Meeting for the Worship of God within the City of Bristol the 21st of the 11th Moneth 1678. as he saith where some were present not accounted to be of the People called Quakers though there was but very few such there then as Credible Account was given from Bristol but at that Meeting the People present were mostly Friends as in an Account dated Bristol the 25th of the 11th Moneth 1678. And what though some others were present and heard it read What knows he but it had a good Effect on some of them seeing Division Contention and Discord have both before and since that happened in that Meeting according as he has related in Print there was the more need of such a Testimony going forth against such a Spirit of Contention and Discord that hath so openly appeared in that place 4thly Neither is there any just or equal Comparison between the said Printed Epistle and W. R. his great Invective Book which tends to the Perpetual Reproach Scandal and Infamy of divers Faithful Persons by Name and of the People called Quakers the Truth and Christian Religion professed by them whereas the said Epistle by Mary Elson and Anne Whitehead was not to Infamize any Friends or Professors of Truth by Name but according to the Title An Epistle for True LOVE UNITY and ORDER in the Church of Christ against the Spirit of Discord Disorder and Confusion c. All which considered W. R. hath manifested his Injustice in these his several Instances as well as his apparent Fallacy and Impertinency in that one principal Instance of the said Printed Epistle so that the Foundation of W. R's proceeding to Print is evidently proved Deceit and Falshood But come on we have dwelt some-what long upon this point let 's now briefly sum up and present the Case in W. R. his own sence and see how far that will go thus viz. The said Epistle of two Printed Sheets given out by Anne VVhitehead and Mary Elson amounting to a Publication of Divisions though Reflecting on no Persons by Name coming to my Hands the 8th of November 1680. it was a great Provocation to me and the chief concern upon me to Publish my Book of Eighty Sheets or above reflecting on many of the Chieftains among the People called Quakers by Name in Particular and upon the greatest part of that People in General who own them as also upon their Meetings that are for an Outward Form of Church-Government Visible Orders c. as being Apostates and Innovators c. To all which it may be said Oh! great Champion Scribe of the Schisme and Faction and Popular Person wa st thou so provoked by two poor VVomen with their but two Printed Sheets against the Spirit of Discord that thou must needs revenge thy self with a Furious Confused Book of above EIGHTY Sheets in Print Is this thy Justice Manhood and Valour so Excessively to vent thy Fury for the sake of two such in thy esteem doubtless Inconsiderable persons their two Sheets At this rate we may expect that we shall so hugely provoke thee by this Treatise against thy work of Darkness and Confusion that thou wilt severely pay us off with a Book of Five or Six Hundred Sheets at least but then thy Friends must very highly advance their Purses towards the Charge if they 'l be so Mad or Silly Be sure if thou writest against us make it a huge big Book or else thou wilt not proceed according to thy former GREAT CONCERN OF CONSCIENCE and JUSTICE against the TWO Womens TWO Sheets and many more because thereof However if thou pretends to make Answer or Reply hereunto let it be as big as it will let it but refer to holy Scripture and be Argumentative and it may probably be the more taken notice of but if it be a kind of History made up of Stories Reports and thy own Jealousies to expose Weaknesses and to render Persons by Name Odious 't will then be No Answer but a Dirty Revengeful Clamour like much of thy Unchristian Book already extant to thy and thy Abettors great Shame and Disgrace Disaffect XI First Part pag. 9. W. R. frames an Objection in which are these words viz. And that we ought to believe as the Church believes compared with his 4th Sect. pag. 23. The Title whereof with some other words objected by him follows viz. Sect. 4. An Answer to the Third Position deduceable from an Objection raised toward the Conclusion of the first Section viz. That 't is Folly and Hypocrisie to profess our selves Members of the true Church and yet not believe THUS as the true Church believes VV. R. To this we say We are altogether dissatisfied especially when we consider what a Body of Darkness hath entred under the Belief of this Position We must believe as the Church believes And pag. 24. May it not further be said we know how Papists and Protestants describe their Church c. Observe That herein our Adversary still persists in his course of Envy and Persecution by thus seeking to render us as like Papists as he can as if we were imposing an Implicit Faith concerning our Assemblies without Conviction on the bare Terms of Believing as the Church believes which Imposition we Abhor being alwayes for that Faith that 's Explicit Clear and Evident grounded upon the plain Evidence of the Spirit besides to render us Odious and Obnoxious in this matter W. R. hath Fallaciously wronged the Citation in his said 4th Section and whereon he grounds his whole Section leaving out the very foregoing words which are the most Material and Explanatory words as in the Title of his said Section compared with the Book he took them out of Entituled THE APOSTATE INCENDIARY REBUKED c. pag. 16. the words are these viz. I affirm That the true Church is in the true Faith that is in God and we must either believe Thus as the true Church believes or else it were but both a Folly and Hypocrisie to profess our selves Members thereof See how plain the words are principally relating to the Faith that is in God which explains the matter but W. R. though in his first Sect. pag. 9. cites the words viz. The True Church is in the True Faith that is in God in his 4th Sect. he wholly leaves them out and places his Exceptions and Answer upon the latter part some-what varied into a Position which he deduces from an Objection of his own framing and then cryes out We are altogether dissatisfied when we consider what a Body of Darkness hath entred under the Belief of this Position WE MUST BELIEVE AS THE CHURCH BELIEVES Thus crookedly and perversly has he Scribbled to put the Odium of POPERY upon us but if we should ask him Is it not in it self true Doctrine That the true Church is in the true Faith that is in God and we must either believe thus i. e. in God as the true Church believes or else it were but Folly
THE Accuser of our Brethren Cast Down in Righteous Judgment AGAINST THAT SPIRIT OF Hellish Jealousie Vented in a great Confused Book falsly Entituled The Christian-Quaker Distinguished from the Apostate and Innovator In Five Parts The Fallacy and Force whereof being herein clearly Detected justly Repelled Jer. 2. 19. Thine own Wickedness shall Correct thee and thy Back-slidings shall Reprove thee know therefore and see that it is an Evil thing and Bitter that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God and that my Fear is not in thee saith the Lord God of Hosts John 13. 27. That thou dost do Quickly London Printed for John Bringhurst at the Sign of the Book in Grace-Church-street near Cornhil 1681. A Short ADVERTISEMENT To faithful Friends called QUAKERS to whom this may come Christian-Friends IN this Treatise we the peaceable Christian People called Quakers are Conscientiously vindicated and cleared in our CRISTIAN SOCIETY CHURCH-ORDER and DISCIPLINE from the unjust Charge of APOSTACY and INNOVATION and from the great Envy horrid Abuses and Fallacies of WILLIAM ROGERS in his Book falsly Entituled THE CHRISTIAN-QUAKER DISTINGUISHED FROM THE APOSTATE AND INNOVATOR but his own Apostacy and Innovation is herein clearly Detected And this is recommended to your Care and Prudence to be reserved in your Hands and dispersed only where you in your respective Places and Counties shall in the Wisdom of God see a necessity to remove and prevent the great Scandal Infamy and Reproach of the said Book A Brief INTRODUCTION TO ALL Faithful Friends CALLED QUAKERS Tender and Beloved Friends in Truth A Holy concern of Soul and Conscience on behalf of our Lord Jesus Christ his Kingdom Church and People THAT only was the real Motive to this ensuing Treatise The matter whereof is not to trace the late Difference and present Controversie Historically nor to traverse the Way of the crooked Serpent in all his windings there 's no need of that the Eyes of many are open to see his perverse Wayes but clearly to Detect and set Judgment upon his Work of Enmity in WILLIAM ROGERS's said Book in the most Material Parts that are Wicked and Scandalous to Truth and Christ's Innocent Followers and Subjects and to Evince the most Subtil and Fallacious Pretences thereof and his most manifest Inconsistences and Self-Confutations as well as his Froward Oppositions and Contradictions to us as we are a Church and People gathered by the Lord and settled in good Order and Society by his holy Spirit The Ground and Cause of the present Division and Opposition furiously mannaged by W. R. and his Abettors against us has been and is originally placed upon a wrong Spirit in them a Murmuring Complaining Dividing Spirit a Rending Tearing Spirit a Dark Jealous Spirit a Loose Gainsaying Opposit Spirit a Proud Exalted Spirit a Contemning Scornful Spirit a Self-conceited Spirit a Turbulent Froward Wilful Spirit against this Spirit have the Complaints been by several Tender-hearted Friends among us If we be asked how we prove that to be the Spirit against which we are now engaged in this Treatise We may justly Answer W. R's Malicious Book is apparent Proof being a Birth of that same Spirit it bears the exact Image and Shape of all the Parts and Properties of it 't is Proof against him and all that own it being brought to the Test of Truth in all Consciences for it shews all that which is charged upon that Jealous Rending Dividing Proud Exalted Scornful Spirit c. from whence the Book proceeded It s Stile and Matter on his Jealousies and if Report be true c. bespeak all these to his and its great Shame and Disgrace He places the Apostacy and Innovation against us not only in outward Order Discipline and Form of Church-Government but even in the very Doctrine and Life of Christianity as if they were greatly extinguisht from among us and therefore has divulged his Book and that from a great pretended concern of Conscience on many that it might not be reputed that the Doctrine and Life of Christianity are wholly extinct among the People called Quakers but that both yet remain in some of them i. e. in W. R. and his Party But his termed Honourable Friend John Wilkinson gives a quite contrary Account concerning the Breach of Concord and Jarr The Cause saith he God hath shewed me that it is not in Principles of Truth nor in Christ's Doctrine nor in any Practice which Truth in the members of the heavenly Body leadeth into but about Prescriptions through the blind Zeal of the Weak c. And W. R. also grants 't is but about the SHELL and not the KERNEL soon after he has placed the Apostacy in Doctrine and Life as if both Christian Doctrine and Life were extinct among the greatest part of us as a People But how can that be true if no Breach of Concord nor Jarr in Principles of Truth nor in Christs Doctrine nor in any Practice which Truth leadeth into and that this be shewn of God too yea W. R. also confesseth that those small Differences which at first seemed but like unto little Sparks Pref. p. 2. 't is true indeed that great Endeavours in much Christian tenderness have been used for a Composure and matters were brought near it at Drawell but Satan has prevailed to make this fiery Agent an Incendiary to make the Breach wider having been secretly animated his abusive Book is Proof whereby he has abused divers of the Servants of Christ by Name and many not named in 's Book rendring them Apostates Innovators c. He has Abused and Scandalized our Meetings and our Order and Discipline as being but a Form and Government set up by man and Mans Tradition G. Fox's Form of Church-Government G. F's Orders c. These Expressions we own not they are not proper for though we grant that He hath been Instrumental in the hand of Christ for stirring up others to Unity and good Order yet we are satisfied that the great Builder Former and Orderer of the spiritual House is Christ Jesus and that HE is the Author and Foundation of that Christian Religion Care Over-sight and good Government among us as a Church and People the Substance Intent and End of all which is that pure Religion which is not only to visit the Fatherless and the Widows but to keep Unspotted of the World which we have Scripture-Testimony and Instances and Christ's and his Apostles Doctrine for W. R. has not spared to seek out occasions against Persons to gather up and divulge Weaknesses to pervert Truth and make false Constructions of mens words his Heart being filled with Pride and Envy his Head is loaden and confused with cloudy Conceits and perverse Imaginations against the Innocent After all his great Clamour and heavy Charge of Apostate and Innovator c. about Orders Prescriptions Impositions Innovations Form of Church-Government c. setting aside his Prejudice and Enmity his wrong and evil Jealousies Perversions false Inferences
and have a Tendence towards the great Ends of true Religion and Christian Society as having a Godly Care among us over one another the Strong to help the Weak and that all may be preserved out of the World 's Evil Wayes and Polutions in that pure Religion that is to Visit the Fatherless and Widows and keep Unspotted of the World so as we may provoke one another to Love and Good Works and to serve one another in Love as the Primitive Christians did knowing that all our Care and the very Intent of our Proceedings in the Church of Christ are for these Ends and all center in that Love which is the fulfilling of the Law and having these things in our Eye we can the more easily concur and accord as to Circumstances and outward Methods and in the Wisdom of God so condescend one to another and accommodate matters as not to divide about them and therefore we do profess seriously we see no real Cause or valid Reason our Opposer shews for the great Noise and Rumble he makes about outward Laws Prescriptions Orders Edicts or Decrees outward Form of Government Apostacy Innovations Impositions Lording over Faith over Conscience c. whilst he shews us no Unjust no Unlawful nor Uncomely Order or Proceedings among us as a People nor yet gives us any Instances or Catalogue of those Impositions Innovations New Doctrines or Practices brought in and received among us which are either Inconsistent with our first Testimony to the Light and Grace of God within and the Teachings thereof or thereby condemned as Evil or wholly Unnecessary in themselves He should have given us a Catalogue of those Innovations he complains of and what Order and Methods he would prescribe to the contrary whether any or none and not go to fill the Peoples Ears with a general Clamour of Apostacy Innovations and Impositions scandalously to render us as bad as the Church of ROME He often charges us with Uncertain Qualified Persons that usually Assemble in our Meetings which concern the Affairs of the Church among us Which is a very Impertinent Objection for granting some Persons Uncertainly or not Rightly Qualified may come into such Meetings such sway not the Meetings in Truth 's Affairs but there is an Eye to the Universal Power of God to sway and rule in our Proceedings and Concerns of Truth and what Reason and Evidence is in Truth given in matters before us these have place in our Meetings and 't is very needfull that some that are not grown into the Exercise of Help and Government in the Church who are Honest-minded should be present at such Meetings that they may have the Advantage thereof in order to their furtherance in the Truth and Service as the Lord shall make them capable for the least sound Member hath its Service in the Body But W. R. appears not of the Apostles Mind who said Those Members of the Body which seem to be more feeble are necessary and those Members of the Body which we think to be less honourable upon these we bestow more abundant Honour c. see 1 Cor. 12. 22 23 24. and Chap. 9. 22. we do not disgrace them in Print as W. R. hath done and therefore those our Meetings are not confined to a Select Number for our Opposer grants That the Children of God may be Instrumental in his Hand to Establish one another in the Faith of God's Elect 3d part pag. 12. as also pag. 19. he has these words viz. I am abundantly satisfied that set and appointed Meetings on certain prefixed dayes being with the joynt Concurrence of those Members assembling and from time to time to be assembled to take care of the Poor and discharge other Charitable Duties to inspect Marriages that none come together Disorderly and to take Care that Truth may not be Scandalized through the backsliding of such who have been in fellowship with the Children of Light are not Inconsistent with that FORM that the Power of God may lead into for I am a Witness for many Years past even to this day that such Meetings have been serviceable to answer those Righteous ends Observe He has here granted the point for Church-Government to his own Confutation and that which is the end of such our Assemblies What 's then his complaint of Rules outward Orders Forms of Government c And who among the Children of Light do not see these to be needful as well as serviceable And what Forms Prescriptions Rules or Laws are executed or put in Practice among us which tend not to answer those Righteous Ends to wit the taking care of the Poor discharge of other Charitable Duties inspecting Marriages to prevent disorder therein and to take care that Truth be not Scandalized through the back-slidings of such who have been in Fellowship among us These are the very Righteous Ends and Services intended and aimed at in those our Meetings which being granted in the General we would ask this Person or any one adhereing to him 1st What are those Innovations he complains of among us in respect to an outward Order Discipline and Form of Government 2dly What Impositions Orders Prescriptions Laws or Rules can he justly charge the People called QUAKERS who are not of his Party withal which the Spirit of Truth hath not Unity with and which therefore the Members of Christ's Body and Children of Light are not obliged to obey or practise as not seeing it their Duty Disaffect XLIII And seeing he affirms That the People of the Lord called Quakers are in the Practice of many things with respect to Church-Discipline wherein the Scriptures treating of those things given forth by Christ and his Apostles are silent Third part pag. 20. compared with what he affirms pag. 24. That part of that outward Order in Discipline wherein divers of the People of the Lord called Quakers have been acted is such as that there is not the least Foot-steps thereof to be found in the Scriptures as Exhorted to or as Practised by the Apostles And what suppose this were true which yet we do not grant him so long as they are the People of the Lord and they waiting on him he is their Shepherd and Guide by his holy Spirit and Principle of Truth within which leads not contrary to any Wholsome and Evangelical Precept or Christian Conversation and Practice recorded in the holy Scriptures And W. R. so far Answers himself in this matter as that he grants The Principle of Truth in these latter dayes hath and may lead into the Practice of OUTWARD ORDER in Discipline with relation to the Church of Christ. Whereby he assents to a higher Rule than the Scriptures namely the Principle of Truth and then the Question is 1st What those many things are with respect to Church Discipline wherein the Scriptures are silent We find him only in reference to this point telling us thus 3d part pag. 24. viz. I could give many Instances hereof but one