Brethren Judge Had you not an equal priviledge in and use thereof whilst you kept in Unity with us c Are you not broken off and separated from us and your Seperation judged by many faithful Brethren as many of you know Are you owned of any one Church of God in the whole Nation in this your Seperation c Is it a just thing in you thus to foment Strife in standing by and encouraging a Separation by such Demands Have you not in Gods sight and according to equity forfeited your former right in the Churches Priviledges by separating from her Might not the worst of Hereticks and Apostates from God the False Church that may keep up Meetings make the same demand as you do because that once they had been concerned in the true Church Affairs Were it a just thing in them to say Let the Churches Books in which the weighty Concerns of Truth were Recorded be where we may have the use of them as well as you What an Expedient were this to prevent the great Inconveniences you talk of Is it a right thing that Apostates and Hereticks should be concerned in and privie to the true Church Cocerns we would know what 〈◊〉 would acrew to the Church thereby as to let in such Defilements and 〈◊〉 things upon her or what Inconveniences are they you talk on may be avoided by this your Expedient as you call it we can truly say they 〈◊〉 Blessed that keeps their Garments clear from the Defilements of this dividing Spirit and their Advantage in the Lord is great by reason thereof and we 〈◊〉 you the 〈◊〉 are great you are run into you are catch'd in a Snare the more you strugle the faster your Feet are hel'd it were well for you to be still and so you may get out again least you perish 〈◊〉 evermore And as to your demand which you call Just in a few Words we tell you we deny it to be so 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 we countenance your division thus we say as we said before to you the 〈◊〉 Church is but one led by one Spirit its Unity stands in the Power that knits 〈◊〉 and is honour in unity it cannot be divided its Covering is without 〈◊〉 or Rent no division can be admitted of in it either are we broken off and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 share in the Churches Priviledges and if you judge so of us why do you 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 us plainly that we may plead that with you and if you had demanded things on that account and could prove it against us then your demands of the Books from us were just and otherwise you may as well say nothing or 〈◊〉 its you that are broken off from us and this is plainly evident by your 〈◊〉 from us and the Testimony of many faithful 〈◊〉 is and hath been against you and not one of the Church of Christ in the whole Nation do 〈◊〉 you in this your Work nor any of them that will own you in this your Demands But you say We grant you to have right in the Books why because we say if you bring us a Bill of what Mony you laid out for them or your share came to you should have it repaid we say what right soever we have granted you in that it had been more commendable for you as Men to have made that your demand then to have demanded the use of the Books c. to be abused by that Spirit as 〈◊〉 they were or if you say we grant you a continuing right in them by this our profer you are under a mistake and do abuse our good will to you if you say we grant you a Title in profering you Coppys of the Record of any Birth or Marriage if you desired it In this also you wrong the Case and abuse us to strengthen your Cause by and neither of both wil answer the thing you aim at or justify your Demands that no Age past that we know of can paralel and succeeding Ages wil be ashamed of it In their Paper they have very abusively clamored against us in saying we retain their just Right from them To which we answer thus We challing the Right to them and use of them in the Churches Right assembling together monthly and quarterly as our Words plainly imparts for the Service of Truth and for which Services in such Assemblies they were with an unanimous Consent procured and for the said Use and none other are they stil kept And notwithstanding this in that we cannot grant you the use of them at your Will in your Separation and Strife you exclaim and say by the same Rule and in as much Justice we may take away any other thing due to you if we can but secure it into our Possession To which we also said Is not this great Darkness c. Have you not only lost the sence of the Churches Priviledges and Power over Dissenters c. But your Words savers of great Prejudice and Envy and want of common reason c. Dare you say when you consider again That we as the quarterly Meeting in the Sense that our Words and Actions carries along with them have no more right to keep the said Books having the Possession of them for the Uses aforesaid from you so separated and broken from us and out of Unity with us then to keep any other thing justly due to you if we had but the Possession of it c. We do commit the Judgment in this case to that in all Consciences as such an absurd thing as no more need be said to it by us And as for the great Injustice you say we do you in not answering your Demand We say notwithstanding your reproachful Words we are not ashamed of the Proposals tendered you in this matter and are willing to refer it to the Consideration of the most antient and faithful Brethren to judg of And if these things will not satisfy you it 's a Shame to trouble us any more with your Papers we shall take little notice of them for the streess of the matter lies 〈◊〉 The Right you quarrel about is in the particular Church of Christ in Westmerland assembling Monthly and Quarterly for the publick Service of Truth as cannot justly be 〈◊〉 if you say they belong to you as the Church tho in the Separation we 〈◊〉 it who shall hear and give Judgment in the case of Difference in any particular Church but the Spirt of the Lord in the grave and faithful Members of the Churches general Assemblies for the general Service of Truth and Concerns of the whole Body and this we have lovingly profered you which argues no Guilt upon our Spirits but this you dare not submit to but in a Disrespect in a slightful scornful manner puts it off not Truth like c. It 's a shameful thing even amongst Men to cry out of Injustice and yet will not come to Tryal in God's Way Christ said if thy Brother trespass againct thee
〈◊〉 thereof For notwithstanding our Friends withdrawing from their Huses aforesaid yet they were so far from hindering or forbiding them to come to their Houses whose Dores are open to all that they had Word several times sent them of Meetings when some of our travelling Friends came amongst us And this is the Work of John Wilkinson and them of that Party with him and on this wise with Witchery have they gon about to further their Design which the Lord will break in pieces It 's already begun let them look about them that they may escape the Wrath and perpetual Reproach that 's coming upon them let the Patient wait but a little and they shall see the end thereof The Relation at large we have by us with many Hands at it ready for a surther Service as Occasion may require however from what hath been said touching this matter it may be easily seen whether John Wilkinson be not a principal Leader in this contending separate Work and what treacherous lying Reports is 〈◊〉 abroad by him and others of that Party to work in the Mindes of People a 〈◊〉 of Friend's Exercise in the Church of Christ according to the Discipline and Order thereof And whether William Rogers in his applauding such so 〈◊〉 and none to exceed them in Doctrine and Life that ever he hear'd of is not very much under a great Mistake let the Reader consider when such Work as this is acted by them However this we can truly say these things have greatly wrought the Churches Peace and Quietness and now we are become very Peaceable in our monthly and quarterly Meetings they of the dividing contentious opposit Spirit having left us and the Power and Glory of God overshadowing our Meetings and those Blessings 〈◊〉 on high we are daily made so to enjoy 〈◊〉 our Labours and Work that a true Delight in God and his pure Truth springs up amongst the Faithful and Amiable and Sweet Our Society is without the least appearance of any Jarr or Division amongst us and our Meetings on the account of the Worship of God Friends are truly comforted in in the sence of a daily Increase in the Power and Dominion of God So that Friends Testimonies for the antient Truth are sweet and easy to many notwithstanding what is suffered therefore and several are added to us from off the barren Mountains and gathered home to the true Sheeperd who leads his Flock into green Pastures by the Pooles of Water to our Hearts Comfort and the Glory of him who is worthy for evermore And this we have to say upon the whole matter in relation to the many grievous and sore Exercises that we meet withal for several Years through the occasion of this dividing separate Spirit which had 〈◊〉 the Churches Sorrow and the Breach of its Peace The Lord hath turned the same to our great advantage many ways as hath been demonstrated and livingly felt to the great Joy and Comfort of our Souls that into an holy retirement of the antient Power by which we were first a People all the Innocent to God are brought that thither all might be scattered that had any depending upon any other thing and the Salvation which God revealed in antient days is become precious indeed and which livingly springs to the establishing of all whose dependency wait on him in those antient Testimonies which the Lord hath called us to bear for his Name-Sake so that Peace is become our Portion and the Blessing of God our great Reward And with respect to any publick appearance of opposition by them of that sort as to concern themselves on that wife in our Exercises for Truth the Glory of God in the Order Discipline used amongst us Friends are become here-a ways in the North much what quit of it for they begun to see it was in vain for them to resist and strive with that which they say was too strong for them and their Spirits fainted through the dread of the Eternal God they were in war with and their Hearts failing them in the day of Battel and having much what now given up the management as was said before of the Work and the Design in hand to them of that party with them in the Southern parts with whom John Story much what did remain some cluttering work William Rogers and some of party with him made in those parts but principly he was the man took the matter into his concern and a deal of stir with writing and such like wrangling work he made in some of Friends Meetings and others sent Papers to London and into the North against the Testimony given at Ellis Hooks's Chamber made mention of before with many scornful Terms and malitious Smitings ready also to be produced and many more such-like with Answers and Rejoynders as occasion was which to speak of and insert at 〈◊〉 is not much upon us as not altogether necessary with respect to our concern for that which hath been already said about matters of that nature may be we judg sufficient in the Eye Heart of the Upright to God to leave William Rogers and them of party with him convicted of the matter alledged in charge against them with respect to manisest Opposition to Church Care amongst Gods People and the Order Government of Jesus Christ instrumentally in the Family he hath made choice of to be Glorified amongst during the Tabernacle which God hath given And this we can say and evidence according to Truth that grievous Work William Rogers and his Abettors made against God's innocent harmless People in the South with bawling cluttering Work such as we have met withal in the North The Relation whereof we shall mostly leave to our Brethren in those Parts as they see an Occasion for it In the mean time this may be noted that when they had done all they could both in North and South to beget a Dis-esteem of Friends Care under the Government of Jesus in the Church and Family of God and thereby thinking to obstruct the Order Rule and Judgment thereof and to leave themselves thereby at Liberty in the Flesh and at ease that the Stroak of Gods Truth should not come upon them which is seen to be that Spirits Design they have been acted by Yet all would not do for they were in War with that which was too strong for 〈◊〉 the Glory of God 〈◊〉 over the Darkness they were strugling in and the Church of Christ continued in its antient Glory and beautified she became in the Hearts of Thousands through the Care and Labour the Travel the many Exercises in all Diligence Meekness and Patience used and born in the Concerns and Work thereof and many became more and more established in the Sence thereof even the more that the wrong Spirit and them of it set themselves against it and Fear and Jealousy of the success of their Work no doubt surprized them because of the 〈◊〉 Glory that attended
tended to Friends Advantage in the Truth and the honour thereof by the Churches of Christ in this Nation and in other Nations which the practice of our Monthly and Quarterly Meetings demonstrate Fifthly That notwithstanding William Rogers's and others of Party with him their abusing George Fox and slandering him with lying accusations as one that would Introduce his own Prescriptions and Orders and invade Christs Prerogative c. And would exalt himself in a wrong Spirit in Rule and Government Lording it over the heritage of God His advice and directions in relation to the duty of Gods People in the Tabernacle God hath given us visibly to appear in hath been acceptably closed with and testified to by Word and Writings as shall be made appear in the Sequel of our concerns and as the Churches Records in our Quarterly Meetings doth declare Sixthly To prove that William Rogers's Charges and malicious Accusations exhibited in Print against George Fox and others of the Brethren are idle frivolus and fallacious and his exercise in that matter a Scandal to Christianity and ridiculous amongst Men and sober Societies which the said William Rogers hath framed and made up and brought to publick view through his perverting George Fox's Honest and Christian words and discourse and by his uncharitable deductions in a jealous prejudiced mind and putting his own perverted Constructions and Inferrences upon George Fox's sincere and Christian sence of matters his words related to otherwise then ever was intended by him as the plain and charitable construction thereof naturally deducible therefrom demonstrates and then places his own judgment upon him which is an horrid and abominable thing in the Lords 〈◊〉 and detestable amongst Men And through Gods help this is before us to manifest which we Question not to effect to the Satisfaction of all the unprejudiced and upright minded where this Book may come We have also a desire in sincerity of heart to demonstrate to all where the knowledge of any difference amongst this People hath come as the relation thereof may most properly fall in our way the Christian care that hath been amongst the truly established in God who have kept their first love and care for Gods glory and 〈◊〉 habitation upon the Rock abides sure to have preserved this scattered divided People within the Fold of the true Shepherd unto whom the gathering is whilst they were in any measure near unto us before they turned away from Gods Power and broke away as the Israel of old did unto whom the Lord had given of his good Spirit and yet they rebelled against him and therefore the Lord after many visitations and willingness to heal their backslidings which they regarded not withdrew from them and gave them up to a reprobate mind to harden themselves to their utter Ruin We would declare also as that which is material to our present concern and yet as briefly as we well can what exercises particularly and more generally after a more publick manner many dear Brethren have met withal through this Spirit what brotherly treating them that the Temptations of it was prevailed upon with Advice and Councel to remove that groundless ungodly jealousie that entred them in which the vail came over and there the temptation to Strife and Contention got place What care what tenderness and Gospel-Order hath been over them used towards them letting the honest hearted see some part of the honest labours and travels in Soul and Spirit and bodily endeavours that have been indured and used towards them for the Lord and his Truths sake and their Eternal good and how unwilling the Church of God was to have had them rent off from us What patience long-sufferings brotherly 〈◊〉 have been used towards them if possible they might live and find rest in God for their Souls how clear the Lord and his People are of their blood if they perish for evermore what pitty was it hath it been often said that a jealous prejudiced Spirit should prevail upon any who have known God to work them into such a wilful froward perverse state as to let nothing enter that might do them good having rejected that in themselves which God had made manifest in them not liking to retain the same in their knowledge as it was of old concerning such whom God gave up to a reprobate mind and unto great hardness of heart to the filling up the measures of their Iniquities for the Damnation that slumber'd not God Suffers these things to be that they who are approved may be made manifest Considerate Reader If these before recited particulars be made good which necessarily relates to our present work which we doubt not but to be able to do we hope that clearness of understanding concerning the matter in hand will be opened in thee as desires abides with thee to God on that wise as that thou wilt easily judge of the ground of the Controversie betwixt us and our present Adversary whom we treat not with now as a Brother or one of us but as a publick Enemy to the Life of our Principle and holy Profession a caster of Stumbling-Blocks in the way of many to fall upon which will prove a burden too heavy for him to bear And thou wilt plainly see what manner of man he is what Spirit he is of what his design and all his fluttering Work tends to and that upon this occasion if thou hast a Sence of Gods Truth thou wilt be the more confirmed in it and be the more concerned to keep thy Habitation in it for thy Salvation and peace sake or if thou beest one who has not hitherto given up thy self to serve the Truth though convinced by it nor our Lord Jesus Christ We hope as that which we truly 〈◊〉 thou wilt not find by this occasion any ground to continue in hardness of Heart against it but in subjection to Gods Light and Life in thy self thou wilt be given up in self-denial to close with that Principle thou hast the sence of and which we have believed in and testifie of and is our Life and Portion in God and cause of our rejoycing and that thou mayst come to have a share with us in the Inheritance of God amongst Gods sanctified ones which in the universal love God hath appeared in in these latter Days and in which we travel for the good of all we truly breath for as that which will be our Joy and a Recompence into our Bosoms for our Labours Sorrows and Travels manifold We further advise the Reader when this our ensuing Tratise shall happen to fall in the Hands of such as have not received the Principle of Light which we have testified to so as to believe therein or when it comes amongst such as have hurt themselves by too much adhering to a wrong Spirit which very probably it may somtimes do by reason of the endeavours that are used by the promoters of William Rogers's Book to hand it out to
in against our Brethren in their Exercise what greater reproach could he any way bring upon our Meetings and our Order and Care therein more vilifie with Derision the exercise and concern thereof the Advice the Counsel that may arise amongst us the Exhortations and Reproofs that any may be concerned in as the Lord instructs and leads accordingly as any occasion may offer it self What can he do or say more in Contempt of all when he hath done his worst and what Spirit this is and what its work tends to the Lord be Judge in all Consciences and give the knowledg thereof that the Snares of this wicked envious one may never on this wise prevail any more upon any For to let loose the Licentious Unclean Libertine Ranting Spirit is that which in the Ground he aims at wherein the Apostacy is entering the letting go the Bond of Truth the Authority of it in himself and in such as adhere to him and are taken with his Bait where the departing also from the Life of Christianity prevails which William Rogers would charge others with himself is detected to have the mannagement of the design thereof which he bends himself to perfect to his own disgrace and wo world without end And what blasphemous work also he is clearly detected to be concerned in who pretends what a concern of Conscience he and others of his Brethren had upon them to appear in Print lest the Life of Christianity should seem to be extinct amongst the People called 〈◊〉 and yet such absurd notoriously wicked and ungodly matter brought forth as his Book is stuffed with he himself might see if he would but let that in his own Conscience speak One other Instance out of many we think good to insert out of W. Roger's Book plainly demonstrating his condemning all visible Order and Discipline in the Church of Christ and so his opposition thereunto In the Title page to the 3d part of his Book called The Christian 〈◊〉 c. it is delivered by him thus Manifesting saith he that there is but two sorts of Governments owned by the Children of Light or the Christian 〈◊〉 one is the outward Government under which we Live unto the Laws whereof we owe either Active or Passive Obedience c. The other is the inward Government of Christ who alone is Lord over the Conscience which is not represented by Persons visible by carnal Eyes invested with power from Heaven to execute outward Laws Prescriptions Orders Edicts in any outward Form of Government visible as aforesaid Our Brethren of the Second days morning Meeting in London well observing as in the Treatise called The Accuser of our Brethren cast down is inserted that this assertion of W. Rogers directly contradicts the Paper therein made mention of and in this Treatise also hereafter inserted signed at Ann Travers House 1673. subscribed by him while he kept his first Love and Care for God amongst many other of his Brethren It contradicts also a Paper given forth in the Year 1672. relating to Godly Care Order and Government in the Church wherein advice is given to Friends who have a care and oversight committed to them in their respective places for good Order and eomfort in the Church as the Words therein are Which Epistle is signed by James Parke Jasper Batt John Story Thomas Curtis John Crooke Stephen Crisp and Fourteen more Friends the 3d of the 3d Month 1672. so here John Story when in Unity with his Brethren is Uindicating and Encouraging Church care and visible order and his Party have since expressly set themselves against it In the aforesaid Book viz. The Accuser of our Brethren cast down c. it is also expressed thus page 117. observe First That W. Rogers and his Party are by him accounted the Christian Quakers and Children of Light and that all those that are not of his Party nor in Unity with him them are accounted Apostates Innovators and why so but because they are for some outward Laws Orders c. in an outward form of Order and Government in the Church of Christ that 's visible Secondly That this outward Order and visible Form is such as by his sence and state of the Case is rendered obnoxions both to the outward Government under which we Live and against the inward Government of Christ Insomuch that all the People called Quakers that are for outward and visible Form and Order amongst them are Charactered Apostates and Innovators c. This is Malicious and tends to expose that People to Persecution and is unjustly rendered for our peaceable deportment on the account of the outward Government under which we Live hath been and is well known to be such as our Opposer is not able to disprove neither need we vindicate our selves therein c. This also is not only Malitions but Absurd As if because Christ's immediate Government and Kingdom is inward and spiritual in the Conscience therefore he must have no visible Ministers in his Kingdom no visible Order or Form of Government under his Dominion no visible Persons exercised in any outward Rule Orders Laws or Decrees under his Government as if all Christ's Ministers Apostles Elders Overseers Helps Governments which were appointed by him in his Church with all the Instructions Decrees and Commands of the Apostle setting in order all things that were lacking doing all things decently and in order were all Invisible and nothing outward Visible or Formal because Christ's inward and spiritual Government from whence all these proceeds is Invisible We can argue no better then on this kind in our Adversaries distinction of his Christian Quaker from the Apostate and Innovator Nor deduce a more natural Inference from his opposition against visible Persons being concerned in an outward Form of Government and Order in the Church of Christ How doth this kind of arguing also of his consist with that Paper signed in the North by his two honorable Friends John Story and John Wilkinson and them of Party with them which he says is accounted the Foundation of the seperate Meeting In which Paper are these Words We who are chosen by the Churches and in their behalf to Act Some of other Countries and some amongst our selves not chosen by the Churches have usurped Authority over us The Meetings by whom we were Imployed Our men who have their Authority given them by the Churches choise c. Are hindered by others c. To whom we gave no Power But deny that they have had Authority from us and again Our chosen men They who are not chosen by the Churches You who are righly chosen by the Churches With many other Passages intimating Power Authority and Government together with Records and Orders surely W. Rogers will not say that those Churches chusing and giving Power to others and the Persons chosen to be imployed in their Affairs were all invisible and their Affairs and Businesses invisible and their respective Meetings with the
and came no more But for their occasional Meetings were designed and took one with all expedition wherein they made a disposal of Friends Monies in some of their hands without our Meetings privity or consent One other after a while we heard of in which they did admit the aforementioned Marriage to be accomplished within ten days after its being at all proposed and yet were told That the Man was under a promise of Marriage with another Woman which under several of our hands we did 〈◊〉 unto them That the Woman did so affirm desiring a respite in the case of their allowing the same till she had right done unto her but no notice was taken of that Peradventure they were afraid that Wickedness had been committed or might be in the mean time if any longer delay was made as one of the principal of them alledged and put the Query on the Meetings agreement according to an established order amongst Friends That Marriages should come twice to be examined and searched into in relation to clearness every way before they were allowed to be compleated saying in opposition to the order in that case What if Wickedness were committed in the mean time Mark the Spirit of which they are and when their occasional Meetings are and what concernes they have therein its best known to themselves we hear little of them This we have understood that what Books or Papers they have any way tending to Division and Strise in opposition to Church Order and Care they are diligent in handing them forth amongst the loose sort and William Rogers's Book in Print they busie themselves withal and most of them we perceive have each of them one and indeed they had need to do so to get them off the first Promoters hands for we hear not of a man in all these parts but them of party with John Story and John Wilkinson that will be at cost to buy one yet they are so kind open in this concern it were well if they had but an open mind to promote the pure Truth that they dispirce them either on Gift or Love to any of Truth 's open Enemies that will but hold out an hand for them as we understand and do in a great measure perfectly know it but if they think that best let them hold on we cannot kelp it neither are we troubled with respect to our own peace And what they intend to do let them do it quickly for their time grows short Vengeance is the Lords that takes notice of these things and he will repay it We have given a brief account with respect to what might be said touching the same of some of the Exercises that the Church of God in Westmerland met withal through the dividing Spirit that John Story and John Wilkinson were principally concerned in the work of in opposition to the Brethrens care therein by reason of which Spirit many Grievances were sustained by us to the grief of the Righteous Souls of all the sincere to God and to the breach of the Churches Peace And that which hath been said already concerning the same mostly relates to the time wherein the aforesaid Exercises and Troubles occasioned through the aforesaid Persons and them of party with them was most what the particular concern of Gods People of the Monthly and Quarterly Meeting in Westmerland aforesaid during the time of the aforesaid Persons continuing with us in those Meetings and upon the occasion of their breaking off from us into their separate Meeting amongst themselves upon out ward visible concerns with a touch of something done by them at such a Meeting after they had set it up And what the Churches of God any way in the South met withal where John Story' s and John Wilkinson's Travils have been we shall leave to what the Brethren in those parts have upon them to speak And from what hath been said we shall leave the Reader to Judge who they are that have been drawn back into the Apostate state and have declined their first Love to the ancient Truth and care for Gods Glory and who they are that may be justly called the true Christian Ouakers that retains the Life and Kernel of Christianity and keeps to the Exercise of the Power in the Churches concerns and who they are that have great swelling Words and fair Pretences of keeping to the ancient way of Truth and yet in Works deny it and as every one hath a sence thereof so let them speak VVe shall now also give a short Relation of the tender concern of the Church of God in these parts in true Love on the account of the aforesaid Persons in covering their Weaknesses for their reputes sake really desiring their deliverance therefrom 〈◊〉 any hopes remained with us Also we shall manifest the orderly and brotherly dealings with them all along since the Temptation was laid before them whilst it was only our concern with respect to dealings with them together with some Exercises and Travils that many dear Brethren of the Churches of God in other parts of the Nation sustained and were concerned in for the recovery of them if they had not hardened themselves against all as followeth It was not only our frqeuent course in the time of our Exercises with them after they began to set themselves against several Practices used amongst us to signifie our discontent for their so doing because of the obstruction they laid in our way in the service of Truth desiring their for bearance on that wise and compliance with us in the Churches concerns and God is our Witness it was in true respect in which we could have preferred them as such whom we once accounted our ancient Brethren their weaknesses we could have hid and looked over for their sakes and the Churches Peace and in that Exercise we have gone from our Meetings many of us very frequently with sorrowful bowed down Hearts considering what hurt to many simple Minds who had eyed them for their Gifts sake the prevailing of that Spirit over them would produce what dammage it would be to their own Souls to the loosing their Crown and perpetual Peace what a Feast it would be to our open Enemies and an occasion for them to clap their hands for Joy to hear of Divisions amongst us what a grateful thing it would be to the loose and earthly minded amongst us to the hardening of them against the Reproofs and Judgments of the Church of God in their Exercises in the affairs thereof and what a weakening of the feeble Knees of such as in a measure of true Love to God and his Truth were steping into the way thereof all these things and many more with sadness of heart entered our thoughts and consideration in many crys to God to block up the way of this dividing and soul devouring Spirit yea often we admired how Blindness entered them that they did not see how the Loose and Disobedient hung upon them for shelter
Monthly and Quarterly Meetings with reflecting words against them calling them Courts and Sessions and of our Citing into them and the like Secondly That they had discouraged Friends Testimonies against Tyshes with reflecting opposite loose Words Thirdly That they had opposed reflected upon and greatly discouraged Womens Meetings Fourthly That they had opposed recording Condemnations upon scandalous loose Practices in such as professed the Truth Fifthly That they had discouraged and weakned Friends in their Stability in the time of Persecution and had justified leaving their Houses and going into private places in the time thereof to keep their Meetings Sixthly That they had disorderly and irreverently judged Friends tender Exercises in breaking forth in Mellodious Singings and Soundings to Gods praise in their Meetings under the exercise of the power which breaks and fills the Heart out of the abundance whereof breaks forth Sighs and Groans and Spiritual Songs as the Lord is pleased to exercise them that waits upon him The Reader may observe that in the former part of the aforesaid Paper it is expressed That John Story and John Wilkinson not being there viz. at the said Meeting at Pow-Bank the Friends were enclined as also desired to hear what was writ in relation to charge against them which being 〈◊〉 and though good proof was made thereof accordingly yet they were 〈◊〉 to see John Story and John Wilkinson Face to Face before they gave their Judgment thereupon wherefore they took the pains that Night to go to find out John Story at Kendal six Miles off and perswaded him to go to John Wilkinson's House next Morning which accordingly he did where they meeting with them both together told them that they had heard read several matters alledged in charge against them relating to Friends disatisfaction desired them to go along with them to the Meeting at Milnethorpe which was that Day appointed again on purpose to hear what they had to say in their own Defence or to alledge against any proof made of things or against the Witnesses in order to any thing acted by them or any other Friends that might occasion their Discontent or Opposition as the charges seemed to import or words to that purpose but they refused to go on that score they proffered only to refer the hearing of the matter to two men chosen by each Party one and that in relation to that they might have a Coppy of the Charges but Friends seeing that it was not only a disorderly thing in them to absent themselves from the aforesaid Meeting appointed by the Quarterly Meeting but also to make such a motion as that in opposition to Friends care and endeavours amongst them for Peace as their travels and seeking of them did imply Friends refused as in all reason they ought to have done to take any notice thereof yet told them They should have a Coppy of the Charges at the Meeting if they would go if when they were read they desired the same to make their defence the better and they should have time also if there was need for it But go they would not as they had resolved and said That they would come at no more Meetings upon such matters But poor men they forgot that or else mattered not what they had said on that wise for they offered to refer the matter to two c. which is not Truth-like Orderly or Discreet in the case of Gods Truth many Brethrens Testimony and Concern and the Churches Peace The Friends proffered to read them the matters in charge against them if they pleased as in the aforesaid Paper is expressed but they refused to hear the same Now let all sober and discreet men that fear God consider what this Spirit is whether it be not the same as was said of it before not Pure not Peaceable nor easie to be Entreated but Wilful Stubborn and leading to Strife and to work Distractions in the Church of God it is evidently seen to have had a design But blessed be the Lord its way is blockt up it hath done its worst there it s turned out now too amongst the Gainsayers to get an entrance amongst them that are in the Unbelief and Rebellious to the Truth 's Life and there it makes a Clutter and Noise as the Wind which the Lord weighs as a little thing and its passing away that Truth may Reign and take the Dominion over all for evermore Here follows that part of the Paper given forth at Milnerhorp in relation to the opposite Spirit against Friends Practices in the Church of God which demonstrates the sence of the aforesaid Brethren viz. After all which Travel and Labour in the Love of God for no other end but that Differences might be ended Unity and Peace come into lived in we having used all endeavours that was in our power at this time to enform our selves of the truth of things relating to these Differences as before Written we judge it our Duty that in defence of our godly Order and holy Practices which by the Power of God we are led into owned and justified in to give our Judgment upon such Words and Passages as hath been charged upon the abovesaid John Story and John Wilkinson and evidenced before us by many Witnesses that whether from them or any other such have proceeded it is clear that they cannot come from any Spirit or Mind but such as is in real opposition to the Spirit of Truth and Power of God in his People in this Age manifested by which we have been led into the heavenly and holy Order of the blessed Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ and to bear a faithful Testimony unto him and of his coming and appearance to end all Types and Shadows and also into such Practices as is according to the Example of those good Men that were before us for we find that it expressly strikes against us in the ground in our godly order and proceedings which is for no other end but for the putting forward and keeping up of Rightcousness and a holy and unspotted Life amongst us and the maintaining of our Testimony without Violation as we received it from God in the beginning and this may all understand that do but read the Charges as they were evidenced unto us how that they tend to the weakening of Friends Faith in their Testimony against Tythes which by the Faithful hath been born from the beginning for which many have suffered deeply even unto Death and also what opposition doth appear against recording of Confessions and 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 and Transgressions which is no other but according to the former example of them that gave forth the Scriptures and how such Words and Passages doth shew forth opposition and a contrary mind to Gods Faithful Children in that profitable practice and godly order of Mens and Womens Meetings as now according to the Wisdom and in the Power of God is set up amongst us for the advancing of the honour of the
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
settled down again in their minds 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 things were to go on to be heard and examined in order to Judgment on 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 matter and then to speak any more of 〈◊〉 and nine was at an end but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was to be the Brethrens the Church of God their assembled in the universal Spirit in which we are one through Christ Jesus who keeps their parts 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Where the good Understanding is received 〈◊〉 Judgment is given which 〈◊〉 sure the matters in charge alledged being 〈◊〉 through that day and 〈◊〉 two next days also and spoken to on all hands 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was seen and as 〈◊〉 required in order to proof on the one hand and liberty of desence on the other for the 〈◊〉 up of 〈◊〉 to the Impartial 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and let it be remembred the days we have to Live and let 〈◊〉 memorial thereof never Rot when this Generation is 〈◊〉 for the Praise of the 〈◊〉 God for ever and the 〈◊〉 of his precious Truth and the value of the 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 and the Comfort enjoyed therein for the cause whereof the Lord the God of the Spirits of all Flesh unto whom Reign and Dominion belongs forever did 〈◊〉 appear amongst us in those four days Exercise in relation to the work in hand and determined the matter depending amongst us in the Hearts and 〈◊〉 of the unright to him to their Comfort It cannot be forgot what 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 and rowling Bowels broke forth in those days Travels with 〈◊〉 to the 〈◊〉 the Wounded and the Scattered Ones who were once in Unity with the Lambs in the safe Fold for the healing recovering and gathering back again of them that they might find Pasture and feed therein and lie down with them the Power and Life that sprung up on this wise melted the Hearts of the Sincere with Joy in the sence of Gods preserving hand over them yet to their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the pity of their Souls in relation to them that had been hurt by a wrong Spirit for there did not appear in them that bowedness of Soul nor heart 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as with respect to the offence to God and his People that they had given through the Distractions they had wrought in the Church of God was desired and expected from them yet such was the wonderful melting Glory of Israel's God amongst us that at last John Story and John Wilkinson were a little bowed down in their Spirits to the causing of them in some measure to see their Weakness and make some acknowledgment thereof as in a Paper given forth by them and here inserted doth appear viz. We are sencible that in the hour of Temptation that hath appeared through us which hath given occasion of offence to the Charches of God unto whom the knowledg of the Northern Differences are come and since the inward sence of our Brethren who we are sencible have a travel on their 〈◊〉 for the 〈◊〉 of Peace and Unity in the Church of God concerning 〈◊〉 is such that Jealousies have entered us and that we have been at 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in things tending to oppose Friends in the practice of those things 〈◊〉 they 〈◊〉 are commendable in the Church of God We are sorry that any 〈◊〉 should appear in us to give occasion for any such Offence and as satisfaction to our travelling Brethren and the Church of God in general we do from the very 〈◊〉 of our Hearts condemn that very Spirit whether it hath appeared in us or any that hath given offence to the Church of God in general and that opposes the order of the Gospel or any faithful Brethren in the practice of those things they believe are their Duty John Story John Wilkinson This was publickly owned by the said John Story and John Wilkinson in the 〈◊〉 Meeting at Draw-well in Sedbergh After Friends unwearied Travels in the Love of God that 〈◊〉 all things and is not easily provoked but keeps in the Patience and 〈◊〉 not in which they were concerned the foregoing submission to Gods Power and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sence concerning them was all 〈◊〉 John Story and John Wilkinson were at 〈◊〉 inclined to demonstrate which said acknowledgment of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 had 〈◊〉 surprised with and their Condemnation of themselves because thereof Friends for their 〈◊〉 were in some 〈◊〉 glad of hoping that afterwards they vvould 〈◊〉 see hovv a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 had 〈◊〉 over them in which 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Work had broken forth through them and that in time they would more manifest the same to Friends more full content and upon the product of all those four days concern on the morrow after Friends being again come together that they might demonstrate to all the honest hearted how things were in relation to the whole matter many of them that had heard of the aforesaid Divisions being under a concern and therefore desirous to hear what might be the Issue of this Meeting they unaminously agreed together William Rogers being gone and came no more to draw up this following Relation for Friends to make use of in the Wisdom of God as they saw meet viz. Dear Friends and Brethren In the universal Spirit of Life and Truth which from the God of Heaven is richly poured forth upon us and by which we have been quickned into a lively sence and hope and peaceable Fellowship is the endeared Greeting and Salutation of our pure and servent Love unto you all Whereas a long and lamentable Difference hath depended between several Antient Friends of the Quarterly Meeting of Westmerland on the one part and John Story and John Wilkinson of that County on the other part and that the said Division hath done great Mischief amongst the Friends of God in several parts of this Nation by filling their Minds with unprofitable Surmizings and dangerous Jelousies tending to absolute Rents and Divisions as too palpably appeareth in Westmerland to be the product thereof And after that the endeavours of the faithful Friends of the Quarterly Meeting of those parts both within themselves and by calling in to their assistance several faithful Men of adjacent Countries proved not so effectual as was desired by reason of the said John Story' s and John Welkinsons absenting themselves though in much tenderness sought to and entreated to appear by those chosen Brethren for the Churches Peace sake and their own real good in the Lord and though their refusal to meet those Brethren and denial of their Authority to examine the matter in difference and theirs that nominated and chose them to wit the faithful Friends of the Quarterly Meeting yet out of a deep sence of the Burden of honest Friends in those parts by reason of the Division and forefeeing the ill consequence to the Church of God of leaving such an example uncensured they passed a general Judgment upon that Spirit which led into Division and Separation leaving the said John Story and John Wilkinson to clear themselves if they could of such matters of fact as
they then stood charged with as they have plainly signified both by Word and Writing but since a dissatisfaction remaineth in the minds of several in some because of so proceeding against John Story and John Wilkinson and in others because of their going to offer their Gift abroad whilst unreconciled at home And forasmuch as the Friends formerly concerned against these men upon an Information given them of the said dislike of several Friends about these proceedings 〈◊〉 to a rehearing of the matters which being laid before the general Meeting at London for National Sufferings Assembled in the eighth Month 1675. a deep Concern and godly Care fell upon many Eminent Labourers in the Church of Christ then and there met together and they desired certain approved Brethren to go down and in the Wisdom and Counsel of God to assist the Churches and Brethren there in the rehearing and ending of the matter The Meeting for this purpose was at Lrawell in Sedbergh Parish in Yorkshire upon the 3d. of the 2d Month 1676. and continued until the 7th of the same whither resorted several antient and honourable Brethren not particularly nominated that had nevertheless a Concern in their Consciences a Travel in their Spirits and a Testimony to the antient Unity In which Assembly the Matters in Controversie were read and the Evidences of both Parties called and upon the whole Examination of their Allegations and Evidences we did find and therefore declare both from external Testimonies and our own inward Sence that John Story and John Wilkinson were really Faulty in the most material things exhibited in Charge against them to wit that they have been discouragers of and opposers to the present blessed Order and Practice of the Church of Christ with respect to monthly and quarterly Meetings Womens Meetings especially in the Country recording Condemnations weakening the Hands of Friends in their Testimonies about Tythes and justifying the manner of Friends Meeting about Preston in the time of the late Act And to us it plainly appeared that a wrong dividing Spirit hath entered and the Enemy of the Churches holy Union and Peace hath been at work in them by which they have grieved the Church of God especially in those Parts and encouraged the late Separation made in those Parts from the antient and faithful Friends and Brethren of the monthly and quarterly Meeting which Spirit wherever it appears or hath brancht forth it self in the Name and Power of Almighty God whose Councel was and is with us we do reprove condemn and judg But so it was that after four days deep Travel unwearied Patience tender Bowels of Mercy and a mighty and manifest Operation of the glorious Power of the Lord as in frequent Testimonies against that Spirit of Division and in the Visitation of true and tender Love to them so in many strong Cries and heart-breaking Supplications to the God of our bowed Spirits for a prosperous Issue It pleased the Lord to bow the said John Story and John Wilkinson into some degree of Submission So that at length they produced a Paper containing a Condemnation against themselves and that Spirit And as we do believe and therefore testify that the Door of Gods Mercy is not shut against them so we earnestly desire and are not without some Hope that they may give a more compleat Satisfaction in time as John Story said he would as the Lord should give him a further Understanding that Truth and Friends may be more effectually cleared and that it may be well with them for ever And for as much as the Friends and Brethren of Westmorland who have been concerned against John Story and John Wilkinson did formerly freely offer that if in any thing charged they had mistaken or exceeded they would endeavour to make them such Satisfaction as Truth required We finding two or three Particulars of lesser Moment wherein there appeared some Oversight and Shortness as to orderly Proceeding the two Friends concerned therein did freely acknowledg it according to Truth and more particularly as to that Passage alledged against John Story That Women had nothing to do with the Essential part of the Worship of God because it was charged but by one Witness and 〈◊〉 renounced and the Doctrine imported thereby plainly denyed and judged by John Story as contrary to his Judgment and Principle it 〈◊〉 Tenderness let fall and no further to be insisted upon And whereas it hath been suggested and reported that Margaret Fox was the cause of the Difference in Westmorland it was plainly disproved before us by many Witnesses who affirmed there were Differences about some of the aforementioned Practices of the Church of Christ long before she was concerned And further we hold our selves in Conscience obliged to commend the Care Travel and Zeal of the Friends of these Northern Parts in the Affairs of the Church for settlement of Godly Order We have a real Sence of their Good-will and labouring therein for the Lord his Truth and People And now Friends in Gods Love we desire you to suppress all Papers of Controversie relating to this Difference that the Minds of Friends be not farther troubled nor any defiled nor this Controversie kept any longer alive but that all may sink down into the simple Truth and in that feel the pure and sweet Union which being lived in preserves out of those Doubts Distrusts Jealousies carnal Reasonings and evil Watchings that harm the immortal Soul and in that pure Fellowship all are cheerful tender and open-hearted full of Love and Brotherly-kindness watching over one another for Good in which the Lord God Almighty establish us for ever And we do hereby warn all to have a care that they be not lifted up by reason of the Temptation and Hurt that 's come upon these Men nor yet insult over them for that Spirit is not of God but rather let all watch in the Fear and Dread of Almighty God against that Spirit that they enter not into Temptation Thus Friends have we given you a brief and faithful Narrative of what hath past in these four days of great Exercise in which the Lord gave us blessed Unity in the sensible Enjoyment of that Life which was before the World began pure Praises pure Honour and eternal Glory and Renown be to his own Right noble Arm that never failed his distressed bowed and travelling People through all Generations This we desire may be communicated so far only as the knowledg of this sad Difference hath been spread God Almighty keep us by his heavenly Power always near himself and in Unity one with another Amen says Your faithful loving Brethren Alexander Parker George Whitehead Iohn Whitehead William Gibson Robert Lodge Richard Robinson Peter Hardcastle Iohn Burnyeat Iohn Tiflin Iohn Bowren Richard Watson Thomas Taylor Iohn Banks Iohn Steel Hugh Tickell Thomas Laythes Iames Harrison William Whaley Leonard Fell. Iohn Moore Iohn Abrams Roger Haddock William Penn. And in this was the honest-hearted to God
Simple in many places where reports of this Spirits Work came were filled with various thoughts concerning them with respect to the real state of matters not knowing well how things were in relation to them on which account many might become hurt and darkned in themselves and an occasion thereby given for a Vail to come over under which those Temptations might enter which might produce the hurt of many wherefore in persuance of the many blessed and living Testimonies that arise among Friends in the breaking 〈◊〉 of the Glory of the Lord upon Friends in relation to a Testimony to go 〈◊〉 in the Name of the Eternal God against the ungodly backsliding rending Spirit that had prevailed over many to draw them out of the Fellowship of the Spirit in the Church of Christ into Strife and Contention and into a Separation from the Antient Brethren together with the Abettors every where perticularly against John Wilkinson and John Story as the great Fomenters thereof and the Pillers of the 〈◊〉 Destracted Work that had been occasioned and brought forth amongst the Lords People unto which Friends there present unniamiously agreed together with a joynt consent that this follwing Paper should be given forth and signed to go abroad throughout the Nation as in the Wisdom of God might be seen meet Our dear Friends and Brethren THE Lord who is the Antient of Days the Unchangable and Holy One of Israel that was and is and is to come our Rock and Strength for ever hath graciously brought us together by his own Power and is with us yea and hath covered us with his Love and Spirit and filled our Hearts with his undeclarable Kindness the sence of his Mercies hath exceedingly over come us and the remembrance of his ancient Goodness hath even melted us and semented us together and Blessed and Sweet and very Precious to our Souls is the Heavenly Unity of Life amongst us wherein at this Meeting the Lord our God hath Crowned us with Glory Dominion and Peace Blessed forever be his pure Name Oh how good is it for all to keep in the living sence of God and his Truth where plentious Redemption and Preservation is known where the Murmurer and Repiner c. can never come therefore all that are in the Muttering Dissatisfied and Jealous Nature full of Doubts Reasonings and Objectings goe from the pure Eye and out of Truths Habitation in themselves and so come to suffer Loss Dear Brethren at this time as on the like occasions has been frequent with us the care of the Peace and Welfare of the Churches of Christ came upon us and blessed be the Lord things are generally well and florishing and Truth grows Famous though Sufferings abound in several places yet it is well with Friends and the Lords Power reigns and great hath been the concern of Friends about the Sufferings of our Brethren and other things and blessed Meetings have we had wherein things have been clearly opened sweetly and tenderly treated on and in much Love and Brotherly Kindness concluded for which blessed be the Name of the Lord whose living antient fresh Power and Presence was with us but truly with bowed Spirits and grife of Heart have we perceived the obstinacy and obdurateness of some that have gone into the Self-will and dispising heavenly Dignities and casting tender Love and Intreaties behind their Backs setting up contriving and promoting false and pernitious Jealousies Murmurings and Smitings whereby they are darkned in their Understandings and so have through the Power of the Enemy against the King of Righteousness and his Peace set up a kind of Standerd of Separation from the blessed Fellowship and Communion that the Churches of Christ sweetly possest together to the dishonour of God his Truth and People more especially John Story and John Wilkinson notwithstanding the many Visitations and Admonitions of Love and Life even in deepest Travels and that from time to time and from year to year particularly the Sence and Admonition of the last Yearly Meeting writ in great Love that they might return and be reconsiled before they offered their Gift which they have Rejected And forasmuch as it appears to us that they will not come at us nor near us in the peaceable Truth which we have frequently and truly desired for their good but that they go on in their Opposition and evil Surmisings against the faithful Brethren and practice of the Church of Christ refusing to desolve their separate Company in the North or clear their hands of them by a faithful Testimony against them or so much as blot their Names out of their Paper of Separation and because we are sencible they have made evil use of our Forbearance even to strengthen themselves in their Separation and cover their evil designs the more amongst some simple-hearted Friends preserving therein by Word Writing and Practice we are constrained after this continued Waiting and Exhortation thus slighted by them for the Glory of the Name of the Lord the Sake of the Peace of the Churches of Christ and that we may stand clear in the Power of God of the Blood of all in the great and notable day of account more publickly to reprove them in those things and we do hereby reprove and judg that jelous rending and separating Spirit and them and their separate Company as being in that Spirit of Separation and that by the Power and Spirit of our God and we do warn all to whom this comes to beware of the said John Story and John Wilkinson whose ways at present is not the way of Peace and Christian Concord for if it were they would not offer their Gift till reconciled to their Brethren therefore Brethren every where stand up in the Power and Wisdom of God for the Testimony of Truth against that wrong jealous murmuring and dividing Spirit and when they come warn them in the Name of the Lord to go home and be reconciled to their Brethren and not go thus up and down to offer up their Gift which in their State is not a Peace but a Division Offering contrary to the Precepts of Jesus our Lord of being first reconsiled whatever their pretence be and therein will you acquit your selves in Gods sight and shew true Love and Friendship unto them and those that may be hurt by them which our Souls most earnestly desire yea that it may be truly well with them both here and forever and from the Lord we say had they loved the Prosperity of Sion and the Peace of Jerusalem more than their own Self-will and Separation and had they sought the Unity that is in the Truth and sweet Communion of Brethren which stands in that Love which thinks no Evil and that Wisdom that is gentle and very easie to be intreated by the Brethren sweet and precious had our Fellowship been together at this day and it is our godly Exhortation to you Friends and Brethren of the Monthly and Quarterly Meetings that you watch
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
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
Observations on the Queries a false Assertion and thereby to make him a Lyer Thirteen times over he says He did not intend the Queries to be Charges The most of what we can reasonably say on his behalf touching this matter is that peradventure he did not think so plainly to have declared them Charges least he should fail in the proof thereof it being a desparate adventure but that the tendency thereof was high Charges and that after a very absurd and unbrotherly manner it s very plain and safe to assert and the Words themselves demonstrates the same so that he might see if he were not wilfully Blind that his Tongue and Pen bewrayes him William Rogers in his fourth Query implicitly chargeth George Fox That he appears in his Epistle which he calls reflecting Queries to be a Man with two Faces Now we desire that William Rogers and them of Party with him may examine whether he be not the Man that hath appeared with two Faces in so highly now applauding John Story as not one equal to him in Doctrine and Conversation excepting John Wilkinson that ever he heard of and in espousing his Quarrel in opposition to Church Care and leading a separate Party in that Design and let his Conscience speak whether or no he hath thus vehemently stood by him therein from any real sence of John Stories Uprightness to God in this his undertaking or from any liking of or unity with his Preaching and let him be asked whether he did not reckon it once to be an empty burdensome dead thing like the Priests Doctrine and whether he said not that he would Preach them all to Death or the like If he remember not this or would make a forget of it we can help his Memory therein and so with respect to his praising of John Story now and standing by him on this wise we would have him consider whether he hath not been a double minded Man and that his undertaking in this Contentious Design against the Churches Care and Peace thereof hath not really been to gratifie a fleshly declining Spirit in himself from Truths Life in which also he 〈◊〉 his Contempt and Dis-esteem of yea his Malice and Enmity against George Fox who hath kept his first Love and Care for Gods Glory whose Person William Rogers runs upon and his Repute too both as a Man and Christian with lying Charges and false Accusations as all or most of the Apostates from Truth have done ever since we have been a People and if William Rogers would but consider the woful end of the most of such he might have great cause thereby to Fear and Repent that he might find Mercy and not perish for evermore We further take notice that George Fox blaming William Rogers for causing so many Smiting Queries and false Accusations to be read against him in a publick Mens-Meeting behind his back when he was nigh Two Hundred Miles off as unbeseeming Truth George Fox knowing of no such thing intended against him seeing also they of Party with him would not allow Thomas Camm to read a Paper concerning John Wilkinson relating to prove him to his Face an encourager of Loose and Wicked Persons c. In a Meeting appointed for that end and John Wilkinson there present To which William Rogers saith This if far remote from his purpose c. The Reader may consider how foolish William Rogers renders himself besides very Partial and Dishonest in this matter Will he justifie his causing to be read such malicious Charges against George Fox behind his Back in the Mens-Meeting where not a Man present would say he owned the reading of it George Fox not being there to make his Defence neither knowing any thing of the matter intended against him for the space of three Weeks time after by any Account from him or from any other by his Order and yet will seem to stand by those that would not allow Thomas Camm to read a Paper relating to make good somthing against John Wilkinson in a Meeting appointed for that very end and John Wilkinson there present We say that the remoteness that is in these Cases which is not a little tendeth to William Rogers his great shame with respect to the matter he hath had in hand Again William Rogers being told by George Fox of his unchristian and disorderly dealing with him about the Matter of causing those smiting Queries to be read against him c. Bray Doiley also speaking with William Rogers about the same disorderly Work William Rogers told Bray Doyley That he had sent them to George Fox three Weeks before they were read in the aforesaid Meeting And yet William Rogers denies this and sayes It s probable he might say it was writ three Weeks before c. In Answer we say It may be noted First William Rogers denies not but that it was read in the Mens-Meeting after the manner aforesaid which is base and unchristian doings And Secondly That it was read long before it came to George Fox's Hands its clear William Rogers's Letter to George Fox being a cover to the aforesaid Paper of Queries bearing Date Bristol the very same day that the Smiting Reflections and Falsly accusing Paper were read against him in the Meeting at Bristol Thirdly It may be noted what an Abominable Lye William Rogers asserts in denying that he said that he had sent the Paper of Queries to George Fox three Weeks before for Bray 〈◊〉 as by his Letter appears doth not only assert the Truth of William Rogers's saying so to him but Richard Snead writing to George Fox about the reading of that Paper in their Meeting against him saith thus I forbear to send thee a Coppy of it for William Rogers told Bray Doyley the next day after it was read that he had seni thee a Coppy of it three Weeks before Charles 〈◊〉 Junior also in a Letter to George Fox signifies thus The Coppy of the Letter read in the Mens-Meetings I had sent thee but that William Rogers told me Yesterday that he had sent thee a Coppy of it three Week before Now if this be not treacherous dissmbleing Work the Just God and the Upright may judg and what will be the end of this Lying Spirits Work a little time will more manifest He saith It s a lye to say that he said he had sent it three Weeks before it was read c. When there are Two or Three antient Upright Men in Truth Men of known credit and repute to restifie the same against him the Letter that came with the Paper inclosed in it bears date the 21st of the 8th Month 1678. And Charles Jones's Letter beareth date the 23th of the 8th Month 1678. And the day before was the day when William Rogers said to him and also to Bray Doyley that he had sent the Paper three Weeks before Such a Spirit as this God cannot bless neither can it ever do any good for God his Truth or People
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
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
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