Government of Christ Jesus and gives several Instances of what he hath done whereby to demonstrate the same One whereof was his Narrative as he called it concerning a Meeting which George Fox Willian Pen George Whitehead and others had at the City of Bristol with him and several others of the Principal of them of that Spirit Which said Narrative was subscribed by him and William Ford. And to manifest that the aforesaid William Rogers is not a Man of such a Spirit as can stand in the Spirit of Jesus in the Vindication of the Rule and Government of Christ in the Church of God or be any Help or Comfort to Gods People therein but an Enemy thereto and that all his boasting on that wise is but a meer flourish of his vain and corrupt Mind and not worth taking notice of We think meet to insert here some Observations formerly made on the aforesaid Narrative given forth by William Rogers and William Ford at Bristol as aforesaid which was given forth in Manuscript in Answer to his aforesaid Rejoynder Out of which Narrative or Relation of his touching the said Meeting we find several things worth observing manifesting his base unworthy Spirit which we have given a brief yet true account of from his own Words there inserted whereby to manifest of what Spirit this William Rogers is and whether he can be judged to be a Man that can be any Instrument in promoting the Kingdom of Christ Jesus or be any Credit to the Holy Truth or Comfort to Gods People who keep their ancient Integrity to the Lord or whether he be not clearly discovered to be one that in a backsliding state from Truths Life is an upholder of and contender for the Kingdom of Antichrist the Old Serpent the Lyer from the beginning and as a Man given up to a reprobate Mind many times not taking notice as may be reasonably observed of what he says or whereof he affirms and hath run himself to that disparagement both as a Man and as a Christian that doubtless about things relating to the Truth and the Principle he hath been a Professor of he hath rendered himself such an one as that little credit can be given to him or notice taken of what he may affirm manifested as well by his late Queries the Answer thereto his Reply and what hath been thereunto writ so also by what hereafter follows touching the aforesaid Relation In the beginning whereof it is thus expressed by him and William Ford viz. A Brief Relation of some Passages happening amongst the People called Quakers of the City of Bristol since the late coming of George Fox George Whitehead and VVilliam Penn with divers others of the City of Bristol and chiefly for the sakes of those who hearing the various reports thereof are desirous to know the substance of Material Passages To which we say Let them that love the Truth consider whether the Words of this Prologue to his following matter viz. Passages happening amongst the People called Quakers do not much manifest that the following Relation should either come from one not rightly affected with those Peoples Principles or out of Fellowship with them or at least Dedicated to such as are not Friends thereto And whether matters therein contained be communicable to such from any prosessing Truth let the wise in Heart judge and that William Rogers's Heart was not right to God in this undertaking is manifested clearly to all who fear the Lord and love his appearance who may come to have a knowledge of these matters Now it may be observed in the first place touching William Rogers's Narrative that at the said Meeting which the Persons above mentioned had with William Rogers William Ford and divers others of that Party at Bristol aforesaid that several Propositions were agreed upon as we observe out of his Narrative between William Penn on the one Party and William Rogers on the other on the behalf of themselves and others concerned relating to the Order of the said Meeting and the matters to be debated c. and were Signed by William Rogers and William Penn and several others The first Proposition is thus viz. It is agreed upon by the Persons above mentioned That each may have a Scribe to take all the Passages in the Conferrence which to them severally shall seem meet and that before any matter be left or new matter begun all that each Party hath thought fit to be written be first read if any thing be defective amended and finally agreed upon by both Persons to be a true Record or Memorial of the Conferrence or if any thing be written or expressed short or besides the meaning of the Speaker that the said Speaker have Liberty to correct the said Expression Secondly That whatever be agreed upon to be Recorded shall be at the end of every Meeting Subscribed by both Parties and by at least six credible Persons on each side c. This we take notice was in order to a Narrative to be given forth by a 〈◊〉 Agreement of them concerned on both sides as the said Proposition at large doth demonstrate The sixth and last Proposition was That the said Agreement was to be written in the Head of the Narrative to be made in pursuance of the Agreement William Penn in behalf of himself and other Friends concerned and William Rogers in behalf of himself and other Friends concerned Thus far of what William Rogers hath set down in his Narrative Yet the Reader may observe that contrary to the said Agreement William Rogers hath given forth this Narrative of his stiled as aforesaid containing seven or eight Sheets of Paper without the knowledge or consent of William Penn and before it was either read before the People concerned or the six Friends Hands on each side put to it according to the Agreement or without the Persons seeing or hearing his own Words to have corrected if any occasion had been before they had been published or before he signified to William 〈◊〉 for ought we have ever heard that he intended to give forth any such Narrative as he hath done contrary to Covenant as before the Lord and his own Conscience he knows and yet William Rogers and William Ford who also subscribed the said Narrative would not be accounted Agreement or Covenant Breakers but says of what dangerous Consequence it may be to call such Men as them Covenant Breakers as may be seen in a Letter sent from William Rogers to George Fox given him by George Mansergh who had a Copy of it also himself as he confessed Now whether they be not such with respect to God and the concerns of Truth the most weightiest matters let common Men judge as also the wise in Heart speak Neither hath William Rogers written the Agreement in the Head of the Narrative according to the sixth Proposition signed by himself and William Pen so in this also he hath broken the Covenant made amongst them And if he say
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
be concerned in We say his Charges being False and Malicious according to George Fox's Words he weighs them as a little thing they touch him not and all he can say against him when he hath said his worse he treadeth up on without notice taken of them as to hurt his Life or break his Peace with God or lesten his Repute amongst the Faithful he may go on and what he hath to do do it quickly for his time is far spent and the Damnation slumbers not But doth he say That George Fox and his Party are in Confusion because notwithstanding some say his Papers are not worth Answering yet they are Answered he says Answer We say it again and will stand to it that his Papers were not worth taking any notice of with respect to himself and the baseness of his Spirit as a Man given up of God and hardned for Ruin neither are his smiting Queries that his Paper is filled with worth regarding being manifestly seen to come from a wicked prejudiced malicious Mind that discovers themselves and the Spirit from whence they come to the wise in Heart who sees beyond all and in as much as that the Lord and his People were clear of him if no more had been said nor he and his Papers taken notice of yet for the more clearer manifesting his Spirit to all and his unchristian doings that all might beware thereof as also for the removing the stumbling Blocks out of the way of the weaker sort that are laid thereby and that they that are yet without may not harden themselves because thereof and for the 〈◊〉 him see his own Confusion Contradictions and Inconsistances therein that he might take notice and fear otherwise that Coals of Fire may be heaped upon him if he repent not that upon these Considerations George Fox should find it with him in his freedom to put an Answer to it where is the Confusion he speaks of let him consider and speak But William Rogers saith This is one thing he taketh notice of to be a sign that John Wilkinson ' s Prophesie is fulfilling Poor Man Is this the shift they are glad of to hide John Wilkinsons false Prophesie withal viz. That those who were not of Party with John Story and him in opposition to Church Care but testified thereunto in the Name of God should be broke to pieces A poor shift indeed which John Wilkinson can never thank him for for it brings his Testimony and Prophesie into the Dust if the fulfilling of it must center in this But what doth William Rogers say in relation to the dealings of Almighty God concerning the Rebellious that are not worthy of the Lords forbearance and long suffering towards them nor their Works worth taking notice of and yet the Lord waits to be Gracious and would heal their Backslidings as was testified of from him in relation to the backsliding Jews Let him take heed of bringing the Power and Kindness of the Lord under his Judgment for the Lord will not hold him Guiltless in so doing Dare William Rogers say That the Lord was divided against himself in the exercise he had with them far beyond their deserts or any worthiness in them of the Mercies that waited over them What absurdity is this to attribute the fulfilling of John Wilkinsons Prophesie to such a matter as this that is so common with the Lord and his dear People also William Rogers may know that its their own Case and is coming on their own Heads they are in a divided Spirit broken off from the Life of God and Unity of Brethren in the Spirit of Truth and many of their own Pertakers comes away with joy their Kingdom totters whose fall will be great its Foundation is rotten it cannot stand several of the few of them that remain are beholding with fear the Structure which they have framed are making a way to escape with their Lives They who love the Lord and Righteousness will quit their Hands of this ungodly Work that William Rogers is so disperate in let him look about and those few that yet sticks to it many are cut off on every Hand and the Hearts of the great Ones begin to fail them for they can find no Hands in the day of Battel God of a Truth will blast their Design forever let them go whither they will for help it s all in vain the Desolation of their Spirits Work is determined of God and they 'l perish forever if they repent not The wise in Heart sees how they are looking about them for help any way and bemoan them for the ancient Glories sake that some of them were covered with Let William Rogers be asked what he says of his great Confederates at Chippenham in Wiltshire the place of John Stories great Interest and what he says of their Letter sent to Jeofrey Bullock in Suffock the old Apostate that was publickly denied of Friends for denying that Christ that dyed at Jerusalem and hath been a publick opposer of Truth in Friends Meetings several Years In which Letter they applaud him and his Blasphemous Books being as they say affected therewith and desires Correspondency with him and to have some of his Books in opposition to the Foxman Party and Orders as they contemptuously speak of him and the Churches Care we may have occasion hereafter to insert the aforesaid Letter to Jeofrey Bullock and discover his Spirit by the Works thereof William Rogers and them of Party with him may think their Case sad and disparate when Jeofrey Bullock and the Apostate John Pennyman who spreads abroad Jeofrey Bullock's Books against Truth and the Friends of it becomes William Rogers's and his Confederates Friend to associate with and they are glad to solicit him to their aid as their letter to him plainly imports surely it may be said their case is bad and their Design can never be blessed that 's upheld by such a spirit as this Oh it were well if any of them would yet truely be turned to God that they might yet be healed William Rogers further goes on his smiting Work against George Fox which he takes occasion to appear in from some of George Fox's Words and saith he Now I come to take notice of a Postscript written by George Fox in these words viz. Here follows mine Epistle that hath touched thee meaning the Epistle to Friends formerly inserted relating to faithfulness in the time of Persecution which saith George Fox to William Rogers thou makest all this Work and Writing about who would make me Inconsistant with my self and so mightst thou have done the Apostle who one while Circumcised and afterward forbad it who one while said they should not judge one another about dayes and Meats and Drinks and afterward judged them for it who made it their Principle so to do These few Lines saith William Rogers do manifest that George Fox doth not divide and distinguish as he ought to do if he be not Ignorant
he was at Draw well the place of his Residence at the Meeting there with many Brethren on John Story 's and John Wilkinson's Account the sence which he had of him then as he testified to several hath not produced such an effect as this which Testimony that he then had for John Blaykling though he smothers it now shall be his Torment and this Testimony we have to bear on his behalf as a Man far remote from such a Spirit or deserving any such Reflection c. And John Blaykling is the same in his Spirit that he then was though prejudice hath blinded William Rogers his Eye c. And William Rogers further upon the occasion of his smiting Query in Relation to George Fox's being of a careless negligent libertine and dark Spirit that was 〈◊〉 or departed from the Truth saith That in my Answer I say Might not William Rogers have applyed this at home who knows in his Conscience what a Libertine loose and dark Spirit he is of in departing from his subjection to Truth to give way to and hath taken a Liberty to make away part of his visible Estate to 〈◊〉 it from the Spoylers in the times of Suffering for the Truth 's sake To which in his Rejoynder it s observ'd William Rogers saith John Blaykling cannot 〈◊〉 his prophane Charge at my Doors with respect to my securing part of mine Estate but contradict his own Testimony for George Fox's keeping his Integrity because George Fox denieth not but that he advised Mary the Wife of Jsaac Pennington to secure her Estate from the Spoilers Answer First William Rogers here doth not deny but that his said Query was an implicite Charge against George Fox and therefore no lye in George Fox to call it so And Secondly He doth not deny but that he did secure part of his Estate and therefore the Fruit of a Libertine Loose Spirit departing from the Antient Nobility of Truth and he did not well in calling it a Prophane Charge from me because he hath confessed it and pleaded for it saying That it was better so to do then so c. as before is cleared only says John Blaykling cannot lay his Prophane Charge at his Doors but contradict his own Testimony for George Fox who says he denyeth not but that he advised Mary Pennington to secure hers c. Well then let the case with respect to this matter stand here William Rogers granting the case as to matter of Charge of securing c. against himself And as to my contradicting my self with respect to my Testimony for George Fox's Integrity because William Rogers charges him in Mary Penningtons case c. I say let William Rogers make good any matter of evil Fact against George Fox relating to Mary Pennington which he hath not yet done neither hath George Fox confessed to any and there will then be a further concern about it as 〈◊〉 case may require And Thirdly It may be observed in my Answer 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rogers that I applyed to William Rogers the case of a loose libertine Spirit and his departing from his Subjection to Truth not only with respect to his 〈◊〉 c. but also with respect to his making it a great part of his concern to 〈◊〉 by and strengthen a Spirit of Strife and Separation the great and 〈◊〉 receptacle of all the loose libertine dark contentious backsliding sort of Professors of Truth so that what woful sad contemptible Work this Spirit of Separation William Rogers hath been so deeply concerned in managing the cause of hath wrought it cannot be expressed Again William Rogers exclaims against me after a very abusive manner for speaking plainly to him and telling him That from a Spirit of Envy against the Government of Christ Jesus Instrumentally and visibly in Gods Power amongst them that believe he ceaseth not to Calumniate the Instruments whom God is pleased to concern in that matter This he storms at and makes a large Discourse what he hath said in the Vindication of the Government of Christ both in Word and Writing but surely we may say and it will ere long appear that he mean's immediately only and not by Instruments in relation to Gods visible Family for otherwise he will contradict his whole design and overthrow the fabrick of all his Work He saith He hath stood for it in his Answer to Robert Barclay's Book The Postscript to the Narrative about the Meeting at Draw-Well His Answer to the Brethren's so termed saith he Narrative at Draw-Well His Dissatisfactions subscribed by him and others at Bristol and several other Papers saith he by all which it appears that I have contended for the Government of Christ. Answer I say what is it for William Rogers to contend for the Government of Christ and his Kingdom which stands not in Words but in Righteousness and Peace when he together with John Story and John Wilkinson have acted so clearly otherwise gratifying and serving an ungodly Spirit in opposition to the Churches Care Labour and tender Exercise in the Spirit and Power of Jesus in order to the keeping down the Spirit and the Works of the Flesh wherein the Kingdom of Sathan stands and is upheld Yea through all his late Work Papers and Books it may be seen how contemptiously he reviles and sets himself against the Instruments which the Lord more 〈◊〉 makes use of in the Church under the Government of his dear Son and in the Power thereof to be a Terror to the Evil-doer and the praise and encouragement of that which is Good and of them that do well William Rogers his 〈◊〉 Book called The Christian Quaker distinguished from the Apostate and Innovator manifesteth what Work he hath made against Church Government and the Care and Order of Truth therein which appertaineth to the Kingdom and Government of Christ Jesus as relating to the visible Family of God I do affirm its meer Deceit and a false Pretence to keep the Head of a false Spirit from under Truths Yoke and the Judgment thereof to talk of standing for the Government of Christ with that Spirit that 's not subject to him nor hath any regard to the unity of Brethren in their Exercises that relate to the same in keeping all things Decent Comely and of good Report in the Church of God to answer the Pure Religion the glory of Christs Kingdom in visiting the Fatherless and the Widow and keeping our selves unspotted of the 〈◊〉 how dare William Rogers say that he stands for the Kingdom of Jesus whilst he lets his Testimony fall in Suffering times in making away his Estate and says in 〈◊〉 It s his Principle so to do and thereby leaves an example for others to fall under Sathans Power to give him that appears like the Second Beast the Power again It s a shameful thing to pretend to stand for Christs Government with such a Spirit as this His Confederates at Chippenham and his great Abettors in the Work he hath had
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
in the Light and Power of God against this separating Spirit that smites at the blessed Fellowship of the Churches of Christ and where it enters any in Gods Love to Admonish Exhort and Warn such to take heed of that ravenous Spirit and to keep in the Peace and Unity of the Family of the Lord the Househould of Christ which we are and if notwithstanding your tender Christian dealing and forbearance such Persons persever and go on in their seperate Spirit and Practice let Gods Truth be cleared of them and Truth set over their Heads according to the order of the Gospel of Christ setled amongst you and dear Brethren be careful not to suffer your Meetings which were gathered up not by the will of Man but by the Power and Wisdom of the Lord God to be disturbed over-ruled and spoyled by heady obstinate and contentious Persons that disturb the Peace of the Church of Christ neither fear Man but eye the Lord and wait in his Power and Wisdom to be guided and ordered and so go on to your Work in the Name of the Lord for the Seed of Life and not the wisdom that 's below must rule and have the Dominion for ever but for as much as the way of the working of this subtil Enemy hath been to suggest that it is the design of some to make themselves Lords over Gods Heritage and to set up a Worldly and Arbitaray Power in the Church of Christ and then to run out into severe Exclamations against Impositions crying up Liberty of Conscience thereby casting a Mist before the Eyes of the Simple and Stumblingblocks in the way of the Weak Thus we feel our selves concerned in the Love of the Lord for the good of all to declare and the Lord hath gathered us and preserved us to this day and his Spirit is our Record that we deny and abhor any such thing for we have our Lord Judge King Lawgiver in the Church and that is Christ Jesus unto whose Light Power Spirit we have been turned in that have Worshiped him and had Fellowship together to this very day and are your Servants for his sake and we are assured in the Lord that they that keep in the Light Life and Power of Jesus will have Fellowship with us and truly our Fellowship is with the Father and the Son and though it is far from us to bruise or hurt the poorest or least Member in the Church of Christ who may not have that clearness of Sight and strength of Faith which the Lord hath brought us to but that they may be Cherished Yet by that Salt which we have in our selves from the Lord are we enabled to savour between the Transformations of the Enemy and the Scruples of the Innocent and as to be tender of the one so to give Judgment against the other and our Day and Age hath lamentably shewn us the effects of that Spirit that under pretence of crying down Imposition and pleading for Liberty and doing nothiug but what it is free to hath endeavoured to lay waste the blessed Unity of the Brethren and to ove-rrun the Heritage of the Lord that lived together as an orderly Family under the Law of Life and living order of the Gospel with a loose and unsubsetled Conversation which would bring Confusion in the Church and make us a Derision to the Heathen and to the end that these very 〈◊〉 concerned in this Separation may appear to be no true Lovers of Christian Liberty and Gospel Priviledges as they pretend let their own Paper which is a Declaration of the Reasons of their Separating be read and weighed in the universal Love and Life of Christ Jesus and therein we will suppose will be found the true Nature of Imposition in that none of their own Country are allowed to be of the Monthly and Quarterly Meeting but such as are appointed and chosen by the perticular Meeting Next That none of their own or other Countries though publick Labourers in the Gospel are to be admitted to be in their Meetings unless it be to tell their Message and immediately to depart And these with such like things Eighty seven subscribed as the Reason of their Separation and Foundation of a new Government themselves which is a plain Independensie from the Life and Practice of the Church of Christ throughout the World Oh Friends watch in the Power of God against this Spirit that would make them twain that God hath made one and separate that which God hath joyned together And you that have any Interest in them and to whom their Regard is Oh have a care that you give them no Strength in their manifest Separation but stand upon your Watch-Tower Dear Friends in God s Love touch not with that Spirit the Enemies of Sion's Glory and their Peace give not your Strength to them but deal faithfully with them and seek them in God's Way and Wisdom that whatever becomes of them in the End you may be clear of their Blood in the Sight of the Lord and they may not say but that they have had a Day of Love and Visitation And truly that which hath incouraged in this Epistle is that good Success that God hath blessed our like Endeavours in his Power with For many deceived by them and confederate with them having seen their Snare in tenderness of Spirit have honestly consessed their Fault and are come from them and have testified both against the separate Company and themselves for having been of it and now live in Unity with their Brethren and feel the Joy and quiet Habitation that in the Communion of Saints and Fellowship of the Churches of Jesus is enjoyed praises to the Lord for ever and as we desire so we hope that more will be brought to the same blessed Sence So be jealous for the Lord dear Brethren and stand up in his Spirit and Power for the Peace of his Church and in his precious peacible Life dwell that keeps in soundness of Mind then will you shew Mercy to that which Mercy is due and Judgment to that which Judgment is due without respect of Persons and herein our pure true Love is shewn to them and all mankinde and the God of our Heavenly Love Peace and pretious Fellowship be with usall and bless us and keep us to the Glory of his Eternal Name who over all Spirits Angels and Men Thrones Dignities and Dominions reigns and is worthy and blessed for ever We are unanimously Your dear and faithful Brethren in the Labour Travail Tribulation Patience Hope and Rejoycing of the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Thomas Taylor Thomas Briggs Ambros Rigg William Edmonsor H nry Jackson James Harrison Thomas Zachry John Burnyeat 〈◊〉 Blaykling William Gibson John Abram Samuel Cater Morgan 〈◊〉 John Bowran 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 John Whithead Thomas Atkins Rudger Longworth Luke Howard Richard Pinder Joseph Hill Richard Davis Nicholas Gaitts Bray Dayla Stephen Smith Thomas Holmes James Halliday John Moone Thomas