on this wise Choose from amongst you the faithfull yet such a limitation we have cause to believe will not now be born by some 't is well if the ground thereof in our opposers be not to bring in the multitude if they can and that under a pretence that all Friends in Truth may have free access that so the Generality may be on their side for of late Mens Meetings are known to consist of many such who if any ought to be Governed are much fitter to be Governed then appear as Governours and who we are well satisfied in our Consciences would of themselves be more modest than to appear in such Meetings as Governours were they not prompted to be there The secret end thereof as we have cause to doubt is for the carying on that which we believe Truth will never own And as to the Apostacy never entering the generality more we say may the Lord preserve us all so stayd in his Unchangable Truth as that we may never apostatise from it nor be drawn away from the hope of the Gospel by false Prophets and seducing Spirits for we do firmly believe that as many of those who formerly were in the Truth and do now account us Dark Spirits because we cannot be at Unity with them in such actions as we account Persecution against antient Brethern are already Apostatized and doubtless they with their adherents account themselves the generality yet we hope better things than so We now come to say somthing to these foregoing words viz. That in London and other part of this Nation where such Meetings where usually held the sense of the Generallity hath been taken for the sense of such Meetings To this we answer if thereby is intended that the generality may claim power to declare that their sense is the sense of the Meeting it opens a Door whereby the Reputation and Honour of Truth as Profest owned and practized amongst the Freinds thereof may fall in one day For when these Meetings were assented unto we cannot say establisht by any man we lookt upon our selves all Servants one unto another and not Masters and Rulersover one another and so had then no occasion given us to discourse of Authority but when there was we well Remember that we ascribed all Authority unto the appearance of the invisible Power of God and so no encouragment was given by us that any one Man or Men should take upon him or them to Rule and Govern in such Meetings but our expectations were that every Member should there appear in subjection to Christ the Head and higher Power unto which as Members of his Body we owe Obedience In this sense we readily embraced the Counsel to Meet together to Serve but not to Bear Rule over one another's Consciences and the matters intended by us to be transacted in those Meetings and by others also as far as we understood were chiefly To take care of the poor the fatherless and the widdow And that if any professed the Truth and dishonour'd the same by prophane and evil Conversation we might by such ways and meanes as the Lord on every occasion might direct not then thinking that the day would ever come wherein an Outward Directory should be placed as a Judg over our Consciences Indeavor to reclaim such from the Evil of their Ways and for these Services we are sensible that Meetings are proper and therefore do continue in the services thereof yet never thought that we should have seen the Day wherein any professing the truth would have attempted to treat on such a Subject as this viz. How far doth this Government extend in matters Spiritual and purely conscientious and not only so but be approved as the aforesaid Book of Government wherein the said sentence is written hath been by a Meeting that takes upon them to take Care as they pretend that nothing be Printed whereby the Truth may be dishonour'd Alas Friends can such appear to us as men staid in the Unchangable Truth who have suffered and highly contended for Liberty of Conscience and that Christ alone is Lord over it and is its only Lawgiver and yet now reckon that Mens-Meetings which we or at least several of us do know having been much conversant therein even from the begining to this day have most usually consisted of Men Vncertain in Numbers as well as to Qualifications and Persons may assume a Power over Conscience under the Notion of the Church of Christ Truly Friends we cannot but testify that our Souls have no Unity with such things and cannot but look upon the Promoters thereof as Lovers of Preheminency more than Lovers of God having let in a dark seperate rending dividing Spirit from the Truth and opened a Door whereby as great Darkness may be brought over the People As ever was in any Age under the profession of Christian Religion Objection But perhaps some persons may thus Object We cannot but have more Charity for some at least of those who are concerned in these things you strike at and cannot believe they intend an imposition on any of our Consciences for when we have been in Meetings with them we have been Witnesses that the Life hath been raised and our Souls have been refreshed through their Ministry and in their Epistles they tell us how eminently the Lord appears amongst them unto which we cannot but give Credit because when they are with us the Life in us answers to the Life in them as Face answers Face in a Glasse but when those whom they oppose do speak then Deadness Dryness and Barrenness appears besides many of the Ministring Friends have exhorted us and as they say in the Name of the Lord that we ought to shut out Jealousies the Reasoning and the Wisdom telling us as before is hinted That the Apostacy shall never enter the generality more and that we ought to have an eye to the Brethren Answ This Objection may seem very weighty with some especially such who may conclude that if they are of the true Brotherhood the Lord will give them an inward sense when they wait upon him whereby a Testimony according to the Truth may arise from them in every Case wherein they may Concern their thoughts but alas 't is either the fruit of Weakness or Presumption so to conclude with respect to every Brother in what estate soever which hath been sufficiently evidenced to us by the Fruits of those who have taken upon them to Judge the Merit of a Cause without hearing of both Parties of which more anon Besides if we do but consider that the Scriptures of Truth do testify there are diversities of Gifts diversities of Administrations and Operations and yet by the same Spirit it were sufficient to prompt us to be so Serious and weighty in this day of Tryal as to be found waiting every one in his own Gift that so all may be preserved and not meddle with things that are too high for them He that is not
every Memis to wait in that Measure of the Spirit which he hath received to feel the Goings forth of the Spirit in him that teacheth and governeth and so to subject not to Man but to the Lord to receive from the Lord to Obey the Lord. Not to know any Minister according to the Flesh but to receive and submit to what comes from the Spirit in the Spirit Not to know Paul or Apollo or Cephas but the Spirit ministring in them Paul may Err Apollo may Err Peter may Err and did Err when he Compelled the Gentiles to live as the Jews Gal. 2.14 for which Paul withstood him to the Face Vers 11 and Barnabas also did Err Vers 13. but the Spirit cannot Err and he that keeps to the Measure of the Spirit in himself cannot let in any of their Errors if they should Err but is preserved for the least Measure of the Spirit is true and gives true Judgment but he that receiveth never so great a Measure of the Spirit yet if he keep not Low therein but lifteth up himself because thereof above his Brethren may easily Err himself and draw aside others into his Errour Secondly Care must be had that the Conscience be kept tender that nothing be received but according to the Light in the Conscience the Conscience is the seat of Faith and if it be not kept close to the Light which God Lighteth there Faith is soon made shipwrack of Christianity is begun in the Spirit which keepeth out the Fleshly Part with all its fleshly Wisdom and Reasonings about Spiritual things and as the begining is in the anointing so must the Progress be As the Spirit begins in the Conscience by convincing that by perswading that by setting up his Light there and leading the soul by that Light so that Light must still be eyed and according to its growth and manifestation in the Conscience so must the Soul stand still or go on The great error of the Ages of the Apostacy hath been to set up an Outward Order and Unformity and to make Mens Consciences bend thereto either by Arguments of Wisdom or by Force but the Property of the true Church Government is to leave the Conscience to its full liberty in the Lord to preserve it single and entire for the Lord to exercise and to seek Unity in the Light and in the Spirit walking Sweetly and harmoniously together in the midst of Different Practices yea and he that hath Faith and can see beyond another yet can have it to him-self and not disturb his Brother with it but can descend and walk with him according to his measure And if his Brother have any heavy Burthen upon him he can lend him his Shoulder and bear part of his burthen with him Oh how sweet and lovely is it to see Brethren dwell together in Unity to see the true Image of God raised in Persons and they knowing and Loving one another in that Image and bearing with one another through Love and helping one another under their Temptations and Distresses of Spirit which every one must expect to meet with If thou art a Christian in Deed and in Truth preserve thy Conscience pure and tender towards God do not defile it with such Religious Practices Duties Ordinances c. as thou dost not feel the Spirit leading thee into for all such are Idols and exceedingly polute thee And be tender also of thy Brothers Conscience and be not an Instrument to draw him unto any thing which the Lord leads him not into but rejoyce if thou find him in Simplicity of Heart startling at any thing for if he abide here faithful his Guide will in due season appear to him and clear up his way before him but if he be too hasty he may follow a Wrong Guide and that Guide will never lead him aright towards the Kingdom but entangle him further and further from it Oh how many have run a Whoring from the Lord how many have first lost the Guidance of his Spirit and then drowned their Life in Religions Performances How many have Drunk of the Cup of Fornication from the Life at the Hands of the Fleshly Wisdom How many have filled their Spirit with New-Testament Idols and Images How many have even hardened their Hearts and Consciences by following the Doctrines of Men their imaginary Meanings of Scriptures and the imaginations and Dreams of their own Hearts Is it not time for men at length to turn back towards the Lord to wait for the Visitation and Light of his Spirit from whom they have gone a Whoring and whom in all these things they have grieved And if ever any feel and enjoy the Guidance of God's Spirit their Conscience must be kept tender to it and ready to hear and follow his voice who speaks in Spirit to that which is born of him which infallibly knowes his Voice and being kept clear cannot doubt Concerning it My Sheep hear my voyce saith Christ they know it and the voice of the strange Spirit they know not so as to follow it but turn from it both in themselves and others But that which is not the Sheep but hath only got the Sheeps Cloathing cryes out How shall we know the Voice of the Spirit we may be deceived Nay that which is born of God that which is the Elect of God cannot be deceived Wait therefore for the Birth of the Spirit to which the Spirit is given for a Guide who infallibly guides it out of Deceit All Deceivers are out of this Birth out of this Spirit perhaps in some Birth or other framed from the Letter and living in the Imitation of some Practices and Ordinances from the Letter under which Cover they lie in wait to deceive but Strangers to the Life and Power and to that Wisdom which begets and bears to God Thus the Jews Erred and deceived their Proselites before the coming of Christ Thus the Christians in Name have generally Erred all along the Apostacy and indeed for the Generality have not been true Christians but only a persecuted Remnant amongst them whose Life hath been nourished and preserved not by Doctrines and Observations which they have been taught by the Precepts of Men nor by the Knowledge which they themselves have gathered but by a little Bread dayly handed to them from the Father of Mercies out of the Wilderness that was the thing which nourished their Souls up to God though many of them knew not distinctly what it was that nourished them nor how they came by it Object But is not Vniformity lovely and doth not the Apostle exhort Christians to be of one Mind and were it not a sweet thing if we were all of one Heart and one Way Answer Yea Vniformity is very lovely and to be desired and waited for as the Spirit of the Lord which is one leads and draws into one But for the Fleshly Part the Wise Reasoning Part of Man by fleshly Ways and Means to strive to bring
been suckt in by many and then 't is easie to be favour'd that if the Publishers thereof do but once put the Bare-Skin on any Friends Back though never so much of the Lamb's Nature and Spirit there will not be wanting those Sorts of Beasts with whom 't is supposed Paul fought at Ephesus who undoubtedly were Unreasonable Men to bait that Person on whom to speak comparatively the Bear-Skin is put This Discourse may occasion this further Inquiry By what Mark may we best be Informed to discover those Ministring Persons in your Publick Meetings who are of Party with G. F. as thou takest it and that are the Encouragers of such Doctrine and Exhortation as before-mentioned to exclude the Reason the Wisdom and the Jealousie and to have an Eye to the Brethren c By which word Brethren I know is meant one Party of those called Ministring Friends This I query of thee the rather because thou accountest it a Good Rule to Judge of the Tree by thy own Taste and Savour of the Fruit. To this I Answer What Garb they may appear in I know not But the Garb they have appeared in and the Fruits they have brought forth I well know by the Hearing of my Ear which are these They have been much Exercised in crying out against Dark Spirits Leavened Spirits Troublers of Israel thereby intending such as have and yet do approve themselves Faithful Friends gain-saying the Testimony of such as have declared the Word of God in our Publick Meetings in the Demonstration of the Power and Spirit though they have not been capable to detect the Publisher with any Evil Consersation or Unsoundness of Doctrine and oft-times spend their Breath at an eager Rate a long time together when some part at least of what they bring forth being but duly weighed is a meer Scandal to Religion the Principle and Practice of our Antient Friends in the Beginning Not having a Word in many such tedious Discourses I him at to inform the Congregation of the Principles of Truth which the People called Quakers have profest nor yet to direct the Hearers in the Way that leads unto Life Everlasting Obj. This may some say is treating of Things in a general Way without particular Matter to evidence this general Reflection Answ I confess 't is so and that it ought not to be Evidence against any one not named neither is it my Design that it should But rather that I may thereby become a Remembrancer to those who may read the same that they may consider whether it hath not been so though at such times they may have been so much swallowed up with Affection to an imaginary airy Declaration sounded forth with the Outward Appearance of great Zeal as that they have taken that to be pure Good Bread which in Reality is nothing but Empty Husks And if any shall think my general Reflection wholly groundless let such give the Notice thereof and I doubt not but I shall be capable to bring many sufficient Witnesses to the Truth hereof For at the Moment I now write I am well satisfied there are Hundreds will testify the same who have been Ear-Witnesses as well as my self However I must also testify That there are others amongst the People called Quakers and that I hope by far the greater Part that cannot be affected with such kind of Doctrine and Exhortation as to Exclude the Reason the VVisdom and the Jealousie and whether they see or see not to have their Eyes unto others so as to follow them And these are not willing to concern themselves either the one way or the other in relation to the Differences further than from certain Evidence of Matter of Fact And these not receiving sufficient Satisfaction that John VVilkinson and John Story were such as represented have been as I am fully perswaded termed such as had let in Jealousies the Reason and the VVisdom and on that foot termed Dark Spirits by the Publishers or Approvers of this Doctrine Have an Eye to the Brethren and if you do not see your selves you must follow us that do see A notable Expedient whereby the Leader and those who may be Led may like Blind-Men fall into the Ditch together and instead of following the Bright Beams of the Sun may be found Followers only of the dark Body of the Moon To be short When I consider whence they came and how Great G. F. is Esteem'd with such as Publish such kind of Doctrines and Exhortations as before is Cited I am well satisfied in my Conscience that there are many at this Day that have no better Measure to discover whether one professing the Truth be Right and in the Light and Power of God but by understanding how they stand affected to G. F. and his Outward Prescriptions as if all the Labours Tryals Sufferings and Travels of Friends were to center in the Exaltation of G. F. The certain Sense whereof hath encreas'd the Concern of my Conscience to give forth this Treatise Entituled The Fourth Part of the Christian-Quaker to which also is added The Fifth Part of the Christian-Quaker both which are a proper Looking-Glass for those who desire to behold G. F. in his proper Image But to return Robert Barrow and Three more all Informers against John Wilkinson and John Story writ to some Friends of Bristol on the Occasion of their Dislike of some Proceedings in the North and acquaint them That by the Authority of God's Power they have an Understanding given them of God to Act and Determine in Affairs appertaining to the Gospel and its Order And forasmuch as this hath been signifyed unto G. F. by my self and others in a Letter directed unto him and others Dated the 22 th Day of the 2 d. Month 1679. and that he hath not yet manifested any Dislike thereof though something to that Purpose was desired 't is cause of Jealousie that their Pretended Power was but under him if not from him and the rather also because they are great Espousers of his Cause and that 't is evident from what is already written that G. E. is one of those Vs already mentioned by John Blaikling At length some Friends of London and Bristol agree that Six Friends go into the North to endeavour an Accommodation of the Differences and thereupon a Meeting was had at Drawch in Sedberch-Parish in York-shire which continued Four Dayes to Audite the Differences but had no Power given by the Parties differing to Judge For some disaffected towrads John Wilkinson John Story would not permit that the afore said Nine Judges so termed should he Excluded as Parties and to the Meeting broke up not agreeing too give any Judgment in the Case However some took upon them to give forth a Narrative so called but was rather a Judgment with a large Preamble of Matters not acted at Drawel which disagreeing with the Relation I gave of Transactions in that Meeting being One of the Six chosen to go down
who indeed must be very Simple Foolish and Blockish if what G. F. hath written be taken by them either for a Pertinent Friendly or Christian Answer to so Seasonable Tender and Christian a Letter because the most Pertinent Matter offered by him as Answer thereto is this As to thy Fear of making Force in Religion there is nothing but what is Pure can come into it Alack for thee If thou wast in the Universal Spirit c. thou wouldst not make such a Noise about Imposition for indeed it is the very Spirit of Imposition in Thee and You that does not know what it would be at it self nor to what to bring others And much I could say as to that We now appeal to God's Witness in all Whether Men endued with that Wisdom which is from Above can be at Unity with such a Scossing Shaffling Impertinent Answer wherein doubtless there is not less than Three or Four Falshoods and Untruths in Two or Three Lines The First we take to be contained in these Words For indeed it 's the very Spirit of Imposition in thee The Second in these words That does not know what it would be at it self The Third in these words Nor to what to bring others And if what he hath written by way of Reflection in his Letter is written as grounded on John Wilkinson's Letter to him as it seems to be being Answer thereto then there seems a Fourth Untruth contained in these words Thou wouldst not make such a Noise about Imposition when as there is not one word about Imposition in all John Wilkinson's Letter Now as to John Wilkinson with respect to these Slanders we have this to say Our Experience tells us he is not of an Imposing Spirit unless Preaching the Word of Life and Commending it to the Conscience may be termed such which cannot be and hath approved himself wise in that Wisdom that is from Above and so knows what he would be at and unto what to bring others as his Doctrine and Conversation hath largely manifested amongst us 'T is to be observed that John Wilkinson in his aforesaid Letter on the Occasion of G. F's reflecting upon him John Story and others That they will become as bad as James Naylor and Muggleton c. If they give not over their Separation thus writes to G. F. If James Naylor's Opposition consisted in not Reproving his Company when they bowed to him and cryed Hosanna Let it be a Warning to thee and reprove thy Company when they give thee the Titles and Honour due to the Highest lest they that love Preheminence and Rule out-live thy time and render thy weakness to others as thou hast done his when thou art Dead and in thy Grave and turned to Dust therefore be humble as a Member of the Heavenly Body under Christ the Head On this occasion G. F. writes these following Sentences But this is from a prejudiced malicious Spirit and not from the Light of Christ to Render my Weakness when I am in my Grave turned to Dust c. Nay John that which thou strikest at and thy Company and all the evil Spirits in the VVorld have struck at and all the Apostates before thee shall never turn it to Dust But if this be the way of thy Preaching that the Members of the Heavenly Body turn to Dust I fear thou hast begotten none to God So thou tells me I am a Member of the Heavenly Body yet thou say'st when I am turned to Dust and Dead surely this Doctrine proceeds from Darkness and not from the Light of Christ And is it to this thou wouldst have me to bow and be humbled Nay John I need none of thy Ministry it is an Angry Malicious Froward Spirit that hath possest thee On these Sentences we thus Observe that they shew Malice Envy Perversion and Ignorance or Darkness By his own Rule his Prejudice and Malice appears in rendring James Naylors weakness and not only therein but in joyning John Wilkinson with All the Evil Spirits in the VVorld whose Doctrine Life and Conversation so far as ever we knew in all manner of Godliness and Honesty hath since his Convincement of Truth rendred him worthy of double Honour amongst many of his Brethren and his name G. F's Envy can never as we are perswaded blot out but rather gives an occasion to add to the Number of G. F's Transgressions and Errours which are so numerous on Record in ‖ Meaning the afore said Monuscript this Treatise as that could it be made appear that John Wilkinson was but Guilty of the one Half thereof we should be ashamed to own him until he had repented before the Lord But much more should we disown him if instead of Repenting in such a Case he should run at those as Evil Spirits that should for the Clearing of their Consciences spread his Errours before him which hath been G. F.'s common Practice and is now worthily Recorded as a Testimony against his Errours and Transgressions that the Simple-hearted may no longer be betrayed either by his Fair Speeches Threats or Frowns As to his treating on the word Dust by way of Reffection on John Wilkinsons Ministry and that from John Wilkinsons sound words the impartial Reader may easily discern his Perversion in concluding that John Wilkinson tells him he is a Member of the heavenly Body which doth not follow from John Wilkinson's Words Be humble as a Member of the heavenly Body no more than it follows that a Disciple of Christ is Christ because Luke tells us Whosoever will be a perfect Disciple shall be as his Master As to his Ignorance or Darkness 't is thus Manifested G. F's aforesaid Sentences cannot be a sound Answer to any thing writ by John Wilkinson which it ought to have been unless G. F. concludes that that Visible Body called George Fox shall not turn to Dust because John willinson writ not his Letter to G. F. with an intent that that outward Body called George Fox which must turn to Dust was not to be concerned therewith Moreover 't is to be observed what ever G. F's Judgment in that case be when he writ to John VVilkinson he was willing to keep it to himself because he doth not plainly acknowledge that his Body shall ever turn to Dust but positively saith That which John Wilkinson strikes at shall never turn it to Dust his meaning he best knows but yet this we know 't was needful enough to have explained his meaning because the Apostle tells us 1 Cor. 6.13 15 19. The body is not for Fornication Know ye not that your Bodies are the Members of Christ shall I then take the Members of Christ and make them the Members of an Harlot God forbid know you not that your Body is the Temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you whom you have of God and you are not your own And 2 Cor. 4.11 That the Life of Jesus might be made Manifest in your mortal Bodies We