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
for the last Words he heard him speak were not sensible neither do we preceive during the time that his Understanding and his Speech continued with him that ever he demonsttated the least sence of Remorse or Repentance for the great Damage he had brought upon Truth Dishonour to our Holy Profession and Grief and Trouble to the Church of God but rather Dyed in the hardness of his Heart as appeared by his Presumption to say That he died in the Favour of God and Peace with all Men when it was manifest 〈◊〉 his own Words that it was false in part at least for when he gave order about his Burial he charged that Thomas Camm should not be invited to his Burial yea so far was he from being in Peace with the said Thomas Camm that when his Brother Charles Story desired him to put such things out of his 〈◊〉 praying him that he would suffer him the said Charles to invite Thomas Camm to his Burial he would by no means be perswaded so neither Thomas Camm his Wife nor any of his Family were Invited to the said Burial although Thomas Camm's near Neighbours that were Unbelievers and not of John Story' s Kindred were Invited to it Nay moreover scarce any one of Preston Meeting to which he formerly belonged and died within the compass thereof were Invited to his Burial except those of the Separation notwithstanding they invited the People of the World Friends Neighbours and left them out by all which it is evident that his pretending to die in peace with all Men was untrue and only a false pretence and his Heart being so hardened to assert such untruths how should he die in the Favour of the Lord let the understanding and wise in Heart judge But as he had in the time of his Life since he fell from Truth been the greatest Agent in the Hand of the Adversary in Sowing the evil Seeds of Strife Division and Separation and also the most Industrious to keep those in the Separation that he had led thereinto so was he not wanting as appears to confirm his Proselites at his Death by telling them That he died in the Favour of God and Peace with all Men yet notwithstanding all the subtil Sleights and cunning Craft of deceived Men the Lord hath confounded this Spirit of Strife and Separation and many of those who have been most eminently concerned in promoting its Interest and Work the Lord hath removed out of the way by Death therefore it were well if those that are yet left alive would fear and dread before him and none of them any longer be so hardy as to tempt the Lord lest his overflowing scourge sweep them away and they perish in his Wrath forever The 6th of the 3d Month 1682. William Walker Joseph Gregge Richard Sill Junior Here followeth a short Testimony for the Truth and against the envious Spirit of William Rogers given forth by an Antient Friend in Westmoreland whose name is Thomas Atkinson IN or about the Year 1652. It pleased the Lord God to raise up the seed of Life in some of his Servants in this Nation of England and called those and sent them abroad as Lambs amongst Wolves into this World by the same Spirit and Power by which he chose and sent the Apostles in the Primitive Times And the first that was so sent in our Age and Generation and appeared amongst us in the Demonstration of the Spirit with the joyfull Message of Life and Salvation in this Country of Westmoreland was George Fox who being raised from Death to Life I bear Record was anointed of God to Preach and publish glad tidings of Peace Life and Eternal Salvation in the name of Christ Jesus to lost Man and many in this County did gladly receive his Message and Testimony at that time and did joyn with it some of whom the Lord made Ministers of the Everlasting Truth early of the day as Gervis Benson John Camm John Audland Francis Howgil Edward Burrow with some others whose outward Bodies are laid in the Dust yet their Memorial lives and remains with us a sweet savour to God and will do to Ages and Generations to come for their Faithfulness and Works sake with many more who are yet alive in the Body to bear a faithful Testimony to Truths praise and the Comfort of the Flock of God And seeing that this true and faithful Servant of the Lord George Fox the first Publisher of Truth in our Age in this and many other Counties and places through this Nation yet remains in the Body and a Record living upon my my Soul and Spirit of his faithfulness to the Testimony born by him who in the hand of the Lord was made Instrumental to the turning me many Thousands more to the Lord as also of 〈◊〉 care over the Flock of God that they all might be established in the Truth and present Grace of God revealed in which he is a sweet favour to God and his Witness in all Hearts in which Work and service his Labours Watchings Travels and Sufferings have exceeded many if not all others both in this Nation and in many places beyond the Seas for the space of about Thirty Years and God hath blessed him in his Labours so that he hath seen the travel of his Soul in a great measure answered many Thousands being gathered to and established upon the Everlasting Foundation Christ Jesus that stands sure for ever I say this Record living upon my Soul and Spirit a concern of Conscience remained with me to bear a Testimony for the Lord his Truth and this dear Servant George Fox whom we count worthy of double Honour for his Work and Service sake as an Instrument and Servant in the Hand of Christ our Lord and also a Testimony lives with me in the behalf of Thousands of Faithful Friends and Brethren against that turbulent and wicked Spirit in William Rogers and others who came out with us and partaked of the Grace of God with us but have turned their Backs of it who have in their Printed Books and Papers gone about to calumniate him and bespatter his Innocent Life and Testimony for God that thereby they might make him a Sacrifice to the fury of the Wicked and we do in Gods presence testifie that its the same Spirit under another similitude or transformation that hath all along persecuted him for his Work and Testimonies sake by 〈◊〉 he hath often been cast into Prison cruelly used in nasty Holes grosly aspersed with being a Papist a Jesuit and Blasphemer and what not that 's bad and wicked Now peruse William Rogers's Book and compare his Work and Language with this of the common Enemies of Truth and they will bespeak themselves to be the children of one Father Satan the old Persecutor of the Saints and Accuser of Brethren which the Lord will cast out in his hot displeasure So let William Rogers and all other Opposers and Gainsayers be warned before
and this Separation will apparently wither and come to nought And we must tell you that some of us hoped and expected that ere this you would in the Fear and Dread of the Lord have born a publick Testimony against that Spirit of Division and Meeting of Seperation in those Parts And we are livingly assured in the heavenly Counsel of God that is now with us that in all places where any hurt hath come and entered by this Spirit through you the Lord first requireth this at your Hands and in the Name Power and 〈◊〉 of the God of Truth and Peace we are constrained to press you to be first reconciled to your Brethren and in your Spirits and Practices be united to the Church of Christ before you offer your Gift or excercise your selves in publick Testimony among Gods People and so no more leave that Country in 〈◊〉 and Seperation for otherwise the Breach will become wider and you more discover your selves to be of that Spirit which would augment Contest and Division which we desire that God in Mercy may deliver you from for against that Spirit the sharp Sword of the Lord is drawn and thus far have we cleared our Consciences in his sight and presence whose ancient Power gloriously springs and reigns amongst us Eternal Praises to his his Name forever George Whitehead Iohn Burnyeate William Gibson Robert Lodge Alexander Parker Thomas Taylor Iohn Bowren Iohn Tiffen William Penn. We whose Names are here under Written being at London at this Yearly Meeting having heard the above written Letter twice read at a second days Meeting in the City being the 22d of the 3d Month 1676. do hereby declare that it contains the real sence of our Hearts as was expressed by several Testimonies there given to that purpose from Gods Truth in many of us and therefore are in unity with it Pattrick Livingstone George Hutchinson Richard Pinder Hector Allen William Fallowfield Samuel Cater Iasper Batt Samuel Thornton Thomas Cooke Iohn Lanstaffe Edward Edwards Iames Claypoole Brayan Doyley William Peacke Richard Webster Francis Moore Iames Parke Richard Samble William Mead Leonard Fell Stephen Smith Iames Sikes Charles Floyd Daniel Smith Thomas Salthouse Stephen Crisp Anthony Thompkins Iohn Haywood Ellis Hooks Authur Cotton Let God be witness this Day betwixt the Church of God and these two Men and them of Party with them whether in the tender Love of God and of dear Brethren they have not been delt withal in Compassionateness through great long Suffering and Patience beseeching them in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ and Gods manifold Mercies and Forbearances towards them that they would be reconciled to God that they might find acceptance with him as that which was a Soul Concern yea the concern of eternal Recompence World without end and that which hath been testified in many Labours and Travels Night and Day on their accounts and how unwilling Friends were that they should be rejected and cast aside and their Names blotted out from the remembrance of the Righteous and out of the Number of the Worthies of Israel whom the Lord Blesseth and makes as Saviours on Mount Sion to his Eternal Praise and the Comfort of the Church of Christ and the Peace of the Immortal Soul forever So that we have a Record from God upon our Spirits in true satisfaction that we have discharged a good Conscience in the Lords sight with respect to them and that if any of them Perish it shall lie at their Doors the Lord is clear and his People thus far clear let them look to it as they will answer at the dreadful Day Yet after all these Labours and Travels in the Love of God and Spirit of Grace and Supplication towards and in behalf of them they still continued in the Alienation from Truths Life in their separate contentious Work and the more the Lord and his People strove with them the more obstinate and hardned they grew and where the Apostacy which William Rogers is pleased to charge us with will be seen to center a little time will declare further So it was that as the evil Men and Seducers that grows worse and worse they put on resolution and Courage to stand it out John Story betook himself into the South-West to keep the Design on Foot there and to muster up all whom he could draw after him with the Pollicy and Might he had he set himself William Rogers ratled about with a dishonest Narrative that he himself had drawn up of the Transactions of the Meeting at Draw-well as his prejudiced jealous Mind acted him and sent it abroad up and down the Country where any would take notice of it took off the beliefe or hopes where any in kindness to John Story and John Wilkinson had been begot of any submission given by them or any real acknowledgement made by them there notwithstanding the paper they had given forth and at that time under an exercise if they had stood to it which William Rogers set at naught accounting it but a Rattle to please Children with John Wilkinson also as he had before denied that they had Condemned any thing writ to some of the Brethren at London very comtemptibly in a slight of all their Love Labours and Travels concerning them in the North inveighing against the Relation given and subscribed there of matters transacted amongst us and the product thereof calling it a lying Narrative c. And that Courage they took to themselves and cambined Resolution to stand to their Work that he together with about eleaven more subcribed a Book written by them and sent it abroad in Manuscript up down the Nation amongst those that had entertained Jealousies and let in Prejudice against the Antient Brethren who kept true to God and had let in Murmuring and Discontent against the Order and Discipline used in the Church of Christ. The said Book called or at least rendred to be their Remonstrance or Declaration pretending therein to stand to the antient Principle of Truth and Faith therein as also speaking of certain Practices used amongst them Directed to Monthly Quarterly Yearly and Second Days Meetings in a bold and open Contest with the whole Church of God throughout the whole Nation in which they possitively declare themselves and those of party with them to be that part of the whole Family of the Children of Light that keeps their antient Integrity and Stability in the Truth and for that cause say they are they called by the rest Separates meaning by the Monthly Quarterly Yearly and Second Days Meetings they are also bold to say that we that is to say all those that are in faithfulness to God careful with respect to Church Order and the Discipline thereof unto which the aforesaid Meetings relate and not of party with them are departed from our first Principle of Light and Life in Christ Jesus and setting up Forms and outward Methods in the Church and the like And for no
pretend to that they are gone from that they may the more cunningly deceive and lead back into a corrupt Fleshly Liberty again to satisfie the Lusts of it that 's the center it tends to and when it hath tired it self out there will its end be Impartial Reader When thou hast with an unprejudiced mind in sincerity of Heart looked over and weighed this William Rogers his Work the Champion of the backslided Ones and the Enemy to the Churches Peace and looks upon the Engine he would perfect his Work by thou mayest easily see of what Spirit he is and what his Work tends to and escape the Snare he would take thee in It s a false Spirit in which he would betray his Brother even unto Death its malicious bending it self with false Accusations and lying Slanders to defame such as have kept their Garments clean and whose Integrity is approved in Gods sight and in many Consciences its wicked in bringing the same to publick view having for the most part little evidence of any sort to produce but If Reports be true it s a treacherous Spirit that talks of the Light and would seem to vindicate Truth 's Principles with such a false malicious slanderous wicked Work as his Book is stuffed with and with seeming Imbraces and standing for the Truth and the appearance of it betrays it and would deliver it up and the servants of it into the hands of Sinners It s a false libertine Spirit tending to Ranterism that inveighs against Friends tender care in the Church of God according to Gospel Order and vilifies with slanderous reproachful terms the Government of the Power and Discipline therein Established in Gods visible Family terming it the bringing into the Churches Mens Prescriptions and lording it over Mens Consciences the introducing of the Apostacy again c. All which in Subjection to Gods Power we abominate and turn it back upon its own Head to receive the stroke of the Eternal God which will fall upon the Abbetters of this Spirit if in time they repent not as a burden too heavy to bear They of that Spirit also cry against the seasonable Exhortations and Reproofs of them whom God is pleased to concern on this wise as Imposing Over-driving and the like they are letting loose and gratifying a fleshly mind and to indulge the same claiming a right in a wrong spirit to be left to inward freedom till they see the Lords requirings or that it is their duty so to do This sort of abominable Work is clearly manifested to be the tendency of William Rogers's Spirit as his own Book demonstrates cleared to the understandings of the unprejudiced and honest Hearted to God and by the Answer thereunto called The Accuser of our Brethren cast down c. Subscribed by Ellis Hook in the name of the second Day of the Weeks Morning Meeting in London may be plainly seen That which demonstrates also the 〈◊〉 creeping Work of this Spirit is that although William Rogers in his Title Page pretends his Book to come forth in the 〈◊〉 of himself and many of his Brethren The Question being often put as Hundreds will Witness and required of him or any to Answer to Who would stand by it Or say they had Unity with its coming forth in Print We cannot yet find the Man that declares he owns it or that will say I am one that will stand by it And yet a creeping sort of Men backsliden of a certain Truth from God and turned from the Truth and work the Works of Darkness hands it out amongst the loose sort of Professors of Truth and many other as the 〈◊〉 serves them notwithstanding known Enemies to the Life of God and the Testimony of Truth and despisers of such as have received the same and holds their Integrity in it Reader It may be cause of Wonder that this People that came out together in the Light and Unity of the one Spirit and have stood together with Hand and Shoulder against the many Heads and Horns that have pushed at them and who have been struck at more or less under every Government that hath been since they were a People and none has been able to break them but all has tended to their Encrease and Stability in the way they have been led into and walked in that such should now when their outward Ease comes to be enlarged fall at Odds and Difference amongst themselves apparently as some may expect to the great damage if not the Ruin of them In the first place we would have all to know and take notice that in the Light and Life of Truth our antient Unity stands and in it all are established who keep Entire and Faithful to it In it we are the same in Love in Fellowship through the eternal Power against which the Gates of Hell shall not prevail that ever we were our Life grows in God our Testimony stands we are on our way the Lord is before us and there 's none shall be able to pluck us out of his Hand our Faces are still Sion wards and our Confidence through the Eternal Power that 's inlarged amongst us to have our Residence there in that good Land which God hath given us to taste the Fruits of and the earnest blessed be God we have with us of that Inheritance that never hath an end and we are comforted in our way who keep to Truths Life and if any turn out to the right Hand or to the left it s their own fault and will be their own loss the Lord will be clear and his People clear having discharged our Duty thus far concerning them It s confessed to the grief of our Souls there are a few that came out with us by an Eternal Arm that have not eyed the Lord and his Power for Safety but are gone out from us having betrayed the Life in which they were with us and are become not of us As it was said They went out from us because they were not of us for if they had been of us no doubt they would have continued with us It may in truth be told you that have read William Rogers's Book for your Satisfaction if you desire it what sort of Professors of Truth this Evil and Mischief of being led back again from the conduct of Gods Power to covet the Flesh-Pots of Aegypt's Land and satisfie the Lusts of a corrupt mind in opposition to the Churches Care in this Gospel day hath befallen First They are such as although the Openings of life and the hidden Wisdom of the pure God were in some measure Revealed in some of them and although in some measure they might have partaken of the Ministry of Christ Jesus as Judas did amongst the Twelve yet not giving God the praise nor singly attributing the Glory to him that Worthy deckt themselves therewith as it was of old the Lord said I gave them of my Jewels and they deckt themselves therewith c. So
gnashing of Teeth for grief they are far beyond expression To a gainsaying Rebellious Spirit the Testimony of Light that condemns for Sin is an hateful thing and the Ministers of Antichrist have bent themselves against it and against them the Testimony is born by And seeing that Early of this our day it was first and principally born by him how could he escape the wrath of Man that produceth evil things and avoid the fury of it Nay this was his Lot with others of Gods faithful Servants whom God hath upheld and delivered through all and he hath seen the travel of his Soul and the fruit of his labour into his bosome manifold in recompence for all to his hearts Joy whatever the worst of Men imagine against him The same enmity lodgeth still and venteth it self again and again through any new occasion given to it or that it can get hold of in the wilful resisters of our principle and lifes appearance and in all them that Backslides therefrom and enters again into the old Cainisn Murthering Spirit that crucifies the Lord of Life again and would put him to open shame Never a publick opposing Apostate from the life of Truth that hath risen up in Judgment against it since we have been a People but in the old Enmity of the cursed Serpents Image he hath run against George Fox Oh it s admirable to us and renders William Rogers in this cursed work of his to be a Man running on to Ruin that he does not take notice and that with Terror of the breakings forth of the eminent hand of the Lord against such to their misery and shame that thus tempts the Lord to deal with him as hath been dealt with his predecessors gone before whose footsteps he follows with all the haste and fury he can appear in let him take heed though his presumption be great in defying the Work of God in his Servants let him vapour with the Bulk of the Weapon his ungodly Book he hath formed in his stout and ambitious mind the Lord is risen to dash in peices and is upon the Throne who with the Antient though dispised Instrument of simplicity and the naked truth which he hath in his Hand will wound the head and glory of this uncircumcised One to its utter Ruin and the perpetual reproach of all them that lean upon it the Mouth of the Lord of hosts hath spoken it and it shall surely come to pass And as to the particular matters of Accusations by William Rogers cast upon George Fox we do testifie and in the Truth affirm and can commit the same to the tryal of the righteous principle of God and equal Law of doing as one would be done by that if many of the matters in charge against him were true which we believe are malicious and false the malice the rancour of his Spirit that appears in his perverting George Fox his words his misconstruing and putting his own corrupt sence upon them disingeniously and unlike a Man and then placing a Judgment thereupon his disorderly bringing them forth having not first examined the truth of matters and dealt with him face to face as in the sequel of our matter may be manifested he hath not done His publishing in Print and exposing the same to publick view by sale or allowing thereof in Shops so that it is come to the view of the great enemies of Truth and us and the applications he puts upon our tender care in the Church of God as Antichristian and Rome-like with the invectives and malicious Smitings he can invent renders him plainly to be an Apostate from Truth an enemy to God and the Principle we have believed in an accuser of the Brethren not fit for Christian Society but to be rejected as reproachful thereto and left to the righteous God of Heaven and Earth to reward him according to his works Friendly Reader our Testimony is for the sake of that principle of Light and Life in Christ Jesus our Lord and Law-giver in which we have believed and are bold to Testifie to and stand in the vindication of against all the opposers thereof as that which is our life and the comfort of our days through the Salvation that we have known thereby wherein we have peace and for the sake whereof reproaches are not hard for us to bear and for the removing of the Stumbling-blocks out of the way thereof that if it were possible all Men might walk therein and find mercy We say in a godly concern that lies upon us we intend through Gods assistance a little to discover the Face and Image of a Ungodly Backsliding Separate dividing Spirit by rending off the covering it hath got upon its head to hide its nakedness and shame withal in the departing of those it hath prevailed upon from the living God from the way of Truth and from the unity of the Brethren to the casting off the Subjection to Gods power which they once knew and unto which also Obedience should be given and giving way to a corrupt mind in themselves and to a false Liberty that Truth leads not to have set themselves being of that sort that loves not found Judgment against the rule and government of Christ Jesus whose right it is in the Spirits of their own minds and against the Discipline of the Church of God according to Gospel-order and the practice of the Church in the Apostles dayes and thereby encouraging a loose and licentious Spirit in others that would draw back into the liberty of the flesh again to satisfie the Lusts thereof and thereby bring a reproach upon that eternal name in which we have believed and testified Salvation to be thereby as if it were not Sufficient to compleat the work thereof by us expected and waited for which we Testifie against whoever otherwise say Reader If thou dost but duely consider as before the Lord of William Rogers's Book thou mayest easily see whatever he pretends to its liberty for the Flesh that the design of him and others in this their work tends to and for that cause is it that the Churches care is undervalued by them despised and maliciously reproached under the denomination of over-driving imposing lording over Mens Consciences setting up in the Church another Government then that of the Spirit which we testifie to be false and a malicious smiting accounting the wholsome directions according to Gospel-Order taken notice of and practized amongst us that in all things we may be of good report the bringing in of Ceremonies Mens Prescriptions and the like thereby to put a dis-esteem upon them in the minds of such as are unto liberty in the flesh inclined whence the opposition hath sprung and the dividing Spirit has sought to prevail to the exercise of rhe true and upright to God and the Churches grief the looseness also of this Spirit and its design to gratifie the Flesh which produceth contempt and opposition to the Churches care that the Author to
other Nations and Countries beyond the Seas as by Christian correspondence through many Epistles from our Brethren is demonstrated By Joseph Bains John Pearson John Blayking Pure Religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this to visit the Fatherless and Widows in their Affliction and to keep 〈◊〉 from the World James 1. 27. But if we walk in the Light as he is in the Light we have Fellowship one with another and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son 〈◊〉 us from all Sin 1 John 1. 7. Antichristian Treachery DISCOVERED AND Its Way Block'd up c. MAny have been the Adversaries that the Children of Light have met withal and have had occasion to be concerned with in the Vindication of that pure Truth in which we have believed in the various Exercises which have fallen in our Lot since we have been a People and through all which the Lord hath been our Preservation and Deliverance for the Glory of his own Eternal Name and our lasting Peace Of all which William Rogers our present Adversary seems to be one that hath not had an equal to him apparent to all that weigh the concern which he hath appeared in with respect to the matter of it and the Circumstances that on many Accounts relate to it as shall be plainly manifested The matter he undertakes to be concerned in is to demonstrate as he pretends The Backfliding of them that are not of party with him from the Principle once Received and from the Life of Christianity alledging also what a concern of Conscience lay upon him to appear after the manner he doth least saith he The doctrine and life of Christianity should seem to be wholy extinct amongst the People called Quakers In his Title page he intimates under what Denomination he treats the body of the People of which we are to wit as Apostates and 〈◊〉 except of party with him which he Accounts his Title page and Book clearly shews Now let it be considered if this be the Characters of a true Christian or doth it demonstrate him to be in the Doctrine and life of Christianity or one under a Godly concern to promote the honour of Truth that Principle of Light and Life received and faithfully believed in amongst us in the vindication whereof the Lord hath engaged all that keep 's their Integrity to it unanimously to stand together and hath blessed them with dominion in the sight of their Foes or doth it appear that the Doctrine and Life of Christianity abides in him or that any regard to the Exaltation of Truth and the way of it remains with him Whilst he Publisheth in Print that the many Thousands that have believed in the Light and are not 〈◊〉 Party with him are become Apostates from God and the Life of their Profession setting up Forms instead thereof Mens Orders and Prescriptions and the like and as he renders them To have begun in the Spirit and seek to be made perfect 〈◊〉 the Flesh And yet in contradiction to himself and the Characters of Apostates that he gives us saith That a great part of the Contention amongst us seemes to 〈◊〉 about the Shell and not the Kernel that is to say about some outward Forms and not the Life of our Profession and John Wilkinson saith That the Concord we had 〈◊〉 seems much to be broken c. And the cause God hath manifested to 〈◊〉 saith he Is not in principle of Truth nor in Christ Doctrine nor in any practice which Truth in the members of the Heavenly Body leadeth into but about prescription c. Doth it then become the Christian Quaker As he calls himself or can it be the concern of a tender Conscience that hath regard to Truth and the Unity of Brethren to publish in Print and leave a Memorial of it to Posterity That the Body of Friends to Truth the Family which God hath chosen who still keeps their Integrity to it let William Rogers say what he can are 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 and as if the Life of Christianity were wholly extinct amongst them and them of his party the Christian Quakers only And yet himself saith That the difference is but about the Shell and not about the Kernel and according to John Wilkinson's affirming That its manifested to him to be not in Principles of Truth nor Christ Doctrine nor in any practice which the Truth in the members of the Heavenly Body leadeth into c. What confusion and silly work is this that William Rogers hath engaged himself in Or doth it not render him void of the pure Wisdom of God and Life of Christianity a Man departed from his first Love and regard to Truths Renown and the Unity therein Who can but say rather that he is a Man given to strife and one that sets himself to work Discord in the Church of God a Man also of a lofty Spirit in the work thereof that undertakes to set himself against the Heritage of God whom God hath stood by and been the defence of through all their Troubles and that thus renders many Thousands of God's dear People which he was once in unity with Apostates and Innovators and the like a state most contemptible in the Lords sight and odious amongst Men fearing God And that it is a malicious Spirit he is acted by that would under this Character of Apostates expose the Families of which we are to the Wrath and Indignation of all to our Exercise and Sufferings thereby For what is more dreadful to the Profession of Christianity under which the People of this Nation lives Then an Apostat estate from the Doctrine of Christ and the Apostles Life Under which the great Persecution hath befallen many that sincerely sought the Lord and obeyed him according to what was made manifest to them but our considence is in the Lord and in the integrity of our hearts and we are over his worst and the Inchantment that this Spirit is working in shall never prevail For the Lord is God and changeth not therefore are we not consumed It may be asked William Rogers what is become of the principle of Light he so much pretends to that gives an understanding to all that truly love it and the Christianity that he would be rendered to be in the Life of with them of party with him that he doth not see what a reproach he hath made himself to all the sober minded People of every Profession Surely if Aplause to himself and 〈◊〉 was in his eye he hath mised his aim Who can say that Reads his Book that this is a fit man to stands up for the life of Christianity in the defence of the Principle that so many Thousands have testified to and has a Record in many Consciences for a Sober Conscientious and well meaning People who hath been one in profession with them and now is become such an Accuser of his Brethern rendring them to be Apostates and Innovators exclaiming against their Profession their
much Confusion he seems to prosecute his opposite work One while against all outward Rule Order and Discipline c. another while as bringing in Prescriptions Innovations or Dictates of Fallible men Another while as being Imposed with too much Severity or imposed on Fellow-members without Conviction see the Treatise subscribed by Ellis Hookes c. Therein are even a Catalogue of the Confusions Contradictions and Mistakes he hath run himself into which we do impute to have happened 〈◊〉 him as said before under the Discomposure he is plunged in and 〈◊〉 Distractedness as to the weighty things of the Spirit of God that he is taken with otherwise with respect to his antient Love to Truth and Regard to the Unity of Brethren and the Qualifications in that day that accompanied him he would have trembled as before the Lord and have been ashamed as a Member of Christ to have appeared on such a Subject as this to wit Opposition to Truths Life and the Churches Care and the manner of his proceeding in the matter of it would have been unto him as a man an Horrid and Detestable Thing This then we may gather from the matter and manner of his discourse in relation to the good Order and Discipline in the Church and visible Family of God That it 's being established amongst us although in the Power of the Spirit which is the Torment of a Loose and Corrupt Mind is that which he is grieved with and having put the Odium upon it which by all means he can devise to marr the face and beauty thereof as if we were run into Forms without the Power and so gone from the inward teacher we were first directed to Then on the score thereof render us Apostates Innovators and what not And this leads us to the matter that the first part of our treatise relates to formerly made mention of as upon us a little to speak to Viz. That under the Gospel-Dispensation 〈◊〉 Order Discipline and Government in the exercise of the Spirit is necessary Justifiable and ought to be found in Subjection to Gods Power amongst Gods people that we may be Truths Praise in the Tabernacle God has given us as that which Answers the Doctrine of Christ the Apostles Care and the Practice of the Primitive Churches according to Scripture-record This is the plain and a positive Truth consistent with the pure Religion to visit the Widow and the Fatherless and to keep unspotted of the world and hath been the Constant practice of the Churches of Christ since there was a people that believed in him and gathered into a Society in the Profession of Truth which the primitive Churches were zealous in the matter of And the very 〈◊〉 Christians have been ashamed as men not to be found in the form thereof And the Reformers of Latter days according to more modern Records have been as incumbent upon them exercised therein in the several visible Societies they have been gathered into And until the Lord was pleased to establish this people W. Rogers inveighs against through the elder Brethren as Instruments in his hand in the matter and practice thereof which could not be till we became a people considerable in relation to it We were under a 〈◊〉 thereof in order to our more compleat mutual 〈◊〉 Strength and Comfort each to other so far as the matter thereof relates thereunto As also with respect to the honour of God Truth our Repute and the Churches Comfort and Ease All which in the Record we have to bear for God we can truly say hath Attended us in our Exercise and Concern in Relation to this matter So that in the sweet and comfortable Order in which the Lord hath placed us in a tender Care for Truth 's Praise we have the sense of God's Love and Delight with us in Blessings upon us and the Work we are concerned in as a Reward into our Bosom manifold and our esteem and good report in many Consciences both amongst them that are saved and amongst them that perish hath greatly been enlarged hereby So that we say as to the proof of this certain Truth and Justified Practice in which we are found although our Adversary William Rogers doth despise the same and reviles our Practice and concern therein much needed not be said it 's so plain and obvious to all Yet in short the tender Reader may take notice not knowing into what hands this may come that Christ Jesus our Lord and Law-giver confirms the Truth of this 〈◊〉 in that saying Matthew 18. If thy Brother Trespass against thee go and tell him his Fault betwixt him and thee alone If he hear thee then thou hast gained thy Brother If he hear thee not take with thee one or two more c. And if he shall neglect to hear them tell it to the Church But if he neglect to hear the Church let him be 〈◊〉 thee as an heathen-man This Implyes positively Church order 〈◊〉 yea Church-power and Government in the Spirit which he promised to give and the Determination and sentence thereof requireable The Offender for not hearing him was not to be unto him as an heathen-man till he had refused to hear the Church and until the Sentence given by it William Rogers one while sayes and so also John Wilkinson hath preached That the Church-power on that wise 〈◊〉 only to matters Criminal and in Difference about outward things And yet contradicts himself again and sayes on the same subject giving Judgment in the case of not hearing That every Case of one Brother's Trespassing against another according to right reason may be comprehended Again it 's said in 1 Cor. 6. 15. The Spiritual man Judgeth all things and it 's said That the Saints shall Judge the world And Paul said Know ye not that we shall Judge Angels how much more the things that appertain to this life Is not here Order and Discipline to be used in Relation to the Judgment that the Church was to give Paul again writing to the Hebrews said obey them that have the rule over you and submit your selves for they watch over your souls as they that must give an Account c. See what Care in the Church was used and what a 〈◊〉 conferred upon such whom the Lord in his Power made Overseers and what a Duty incumbent upon the younger of Submission in the Lord to the Brethren as those that watched over them and as for whom they must give an Account But William Rogers is of another Spirit then the Apostles and Overseers were in that day the Tendency of his Discourse is to undervalue to lessen and to make contemptible the Church's Power Paul said Obey them that have the Rule over you William Rogers sayes Nay this is an Imposing and resists on this account viz. We do not see it our duty nor a requiring upon us so to do we are not inwardly perswaded in our Conseiences concerning it This we say were indeed to set
the Spirit of Truth in the younger against the same Spirit in them that watched over their Souls and so to set Conscience against Conscience and the Spirit of God against it self Is not this the way to let in Liberty in the 〈◊〉 Atheism and the like amongst God's People that again would creep in on this wise under pretence of Want of Inward Conviction and the like and so under colour of Conscience draw back again out of the first Love Care and regard to God and the Spirit of 〈◊〉 in his People and lead into Rantertism and what not It 's a meer Slander in William Rogers to say and gather from hence That we would force a Blind Obedience without conviction Nay There is his mistake being gone from the Spirit 's Life and Sense of it's Motions and Requirings Exhortations Councel and Advice which in the Spirit of Truth we commend to that in all Consciences with whom we have to do in relation to Church-Rule 〈◊〉 der and Subjection Discipline and Judgment We deal with a people in this Matter not as blind but as having a measure of the Spirit which discerns the things of God The Apostle said What have we to do to Judge them that are without speaking in Relation to Church-power Discipline and Subjection in the Lord. It is a shame for William Rogers to talk on this wise and renders him a man that has lost his sight in the Spiritual concern of the Lamb 's Innocent life in which the exercise of the Church of God consists according to the manifestation of the Spirit as every one hath received in which the Rule the Government the Order the Counsel and the Judgment in the Saints in light standeth and in which the mutual Edification is the Helps the Governments in the Church the Unity the sweet Society the subjection one unto another to be each others Joy where the Lord is known to be One and his People one But William Rogers and they of his Party say That the Setling of the Churches in the Order and Discipline that we have amongst us is the way to introduce the Apostacy again yea we are proclaimed already and recorded to posterity to be the Apostates and 〈◊〉 and we see not yet upon what other ground then because we are a People in the Spirit of God Zealous in the matter of Discipline and Order in the Church to Answer the pure Religion in Body Soul and Spirit God requires of us For he hath confessed 〈◊〉 have not lost the Kernel of Christianity neither do we differ in that from them he accounts have kept the Life of it but in the Shell John 〈◊〉 sayes We hold the Truth 's Principles and the Doctrine of Christ and are in the Practice of those things that the Truth in the members of the Heavenly body leadeth into neither do we differ in those things but in Methods and Forms c. So then it must needs be in their Sense that the Church of God being Setled with the respect to the concerns of it relating to us as the visible Family of God under an outward Discipline and Order although the exercise therein be in the Spirit for we own none other i st he Mark and Badge of an 〈◊〉 and that thither we are gone as he Asserts Let us consider and take notice what was the Apostle's sense in his day with respect to that Gospel-order that he laboured for and was 〈◊〉 concerned that in all places it might be setled among the Churches He was of another mind then William Rogers and them of Party with him manifest themselves to be of For although he saw as 't is left upon Record that after his dayes grievous Woives would enter and that there would be a great departing from the Faith and that there would an Apostacy come over many Yet it may be observed what Care he used in the Churches as the opportunity served him that the Order Discipline and Government of the Spirit might visibly Demonstrate it self amongst them in the Tabernacle God had given them in it to be his praise the Godly fear that was upon him in Relation to an 〈◊〉 State was a departing from the Faith to fall among them And as he was desirous that if it was possible they might be kept there from for the Gospels sake and Glory of God it was his desire that every one in the exercise and Service of Truth according to the manifestation of it under a Gospelcare might be concerned and in it fastened and knit together to be each others help and directed them accordingly and that which they had heard and received from him with respect to Order in the Church they were to observe and hold fast and Answer the same in practice and writing to them on that wise with a 〈◊〉 of on such as were wilful and not subject to the Truth but caused Divisions amongst them which they were to beware of he said The rest will I set in Order when I come Much might be said with respect to this matter from the Charge he laid upon Titus and for which cause he left him in Crete to appoint Elders every where and to see that nothing was wanting amongst them Paul never feared the Apostacy to enter through a Setling the Churches by Instruments in Gods hand in that Order he was concerned in the matter of neither did the Churches that kept their first Love ever Brand them with the Character of Apostates for their Labour and Travel on this wise Neither do we read that the Faithful whether Elder or Younger did ever 〈◊〉 at their so doing nor ever slandred those Instruments in Gods hand for any Directions or Orders in Relation to discipline with the bringing in of mens Prescriptions Pauls Orders Lines made ready to their hands Innovations or the like as William Rogers presumes to do which will be his Burthen and 〈◊〉 shame in the end But in the Uuiversal Spirit which is one in all that believe was the Unity preserved and the Comfortable Society held under the Rule and Government of Christ 〈◊〉 and if any would have 〈◊〉 Dissension among them they were to be 〈◊〉 and withdrawn from according to Gospel-Order Hath not William Rogers shamed himself amongst all sober and Judicious people both as a Christian and as a Man to make all this Fluttering 〈◊〉 work against the Government of Christ Jesus in the Church of God which we do affirm is both immediate and Instrumental and that he Rules and Governs in his people the Church of God Immediatly and Instrumentally by his Faithful Servants as well as he instructs both Immediately and Instrumentally And as for this Cause he hath Ministers Pastors and Teachers Instrumentally to turn many from darkness to Light and from Sathan's Power to God to edifie and to build up in the most holy Faith So he hath Overseers Elders Helps and Governments in the Church Instrumentally to see that all things may be kept and
done in Order and that nothing may be lacking amongst his People that may shew forth his Praise that so a sweet Savour may be kept amongst all as the Ornament of the Gospel received and believed in Can it be a Repute to him thus to clamour against the Order and Discipline thereof under this Government and the good and wholsom Directions that appertain to it 〈◊〉 against a People once he was in Society with Zealous in the Matter thereof for a time whom he doth not charge with Apostacy though that 's the Character he is pleased to give us on the account of being departed from the Truth or on any other account but for the Discipline and Government we have amongst us And on that account also would he render us to have lost the 〈◊〉 of Christianity which all his works relates to For he gives not any Account what Principles of Truth we are gone from or wherein we have left the Doctrine 〈◊〉 Christ but retracting again or contradicting himself sayes We differ not about the Kernel but the Shell and John Wilkinson sayes God hath manifested to him that the Caufe is not in the principles of truth nor in the Doctrine of Christ nor any practice that the Truth in the Members of the Heavenly Body leadeth into If William Rogers would have convicted the family he hath set himself against in his 〈◊〉 work of being Apostates and Innovators c. he should not have steered this Course of Inveighing against the Discipline and Order of the Church of God being Justified therein as a commendable and comely thing which hath a sweet Savour in many Consciences even of those that are not of Proffession with us who cannot but see what 〈◊〉 work he hath made about it which declares him to be a man of a loose spirit and that likes not the Inspection nor Judgment of the naked truth Surely it had been more honourable for him to have let alone this clamo ring against us as Apostates c. till he had first convicted us of being gone 〈◊〉 the Power and life of our Principle or from the Doctrine of Christ for there the Apostacy enters But John Wilkinson and he has 〈◊〉 us of that in express words And the Testimony we have in many consciences that the Antient 〈◊〉 Power attends us in our Assemblies to the breaking of many Hearts and the gathering unto him in whom Salvation is known 〈◊〉 as shall be saved confirms this matter on our behalf And if they were not blind they might see 〈◊〉 Barrenness and Deadness attends the Testimonies and Concerns of them of this Spirit and how many scatter and fall away from them several wayes and the most of them that keep to them are but such as are a Reproach to Truth mark the end of them I say could William Rogers have convinced the world where he publisheth the Characterizing of us Apostaces and the like that we had lost our first Love and 〈◊〉 to our Antient Testimony for God and were departed from the Faith and our Zeal for God to satisfie the Flesh and that they were the entire and Faithful to him and the Life of Righteonsness Then had he done something in relation to that which he hath undertaken to do But the Lord will stop him therein and he shall not perfect that which he hath Attempted when he hath done his worst but Truth shall Florish over all when his Name shall be Reproachful every-where But let us go on and consider farther on what occasion we may suppose William Rogers Adventures to lay that infamous charge of Apostates at our doors seeing it 's granted that wee keep to the Principles of Truth and are in the 〈◊〉 of Christ and are in the practice of things that the 〈◊〉 leads 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 that Discipline and Order of Truth in the Church of God the Government thereof and Judgement therein which we maintain and are in the practice 〈◊〉 and in 〈◊〉 thereunto is Justified and commendable in the sigh of God and amongst them that believe according to Christ's Command and the 〈◊〉 Care and Practice in the Church of God and on that account it 's in vain for 〈◊〉 to Charge us with Apostacy if he think that any that fears God will stand by him therein And we take notice also William Rogers seems Doubtful in his own mind what Repute he shall gain to himself on the account of making so much ado against Church-Government lest he should be palpably thereby discovered to all to be a man of too loose a Spirit and pleading for the Liberty of the flesh and thereby throw dirt in his own face which he would cast at others to his reproach And therefore in the very height of his exclaiming against Order and Government wherein he is very abusive and wicked he Retracts again as a Smitten man and grants the Matter that he makes all this stirr in Opposition to See his 1 st Part page 43. and page 52 see also his 3 d Part page 19. And for a more clear manifesting of his Confusion and Contradictions about this Matter of Church-Government we refer the Reader we say again to the Anfwer to William Rogers Subscribed by Ellis Hookes c. He seems doubtful also what the Matter of his exclaiming against Church-Government we stand to maintain as consistent with the Doctrine of Christ and the Apostles practice will make for him on the account of proving us Apostates and Innovators c. And therefore to another shift he betakes himself that is to say to exclaim against the Discipline used amongst us and calling it George Fox's Form of Government 〈◊〉 making also an outragious Clamour against the Directions the Rules the Advice and Counsel given relating to Discipline and Order amongst us calling them Dictates of fallible men Mens Prescriptions Laws and Edicts other mens Lines made ready to our hands Innovations George Fox's Orders c. He is very extravagant also in his Reflections upon our Mens Meetings our Quarterly and our Yearly Meetings manifested at large and spoke to in the aforesaid Answer Subscribed by Ellis Hookes c. In Answer also whereunto we are led to the first particular head formerly made mention of a little to be spoken to that the honest unprejudiced and impartial Reader may consider and Judge whether with respect to what the Church of God directeth to in this our day amongst us and we are in the Practice of in the Discipline thereof William Rogers our and the Church's Adversary hath any cause to render us in Print Apostates from our first Principle and so from God and to leave the Infamous Badg thereof upon us to Posterity as much as in him lies The First Particular thing made Mention of to be spoken to and plainly proved in the First Part of the Antichristian Treachery Discovered and It 's Way Blockt up Viz. That the Care of the Church of God in this our Day amongst the Children of the
Light with Respect to Discipline according to the Order and Rule of Truth and their Practice accordingly Stands Fustified as consistent with the Doctrine of Christ the Aposties Command Scripture-example and the Primitive Practice amongst the Believers touching this Matter By that Eternal Word that was man's Life and Glory in the beginning before Sin and the separation from God was a Remnant that have believed and have been gathered home again unto God In which Word our Fellowship stands with the Father and with the Son according to Antient experience and through the Holy Spirit are we brought into Unity one with another in that Invincible life which they that believe not are strangers to and in the Tabernacle the Lord hath given us in this World as the Family of God we are in that Society wherein in the Love that we bear one unto another and in that Godly care we have amongst us for God's Glory and Truth 's Praise our desires are to be one anothers help and advantage every way so as that in all things we may be as becomes the Heritage of God And for this cause is it that we are a people Setled through the Power and Spirit of Truth in that good Order and Discipline as becomes the Family of him who hath chosen us That Love and Care none other we have laboured to preserve amongst us according to Christ's Doctrine and the Primitive Example as that we may Glorifie God in Body Soul and Spirit and by reason whereof all men may know that we are Christ's disciples and that we are in that Faith which works by Love And in the same eternal Power by which we are a People and in which we are made HelpGovernments in the Church of God an eye is open and an Inspection given us in which what ever is decent comely and of good report is cherished and approved of and what ever is contrary is seen whether in things appertaining to Doctrine or Practice Conversation and Life And in the same Power which is the Terrour to the evil-doer is the exercise of God's People in relation thereunto according to the Blessed Order Christ 〈◊〉 directed unto in the Case of Trespass of one Brother against another where the Church might come to be concerned as to hearing the Matter and giving judgment in the case as the Lord might direct according to the Power and Authority given in which the Sentence might be passed for want of the Church being heard by the offending Brother let him be unto thee as an heathen-man This Order and Discipline was directed to to be in the Church and this Government and Judgment by Christ Jesus given unto them who had received of his good Spirit in which Spirit of Truth that leads into all Truth it is and in none other that in our tender care in the Church of God we are concerned and have a Witness in the Consciences of all the tender-hearted before the Lord. And whatever William Rogers sayes in his Malicious Slandering Mind God is our Witness we have no care upon us in Relation to the Church of God but in that Love in which we were beloved of him and in which we are knit together We have no concern but in the Power our Eye is unto that There is no Rule Discipline or Government amongst us but in the power in which our Souls are Subjected unto God and in which we are Servants one to another In which power we do 〈◊〉 as given us of God for his Glory's sake Authority to hear Determine and give Judgment not only in matters relating to the outward man in cases of Difference brought before the Churches and upon the case of any not hearing the Church to declare him as not worthy of the Fellowship of God's people but to be unto us as an Heathon-man But also in matters relating to Conscience or the Inner man As the Apostle said A man that is an Heretick after the First and second times 〈◊〉 reject And as we have a concern upon us to stand approved in Gods sight and in all Consciences in the matter of Doctrine and Principles of Truth so also with respect to Conversation and Life to live void of offence towards God and Man in that Pure Religion we are brought into to visit the Fatherless and the Widdow and keep our selves unspotted of the World whose Care and Order relating thereunto is no way Inconsistent with the Apostle's Counsel and the Churches Practice in his day The Apostle said to the Corinthians Dare any of you having a Matter against another go to Law before the 〈◊〉 c. And that the Care of the Churches of Christ in this matter amongst this people whom William Rogers presumes to render as Apostates and Innovators and their Order and Practice is consistent with the Apostles advice let the Records of our Meeting-Books Testifie and let our disconcern with any other People save them of our Principle and Profession in any matters relating to 〈◊〉 amongst us speak in all men amongst whom our residence is The Care and Order we have in relation to the Widdow and Fatherless and them that are in necessity let our Practice touching that matter declare thereof Unto whom are we Burthensom in that case Unto what Magistrate have we complained or 〈◊〉 relief from in the case of any Brothers Indigency or want save in the case of laying before them the Oppressions and sufferings that we have been exposed to for our Testimonies sake that the cry of the Poor the Widow and the Fatherless on that Account may not enter the Lord's ears to bring his wrath upon them because thereof Or which of the Widows that are Widows indeed or of the Poor amongst us that keep faithful to Truth have found fault with us and complained of Neglect amongst us concerning them Wherein are We Inconsistent with the 〈◊〉 Practice in Relation to dealing with such as become any way Scandalous to Truth let our Records in that case speak for us in bearing a Testimony against the same and publishing of it according to the Merits thereof and the Knowledge of it abroad for the clearing of Truth and declaring our disowning of such as are led aside on that wise till Repentance be wrought and the Lord's Forgiveness be felt concerning them Let the Care and the Order we have and the Practice we are found in in Relation to the Inspecting Marriages as to clearness every way consistent with Truth 's Life and the Churches allowing or disallowing as matters are found in relation thereunto being twice brought before our Men and Womens Meetings and our decent comey and orderly proceeding with 〈◊〉 of Parents c. in the Accomplishment thereof before many of the Lord's People in publick Assemblies for the most part gathered for that very occasion that they may be Witnesses thereof We say let our practice in these matters Testifie to our consistency with the Care that 's incumbent upon us as God's
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
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
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
the one when the Lords secret Hand smote the Hearts of the other so that to another kinde of working in the fame Spirit they betook themselves as 〈◊〉 shall be made appear But first we defire that on the Consideration of what hath been said at large and yet things but hinted at with respect to the multitude of Exercises that have been met withal in relation to the Sorrows Grievances various Troubles and great Afflictions that hath attended the peaceable People of God these several Years through the Spirit of Opposition 〈◊〉 and Mischief that hath wrought amongst them by a sort that hath been acted thereby having let in an evil Heart of Unbelief in departing from Gods eternal Power and with respect to the Care long-Suffering Forbearance and great Patience that hath been used towards them with Exhortations Cautions Counsel and Advice in the day of their declining Age and with Reproofs of Instruction and the pure Judgment that hath been ministred in unto them with Line upon Line Precept upon Precept here a little and there a little as it was in the Prophets days in the case of the rebellious and backsliding People We say it s our Desire that these things being tenderly weighed in sincerity of Heart amongst all where-ever this may come and Occasion may be given to inspect the same may speak whether William Rogers whom we are 〈◊〉 with have justifiable Cause to render this Family in the Church of God and tenderly bowed down and broken with respect to them of his Party whilst a Door was seen to be set open to them the Apostates from God and such as in whom the Doctrin and Life of Christianity is extent and to publish the same in Print and leave the infamous Badg thereof upon us to Posterity or that the Witness of God in all your Consciences do not testify that he is a man of a corrupt Minde and hath set himself to work Mischief amongst the People he was once in Unity with and to work Destractions amongst them and expose a People more justified in Gods sight and amongst the honest hearted than 〈◊〉 to as much Infamy and Disgrace as he can any way do and to bring an Odium upon their Principle and Practice as much as in him lies and that he appears to be in the Enmity of his Minde against them he hath turned his Back of and the just Principle also in himself that would rejoyce to see Evil of any sort befall them and therefore hath set himself to render them the worst 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 devise we leave it also for them to judge whether the Apostate and turning back from the Doctrine and Life of Christianity be not truly applicable to him and them of that Party with him which in the Sequil of this our Concern we shall further demonstrate as the Lord shall be pleased to give us Leave Now to go on and that which is before us further to do is to manifest What other Course William Rogers hath betaken himself unto in the matter of his proving this People whose Testimony and Practice stands to maintain that 〈◊〉 a Gospel Dispensation through Gods invisible Power Church Order and Government visiblely and instrumentally is justificable and commendable amongst Gods People during their Abode in this World as a visible Family to shew forth Gods Praise The Course he takes to effect this matter if he could is to asperse and caluminate with malitious Accusations with all the Eagerness he can devise and work himself into such as the Lord hath been pleased to make most instrumental in the matter of setling the Churches in the aforesaid Order of the Gospel and Government of Christ Jesus many whom he names not yet palpably known to many of Gods People who they are he smites at and several whom he by Name makes mention of and for the cause of his looking upon them to be such as there are no Hopes of any Recovery for meaning out of the apostate State he declares and publishes in Print they are gone into and particularly George Fox he hath very abusively and not like a Christian or a sober Man inveighed against and cast very odious Aspersions upon him to his 〈◊〉 as he intends thereby and indeed if true did very much leave him under the aforesaid Character that he hath given him and many Thousands more It is our Purpose God willing to insert herein the principal Accusations which in his printed Book he hath published against George Fox and to demonstrate by Answer thereunto to all conscientious sober People the Fallacy thereof together with his ungodly perverting George Fox his honest and Christian Sence and Intents in relation to Matters and Words upon which William Rogers grounds his Accusation which his aforesaid Sence and sineere Intents in any charitable and Christian Construction is naturally deducible from 〈◊〉 Fox's Words and Exercises 〈◊〉 thereunto from which William Rogers having perverted them draws his 〈◊〉 Inference whereupon he often makes an Occasion against him It may be observed also how unbrotherly and unchristianly he hath appeared in the matter of the aforesaid Charging of him contrary to all Gospel-Order for the most part and the rule of all profest Christian Societies yea beyond all Bounds of humane Sobriety and Moderation so that if he could but get any colourable Occasion from whence to ground his open and implicit Reflections and malicious smiting Charges against him that as much as in him lies he may bring a Defamation upon his Christian Repute and also a Blemish upon him as a Man thereby also to invalidate the Esteem that remains in the Hearts and Consciences of many Thousands of Gods faithful People of the Christian Care that lives upon his Heart in an innocent Life in relation to Church Government and Order and Discipline thereof setled amongit Gods People in this Gospel Day It is also with us to manifest what malicious smiting Accusations he hath cast upon several others of our Friends that tenderly and yet in a godly Zeal for God the ancient Truth and Unity for Brethren have stood in the Vindication and in behalf of the Government of Christ Jesus instrumentally and visibly amongst Gods People relating to the Tabernacle in which we have a Day therein to shew forth the Glory and Praise of him that created us against the ungodly Workings of a wrong Spirit in Opposition 〈◊〉 And more particularly have shamefully abused 〈◊〉 of our Brethren in the North on the account thereof In relation to which also through Gods Help we doubt not but give the unprejudiced Reader that Satisfaction by a plain and honest Relation of Matters which he grounds his Accusations upon that an Understanding will be opened in them rightly to judge and testify that there is abundantly more Malice against the Particulars he is set against in his Clamouring Work than any real Matter upon which to ground the base Reflections and abusive Accusations that he hath treated them with which declares
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
their Weakness in some Measure c. so that then Why are they not since received into Unity and the 〈◊〉 and Division put an end to In Answer whereunto we say If their Hearts had been upright to God in what they declared and if they had continued in a tender fear and submission and in a disconcern with respect to any discouragement to others in the Exercises accounted needfull in the Churches and if they had broke off the separate Meeting and joyned with the Church of God in their Monthly and Quarterly Meetings in the service of Truth as their Words did there import an inclination to do in several of the a foresaid matters as they acknowledged their duty to do it had been well with them and many more at this Day on the account of the Life 〈◊〉 Truth it had been also the 〈◊〉 Joy on their behalf and their Gladness 〈◊〉 the sake of the Churches Peace which would greatly have been gained thereby besides the occasion that hath been given by the contrary to the Enemies of Truth to speak 〈◊〉 of the way thereof But we desire that all may consider either what abominable 〈◊〉 was in the matter of these smooth and glosie Words or else how little notice they took to answer in Practice in what they seemed to affirm For 〈◊〉 hstanding this John Wilkinson encouraged the Separation he being principally concerned amongst them and a Leader thereof 〈◊〉 when in the Country 〈◊〉 the most part amongst them John Wilkinson also denyed to one of us that they had condemned any thing or that they knew of any thing acted or spoken by 〈◊〉 worthy of Condemnation He writ into the South in a contempt of the Travels at Drawell against the 〈◊〉 Concern there He called the Relation a lying Narative as said before and their 〈◊〉 of seeming acknowledgement William Rogers called it but a Rattle to please Children withal They in the North John Wilkinson being one of them became 〈◊〉 Opposite and 〈◊〉 then before they writ a Remonstrance to the Monthly Quarterly and Yearly Meetings in which they Condemned them all to be gone from the Antient Principle and as if themselves alone were 〈◊〉 that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the Antient way of Life And therefore say they were they called Separates by them of the Meeting they writ to c. So that we say that with Guile and 〈◊〉 they have carried on the Design contrived amongst them and their Posterity hath been accordingly for their way is blockt up and they can proceed no further the Snare is broken and Deliverance wrought to many innocent Ones that might have been betrayed into the 〈◊〉 they 〈◊〉 and fall on every side and their Calamity hastens on which they will not see nor be able to avoid and what advantage these things afford to William Rogers's Design of proving those two men with them of Party with them the Christian Quakers and all the whole Family besides those scattered ones Apostates from God and such as in whom the Life of Christianity is extinct we desire the Reader to consider and what ground William Rogers hath to render George Fox erroniously concerned in the aforesaid Difference because that in the Word of the Lord God he sent to them to call in their 〈◊〉 wicked Papers of Strife and tending to work the 〈◊〉 they could devise thereby we see not William Rogers in his smiting Work against George Fox in his fourth Part page 27. saith That what ever was pretended to be John Story 's and John Wilkinsons failings yet nothing would give George Fox satisfaction but submission to him and his Orders c. Because saith he in his Letter last mentioned he writes of them and says Had they been right and in the Light and Power of God as at the first they would have come to me when I sent for them To all which we Answer let the Reader consider whether William Rogers doth not befool himself in raking up in an evil mind that watcheth for Evil such a sorry proof as this whereby to render George Fox an Apostate or one erroniously concerned in the aforesaid Difference that would make an Accusation against him on the score of George Fox's desiring to see John Wilkinson and John Story when by reason of the Weakness of Body that he was under for several Weeks together 〈◊〉 able to walk to the Door and therefore sent for them if that by any means he could instrumentally in Gods Hand have perswaded them to 〈◊〉 their striving contentious Work whereby they had occasioned Trouble in the Church of Christ which was his sorrow for its Peace sake and sor the sake of the Innocent Lambs of God that were hurt thereby and whether it did argue a Stout Lordly Spirit in George Fox that would have submission to him as William Rogers renders him to have who innocently and in self-denial came so far under that wrong Sprit as to desire them to come over to him who could not go to them because of his aforesaid Weakness or whether it was not a Lordly Stubborn and Selfwilled Spirit in them who when in good heath and ability of 〈◊〉 would not so much as travel a few Miles to Visit him when also they were tenderly desired that they would do it and without any respect also to that Eternal Power wherein George Fox hath been an Instrument to gather many 〈◊〉 them from the ways of Perdition into the knowledge of the way that Leads to Life and Peace forever to which also John Wilkinson himself as said before did confess and whether William Rogers doth not rake up any thing that he can any way through perverting and deducing falce Inserences to make up some matter against him to smite withal let the unprejudiced observe Further we observe how William Rogers picks something here and there out of the Charges against John Story and John Wilkinson and out of our Reply to their Answer thereunto alledging that there is no matter of evil Fact therein whereby to slander and asperse Robert Barrow and others concerned in the Exercise relating thereunto and by the said aspersions cast on them would maliciously stretch the same to Accusations against George Fox relating to his Charge against him of being one erroneously concerned in the aforesaid Difference Because saith he it s not like that Robert Barrow and them would do any thing on that wise without George Fox ' s consent or to that purpose Answ. We say first If George Fox had been privy to Robert Barrow's and 〈◊〉 aforesaid their Concern and had been an encourager thereof and that to have done so were matter of Evil and Condemnable which we deny and William Rogers hath yet to prove yet were it uncharitable and untruth-like in him to charge George Fox therewith from his own supposition that Robert Barrow and the rest would not be so concerned without his consent Now we say Where is the Life of Christianity Where is the Love that thinks
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
for thou that dost art of Hams Family which is under the Curse c. Upon the consideration of this William Rogers saith the Objector may then say Object How comes it to pass that many of his Actions comes under the just censure of his own Words William Rogers says to this I know not how better to Answer then to testisie that Pride must have a Fall and God-suffered this Evil to come upon him c. To all which we Answer thus That which hath grieved William Rogers and John Story hath been the Judgment of the 〈◊〉 Truth upon the loose backsliding Work of the Spirit that they and them of Party with them have been led into This was William Rogers's Torment in which he hath let loose his angry malitious Tongue which venteth his smiting Accusations against the Faithful as may be hereafter manifested For because an Epistle of George Fox's reached him that had made away part of his personal Estate to his Servant to avoid Sufferings thereby as himself hath confessed not alledging any occasion of Payment of Debts or the like for his so doing therefore in his Torment would on this wise Revenge himself But let him be asked how it is that he now condemns George Fox for giving Judgment although against a wrong Spirit and yet he himself in his 〈◊〉 Quaker hath Judged the 〈◊〉 Family of God who have believed in the Light fave them of Party with him to be the Apostates and Innovators And how is it that George Fox must be so abusively rendred in Print to Posterity as he hath rendred him who says His 〈◊〉 must have a Fall and that this Evil is come upon him c. For Judging a wrong Spirit that is Accursed seeing George Fox formerly said Judge not one another nor lay open one anothers Weaknesses behind one anothers Backs c. And yet William Rogers notoriously guilty in that matter as said before who caused a Paper 〈◊〉 with malicious smiting and false Accusations against George Fox to be Published in a publick Meeting when George Fox was nigh two hundred Miles distant and knew nothing of any such thing neither was the Paper of Accusations sent to him till after it was behind the Back published on that wise whether this be not Hams Spirit let himself judge and with this same Spirit he 〈◊〉 the Heritage of the most high God to be Apostates and what not It s admirable that William Rogers cannot see the Envy and Pride of his Heart that he may take heed of the miserable Fall that he is nigh unto if with speed he Repent not and that he is not ashamed to make mention os these things that he would lay to 〈◊〉 charge when he is thus horredly guilty thereof himself and if the least 〈◊〉 were in any others Eye he would take notice of that and will not see the 〈◊〉 in his own It s too plainly manifest that God for the Wickedness 〈◊〉 hath appeared in on this wise hath given him up to a reprobate mind that he may fill up the measure thereof for the Damnation that slumbers not We further say Let William Rogers be also asked would not the Apostle Paul have come under his Judgment of Pride that must have a Fall because he gave the same Charge viz. Judge not one another and who art thou that Judgeth another Mans Servant he stands or falls to his own Master c. and yet said An Heretick after the first and second Admonition reject He bid them also cast out the Incestious Person He said Know ye not that the Saints shall Judge Angels how much more things that pertain to this Life William Rogers may 〈◊〉 How comes it to pass that Pauls Actions comes under the 〈◊〉 of his own Words and so consequently he knows not how better to answer then that Pride must have a Fall Oabominable Wickedness indeed Must not George Fox or any spiritual man unto whom the Lord committeth Judgment 〈◊〉 in his Hand as he also maketh Pastors and Teachers c. and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 concern from God is on that wise place a Judgment upon such as backslide from the Life of Truth and the Practice of the pure Religion after tender and orderly dealing with such according to the Command of Christ and the Primitive Example in such Cases because they have admonished and charged the Children of the Lord to take heed of Judging one another or speaking Evil one of another c. What dark Confusion is this and great Ignorance of the Spirit and Power of God wresting things to their own Destruction We tell William Rogers he is not treated of us now as a Brother and one of us neither is he and them of his Spirit judged as those to whom Paul writ nor as those unto whom George Fox directed his Epistle of Advice on that wise to take heed of judging one another but they are dealt withal as Enemies to the Life of God and the Fellowship of Brethren as their separate Work and Strife demonstrates them to be and Judgment is set on the Head of the Spirit they are led by which also they cannot escape whilst in subjection to it and are doing its Work and in the Testimony from the Lord God unto them we are bold to say whether they will hear or forbear that the Indignation of God and Wrath from Heaven is to be revealed upon them and that with speed if Repentance they find not Another thing we take notice of relating to charge against George Fox by William Rogers Inserted in the 4 th Part of his Christian Quaker distinguished c. which he abusively Clamours against him withal is concerning Micha's Mother whom George Fox makes mention of in his Exhortation to and encouraging of Women to be Faithful to God according to the Gift received from the Lord to profit withal to the Praise of him who is the Giver And making mention of several honourable Women that were concerned in the Work of God both under the Law and in the Gospel Day shewing also that God is not strait in dispencing of his Grace to the Female as well as the Male that so every one might be doing for God in their Age and Day he makes mention also how the Lord was pleased by his Invisible Power and Vertue to reach the Hearts of Women in the very greatest Darkness and Idolatrous Times to manifest that the Lord is willing to work in all and through all to the Praise of his rich Grace on which occasion he instanced how the Lord reached the Heart of the said Micha's Mother with his living Power which caused her to confess to the Eternal God who had made her Son to confess That he was the man that had taken the 1100 Shekels of Silver which had been stolen from her and upon his being constrained by the Lords secret Power to confess and restore the same She replyed saying Blessed be thou of the Lord may Son c. The Virtue
of the Lords Power that reached them on this wise George Fox Testified to and that there was a Spark of Life kindled in them the Charitable Christian Reader we are satisfied will confess to to the Praise of the rich Grace of God and to mind all of the manifestation of it in themselves according to the measure thereof to be 〈◊〉 therewith whilst they have a day given them to Labour in and if Micha and his Mother had been faithful to what was then made manifest in them in that dark 〈◊〉 Day the sparke of Life kindled in them God would have blown upon to a further clearing of them in the knowledge of him from whom Life Springs However this Testifies to the reaching forth of the Grace of God to all and of the sufficiency of it to work Vertue in the Souls of all in every Age and Day that have a regard unto it And this was that which George Fox Testified to that William Rogers hath made such cluttering Work about as also concerning the Woman of Tekoa and other Quotations not worth taking notice of here which is further spoken to by our Friend R. R. in the short Treatise called Some Ingredients against the Venome in William Rogers ' s Book To which we refer the Reader and very largely also are they spoken to in a Treatise in Manuscript given forth by G. W. to be seen if further occasion require And wherefore George Fox should be by William Rogers and others of his 〈◊〉 Party for this cause so run upon we see not and slanderously treated by them up and down the Nation Broyling themselves therewith these two or three Years and at last William Rogers to put that in Print to Posterity which hath in Manuscript formerly been spoken to and cleared to the understanding of the Innocent to God But the Lord suffers this to be that his Folly and Envy may be the more manifested to all that take notice thereof 〈◊〉 an Holy man of God makes mention of 〈◊〉 Faith the Harlot into whose House the Spies went and were preserved in Joshuas Days This is recorded in the Praise of God and that Faith which God gives and the touchings of his Power upon the greatest Sinners as he pleaseth to do Had William Rogers had the Spirit of Jesus and that Mind that Paul was of he would not have made such a bauling Work against George Fox for the concern he had upon him in making mention of the Work which God wrought upon this Idolatrous Woman Micah's Mother and the Confession she made to Almighty God for the Work God had effected upon her Son who confessed and restored the Money Stolen by him neither would he have recorded the same in Print to George Fox's Disgrace if it would effect the same nor to the slighting the Grace and Power of God in Micha and his Mother as he hath abusively done Mention is made of Marcus Aurelius Ant. one of the Roman Antichristian Emperors during the time of the Roman Monarchy and in the time of the Ten Persecutions raised against the Christians who upon an Advantage that he received through the Prayers of the Christians as he himself confessed in a Victory against his Enemies by 〈◊〉 of whom he was in Distress was made to confess to their God mention is made of him to have said That they Prayed to a God that they carried about with them in their Consciences and that eternal Power that accompanied them he acknowledged also which had that virtuous opperation upon him though an Heathen Man that he caused an Edict to go forth on the behalf of the Christians whereupon the Persecution they were Afflicted under ceased and so the People of God enjoyed their outward Peace Why should William Rogers 〈◊〉 offended at the Grace and Power of God upon any God is pleased to touch therewith and what a Spirit is it that reflects upon and abuses such as makes mention of the Lords doings on this wise the honest hearted may easily see William Rogers further in his Historical Relation touching the Division in Westmerland to cast Aspertions upon the Church of God there 〈◊〉 the matter also to an Accusation against George Fox saith thus in the 4 th Part of the Christian Quaker c. Page 107. The Fire of Contention encreasing and it being rumored that there 〈◊〉 a Separate Meeting in the North John Story writes to the two Meetings in the North viz. that called Separate and that called Quarterly as he saith proposing 〈◊〉 of re-uniting c. But he saith Robert Barrow and Fifteen others Condemned John Story' s Proposition unheard This also is thus hinted because I doubt not saith he but that it may come to the view of Robert Barrow who if he please may thereupon take occasion to signifie to me that George Fox was not concerned in that Counsel 〈◊〉 Answer In the first place we Answer to the latter part of William Rogers's Reflections touching this matter and that which he would desireably make an Accusation of against George Fox as being privy in Counsel to the aforesaid matter and we 〈◊〉 that the honest hearted may take notice of the mans prejudice watching for Evil and seeking occasion against George Fox whom he is ever smiting at and when he wants matter to ground an 〈◊〉 upon begs a Question to advantage the Design he hath in hand And we say if what the Friends in Westmerland had done in the matter of John Story' s Paper had been matter of evil Fact why should William Rogers in an evil and jealous mind without the Charity that thinks no Evil labour to have the Innocent brought under the Guilt thereof and for satisfaction to the Innocent and the more to manifest William Rogers's uncharitable jealous Heart we do testifie that George Fox had no hand at all in the concern we had upon us with others of our Brethren touching that matter we desire William Rogers may be the more Charitable and Prudent hereafter But to come to the matter touching the Meetings Concern on the account of John Story' s Proposals as expedients for Peace as William Rogers terms them William Rogers has dealt very unfairly and unchristianly with us First in not stating the Case aright in that he gives no account of the Reasons we made mention of given to him and others wherefore we could not take any notice of any Proposals sent by him for uniting the two aforesaid Meetings in the Captivity he then stood as we fairly signified unto him and them of Party with him at Bristol with them also of the Separation here in the North in a Paper sent to them which might have stopped all their Mouths until they had detected the said Reasons as insufficient for our denial which they never yet have done And Secondly we say he abuses us in saying That we Judged the Paper unheard for we Judged not the Matter contained in John Story' s aforesaid Paper but the Spirit in which
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
contentious Papers of them that were given up to Jangle and Contend in a Spirit of Strife that hath a Life in Words and Writings thereby to Vent the corrupted matter that is contracted in the old filthy Bottle although somtimes for the Simples sake and to manifest their Confusion and 〈◊〉 Work and to wipe away the Refuge of Lyes some have sometimes felt it upon them to concern themselves a little therewith Yet we do affirm that after the many tender Entreaties Exhortations 〈◊〉 Cautions they were treated with whilst their day lasted and upon their Rebellion the Judgment of the pure Truth placed upon them in the motion and Unity of the Life of God it might have been consistant with the Counsel of God for his People to have been little more concerned with them on that 〈◊〉 but they being given up to a 〈◊〉 Mind through resisting the Grace of God and his good Spirit let them have gone on to do their Work which they had a design to do to the filling up of the measure of their Iniquities whose Damnation would not Slumber and it is our Belief and let William Rogers disprove it if he can that George Fox's Silence with respect to some of William Rogers his perverse and contemptible Letters was approved of and justified by the Faithful Brethren who had the 〈◊〉 thereof according to the saying of the Wise Man Answer not a Fool according to his Folly Bray him in a Morter and he will be a Fool still Now we come to take notice of the sad Work 〈◊〉 Rogers makes with himself in manifesting palpably to all where his Book may come what a venomous bitter Spirit hath lodged in him to the bringing forth such Mischiet and Iniquity as the like hath scarcely been heard of in any Age under the prosession of Christianity to have sprung from any that would be reckoned to be in the Life thereof as 〈◊〉 eafter God willing we shall Demonstrate and the object that is in his Eye 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 upon with his out-ragious clamorous Work and against whom his Malicious Design is laid is George Fox and the Prosecution thereof continuing with 〈◊〉 he hath sought an occasion to keep himself at Work on the score thereof 〈◊〉 a general Epistle that George Fox gave forth to be spread abroad amongst 〈◊〉 and William Rogers having inserted the same in his Book that thereby 〈◊〉 may make George Fox as Infamous as he can through the Work he hath made 〈◊〉 it we find it our Freedom to give the Reader the opportunity 〈◊〉 considering 〈◊〉 by inserting the same herein which is as followeth Friends ALL you that do make away or over your Estates to the World or your Servants for fear of 〈◊〉 Spoylers in time of Persecution for the sake of Christ and his Gospel and the Worship of God First do not you Distrust and Despair of God Almighty's Protecting and Delivering you with his Almighty Power Secondly Are you Sensible that the Earth is the Lords and the fulness thereof is the Lords and that he giveth the encrease and that how that he may try you whether your Minds are in the Creatures or with him the Creator And whether is it not a greater thing to give up the Life and Soul and to dye for the Lord Jesus then to give up the Goods and Estates and suffering the spoyl of the Goods 〈◊〉 Christs sake and Worshipping of God And whether or no they that cannot suffer the Spoyling of their Goods for God and Christs sake Worships sake can give up their Lives and Suffer for Christ who hath Died and 〈◊〉 for you And whether or no they that make away their Estates to the World 〈◊〉 they should loose them for the Worship of God do not they distrust God of keeping them whose they are indeed and have more Belief and Trust in the World then they have in God And whether this Spirit that doth so is not the Spirit of the World that doth lust to Envy and not the Spirit of God and his Wisdom but that which is Earthly Sensual and Devilish that would have its Libery and not the Wisdom that is from above that is Pure Peaceable and Easie to be Entreated And whether he that will save his Life and not loose it for Christs sake doth not he think to be his own Saviour and not Christs And whether he that will save his Estate and not loose it for Christs sake and the Worship of God by making it away to the World in time of Sufferings shall not loose it And so whether its safer in this case to make away your Estates to the World that cannot save its own or to make or commend it into the Hands of God the Creator of all and Jesus 〈◊〉 by whom all things were made who upholds all things by his Word and Power and the great Lord of Heaven and Earth and all things therein and which 〈◊〉 of his Hand a Sparrow shall not fall without the Will of him that made them George Fox This being Read in the Meeting at Bristol amongst Friends in William Roger's hearing who as it appears by his own Confession was Guilty in relation to the Contents thereof became so uneasie under it not liking sound Judgment and 〈◊〉 it to himself in a freting discontented Mind as the Work and Product of his 〈◊〉 doth declare although there was not the least Particularizing of any therein and instead of his quietly 〈◊〉 to it undertakes in a great Revenge with all expedition to give 〈◊〉 a Paper of Smiting Queries relating to Accusations and high Charges against George Fox at a very unreasonable and 〈◊〉 Rate and 〈◊〉 the same to be Read in a Publick Meeting at Bristol against him by Name tending as much as in him lay to his Desamation after a Dialogueing manner contrary to all Gospel Order and Rule of common Societies behind his Back the said George Fox being at that time nigh Two Hundred Miles off whom William Rogers had never dealt withal 〈◊〉 in Private about the same as he doth teach neither did George Fox know of any such thing from him till several Weeks after as hath been before in this Treatise sometimes hinted at Whereunto after a little while George Fox gave an Honest Plain and Upright Answer by way of Reply in the tenderness of that Spirit which many dear brethren had Unity with unto which Answer to William Roger's Smiting and Charging Queries a Postscript was annexed given forth by John Blaykling whom William Rogers seemed to bring in as a Witness to some of his Accusations against George Fox to which Reply and Postscript William Rogers undertakes to make a 〈◊〉 of which in his Printed Book he often makes mention wherein he sayes He hath detected George Fox of Lyes and Forgery c. Charging him also that no Answer was put to it that he knew of And requiring him to Transcribe for him such a Numberless Number of Coppies of his said Rojoynder
in which he said he had detected him of Lyes and Forgery c. As he is pleased to require or else threatned that he would Print against him c. Of this we have formerly hinted and have manifested also the naughtiness yea the deceit of his Spirit touching this matter for long before his said Book was in Print did William Rogers's Wife intimate to John Blaykling the receit of an Answer thereunto and some discourse we understand they had concerning it and yet the Man's dishonesty hath been 〈◊〉 that he hath Printed his Rejoynder in which he saith He hath detected George Fox of Lyes c. But not any thing of the Answer to it to the clearing of George Fox hath he taken notice of Wherefore for the Clearing of George Fox of the Accusations by William Rogers laid against him in his Paper of smiting Queries as also in his Rejoynder to George Fox's Reply and John Blayklings Postscript we shall as the Lord enables insert 〈◊〉 some part of George Fox's Reply and the aforesaid 〈◊〉 annexed to it as also something of William Rogers's Rejoynder with the Answer to it and leave the whole Matter to the Upright Unprejudiced Sincere-Hearted to judge thereof We shall not trouble the Reader with inserting in this place William Rogers's Smiting Queries Relating to Accusation and high Charge against George Fox because we have occasion in the Answer to his Rejoynder to make mention thereof and in order insert the same which the Reader may turn to and take notice of to help his understanding concerning this present Discourse which by the way we have occasion to handle before we come to the Charges themselves William Rogers in his said Paper of Smiting Queries tending to Charge against George Fox and Read in a publick Meeting at Bristol against him by 〈◊〉 on the occasion of the aforesaid General Epistle relating to Exhortation and Advice to Friends to be Faithful to God in their Testimony for Truth in time of Persecution he saith thus viz. As to the Exhortation it is in it self Good but would much better become the Mouth of George Fox if when the Persecutors came up one pair of Stairs in our Meeting-Room in Broad-meade whilst he was Speaking he had not been of such a Spirit which some may call Distrusting and Despairing as on a sudden to step down and hasten out at a back pair of Stairs as he once did of which mine Eyes with many more were Witnesses Besides saith he I Query of George Fox ' Whether he doth not remember that when the Souldiers or some other Persecutors came unto a Meeting in or near London at a certain time when he was there he did not go out of the Meeting c For so saith he I have been informed by a Person of known Credit and Reput then present at the Meeting c. And if Reports be true saith he this is but a very little of what might be at large manifested to prove George Fox one of the greatest Flyers in time of Persecution that ever I knew professing Truth c. Now as to this matter let the Sober-minded consider and speak whether this be Christian and orderly dealing with an Elder thus to Impeach in a Publick Meeting and so highly to Charge upon such slender Evidence as this vis If Reports be true c. Wherein doth William Rogers manifest the Life of Christianity 〈◊〉 remain with him when such shameful disorderly Work proceeds from him contrary to the Command of Christ and the Apostolical Practice Where was the private dealing with him in the first place betwixt them two George Fox as we understand knew nothing of this charging of him till several Weeks after Where was William Rogers's care according to the Apostles Advice not to receive an Accusation against an Elder but before Two or Three Witnesses who receives an Accusation against George Fox and Publisheth the same by a Smiting Query behind his Back in an open Meeting from the report of one Man and never privately asked him as we are well satisfied whether it was so or no but publisheth him in the aforesaid Meeting yea in Manuscript up and down the Nation and in Print to Posterity on the Evidence of If Reports be true to be one of the greatest Flyers in the time of Persecution that ever he knew professing the Truth c He goes on further and saith If any of you unto whom these 〈◊〉 may come may think that this my sence of George Fox be not true I desire such for the Truths sake to use their endeavours that George Fox may Answer these following Queries The Queries we say we shall insert in their place as they come to be Answered on the occasion of his Rejoynder to George Foxs's Reply to his Smiting Queries part of which Reply together with his Rejoynder and the Answer to it 〈◊〉 given forth we say we shall hereafter insert with some more Addition as cause may seem meet Unto which Queries of William Rogers in way of Smiting Accusations we say George Fox gives a sincere plain and tender Answer to the Satisfaction of the 〈◊〉 to God who have seen the Queries and the Reply thereunto which Reply in Manuscript we have by us to produce if any should desire the same and this we Testifie in relation to the Queries and the Reply to them that the wickedness manifested on the one Hand yea the palpable malicious disorderly proceedings on the Account thereof to wit by William Rogers being such in the matter thereof and the plain humble broken and self 〈◊〉 Demeanour demonstrated on the other Hand doth so clearly discover in the Eyes of the Upright to God the Spirit from whence the proceedings have been in relation thereunto That if little else 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 said but the Tryal thereof only committed to 〈◊〉 in all 〈◊〉 from what may be 〈◊〉 and observed out of the Smiting Queries and Reply thereunto on the score 〈◊〉 that sufficient satisfaction would arise in the 〈◊〉 of all 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 who may have occasion to inspect the same 〈◊〉 to ground the same determination thereupon In George Fox's aforesaid Reply to 〈◊〉 Rogers's Queries and smiting Charges against him which he denies 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 against his salse and malicious Doings on the account thereof letting William Rogers also see how he had confessed that the 〈◊〉 General 〈◊〉 to Friends or Paper that he was so offended at was a good Exhortation in it self asking him also why then he did not take more tender notice of it but brake forth so out-ragiously against it and him also by reason thereof telling him also that he had given forth many Queries concerning him but they appeared to be Charges against him c. as in the aforesaid Reply may be seen Unto which Reply William Rogers Rejoyns in Answer thereunto in which he saith thus For as much as George Fox hath laid down two false Assertions upon which saith he he hath builded all or
the rest doth that he may charge George Fox with a Lye on that score eight times over as he hath done now it is clear in the sight of the Upright-Hearted that may have occasion to see the aforesaid Epistle that the tendency of it is to Reproof to Exhortation and Caution instrumentally in Gods hand for the helping 〈◊〉 the Man of God in his perfect State and the Innocent Minded are bettered thereby though the Rebellious dvvell in a dry Land and knovv not vvhen good cometh and if William Rogers had been of a good Spirit he vvould not have been otherwise Minded and it is too probable that this scraffling he hath made about this matter hath been only to get advantage thereby and as he would mis-construe George Fox's plain Words let him take heed that he does not pervert his own sence and wrong his Conscience touching the same which the Lord will take notice of when he reckons with him for all and his charging George Fox with telling a Lye eight times over about this matter will not help in that Day nor will it gain him any repute amongst Sober Unprejudiced Men during the 〈◊〉 God hath given him to bear unto whom we commit the determination of this matter Whether George Fox on this occasion doth deserve to be rendered such a one as William Rogers hath rendred him with many base and unchristian Expressions as in his Book may be seen and whether his observation on William Rogers's Paper do deserve to be called a False Assertion and he a Lyer because thereof and whether these doings be consistant with the first Love and Life of Truth that he with John Story and John Wilkinson have so much pretended too reckoning all but those of party with themselves to be the Apostates and the like we can leave this matter we say to such to judg of and to that in all Conseiences to which we commit our cause And as concerning the other Observation that George Fox makes on William Rogers's Queries to wit It appears thy Queries are Charges against me which William Rogers calls a False Assertion and on the score thereof with the other before mentioned and spoken too William Rogers reckons all or most part of George Fox's Answer to his Queries Impertinent Idle and Nauseous Discourse Answ. Who that truly fears God and hath the good understanding can believe that William Rogers had any other Design in 〈◊〉 bringing sorth of the aforesaid Queries but 〈◊〉 to accuse and abusively in a revengful mind to Charge If it be but considered that upon the 〈◊〉 of George Fox's Epistle by way of Query to Friends 〈◊〉 Friends to take 〈◊〉 of distrusting the Lord in the time of 〈◊〉 so as to make a way their Estates 〈◊〉 avoiding Sufferings thereby and the rather because some antiently prosessing the 〈◊〉 were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for such a thing and William Rogers in his own Heart knowing himself 〈◊〉 that matter presently to fall to work so extravigantly as he hath done 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Considering also the manner of William Rogers's bringing the same to 〈◊〉 view causing them to be Read in the Mens-Meeting before ever George Fox received them or had been dealt withal according to Gospel Order and 〈◊〉 of high Charges against him sent into Westmoreland amongst them of the Separation before they came into his Hands scattered up and down amongst the Discontented and Loose sort who have watched for Evil against the care in the Church of God and against George Fox for its sake and all these things transacted by him and them of Party with him before George Fox could get any 〈◊〉 to clear himself thereof by any defence he could any way make in the capacity he stood and now to publish the same in Print to be left to posterity against him and never taking notice of the Reply given to his Rejoynder though 〈◊〉 Rogers was in a Capacity so to have done if he had not on purpose evaded the 〈◊〉 his 〈◊〉 speaking of the receit thereof long before his Book was at the Press as before is evidently proved 〈◊〉 as clear as the Sun at noon day is to our visible Eyes that it s no other Spirit then that which would have aspersed him and made him as Contemptible as he could any way do or durst presume upon and several things in the said Paper are as fully laid to his Charge as could be spoken by Words and although several things 〈◊〉 are delivered by him in a Dialogueing manner in that also it is the same in the Ground and a false Spirit to the Life of Jesus it sprung from that hunted 〈◊〉 his precious Life his peace with God and repute amongst Gods People Let him say what he will to cover the Head of his treacherous Spirit so shall it be laid to his Charge and he must bear the Burden of it in the day in which the Lord pleads with him unto whom Vengence belongs If it had not been the Spirit that hunted after the Life of Jesus and therefore 〈◊〉 occasion against 〈◊〉 and dispised the Gospel of Christ he would have had regard to Gospel Order and given him that in the first place and according to Pauls Advice have received no Accusation against him but before Two or Three Witnesses after a Christian and Gospel manner and have given him the priviledg of an Elder as becomes the Gospel-Day but he has Received Printed and Published against him upon the Evidence of If Reports be true or I firmly belive c. They that run may Read and Fathom his Spirit and what his purpose was and is in all his Design his Works manifest him to all that are single to God and have occasion to trace his Doings Its a shame to Christianity for him to say 〈◊〉 to Charge and that at an high rate too was not in his Eyes and but for advantage sake against him as he thought that he might charge him with 〈◊〉 Lyes all at once for saying It appears thy Queries are 〈◊〉 against me It s probable he would have stood to all and faced it out had 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in part feared his Proof in the matters thereof And we say again If to 〈◊〉 was not upon his Spirit in this undertaking why did he once say If thou 〈◊〉 it I will 〈◊〉 proof thereof or Words to that purpose And why did he say to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with many more were Witnesses And why did he say I 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 art the Man that hath 〈◊〉 Guilty of all these 〈◊〉 c But William Rogers says That 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 matter in a distinct Paragraph after he 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and therefore charges George Fox with utterring Thirteen Lyes because he says to William Rogers Thou 〈◊〉 many Queries but it appears they are Charges against me We desire the Reader to consider whether this be not Unchristian and Undecent treating of an Elder as also Indiscreet and full of Confusion he charges
George Fox with Lyes for saying That in his Queries he charges him and for that end would limit his saying I firmly believe thou George Fox art the Man that hast been Guilty of all these things to the matter of Charge contained in the Paragraph distinct from the Queries and that his Confusion and Inconsistancy with himself touching this matter may more plainly appear let it be observed that in the Paragraph he saith There are Eyes that see and do perceive c. and have confidence to stand in the Gap against such as cry against Flyers in the time of Persecution and yet are Flyers at such times themselves Read the Seventh Query and see if it be not the same with this Accusation in the Paragraph which he saith 〈◊〉 firmly believes George Fox hath been Guilty of The 〈◊〉 of that Query is in express words thus viz. Then when Persecutors come to shift out of the Meeting whereby both Body and Estate may be saved as thou hast done And yet for George Fox to call this a Charge he says is a Lye one of the Thirteen Lyes he charges him with In the Paragraph he saith That prompt the Poor to offer up their All and yet advise the Rich to secure theirs he saith there he firmly believes George Fox to be the Man that is guilty of all these things of which this is one And in his third Query he saith Art not thou sensible that thou art the Man that hast advised the Rich to secure their Worldly Estate that so the Persecutors might not become Sporlers thereof Is not 〈◊〉 a down-right Charge being the same with that in the Paragraph that his positive Judgment against George Fox relates to and yet hath the Impudence to charge George Fox with a Lye one of the Thirteen for saying It 〈◊〉 that thy Queries are Charges against me In the Paragraph he saith That blame others for securing their Goods from the 〈◊〉 and yet secure their own of this he saith he firmly believes that George Fox is Guilty Read his tenth Query viz. That is attended on like an Earthly Prince and yet hath Twelve or Thirteen Hundred Pounds well secured with the encrease thereof for many Years if any be out of the reach of the Spoylers Is not this Query proved a down-right Charge manifested to his shame though he hath the face to charge George Fox with a Lye on this score also In the fifth Query William Rogers speaketh of some that had secured their Estates from the Spoylers for their Families that would not have departed said he from their Testimony in Meetings c. although saith he thou speaking of George Fox hast been a Shrinker This is surely a Charge and yet he hath the confidence to charge George Fox with a Lye for saying That the Queries seemed to be Charges against him Much more might be observed out of the Queries and Rejoynder whereby to prove William Rogers's Queries down right Charges against George Fox and also to manifest what an hardened disparate State the Man is grown into that so little regards what he says or whereof he affirms wronging himself on this wise by charging Lyes on his own Head to bespatter others though Innocent withal And if the whole matter with respect to the Queries and Rejoynder were but circumspectly looked into about this matter of proving the Queries Charges besides the manifest tendency of his whole Design evidently demonstrating the same his own Words duly taken notice of and expressly set down would much what prove the whole Matter and bring the Thirteen Lyes back again upon his own Head which he in a wicked abusive manner chargeth upon another and spreadeth abroad by his Papers and Printed Book amongst such as Truths Integrity would be ashamed of So then to conclude this matter this we say from what as may be gathered from his Writing that the Intent of the Mans Heart hath been and continues the same as his Printing demonstrateth to Charge and Impeach openly and affirmatively only so far as he had any hopes to make proof thereof and yet in his false and malicious design of Accusation and Charge against George Fox he hath been so implacable and hath lusted so thereafter that he hath not been content in the matter of charging with what he thought he might prove but adventured implicitly in the matter thereof by way of Query to engage himself therein so 〈◊〉 as under any pretence he could stretch the Line of Reflection upon him as to Charge on this wise resolving to prove what he could upon the Debate if put to 〈◊〉 and wherein he might fall short cover himself with the Fig-leafe which the just God will rend off of saying He only asked the Question We observe that William Rogers denies that those Words in the Conclusion of his Paragraph 〈◊〉 amount to Charge the Words are I firmly believe thou art the Man that hast been Guilty of all these things He proves his denial thus To Believe and to Charge are two distinct things saith he a Man may believe a Charge and yet have no hand in giving the Charge but a Man cannot honestly Charge and pretend he doth not believe the Charge Answ. The Reader may take notice how he Confounds himself hath abused the noble parts which the Lord gave him as a Man He denies that his Words amount to a Charge though he confesses that he believes George Fox is guilty c. Because saith he a Man may believe a Charge and yet not give the Charge But we say William Rogers hath not only confessed that the Charges against George Fox are true as he firmly believes but he hath given them forth in Manuscript and spread them abroad through the Nation he hath given out the Charges against him also in Print to stand on Record to Posterity to his Disgrace so far as in his Power he can do it and therefore he doth Charge according to his own Explanation and that after the most wicked absurd manner in many respects had William Rogers heard Charges only and believed them too and had not been such a publisher of them but had brotherly treated George Fox about the same then indeed he might the better have stood in his own vindication of being no Charger or that what he had said on the account of what he heard and believed did not amount to Charge but poor Man he hath not been of such a Spirit it were well if he could yet see himself that if possible he might find Mercy for that he hath charged expressly in his Paper of Queries and in the very Queries themselves its evident from the very Words summed up out of his own Paper as we have said before being the very same with the Catalogue of Charges summed up in the Paragraph all which he concludes positively that he firmly believes that George Fox is guilty of And seeing that in several Places of his Rejoynder thereby to make George Fox's
before expressed and after Printed it which action is unchristan and absurd amongst Men and manifests his Spirit to be false to the Life of Jesus and malicious Secondly he is detected clearly to be out of the Apostles Council and the Primitive practice amongst Believers who advised to receive no Accusation against an Elder but before two or three Witnesses William Rogers saith to each particular part of the Smiting Query and down-right Charge thus If thou deny speaking to George Fox I will prove it or bring it under the Hand of a Friend in Truth to whom Mary Penington did signifie so much as is contained in the first part of the Query and also said he I will bring it under the Hand of a credible Friend in Truth to signifie according as is Queried in the latter part The Reader may take notice that there is but one single Witness spoken of by him to prove each particular distinct part of the Charge against him he pretendeth to no more which is also like the other antichristian and disorderly doing and this is not the worst part neither of the Case in relation to William Rogers's absurd Work for the Charge being denied as stated and William Rogers in his Rejoynder in order to the proof of matters of fact charged hath made none at all touching this matter nor produced any Certificates under the Hands of these credible Friends in Truth as he calls them to prove this Charge against him And now as to the matter it self which William Rogers would make an Accusation upon against George Fox and the distressed Woman which was her Exercise about Twenty Years ago which he now rakes up in his Apostatizing State who would make others as bad as himself if any way he could do it we understand this was the case on Mary Pennington's account her Husband being in Prison and liable to a Premunire according to the outward Law the Discourse betwixt George Fox and her related to those Lands that were her Joynture made to her by her former Husband to have those Lands distinguished from her latter Husbands real Estate that so the Premunire might not reach them which in Conscience it ought not to have done being her Joynture as aforesaid and to deseend to her first Husbands Child after her decease and touching that which might tend to distinguish in this matter that the Executors of the Law might have the knowledge thereof and the Issue to be left to the Lord We say where is the Evil that 's imputable to the Woman that all this ado is made about or wherein is George Fox detectable for leaving her to her freedom touching it which is all that George Fox consesseth to and more then William Rogers for all his cluttering Work hath yet proved against him And as touching Mary Pennington's Integrity to God and the Testimony of Truth in this suffering afflicted State she was in let the Sincerity which is void of Prejudice not watching for Evil speak in her behalf for whom it is testified that she said That she durst not remove any part of the Personal Estate which was her then Husbands more proper Goods and liable to the spoyl according to the Law but it was freely given up for the Testimonies sake that her Husband was in Prison for although as to an opertunity for it she wanted not Surely Malice is the ground for this Work much more then any real matter And William Rogers making away some of his personal Estate out of the danger of the Spoylers which he confessed to is a Crime manifold more then any thing he hath yet proved against Mary Pennington touching this matter or against George Fox in relation to it and for William Rogers to be told of his own shrinking doings is his Torment and Grief as his revengeful Work demonstrates And to conclude this matter when William Rogers brings Certificates under the Hands of those credible Friends he speaks of relating to evil fact against George Fox as he pretends to do we shall take notice thereof and be concerned as the case may require Some other reproachful smiting Speeches which we shall pass by William Rogers hath uttered in his Paraphrasing upon George Fox's innocent plain Answer to William Rogers's Charge against him touching this matter which we should be glad the honest hearted had the opportunity to see which is in Manuscript producible as occasion may offer it self which hath been formerly spoken to in the Answer to William Rogers's Rejoynder more fully manifesting the notorious baseness of William Rogers's Spirit and indeed we doubt not but that William Rogers's own Writings and exposing to publick view in Print to Posterity with what is already said herein touching this matter will sufficiently manifest the same without any other proof let him beware the Lord takes notice of his Doings and evil Speeches who will repay But to go on to the fourth Query of his thirteen or smiting Charge against George Fox viz. Doth it not evidently appear that thy reflecting Queries meaning the aforesaid Epistle are the Fruit of that Spirit that lusteth unto Envy and appeareth with two Faces Answ. This plainly appeareth to be a smiting Accusation and high Charge and no Lye in George Fox to reckon it so although William Rogers numbers this amongst the thirteen Lyes which he saith George Fox is detected of and in all reasonableness William Rogers is concerned to prove it against him or else confess himself to be the false Accuser because George Fox totally denieth the same as that which toucheth him not But as to this Query or smiting Accusation as William Rogers saith himself Queries may be he passeth by it without taking any notice thereof and in whom the Spirit lusteth to 〈◊〉 and appeareth with two Faces is manifested to lodge it s spoken to at large by George Fox in his Reply in Manuscript unto which the Reader is referred leaving the Charge at William Rogers's Door till he makes proof thereof against him The fifth Query or smiting Charge against George Fox which in his Reply George Fox denieth as a malicious Suggestion and false Inference from the concern which George Fox had with him in Gloucestersbire on which occasion William Rogers grounds the matter and in his Rejoynder wherein his proof should be produced he concerneth himself on this wife The Query being large the substance of it we shall insert as we have occasion to speak to it part whereof is thus viz. Dost thou not remember that at a Quarterly Meeting in Gloucestershire there was a Person that judged me not sit to jugde in the Meeting because I had secured part of my Goods without Doors c And dost thou not remember that none of the said Meeting declared any approbation of his so doing and that 〈◊〉 thy self then present manifested a dislike thereof after thine usual manner Whisht Whisht c William Rogers says George Fox in Answer thereunto denies not but in effect consesfeth it by
to Gods tender Suffering People thereby whose Bonds by such his fleshly arguing and doings as this he adds Affliction unto which the Lord takes notice of as done to him and William Rogers may be ashamed to cover his shrinking Work with the plea of paying his Debts and maintaining his Family being a Man of such an Estate and Repute as he would appear to be having so many Hundreds of Pounds else-where as he makes mention of and his real Estate besides and the Occupation he is of viz. a Merchant as he renders himself It s well if these Doings and Provision in the Flesh out of Gods Council in a distrustful Mind be not a block in his way as to success therein and straiten those Blessings upon him as to things of this World without which that which we visible enjoy is but an empty thing the Lord is Just and will be justified in the Day in which he meets with all the Sons of Men. William Rogers's eight and ninth Queries or smiting Accusations against George Fox being so frivolous as not worth much taking notice of George Fox denies that they touch him and William Rogers ought in point of Christianity to have made good out of the Mouth of two or three Witnesses but falling short in the matter thereof he passeth by them in his Rejoynder without taking notice thereof and thereby hath rendred himself to be a false Accuser must be accountable before the Lord because thereof unto whom the Cause of the Innecent is committed to be pleaded when he sees meet William Rogers shaving gone by the four last mentioned Queries or smiting Charges alledged against George Fox without concerning himself therewith or making any proof thereof and therefore shall they be left at his Door the Fruit of his false and malicious Spirit saith Now I come to reckon with George Fox for his Answer to the tenth Query the Query runs thus The tenth Query Whether it be fit for one that feeds on the Fat of the Land and lives in fulness of Plenty attended in many respects like an Earthly Prince and hath Twelve or Thirteen Hundred Pounds with the encrease thereof well secured for many Tears if any be out of the reach of the Spoylers and Persecutors to admonish a few Poor Innocent Harmless Friends that may have three or four Cows apiece to feed themselves and Children not to secure them from the Spoylers and if it be not fit for such an one to Admonish then I Query whether thou art not the Man that art so qualified and who in effect hath so Admonished Answ. This Accusation as William Rogers confesseth Queries may be and a foul Aspertion were it indeed were William Rogers able to prove it however it 〈◊〉 a false treacherous Spirit to his Principle and the Unity of Brethren to lodge in him in bringing 〈◊〉 the same thus maliciously behind the Back of an Elder in a publick 〈◊〉 amongst many People without first dealing with him in private about it and now exposing the same with the rest of his malicious Accusations to publick View in Print and it is utterly denied by George Fox Let us see what proof William Rogers makes thereof which in Conscience he ought to do or confess himself to be a false Accuser Object William Rogers says for his Proof That part of George Fox's Answer is The Lord knows I never had Twelve or Thirteen Hundred Pound secured c To which William Rogers says again That George Fox denieth that he hath Twelve or Thirteen Hundred Pound secured c. But saith he denieth not but that he hath so much Answ. We say this denial and William Rogers not being able to prove the smiting Accusation about this matter proves the falshood of the Charge and leaves him detected as a false Accuser But it appeareth that William Rogers is grieved that George Fox doth not tell him how much he hath and therefore most sad unchristian like and inhumane Work he makes with himself about this matter whereby he cannot but incur to himself the reproach of Fools It may be plainly seen that the matter that toucheth William Rogers is the Judgment of Truth through many Berthren that rests upon him for securing a great part of his Estate from the Spoilers in the time of Persecution on Truths account and to avenge himself in his discontent he labours to make others as bad as himself if he could and George Fox is the Object in his Eye to revenge himself upon he states his smiting Accusations by way of Query it s answered in the Negative and if he could not prove the contrary as he hath not attempted to do this might have satisfied him if he had been a reaonable Man but the unsatiableness of his revengeful Mind is such that to get occasion to pervert and to get matter of Accusation in a busie unmanly Spirit he 〈◊〉 to know what outward Estate George Fox hath in reply whereunto the Proverb may be properly observed in relation unto him Answer not a fool according to his 〈◊〉 What is it to William Rogers what George Fox hath Unless he could detect him of coming to it by some Indirect means could William Rogers detect him of coming to or keeping that which he hath dishonestly or by securing the same 〈◊〉 the Spoilers as he himself hath done and if William Rogers had been a clear Man himself then had there been somthing to have grounded an Accusation upon against George Fox which if he had been able to have done we might no doubt have heard positively thereof and never have had the case Queried though Smiting surely was in his Heart And notwithstanding his being frustrated with respect to proof yet will he not be quier but any way 〈◊〉 the line of Reflection to the utmost bound thereof against him If this Work he hath made in his Rejoynder upon George Fox's Answer be but in sincerity looked thorow his Wickedness and Impudence therein is such that little more need be said then what it manifests to leave him convinced of being a Scornful Impudent Malicious Aceuser of our Brethren as the like hath scarcely buen heard of amongst Men much less amongst People professing the Truth of God as it is in Christ Jesus let but any sober Man read over what he hath said in relation to this matter and he will admire and be ashamed of it He reslects upon George Fox and renders him Ambitious because he saith He had something left him as his Bith-right but he gave it away to his Relations as not mattering to concern himself with it when he came to be publickly concerned on Truths account and his Relations were no less 〈◊〉 towards him but ministred to him for all that But William Rogers in the wickedness of his Mind as his Words demonstrateth would have all to inser as he doth from George Fox's Words as that he would have People believe he was descended from Rich Parents that 12 or 1300
pound might descend to him as his Birth-right when as Simplicity will conclude his words could have no such tendency in them nor bear any such Construction as this he nakedly saying I might have had something that descended to me as my Birth-right this could not imply much nor shew forth any ambition in him as William Rogers would charge him with And when he cannot avenge himself by bluring his Repute as a Christian he bends himself to abase him as a Man by undervaluing the parentage he sprung of speaking hightly and scornfully of his Kindred and falsely too For we are satisfied that for all his sleight of his Relations c. that his Parents lived comfortably and commendably too amongst Men in the Tabernacle God gave them to reside in and left to each of their Children something to live upon when the Lord took them and they were never a shame one to another Ask William Rogers to stop his boasting Mind whether some of his best and nearest Relations be not a shamed of him and have turned their Backs of him as the Lord doth the Rebellious not expecting a Blessing for him The Occupation also and 〈◊〉 calling he had in which as we well understand he was a good savour amongst People that 〈◊〉 God William Rogers speaks sleightly of it but in Discretion he might have been sparing in that for concerning his Descent and Relations George Fox hath not concerned himself therewith William Rogers might have be-thought himself of what 〈◊〉 some of them were he knows best in relation to that matter himself he might have forborn also on this wise for his Companions John Story 's sake whom he so highly applauds who was no less respected of Gods People for all that whilest he kept to Gods Power Oh the shame the Man exposes himself unto and the Madness that he is detested of by which he makes himself ridiculous amongst Men and so makes People call to memory what W R's Relations were for if he himself were not a puffed up Fool he would be ashamed to upbraid any one about Relations we are perswaded many of his own Adherents cannot but dislike his work it gains no Repute to them nor Credit to their Cause they have in hand having no better Spirit to mannage their Design then such as this William Rogers Reflects upon George Fox for not labouring with his Hands as he says the primitive Apostles did or otherwise being Industrious in some outward calling whilest Ability and Leisure would permit that the Gospel of Christ might not be chargeable These are his words in the fifth part of his Christian Quaker c. page 49 Implicitly charging him thereby as his work is We say let the man come forth that can lay Idleness or Sloth to his charge and prove it against him William Rogers's Aspersion toucheth him not the calling that he was of as a Man he was diligent in from his Youth we are bold to say whilest leisure permitted let this stop William Rogers's Mouth yea after the Lord made him in measure a Minister of the everlasting Truth we are able to Evidence the same against William Rogers false charge till the Lord brought him more to serve the Gospel and the concern thereof became his Work and might not serve Tables and for the sake whereof let the daily Exercise he hath had upon him his many unwearied Travels his Imprisonments in Dungeons and nasty Places his tedious and long Journeys beyond the Seas watchings and lying out of doors in the Night season make William Rogers Blush to charge him with being not Industrious when Health and Oppertunity served him and his Travels of late Years since bodily Weakness attended him and much what upon his own charge Testifies to his Zeal for the Gospel and Care over the Churches of Christ and clears the matter against all that William Rogers or any whosoever with respect to Sloth or making the Gospel chargeable would lay to his charge It were well if William Rogers could justly say that John Story whom he speaks so highly of as none to exceed John Wilkinson and him in Doctrine and life that ever he heard of in true diligence with respect to Testimony and Service for Truth which he had committed to his Charge had cleared his Conscience in Gods Sight as George Fox hath done or that he had kept the like Record and Interest in the Hearts of Gods Faithful Children as George Fox at this Day pretionsly retains then would John Story never have been such an Exercise and occasion of Grief in the Church of Christ as he and William Rogers have been in heading a Separate Faction and backsliding sort that a Spirit of strife and separation hath prevailed upon and then would their account have been more easie to have been given in the Day of the Great God when the Books will be opened and things laid to Charge and the Lord will reckon with William Rogers sor his hard speeches and the evil Deeds he hath done against the Lord and his Faithful People Our Hearts tremble to think of that Day with respect to them of that Spirit for the sad work they have made as Thousands of the Children of God know and their own Consciences too although William Rogers desperately hardens over all yet Vengeance is the Lords and in the end he will repay It had been well for William Rogers that he had forborn this Work long ago it weighs him down and will be his Torment too hard to endure and for all William Rogers's reflecting on this 〈◊〉 upon George Fox let him bring forth the Man that will say that George Fox hath made the Gospel charge able to him let him bring an Account thereof and he shall have repayed double William Rogers goes on and says It hath been reported that John Story was Judged by George Fox or by some of his party for giving his Mother the Rent of his Land that was given him and said he should have kept it to have born a Testimony against Tythes 〈◊〉 and he says also Whether it ought not as well to have been George Fox's duty to have kept his that descended to him by Birth-right to have kept up his Testimony against Tythes as well as John Story In Answer we say as to the first part of the Charge against George Fox or them 〈◊〉 party with him relating to John Story that William Rogers brings no Proof or Certificate from any concerning that which he would charge upon George Fox or those others he speaks of that John Story should be blamed by for giving his Mother the Rent of the Land that was his or that John Story did give it to her which when William Rogers doth we shall further concern our selves in Relation thereunto neither did we ever hear of any such thing and George Fox doth deny it and therefore it is a false charge that shall lye as his door amongst the rest but this we have heard that the same
Solomon 〈◊〉 hath proved himself to be c. who prophesied John Stories Death within a Year and since expired can be a Suffering for Truth and if not whether it is not better to secure ones outward Substance from the Spoilers And seeing that it s said that Solomon Eccles manifested the same to thee Whether then wast not thou an encourager of this false Prophet Answer That this Query is a smiting Accusation as William Rogers 〈◊〉 that Queries may be and a plain Charge against George Fox it s very clear and we say in Answer to it That Gods People being met together to Worship the Lord for which cause sufferings attends them although it might fall out that something might be spoken in Weakness in the said Meeting yet being met in the Name of Jesus the Lord is with them and the sufferings that may attend the Innocent because thereof is a Suffering for Truth and the Lord will bless his People therein But what hath William Rogers to do to lay this weakness of Solomon Eccles to George Fox's charge seeing Solomon Eccles hath already cleared George Fox thereof in a Paper sent to John Story of acknowlegement of his weakness touching the matter of John Story' s Death confessing that instead of speaking of it temporally he should have said Spiritually In the said Paper he saith also I am sore troubled that I did not let George Fox know of mine Intention with thee for his Councel was ever pretious to me this clear acknowledgement of his weakness as also clearing of George Fox of it thus together with George Fox's utter denial thereof and William Rogers privy to all this bespeaketh absurdity in him under the Circumstances that the matter now stands to attempt to bring an Accusation against George Fox on Solomon Eccles account William Rogers also not able to prove any matter of evil fact chargeable on George Fox concerning it And when William Rogers is not able to detect George Fox in the matter of Solomon Eccles's weakness touching John Story' s Death he stretcheth the Line of Reflection and to make him an Offender any way if possibly he could he saith further But didst not thou approve of this false Prophets going beyond the Seas in the Work of the Ministry not unlike the unbelieving persecuting Jews who sought occasion against Christ that they might be avenged of him for his Testimony for God against their Hypocrisie and Deceit being a Torment to them asked him Questions to make him a Witness against himself And William Rogers forth-with Answers himself again thus If thou deny its best to be plain such a denyal is like to have 〈◊〉 place with me because saith he George Fox not only seemeth to publish lyes by heaps but because it s not probable he should go in such a service without his approbation Thus it is inserted in William Rogers Rejoynder Answer We desire the Manuscript may be weighed here is a smiting Charge against George Fox and Proof expected in Relation to it which William Rogers undertakes not to make in any respect further then It s likely so 〈◊〉 the like yea further concludes notwithstanding he hath no proof but his own Suggestion that if George Fox do deny it his denial shall have no place with him Is this the way of any Christian procedure in matters of Offences thus to receive Accusations or otherwise to frame them out of the evil Suggestions of his corrupt Malicious Heart It s a shame to think what absurd work this is and disorderly doings every way Accusations received against an Elder and no Christian dealing in relation thereunto no Proof made but If thou deny it thy denial shall have no place with me published up and down the Nation in Manuscript and the Substance thereof put in Print to Posterity surely God is visiting for these things who will do justly and recompence according to every ones Deeds However saith William Rogers This denial may reasonably require an Answer to this Query viz. Whether George Fox hath been so Industrious to bar the Door against Solomon Eccles for offering his gift as he and others have been against John Wilkinson and John Story for offering of theirs though never proved false Prophets This Charge which William Rogers would make matter of evil fact In Answer thereunto we say It s true it were not well if George Fox and others had not done the same with the one as with the other if there were the like Reason with respect to both but we deny that there is the same occasion for although Solomon Eccles was overtaken with Weakness in a mis-apprehension concerning John Story 's Death yet he hath seen it and acknowledged the same with Sorrow as his Paper demonstrates and who dares say but that the Lord hath forgiven him and shewed Mercy Might Peter be no more concerned in the Gift of the Ministry because he denyed his Master under a Weakness that was upon him who acknowledged the same with Tears but it is not thus with John Story and John Wilkinson for although they have been manifold more apparently weak with respect to Truth then Solomon Eccles hath been viz. in being obstructive to the Life and Power of Jesus in the Church of God and in leading and encouraging a loose People against the wholesom Practices of the Faithful relating to the Order and Discipline thereof and have confederated with a number of unfaithful Men to the working Strife and Distraction in the Flock and Heritage of God and although they have encouraged weakness in Suffering times and discouraged antient Testimonies for the Truth as hath been evidently proved against them though William Rogers fails in that matter we know nothing yet of any real acknowledgement by them to be made thereof Yea it cannot be uttered what Mischief they have wrought as woful experience testifies Its absurd to make any Comparison betwixt Solomon Eccles and them as William Rogers hath done although we own no false Prophets nor Prophesies but he that confesseth and forsaketh findeth Mercy as John Wilkinson and John Story have not done And as to false Prophesie John Wilkinson if he do not shut his Eyes he may see himself detected in that matter who Prophesied the scattering and breaking to pieces of those that were not of party with him and them in the opposite distracting Work they had in Hand for the fulfilling of it as they may see falls on their own Heads many ways when they whom he prophesied against keep their Habitation in God through his Eternal Power and are established in that which abides sure and are fastened together in the Bond of Love and the pure Fellowship that the evil one hath no part in through the blessed Spirit which God hath given us and in which he is known to be one and his People one Glory to his Name forevermore We cannot pass by one other part of the Charge but take notice of the Contents thereof together with the following
and the last of William Rogers's thirteen Queries and smiting Accusations both of them being much what of the same Import viz. Whether it be not better to secure ones outward Substance from the Spoylers then to let it lye open to be taken for Fines imposed for the Preaching of such false Prophets c. And whether it be not the Fruit of an enlightened 〈◊〉 in those who are called Dark Spirits to secure what they have from being taken away for Fines imposed for the Babling of such whose great Work is to rail against Faithful Friends c. Answer This is an Accusation against George Fox charging him as beforesaid with encouraging Solomon Eccles the false Prophet as he calleth him and others whom in effect he calls Bablers and yet not any proof hath he made of these Charges otherwise then to say If thou deny it this denial saith he its good to be plain shall have no place in me which indeed is far from any proof at all and therefore shall the Accusation lye at his door till he hath confessed or made better proof of the same and who those are whose Preaching he calls Babling he tells us not or who those Faithful he spakes of are that they cry against in this also he is silent and therefore the Accusations by way of Query or otherwise we tread upon as not touching those he would smite at But however these things tend to manifest his spirit and fully to demonstrate the bottom of the whole Design let his discourse and the tendency of this Spirits Work be considered by judicious Men with respect to our Principle our Testimony for it and our Practice accordingly and by those who love the Truth and would have the Testimony for it faithfully kept unto such may easily discover what is in the Mans Heart by what may be gathered out of his discourse on this wise and his Practice of securing from the Spoylers being thus pleaded for doth he not clearly now demonstrate thereby that he is opening a gap for a Backsliding shirking spirit to follow him in at to let their Testimony for the Antient Truth fall He manifests plainly that it s his Grief which hath occasioned all this smiting Work that he cannot be let alone in his shrinking Work The tendency of the design he hath in hand i to 〈◊〉 and let loose an earthly Mind that would say Pitty and save thy self which hath been attempting to creep our from under Truths Yoke these many Years in some Professors of the Truth both in the North and in the South which the Lord is manifesting and casting out of the Camp that the approved may remain to enjoy Blessings which the Lord gives William Rogers for his Advantage in this matter hath laboured to make others as bas as himself with what false Accusations he can under any tollerable colour devise and when the course he takes on that wise fails him his spirit he cannot hide nor the corrupted matter in the Bottle hold but at lest opens himself plainly and thereby bewrays their whole Cause and the Design they have in Hand It appears now there was need enough for the Caution Admonition and Reproof which George Fox's Paper related to in relation to such as were thus enclined which hath been a Grief to William Rogers and others too and the Wisdom of God hath been greatly seen therein for it hath occasioned the venting of the old Bottle and given a discovery of the Spirit and Design of this Backsliding sort and manifested it to every single Eyes that may have occasion to take notice thereof what they aim at and where they would be it will hedge up their way Blessed be the Lord and be a means to scatter them and their devises too that would have scattered and laid waste the Heritage of God Let the honest Reader weigh his Words and he may see his Height and his Bottom Fathom He asketh now Whether it be not better to Secure then suffer on such or such Accounts as aforesaid It may be seen securing is in his Eye being scated in his heart and in the Hearts of others his Consederates too their Works manifest it We say it is our belief having the Reward of Peace therein and we have a Record in the Hearts of Gods People It s best to be Faithful to the Testimony received of God and make no provision for the Flesh to satisfie its Lusts and trust him without whose Providence not a Sparrow falls to the Ground and suffer joyfully the Spoying of our Goods if the Lord see meet as the Faithful of old did If Friends should secure aforehand least a false Prophet should come or some Bablers as William Rogers calls some but he tells us not who he means of that he is making provision against should come amongst us who might cause Fines to be imposed and produce Sufferings thereby If this be justifiable as his Practice and talk implys then William Rogers instead of asking the Query might positively assert that it may be done and consequently by this Argument Friends are to do it because it s not unlike as there were false Prophets under the Law in the dayes of Christ and the Apostles dayes and that they saw such would come but that false Prophets probably may be in our day and in Generations to come and then instead of taking notice of Christs saying Take no care he cloathes the Lilies and feedech the Ravens c. And of the Apostle's saying Make no provision for the 〈◊〉 by William Rogers Argument it might have been said it s better to secure And if the matter be thus why was it not intimated to the Saints in Christ and the Apostles dayes to secure from the spoylers lest such should come yea seeing they saw they would come and why did they or had they occasion to suffer the spoyling of their Goods joyfully And that Spirit in William Rogers which because that accidentally a false Prophet may come amongst us would secure outward Estates lest Sufferings should come by reason of such c. is the same that hath wrought in those Apostates from Truth that have absented from the Assemblies of Gods People who have commonly made a plea for their so doing because such or such came amongst us that they liked not and W. R. saith its better to secure because such there are whose Preaching he calls Babling by reason of whom it may fall out that Sufferings might come This is the Spirit that said Master pitty thy self and is shut out behind the Vail that they have drawn over their Eyes and under which the Temptation enters that leads back into the flesh through Unbelief which the Lake is for that burns forever Oh let them who love the Truth and the Peace that hath no end and desire the Riches that corrupt not laid up for the Faithful to God where Spoylers cannot come nor Thieves break through and steal beware of this Spirit which is
the second Beast that comes out of the Earth and leadeth thither again they that Runs may see it it bewrayeth it self in all its undertakings and 〈◊〉 on its own Ruin Blessed are they who fear God and love his Appearance And as for that Reflection which R. W. casteth upon George Fox upon the Occasion of James Nayler's fall he cautioning John Story and John Wilkinson lest they should become as bad as the old Apostates before them their Examples Instancing amongst others James Nayler's darkened and hardned State by reason of which he became the Grief of many and a great Stumbling Block in the way of Truth to the hurting of many simple Ones and the utter undoing of some to the causing the Name of the Lord to be evil spoken of by such as became hardened thereby William Rogers would make an Accusation against George Fox on this score because James Nayler came to be restored again Surely it may be said there is much more Malice then Matter in this against George Fox who did no otherwise in this case then the holy Men of God have done who gave forth the Scriptures who have left on Record Noah's David's Manasse's Peter's Fallings to be a Caution to others and James Nayler's and others fall and cause of Reproach to Truth in this our day is William Rogers and John Story' s and John Wilkinson's Example and if they were not hardened they might see it and take heed lest at last it come to be with them as it happened to most of other Apostates to their Total Ruin and James Nayler's Restoration was the joy of the Faithful to God and so would the Restoration of them be which hath been truely sought for And thus much concerning William Rogers Catalogue of his thirteen Queries manifested to be smiting Accusations and so his Thirteen Lyes which he would have detected George Fox of are wiped away the reward of the Slanderous wicked Work he hath had in hand on that score to turn back upon his own Head And that they are False and Malicious it s plainly demonstrated to every Eye that 's single to God without prejudice or watching for evil against the Innocent that may have occasion to inspect the same together with George Fox's Answer thereunto in which he hath denyed them all as False and Malicious and not touching him to which Answer William Rogers undertaking to Rejoyn in order to prove the Accusations alledged by him falls totally short in the matter thereof and all his Evasions Pervertings and drawing his false Inferences upon George Fox's innocent and plain Words doth not serve his turn in the sight of the upright to God to make out any matter of Fact against him as the Answer to his Rejoynder here inserted plainly demonstrateth and so leaves William Rogers detected as a Treacherous Man to his Principle and his first love to Truth and the unity of Brethren a false malicious Accuser of the Innocent a shame to Christianity and not fit for human Societies whom the Lord will recken with for all in a day that hasteneth on which he cannot evade But to go on it may be noted that William Rogers is not satisfied with his Thirteen Queries and smiting Accusations against G. Fox but raising up more matter on the same score goes on and says Now I take notice of what George Fox sayes to my Query Note It s inserted in his Paper of smiting Queries which George Fox gave Answer to viz. Whether thou George Fox didst not advise Nathaniel Cripps to buy off his Tythes both of Priest and Impropriator if thou deny it I will undertake to prove it or bring it under the hand of Nathaniel Cripps that thou so did Answer This is an high charge as the rest were it s expected that William Rogers make good proof thereof more especially seeing that contrary to all Gospel Order he hath been concerned in the publication thereof as said before The Reader may take notice that William Rogers for proof of this smiting charge repeats some part of George Fox's Answer which he thinks may most help his Design in this matters viz. But for him to turn this and say I advised him to buy his Tythes he doth me a great deal of wrong and so might have been sparing to have 〈◊〉 me And what can William Rogers make of this for its a flat denial of the Charge and if there were but an opportunity to look over George Fox's Answer which demonstrates the sincere Exercise no way condemnable that he had with Nathaniel Cripps touching this matter it might be plainly seen that he was as clear of any matter of evil fact in the matter of this Charge as a Sucking Child which said Answer William Rogers detects not any further then the following Words by him recited out of George Fox's Answer thereunto may viz. In the Morning when I was in the Chamber I saw this Spirit made some like Devils that they mattered not what they said to blemish the Reputation of them that sought their good both Spiritually and Temporally William Rogers to prove his Charge against George Fox maliciously from these Words infers thus It may be reasonably said He supposed that George Fox for the temporal good of Nathaniel Cripps might Advise him to buy his Tythes Now consider is this manner of Work any way beseeming a Christian Spirit or is this sufficient proof to detect an Elder upon but however it helps to manifest William Rogers's Spirit who it seems would measure others by himself as if it were good Advice to Advise Friends to buy off their Tythes to avoid Sufferings thereby like the Advice he gave himself to save his Goods from the Spoilers by selling them or making them over to his Servants If William Rogers think that with respect to ones Temporal Good this kind of Counsel were best to be given and taken George Fox is not of such a Mind or Spirit and if William Rogers were not full of Perjudice and watching for Evil that blinds his Eye and eats out the good in him he might see by George Fox's Epistle to Friends by way of Query That to be Faithful to God and to trust him with our All is the best way to do well with respect to Temporal things as to Blessings from God therein and a sincere upright Man would have said on George Fox's Account considering his Spirit and Testimony born and his usual Exhortation accordingly That for the good will he bore to Nathaniel Cripps both Spiritually and Temporally its probable he would Advise him to be Faithful to Truth and his Testimony therein and trust God with all that love which thinks no Evil would have made this Construction of George Fox's Words to him It s plain William Rogers hath yet done nothing with respect to prove the Charge against George Fox alledged on this score he hath only thereby manifested his own folly and what Spirit he is of And when William Rogers hath said all
personal visible Estate to his Servant out of the 〈◊〉 reach in his Answer of Smiting Queries also made mention of in the beginning of our Reply said This Exhortation I say is in it self good but would much better have become the 〈◊〉 of George Fox if when the Persecutors came up one pair of Stairs into our Meeting-Rome in Broad-Mead whilst he was speaking he had not been of such a Spirit which some may call distrustful and disparing as on a sudden to step down and hasten out of the Meeting as he once did of which my Eyes with many more were Witnesses It may be noted that this smiting Accusation which George Fox utterly denieth as in his Answer may be seen William Rogers asserts upon the sight of his own Eyes with many more as he saith Now of what force this his own evidence touching this matter is let it be judged considering what a spirit all along he hath manifested himself to be of full of Envy and watching for Evil that he may caluminate and asperse the Innocent as the many Accusations upon this pittiful insufficient Evidence brought in do demonstrate but in as much as that he saith His Eyes with many more were Witnesses upon George Fox's denial thereof amongst all the other before mentioned he hath brought and published in Print several Certificates to prove the aforesaid matter which we shall hereafter insert with what Observations we have made thereupon The first Certificate WE do cerifie hereby that we were present at a certain Meeting in Broad-Mead within the City of Bristol on the account of the Worship of God and that it was at a time when Persecution attended Friends in their Meetings and that at that Meeting George Fox stood up and spoke in the Meeting and afterwards departed out of the Meeting at a back pair of Stairs a very considerable time before the Meeting broke up and was not taken Prisoner that Day and the ground of his departure at that time we have cause to believe was to avoid being taken Prisoner Mary Goldney Mary North Ann Day Upon this Certificate the Reader may observe that here is not one Word of 〈◊〉 coming up one pair of Stairs nor of his leaving speaking as by William Rogers is inserted in the Charge which if it had been proved had been material Evidence according to the Charge as the leading cause that might have produced such an effect and as to the back pair of Stairs made mention of Eight and Twenty Friends of the City of Bristol who have certified on this occasion the substance whereof we shall hereafter insert do affirm under their Hands That both pair of Stairs were common for Friends to go up and down at and George Fox was known to come up and down also one and the same pair of Stairs into the Meeting and whether these Certifiers have demeaned 〈◊〉 like Gods People of a tender Christian Spirit it may be noted in that we cannot hear that ever any of them dealt with George Fox according to Gospel Order touching the same till they put this Certificate into the Hands of a known Enemy to George Fox that 〈◊〉 after his precious Life although probably they had ten Years time to have taken the oppertunity for it and whether the Conclusion of the Certificate doth not demonstrate of what Spirit they are by these Words And the ground of his departure at that time we have cause to believe was to avoid being taken Prisoner Doth not this we say clearly demonstrate a Spirit to be in them that watcheth for Evil and is void of all Christian Charity which the Honest and Unprejudiced retains and do clearly discern them to be of party with William Rogers and that a malicious Smiting was in their Hearts and their Charge aggravated with giving their Sence and Judgment thereupon and that their Evidence is false and Belief erronious we have ground to believe from a Testimony in our selves confirmed by a certain knowledge of George Fox's Integrity to God in his Testimony and Practice far remote from such a Spirit although William Rogers hath himself confessed to his own creeping Work confirmed also we are belief concerning him against William Rogers's smiting Charge and this Certifieate also from the Testimony of the forementioned Twenty eight Persons touching this matter as hereafter we may speak of viz. That they never saw any just occasion given by him for such a Charge as VVilliam Rogers hath so wickedly aspersed him with If we should give a relation who these Certifiers are it would abundently abate the force of the the matter they have brought forth if there were any occasion for it but the observable Circumstances materially to be noted on the account of what they have said do testifie that there is Malice and Prejudice in the Ground as the Innocent cannot but see The next Certificate TO this Testimony we say meaning what the other have said I also can bear Witness with this further addition viz. That after he stept down from the place he stood upon and was departing some Friends were moving to go with him and he perceiving as I took it said holding out his Hand Keep your Meetings Keep your Meetings and the Meeting continued a considerable time longer after his departure William James Answer Upon this also it may be observed here is no Evidence given answerable to the Charge nor no Proof made touching any Persecutors coming up whilst George Fox was speaking neither that on a sudden he left speaking and stept down nor any Persecutors spoken of that came at that Meeting that these two Certificates relate to And this Mans unchristian like belief void of that Charity that thinks no Evil nor watcheth for it that George Fox went out to avoid being taken Prisoner manifesteth a prejudiced Spirit and an evil Mind that seeketh occasion against the Innocent whose Testimony and Sufferings all along fince the Lord gave him a Testimony to bear for Christ Jesus manifests the fallacy of William James's Testimony which is plain Accusation upon the slender evidence of his own belief neither doth he demonstrate which were material to a Charge how long it was betwixt the Crime which he chargeth George Fox with the time of his 〈◊〉 forth the Charge against him And did William James deal with George Fox duing the said time in relation to it before he put it into William Rogers's Hands to be published in Print against him And did ever William Rogers take the Accuser and the Accused Face to Face to examine the matter 〈◊〉 he ought to have done according to Truth and the Law of Nations before he had published such a Judgment against him to Posterity as he hath done And as for William James's saying that George Fox should say to Friends when he was going away Keep your Meetings Keep your Meetings this signifies nothing as to proof of the Charge that he went away to avoid being taking Prisoner or that he
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
Church of Christ in opposition to the Life of Truth and the Unity of dear Brethren and W. R. also might easily have seen his mistake in giving G. F. the Character of the greatest Flyer in time of Persecution that ever he knew if he do but compare him with J. S. and them of party with him of the Meeting he belonged to there hath been enough amongst them to stop his Mouth with and go no further against him touching this matter and let all William Rogers Certifiers and indeed Accusers they may be reasonably called be asked whether ever any of them spake to George Fox about this matter they charge him with or ever to his Face shewed any dislike of his so leaving the Meeting as they are pleased to assert saying That they believe he left the Meeting that he might not be taken Prisoner that day We never heard of any such orderly proceedings amongst them the Lord in the sight of that in their Consciences will plead with them for such Work as this we desire they might be forgiven and things not laid to their Charge as their desert hath surely been William Rogers makes an Accusation against George Fox also by a smiting Query concerning a Meeting at Ringwood which George Fox was at many Years ago charging him about his flying there and undertakes here to concern himself with it that he may find Work for his smiting Tongue which Accusation being denyed by George Fox in relation to any evil fact done by him touching the same and William Rogers expected to have made sufficient proof thereof which in his Rejoynder he hath not done there being also a Certificate from the Friends of the said Meeting fully demonstrating George Fox's clearness against William Rogers's abusive Charge satisfactory to all the honest hearted Friends to Truth who have inspected the same we shall not therefore much concern our selves therewith 〈◊〉 this may be very reasonably observed that notwithstanding the Certificate from the Friends of the aforesaid Meeting to the clearing of George Fox and William Rogers totally deficient in the matter of proof against him but that he can as he is wont say If Reports be true yet the unplacableness of the Mans Spirit is such that he hath undertaken by perverting George Fox's Words and misconstruing the candid sence of George Fox's relation touching the same to make Deductions therefrom which neither the scope of the Words themselves 〈◊〉 any thing relating thereunto under any Christian and Charitable Constructions in 〈◊〉 and Truth can be deduced We should be glad that the honest hearted had the opportunity of reading over G. Fox's Answer in Manuscript to William Rogers's 〈◊〉 Queries and the Certificate from the aforesaid Meeting touching this matter of Charge about Ringwood Meeting and then to observe the Work William Rogers hath made about the same by his perverting and 〈◊〉 inferring therefrom It may be easily seen from whence he is and whither he goes what his Motion and Center is and by the Work he hath had in Hand many will be made to say from the sence they shall have of him and his VVork That 〈◊〉 hard for Record or Age to find an 〈◊〉 to him The Reader may remember that at the beginning of his Paper of Smiting Queries and Charges William Rogers alledged against George Fox thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Query of George Fox Whether he doth 〈◊〉 that when the Souldiers 〈◊〉 other Persecutors come to a Meeting in or 〈◊〉 London at a certain time 〈◊〉 he was there he did not go out of the Meeting and 〈◊〉 himself to an upper Room or 〈◊〉 for so I have been 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he 〈◊〉 by 〈◊〉 Person of known Credit who was at the Meeting This is the substance of the Charge Answer It may be observed here is an 〈◊〉 relating to high Charge against George Fox before one single Witness he pretends to no more contrary to the Apostles Directions which manifesteth him to be of another Spirit then the Apostle had as well as disorderly 〈◊〉 not having first dealt privately with him George Fox also denieth the same as a 〈◊〉 Charge which being matter of high Accusation as William Rogers 〈◊〉 Queries may be in all reasonableness William Rogers ought to have proved it against him or have acknowledged his Spirit wrong in so doing but we find not in all his Rejoynder any proof made thereof nor any Certificate produced from that Person of known Credit as W. R. said of him to make good this smiting Charge We refer the Reader touching this matter also to G. Fox's Reply in Manuscript to William Rogers's smiting Queries for satisfaction This also manifesteth upon the whole matter relating to Charge against George Fox for flying in time of Persecution that the Charge is not only malicious but false and most unchristianly abusive arising out of the wicked prejudice of his Spirit from whence all this bad Stuff hath come in the Face of Meetings Country and Nation thus impudently to impeach an Elder contrary to Gospel Order the Rule of Christianity yea and of human common Societies in opposition to the Sence and Testimony of many Faithful Undetected Impartial Grave and Sober Friends of Gods Truth who in one Heart and Conscience stand up in Evidence for George Fox's clearness in the matter of the Charge against him over William Rogers's Head and Work together with all his prejudiced incompetent Certifiers and Witnesses and it is our firm belief that in the sight of all sober People who have seen and tasted his doings that he stands detected as a false Accuser of our Brethren and one that hath set himself we cannot but often say to work Mischief in the Church of God if possibly he can do it which will be his Burden one day very heavy to bear And his unchristian Constructions which in his jealous Mind he makes from which his perverse Deductions are drawn upon the honest Relations aforesaid by George Fox given and upon the Testimonies of Faithful Men on his account we tread under our Feet as the Works of Darkness and Death it self as to the Life of God and the first Love as by his paraphrasing scurrilous Language in his Discourse is clearly seen William Rogers further goes on to manifest how he seeks occasion against George Fox and saith in his Rejoynder That George Fox informs him that some said his Papers were not worth Answering And seeing George Fox saith he hath acted contrary to their sence What is become of their Unity now and whether this doth not shew their Confusion and the rather because George Fox saith Thy Charges being 〈◊〉 and Malicious I take the 〈◊〉 notice of them And further saith he I take notice that this is one sign that the Word of the Lord in John Wilkinson is fulfilling Answer Whether this be not sorry Work let him bethink himself and then speak he surely loves to be busie one way or other when such poor drudgery Work as this he is glad to
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
the same from a clear 〈◊〉 Conscience for it is denied by us affirming also that it is a smiting Accusation in Contempt of Gospel order and the Power of God But what is this in Vindication of their practizing in Opposition to Church Care and the Government of the Spirit instrumentally in the Church of God although they may say its their Principle so to do or they are not perswaded in their Consciences to Act otherwise Certain it is that this is a false application from the Apostles Practice and George Fox's instance in relation to the allowing of Circumcision amongst the Weak for a time in the Infancy of the Church of Christ in his day But William Rogers says for as much as George Fox instanceth the matter of Circumcision as if the practice or not 〈◊〉 of such things were grounded meerly on the Apostles Permission And so by that Example George Fox may do the like c. Answer This also is a 〈◊〉 perverting of George Fox's Application from the Apostles practice let him prove or else lay his Hand upon his Mouth with shame that George Fox hath charged the Apostle that the practising or not practising of Circumcision was grounded meerly as he expresseth it on his Permission We deny that that is chargeable on George Fox nor can it any way be deduced in any Christian sence from his Words as relating thereunto George Fox expresseth plainly on what Accounts or in what Cases the Lord let the Apostle see Circumcision was to be born with and in what Cases and when to be declared against William Rogers manifesteth great Ignorance sometimes as well as gross Wickedness And we say also its a false inference that William Rogers makes upon the 〈◊〉 of George Fox's bringing the instance of Pauls allowing or disallowing of Circumcision and out of all Christian Charity deduced viz. As if the practising or not practising of some things wherein Conscience also might be concerned were 〈◊〉 meerly on George Fox's permission These ungedly Reflections and groundless Accusations against George Fox or any of Gods faithful People we deny and judge in the Name of the Eternal God and they shall lye as false Malicious Charges grounded upon his false Applications and unchristian inferences and which the scope of George Fox's words in any charitable Construction bears not and they shall lye upon William Rogers's Head as marks of an Apostate spirit that others may be warned by him Several things more might be observed which we shall pass by from William Rogers's paraphrasing on George Fox's tender Discourse which he calls his Postscript whereby to manifest William Rogers to be given up to serve a quarrelling Spirit contending against the simplicity of the naked Truth and the Innocent to God who keep in the Power and 〈◊〉 his own Works already discovered and from what hath been observed and spoken to already 〈◊〉 of the matter that he hath in Words and Writing 〈◊〉 concerned in and exposed the same on publick Record to the view of all his Spirit and Work is so clearly discovered to be out of the Life of God that little more need be said for proof thereof Some other things there are in William Roger's aforesaid Book relating to charge against George Fox and other Brethren which do not come so much within the compass of our knowledge but that some others may have a more perfect knowledge thereof neither are we in that Capacity with respect to distance from the places where the Passages relating thereunto have been transacted and therefore uncapeable for the examination and finding out what matter of Fact can be chargeable on the score thereof against those whom in the matter of Charge William Rogers points at therefore we shall leave them to what may be said by 〈◊〉 more particularly on the score thereof according to the Capacity they 〈◊〉 not doubting from the knowledge that we have of William Rogers's Spirit detected by the Fruits thereof as manifestly appears through the Work he hath made as also from the undoubted knowledge and belief that we have of George Fox's Innocency as to the matter he hath impeached him upon which we have had the knowledge of or are easily capable to understand and from 〈◊〉 own Writings on the account thereof But that William Rogers as in this our 〈◊〉 upon the matters that have fallen to our lot to be concerned in is evident will be manifested after all is done to be the false Accuser of the 〈◊〉 and subjected to an Antichristian Power wherein he hath laboured to work Mischief in the Church of God to lay Stumbling Blocks in the way of the Simple and to cause the Name of the Lord to be evil spoken of and that George Fox and the other Brethren he Smites at will be manfested to have kept their first Love in their Integrity for God and his pure Truth and that the innocent tender care in the Church of God remains with them which God will bless them in and the Church of Christ is comforted because thereof The most of the Accusations against him and others by Name and against the Church of Christ in General which we have not herein spoken to are treated of by our Brethren of the Second Days Morning Meeting at London as in their Book called The Accuser of our Brethren cast down is demonstrated to the satisfaction of Gods tender People One thing more we cannot but take notice of which peradventure William Rogers aims at in his charging John Blaikling with giving forth a false Certificate against John Story which he hath inserted in some part of his Printed Book as also in several Manuscripts some Years ago relating to Charge against Robert Barrow John Blaykling and others particularly in a Paper which he sent to London from Bristol he writes thus viz. Robert Barrow and John Blaykling are Men of evil Lives because saith he they 〈◊〉 subscribed a false Certificate against John Story c. William Rogers to make good the Accusation against us saith thus John Story was said to be one that justified the separate Meeting and to prove it saith he a Certificate or Testimony in Writing was produced under the Hands of six Persons to prove that John Story had been at a separate Meeting at William Chambers's House Which saith William Rogers at first seemed to reach far meaning to prove 〈◊〉 Story to be one that justified the same but presently saith he it came to be of no credit to many because John Story solemnly affirmed that he never was at those Meetings in a separation from the Monthly and Quarterly Meetings To which we answer in Manuscript thus viz. When John Story hath said all that he can or dare say as to a denial of having an hand in or encourageing the Separation in the North before the Throne of God he shall stand detected and condemned as a false deceitful Man for in his Conscience he knows that it is so and his subscribing of his Name to
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 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
when as he himself was in Westmer land about the beginning of the Separation and at the Meeting at Draw-well where things relating to Difference were debated as about the 〈◊〉 of them of the Separation in time of Persecution and their justifying it their Paying of their Tythes Marrying with Priests c. and of John Story ' s and John Wilkinson's Opposition to the Churches Care in Searching out such as had been faulty therein that they might be dealt withal in Advise and reproof as in 〈◊〉 might be seen meet which John Story and J. W. and others of the principally concerned in the Separation had obstructed and upon the discoursing of these things and the like for four Days together was William Rogers the principal Stickler and Contender for John Story and John Wilkinson and them of the Separation and he himself was sensible in Gods Power that somewhat then reached him how the Judgment of Truth through Friends stood over them all in that wrong Spirit and yet that he should have that Obdurateness upon his Spirit yea and Impudence to say and send up and down through the Nation That he cannot Judge the Merrits of the Cause that his Ears have not heard It s sad to think And now how can this Man be trusted or what he says be believed although he pretend to Conscience and would be accounted a Man of Honesty and a VVise Man but let him look over his Narrative again and let him judge whether these things savour of Honesty and 〈◊〉 or of Deceit and VVickedness that seems to make himself innorant of what in his Conscience he knows to be true Again it is inserted in the Narrative as that which was one to wit the sourth Proposition That Matters or Subjects to be discoursed upon 〈◊〉 to be written down and respectively delivered to each other And we understand that William Rogers and his Company did not according to Agreement deliver a Copy of those things he charged George Fox with to Friends before he brought them into the publick Meeting And did not George Fox tell him in the publick Meeting That in that he was worse then the World for in their Courts they will give a Copy of the Indictment to the Party charged This may be seen in George Fox's Answer to William Roger's Smiting Queries Likewise in the Narrative William Rogers and William Ford say That the 〈◊〉 Difference is about 〈◊〉 Order And yet see how William Rogers and those of his Spirit would impose their Orders as the order to John Batho the keeper of the Key of the Meeting House subscribed by William Rogers and several of them charging him not to suffer a Meeting to be in the said House as intended by George Fox George Whitehead and William Penn manifesteth the Order runs thus We do now order thee to suffer no such Meeting to be held therein meaning in the Meeting-House And also William Rogers saith that Richard Vickers had been in effect warned by Thomas Goldney not to suffer any such Meeting to be in our Meeting-House And yet Richard Vickers and many more were Proprietors therein as well as Thomas Goldney or any of those Thirteen Subscribers of the said Order or Warning as aforesaid Now all may see that though these Men despise and resist the order of the Gospel in the Power of God and say that the great Difference in the Nation amongst Friends is about outward Orders Yet would they excercise Lordship over the Brethren with their Orders and start away from the Unity if not condescended to instance them of the Separation in the North that proposed an Order whereby the Ministers of Christ Jesus should be limited from being concerned amongst the Brethren in the Meetings of any other Counties then those they belonged to and should not so much as sit or stay amongst them any longer then they had a Word to deliver and then to with-draw To which order if the honest Hearted to God would not Submit they signified a with-drawing to do their Business amongst themselves Who accordingly upon the rejecting of this Order and Imposition Indeed betook themselves into a Separation and some of them have continued so ever since What darkness this Spirit of theirs leads them into it s to be admired It s also said in the Narrative that William Rogers Proposed to the Meeting the reading of a Paper from two 〈◊〉 in Gloucester-shire Super written to William Rogers and William Penn only and not to the Meeting and that William Penn was against the reading of it Which seasonably we say and justifiably might be done The matters that the Meeting was meet about being principally in his eye And yet William Rogers would not 〈◊〉 a Paper to be read in the Meeting that appertained to the most material Matters that was upon many Friends in the said Meeting and was writ in the Meeting to be considered upon relating to the Separate Meeting and John Story in particular And 〈◊〉 immoderate work William Rogers made in opposition to the reading thereof may be spoken of afterwards as appertaining to the next Observation as 〈◊〉 It is said in the Narrative by some of William Rogers Party about the matter of William Rogers disorderly and rudely as is alledged against him opposing the reading the aforesaid Paper That he was so far from 〈◊〉 or making an ugly 〈◊〉 that he delivered himself in Coolness and Moderation and did not manifest 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Passion And it appeareth that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cornelius Serjant and Edward Erbury do certifie 〈◊〉 yet it is confessed in the Narative That William Rogers Spoke something loud which signifies that he might be in a 〈◊〉 And let them take heed for all their Certificate If they do not know in their own Consciences that it was really so For was he not in such a Rage that he went out of the Meeting and Thomas 〈◊〉 went after him and fetch him in again once or twice And for the manifesting the Truth of this matter concerning William Roger's carriage in the Meeting about the rude opposition he made against the reading of the Paper aforesaid as also to discover the untruth of the aforementioned Certificate let the Certificate from several Friends of the City of Bristol that were at the said Meeting be read and tenderly considered upon The Certificate is as followeth WHereas it is reported say they that William Rogers kept a Bauling and making an 〈◊〉 Noise c. We say its true that William Rogers did so for at our said Meeting a Friend tenderly proposed to the Meeting to sit still and wait upon the Lord to see whether something might not arise in their Hearts to write to John Story in order to Reconcile the said Difference William Rogers after a rude and unsavery manner Replyed Friends my Soul Abominates this Practice with more to the same purpose thereby prejudging and what in him lay diverting so good and necessary a Proposal and when by his continual Interruptions
on purpose to put Friends by their Testimonies in that matter he had almost over-run the Proposals for Peace William Penn stetp to the Table and writ down a 〈◊〉 to be read in the Meeting that if it Answered the sence of Friends there Assembled it might be 〈◊〉 by them and sent to John Story as their Christian offer towards the Reconciliation of those sad Differences but William Rogers notwithstanding he knew not the contents thereof judged it an unfit Paper to be read and as we conceive contrary to all Truth Justice and common Sobriety said I will oppose it it shall not be read again I say it shall not go as from the Meeting Which we took to be in high Arrogancy and Vsurpation upon the Meeting raising and continuing his voice when it was begun to be read so loud on purpose as to drown the reading of the Proposition his behaviour being so Rude that we never had the like in our Meeting before which rude practice we look upon to be condemnable in all sober and free Societies c. This is testisied to by Twenty Eight Friends of Bristol who were present at the Meeting before mentioned And therefore what credit can be given to William Rogers and them that gives forth such false Certificates to make People believe Lyes which they are glad to make their Refuge let the wise in Heart consider Again as we hinted before William Regers saith in his Narraitive That the Second Days Meeting at London have allowed that which they are not satisfied can stand justified c. The matter is something concerning Robert Barclay's Book In his Narrative he saith thus Robert Barclay speaking of the Order of Government thus saith c. In his Book Entituled the Anarchy of the Ranters in which Book it seemeth as he says is that which he and others are dissatisfied with This is mentioned in his Narrative written at Bristol the Eleventh Month 1677. This is a Passage that happened at London and not at Bristol and so contradicts the preamble to his Relation The Reader also may take notice that in the Third Month 1677. being Seven Months before his Narrative was writ William Rogers by a Paper under his own Hand acknowledgeth that touching Robert Barclay's Book a fair and Christian debate was had before many Friends at a Meeting in London to both Robert Barclay's and his Satisfaction and the things by him objected was fairly and Brotherlike and in much love discoursed and he saith that upon the whole matter he was satisfied that Robert Barclay was not principled as he and others took him to be And further William Rogers saith in his own Paper That it lies upon him to signifie on the behalf of Robert Barclay Since many have taken occasion of Offence against him for that cause and as may be doubted so far as to reject the Testimony and service for Truth it lieth upon me as my duty for his and the Truths sake to warn all to take heed not to entertain a prejudice against his Testimony on jealousies that may enter on score of my apprehensions or mistakes of his Book or that Answer that I have given thereto but rather in an unprejudiced Spirit to wait upon the Lord to feel and savour his Testimony even as if the occasion had never been And further saith William Rogers I freely confess in as much as I published my Book before I gave Robert Barclay notice of my Objections and Intentions therein I acted in that Respect not according to Gospel order but am justly worthy of Blame therein Thus far William Rogers Now let it be considered what a restless unsetled Spirit this Man hath void of Christian Behaviour and Humanity it self Who notwithstanding that under his own Hand he hath cleared Robert Barclay and the 〈◊〉 Days Meeting also and declares himself to be satisfied about Robert Barclay's Book and acknowledgeth his Unchristian carriage touching him c. Yet in his Narrative seven Months after in which he hath spread Robert Barclay's Name up and down the Nation and in his Printed Book thus reflects again upon the second Days Morning Meeting and upon Robert Barklay before he sent to them also concerning it that ever we heard of Now let all see whether these proceedings of William Rogers come from any Honesty or Conscientiousness or whether this restless unsetled 〈◊〉 Spirit of his doth manifest him to be one that can stand for the Kingdom of Christ Jesus as he would be looked upon to do which stands not in Words but in Unity and Peace And for the Readers further satisfaction concerning William Rogers's deceitful dealings with Robert Barclay and the second Days Meeting at London we refer him to William Rogers's own Paper which is a relation more at large of Robert Barclay and his discourse in the presence of near Forty Friends with their advice to him and the sence they had touching William Rogers Objections against Robert Barclay's 〈◊〉 which William Rogers at large confesseth his Errors in as his Paper under his own Hand dated the third Month 〈◊〉 demonstrateth And therefore what credit can ne give to or any confidence have in such an uncertain unsetled Man as this William R gers is Who also is the chief promoter of John Story and John Wilkinson their cause and what matter is it whom he stands for or whom he is against or what he says or Writes or any thing else he does as these things before-mentioned testifie for they have no Witness in the Consciences of the Faithful and that they are not Men of tender onsciences it plainly appeareth what ever they pretend to nor that William Rogers stands in the Gap as he pretends unless it be to turn People out of the right way nor 〈◊〉 the Kingdom of Christ its clear as these his Fruits with many more that might be instanced do manifest Hereby also is the badness of John Story' s and John Wilkinson's Work manifested to all the honest to God which 〈◊〉 Rogers so much quarrels about And further in the Narrative William Rogers saith as followeth viz. We cannot but tell you that we hae Sufficient cause to doubt that under pretence of this Proposition the Meeting will be entertained on your part with such Idle and vain Testimontes in the 〈◊〉 of the Lord as came out of Elizabeth Sturrige her Mouth in our publick Meeting c. Now let it be considered that this is one that cryes so much for Liberty of Conscience and against Imposition and yet see how these would limit the Consciences of Friends and not permit them to clear their Consciences and exercise their gift contrary to the tendency of his Paper of Queries in which Liberty of Conscience is so much cryed for when Elizabeth Sturridge must thus be struct at who spoke nothing that ever we heard of from honest Men then what she might be required of the Lord to do to the clearing of her conscience and yet William Rogers is
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
remember and my Answer in Sincerity implies the same that in 〈◊〉 Brotherly Discourse which George Fox and I had in the time of such his Weakness when I was with him one time I speaking of the Exercise the Church of God had in 〈◊〉 with them of the opposite contending Spirit against Church Care and Gospel Order and telling him that some of them had given out reflecting seornful Words against him on the occasion of his not being constantly at the Meeting and had rendered him to have lost his condition as to Truth c. And that they had presented the same to some that were more Honest and Simple then the rest to the hurting of them and to make the Care in the Church of God more contemptible which George Fox had been an Instrument in Gods Hand on the account of and yet neither John Story nor John Wilkinson would come to see him in that State although he had been to their own acknowledgement as a Father to them and many more nor any of them that so wickedly represented him behind his Back would so much as come to see how the matter was but in a base mind that watcheth for Evil smote against him behind his Back which the Lord will avenge Whercupon for the sake of the Simple and for the bringing Shame and Confusion on the other sort and for the sake of the Church of God in general it was desired in secret Cries to God that the Lord might if it was his Will again enable him so with Bodily strength as that the Innocent tender Lambs of God might enjoy his Bodily presence with them as formerly they were wont to do to their Refreshment and Comfort and the Lord blessed be his name heard his Cries and the Groans of the Righteous in that matter to the enlargement of the Churches comfort and great advantage thereby whatever William Rogers and they of that Spirit say in contempt thereof and during his exercise of Bodily weakness at that time I was with him one day in his Chamber during the Meeting in a lower Room and I do affirm if these were my last Words that the Power and glorious Presence of the eternal God was with us to the breaking of my Heart and an Exercise of travel in Spirit was upon him on the account of the Church of God in general its Unity and Peace and with respect to the Backsliding sort of John Storys Spirit that the Lord might forgive them and restore them into the first love and living sence again and if this be the recompence that they render the Lord and him for the Labour of love in long suffering and patience on this wise used towards them I am satisfied that he is truly content and that their Reproaches are not grievous to him in the love of God who hath enabled him to endure all for his and his Peoples sake whose reward is with him and none can take it away And I do declare in the presence of the God of Heaven before whom I stand 〈◊〉 on this 〈◊〉 was the concern bet wixt him and me in Relation to this matter on the score whereof William Rogers thus wickedly appears with his siniting Charges against him which touch him not neither doth it hurt my Life nor my Peace with God whatever William Rogers doth suggest or bring forth against me touching this matter and I do appeal to that in all Consciences whether William Rogers's 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 against George Fox in which also he hath made me concerned 〈◊〉 the same be not false and maliciously alledged against him without any 〈◊〉 Ground seeing that George Fox's Weakness was such as many will evidence if occasion were as that he was as likely in a short time to be taken out of the Body as otherwise and so faint often in his Spirit by reason thereof that the 〈◊〉 Breath of People near him he could very 〈◊〉 endure or what 〈◊〉 William Rogers hath so basely to smite him in his Queries with his 〈◊〉 and And 's or 〈◊〉 John Blaykling hath contradicted himself on this occasion and 〈◊〉 his confusion or that John 〈◊〉 's 〈◊〉 is any way fulfilled hereby the wise to God may consider And as to the latter part of the Charge in William Rogers's two Queries on this occasion viz. Wouldst not thou have accounted this in another the Fruit of a Carless Negligent Libertine dark Spirit that was departed or departing from the Truth Implicitly charging him thereby to be of such a Spirit In the answer thereunto it is denied that this state is applicable to George Fox as Thousands can testifie it is required also that the Man may come forth that can 〈◊〉 charge him ever to have been of such a Spirit from his Childhood nay let his Dilligence in the service of Truth ever since the Lord made him a Minister of it and in all self-denial his exposing of himself in his Testimony therein to the Displeasure of the whole World great and small Professors and Profain testifie to his readiness to Work and Labour in the Gospel let the many Reproaches Buffettings Knockings-down for Dead Stripes and Imprisonments in Dungcons and nasty Places and yet never shrinking nor growing weary of his Exercise notwithstanding all that his Travellings on 〈◊〉 and lyings out of door in the Night-time whilest the Lord was pleased so to concern him let his Travels beyond the Seas in many Countries and Islands yea even of late Years since Bodily Exercise in Pain and Weakness took hold upon him make William Rogers or any that takes his part ashamed to lay a Slothful Negligent Libertine dark Spirit to his Charge Yea let that in the Consciences of all the honest Hearted to God that have known him and his Spirit testifie and give a Record for his care in the Church of God Instrumentally in Gods Hand with many other dear Brethren in the settling the Churches and Family of God under a wholsom Discipline and Order wherein the Faithful have been comforted and made each others Help and Blessing in the Lord who is worthy of the Praise yea blessed be the Lord many have good cause to say for the Instruments that he was pleased to raise up for the publishing the glad tidings of the Gospel-day and for their Faithfulness according to their places the Lord hath set them in as the Elders that rule well and are accounted worthy of Honour yea that Honour which is Eternal that God gives and covers his People withal as it was said in the Scriptures of Truth He that Honoureth me him will I Honour and again This Honour hath all his Saints to bind Kings in Chains and Nobles in Fetters of Iron but saith he I will not give my Glory to another I will not give it to Graven Images Surely if the Lord be pleased to Honour his on this wise and give them his Glory it is not displeasing in the Lords sight to restifie on Gods behalf accordingly but this Honour
William Rogers is a Stranger to being gone from the Royal honourable Seed of Life and stumbles at the Testimony born on this wise these things with many more that might be said in relation to George Fox and others for which God hath the praise given together with the Testimony that lives upon the Spirits of many Thousands with respect to his continuing steadfast to God and his Truth as in the day of his first Love being given up to serve the Lord sufficiently evidenceth that William Rogers if he lay a careless libertine negligent dark Spirit to George Fox's Charge and as one that is either departed or departing from the Truth standeth detected as a malicious Slanderer of the Innocent and a false Accuser to receive the Reward that God sees meet to recompence such withal This is the Testimony I have not been 〈◊〉 to bear for this our Antient Friend with many Brethren more and it remains with me which in the Spirit of Truth in which we are known of God and one unto another at this day I stand by on his behalf though it be William Rogers torment and although for this cause and for the Testimony also that I have to bear against that Spirit in him that dispiseth the Government and Order of Truth in the Church of God and hath presumptuously exposed to public view his contempt thereof I be reproached amongst them my Life treads upon it as the Dung upon the Earth which toucheth me not Several unworthy Reflections and smiting Accusations he hath been pleased to treat me with in his Book Printed to Posterity but they touch me not I Bless God it s for mine Integrities sake which I pray God keep me to whilest I have a Day to Live and that my Testim 〈◊〉 may stand sure and steadfast to the End of my Days against his 〈◊〉 shrinking Spirit and them of party with him and his Reproaches 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 my 〈◊〉 and I Bless God that he accounts me worthy and amongst my Antient and more Worthy Brethren I tread upon his worst in the strength of Almighty God to whom I can commit my Cause and that Peace I enjoy over all that none can take away But to go on to his Paraphiasing Discourse upon mine Answer to his Smiring Charge I am Charactered by him for my Testimony which I was in Conscience 〈◊〉 to bear for an Antient and Worthy in the Truth of Christ Jesus in the Sincerity of my Soul to be one that flatters for the Belly and saith and doth in all things to please the humor of another to have a repast or small Dinner so I understand his meaning may be upon the Tearm he gives me Answer In the first place I take this to be a Smiting Reflection on George Fox on whose Account I having been thus concerned against whom he thus appears for whom I am bold to say he is a Man of no such Spirit it s an abhorence to him to Correspond with such or to be gratified with such Dissembling as this If William Rogers's Spirit by which he judgeth others be such let him take it to himself and get such treating and flattering where he can have it he shall have none of it from me and therefore is he grieved and George Fox is known to be a Servant of Christ Jesus and for Christs sake to the least of Gods little Ones and there the honour that is from above attends him which William Rogers with all that Death and Hell can do cannot eclips nor he have a share in whilest such Works are done by him let that stand over his Head And as to the Reflection yea the Gross and Infamous Charge that relates to me as I have a Record in my own Soul over this foul Abuse I do appeal to the Testimony of Truth that lives in the Hearts of my Brethern Familiers and Acquaintance in the Truth who knows my Spirit and are out of this prejudiced malicious Work to speak on my behalf as they have felt and known my Life and Demeanour amongst them in relation to my plain-dealing with all with whom I have had to do I have cleared my Conscience in God sight in faithful dealing with all without flattery or fear though I have Suffered thereby I was never accused on the account of flattering or self-seeking or speaking any way in favour for a Repast or small Dinner till I met with William Rogers's Spirit which is the same which accused Christ Jesus to be a Friend to Publicans and Sinners and as John Wilkinson Impudently said to me and others because of our care in the Church of God That we had got an Office and were puffed up in it and acted therein to get favour of Persons or a piece of Bread and said also that our Office would but cloath us with Rags and Worms would breed in our gatherings and our Bread conjume I bless God as a Mercy I prise I never stood in need of treating any for any such Reward nor my Ancestors before me neither were they of such Spirits as my Country-Men and Neighbours knows from the relation that hath been given of them who have been known in Hospitality open and free and that to the best of People for Religions sake some Generations past and if I have been of another Spirit it s not well for God hath been no less kind to me in giving me of his Truth and the best of things and 〈◊〉 enough as to the World and a Spirit also I bless the Lord in which I-detest the the State he applyes to me and loaths the occasion for such a scandal as he would leave me under I have done something for the Trnth out of that 〈◊〉 God hath given me and it s my Gladness that I have thereof and an Heart prepared even as the Lord shall direct and my Exercise and Travels in my Testimony on Truths account have been a Burthen to none that I know of for I challeng the whole World to lay it to my charge and prove it against me that I have ever received one Penny from any one on the account thereof though I have met with a charge from a corrupt Spirit on that score which I deny If I have been a But then to any on the Gospels account any way let it be made appear and it shall be repaid double I desire to be excused on this wise I am 〈◊〉 as relating to the charge against me of which also I make no Boast but in the Lord and on the riches of his Grace alone by Which I am what I am and the Lord never made William Rogers nor the Spirit he is of in any judge over me I stand to God whose peace I have which comforts my Soul over all In the Answer to William Rogers's 〈◊〉 to George Fox's Reply and my Postscript it is Inserted by some Brethren thus Let William Rogers be asked whether he had not another Testimony in his Spirit for John Blaykling when
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
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
me many Months before and then I ask him whether he can say that it was any thing but a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Spirit in him that seeks occasion against the Innocent to render 〈◊〉 Paper a false Certificate on the score thereof with many other abusive 〈◊〉 upon me in Print to Posterity and whether he hath done in this case as he would have been done by For I know he is a Man of that understanding as to see and acknowledge that where a Word in a sentence happens accidentally to be on the account of 〈◊〉 or the like that causeth the sentence to carry another signification then the scope of the 〈◊〉 Discourse relates to or where the Speaker or Writer doth signifie that the 〈◊〉 or the intent of his mind therein was not according to the signification of the said Word but otherwise as he then expresseth himself Such an one on such an occasion according to Scripture Rule and the Charity that is to be extended to all is not to be made an Offender and a clear occasion William Rogers had given him by the scope I say of my whole Paper relating to that matter to know my mind therein as also I cannot but believe but that my Answer to this Charge he had received before he needed to have 〈◊〉 this matter in Charge against me in Print and yet for all this he hath made me and Published me to the whole World an Offender for a Word yea I may say for a Letter which is so far from the rule of Christianity Civil Society and Honesty amongst morral Men that its an absurd 〈◊〉 thing for a Man of his supposed Parts and very nausious in the sight of wise and 〈◊〉 Men. And further I may tell William Rogers that had he been a Charitable 〈◊〉 Man and not one that watched for an occasion for Evil or had he exercised the Parts which God gave him as a Man he might easily have gathered that seeing my Name was at the Conclusion of the said Certificate or Testimony then those Words from which he grounds the Charge were not properly like to be mine neither indeed were they any of them nor are they in the first Copy nor in any Copy that came from me but had been put in by the 〈◊〉 without my knowledge in that Copy which it seems came to him which I cannot but say was a little weakly placed there by whom I know not in 〈◊〉 much 〈◊〉 that the Letter 〈◊〉 is at the end of the word Aspertion which should not have been upon which occasion William Rogers very 〈◊〉 with respect to the material 〈◊〉 appertaining to the Case and unmanly hath done concerning me for as I had no Hand in that Word so 〈◊〉 had I any thoughts as my Paper demonstrateth to concern my self in any 〈◊〉 in relation to the clearing 〈◊〉 Fox from the Aspersions cast upon him any further then what the clearing of him from that charge and 〈◊〉 alledged against him might tend as to the invalidating of all 〈◊〉 rest which I must 〈◊〉 and as I believe many will conclude that it greatly tendeth unto And 〈◊〉 to speak as charitably of the Transcribet as in 〈◊〉 we ought to do I say that the little Prologue prefixed to my Paper by him might be very 〈◊〉 done and not worthy of any such occasion to be taken on the Score thereof for to 〈◊〉 at the beginning of the matter being annexed to another's Matter or Discourse was very properly to be done whereby more Intelligibly to distinguish between them for the Words expressed taken in the most charitable sence might not import that it was intended thereby to clear George Fox of all c. but that they tended to clear George Fox of the Aspersions cast against him that the following matter related to so all things every way considered in that Love that thinks no Evil it s clearly seen that for 〈◊〉 of matter William Rogers in the malice of his Mind catcheth at any thing to keep his restless turbulent discomposed smiting Spirit at Work with thereby manifesting that he runs himself into great mistakes touching the same not only perverting thereby the thing he aims at but gives occasion through that means to manifest his 〈◊〉 the more Several other abusive reflections William Rogers hath cast upon me in his Rejoynder or Answer to my Certificate about the matter in charge against George Fox spoken to in the Answer to his Rejoynder which touch me not nor do they hurt my Life and Peace with God viz. That I am puft up with Spiritual Pride my Zeal turned into Envy my Wisdom into Folly whereby I am now become as heretofore in another case relating to John Story so dexterous in giving forth a false Certificate Answer This is my Comfort in the midst of all God hath not made William Rogers Judge over me though he would intrude into the Prerogative of 〈◊〉 Jesus and take upon him that which the Lord hath not given him therefore never reacheth my Life and if for my Testimony for God and his Antient Truth and the Fellowship of Brethren and my Zeal for the propagating the Government of the Spirit and Gospel Order in Gods visible Family and for my tender concern in the holy Exercise thereof I am become 〈◊〉 I am resolved in the Strength of the Eternal God to keep fast my stedfastness therein to the end of my Days that I may lay down my Life in Peace although for my so doing I shall become more vile yet and I am livingly satisfied that all his and others Reproaches which the Lord suffers to be my lot tends to my Advantage in God and the knowledge of Truth and no way lessens my repute in the Hearts of Gods faithful People and let William Rogers and those of the 〈◊〉 Company do their worst the Burden in the end shall be their own And as for that smiting Charge of my giving forth false Certificates against John Story There is none I testifie that I have been concerned in in relation to him but the Substance thereof shall be stood to when William Rogers or any of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 lets me see what they are and undertakes to convict me thereof 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 William Rogers mentions none here I take no notice of it any 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to manifest his unchristian Spirit that watcheth for Evil and smiteth 〈◊〉 the Back neither do I believe will it be of any credit with them that fear the 〈◊〉 and love Righteousness and desire to do unto all as they would be done 〈◊〉 And William Rogers hath no good cause to Impeach me thus with respect to John Story for many are Witnesses what Kindness and good-will I did bear with respect to his 〈◊〉 good and keeping his antient Repute in Truth amongst Gods People and that I stood by him in his Weakness so far as any way 〈◊〉 I could in excusing of him until he became my Shame through turning his Back of the Lords Kindness and the Brethrens too and became hardned in Evil till the Lord gave him up to a Reprobate Mind And I bless God that the good-will I bore to John Story and my care whilest his Day lasted and my Testimony born against a 〈◊〉 sort the reward thereof is returned into my Bosom having cleared my Conscience every way thus far concerning him and he rest of them let them consider of it in time as they will Answer the same 〈◊〉 the Lord in the great Day John Blaykling THE END Which wrong Spirit will never give them to see their duty nor lead them into it Printed by John Bring 〈◊〉 These Accusations are 〈◊〉 and his Eyes were evil John Story said He would have his Hand Cut off before he would take his Name from off the Paper for Separation This he said to R. B.
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