Selected quad for the lemma: tradition_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
tradition_n	book_n	holy_a	scripture_n	2,474	5	6.0561	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A30026	De Christiana libertate, or, Liberty of conscience upon it's [sic] true and proper grounds asserted & vindicated and the mischief of impositions amongst the people called Quakers made manifest : in two parts : the first proving that no prince nor state ought by force to compel men to any part of the doctrine, worship, or discipline of the Gospel, by a nameless, yet an approved author [i.e. Sir Charles Wolseley], &c. : the second shewing the inconsistency betwixt the church-government erected by G. Fox, &c., and that in the primitive times ... : to which is added, A word of advice to the Pencilvanians / by Francis Bugg.	Bugg, Francis, 1640-1724?; Wolseley, Charles, Sir, 1630?-1714. Liberty of conscience upon its true and proper grounds asserted and vindicated.; Wolseley, Charles, Sir, 1630?-1714. Liberty of conscience the magistrates interest.	1682 (1682)	Wing B5370; ESTC R14734	148,791	384

Wife replyed That she did not question but that if he did but speak to the Justices they would hear him and he said He would and much Favour he shewed her c. One Instance more I will mention of this Nature and that is in April 78. as I remember my self and four or five Friends of our Town were convict of Recusancy and Persecuted in order to seize our Free-Hold And upon a time I being at Norwich on the account of my Trade when I came home my Wife told me that here had been the Sheriffe and his Bayliffs and had Impanelled a Jury of Inquiry of the value of our Estates who stood Convicted as aforesaid in this Town and the Jury had found us some more some less yet moderately as not knowing indeed what we had clear and further they were not oblieged to find so I forthwith wrote a Letter to Sir Henry North Knight so called who lived in our Town being at London and acquainted him with the nature of their Proceedings and instead of saying to me You are deluded Why do you not Conform to our Church-Disciplin c I say instead of this he took such care as that not only my self and those Friends of our own Town but he took off all our Friends that we knew of who stood in the same Jeopardy in these Parts of Suffolk so that at present I Bless God we live a quiet Life and free from Disturbance And Blessed be the Lord for putting it into the Hearts of the Rulers and Men in Authority to shew Mercy when otherwise they have Power enough to Oppress and Spoil many Families And I further desire that a Blessing may rest upon all such who Act in Moderation and are willing to do as they would be done by for all men would have their Liberty there are none would be Impos'd upon contrary to their Faith and Perswasion c. And now I shall turn to the Bishops of the Protestant-Churches and do not question but shall make it appear that they their Power considered and that the Laws are on their Sides are more moderate use not that Severity to the Members of their Church although they are severe enough too that George Fox and those of Party with him use to the poor Quakers if they chance to transgress their Traditions c. As for Example J. B. in the City of London who is a Man of a good Conversation and one whom they say themselves they have no evil thing to lay to his Charge other than for selling the Book of W. Rogers his putting forth Entituled The Christian-Quaker Distinguished from the Apostate and Innovator c. I do believe the Book did anger them sorely for it Detected G. Fox of Errour and what if I should say It Detected him of that which is worse to wit Lying and False Accusing of the Innocent Namely John Story behind his Back yea and there are many Witnesses stand ready to prove it I say this Book did so anger them that Christopher Taylor called the very Title Blasphemy and the reproachful Words that he and others called W. R. for putting it forth are intollerable no Bishop ever did the like that I read of that are of the Protestant-Churches For Dr. Stillingfleet may write his Opinion of Schisme and Separation and Alsop may answer that and write his Opinion of Imposition and by both their discoussing of these Points and divers others the Standers by may reap Advantage and the Magistrate Information Here is no Excommunication pronounced to either of these Sons of the Church neither are the Booksellers that sell these Controversial Books no such matter for if the Bishop of London should Excommunicate all Booksellers in London that sell any Book that speaks any thing against the Common-Prayer against Marrying with a Ring that speakes any thing against the Bishop of Canterbury c. he should have work enough and thankless work too and perhaps no Bookseller nay in all probability not one Bookseller in London Un-Excommunicated c. But however J. B. is Excommunicated Ipso Facto for nothing else but selling the said Book of W. Rogers c. A Coppy of I.B. his Excommunication here followeth From the Monthly-Meeting at Devonshire-House the 4th of the 11th Month 1681. VVHereas there have been some unruly Spirits gone out from Truth and the Unity of the Blessed Power of God which hath gathered us to be a People Writing Printing and Publishing things hurtful and prejudicial to Truth by Corrupting of Peoples Minds tending also to draw them into disesteem of many of the Lords Servants whose Faithfulness hath manifestly appeared amongst us with whom our Unity stands to our mutual Satisfaction and Refreshment Upon consideration of these things we find our selves Conscientiously concerned to take notice of something of this kind befallen J. B. who was formerly a Member of this Meeting who having dispersed into several Parts of this Nation divers of those pernitious Books in Print wrote by W. R. called The Christian-Quaker Distinguished from the Apostate and Innovator c. Which have manifestly been proved in many material Passages Erronious and False both in the Historical and Doctrinal Part of it was privately and publickly reproved for that unrighteous Action by several Friends at divers times according to Gospel-Order as they found it on their Spirits from the Lord as also admonished against it yet after all the Labour and Travel Friends have had on his Behalf being desirous if possible to reclaim him out of the Enemies Snare into which he is fallen he hath from time to time resisted their Advice and Counsel So that now we being wholly clear having used our utmost Endeavour in the good Will of God to reclaim him as aforesaid do not only testifie against that SPIRIT which hath as aforesaid led him into that disorderly Practice but also against him while joyned thereunto nor can we have Spiritual Communion or Fellowship with him until unfeignedly he shall return unto the Truth by Condemnation of that Work and Spirit which in the Love of God we exhort him to and desire that for him a Place of Repentance may be found Now if I thought the Bishop of London would take Example against the poor Booksellers in London for dispersing any Book that speaks against the Cannons and Constitutions of the Church of England the Rites and Ceremonies of the Church of England I should then repent that I have transcribed this Antichristian Piece of Work But as the Jews were more zealous for their own Traditions than for the Scripture and the Papists more zealous for their heap of Ceremonies than for Holy Scriptures as Dr. Lloyd in his Sermon Preached November the 5th 1678 at St. Martins in the Fields p. 4. 9. 16. sufficiently makes appear and which I was purposed to transcribe as pertinent to my present occasion but Brevity constrains me to leave it out it being somewhat large Even so it is manifest that the Contrivers of

hopes that things might yet be amended c. But you will not hear you will not have any regard to the distracting Contentions and dividing Contests we have in the Country about your New Orders so that a necessity is upon me to undeceive the World and such as have their Eye too much to you for notwithstanding things are as I have laid them down and you will not condiscend a hairs breadth yet the Author to the Accuser hath the face to tell the World in p. 127. And having these things in our Eye we can the more easily concur and accord as to Circumstances and Outward Methods and in the Wisdom of God so condiscend one to another and accomodate Matters as not to divide about them and therefore we do seriously profess we see no real Cause or valid Reason our Opposer meaning W. R. shews for the great noise and rumble he makes about Outward Laws Prescriptions Edicts Innovations Impositions c. For my part I marvel that the Author of the Accuser which is said to be G. Whitehead should have the confidence thus to appear in Print when his own Conscience tells him the contrary nay it is not a year since himself was at our Quarterly-Meeting where the said Orders mentioned in the Third Chapter are Recorded as a Rule and prescribed Platform under the Notion of Orders when one Robert Smith of Coline in Huntingtonshire came to publish his Intention of Marriage with Ann Oliver in the Isle of Ely and because he would not go into the Womens Meeting and perform the Ceremony in Manner and Form he was not taken notice of as others are that do conform nor yet admitted to have his Wife and the grand Opposer was G. VV. Albeit the Man brought a Certificate with him from their own Meeting which although it be a Digression from my present Matter yet I shall recite it that so it may the more evidently appear how far G. W. was from Accomodation or Condiscention which he in the Accuser fallaciously pretends to the World in order to deceive them to cover their Deceit and Hypocrisy and Arbitrary Church-Government Dominion and Lordship c. To the Quarterly-Meeting in the Isle of Ely These are to certifie all concerned that Robert Smith of Colne in this County meaning the County of Huntington Widdower hath at several Meetings published his Intentions of taking to Wife Ann Oliver of Aldred in the Isle of of Ely but grieved some Friends perhaps Richard Jobson and Tobias Hard-meat G. Fox's two principal Studs in that Country by rejecting their Counsel and refusing to acquaint the Women Friends therewith according to the good and wholsom Practice of Friends in the Truth But however we whose Names are Subscribed know nothing but that he is clear from all other Women Jasper Robins Edward Neel Wil. Whitehead James Parris Thomas Bundy Richard Taylor Thomas Bagly Natha Cawthorn Nathanael Neele But to return to make some Observation upon the antient Doctrine of G. Fox to the Professors which the Professors may justly turn upon him and say Come G. Fox and thy Adherents hear what we can say for we remember thou didst not only tell us That our Rule was without us our Touchstone without us our Guide without us and that in the Traditions of Men which lead from God but in the Year 1669 thou told us in thy Epistle to the Presbyterians and Independants and their rough Hearers in a Book wrote by G. W. Entituled The Divinity of Christ c. That we must not Shuffle for thou wert resolved that the Scripture should buffet us about As if thou hadst been resolved to throw the Bible at our Heads adding That we should be WHIPPED about with our Rule For thou wert resolved to have plain Scripture yea nothing less than plain Scripture would serve thy turn as if thou hadst loved the Scripture very well and valued it far above thy own Prescriptions which we now perceive was but meer Mockery since no Scripture is recorded in the Isle of Ely's great Book of Records as a Rule but instead thereof a large Epistle or Church-Directory of thy own writing and now we must whip thee a little with thy Rule of Ceremonies and Needless Traditions with which many of your peaceable People the Christian-Quakers have been long vexed and burthened and do begin to throw off thy Yoke and to come out with true Testimonies against thee and thy Adherents and in order to buffet thee soundly we now ask thee for plain Scripture and resolve to have it too or else reckon thee a very Hypocrite and will prove thee so too as amply as the Christian-Quakers have proved thee an Innovator we say shew us plain Scriptuer for your Womens-Meetings to be set up Monthly about the 10th Hour of the Day apart and distinct from the Men to get a little Stock by them And when so Assembled What Scripture have you to compel all that intend Marriage amongst you to go and present the Publication of their Intention before them at two several Meetings come do not shuffle with us for we are resolved to have plain Scripture for these your Proceedings or else we shall conclude thou hast found Austins Knap-Sack and stollen out one of the Ceremonies that he used to bring the Rome since we never heard of any Proof for these your Womens Jurisdiction save only by thy Learned Friend R. Richardson who in his ill compos'd Ingredients p. 11. said In like manner there remains in their Nunneries some Imperfect Footsteps of Womens Services c. And again What Scripture have you for Recording out of the Vnity such as will not Conform to these your Innovations since thou hast told us about fourteen Years ago in thy Book Entituled Gospel-Liberty and the Royal Law of Love p. 23. saying And therefore to bring People to that which is not of Faith is to bring them into Sin and to make them make Shipwrack of Faith and a good Conscience c. Come Is it not so still Why then do you allow in your felves the Thing you condemn in others Why do you Build again the Things you have destroyed or thinkest thou thy self execusable Oh Man Come Give us Chapter and Verse for your Womens-Meeting distinct from the Men to be constantly set up unless a little cold Weather intervene Montly about the tenth Hour to get a little Stock we suppose thou meanest a little Mony for certain Select and Holy Uses it being a more private way than the Bason and Platter which our Nonconforming Ministers it seems by thy Discourse were glad to receive their Mony in publickly but the Matter is the less in regard we never pretended to preach for nothing c. And as for us we grant we are for an Outward Rule but it is the Scripture of Christ his Apostles and Prophets which was wrote for our Example and Learning but you deny the Scriptures of Christ and his Apostles to be a Rule and yet

we see you are for a Rule as much as any People only you must have a Rule of your own Making of your own Framing a Child of your own Brain must be your own Darling As for our Parts we profess Christ to be our Lawgiver and though we be for an Outward Rule yet it is such a Rule as Christ hath left us but you lay aside the Scriptures of Christ and his Apostles and use not so much as one Verse thereof to corroborate and strengthen your late Laws and Cannons withal and so make to your selves a Graven Image and an Exact Rule neither to permit nor suffer any to Marry except they will Conform and Square their Actions to your Rule Whereby we perceive you manifest Innovators not only by W. R. his Description of you but by the undeniable Testimony of F. H. whose Judgment was That those that set up other Traditions than the Apostle Delivered in point of Worship and Marriage is a Point of Worship it being Gods Ordinance by Word or Writing that they are INNOVATORRS Wherefore hear what the Professors may further say as a Word of Vse and Application G. Fox says The Worlds Touchstone is without them Professors say That G. F. and his Adherents their Touchstone is without them no Conformity to the Womens Meeting no Unity with them do but Conform Vnity Vnity Vnity G. F. says The World is Ruled by Outward Rules c. Professors say That G. F. and his Party are Ruled by Outward Rules at least they would Rule others by Outward Rules see ad and 3d. Chapter G. F. says The Worlds Guide is without them in the Traditions and Precepts of Men which lead from God Professors say That G. F. and his Party have their Guide without them in the Traditions of Men that lead from the Anointing within to Observations without c. G. F. Asks the Professors what Scripture they have for sprinkling Children and for the word Sacrament and if no Scripture then Whether it be not the Commands of Men taught for Doctrine Professors Ask G. F. what Scripture he had for Erecting Womens Meeitngs distinct from the Men once a Month about the 10th hour of the Day to get a little Mony or Stock by them and there to sit until some are intended to Marry and then they are ready to hear them publish their Intentions And what Scripture he and his Adherents have to Record out of the Unity such as will not Conform to this Non-such way of Church-Government And if no Scripture then Whether it be not Mens Command taught for Doctrine Behold the Parellel Upon the whole Matter it may appear that our Testimony was against Imposition on Tender Consciences as R. H. with great Reason doth affirm and F. H. speak home to the purpose and very pertinent and G. F. too in his Gospel Liberty and Royal Law of Love c. But how he is gone from the same in practice is manifest both in what I have said and in what W. R. hath said in his Christian-Quaker disting c. To which I refer the Reader CHAP. V. Shews the Opinion of several of the Clergy both Bishops and Ministers to be against Impositions and the Imposers are the culpable Deviders and Authors of Schism HAving throughly proved and clearly manifected a Change in our Church-Government and shewed how our Cannons and Outward Rules have been Introduced I am now come to shew that the very moderate Bishops and others of the Clergy who are considerate in their way and not filled with Prejudice are against Impositions on Consciences which cannot Conform nor Submit before Conviction c. I will begin with Bishop Doveman who speaking on Col. 2.20 concerning Rites and Ceremonies this I took out of a Book in Answer to Dr. Stillingfleet Viz. If you be free from the Rites that God did prescribe then are you free from the Traditions of Men It is a most wicked thing they should Impose this Yoak upon you and you are most foolish to submit your Necks to it for God would not have abolished the Ceremonial Law Instituted by himself that a New one may be invented by Man Dr. Stillingfleet in his Iron p. 122. saith Certainly the Primitive Church that did not charge Mens Faith with such a Load of Articles as now in these latter Ages Men be charged with would much less burthen men With Imposing doubtful Practices upon them as the ground of Church-Communion Dr. Stillingfleets Iron 120. saith Let men turn and wind themselves which way they will by the very same Arguments that any will prove the Separation from the Church of Rome Lawful because She required unlawful Things as Conditions of her Communion it will be proved Lawful not to Conform to any suspected or unlawful Practice required by any Church Governour upon the same Terms If the thing so required be after serious and sober Inquiry Judged unwarrantable by a Man 's own Conscience and withal it would be further considered whether when our best Writers do lay the Imputation of Schism NOT on those that withdraw Communion but on them for requiring such Conditions of Communion c. whereby they do rather eject Men from their Communion than the others separate from them Arch-Bishop Land against Fisher as quoted by Dr. Stillingfleet in his Rational Account p. 324. 'T is too true says he indeed that there is a miserable Rent in the Church and I make no question but the best men do most bemoan it nor is he a Christian that would not have Vnity might he ahve it with Truth but I never said or thought that the Protestants made this Rent the Cause of Schisme is yours for you thrust us from you because we called for Truth and Redress of Abuses for a Schisme must need be theirs whose the Cause of it is c. The Bishop of Hereford in his Edition in Folio p. 10. earnestly Addresses himself to the Bishops thus My Reverend Fathers and Judges of the Church I with St. Paul Col. 3. BESEECH you put on Fatherly Bowels of Mercy Kindness Humbleness of Mind Meekness Long suffering towards your poor weak Children and so long as they hold fast the Body of Christ be not so rigorous with them for Shaddows if they submit to you in Substance have patience though they do not submit in Ceremonies and give me leave to tell you my poor Opinion This VIOLENT PRESSING OF CEREMONIES hath I humbly conceive been a great Hinderance from imbracing them Men fearing your Intentions to be far worse than really they are and therefore abhor them And p. 11. This Force urging Conformity in Worship hath caused great Division in Faith as well as in Charity for had you by abolishing some Ceremonies taken the weak Brethren c. Now I beseech you in the Fear of God set before your Eyes the dreadful Day of Judgment when Christ in his Tribunal of Justice shall require an account of every Word and Deed and shall thus question you

Practices a man may discern without a pair of Spectacles ERROUR and SUPERSTITION coming in apace LIMPING upon their old crooked Crutches of IMPLICIT FAITH and BLIND OBEDIENCE And least you should not know how to answer these Queries I will answer them in the Words of our own Principles that so you may the better behold your Revoltings and perceive your Innovations and take notice of your Apostatizing from your Primitive Principles But if my Answer please you not then let me see by one Answer of your own what you can say for your selves Query I. Whether to Impose any thing upon another Mans Conscience either to do or practice be not a doing otherwise to others than we would they should do unto us and so Antichristian See the Second and Third Chapter about Marriages Answ Yea For so says R. Hubberthorn in his Works p. 188. where he tenders seven Reasons why no Impositions ought to be upon any Mans Conscience by any but the Lord. And says he To Impose any thing upon another Mans Conscience either to do or Practice is not A doing to others as they would be dealt by and therefore is contrary to Christs Doctrine which say I is ANTICHRISTIAN Query II. Whether such Societies as do not govern themselves according to their Primitive Principles but erect new Orders and new Models of Government New Ceremonies and new ways of Sentencing Judging and Condemning the Innocent Recording and Excommunicating such as cannot yield Conformity and Uniformity thereunto do not more resemble Tyranny than Order Nay Is it not Antichristian Answ Yea For all Societies are to Govern themselves according to their Institutions and First Principle of Union where there is violence upon this Part Tyranny and not Order is Introduced Now since Perswasion and Conviction begun all true Christian Societies ALL Christian-Societies MVST uphold themselves upon the same Free Bottom or they turn Antichristian Query III. Whether to restrain People from the free Exercise of their Consciences or to compel People to act against their Faith and Perswasion in Matters Spiritual be not Popish and a Practice of the Church of ROME Address to Prot. pag. 149. 150. Answ Yea For the Apostle in his Day said Let every Man be fully perswaded in his own Mind or Conscience And did not go about to force People to Conform to such Things as they were not perswaded of in their own Consciences But the Church of Rome doth not admit that every one should Walk or Act as they are Perswaded in their own Conscience See Josiah Coal's Whore Vnvailed p. 71. 72. Query IV. If so Whether it be not Wisdom to beware of this Trojan Horse of this Practice which so much resembles Rome who commonly lay more Stress upon their own Ceremonies and written Traditions Orders and Institutions than upon the holy Scriptures or the Primitive Christians Example Answ Yea I beseech you Protestants by the Mercies of God and Love of Jesus Christ Ratified to you in his most precious Blood Fly Rome at Home have a care of this Presumption carry it not too high lay not Stress where God hath laid none Neither use his Royal Stamp to Authorise your Apprehensions in the Main of his Institutions Address to Prot. p. 77. Query V. Whether the holy Scriptures be not of more Authority than our written Traditions and Orders And whether it be not as commendable now to search the Scriptures to see whether our Orders Traditions and Ceremony be agreeable to them as it was formerly for the Bereans who by the Scripture examined Pauls Testimony Seeing some of you call them the Professors Weapons and will not suffer them to be alledged in our Quarterly-Meetings Answ Yea For it cannot be denyed But that the great Foundation of our Protestant Religion is the Divine Authority of the Scriptures from without us and the Testimony and Illumination of the holy Spirit within us Vpon this Foot the First Reformers stood and made and maintained their Separation from Rome with good Cause therefore it is the general consent of all Sound Protestant Writers That neither Traditions Counsels nor Cannons of any Visible Church much less the Edicts of any Civil Sessions or Jurisdiction but the Scripture ONLY Interpreted by the Holy Spirit in us give the final Determination in Matters of Religion and that Only in the Conscience of Every Christian to himself which Protestation made by the First Publick Reformers against the Imperial Edicts of Charles the Fifth Imposing Church Traditions without Scripture Authority Mark you Order Makers the same Cause moves to the same thing gave first beginning to the Name Protestant and with that Name hath ever been received this Doctrine which prefers the Divine Authority of the Scriptures and Spirit to that of the Church and her Traditions Address to Prot. p. 148. Query VI. Whether it be not a Popish Tenet to cry down Wisdom and to say That Wisdom will destroy us as 't is usually with you to say for the Papists care not how foolish the Common People are nor how much in Ignorance it being as they say the Mother of Devotion they educate them provided thir Ministers and Jesuits be very expert and able to defend their way of Worship and heap of Ceremonies And when do any that Write or Dispute to defend our Way of Worship write and speak like Fools except they can neither write nor speak otherwise and why do you cry out against Wisdom upon every occasion as if Ignarance were become our only Darling Answ For to admire what Men do not know and to make it a Principle not to enquire is the last Mark of Folly in the Believers and of Imposture in the Imposers To be short a Christian Implyes a Man and a Man implyes Conscience and Vnderstanding but he that hath no Conscience nor Vnderstanding as he hath not who hath delivered them up to the Will of another men is no Man and therefore no Christian Upon this Principle Men must be made Fools in Order to believe Shall Folly which is the Shame if not the Curse of a man be the Perfection of a Christian. Address to Prot. pag. 187. Query VII Is it not great Deceit and Illusion first to make Rules or Cannons to walk by and when any refuse Obedience to them and cannot for Conscience sake Conform to them then to Senctence Judge and Record such out of the Unity and yet to the World pretend and that in Print that we do no such Thing I say Is not this great Decoit and Delusion Answ Yea That our Friends says W. P. meaning us the People called Quakers Require any men to practice what they are not convinced of I utterly renounce in their Name and that at an Infamous Slander Alexander the Copper-Smith page 10. Query VIII Whether Antichristian Practices Popish Principles Contempt of Scriptures Folly Ignorance and Partiality Practising one thing and Pretending another be Corruptions or no If yea then whether or no a private Man ought not

who is both Head and Lawgiver to his Church which are frequently laid down in Scripture by the four Evangelists and other his Prophets and Apostles Rather than the Practice Precepts Commands Prescriptions and Exhortations of G. F. or any other Mortal Man QUERY IV. If you say That the Commands Precepts Prescriptions and Exhortations of Christ Jesus ought Rather and in the first place to be obeyed as I hope you will not dare to say otherwise Then I further Query Whether Christ or any of his Apostles commanded that a Womens-Meeting should be set up Monthly distinct and apart from the Men and a Power committed to them to hear examine and determine Matters relating to the Government of the Church as now practised by many of us and that if any did not subject themselves to the Skill Prudence and Approbation of such Women-Governours and Government of the Church that they should be Judged and Condemned and Recorded out of the Vnity OR hath Christ or any of his Apostles left a Precise or particular Command that when any are intended to joyn in Marriage that first and before the Accomplishment thereof they the said Couple should always twice go to a Mans-Meeting and Womens-Meeting they being distinct and apart from each other for so they must be or else not according to G. F. his Orders and then all is in vain to publish their Intention of Marriage and when so done to stay a compleat Month and then go again to the said Meeting Viz. first to the Womens-Meeting for they have the Preheminence in our New Church Procedure and then to the Mens-Meeting they being distinct as I observed before which is a MAIN PRINCIPLE in this New Frame of Church-Government to ask and receive their Approbation and Licence to Marry and this to be done under pain of the Church's Censure which peradventure may be to Record them out of the Vnity If there be such a particular or general Command pray shew it us Or Whether did not Christ leave his People to their Liberty and Freedom How and in what manner they perform and compleat the Outward Ceremony provided they come together Chast and Clean as becomes the Gospel and the Professors of it QUERY V. If you say That Christ nor his Apostles left neither Command Example nor President for Womens-Meetings a part from the Men to be set up Monthly any way to intermeddle with the Government of the Church as that you must confess how angry soever you may be at the Discovery of these hidden Mysteries then I do further query of you the said Imposers Where had you your Power And from whence had you your Authority to Institute and ordain such a Way of Government in the Church by Women or otherwise containing such Rites and Ceremonies as have no President in Scripture And in whose Name do you compel to a Vniformity and Conformity thereunto And whether is not Christs Doctrine and Commands laid down in Scripture of more Authority than the Commands Institutions and Prescriptions of G. F Which if you grant they be as I know in words you dare not deny whatever you think Then I still further Query of you Directory-Makers What is the Reason and what doth it mean That neither Mathew Mark Luke nor John nor any one Chapter of any of those Books are Recorded in our Great Book of Records first and before the Epistle of G. F. as that which is more Powerful more Binding and of much more Authority Answer these Things QUERY VI. Whether were not the Bereans commended in that they searched the Scriptures to see whether Pauls Testimony accorded therewith yea and accounted more Noble than they of Thessalonica who were not so Inquisitive And is it not more commendable to search the Scriptures to see whether the Institutions Orders Cannons Degrees Traditions and Ceremonies of G. F. and other Innovators of Party with him Together with the Compelling a Vniformity and Conformity thereunto which hath occasioned so much Division Discord Strife and Contention since their Arrival be according to Scripture yea or Nay Seeing it is written Try all Things And if upon a diligent Search they be found directly contrary to Scripture and the Practice Doctrine and Example of Christ Jesus and his Holy Apostles Saints and Martyrs in all Ages Then I further Query Whether they ought not to be opposed withstood and testified against by all those that have a certain Sight thereof Alledging constantly according to Scripture That every one should be fully perswaded in his own Mind and if any be otherwise or contrary Minded they ought to be let alone until it pleases God to reveal and make manifest his Will unto them For what is not of Faith is Sin as saith the Apostle So answer these Things touching the Point of Church-Government for your Practice brings you into Suspition and you must come to Tryal as others have done before you F. B. The Twelfth Month 1678. To these Queries there were some Testimonies of Friends added which for Brevity sake I here omit likewise the Letter wherein I inclosed them to S. Cater I also at present omit for some Reasons And to this day I never had any Answer to the said Queries whereby I perceive what Effect the Advice given by a Publick Preacher of Party with G. F. hath taken Viz. Let not this Spirit be reasoned with enter not into Proposals and Articles with it but feed it with Judgment that is Gods DECREE Which Advice when compared with this kind of Doctrine frequently published as W. R. avers in his Preface to the Christian-Quaker Distinguished c. Viz. Let us exclude the Reasoning the VVisdom and the Jealousie and let us have an Eye to the Brethren I say when I compare them and many other like Exhortations it is the less marvel that they should refuse any Answer especially considering that if they should answer there is no way to evade being discovered and Errour loves Obscurity for its Habitation is Darkness and Ignorance is the Mother of its Devotion and Conformity the Monstrous Womb that produc't it and when attended with the Secular Power supports all its deformed Parts with great Admiration crying Who is able to make War with the Beast c. I shall add one Query which J. A. put forth to which I never heard that he had any Answer and by that the Reader may understand his Sense about the Proceedings of our Quarterly-Meeting against him and then I purpose to conclude this Chapter c. A Question propounded to S. Cater and others of the Isle of Ely and elsewhere who force a Conformity to Church-Discipline and say Without Conformity no Unity The Question is What is Conformity A very short Question and easily answered it may be S. C. and others may say It is to the Spirit but not mean so but intend the Wills and Edicts of Men as in Example the late Proceedings against J. A. concerning taking his Wife who in every particular

Here are several Souls who taking offence at your Ceremonies have forsaken my Church forsaken the Faith have run into Hell the Souls for which I shed my precious Blood why have you suffered this Nay Why have you occasioned this Will you answer It was to preserve our Ceremonies Will not Christ return unto you Are your Ceremonies more dear unto you than the Souls for which I dyed who hath required these Things at your Hands Will you for Ceremonies which you your selves confess to be indifferent no way necessary unto Salvation suffer your weak Brethren to perish for whom I dyed Have I not shewed you how David and his Souldiers were guiltless in eating the Shew-Bread which was not lawful but only for the Priest to eat David dispenced with a Ceremony commanded by God to satisfie the hunger of his People Will you not dispence with your own Ceremonies to satisfie the Souls of my People who are called by my Name and profess my Name though in weakness Or will you tell Christ They ought to suffer for their own Willfulness and Perverseness who will not submit to the Laws of the Church as they ought Will not Christ return Shall they perish for transgressing your Humane Laws which they ignorantly conclude Erronious and shall not you perish for transgressing my Divine Laws which you know to be Good and Holy Had I mercy on you and should you not have Mercy on your Fellow Servants With the same measure you meet it shall be measured to you again I tremble to go further but most humbly beseech you for Christs sake endeavour to regain these strayed Sheep for which he shed his precious Blood and think it as great an Advantage as great an Honour to you as it was unto St Paul to BECOME ALL THINGS TO ALL MEN That you may gain some doubtless you will many though not all and the few standing off will be the more convinced and at long running wearied out and gained also I shall only add something out of Allsop in his Book Entituled The Mischief of Impositions and so conclude this Chapter Mischief of Impositions p. 9. For Paul in his Admonition to the Church at Rome lays all the blame of the Separation not upon them that Seperate but on those that gave Cause to the Separation Rom 16.17 I beseech you Brethren mark those that cause Divisions and Offences among you and avoid them Where he points to us these three Things First That they which cause Divisions are the culpable Dividers the Imposers must be responsable for the Evil Consequences of their Impositions Secondly That it is Lawful nay a Duty to divide from those that unwarrantably give such Cause of Division Thirdly That any Condition of Communion Imposed BESIDES as well as against the Doctrine received from the Apostles is a sufficient ground to condemn the Imposer to justifie such as reject such Conditions c. And Pag. 2. There is nothing more common than to press the Necessity of UNION and yet at the same time continue the necessary Causes of Division which sort of Rhetoricians might do well to consider That whil'st they disclaim most passionately against the evil of Separation they do but whip their own Crimes upon their own Backs and reproach themselves by railing at other Mens Faults in which popular Discourses we hear of nothing but the Prejudice Passion Interest of those who will not Obey but not a word I warrant you of their own Pride Rigour and Imperiousness in what they Command always studying and pretending Reasons why Matters ought to be wrong but never offering rational Expedients to set what is wrong to rights Mischief of Impositions p. 48. As it is the Duty of all Men to preserve the Churches Peace so 't is theirs especially who have got the Management of things in their Hands not to lay such dubious Terms in the way of Peace which they know many Conscientious Persons cannot get over but have ever stumbled at for it may be returned with ease It is impossible to preserve Peace if Men will make such ORDERS as they know others must break meerly for the Fancy they have taken up of a Primitive Platform Secondly If Peace be impossible to be had upon this account Who are in the Fault Dissenters can Maintain a Fraternal Charity towards them and their Churches who differ from them in Principle and Practice If Imposers cannot or will not discharge their Duty reciprocally we are not Responsable for their Passions we can love them whether they will or no though we cannot force them against their will to return that Love and Charity And Pag. 61. Query What must be done by Church-Governours if Men cannot come up to their Established Rules And thus much of the Answer is exceeding obvious First That they had better sit still and do nothing than rise up and do Mischief let them do no more Harm than Good and let them be doing Secondly That if they must needs have more work to do let them be sure they have a Commission from God to do it lest while they do what they ought not to have done and leave undone those Things they ought to have done they make their Sins of Commission greater than their Sins of Omission Thirdly They may do well among all their Doings to consider whether Conscience be not Gods peculiar and so not within their Precincts out of their Jurisdiction and not lyable to their Scitations Prossesses Summons and Visitations If they will Judge let them be sure they be Competent Judges if they will be buisie let them beware it be not in Alieno Foro. 4thly If they would know what they must do to others let them first put the Case what they would have done to themselves let them do no more at home than they would have done to them Supposing they were Protestants in Italy or Spain it is very useful now and then for great Men to put themselves into poor Mens Circumstances I do not perswade them to change Places with them but to put Cases And Pag. 11. You may as soon whip these huge great Boys out of all Religion as out of one Ceremony so fond so doting so peevish froward aukward such a whimpering such a whining such a puling and pouting for Ceremonies as if they had lost that famous Engine of the Nutcrack c. Thus much may serve to shew their Approbation of that Liberty of Conscience which is every Christians just Priviledge and their Abhorrency of Impositions and that the ground of Discord Emulation and Division is in the Imposers who are the real Schismaticks c. CHAP. VI. Shews the Judgment of antient Protestants and Martyrs against Forcing a Conformity to Mens Traditions not Grounded on Scripture Authority I now shall proceed to shew some Testimonies of antient Protestants and Martyrs against Imposition which with what the two last Chapters mention together with what is held forth by the First Part may be a sufficient

bid you observe any particular Thing or Duty that Christ Commanded do it with a Reverend Regard but if they begin once to extol their Written Traditions above the holy-Holy-Scriptures you will have good and warrantable ground to testifie against their Innovations and if for this they call you Hereticks or Schismaticks answer them in the words of St. Augustine Errare possum Hereticus esse non possum In an Errour I may be but an Heretick I cannot be for there are three things necessary for just Proof of Heresie First That it be an Errour that I hold Secondly That it be an Errour against the Truth of Gods Word for otherwise every Errour maketh not a Man a Heretick And Thirdly That it be stoutly and wilfully maintained otherwise an Errour against Gods Truth without wilful Maintenance is not Heresy There is the Sixth Branch of the Grant and Confirmation mentioned in the Second Chapter about Sufferings which as Stated is not warrantable which for brevity sake I pass by until an Opportunity offer it self and then I may unriddle the meaning and perhaps discover the Effects thereof Effectually And thus I rest your Friend Milden-hall the 9th of the 1st Month 1682. F. B THE Post-script AS it was the manner of the Pharisees to propound Insnaring Questions to Christ Jesus in the Day of his Flesh tempting him endeavouring to entangle him in his Talk when otherwise they were not able to Confute him Even so hath it been the manner of some amongst us to come to me since I sent the forgoing in Manuscript to the Press Questioning me in order to insnare or intangle me in my Talk instead of proving their Proceedings Apostolical and their Force and Compulsion in their Church Procedure warrantable WHEREFORE my further Advice to the Reader is To frequent the Holy Scriptures and read them diligently as also the Works of R. Hubberthorn F. Howgil other Antient Friends and the foregoing Tract and then see and consider whether there be not Violence done to our first Principles of Union whereby Tyranny instead of Order is introduced For it is a Protestant Principle to read all Authors to search out the Truth of Things in Controversy to endeavour after a right Understanding to prove all things and hold fast that which is good and hereby will Implicit Faith and Blind Obedience be excluded Knowledge increased and true Conviction become the ground of our Conformity and the Bereans Example become our daily Practice But it is a Popish Principle To believe as the Church believes barely because She so believes to take all for granted our Leaders say without any further Examination to read no Books but what are Licenced and approved on by this General Council or that Second-Days Meeting to Pin my Faith on their Sleeves to see with their Eyes instead of my own Oh this Implicit Faith this Blind Obedience this Idolizing the Wisdom and Conduct of the Multitude and refusing the use of our own Reason Sense and Understanding is no less than the Product of a Popish Principle and ought to be avoided Object But some may object and say That although things be thus which being upon Record cannot without great Impudence be denyed yet to publish them we think very hard measure c. Answ If no private meanes had been used then indeed this Objection had been of some weight but in regard so many private Endeavours have been used for four Years together and all avail nothing it is but just and equal as for Example Let any of the Hearers be found guilty of Misdemeanors although no other Crimes than the Leaders and Teachers themselves are guilty of it is usual to go to such and admonish them if they persist in the Evil then admonish them again and if after all private Meanes they will not be reclaimed then it hath been usual to give out Papers of Condemnation against them that the World may see we do not own them in their evil Practices c. Even so it is but just and reasonable that if our Leaders and Church-Governours as they count themselves who pretend to see for the Body shall Erect such a way of Church-Government and Discipline as neither Christ nor his blessed Apostles never commanded nor Practised and bring in and set up other Traditions than the Apostles delivered and then compel according to that little Power they have a Uniformity and Conformity to them then it is but just to call these Leaders to account and admonish them again and again and shew them their Errour and the Mischief of their Impositions and if after all private Endeavours for three or four Year together these Church-Governours will not be reclaimed nor in any wise perswaded to make void such Edicts such vain Traditions and useless Ceremonies nor yet be content that as many as have freedom to use them may and that others that are otherwise minded may be let alone and left to their Christian-Liberty whether to Conform or not Conform then it is but just to bear a Publick Testimony against them their Impositions their Prescribed Rules and Cannons their Written Orders their Antichristian way of Church-Procedure that the World may know we do not own them and that G.F. G. W. and those of Party with them have been call'd to account have been admonished again and again Is fully manifest by what is set forth in this Treatise together with what is written by W.R. in his Book Entituled The Christian-Quaker Distinguished In Five Parts c. Milden-Hall the 22. of the 3d. Mon. 1682. F. Bugg The Labouring-Mans Caveat Concerning Womens-Meetings TAKE heed beware of Novelty And of Female Authority That they into the Church ben't brought And thereby such Divisions wrought Through Craft of the Old Enemy Who is profound in Subtilty As may cause Bitterness to Spring Which is a very hurtful Thing And more thereby's defil'd within Than Women can wash clean again But rather take the Good Old Way As God Commanded Paul doth say That Women in subjection be And not usurp Authority Nor in the Church permitted speak Whereby they should good Order break Except to Pray or Prophesy By Power given from on High Otherwise they 'l Confusion make And cause the Hearts of Friends to ake But rather all with one Accord Let Male and Female Serve the Lord That as Partakers of one Grace They meet together in one Place And not distinct as George doth say At the Tenth Hour of the Day Nor yet devided one from th' other Lest that Division breeds another But as the Children of one Father Brethren and Sisters both may gather Together in one Place to see What may to others needful be And helping their necessity May serve each other in Unity And Mens Invented Novelties With Womanish Formalities What ' ere defiles may out be swept And all Things sweet and clean be kept Who first convinc't us by his Light To lead us on may have his Right And following Him as Children Dear

May walk in Love whil'st we are here And all unto him be Subjected That all may in him be Perfected That God o're all may Ruler be And Glorified Eternally But what art thou that art so bold That Womens-Meetings thus Control'd And thus dost seem to lay a Block Against the raising of a Stock Whereas George hath Infallibly Erected them to sit on High And that against their Government None should shew Discouragement Neither Direct nor Indirect Lest out of Vnity they be kept I tell thee I am a Labouring-Man And have been taught to Thresh and Fan And what 's the Chaff unto the Wheat Though it may serve some Beast to eat And to the Wheat may grow so near That both came forth of th' self same Ear And sent forth wrapt in Paper White Wise Men will look ON 'T in the Light And such whose Eyes are in their Head Can see it is not fit for Bread Therefore on it refuse to feed Lest it should ill Humours breed And such Distempers as Blind-Zeal Which noysom are to Common-Weal For when Mens Minds with it are heat Their Fellows they are apt to beat According to their Power and Might They with their Tongues begin to smite And he that is not of their Mind From Truth say they he is Declin'd And Womens-Meetings he doth slight How then can his Spirit be right And then saith one Let 's Mouth be stopt And others cry He must be knockt Another He doth blasting threaten And thus are Fellow Servants beaten From Cross-Bow of their crooked thoughts Which Blind-Zeal bent they shoot their bolts 'T is like I shall be paid with blows For smiting the Image on the Toes That Image of Authority Which Womens-Meetings signifie Although but two or three be there As more seldom do appear When Weather 's cold and Winds do blow I seldom see a bigger Show But I don't mean with them to fight Therefore to keep me from their Sight I 'le to my Refuge quickly fly Even God that Judgeth Righteously And with him also will abide Till he doth Remedy provide That Truth o're all may so prevail As Love to conquer may not fail That as God's one also his Name We all may be one in the same And he may Reign whose Right it is That nothing may be done amiss And then his Saints with Joy shall sing And sound forth Praises to their King Which was his due all times before To him be it given for evermore But now before I go my way Another word I have to say To such as would know my Intent Why this I writ 't is to prevent The further growth of Discontent Rais'd with the Female-Government Although a Charter firm they have And Grant and Confirmation brave Which Strengthen and Corroborate Their Jurisdiction obtain'd of late Yet if the Tree known now may be By the Fruit mine Eye doth see Charter and Confirmation both Are Innovations nothing worth Wherefore I say my Council take And to your selves no Image make Nor to a Likeness now Submit That no Foundation hath in it Now to Gods Grace I all Commend For teaching thereon to depend Which from all Strife can us defend And thus I here shall make an End Who am a Lover of Truth and Peace To all therein wishing Increase A Table of the Contents or principal Matters contained in the Second Part of this Book CHAP. I. Treats of Principles of Truth Received and Believed in the Beginning with an Epistle about Marriage and other Things not as a Form to walk by but as Advice suitable to the Nature and Tendency of the Testimony of Truth Received and Belieed c. Truths Entrance amongst us Pag. 24 25 26 27 28. The 7th Particular in an Epistle of Advice Pag. 29. 30. CHAP. II. Manifesteth an Alteration and Change Shews the Womens Charter for their Jurisdiction Sets forth the Grant and Confirmation made at a London Yearly-Meeting 1675 Viz. G. F. his Platform for Womens-Meetings Pag. 33 34 35 36. 37. The 1st Branch of the Grant Pag. 41 42. 2d Branch of the Grant P. 42 43 44 45. 3d. Branch of the Grant Pag. 48 49. 4th Branch of the Grant Pag. 50 51. Observations upon them Pag. 54. 55 56. CHAP. III. Treats of the Proceedings of G. Fox his Party in the Executive Part of the Charter Grant and Confirmation mentioned in the Second Chapter Their Proceedings against J. Ansloe An Opposition thereunto made by several Viz. Hadenham Orders Pag. 60 61. The Record against J. A. Pag. 63. A Letter to S. Cater by F. Bugg Pag. 64 65 66 67 68. F. Bugg his Protectation Pag. 68 69. Six Queries about G. F. being Head of the Church Pag. 75 76 77 78 79 80. One Query by J. A. Viz. What is Conformity Pag. 82 83. CHAP. IIII. R. Hubberthorns Reasons against Impositions Pag. 88 89. F. Howgils Discovery of Innovators Pag. 89 90 91. G. Fox his Old Doctrine and New Practice Pag. 93 94 95 96 97. A Huntingtonshire Certificate Pag. 97 98. Observations on G. Fox his antient Doctrine Pag. 98 99 100 101 102 103 104. CHAP. V. Shews the Opinion of several of the Clergy both Bishops and Ministers to be against Impositions and the Imposers are the Culpable Dividers and Authors of Schism c. Bishop Dovenants Testimony Pag. 105 106. Dr. Stillingfleets Iron Pag. 106 107. Archbishop Laud against Fisher Pag. 107. Bishop of Heriford Pag 107 108 109 110 111. Alsops Mischief of Impositions Pag. 111 112 113 114. CHAP. VI. Shews the Judgment of Antient Protestants and Martyrs against Forcing a Conformity to Mens Traditions not grounded on Scripture Authority Zanchy's Testimony Pag. 116. W. Tindal about Forms Pag. 116 117. R. Richardson Traced and found fallacious Pag. 118 119. W. Tindal about Services of Women Pag. 119. An Objection answered Pag. 120. Tindal about the Elders erring Pag. 121. Luther about Opinions Pag. 121. Barns against Imposition Pag. 121 122 123 124. Brentious upon Cor. 3. Pag. 124. Dr. Taylor about Liberty Pag. 124 125. Dr. Taylor about Ceremonies Pag. 125. Bishop Hoopers Speech Pag. 125 126. CHAP. VII Shews that my self and others in this Country have used private meanes about four Years and no Accommodation or Condiscention was attainable Neither Answer to Letter Answer to Query no when I went to London with a Letter from Friends of our particular Meeting to the Second-days Meeting in London and delivered it with my own Hand would neither answer the Letter nor so much as discourse me but when I had given them the Letter C. Taylor bad me be gone All which shews the Author to the Accuser his Pretentions to an Accomodation and Condiscention to be Fallacious Deceitful and Hypocritical A Letter from 11 Friends to the Quarterly-Meetings Pag. 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137. F. B's Letter to W. P. about a Composure Pag. 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148. F. B's Letter by way of Prologue to 9 Queries to G. W. Pag. 150 151 152 153. Nine Queries sent to G. W. Pag. 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162. A Battledore and Spectacles for G.F. P. 163. R. R's Letter to F. B. Pag. 164 165 166. F. B. his Answer to R. R's Letter Pag. 167 168 169 170. F. B. his Letter to the Second-days Meeting Pag. 172 173 174 175 176 177. 178 179 180. 11 Friends Letter to the Second-days Meeting Pag. 180 181 182 183. An Answer to Six Interrogatories Pag. 184 185 186. CHAP. VIII Shews that the Severity used by G. Fox and his Party exceeds that of the Judges Justices and Protestant Bishops who have Excommunicated J. B. for selling W. R's Book And if Application be made to them for Redress of Grievances they cry We are deluded and will sometimes refuse to read a Letter but seldom or never answer any And Advice to the Pensilvanians A Letter to Judge Turner Pag. 188 189. Another Letter to Judge Turner Pag. 190 191 192 193. J. B's Excommunication for dispersing W. R's Book Pag. 197 198 199. R. Bayfield burnt for dispersing the Books of Luther Tindal Hus and others Pag. 204. Sir Thomas Moor allowed to read and to answer those Schismatical Books Pag. 205 206. G. Whitehead allowed to buy have possess and read yea and answer W. R. his Book Pag. 205. B. Antribus or J. Fields Objection Answered Pag. 208 209. Advice to the Pensilvanians Pag. 210 211 212 213. A few of the most remarkable Errours corrected the rest are left to the Friendly Reader to correct ERRATA Pag. 4. line 9. for 8th Article r. Articles of Faith p. 5. l. 23. for their r. those p. 17. l. 15. for Woolwick r. Woolruch p. 24. l. 10. for Heavenly Spiritual r. Heavenly and Spiritual p. 26. l. 3. r. declared p 28. l. 22. r. from the Brethren to the Brethren p. 38. l. 16. for Grant or Order r. Charter for Womens-Meetings p. 40. l. 30. for Order r. Charter p. 47. l. 9. for how to r. and how to p. 56. l. 14. for partly r. purely p. 57. l. 3. for Order r. Charter p. 71. l. 16. for the r. their p. 84. l. 17. r. W●tnesses p. 85. l. 20. for lying r. buying p. 93. l. 20 21. r. to wit the Spirit p. 105. l. 16. for Doveman r. Dovenant p. 119. l. 30. f. Little withdrawn r. his Book Entituled p. 125. l. 6. for Increasment and Formnes● r. Increment and Firmness p. 153. l. 22. for 1678 r. 1681. p. 206. l. 24. for Clark r. Clarks Shop p 196. l. 17. for discousing r. discoursing FINIS