case not detectable in the Truth nor their Sence and Judgment impeached in the matter thereof or which to be cast out and our Brethren of London shewing also their desire that many weighty Friends being 〈◊〉 on that 〈◊〉 occasion which was the Churches 〈◊〉 ral concern they might in the exercise of the universal Spirit of Truth have a share with them So that as to that objection against any from being 〈◊〉 in measure with others in the case of hearing and giving Judgment 〈◊〉 matter was that Night letalone until the next Day On the Morrow Friends being assembled and the Lords Power with us to the breaking many Hearts 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 tender frame of Spirit and in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 desires that a sweet composure might be wrought to Friends 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Churches peace after a little time the hearing and Tryal of matters in 〈◊〉 as 〈◊〉 was fallen into and the 〈◊〉 concerned in the matter 〈◊〉 against John Story 〈◊〉 John Wilkinson and those of Party with them 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 of heart that if in any thing it could be made appear that they had 〈◊〉 just cause of 〈◊〉 to them from whom the opposition had arisen and 〈◊〉 on that occasion by them given they had appeared on that wise and that 〈◊〉 they also had been the cause of the Brethrens Trouble and the obstruction 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Churches Peace they should freely acknowledg the same and give the Church and the Children of God that saisfaction which the Truth should require of 〈◊〉 that so no occasion of discord by them or disunion with the 〈◊〉 should remain on their part The first and second matter as with down in charge against them was read and heard amongst all there and proof made thereof to the satisfaction of them concerned whereupon William Rogers having a sence and as we may reasonably conclude afear and jealousie upon him how things would go on John Story' s and John Wilkinsons account withdrew himself into the Garden and sent for a Friend to come to speak to him who when the Friend came to him told him He was sencible that John Story and John Wilkinson were under a mistake thinking that none but 〈◊〉 six last named Friends would be concerned in the 〈◊〉 and giving judgment 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and yet said he it was by them appearing against them 〈◊〉 that the other that formerly had the matter in hand should be now also equally concerned with them which was a 〈◊〉 needless evading scruple that John Story and John Wilkinson during the time of the proof aforesaid seemed not to take any notice of 〈◊〉 had any of those 〈◊〉 Brethren as yet given any cause for it that we know of William Rogers desired the Friend to come in and clear that point but the Friend 〈◊〉 to do it 〈◊〉 Let things go on all is quiet and cool or words to that purpose and said If this would not satisfie him he might go and speak himself Whereupon William Rogers 〈◊〉 for John Story and John Willkinson or at least they wanting him drew forth to see what the matter was or to consult with him and 〈◊〉 a little while came in again and one of them or both signified That 〈◊〉 they might be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 beforehand that those nine formerly concerned should not meddle in the 〈◊〉 of examining matters concerning them c. they would for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 more 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 to it and also would with-draw and did not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 into their places but they and their Company 〈◊〉 ready to go away and the most of Friends expected the same seeing what 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 in their Minds they were 〈◊〉 into as appeared by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 resolve about the matter for there was a secret Dread and Terror upon them which 〈◊〉 but sometimes surprize such more especially on such a 〈◊〉 as they 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 come unto The Lords Power arose amongst Friends under 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 way of 〈◊〉 and Peace for them should be blockt 〈◊〉 this 〈◊〉 to the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 if they 〈◊〉 not And it was 〈◊〉 of them in the Name of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to give up themselves to the Exercise 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 upon them in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for 〈◊〉 Good in which they had a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God to lay before them for their Souls sake and if they did so 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the same as 〈◊〉 Words and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to import it should 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Lamb Slain at their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 also that in the 〈◊〉 Love and 〈◊〉 of God the Brethren 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 on that concern 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 therefore 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A 〈◊〉 of Christ Jesus and in the Authority of 〈◊〉 Spirit they required and 〈◊〉 that things might go on as to hearing and examination on all sides 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to a 〈◊〉 thereof or Words 〈◊〉 to that 〈◊〉 The 〈◊〉 of the Lord that subjects and none else was 〈◊〉 all Knees 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was given and that by 〈◊〉 Rogers to give all men their due 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his consent and free closure with that 〈◊〉 was proposed and then 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 John Wilkinson acquiessing in it
settled down again in their minds 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 things were to go on to be heard and examined in order to Judgment on 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 matter and then to speak any more of 〈◊〉 and nine was at an end but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was to be the Brethrens the Church of God their assembled in the universal Spirit in which we are one through Christ Jesus who keeps their parts 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Where the good Understanding is received 〈◊〉 Judgment is given which 〈◊〉 sure the matters in charge alledged being 〈◊〉 through that day and 〈◊〉 two next days also and spoken to on all hands 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was seen and as 〈◊〉 required in order to proof on the one hand and liberty of desence on the other for the 〈◊〉 up of 〈◊〉 to the Impartial 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and let it be remembred the days we have to Live and let 〈◊〉 memorial thereof never Rot when this Generation is 〈◊〉 for the Praise of the 〈◊〉 God for ever and the 〈◊〉 of his precious Truth and the value of the 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 and the Comfort enjoyed therein for the cause whereof the Lord the God of the Spirits of all Flesh unto whom Reign and Dominion belongs forever did 〈◊〉 appear amongst us in those four days Exercise in relation to the work in hand and determined the matter depending amongst us in the Hearts and 〈◊〉 of the unright to him to their Comfort It cannot be forgot what 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 and rowling Bowels broke forth in those days Travels with 〈◊〉 to the 〈◊〉 the Wounded and the Scattered Ones who were once in Unity with the Lambs in the safe Fold for the healing recovering and gathering back again of them that they might find Pasture and feed therein and lie down with them the Power and Life that sprung up on this wise melted the Hearts of the Sincere with Joy in the sence of Gods preserving hand over them yet to their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the pity of their Souls in relation to them that had been hurt by a wrong Spirit for there did not appear in them that bowedness of Soul nor heart 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as with respect to the offence to God and his People that they had given through the Distractions they had wrought in the Church of God was desired and expected from them yet such was the wonderful melting Glory of Israel's God amongst us that at last John Story and John Wilkinson were a little bowed down in their Spirits to the causing of them in some measure to see their Weakness and make some acknowledgment thereof as in a Paper given forth by them and here inserted doth appear viz. We are sencible that in the hour of Temptation that hath appeared through us which hath given occasion of offence to the Charches of God unto whom the knowledg of the Northern Differences are come and since the inward sence of our Brethren who we are sencible have a travel on their 〈◊〉 for the 〈◊〉 of Peace and Unity in the Church of God concerning 〈◊〉 is such that Jealousies have entered us and that we have been at 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in things tending to oppose Friends in the practice of those things 〈◊〉 they 〈◊〉 are commendable in the Church of God We are sorry that any 〈◊〉 should appear in us to give occasion for any such Offence and as satisfaction to our travelling Brethren and the Church of God in general we do from the very 〈◊〉 of our Hearts condemn that very Spirit whether it hath appeared in us or any that hath given offence to the Church of God in general and that opposes the order of the Gospel or any faithful Brethren in the practice of those things they believe are their Duty John Story John Wilkinson This was publickly owned by the said John Story and John Wilkinson in the 〈◊〉 Meeting at Draw-well in Sedbergh After Friends unwearied Travels in the Love of God that 〈◊〉 all things and is not easily provoked but keeps in the Patience and 〈◊〉 not in which they were concerned the foregoing submission to Gods Power and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sence concerning them was all 〈◊〉 John Story and John Wilkinson were at 〈◊〉 inclined to demonstrate which said acknowledgment of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 had 〈◊〉 surprised with and their Condemnation of themselves because thereof Friends for their 〈◊〉 were in some 〈◊〉 glad of hoping that afterwards they vvould 〈◊〉 see hovv a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 had 〈◊〉 over them in which 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Work had broken forth through them and that in time they would more manifest the same to Friends more full content and upon the product of all those four days concern on the morrow after Friends being again come together that they might demonstrate to all the honest hearted how things were in relation to the whole matter many of them that had heard of the aforesaid Divisions being under a concern and therefore desirous to hear what might be the Issue of this Meeting they unaminously agreed together William Rogers being gone and came no more to draw up this following Relation for Friends to make use of in the Wisdom of God as they saw meet viz. Dear Friends and Brethren In the universal Spirit of Life and Truth which from the God of Heaven is richly poured forth upon us and by which we have been quickned into a lively sence and hope and peaceable Fellowship is the endeared Greeting and Salutation of our pure and servent Love unto you all Whereas a long and lamentable Difference hath depended between several Antient Friends of the Quarterly Meeting of Westmerland on the one part and John Story and John Wilkinson of that County on the other part and that the said Division hath done great Mischief amongst the Friends of God in several parts of this Nation by filling their Minds with unprofitable Surmizings and dangerous Jelousies tending to absolute Rents and Divisions as too palpably appeareth in Westmerland to be the product thereof And after that the endeavours of the faithful Friends of the Quarterly Meeting of those parts both within themselves and by calling in to their assistance several faithful Men of adjacent Countries proved not so effectual as was desired by reason of the said John Story' s and John Welkinsons absenting themselves though in much tenderness sought to and entreated to appear by those chosen Brethren for the Churches Peace sake and their own real good in the Lord and though their refusal to meet those Brethren and denial of their Authority to examine the matter in difference and theirs that nominated and chose them to wit the faithful Friends of the Quarterly Meeting yet out of a deep sence of the Burden of honest Friends in those parts by reason of the Division and forefeeing the ill consequence to the Church of God of leaving such an example uncensured they passed a general Judgment upon that Spirit which led into Division and Separation leaving the said John Story and John Wilkinson to clear themselves if they could of such matters of fact as
it upon Record and publish it to the whole World such they say are living Testimonies and they own them and can with Joy receive such into Fellowship again but they say they trample upon all Inventions as 〈◊〉 upon the Earth Answer First take notice here is Order and Care visible amongst them which overturns all their clamoring Work against Order and Government in the Church And Secondly here is Condemnations to be Recorded to Prosperity to testifie of Gods Judgments and Mercies and to clear the Truth c. which grants the matter against themselves and their trampling upon Records on that account as the Dung upon the Earth Yet we ask them What shall become of the Scandal to Truth in that matter till such Repentance be wrought or such a Requiring felt suppose it never be as many are never Renewed by Repentance John Wilkinson Preacht that we must wait two Years nay if it be seven Years as hath been Testified by Ear-Witnesses expecting such a State again in order to the matter but not a Word of allowance of any Paper to be received from the Party if he feel it on him under Judgment to go forth to clear the Truth nor of the Church doing any thing if the Party will do nothing Let all consider what regard to Truths sweet Savour and Repute remains among them who would leave such scandalous things upon the Family of God Uncondemned But we say What do they as to Practice in this matter How many of them that justified flying from their Meeting Houses in time of 〈◊〉 or of them that let fall their Testimony against the Anrichristian Yoke of Tythes or of the Drunkards or Swearers whom they listed into their consederate Work and Subscription against the allowed Practices of the Church of God in our Quarterly Meetings and thereby would have limitted the Church of God as said before by their Orders and Prescriptions Which of them we say for we have heard of none in true Brokenness and Repentance have given forth such living Testimonies of the Lords Judgments and Mercies to be 〈◊〉 on Record for clearing of the Truth before they entered into that Fellowship with them again in subscribing with them And when did John Scorife who became so hatefully Scandalous to the grievous reproach of Truth in the sorrow of his Heart give forth such a living Testimony against himself and his reproachful Work and leave a Paper thereof on Record notwithstanding all the care they say they have on that wise besore they allowed him to be a Subscriber amongst them against the Fellowship of dear Brethren in the Service of Truth and before he became a Fellow-Traveller with one of them in the concern of Preaching and Praying to their shame It s a wonder they are not ashamed to cry against Church Order at this rate and yet confess they have Order amongst them but of what sort it is let it be considered John Wilkinson also says They would not have Condemnation go further then the knowledg of the Offence nor be remembred af er the Lord hath remitted We say so too But how shall this be done without keeping a Record For the Man of Sin that pleads for an hold for it term of Life will not loose the remembrance of the Transgressions of such as have struck at his Kingdom in Doctrine and Life must the Church of God then follow with the Condemnation thereof and with the Testimony of Gods Judgments and Mercies to the Penitent only in loose Papers that may be soon torn or lost and if the Transgressions must not be remembred after the Lord remits and a Testimony be out accordingly how is it then that William Rogers like-minded with them and a Leader publisheth Solomon 〈◊〉 Weaknefs far and near and leaves a Record thereof to Prosterity in his Printed Book after that Solomon did acknowledge his mistake in one Circumstance of the matter and shewed his sorrow for it as he manifested in a Letter under his own Hand to John Story on that wise long before William Rogers published the same if here be not grosse Darkness and heaps of Confusion manifested we know none But to go on they tell us what their Order and Practice is about Marriages who are offended at us in that we would have all to publish their intentions of Marriage twice in our Men Womens Meetings whether there be occasion seen at present or not before they be allowed to be accomplished which they call a new Invention we have found or the Inventions of others we follow We say 〈◊〉 Their telling us that they have an order in this case signifies that they have such a thing among them then contradictory to all the noise they make against Orders c. But we will take notice of their Order and see if they practice according to their own Rule in this matter They say If two come before them to propose Marriage Examination is made as to clearness from all other Persons and if consent of Parents be in the case c. And they say If they declare themselves clear and none hath ought justly to object c. Yet a little respite was to be meaning before the accomplishment that Friends might enquire whether things were so or no But there is not a word thus far of bringing the matter again to another Meeting for they say If nothing appeared to obstruct then it was orderly to be accomplished But they say If either Parents or Relations or any other Man or Woman had any reasonable Objection whereby to obstruct them then they were not to proceed till the Objection was cleared Look their Book before mentioned if any question be made of the Truth of this which is the very substance of the whole matter in relation thereunto First We say here is not a word of coming twice unless there be occasion and if any then in that little respect which they say they cause before the Accomplishment have any thing justly to object we ask to whom must the Objection be made or who that 's hasty in such a matter will take notice of such an Objection being they are not ordered to forbear till another Meeting and when the other Meeting will be who knows because their Meetings as they have often declared are to be only upon occasion And what a 〈◊〉 and cumber will there be about the matter of any ones Objection whether it be a just Objection or no and whether a sufficient Objection or Occasion to call their occasional Meeting upon what Distraction and Confusion is this not like Gospel Order though such they confess they have we are bold to declare But what did they practice in the Case of Thomas Wilson who is since come off from them to his Comfort and we do not upbraid him with it having acknowledged his Weakness in that and other matters He had been concerned with another Woman of whom he was not clear when he proposed his Marriage before
Brethren Judge Had you not an equal priviledge in and use thereof whilst you kept in Unity with us c Are you not broken off and separated from us and your Seperation judged by many faithful Brethren as many of you know Are you owned of any one Church of God in the whole Nation in this your Seperation c Is it a just thing in you thus to foment Strife in standing by and encouraging a Separation by such Demands Have you not in Gods sight and according to equity forfeited your former right in the Churches Priviledges by separating from her Might not the worst of Hereticks and Apostates from God the False Church that may keep up Meetings make the same demand as you do because that once they had been concerned in the true Church Affairs Were it a just thing in them to say Let the Churches Books in which the weighty Concerns of Truth were Recorded be where we may have the use of them as well as you What an Expedient were this to prevent the great Inconveniences you talk of Is it a right thing that Apostates and Hereticks should be concerned in and privie to the true Church Cocerns we would know what 〈◊〉 would acrew to the Church thereby as to let in such Defilements and 〈◊〉 things upon her or what Inconveniences are they you talk on may be avoided by this your Expedient as you call it we can truly say they 〈◊〉 Blessed that keeps their Garments clear from the Defilements of this dividing Spirit and their Advantage in the Lord is great by reason thereof and we 〈◊〉 you the 〈◊〉 are great you are run into you are catch'd in a Snare the more you strugle the faster your Feet are hel'd it were well for you to be still and so you may get out again least you perish 〈◊〉 evermore And as to your demand which you call Just in a few Words we tell you we deny it to be so 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 we countenance your division thus we say as we said before to you the 〈◊〉 Church is but one led by one Spirit its Unity stands in the Power that knits 〈◊〉 and is honour in unity it cannot be divided its Covering is without 〈◊〉 or Rent no division can be admitted of in it either are we broken off and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 share in the Churches Priviledges and if you judge so of us why do you 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 us plainly that we may plead that with you and if you had demanded things on that account and could prove it against us then your demands of the Books from us were just and otherwise you may as well say nothing or 〈◊〉 its you that are broken off from us and this is plainly evident by your 〈◊〉 from us and the Testimony of many faithful 〈◊〉 is and hath been against you and not one of the Church of Christ in the whole Nation do 〈◊〉 you in this your Work nor any of them that will own you in this your Demands But you say We grant you to have right in the Books why because we say if you bring us a Bill of what Mony you laid out for them or your share came to you should have it repaid we say what right soever we have granted you in that it had been more commendable for you as Men to have made that your demand then to have demanded the use of the Books c. to be abused by that Spirit as 〈◊〉 they were or if you say we grant you a continuing right in them by this our profer you are under a mistake and do abuse our good will to you if you say we grant you a Title in profering you Coppys of the Record of any Birth or Marriage if you desired it In this also you wrong the Case and abuse us to strengthen your Cause by and neither of both wil answer the thing you aim at or justify your Demands that no Age past that we know of can paralel and succeeding Ages wil be ashamed of it In their Paper they have very abusively clamored against us in saying we retain their just Right from them To which we answer thus We challing the Right to them and use of them in the Churches Right assembling together monthly and quarterly as our Words plainly imparts for the Service of Truth and for which Services in such Assemblies they were with an unanimous Consent procured and for the said Use and none other are they stil kept And notwithstanding this in that we cannot grant you the use of them at your Will in your Separation and Strife you exclaim and say by the same Rule and in as much Justice we may take away any other thing due to you if we can but secure it into our Possession To which we also said Is not this great Darkness c. Have you not only lost the sence of the Churches Priviledges and Power over Dissenters c. But your Words savers of great Prejudice and Envy and want of common reason c. Dare you say when you consider again That we as the quarterly Meeting in the Sense that our Words and Actions carries along with them have no more right to keep the said Books having the Possession of them for the Uses aforesaid from you so separated and broken from us and out of Unity with us then to keep any other thing justly due to you if we had but the Possession of it c. We do commit the Judgment in this case to that in all Consciences as such an absurd thing as no more need be said to it by us And as for the great Injustice you say we do you in not answering your Demand We say notwithstanding your reproachful Words we are not ashamed of the Proposals tendered you in this matter and are willing to refer it to the Consideration of the most antient and faithful Brethren to judg of And if these things will not satisfy you it 's a Shame to trouble us any more with your Papers we shall take little notice of them for the streess of the matter lies 〈◊〉 The Right you quarrel about is in the particular Church of Christ in Westmerland assembling Monthly and Quarterly for the publick Service of Truth as cannot justly be 〈◊〉 if you say they belong to you as the Church tho in the Separation we 〈◊〉 it who shall hear and give Judgment in the case of Difference in any particular Church but the Spirt of the Lord in the grave and faithful Members of the Churches general Assemblies for the general Service of Truth and Concerns of the whole Body and this we have lovingly profered you which argues no Guilt upon our Spirits but this you dare not submit to but in a Disrespect in a slightful scornful manner puts it off not Truth like c. It 's a shameful thing even amongst Men to cry out of Injustice and yet will not come to Tryal in God's Way Christ said if thy Brother trespass againct thee
and what Dishonesty it manifests in him to require George Fox to procure him so many fair Copies of his Rejoynder to go abroad in which he saith he hath detected him of Lies and Forgery c. when he hath not for ought we know sent forth one of the Answers thereunto nor put it in his Book which in Conscience he ought to have done having the Opportunity for it that the Judgment given by the impartial Reader might not be upon the hearing of the one Party which otherwise must of necessity be if any concern himself therewith seeing William Rogers hath printed his Rejoynder and not the Answer to it and where also the Apostacy is entering and upon whom it prevails apace unavoidably A little time with what hath been said will declare a great Clamour hath been made and abominable Abuse put upon George Fox in relation to this Matter and many have taken hold thereof and upbraided him and Truth on that Score and hardens themselves thereby in their prejudiced and surmizing Minds which we should be glad were removed therefore have we been the longer on this Point which the Reader is desired to excuse The next thing we take notice of relating to William Rogers's smiting Accusations against George Fox is out of the 4 th part of his Book called the Christian Quaker c. which he saith in the Title Page thereof is chiefly to discover That George Fox hath been erroniously concerned in the Difference amongst the People called Quakers c. In his 〈◊〉 Part of the Christian Quaker c. pag. 7th I shall now proceed saith he to lay down a few of those things which are in some measure an Evidence to me that my aforesaid Sence is true c. First I take notice of Seven Questions propounded to John Wilkinson by Robert Barrow and others c. Who said they were desired by George Fox so to do In answer whereunto we say That we who were concerned to deliver a tender Paper to John Wilkinson which came from George Fox an antient in the Truth and one whom God according to John Wilkinson's Confession had made an Instrument to publish the Word of 〈◊〉 unto him and many thousands more to the turning of them to God from Sin and the Snares of Death do testify That we had an eternal 〈◊〉 of the Power of the Holy God with us therein in a Testimony also to the same Power which had moved in George Fox as an Elder in the Truth and one whose Care was over the Church concerning him And as a Father would have done to his Child overtaken with Weakness as John Wilkinson of a certain Truth was in relation to his inner Man who in the antient Bowels of Life that was reached unto him therein having heard as the Apostle said of the Divisions occasioned by him and John Story as also of several Words and Passages spoken and done by him relating thereunto desired to be informed whether it was so yea or nay as to those things concerning him that in the tender Care Advice and Councel of a Father he might have been dealt withal We say God was with us of a truth when we were with him on that account which broke many of our Hearts in which we desired that he would be coole and quiet in his Spirit that we might speak of things as became Brethren But instead thereof he obstinately resisted our tender Advice to him and brake forth into a perverse froward Frame of Spirit to our Grief and Sorrow and hardened himself against us and our tender Care concerning him God knows and in a pitious Passion went away from us in a sliting manner with contemptible Words in his Mouth saying He would stand upon his own Leggs and not be beholden to us for our Crutches We are bold to affirm that the Spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ was not with him in that Concern but a stubborn Self-Will which he hath given up himself to serve and which grew upon him after that Day to the marring the Image which in measure he once bore And we do testify in the unity of the Power if these were our last Words for which Account must be given That George Fox and we were justified before the Lord and in our own Consciences in the matter thereof and we have our Peace and Reward when John Wilkinson's Obstinacy and Ambition will be his Burthen and Torment in the Day of God And William Rogers's Perversion in a prejudiced Minde of George Fox's sincere Intent and Fatherly Exercise in the matter of those Questions put to him on that wise toucheth him not his Life is over it and William Rogers's Sence touching him and his Judgment upon him and us we tread upon for God never made that Spirit that William Rogers manifestly bears as his Book and Work demonstrates judge over the Heritage of God the Judgment shall return on himself again from the just God which he will one Day finde heavy upon him to bear And all John Wilkinson's shifting evading Answers and William Rogers his paraphrasing thereupon and drawing his 〈◊〉 upon Matters on both sides in that wicked Minde he hath will not 〈◊〉 them in that Day To this Testimony we set our Hands in the Power of that Life that was with us to our Reward and Peace Thomas Lowes Robert Widder John Blaykling Robert Barrow with several more The like clamorous Work William Rogers makes against George Fox for that he desired to be satisfied of several things from John Stories own Mouth that he had heard of him manifestly rendring him in Opposition to the Life of God breaking forth in his People according to the dispensation of his Grace suitable to the State of such as waits upon the Lord whose Care for Truth Gods Glory and the good of his People many Thousands have Experience of in Gods Power and are Witnesses thereunto And we do affirm in the Faith we have in God That if John Story had in a tender broken Frame in subjection to Gods Power in himself given a naked Account of these Matters and things proposed to him and had acknowledged his Weakness wherein he was overcome in the Concern he had appeared in relating thereunto it had been his Gain and his great Advantage in God the Days he had to live for the Visitation of God was upon him that day But instead thereof in a stubborne and perverse Spirit he despised the same and hardness of Heart the more prevailed over him to his great Disgrace as by the Evasions and mental Reserves in his Answers thereunto he hath appeared in he plainly demonstrates to such as were Eye and Ear Witnesses against him to the Truth of those Matters chargeable upon him which he hath made a slighty Denyal of And the more William Rogers appears in his Vindication in relation to those things that many are sufficiently able to detect him of the greater will his Burthen be and in the Account to be given
before the Lord he will be the more unable to appear when all his daubing and slubbering-over 〈◊〉 and covering such guileful Work as John Story and John Wilkinson for several Years were concerned will not be to his Repute amongst the Innocent to God nor hide the Head of an opposite contentious Spirit under which John Story and John Wilkinson were brought in Subjection and notwithstanding the evading deceitful Answers John Story had made to those things queried of him whether they were true concerning him or no several of them 〈◊〉 to matters of Faith which he hath denyed he stands convicted of as 〈◊〉 at large in the Reply in Manuscript to their Answer to the Articles in 〈◊〉 alledged against them which they never yet made Answer unto And 〈◊〉 was also proved at the Meeting at Drawell before many Brethren against 〈◊〉 which Reply is ready by us for the Service that it may be allotted for And further we say we are willing to put it to the Evidence of Gods Witness in all Consciences to declare if these fatherly and brotherly Exercises upon George Fox and others thus concerned on John Story and John Wilkinson their Behalf do declare them Apostates for the Life of God or the Occasioners of the Strise and Division in the North Or that George Fox hath been as William Rogers abusively renders erroniously concerned in the matter thereof And further William Rogers says 〈◊〉 appears that George Fox hath been principally concerned in the aforesaid Difference because in a 〈◊〉 writ by John Blaykling Note That the said Postscript was writ by John Blaykling and annexed to a Reply to a salfe 〈◊〉 smiting Accusation exhibited by William Rogers against George Fox in which he would unjustly have brought John Blaykling as a Witness for him against George Fox which John Blaykling solemnly denying queried of William Rogers if that was the 〈◊〉 they were put to to make good John Wilkinson's lying Prophesy viz. That God would break us because of the Testimony born against their opposite Spirit as to set us at Variance one against another if they could from which Passage in the 〈◊〉 William Rogers saith John 〈◊〉 who appeared in the 44 Articles against John Story and John Wilkinson rechoned George Fox one of those unto whom John Wilkinson's 〈◊〉 reached and therefore by Consequence he argues that George Fox was principally concerned in the Difference To all which we answer thus There hath been an eternal Sence in George Fox John Blaykling and Thousands more of a wrong contentious dividing Spirit entering John Story and John Wilkinson tending to divide and scatter the Lambs of God And that George Fox and many 〈◊〉 have been concerned in Care over and Regard to them In which many Exhortations and Cautions hath been given and laid before them many tender Papers writ to them by George Fox and John Blaykling and others yea Councel from God ministred to them by many dear Brethren whilest the Day of their Visitation continued unto them and the Lord waited to have healed them Many Reproofs have been upon them for their disorderly contentious Work in many Exercises and Concerns relating to them and orderly Dealings have been with them and upon their not hearing the Judgment of the eternal Truth through Gods People placed upon them satisfactory to the Life and eternal Sence of George Fox and of the Church of God every where who have been concerned in the Knowledg and Exercise thereof We 〈◊〉 not ashamed with respect to the tender brotherly Dealings with them as before is 〈◊〉 nor of the Testimony that has been born against them and that stands over the head of the Spirit they have been led and acted by to the Churches Grief and the Breach of its Peace On this wise we have been concerned in relation to this Spirit and its dividing Work and have been unanimously knit together in such our Concern in the Fellowship of Gods Power in which we are one in the Service of Truth for the Churches Peace against every Appearance to the contrary And God hath blessed us therein with an Increase of Life and 〈◊〉 to the establishing the Feet of the Innocent in God in the Mountain of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 House on the top of all the Hills and mountanous Imaginations that 〈◊〉 Rogers hath a spired unto in his ambitious Mind and proud Attempts 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 eternal God with the Stone cut out of the Mountain without Hands is 〈◊〉 at and will dash in pieces and be the Confusion of all them who take 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 him And the Prophesie vainly and blasphemoufly delivered by John Wilkinson against the Innocent and upright to God will be found true as daily Experience manifests upon themselves whose Breach and downfal perpetually cometh on apace and there is none found able to deliver And as for the Matters in charge against John Story and John Wilkinson alledged in Writing on the 〈◊〉 aforesaid they who were concerned in the Exercise thereof are vindicated by the Witness of the Eternal God in their own Consciences and justified before many Faithful Brethren And the matters thereof was sufficiently proved at Drawel against 〈◊〉 in the order of Truth and presence of the Almighty God whose righteous Judgment accordingly stands upon the Head of them being convicted thereof which shall never fall to the Ground and this 〈◊〉 Work which William Rogers hath made in this matter against George Fox 〈◊〉 him not For God we say again hath not made William Rogers Judg over him And we do affirm That if George Fox be detectable in the matter of the 〈◊〉 which John Story and John Wilkinson have occasioned in the Church of Christ then was the Prophets of the Lord detectable in the matter of Israel's 〈◊〉 from God who were sent early and late in the Lords willingness to heal them to forwarn them of the Evil that would come upon them if they repented not The like Testimony whereof in relation to John Story and John Wilkinson and the backsliding sort George Fox and many more of Gods People and Messengers of Truth in the Dominion of Gods Power have been concerned in in a Warning to them from the Lord by reason whereof God and his People are clear of them Let those of them unto whom God as yet giveth time look to it as they will answer him in the dreadful Day In his Fourth Part page 36. and so on William Rogers surther goes on in the matter of charging George Fox with an erroneous Concern in the Difference amongst the Quakers in the North implying thereby That John Story and John Wilkinson have been falsly reputed the principal Occasioners thereof c. For which cause William Rogers hath inserted a Paper given forth by them and 〈◊〉 he saith at the Meeting at Drawell as their Judgment in relation to the Five Heads that the 44 Articles alledged there against them related to viz. I Their Opposition to Monthly and Quarterly Meetings II. Opposition to Womens Meetings
no Ill Where is the Charity without which all that 's done is accursed before the Lord in this Work of his William Rogers hath clearly manifested himself void thereof and to be one that watcheth for Evil to smite withal and when he wants matter of Fact against him he strikes at brings Accusations upon this Evidence If Reports be true or its likely so But let us see what the matter is on the account of the Charge that Robert Barrow and others have alledged against John Story and John Wilkinson that hath no matter of evil Fact in it and therefore Robert Barrow and others are Condemnable and consequently George Fox as concerned therein as William Rogers upon his unchristian supposition concludes The first Charge William Rogers inserts for that end out of the forty four Articles alledged against them is thus John Story speaking amongst many Friends of the danger of Forms because of the consequences thereof said That amongst the Christians of Old the Differences that did arise were about Froms which William Rogers saith seemeth to have no matter of evil Fact in it Answ. First We say the Words there are not stated as they were given in Evidence nor according to the first Copy but the Words were That great Differences did arise among the Christians about Forms And Secondly We say that although the Words be true in themselves and that they differed about Forms yet they were not seasonably spoken nor from a right Spirit by John Story as the scope of the Words in the Charge and the Reply inserted demonstrates We prove it thus Friends were in the Exercise of Church Care and Gospel Order in the Discipline in the Church of Christ Friends were zealous therein in opposition to a loose Spirit that did not like the Inspection nor Judgment thereof and it was an evil thing in John Story and matter of Fact chargeable upon him to lay stumbling blocks in the way thereof by presenting the danger of Forms and at this season and on such an occasion to tell of evil Consequence to arise out of the Order of the Gospel settled amongst us and on the account of the Government of Christ Jesus instrumentally in the Church for thereby he gratified a wrong Rebellious Mind and Evil Heart of 〈◊〉 against that justifiable Practice of the Faithful and upon which occasion all the loose sort stuck to him and became of Party with them and cryed against George Fox's Orders and against our Meetings as Formal and not Gospel-like c. And we do affirm that the ground of the Apostacy and Difference about Forms amongst the Christians of Old was the departing from the Power and Life of Truth and from their first Love and Care for God in which Church Government and Discipline was settled in Gods Visible Family 〈◊〉 an outward visible appearance as in the Apostles days from which Power and Faith they being departed the Form which the Life brought forth and they had been Blessed in only remained and then they strove about Methods and outward Forms having nothing else left where the Apostate Christians at this day are and are in their lo here 's and lo there 's and this Form and the other Form without the Life and Power where the Forcing and Compulsion stands that is Accursed before the Lord. But to come to the Matter we say because that in the Apostate State there hath been a false Church and a false Government and Rule exercising Lordship over the Conscience which is come up since the Apostles Days Must there therefore in the true Church come up again out of the Wilderness leaning on the Breasts of her Beloved be no visible Government in subjection to the Power and subservient thereunto Must there be no visible Form or outward Exercise relating to it no Order no Rule or Directions received or practiced therein but the tenderly concerned in it must be run upon as Apostates and Innovators and bringers in of a new Form of Government and of Impositions and Dictates of Fallible Men c. Oh abominable Wickedness that tends to Liberty in the Flesh and a leading back again into Death and the paths thereof Was it justifiable in John Story in this day of the true Churches concern on this wise to go creeping up and down from place to place and sometimes more openly buzing into the minds of the weak and carnal sort an opposition thereunto and telling People of the danger of Forms and the consequences of them to draw from subjection to Gods Power and into a contempt of the Church Care in the Gospel Day and Power thereof We say this was John Story' s Work as the scope of those Articles that belong to this Head tends to prove the same against him and if William Rogers had been sincere in the matter of his inserting the aforesaid Articles and the Reply to their Answer he might have manifested the same as clear as the Sun at Noon-Day to which Articles we refer the Reader together with the Reply at large to their Answer thereunto which we have in Manuscript ready to be produced if any do desire a sight thereof Now what Repute doth William Rogers gain to himself in the matter of his charging the Faithful for their Care in the Church of God or what Credit doth he bring to John Story that gives us cause to Publish on this wise his contentious opposite Work against the Life and Practice of the pure Religion which hath been the greatest part of his Concern these many Years or is Robert Barrow and others detectable on the score of the aforesaid Article against John Story or wherein is George Fox detectable of being an Apostate or one 〈◊〉 concerned in the Difference or wherein yet is he manifested to be one that would have all to submit to him as William Rogers maliciously would render him therefore brings up whatever he can get any way to detect him 〈◊〉 through perverting or 〈◊〉 inferring from his sincere and upright Intents Labour and Work in the Church of God let the Reader consider One other thing we take notice William Rogers hath taken out of the Reply to John Story and John Wilkinson their Answer to the Charges against them and in his Book hath Inserted the same to bring an Aspersion upon Robert Barrow and others concerned therein as also upon George Fox in that it relates to him against whom William Rogers principally in this and other things Smites William Rogers says John Story is accounted a man of a dark Spirit and in Confusion 〈◊〉 he did not believe that what was given forth by George Fox was by him intended to be urged with Severity upon any of Gods Faithful People but as Instructions and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the Churches 〈◊〉 This is a wrong stating of the Matter and thereby made a malicious 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 against Robert Barrow and others First we say John Story is not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Spirit for his so saying but he is
he had wrought Dissatisfaction and Strife in the Church of Christ heading and standing by a Contentious Party with him and leading them into a Separation from the ancient Fellowship in the Truth and Services relating to it and an acknowledgment of the wrong which he had done to the Truth and Gods People we expected and the Spirit that led him to it to be Condemned by him this the Lord and the Truth first looked for from him as we told them And also we say William Rogers hath dealt very Disingeniously with us in his Printing thus to our Defamation in that he hath not also Printed the Reasons we gave him and them why we could not take any notice of Advice or Councel from him or of his Expedients for Uniting c. in the Capacity he stood We asked him that brought the Paper into our Quarterly Meeting whether it was directed to the Meeting from John Story or whether it was a Testimony from John Story of Judgment against himself for the abusive Work he had made amongst us of neither of which any account could be given us which if it had we should readily have received and embraced the same but otherwise we could not do it for the order of Truths sake he being a man that had run himself out of the Unity of Brethren and disconcerned himself in the Church Affairs and the Judgment of Truth through the Brethren being gone out against him and he continuing in the Separation and Strife still we say and we appeal to Gods faithful Witness what notice could we take of any Papers from John Story unless it were to acknowledg his runnings out and condemning himself therefore that so he himself might come again into Unity with us which we truly desired and then we should be glad of his Advice and Proposals in the Spirit of Truth for the helping back again of such as he had helpt to lead 〈◊〉 and thus we proposed to him as most proper for his Concern with much more in the Love of God and Sincerity of Soul being desirous with all our Hearts to receive him and them in again at the right Door that so we might have been comforted in our Souls therein which we have at large to shew in the Copy of a Paper sent from our Meeting to him and them as 〈◊〉 in Manuscript for what further occasion may be seen for it After all this nothing could we hear of from John Story or any of that Party of any submission in him to the Order and Judgment of Truth but in obstinacy of 〈◊〉 in Contention and Separation growing worse and worse he continued for all his smooth deceitful Words and Work that we have had too much of to our Grief Notwithstanding a Meeting was appointed amongst us in relation to the tender hearted amongst them of the Separation in whom the Witness and Life of God was not yet Slain to be at the House of Thomas Camm desiring and word sent them accordingly that all those who had any sence of their Weakness on the account of the asoresaid Division and Separation and were willing to ackowledg the same might come unto it and giving the Brethren that satisfaction as the Truth did expect we should be glad thereof and receive them in amongst us with Joy and if they pleased to bring John Story' s Paper thither for their satisfaction probably we should be willing to have it read but none of the Stout or Stuborn of them came nor any such Paper heard we of however God was with us and our Labour was not in Vain in the Lord for several of the Upright amongst them who loved Righteousness in Heart and Soul came to see from whence they were fallen and returned to their first Love and have done their first Works and the Lord hath Healed them to their Hearts Comfort and the Churches Joy giving God the Praise who is worthy Here follows a Paper given forth by them that came off from them of the Separation To the faithful Flock of God the Children of Light every where the dear and tender Salutation of your Friends whose Names are here unto Subscribed your little Brethren through the Redeeming Hand of the Lord most dearly reacheth you SIgnifying that we are given to understand that there are Copies of a Paper formerly subscribed by many professing the Truth in this our County of Westmerland 〈◊〉 and spread up and down the South and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 England and what farther we know not directly opposire to the Exercise of the Church of God in its tender Care in these Parts upon which said Paper was grounded the unchristian and disorderly 〈◊〉 from the ancient 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Exercise and Service of Truth faithfully continued amongst them to Truth 's great Blemish principally occasioned by John Story and John Wilkinson and some other chief Abetters thereof and Pertakers with them And whereas we also understand that all the Names which at the first were inserted in the said Paper of Subscription do continue thereat as if no Testimonies had been given against the same by any of the said Subscribers that thereby the Leaders in that said Work of Separation and Strife might hold their Interest in the Minds of such as are led away by the same Spirit to persecute the design and Work thereof And in as much as our Names were once put to the said Paper and thereby were Encouragers of them that were the Fomenters and Upholders of that Spirits Work which we now see would have laid waste the Heritage of God if it could have prevailed we are heartily sorry that ever we should be any encouragement thereof or that ever our Names should be put thereunto And as formerly several of us have given forth Papers to the same effect to follow the said subscribed Paper we do now from the bottom of our Hearts and with one Heart and Soul condemn that Spirit that led us thereunto which was the very same Spirit that led some of us to leave our Houses in the Worship of God in the time of Persecution and to meet together in private hidden Places to our shame which thing also we do really judge together with a Paper given 〈◊〉 in vindication thereof and the aforesaid Paper of Subscription against the Brethren of the Monthly and Quarterly Meeting and Exercise thereof we do bear our Testimony against as Inconsistant with the Honour of the Naked Truth and Order of the Gospel in the Power of God and the Unity of dear Brethren having a true sence of what evil report it hath been and what hurt we our selves incurred thereby together with many simple Ones who were offended and 〈◊〉 by it and what Exercise Gods faithful People have met withal by reason thereof and we desire that our Names may be rased out of the said Paper where-ever it may be met withal and that where this our Paper and Testimony may come Copies of it may be sent abroad where any occasion
may be seen for it amongst such as may feed themselves in the wrong Spirit by the said Subscription and we desire our good Friends to take occasion to read the same to such as opportunity serves as also amongst the more simple minded that have been any way hurt thereby that the ancient Truth and sweet Society in the Gospel of Peace all who have ever known the same may be restored into again and blessedly kept therein to the Honour of God's Name and the Delight of Him who hath Loved us which to the breaking of our Hearts in the sence of Gods free Love we can say in the humility of our Souls the Lord hath given us the enjoyment of beyond what we can declare and in the Testimony of the Spirit we do really say that next unto our sweet and comfortable Peace with God which is blessedly renewed in our happy return unto him and hath rested with us since that day that the holy Fellowship and Unity of Spirit with our dear Brethren in the Life and Service of Truth which God hath given us again to pertake of is that which we highly Prize and do desire to Live in whilst we have a Beeing Subscribed by sincerity of souls and in true fear by William Ellery Richard Tompson Thomas Moore Richard Cadeson Simon Tompsou Charles Story Myles Bateman Thomas Pearsou Richard Atkinson Thomas Scaeife ' Authur Barrow Edward Sutton John Prestson Henry Skyring Edward Cragge We desire also that it may be further taken notice of that many more who were not concerned in puting their Hands to the said Paper that did adhere to them of the same Spirit in the hour of Temptation are clearly come off from them in their Hearts and Souls to their own great Satisfaction and Friends Refreshment as several of our Families and others for which thing we our selves have cause to Magnifie the Lord while we have a Beeing And also some there are who have declared that though their Hands were put to the said Paper yet they knew nothing of it neither had they ever seen or heard of the said Paper till long afterwards Here follows divers particular Heads taken out of the aforesaid Paper of Subscription and Ground of Separation And whereas it is said in the aforesaid Paper of Subsciption thus we whose Names are hereunto Subscribed do declare our utter dislike of the Late Proceedings in the Monthly and Quarterly Meetings c. And for that reason we met together to consider what was to be done in that Case c. And for the time to come do resolve that neither they so appointed by us nor we do trouble our selves any further c. And if things must continue thus we hope to do our Business our selves in our Respective Meetings c. We desire that all may take notice that as upon this Resolve inserted in the said Paper the Separation begun it may be seen what Dissimulation and Guile was in the Foundation of this ungodly Design thus to belie their own Consciences in saying That they whose names were underwritten met together on that Occasion or resolved together on that Wise as is therein expressed For we who have hereafter put to our Names do declare that although our Names were in the said subscription yet we never were at any such Meeting nor knew any thing of it as is made mention of in the said Paper neither were any of us ever acquainted with any such Meeting nor had we the opportunity to consider or discourse of matters of that Nature with them but were unadvisedly Surprized with it as the principal Actors therein met with us here and there on the high way or when we were upon some outward Business or coming from a Meeting c. and by their Subtil Allegations and pretences perswaded us to put our Hands to it William Ellery Richard Candeson Myles Bateman Thomas Scaife Authur Barrow John Preston Simon Thompson Edward Cragge Thomas Preston Henry Skyring Richard Sleddale The particular account of the manner of the 〈◊〉 Friends Subscribings was annexed to this Paper when first given forth in Manuscript which for Brevity sake we have forborn to insert here William Rogers in his Book also makes mention of a Letter from John Wilkinson to George Fox with George Fox's Answer to it upon which 〈◊〉 he hath abusively 〈◊〉 which we take no notice of as not worth regarding not questioning but that George Fox's aforesaid sincere and tender Letter unto John Wilkinson will have an Influence upon the Consciences of all the upright and tender Hearted to God where it may come with a Judgment also upon William Rogers his wicked and surmizing Spirit as his pervertions false Inferences and hellish Jealousies therein plainly observable fully demonstrate unto which we can freely refer the honest Reader for his Satisfaction William Rogers also Inserts in his Book two Letters of his own to George Fox and sayes George Fox would not Answer them and a great clamour he and those of party with him makes about that Matter We hope the honest Hearted Reader will excuse this if he doth but consider what care had been used concerning W. Rogers John Wilkinson and John Story and them of party with them from time to time as in this Treatise is declared what abuse William Rogers put upon the Brethrens Care and bowed Exercise in the North concerning them What a Seorn he put upon the Labours and Travels of Friends at Draw-well rendring them though the Antient and grown in the 〈◊〉 Truth like Children pleased with a Rattle that John Story and John Wilkinson with his assistance had given them and an abusive Narrative of the Transacting of the Affairs there himself gave out John Wilkinson if not he also calling the Relation given by all the 〈◊〉 Friends there a Lying Narrative his abusing the Brethren at London and others for their Exercise there in Relation to them and their separate 〈◊〉 with Bowels of Love and Life extended towards them manifested in a tender Epistle of Caution and Advice to them Yea if the honest Hearted do but take notice as is inserted in this Treatise how the Life of God in all the Churches throughout the whole Nation had a Testimony in Life and Practice against their opposite contentious work of Strife and 〈◊〉 and never a Church to stand by them as they have been often required to bring forth one of all the Monthly or Quarterly Meetings throughout the World that would own them considering also how the Testimony and Judgment of the eternal Truth was gone out against them through many Brethren Subscribed at Ellis Hooks ' his Chamber in London which William Rogers clamours against and would tread upon And minding also that they were cast out of the Fellowship of Brethren for their Works sake We can appeal to that in the Consciences of all sober People what Cause had George Fox or what necessity was there for the Brethren to take notice any more of the
What ever it may pretend to More Witnesses might be brought against William Rogers to prove the Charges of Treachery if he should deny these plain things but this is sufficient to detect him of being a notorious Dissembler with his own Conscience and yet would be unworthily charging others with that which he himself is guilty of But William Rogers to excuse his Unchristian and Disorderly charging behind the Back a Brother and an Elder in the Truth saith That John 〈◊〉 and Twenty five Persons whom he calls Accusers and Informers against John Wilkinson and John Story in order to obtain a Judgment against them behind the Back brought false Accusations against them in order to have Nine Persons 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Judgment against them when they denyed their Jurisdiction saith he Answ. This is a soul Aspertion and an unchristian Stating of the case which he is not able to make good against us as hath already in Manuscript been manifested sufficiently which might have satisfied him ere now had he been a reasonable Man we have also in part spoken to it in this Treatise We say again in the first place It was not John Blaykling and the other Persons as distinct from the Church of Christ in Westmoreland that had this concern upon them neither was it their particular distinct case but the case of the Church Assembled in the Quarterly Meeting at Kendal in Westmoreland and the Churches case throughout the whole Nation in the cause whereof an Information had been brought and laid before the Brethren in the North and afterwards in the South of the sad Work that John Story and John Wilkinson had made in Opposition to Church-care and the Order thereof they having been often particularly dealt withal as also in many publick preceding Meetings in Westmoreland in order to their Reconciliation to Truth and the Brethren and yet they still continuing Obstinate at the motion and upon the Agreement of the Quarterly Meeting in Westmoreland as also in persuance of the desire of our Brethren at London was there a Meeting appointed in order to the hearing and examining matters relateing to John Story and John Wilkinson and at the aforesaid Meeting was several Brethren of other Counties made mention of with a desire to have them there having been unconcerned Persons which thing also was desired by our Friends at London and John Wilkinson and John Story had notice of the said Meeting as is before in this Treatise inserted knowing also that matters in charge would be alledged against them because of their contentious opposite Work which for the Truths sake and the Unity of Brethren which they contemned could no longer be forborn and their denial to come to the said Meeting so orderly appointed was their contempt of the Churches Power and the Jurisdiction thereof in the Spirit of Jesus Christ for which Contempt together with the ungodly Work which that Spirit of theirs had wrought amongst Gods People the Judgment went out against them in the Authority of the Power which God blesseth the Work of amongst his People John Blaykling whom he mentions by Name is justified amongst his Brethren in the concern that he and many more have had upon them touching this Spirit and them led by it God hath blessed them with success in the Work they have appeared in whilst it goes ill with them of this evil Spirit who stick to it for they become more and more the Evil Men and Seducers that grow worse and worse And as to his saying That we brought false Accusations against them we say We admire that he dare to Sin against God and Dissemble with his own Conscience for he may remember that the matters in charge against them were proved at the Meeting at Draw-well as the Brethrens Narrative of the transacting of matters there with the Judgment given doth plainly demonstrate Now we come to take notice of what proof William Rogers makes of the Accusations which he hath alledged in Charges against George Fox seeing that George Fox declares them to be False and Malicious now it stands William Rogers in Hand to prove the same or else to lay his Hand upon his Mouth and confess he hath done him and many more Brethren great wrong it will not serve his turn to fly 〈◊〉 in the matter of Proof with saying He only asked the Question for the tendency of his whole Work is to Smite and asperse yea if ever Man was Guilty in the matter of accusing our Brethren William Rogers hath by these smiting Queries declared himself to be such a one There is no plea in the case for the contrary therefore it is expected by the Reader that this he should have done but he is fallen short in this Proud and Presumptuous attempt he makes himself a Reproach The first Query or Smiting Accusation runs thus Art not thou the Man that staidst almost a quarter of a Year or at least a considerable time from Meetings though held in the very House of thy Residence or if thou 〈◊〉 at any time come within the aforesaid space whether it was not so seldom that it became matter of Exercise to other Friends for thy sake 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 didst thou not after he had so done a little amend in that case Answ. The matter of Charge or smiting Accusation against George Fox in this Query is contained in the latter part thereof viz. It s being a Burden and Exercise to John Blaykling and that John Blaykling should signifie the same to him and as if George Fox did a little mend afterward If William Rogers had made out these things by the evidence of two or three Witnesses as he ought to have been able to have done then had there been matter of Charge against him but this George Fox and John Blaykling both denies in their Answer Let us see what William Rogers saith as to proof The Reader may take notice that the substance of what he saith as to proof is That George Fox saith he doth not deny but that he did so but pretendeth that he was so weak in Body that he was not able to sit in the Meeting But not any thing relating to prove the matters of Charge against him doth he bring forth and therefore detected as a false Accuser but of this more may be said afterwards William Rogers's Second Query relating to George Fox is this viz. Wouldst not thou have accounted this in another the Fruit of a Careless Slothful Negligent Dark Spirit that was either departed or departing from the Truth Answ. This is a smiting Accusation indeed and is denied by George Fox and by John Blaykling charged upon William Rogers or any that takes his part to prove this Charge against him if he can and yet we find not in all his Rejoynder any thing said by him whereby to prove this smiting Accusation
intended that the said Meeting should have continued longer for being spoken in the plural Number it must not relate to that particular Meeting at that time but to Friends Meetings more generally and many Hnndreds we believe will testifie that George Fox hath said on that wise at the breaking up of many Meetings when no Persecution hath attended them in an Exhortation that many have been comforted in and much more occasion might he then have for such an Advise as is frequent with him to give because that Persecution in those days attended Friends Meetings and surely if this Man had been of a right Spirit and single to God and had had regard to Truth and the Repute of the Church of Christ he would not have aggravated the force of his Evidence against an Elder and an arraigned innocent Person through William Rogers's wicked murtherous Spirit with what Circumstances relating to Charge he could any way do it let him beware least the Lord lay that to his Charge that he will be much less able to acquit himself of then he whom William Rogers and he too have set themselves against Here follows another Certificate to prove William Rogers's malicious Charge against George Fox I Do remember on this occasion that George Fox did depart out of the Meeting aforesaid before the Meeting broke up or Friends departed and at that time Friends were attended with Persecution and as he was departing he said to Friends to this effect Keep your Meetings and I do believe his so departing was to save himself from being taken by the Persecutors 〈◊〉 Day To this we say It s observable that this Evidence is no proof answerable to William Rogers's Charge and doth bespeak abundantly more Prejudice and Malice then any Christian Love or Charity and doth produce no repute to the Author thereof amongst Gods faithful People or amongst sober Men and 〈◊〉 is no Evidence at all to the matter in Charge for he saith not a word of any Persecutors coming up the Stairs whilst George Fox was speaking or of George Fox's leaving of speaking on a sudden and hastening away c. But it is matter of Charge from himself grounded upon his own belief like William Rogers's Evidence viz. If Reports be ture or I firmly believe or It s probable so And as to George Fox's saying Friends keep your Meetings that 's Answered before in the Answer to the other Certificate satisfactorily to such as are of an honest Mind and William Rogers as to proof to his Charge against the Innocent is yet in the foyl and makes his Works and theirs also of Party with him ridiculous in the Eyes of the wise in Heart who cannot but be ashamed of him and his Work too Here is yet one more that appears to his shame in abetting William Rogers in his malicious detestable Work his Words are as followeth I Do on the occasion aforesaid declare that I remember that George Fox did depart out of the Meeting aforementioned a considerable time before the Meeting broke up and at that time Friends were attended with Persecution I do also remember that mine Vnele Dennis Hollister did acquaint me that George Fox did advise him to absent himself from Meetings in the time of Persecution Samuel Hollister Answer This Evidence also is short like the rest and is not answerable to the Charge no mention being made of any Persecutors coming up the Stairs whilst George Fox was speaking or that he left speaking on a sudden and hastened down c. and manifests William Rogers's Charges suspicious if not altogether false which however afterwards we doubt not but to do Who said That the Officers came up one paire of Stairs whilst George Fox was speaking and that George Fox on a sudden left off speaking and hastened down another pair of Stairs c. which manifests either dimness of sight in William Rogers or that his prejudice and jumbling restless Work he hath made in the Envy that lodgeth in him hath infatuated his Understanding and Memory that he forgets himself or otherwise we may conclude that his Wickedness is such that he often matters not what he saith to the running down of such as he sets himself against the Lord doth take notice of these things And it is not proper discreet nor evidential for Samuel Hollister to bring up the Words of his deceased Uncle to make an Accusation thereof against the Innocent who was a Man of that Gravity Wisdom and tenderness of Spirit as some of us can testifie that we believe that he would have abhorred to have appeared on this wise against an Elder but have given him more Gospel Order if true then either William Rogers or he hath done Did Samuel Holister ever acquaint George Fox with what he hard his Uncle say touching this matter that he has brought in Charge against him and put it into the Hands of an open Enemy to Truth and George Fox's Foe to be put in Print on Record to Posterity against him Where is the Christian Dealing and Gospel Order which William Rogers hath blamed others for being deficient in on John Stories and John Wilkinsons account Who in order to get a Judgment against them saith he 〈◊〉 forth Charges behind their Backs that Judgment might be brought forth against them unhard VVe can tell William Rogers that his and his Certificers Case is far remote from that in relation to us whom he hath placed a Judgment upon in Print to Posterity on the account of our dealings with John Story and John Wilkinson as hath been evidently manifested in 〈◊〉 Treatise already for we say John Wilkinson and John Story were acquainted with proceedings intended concerning them by the Advice and Order of the Quarterly Meeting in persuance also of Advice from Grave and Ancient Friends from London a Meeting was appointed that they might be heard and they had liberty granted to make their Defence and to make their Objections against the Witnesses if they pleased and that all things might be examined Face to Face betwixt them and those appearing on the Truth and on the Churches behalf against them which they were acquainted with yet they contemptuously refused to appear in the ambition of their Hearts and shut themselves from the priviledge of being heard and justly therefore exposed themselves to the sentence of Truth through Gods People against them Let these Certificers and Accusers also be asked whether ever they acquainted George Fox with what they intended to do in relation to Charge and Evidence touching this matter Did they give the priviledge of a Friend and Brother in Truth according to Gospel Order Did they give him liberty to be heard and make his Defence Face to Face according to judicial proceedings that he might have the liberty to have cleared himself or given that satisfaction which the Truth and the Gospel of Christ required before they published him in Print to Posterity If they have been deficient in this matter they have
rendered themselves to be out of the Doctrine of Christ Obstructers yea Despisers of Gospel Order and the Rule of common Societies Accusers of the Innocent Parties with William Rogers in his malicious Work in criminating on this wise and their Evidence if any material had been therein not to be regarded by Men fearing God Lovers of the Christian Religion and the Society of Brethren in the Spirit of Truth and that their Works cannot but be despised and cast out as the unsavoury Salt good for nothing but to be trodden under Foot of Men. And to that in all Consciences we can appeal where these things may come to be taken notice of whether it be not clearly demonstrated as the Sun that shineth at noon Day that this Work of William Rogers's hath proceeded from meer Malice seeking occasion against the Faithful whose Testimony stands and lives against his and his Abettors backsliding State at which they freet and fume and tugs to and fro and fastens themselves the more thereby to their greater Shame and Reproach in the pit of Infamy and Disgrace which they would have had others cast into And for a further manifestation of the fallacious Work of William Rogers and those of party with him as their Words demonstrate which have bew rayed them in this concern relating to George Fox his leaving the Meeting at Broad-Mead in the City of Bristol after the manner that they would charge him with We think meet to Insert here the substance of a Certificate given forth on the aforesaid occasion by Twenty eight Persons and Friends to Truth in the City of Bristol several of whom some of us knows to be Persons of grave and solid Deportment Men of good report in Truth and of a good conversation and repute 〈◊〉 all sober Men whom although William Rogers in his Paraphrasing 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 their said Certificate doth most abusively below the Spirit of a Man render them we are satisfied it shall stand touching this matter of William Rogers's 〈◊〉 Charge by all we can any way observe an Evidence for George Fox's 〈◊〉 therein in the Consciences of all the Faithful to God every where who comes to have the knowledge thereof with the 〈◊〉 that relate to it The Charge was thus If when the Persecutors came up one pair of Stairs whilest George Fox's was speaking he had not been of such a Spirit which some may call 〈◊〉 and despairing as on a 〈◊〉 to step down and hasten out of the Meeting at a back pair of Stairs which he once did of which mine Eyes with many more were Witnesses The Substance of the Answer of the aforesaid Friends is to this effect viz. WE have this to say who were generally all of us at all or most of the Meetings which George Fox was at there That we never 〈◊〉 or can remember that any Persecutors did come up the Stairs whilest George Fox was speaking so as to occasion the ceasing of his Testimony on that aocount And for a further confirmation of George Fox's clearness against this malicious Charge they add viz. And this Testimony for him we have in our Hearts as a Man remote in Spirit and Example from any such Practice of flying in time of Persecution though now charged therewith by Apostates c. And this we though fit to insert as Persons concerned 〈◊〉 the vindication of our dear Friend G. F's Innocency in this Case according to the best of our knowledge and remembrance who neversaw any just occasion for such a Charge as W. R. hath aspersed him with c. Now we leave this matter before the honest Hearted where this may come to 〈◊〉 whether George Fox himself having denyed the Charge as false and malicious we havenot much more ground on George Fox his Account touching this matter to give credit to Charles Hartford Charles Jones and Richard Snead and the twenty five Persons more of known Credit and Repute and Men of 〈◊〉 Spirits and tender with respect to Truth and the fellowship therein amongst Brethren who understanding that William Rogers had given out a Charge on this wise amongst many others against George Fox and had in Manuscript sent it abroad up and down the Nation had a concern of Spirit in the Vindication of Truth on their own free accord to give forth the relation aforesaid then to give credit to these few Certifiers on William Rogers's account against an Elder in Truth unheard and behind his back Who also have given Judgement against him and thereby manifested themselves to be Parties in the Design Printed as a Record to Posterity from their own particulat belief in a Criminal matter of such a tendency as this appears to be And shall leave to the Righteous God to clear the Innocent in all Hearts and that the Guilty and Blood Suckers of the Lambs of Jesus may be manifested to all that the Lambs may be aware thereof And for a further manifestation of George Fox's Innocency touching the charge of flying in the time of Persecution we 〈◊〉 the reader to George Fox's tender and simple Relation there in his Answer to William Rogers smiting 〈◊〉 and should be glad that all the tender Hearted who are void of Prejudice had 〈◊〉 oppertunity to look over the same believing that the tenderness of the Mans 〈◊〉 in the Life of God is such that it might be able to convince all Gainsayers yet such hath been the wickedness of William Rogers's Spirit in his paraphrasing thereupon to help his Work thereby that he hath taken hold of pieces thereof here and there that he could any way bend to the Advantage of his so charging and the rest of the Words that might make out George Fox's Innoceney touching the matter them he for the most part quite leaves out all which to insert together with what might be said to his pervertions and ungoodly deductions therefore in his Rejoynder would trouble the Reader with more then in Conscience we are bound to do or then there is any occasion for either with respect to the clearing this reproached and approved faithful Servant of God and for Jesus sake to every little one George Fox from the wicked Accusations alledged against him touching this matter together with the rest spoken to or as any way needful to manifest William Rogers's evil Mind for they are dark who see him not having occasion to be concerned with him Yet we desire to be born a little in giving the Reader a short account of some Passages that George Fox met withal that Morning before he came to the Meeting that the Charge against him relateth to which William Rogers in his Rejoynder denieth not one Word of as to the substance thereof yet how therein by his perverting and drawing ungodly Inferences therefrom how he makes that plain and honest Relation to look it would make ones Heart to tremble only in a few Words by the way whereby to remove the dubiousness that seems to lie in the following
of the Scriptures and of what I have writ and what his Name is to And to prove what he seems to hold forth against George Fox he saith I find no where that ever the Apostle forbad Circumcision in the same case in which he practised it Answer It s to be admired what this Man would fetch up or frame matter of to smite with though thereby he demonstrates sometimes his own folly for we say where doth George Fox say that the Apostle did so Nay we do affirm that George Fox doth plainly shew that the Apostle did not forbid Circumcision on the same Account or in the same case in which he practised it and so for William Rogers to say he finds it so no where is the same and no otherwise then what George Fox saith wherein then is George Fox's Ignorance of Scriptures and what his Name is to c If William Rogers knew rightly what himself says he might see how he runs himself into Confusion and makes himself Work with his own Shaddow George Fox intimates that the case in which the Apostle practised Circumcision and tenderly bore it for a season was because of the hardness of the Hearts of some in the days of the Churches infancy and gathering to God that could not easily be brought off from Circumcision and least his very much pressing the unnecessariness of it might have hardened some that used it against the Truth and because also of the tenderness of some others that had made some Conscience of it in Zeal though without knowledge as some of the Jews were said to have therefore also did he forbear and some little practise it and bid the believing Jews in the day of that weakness amongst them to be cautious of judging one another therein and in Meats and Drinks and the like These were the Cases in which the Apostle practised Circumcision and bore with the tenderly weak in those matters And the other case in which the Apostle judgeth them in it was as George Fox says when some who were come to see the nothingness of Circumcision and observing of Days and the like with respect to a Gospel Dispensatiou and Salvation by Christ Jesus and not of Works c. and afterwards turned thither again pretending it to be their principle and make a Sect of it Then the Apostle expressly forbad it saying If you be Circumcised Christ shall prosit you nothing and he said also And now after you have known God or rather are known of God how turn you back agaid into these Beggarly Rudiments the observing of Days and the like It is one thing we say in the Infancy of Truth not to see ones way out of the practice of some things Erroneous and an Exercise of Conscience may be in relation thereunto In which case great forbearance and render dealing with such in the Spirit of Meekness is profitable It s another cause when after Convincement and an understanding be given of the evil and unprofitableness of some thing in order to Life and Peace and yet to stand in the Observation of those things or being once redeemed therefrom to turn back thither again and say it s their Principle and make a Sect of it in this case Truths Authority comes to be exercised and the Judgment thereof placed And this is the substance of what George Fox intimates touching this matter which William Rogers makes so much quarrelling about And had the case on William Rogers John Story and John Wilkinson their Account in Relation to Church Care Government and Order therein which all this ado hath been made against by them been the case of tenderness or want of seeing the necessity thereof because of the Infancy as to Truth that they might have been in and that they had been tender in their Spirits under a fear to have offended the Lord his Church and People undet a mistake in themselves that Simplicity would have been Jealous of then would they not have wanted all possible forbearance every way to have done them good but this was not their case in any respect as their Testimonies and Works demonstrate They were not the Weak in their own Eyes for when they were in the first Love they were not ignorant of the necessity of Church Care Order and Government amongst Gods People in this Gospel day Witness William Rogers Subscription amongst many Brethren to a Paper for the promoting the same and encouraging Friends therein inserted in the first part of this Treatise and John Story his hand amongst the Brethren also on the same Score John Wilkinson owning the Papers given forth by George Fox as Directions touching the same as very good and useful to be practised They were not humble and passive in the day when they begun to stumble thereat and turned back therefrom to indulge a wrong Spirit in a fleshly ease in themselves and such as hung upon them or were gratified thereby much need not be said here what is already inserted in this is sufficient to satisfie touching this matter and William Rogers's Book also fully demonstrates what obstructions he lays in the way of it and what contempt he puts upon the care in the Church of God used amongst the faithful that all this cluttering Work hath been made by them against in a word they are manifested to be such as are gone back again from their first Love and Aeal for Truth and the Power thereof and the concerns of the Churches Advantage and Peace is not of weight upon them but the old liberty in the fleshly part is that they would be indulged in wherein Antient Testimonies for the Truth comes to be departed from to the dishonour of Truth and the holy way of God to the Grief of God's People who keeps faithful to him and this is the case that the Truth cannot allow any such in but the Judgment thereof in the Spirit of Jesus wherein Authority and Rule stands is placed there But again to the matter we were upon Let us see from what touching George Fox's instancing Pauls sometimes using and allowing Circumcision and in some cases judging it William Rogers fetcheth his smiting blows against him for that 's the Work he is concerned in William Rogers infers from this and saith It appears that the actings in some things according to ones Principle in matters of Conscience were condemnable when the practising things not according to ones Principle in matters of Conscience might be justifiable in George Fox ' s 〈◊〉 or some of party with him Answer we say this is a gross Perversion of George Foxs's Words and a false Application from the Apostles Practice and George Fox's instance nor any way deducible there-from And we require William Roger if he can to make it out that ever George Fox or any of them that are of his Spirit and in Fellowship with him ever justified any in the practice of things against their Consciences or disallowed any thing practised by any who acted
the Paper in the North against the Practice of our Monthly and Quarterly Meetings and intimating their purpose to withdraw and do their business amongst themselves with their chosen Men without us c. and their withdrawing upon it and setting up a Meeting amongst themselves to do business in as there might be occasion and keeping the same up occasionally to this Day demonstrates the Charge to be true against John Story of having a hand in the aforesaid separate Meeting how can it rationally be otherwise concluded John Stories Hand being at the Paper the principal Man of all the separate Company and according to their determination expressed in it withdrew John Wilkinson his fellow Companion and an Assistant in all the contentious Work constantly meeting with them neither of them ever that ever we could hear of shewing any dislike thereof but associating themselves with them of the Separation in their opposite Papers and Works as a Captain Leader and chief Agent amongst them at every turn surely there is not a rational Man that hath had knowledge of the transactings of matters amongst them here distinct from the Brethren and John Story the Man in their Eye for the carrying on their Work but he will conclude John Story is so far from being disconcerned in the separate Meeting that he is the Man upon whom the dependance in order to success in the Design hath hung And William Rogers confesseth That when they heard that John Story had been at a separate Meeting at VVilliam Chambers ' s House it went far with them c. But John Story denying that ever he had been at any made the Certificate of no credit to them Their Case is bad we say that makes Lyes their Refuge We are loath to say it though it hath been too usual with John Story so to do well then by William Rogers's own Words the proving John Story to have been at some of those separate Meetings might have much satisfied them that he had an Hand in the setting up thereof Then as we said in our former Paper given to them Three years ago and more let John Story be asked and 〈◊〉 his Conscience speak whether he was not at a Meeting amongst them of the Separation at 〈◊〉 upon business relating to Church Affairs and another time at Robert Atkinson's about the matter of the Separation separate Work let him deny it 〈◊〉 he hath a Face so to do Yea and that their Meeting was upon business as a Church as they esteemed themselves though distinct from the ancient Meeting in a capacity to do business as justifiable in their Eye though separated from us as they of the Quarterly Meeting could be c. We appeal to the honest Hearted whether this be not 〈◊〉 Scraffling the Work of John Story' s creeping Spirit Were it not more Manlike in him to confess and stand by it as the rest have done seeing they will not condemn it And do they not manifest a blind besotted Heart and Spirit that have chosen such a one as this for their Leader Well then the weight of the matter for Evidence against John Story as touching this Point of his Being concerned in the separate Meeting and a Leader therein hangs upon his being or not being at any such Meeting amongst them of the Separation as William Rogers's Words implys saying The Certificate under the Hands of six Friends proving that he had been at such a Meeting had some weight with them as to that matter till John Story had denied And it stands not upon John Stories having been or not been at the Meeting at William Chambers's House but upon his being at any of those Meetings with them yea or nay Then to determine this matter we require William Rogers or any of them that have been too much enclined to believe Lyes for their satisfaction if they desire any and will not wilfully shut their own Eyes to ask John Story once again and bid him let that in his Conscience speak whether he was not at one or both of these Meetings aforesaid we have yet hope that he hath not that impudence as to deny it although this be the third or fourth time in opposition to this Charge that we have required them to take John Stories Answer once more on this account and yet we never had any Word to the contrary of what we have said touching this Matter And as to our naming William Chambers's House for the Meeting that Day there was this Ground for it seeing several of them that Day met at William Chambers's House first an honest Friend seeing several of them going in thither not knowing but that it had been a Meeting upon the account of Worship had thought to have gone into the Meeting but they would not suffer him but said It was a Meeting of Business Yet afterwards it appeared they went to Robert Atkinson's House and kept the Meeting there for more conveniency as we judge and that John Story was with them let him deny it if he think meet and if there was a little mistake in the Relation touching the place that the weight of the matter hangs not upon that all this ado hath been made of proclaiming Robert Barrow and the rest Givers forth of a false Certificate we leave it to the Judgment of Judicious Men And William Rogers in his Conscience knows that this Information he hath been privy to three times once in the Answer from us to his Narrative and in another Book in Manuscript in Answer to one of theirs dated from John Ayrey's House in Kendal and Thomas Cam also by Words signifing the same to some of them in the South And yet after all this to put in Print to Posterity the said Accusations against us of giving forth false Certificates and never contradicts our Relation which proves the whole substance of the Charge as relating to evil Fact neither shews so much Humanity as to insert also our Answer to the Charge which clears the matter as in Conscience and according to the equal Law of doing as we would be done by he ought to have done We commit the consideration of these things with all the rest of his malicious evil Work to that in all Consciences to take notice of in relation to Tryal and Judgment Whether the Matter alledged in Charge against William Rogers be not certainly true to wit of An Antichristian Apostate A False Accuser of the Brethren An Enemy to the Life and Government of the Spirit instrumentally amongst Gods People the Church of Christ A Layer of Sumbling-Blocks as much as in him lies in the way of Truth the Principle he pretends to A Discourager of Christian Care in the Church of God An Encourager of the Rebellious and Lose Sort An Obstructer of Zion's Peace to the hardening of the Hearts of them that believe not against the way of Truth One that Gratifies the Common Enemy that hath watched for Evil against us and
It is his freedom so to do or it is his Principle or that he hath Liberty in Conscience on this wise and so would not be juged in it We say that very common People will say that such a Conscience is a false Conscience and a Corrupted Conscience and all pretence to Conscience or Liberty in the inner Man with such a Spirit as this will be as unsavoury Salt good for nothing but to be cast out and trodden under Foot of Men. And so what credit can any give to William Rogers or William Ford in any Engagement relating to the Truth or Covenants they either make or sign when they dissemble thus with the Lord and their own Consciences or what credit can any give to what they either say or sign in John Story' s behalf who thus deal contrary to Covenant and that in their own Conscience and when they are 〈◊〉 of it are so high as to threaten and say Of what dangerous Consequence it is to Account them so notshewing forth the Meek Spirit of the Lord Jesus but manifesting themselves to be such as the Apostle spoke of to wit Heady High-Minded Truce-breakers c. He hath broken Covenant also with William Pen and the rest concerned in publishing his Quotations out of George Fox's Book without publishing also George Fox's Answer which as we understand he gave to them there in the Meeting wherein he explained his Mind concerning the said Quotations which thing is contrary to the proposition viz. If any there present have any thing to offer to the matter in hand such having his or their Liberty to speak that every such thing said if either the Friend that spoke or William Pen or William Rogers shall desire it be also Recorded Let the wise weigh these doings Again William Rogers and William Ford say in their Narrative This is a brief Relation of some Passages happining in Bristol since the late coming of George Fox George Whitehead and William Pen c. And yet how many passages have they made mention of that did not happen in the City of Bristol Several Passages are therein inserted that fell out amongst Friends in Westmoreland about John Story and John Wilkinson as several things alledged in Charge against John Story which Robert Barrow's name is put to and twenty six more made mention of And yet doth not insert any thing that hath been writ by Robert Barrow or some of the twenty six he Speaks of Satisfactory to Men of equal Spirits for the Confirmation of the weight of the said Articles as also of the Truth of them If William Rogers and William Ford had been men of just and equal Spirits they would also have sent through the Nation what Proof had been made thereof to John Story and John Wilkinson their shame and the Sence that the Brethren had and delivered concerning them as he himself was a Witness of at Draw-well and not so deceiptfully have taken pieces here and there out of the Charges or Reply to their Answer as seemed to have least weight as he or they had placed them distinct from the foregoing or following matter and left out the most material things relating to Charge against them thereby as may be easily gathered thinking to invalidate the whole matter of Charge against them and for the further manifestation of the business of William Rogers's Spirit about this matter we refer the Reader to the Answer to that part of the Narrative that concerned Friends here in Westmoreland given forth several Months since Other things relating to Passages in the North have they inserted that happened not in the City of Bristol at the said Meeting tending to the Defamation of the Brethen here but they have not been so honest as to send also with their said Narrative such Papers as have been given forth here as did clearly wipe off their Aspersions to the Satisfaction we believe of the honest Hearted where such came which manifesteth also that these Men are grown to that pass that they often mind not rightly what they say or do They also contrary to the Frontice-piece of their large Narrative have 〈◊〉 an Account of things that happened at London and not in the City of 〈◊〉 as something in Ellis Hooke's Chamber being a Judgement srom many 〈◊〉 against the Separation and the John's their offering 〈◊〉 Gift being unreconciled as also something concerning the second Days Morning Meeting at London 〈◊〉 allowing something in Robert 〈◊〉 's Book which 〈◊〉 William Rogers is not justifiable of which more afterwards something also they have spoken of in 〈◊〉 Narative that was discoursed upon or 〈◊〉 at 〈◊〉 Now how these things can agree with his saying a short Relation of things happening at Bristol since the coming of 〈◊〉 Fox c. and whether they do not charge a Lye upon themselves we 〈◊〉 it to the 〈◊〉 to judge William Rogers also for so we may safely reckon it as his Work makes mention that several hours were spent about proving the separate Meeting 〈◊〉 the North 〈◊〉 For that saith he William 〈◊〉 reserved till the last endeavouring to bring JOhn 〈◊〉 to confess that he justified it But John Story saith William Rogers would not do so giving this reason For then he should judge the Cause before he had 〈◊〉 both Parties speak Answer We say might not John Story be ashamed of this shuffling as a 〈◊〉 wicked thing for he knows in his Conscience that he hath been a great cause of it and need not make himself such a stranger to it his own Hand being at the Paper the Foundation of the separate Meeting doth he not give himself the Lye in saying he hath not heard both Parties speak in that Matter and it s a wicked thing in him to have that Impudence to blind such as are more strangers to it to pretend that he had no Hand in it but was a meer stranger to it when he knows how it was discoursed upon in the North when Friends were here 〈◊〉 the Difference occasioned by him and how it was then disowned and he advised then to labour to break it up and William Rogers knows also in his Heart that John Story is no stranger in this Matter as he seems thus shiftingly to alledge And therefore say we and that with Grief of Heart who is he that knows these things and will give credit to any thing almost that John Story and William Rogers says that may any way 〈◊〉 to help their ungodly Design Again It is said in the Narrative thus Now as to the latter part of your request meaning Friends to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Story to go Home and break up the separate Meeting or disown it we say meaning William Rogers and them of that Party it is that which hath no Answer in our 〈◊〉 for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 we should render our selves Judges of the Merrits of the cause which our Ears have not heard Now we say surely William Rogers manifesteth great deceit and wickedness here
not ashamed to call it an Idle Vain Testimony in the Name of the Lord. And yet in another place of the Narrative and other of their Writings they of this Spirit said John Story and John Wilkinson must be left to Act as their Lord and Master shall lead them And yet would not allow Elizabeth Sturridge to clear her Conscience as her Lord and Master might require her Doth not this manifest a partial and byassed Spirit in judging thus partially as he hath done And yet contrary to their former Judgment as some of them of that Spirit have said to wit That we must not judge of Spiritual things And how answers this also that which they say That all must be left to the Witness of God in themselves And from what 〈◊〉 do we say doth that Jealousie and Fear arise of having the Meeting entertained with Testimonies being the same also with that which made all the Bawling in the Meeting at Bristol when Friends were waiting upon the Lord for the Testimony of Life to arise amongst them that William Rogers said His Soul abominated such 〈◊〉 which was to wait to see if any thing might arise in any to Write to John Story about the reconciling the sad Differences risen as the Certificate imports Is not this the Spirit that 's gone from the Truth and likes not sound Judgment being gone from the Command of God Cain after he had done evil concerning his Brothers Blood his countenance fell and he thought that every one that met him would slay him But it is not so with the Righteous for they are bold and makes no such provision for the Flesh And is not William Rogers's Testimony more Idle and Impertinent and John Story' s also and John Wilkinson then Hers was who saith God hath raised them up to stand in the Gap and yet are opening Gaps for the Loose and Fleshly to enter in at out of the Way of Truth and their Testimony for it to wit William Rogers's making away part of his Estate from the Spoylers and says It s his Principle and John Story creeping in suffering times and John Wilkinson standing to justifie it and what an idle Testimony was that in John Story that condemned Friends Soundings and making an noise in Heart-Melody to God in their Meetings whilst others were Preaching or Praying and said He had born his Testimony against it and he would do it and bring it down or leave Preaching And was not John Wilkinson's Testimony Idle and Prophane and charged it upon the Lord too that said God will break us when we were in the exercise of Truth according to Gospel Order and yet it fell on the neck of his own Spirit for many not long after broke off from them and came away with joy Again in the Narrative it is said by them That from henceforth there may be no occasion to say that they are Men of Strife c. We say Would they be look'd upon not to be Men of Strife we can confidently say that William Rogers's work of spreading abroad this Narrative and others his contentious Papers sufficiently gives himself the lye if he say so and the Fruits of John Story and John Wilkinson and their Company in their Subscriptions and Separation and Contentious Work sufficiently manifests that they are not Men of Peace We further observe that it is said in the Narrative That the consideration of the present Differences amongst Friends and the sence they have that the Name of the Lord is dishonoured amongst the Heathen who at this Day may clap their Hands for joy and cry Ha! Ha! They say They have cause to enter into the House of Mourning rather then Joy In Answer we say it may be seen what a deceitful Spirit this is thus to pretend and use a deal of smooth Words in Hypocrisie that have no Answer in the Consciences of the Faithful to God For hath not John Story and John Wilkinson and other Partakers with them in this contentious VVork been the only cause of dishonour to the peaceable Truth and the Name of God Doth not the Separation and such work of Strife and VVrangling as is brought forth amongst them and William Rogers's sending abroad his contentious Papers up and down the Nation contrary to Covenant and Agreement made and signed testifie of what Spirits they are Their Resistance to the tender Advise and Judgment of the most of Friends in the Nation sheweth them to have a stubborn Heart far from the House of Mourning VVhat Kindness and Care hath been extended and used towards this People VVhat tender Entreaties have been made to them to be reconciled to God and the Brethren and to come off from the Separation And John Story and John Wilkinson have been desired that they would be instrumental in breaking up the Separate Meeting or testifie against it and yet with an imperious Spirit do they despise and resist all and this Hyprocrisie atop of all causes the Lord the more to abominate their doings Hath William Rogers forgot the Crys and Tears to the Lord for them at the Draw-well when he and they stood in that heardness of Heart that many were made to admire Let them say what they will the House of Mourning they are Strangers too yet the Day of it will come from the Lord God who sees their VVorks and will judge accordingly for neither their Spirit nor their VVorks do answer the Light of Christ nor the Grace of God that hath followed them and the Strife that is begun and which they still maintain shall be laid at their Doors let them look to it as they will answer the Lord in the great Day VVe observe also that William Rogers in the Narrative recites two Questions that were put to the Brethren at Draw-well by John Wilkinson and John Story to be resolved although we shall not concern our selves here much to give any Answer to them then what was delivered amongst the Brethren then yet we desire that the said Queries may be compared with the Paper of Prescriptions subscribed by John Story and John Wilkinson and them of the Separation The first Question Whether or no we and all Gods People ought not to be left in all matters of Faith and Discipline c. to the manifestation of Gods Spirit and Truth in our Hearts to Speak and Act therein as we are thereby Instructed and Perswaded and not otherwise The Answer was given Affirmatively viz. They Ought And our Sence and Judgment in the Truth closed therewith as that which we stand for and have maintained against every contrary appearance And yet John Story and John Wilkinson in their Paper of Subscription the foundation of the Separation in the North say together with others of the Separation That none of their own Country or of other Countries must sit amongst them to concern themselves in the Business of their County although it be about matters relating to Discipline but their chosen Men to whom they give
Power and if any do they are usurpers of Authority they say yea it was moved also by them That no Ministers of Truth should be any of those chosen Men only they come in afterwards with a proviso That if any had a Message from God to deliver amongst them they must declare their Message and withdraw Now let the wise in Heart see What Darkness and Contradiction is this For doth this Proposition and Practice of theirs answer their Conclusion in this Cuestion That all must be left to the manifestation of Gods Spirit and Truth in their own Hearts to Speak and Act therein as ' they are Instructed and Perswaded that would thus limit the Spirit of the 〈◊〉 in his People by shuting out such as might be moved of the Lord to come and sit amongst them to be concerned as the Lord might instruct them And how doth this answer the Liberty and Motion upon Peoples Consciences they so much cry for And how doth this answer those Words in the Narrative That John Story must be left to Act as his Lord and Master should 〈◊〉 him And yet John Story and John Wilkinson by their Order and Prescription will not allow others the like priviledge but says That none must came and sit amongst their chosen Men but such as they have chosen and to whom they have given Power although their Lord and Master by his Spirit should lead them Is not here exercising Lordship over Mens Consciences to purpose even over the Heritage of God And is not this Order and Prescription of theirs which they would have had Gods People to have submitted to worse then the Worlds Courts either such as are called Spiritual or any of the 〈◊〉 Courts or Sessions The second Question proposed at Draw-well aforesaid inserted in William Rogers's Narrative is as followeth viz. Since there are diversities of Talents and Gifts 〈◊〉 ven by the Spirit of God and received by Men whether the judgment of Truth given forth through a part of the Members of Christs Body can become any bond upon any other part of the same Body further then their Vnderstands are enlightened thereby This Question was answered in the Negative and in the Spirit of Truth we have Unity therewith but we do further affirm that whatsoever is given forth in the Judgment of Truth and from the Gift of the Spirit by any of the Members of the Body of Christ that the rest of the Members of the same Body which keep their Eye in Christ their Head have Unity in the Spirit of Christ therewith and if any slight thereof or opposition thereunto do arise in any Members of the 〈◊〉 it is because they are become benumbed Members and have lost the spiritual lively sence of the Truth in themselves and are become thereby Strangers to the mind of God communicated to such as keeps alive in the Body to be distributed by such as Instruments in his Hand for the good of the Body as the Lord sees meet But how doth this Question of theirs answer their Order and Prescription subscribed by them that would have all to submit to what they give out as their Judgment and Order to be condescended to and covenanted in or else they would withdraw from such as would not and do their business themselves amongst their chosen Men and the Order such as would limit the 〈◊〉 of the Lord in the Members of Christs Body and to cause subjection to such their Inventions as Christianity would be ashamed of And yet these are the Men that cry against Orders and for Liberty but that it is the Order of the Gospel the Power of God that they cry against not loving sound Judgment and that the Liberty they would be at and which they are 〈◊〉 after is the Liberty of the Flesh its clear to all that love Righteousness and trace the Path that this unclean Spirit of theirs is treading in Here was no allowing the Tryal of their Prescription and Order by the Spirit of the Lord nor time given to those they presented their Propositions to to have their Understands enlightened touching their Order but a full and positive Conclusion was determined by them on this wise If they were not closed with and covenanted withal they would without any more ado with-draw and accordingly they did and some of them do continue in the Separation to this Day What horrible Confusion Contradiction and Hypocrisie is this In crying against Orders and none scarce ever heard of like theirs and to cry for Liberty of Conscience and yet would exercise Lordship over Mens Consciences on this wise It s a shame for any professing Truth and the Spirit of the Lord to touch with such a Spirit as this Much more might be observed upon William Rogers's Narrative whereby to manifest his Contradiction and the dishonest unchristian yea inhumane Work he hath made in the matter of his relation of the Passages which he saith happened at Bristol at the Meeting aforesaid and how opposite to the Covenants and Agreements subscribed by himself he hath concerned himself therein as cannot but be taken notice of by the Impartial Reader as ridiculous and below morral Honesty and how he together with John Story and John Wilkinson do render themselves inconsistant with themselves in crying out against Orders and outward Ordinances which they say Have been the cause of all the Differences and yet the Order and Prescription that they made and presented to be submitted to being denyed by the Brethren who kept to the Order of the Gospel in the Power of God occasioned the further manifestation of their own disorderly Spirit of Strife which led them into a Separation from the ancient Unity and Bond of Peace to the working Truth 's Blemish and the breach of the Churches Peace to their shame We say much more might be taken notice of as to this matter but that as to the substance of the most material things touched upon in the Narrative it hath been already Satisfactorily writ to by the several Parties principally concerned therein viz. one part thereof by George Fox and another part by Robert Barclay as also considerably spoken to by the Brethren at Bristol and that part of it that concerns the Brethren in Westmoreland answered by them viz. about some of the Articles alledged in charge against John Story and John Wilkinson which William Rogers by his perversions and unfairly dealing therewith would annihilate as relating to matter of Charge against them whose craft in taking out pieces here and there in the Charges and the Reply to John Story and John Wllkinson their Answer and his leaving out the most material Words being discovered in the sight of the single-hearted to God we say they are found still detected of opposition to Church Care and Disesteem of Gospel Order and in a Backsliding state in themselves discouraging the Antient Testimony for Truth in others that the Articles in charge principally against them relate to Unto which
in Hand and their Letter to Jeofrey Bullock the old Blashphemous Apostate from Christ of which a little was spoken before mars the beauty of his pretended Zeal for Christ and his Kingdom which he so much talks of the Work he made with his Narrative that himself drew up on the Meeting at Draw-well which was spoken of before and his judging the Narrative given sorth by the Brethren there before they parted and subscribed with an unanimous consent John Wilkinson if not he also calling it a Lying Narrative the Work he made about Robert Barclay's Book of Church Government which at London he confessed his Weakness in and the Narrative he gave forth contrary to Covenant amongst the Brethren at the Meeting about John Story and John Wilkinson c. between George Fox William Penn George Whitehead and others on the behalf of the antient Unity of Brethren and the Churches Peace and William Rogers Thomas Goldney and others on John Story' s account also the Work that he and some of his Associates of the same Spirit made in Wiltshire against the Testimony and Judgment given forth against John Story and John Wilkinson at Ellis Hooks's Chamber in London at the general Meeting asoresaid his contemptible vilifying the good and wholsome Directions given forth to be practised in order to the keeping down fleshly raw and unseasoned works in all professing the pure Truth calling them Mens Inventions other Mens Lines made ready to our Hands dictates of fallible Men Mens Edicts and Laws George Fox ' s Orders and the like rendering in his Printed Book the Lords People yea all that profess the Light to be the way to God except those of Party with himself to reckon the Government of Christ Jesus to stand in outward conformity to other Mens Lines made ready to our Hands to the Reproach of Gods People and the Blemish of the Gospel of Christ and the Order thereof which we testifie against as a Reflection upon the the Heritage of God for its the Spirit of Jesus we would have all in the Spirit of Life 〈◊〉 to in it all to be 〈◊〉 as they have received of God in their 〈◊〉 and place Male and Female as Helps and Governments such as the Apostle spoke of that our Lights may shine and our good Works appear to the 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 and the Renown of that Kingdom that never hath 〈◊〉 Let William Rogers be traced and the Footsteps he hath trod these several Years and the Work weighed which he hath been concerned in as his Writing and Printing demonstrates to all 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and single to God and it may easily be concluded that it is the Kingdom of Sathan he hath been in the defence of for the upholding whereof he hath made all this blustering Work and hath been more dilligent in the concern of it then ever he was to promote the peaceable Truth and the Kingdom of Christ Jesus And this Testimony which I 〈◊〉 to bear in the name and on the behalf of the eternal God and his antient Truth and the Fellowship of the 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 against every 〈◊〉 Spirit I am bold to stand 〈◊〉 let William Rogers 〈◊〉 what he pleaseth and all who take his part and for the sake whereof William Rogers hath been pleased 〈◊〉 to render me as he hath done but I desire 〈◊〉 Lord may 〈◊〉 him 〈◊〉 under the vail of 〈◊〉 that he 〈◊〉 come over him the Meystry of Gods holy Spirit he hath made himself a Stranger to and often 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 he 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I 〈◊〉 take 〈◊〉 of a 〈◊〉 Accusation that William Rogers alledgeth against me 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Spirit which he grounds upon some Words in the beginning of my 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 for George Fox in relation to the Charge against him in which he concerns me the words inserted in the beginning of 〈◊〉 Postscript are these Here follows the Testimony and Certificate of John Blaykling to the 〈◊〉 of George Fox of the Aspersions that William Rogers would 〈◊〉 upon him From this William Rogers concludes and publisheth the same in Print 〈◊〉 Posterity that I have 〈◊〉 to clear George Fox by this Certificate of all the Charges alledged against him suggesting 〈◊〉 and saying in these very Words That 〈◊〉 Fox can get an J. B. or T. B. to write or sign any thing right or wrong that in his sence may tend to his vindication c. as he saith Now whether this be not most 〈◊〉 and uncivil dealing let the Lord Judge who will repay and is 〈◊〉 only a particular smiting Accusation against George Fox who abhors such a Spirit and is 〈◊〉 to be William Rogers's own Spirit that he judgeth others by else would he have been more Charitable and Christian-like 〈◊〉 his 〈◊〉 on this 〈◊〉 seeing that he hath nothing to ground it upon 〈◊〉 his own 〈◊〉 But also I say it is a general reflection upon the whole Heritage of God who are truely in Unity with George Fox's Spirit and are not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it it is also an absurd Reflection upon me and is that which my Soul abhors as not daring to Sign any thing whatsoever in relation to Truth or 〈◊〉 Children of God but what in the Spirit of Truth my Heart and Soul closeth with Neither did George Fox know any part of the matter of what I Writ nor that I was concerned so to do till it was clearly finished and sent away to a Friend to be annexed to George Fox's Answer which I knew he was in hand with 〈◊〉 do I know 〈◊〉 George Fox see it or no till it was sent away 〈◊〉 be given to William Rogers as most particularly concerned therein such surmising as this God will never bless let him look to it as he will be served And in Answer to the 〈◊〉 in the first place let William Rogers be asked whether in his Conscience he can believe that ever I intended to undertake by my 〈◊〉 to clear George Fox of all the Charges he had alledged against him as he says I have and by his so saying grants that his Queries are Charges which he was 〈◊〉 to do because of his charging George Fox so many times with a Lye for saying his Queries were Charges And Secondly seeing that in his 〈◊〉 by the scope of my whole Discourse which relates to the matter of those two 〈◊〉 about George Fox's staying from Meetings as the fruit of a careless libertine Spirit as he called it c. He cannot but 〈◊〉 as a 〈◊〉 mean capacity may easily gather that I did not intend to concern my self on that wife whether hath he acted like a Man of a Christian Spirit in rendering me if the fault in that word 〈◊〉 had been mine an 〈◊〉 for a word And Thirdly I would have him speak whether he did not see the Answer to his 〈◊〉 in which that point is 〈◊〉 cleared to any honest well-meaning person long before his Book was in Print which his Wife 〈◊〉 the receit of to