So the Light is Judge Besides 't is to be observed that in the said Paper being but halfe a sheet he often speakes against Backbiting and about thirty times makes mention of the Light though in a Paper lately given forth in Vindication of Prescriptions being about a Sheet he speaks almost as much to Iustifie Prescriptions He that runs may read the action of Jasper Batt Charles Marshall and others concerned in giving forth the said Paper from Ellis Hookes his Chamber cannot be Justified without making G. F's aforesaid Counsel voyd We now come to take notice of these Words in the afore recited Answer given forth by Jasper Batt and his three companions viz. We see there was such in those dayes as is now who did dispise Government Presumptions self-willed they are not afraid to speak Evil of Dignities which have forsaken the right Way and gone astray and so Wells without Water and Clouds that are carried without a Tempest c. Jude saith These be they who separate themselves Read Peter and Jude through and let these Scriptures be rightly applyed and see to whom they belong To this we say They would have manifested more plainness and simplicity if they had informed those unto whom they writ How to apply these Scriptures instead of bidding them Read the Scriptures and then rightly apply them For the great Question is what is meant by words Government and Dignities but since they are silent therein it 's rational for us to suppose on the whole matter that they mean the Sixty Six Subscribes whereof they are a part since the paper subscribed by them in the original matter occasioning this discourse and according to its Merit sufficiently despised And therefore we think it needful to inform the Reader That we cannot take such Men as Jasper Batt and his Three Brethren are nor yet Charles Marshall Subscriber also amongst the Sixty-Six to be the Dignities hinted at by Peter and Jude For all these and the rest of the Sixty-Six Subscribers are by their Paper manifest to have run in the very Way of Cain by persecuting the Brethren and have appeared as Raging Waves of the Sea foaming out their own Shame by their hard Speeches which are the very Marks and Fruits of those who despise Government according to the Scriptures which Jasper Batt and his Three Brethren have directed us to peruse Besides We doubt not but many of the said Sixty-Six Subscribers speak Evill of the things they know not having Mens Persons in Admiration because of Advantage which are some other Marks of such as Despised Government and speak Evil of Dignities Those things we leave to the Consideration of the impartial Reader hoping that for the future Jasper Batt will learn more modesty than to account himself a Governour and Dignity and that on that foot he may think to rule over such antient and honourable Labourers in the Gospel of Christ as John Story and John Wilkinson have manifested themselves to be whereof this Nation yields many Living witnesses To conclude Our earnest Desires are that all Friends may continually abide upon their Watch that so for the future none may be ensnared through the subtile Devices of Satan to put their hands to the Unrighteous Testimonies of others against such Antient and Faithful Labourers in the Gospel of Christ as keep their Place and Habitation in the Vnchangeable Truth nor yet slightly to esteem of such lest the Indignation of the Almighty break forth and a Famine of the Word of the Lord come upon them that may so do whilst those who are Unskilful to divide the Word aright ministring Death unto the Hearers are exalted Which though the Lord may permit for a season as an Exercise upon his Heritage yet our Perswasion is That he will have a Regard to those who in Faithfulness sitting under their own Vine wait upon him so that they shall be able to distinguish between the Precious and the Vile and through the Word of God's Patience be made Partakers of the Joy of his Salvation William Rogers on Behalf of himself and other Friends in Truth concerned The THIRD PART OF THE Christian-Quaker Distinguished from the APOSTATE INNOVATOR MANIFESTING That there is but two sorts of Government owned by the Children of Light or Christian-Quaker One is The Outward Government under which we Live unto the Laws whereof we owe either Active or Passive Obedience and ought not by Outward Force to endeavour Deliverance from under such Laws as we have or may term Oppressive 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 him to execute outward Laws Prescriptions Orders Edicts or Decrees in an outward Form of Government visible as aforesaid And for the better Illustration of our Meaning an Answer to a part of Robert Barclay's Book of Government is Cited To which is added A Testimony given forth in Print in the Year 1660. by Isaac Penington the younger being part of a Discourse Intituled The Authority and Government which Christ excluded out of his Church Also an Epistle written by Robert Barclay as an Explanatory Post-script to his Book of Government together with some Observations adjoyn'd manifesting the Shortness thereof to answer the End expected To which is added a Letter Written as is pretended by W. R. but Published by R. B. together with a Paper termed The Judgment of the Brethren in a Discourse had between R. B. and W. R. with Observations and Answer thereto By WILLIAM ROGERS on behalf of himself and other Friends in Truth concerned Isa 9.6 For unto us a Child is born unto us a Son is given and the Government shall be upon his Shoulders and his Name shall be called Wonderful Counsellour Isa 2.4 And he shall Judge amongst the Nations and shall rebuke many People and they shall beat their Swords into Plow-shares and their Spears into Pruning-hooks Nation shall not lift up Sword against Nation neither shall they learn War any more Printed in the Year 1680. The THIRD PART OF THE Christian-Quaker Distinguished from the Apostate and Innovator c. THere are but two sorts of Government which become every Christian to own The one is Outward the other Inward The Outward Government is represented by Visible Persons invested with Power to execute Outward Laws visible by our carnal Eyes and is suffered by Almighty God to be executed under variety of Forms and diversitie of Laws and for divers ends which we do not now pretend to be reveal'd to us but yet we believe it to be our duty either actively or passively to submit unto the Outward Government under which we live without designing to work our own deliverance from under such Laws which we have or may account oppressive by outward Force or Violence which is as much as is with us to say on this occasion with respect to Outward Government The Inward Government chiefly
copy of a Letter pretended to be given forth by W. R. Friends IT was upon me for several weeks past if any occasion would in any wise permit to come up to the City of London to be present among Friends from divers parts of the Nation at this time that so I might have Opportunity to confer with Friends who were dissatisfied with me touching what I had written in Answer to Robert Barclays Book of Government And a few dayes before my coming up Robert Barclay being in London writ unto me to come up that we might have a Conference at large touching the same This his Request had the greater Obligation upon me to be present in London at this Time On Conference had with him we agreed that a Free-Meeting might be had with Friends in whose Presence Robert Barclay and my self might in all Coolness and Moderation conferr together that so all Mis-understandings might be removed and the Truth be evidenced to the Consciences of the Brethren then present The Meeting for this End was this day had and a very Christian and fair Debate was had to the Satisfaction of both of us as far as I can understand and the matters chiefly objected by me were fairly and Brother-like and in much Love discoursed and upon the whole Matter I am satisfied that Robert Barclay is not Principled so as I and others have taken his Book to import In particular he doth declare That his Book teacheth not that the Church of Christ hath Jurisdiction over the Outward Concerns of Friends in case of Difference without the Assent of the Differing Parties and that it was far from his Intention For his Intention as he declares was only to manifest that Friends ought to submit their Cases of Difference to the Decision of the Church and in Case of Refractoriness that Such Persons Ought to be Disowned That though Robert Barclay in one Place affirms to this purpose That there never will or can be wanting in case of Controversy the Spirit of God to give Judgement through some or other in the Church of Christ so long as any Assembly can properly or in any tolerable Supposition be so term'd He declares that the words were Sound and further sayeth that thereby he intends no other but such Assemblies as in reality and Truth may be termed the Church of Christ And whereas he sayeth to this purpose That 't is Disobedience to God not to submit to the Sentence of such Assemblies though the Persons refusing to submit pretend they see it not yet he declares that his meaning thereby is not that if they submit before Conviction of Conscience they therein find Acceptance with the Lord but rather to shew that their want of Sight is through Disobedience or unwatchfulness to the Grace of God in themselves which if they did take heed thereunto would shew it their Duty to obey We also had Discourse touching his Assertion that Principles and Doctrines c. believed through the Force of Truth on the Understanding are as it were the Terms and in another Place the Book produced it appeared that he asserted there was a more Inward Bond viz. the Life of Righteousness and that the Book declareth that we are gathered into the Belief of the Principles and Doctrines by the Truth and its Power and Influence upon our Hearts and the very Bond by which we became Centered into one Body and Fellowship c. and on a Debate thereof he acknowledged that his meaning was not they were the Original Bond but rather as Fruits and Branches of that Bond and so in that respect might be as an Outward Bond whereby we are United in an Heavenly Society We had also some Discourse touching his Title Page wherein he asserts that the Ancient Apostolick Order of the Church of Christ is Re-establish't on its right Basis and Foundation touching which he declareth That his meaning is not only with respect to all the Outward Orders and Forms of Discipline in Government amongst us but also with respect to the Power of God which in the Primitive Dayes was and now is the great Order of the Gospel And though Robert Barclay hath given these Explications of his meaning yet the very Explication as he sayeth are to be found in his Book if duely weighed Having given you an account in short of what was discoursed this day amongst Friends this further lies upon me to signifie unto you on the behalf of R. Barclay I am satisfyed that he is not Principled as I and many by some Passages in his Book took him to be and since it is so that many have taken an offence against him for that Cause as may be doubted even so far as to Reject his Testimony and Service for the Truth it lyeth upon me as my Duty even for his and the Truths sake to warn all that they take heed not to entertain Prejudice against his Testimony or Jealousyes that may enter on the score of any apprehensions or mistakes of his Book and that Answer that I have given thereto but rather in an unprejudiced Spirit to wait on the Lord to feel and Savour his Testimony even as if the occasion taken had never been And I do Freely confess that inasmuch as I Publisht my Book before I gave Robert Barclay notice of my Objections and Intentions therein I acted in that Respect not according to Gospel Order but am Justly worthy of blame therein It is with me also to signifie to you that I am abundantly satisfied that Robert Barclays Book of Government was Written at or before the time of its Date for that he Solemnly Affirms it was so William Rogers The Coppy of a Paper given forth by Charles Marshal and Thirty six Persons more Forasmuch as William Rogers of Bristol hath lately written a Manuscript against a Book of Robert Barclays Entituled The Anarchy of the Ranters and approved at the Second days Meeting at London and hath dispersed his Manuscript in Several Parts of this Nation without so much as first giving either to the said Robert Barclay in Particular or the Second Days Meeting in General any account of his Scruples or Dissatisfaction concerning the said Book of Robert Barclay contrary to all Rules of Brotherly Love Christian-Fellowship Gospel-Order and the Exemplary Practice of the Church of Christ to the Defamation of the said Robert Barclay the great Derogation from the Christian Authority of the said Meeting and the general Dis-service to Truth especially being sent unto Persons who at present are Disaffected to the present Unity of the Body of Friends And whereas on the Seventh Day of the Fourth Moneth 77. We whose Names are Under Written were met together in the City of London in the pure Fear and Holy Dread of the Lord God Almihty to hear what the said William Rogers had Objected against the said Book of Robert Barclay it appeared to us upon a Deliberate Serious and Impartial Hearing of the Matter in controversy that the
which the enemy of the Soul of Man hath spread before him since his first coming forth to Preach the Light c. to concern himself so much as he hath against some that cannot own an urging with severity his Directions or Prescriptions on Gods Faithfull People and in Particular to appear a Persecutor of such which can certainly be proved against him if endeavouring unjustly to take away a mans Good Name and Reputation can be termed such To this the Answer is As the Serpent beguiled Eve so Eve beguiled Adam in prevailing upon him to eat of the Forbidden Fruit which she had eaten and the Argument used by the Serpent to tempt Eve was this Ye shall be as Gods Even so are we persuaded that there hath not been wanting unto him to speak comparitively a tempting Eve which hath been too aspiring after such a State which with respect to humble self-denying Persecuted Members of Christs Church is neither fit nor presidented and yet 't is to be doubted that this aspiring Mind hath had so much place with him as that he hath taken too much upon him which hath occasioned Rents and Divisions amongst the flock and sometimes to pretend that he hath seen things in the Vision of the Almighty which hath been no other than the Imagination of his own Heart and having given way thereto and finding a fear upon Friends thorough a tender respect unto him to Judge or dislike what he might bring forth under pretence of the Motion of the Spirit it in Probability encreast his Confidence especially when he considered what had been written unto him by some Friends in the Day of their Infancy which being in such Language as was suitable to an aspiring mind might tend to his hurt At length his fame grew so great as that amongst some Weak Friends it became even as a Proverb that none would prosper who should oppose him This by others hath clearly been seen to be a subtil way to obliege all such as should so believe to be Servants to his Will and for ought we know this Perswasion hath the more easily obtained him the repute with some of being set by the Lord in the like place amongst the Children of Light at this Dayas Moses had amongst the Children of Israel in his Day and this we doubt is the Occasion that the Rebellion of Corah Dathan and Abiram is much treated on to affrighten Simple People in our Publick Meetings for Worship of God since the Divisions amongst Friends especially in those Places where G. F's Papers relating to Church-Government have little place But alas those who are sound in the Faith cannot be affrighted with such things no more than they can be convinced with the sight of such False Certificates * Note The Reader may peruse the Fifth Part of the Christian Quaker and therein the said Certificates are more largely treated on recorded in the 21st Section of the Manuscript first mentioned in the Preface and ready for perusal of any Friend desiring the sight thereof as of late have been spread abroad in his Favour to render him an Innocent Man and to acquit him from the Guilt of some Matters of Fact laid to his charge when the Certifiers knew nothing at all thereof and of this he himself could not be Ignorant though the Occasion of spreading such Certificates abroad if he knew what was contained therein which would have been proved to his Face had he been but so Just to the cause of Truth as to have submitted to a hearing according as was desired and in the Preface signified before Friends of things Reproachful to the Truth whereof he is guilty But notwithstanding all this we dare not say that his Preaching the Light in the beginning of his Travels abroad as well as the Preaching the Light by others his Fellow-Servants in the Beginning with him was not the Ministration given them of God for at the sound thereof many Faces gathered Paleness Horror and Amazement seized many who then became sensible of their Lost State and Condition whilest they were admiring their Teachers and busied in Outward Ordinances more than in the Cross of Christ And that Day wherein many were not only so strucken with Amazement but through Faith received the Testimony given touching the Light of Christ might truly be termed The Day of their Infancy in the Truth and so the more likely to be prevailed upon by the Enemy who in that Day as in Ages past sought how he might destroy that Tenderness to the Truth which was so begotten for 't is certainly known that many whose Eyes ought to have been unto the Creator Admiring and giving Glory unto him for his Gifts of Grace and Ministration of Light then revealed did on a sudden admire the Creature in such an abundant manner as if not only the planting and watering were by him but the Encrease also and in that Day some whom the Lord hath made as Watchmen in the House of Israel were concerned thereat and Jealous with a Godly Jealousie and though at present 't is not with us to declare what that Jealousie was yet if the Tree may be known by its Fruit we may with Boldness affirm that the then admiring the Creature might be truely paraleld with that State out of which the Lord through the Ministration of Light or Spirit of Life had led many at that Day who had so learned the Truth as according to the Testimony thereof to have their Eye to the Light within viz. the Light of Christ and not instead thereof to any Outward Person through whom amongst other Brethren the Ministration of Light was revealed But yet notwithstanding some there were as before is signified that admired the Creature which not only became unto them a snare but 't is much to be doubted unto the Creature also that was admired for the Acceptation of more respect than was meet stands in the same ground with the Offering thereof and 't is too much to be feared that the imprudent Acceptation of what was unduely offered hath begot a Spirit of Pride and Exaltation in G. F. which the Lord is determined for his Name-Sake to bring into the Dust and if he did but seriously mind his State and Condition and was but more ready to appear little in his own eyes than to be accounted Great in the Eyes of others and not give way to such a false Imagination that true Judgment was committed to him in all things which can now be Testified was spoken by him and that at that time wherein his Judgement was known to be false and that he may take a Liberty knowingly to put Stumbling Blocks in the way of Gods People and yet be justified therein * Note When William Rogers discoursed with him touching this particular Passage in his Book of Womens Meetings And was not Micahs Mother a virtuous Woman Read Judges 17 and then a few Lines after though she was an Idolotrous Woman sayeth these and such
Instrumental to gather though in R. B's Sense as is before manifested such are the fittest to rule over those whom they have begotten to the Truth but also over the Labours of others and then stile themselves the Church of Christ though not guided by the unerring Spirit so to do and then also pretend that they have Power in Cases that are matters of Conscience to give positive Sentences oblieging Believers to Obey Receive and Own the same and that 't is Disobedience to God not to submit to the Positive Sentences and Decisive Judgments of any Assembly or some or other of them which in any Tolerable Supposition may be termed the Church of Christ though we see it not and so by degrees may endeavour to divest Christ of his Government and Prerogative who alone is Lord over the Conscience and by his Spirit in us is become our only Lawgiver and who alone by the influencing Vertue of his own Spirit is able to bring unto that Love and Unity which through the Life of Righteousness finds exceptance with the Lord of Life William Rogers Having now done with the citation of what was writ in answer to the aforesaid Book of Government and considering that in the First Section thereof the Author as is already cited and Observed writ of a sort of Persons that would needs be Innovators and given to Change and introducing new Doctrines and Practices not only differing but contrary to what were delivered in the beginning and in Page thirteen seems reflectingly to treat on such kind of language as this I must stay till I be convinc'd as if such language was knocked down in the beginning and as may reasonably be taken from the scope of the said Book to reflect on such among the People called Quaker who are not so Zealously affected with the Outward Formes of Government under the Notion of Church-Government pretended to be establish't amongst them as the Author or Approvers of his Book were we think it necessary to cite a Testimony Publish't in Print by Isaac Penington the younger in the year One Thousand six hundred and sixty Being a part of a Discourse Entituled The Authority and Government which Christ excluded out of his Church c. And as it lyes all together word for word and not taken by parts and pieces here and there Our end in citing this Testimony is that the impartial Reader may consider whether the said Testimony hath any Coherence with that part of the said Book of Government which is Objected against by us or doth contradict any subject matter that we have treated upon The Testimony of the said Isaac Penington the Younger now followeth THe Apostles and Ministers of Christ came from Christ with a Message of Life and Salvation with a Testimony concerning the Good Will of God and his Love to Mankind pointing out the Way from Death to Life from Bondage to Liberty from Wrath and Destruction to Peace and Salvation What they have seen what they have felt what they have tasted what they have handled what they have found redeem and deliver them that they declare abroad to others as they are moved as they are sent as they are guided and assisted Now that which they preach to is Mens Consciences in the Sight of God They open the Truth which they know they give their Testimony in the Moving Leading and Power of the Spirit and they leave it to the same Spirit to demonstrate it to Mens Consciences as it pleaseth They are nothing they can do nothing they cannot convert any Man to God but the Power that speaketh by them the same Power worketh in other Mens Consciences at its Pleasure And here is the beginning of the Government of Christ in the Heart when his Truth carries Conviction with it to the Conscience and the Conscience is drawn to yield it self up to him then he lays his Yoak upon it and takes upon him the guiding of it he cherisheth it he cleanseth it he comforteth it he ordereth it at his Pleasure and he alone preserveth it pure chast gentle Meek and pliable to the Impressions of his Spirit and as the Conscience is kept single and tender to Christ so his Government encreases therein but as it becomes hard or subject to Mens Wills so another Spirit gets Dominion over it Therefore the great work of the Minister of Christ is to keep the Conscience open to Christ and to preserve Men from receiving any Truths of Christ as from them further than the Spirit opens or to imitate any of their Practices further than the Spirit leads guides and perswades them For Persons are exceeding prone to receive things as Truths from those whom they have an high Opinion of and to Imitate their Practices and so hurt their own growth and endanger their Souls For if I receive a Truth before the Lord by his Spirit make it manifest to me I lose my Guide and follow but the Counsel of the Flesh which is exceeding greedy of receiving Truths and running into Religious Practices without the Spirit Therefore the main thing in Religion is to keep the Conscience pure to the Lord to know the Guide to follow the Guide to receive from him that Light whereby I am to walk and not to take things for Truths because others see them to be Truths but wait till the Spirit make them manifest to me nor to run into Worships Duties Performances or Practices because others are led thither but to wait till the Spirit leads me thither He that makes haste to be rich even in Religion running into Knowledge and into Worships and Performances before he feel a true and clear Guidance shall not be Innocent nor the Lord will not hold him guiltless when he comes to visit for Spiritual Adultery and Idolatry The Apostles were exceeding tender in this point for though they certainly and infallibly knew what was to be believed yet they were not Lords over Mens Faith but waited till he who is Lord of the Faith would open the way into Mens Consciences They did not take upon them to be able to turn the Key to let in Truth and Conviction into Mens Spirits as men in these Days have been too apt to undertake but directed them to him who had the Key there to wait for the Conviction and Illumination of their Minds and so to receive in as they found him give forth to them Let every man saith the Apostle be fully perswaded in his own Mind take heed of receiving things too soon take heed of running into Practices too soon doing what ye see others do but wait for your own particular Guidance and a Full Perswasion from God what is his Will concerning you Tho I know this to be a Truth yet do not ye receive it till God make it manifest to you receive Truth from his Hand stay till He gives it You. Indeed the main Matter in Religion is to keep out the wrong part the forward part the bastardly
gave that Judgment had not then perused it And as to their saying 'T was to the great Derogation of the Christian Authority of the said Meeting meaning the Second Daies Meeting I have this to say That I never understood that Friends owned any Authority in any of our Meetings as a Christian Authority but the Power of God which is Invisible and cannot be diminished and therefore I may well query whether 't is not Great Weakness in any to conclude that I am capable to do any Action which can either lessen diminish or take from that Authority and I hope none of the said Subscribers are so remote from Truth and a good Understanding as to conclude that the Second Dayes Meeting hath any Authority given them by Man but if any should be so Weak I must tell such that as I never gave it any so am wholly uncapable by writing to lessen it if they have any And whereas 't is said that the Objections of the said William Rogers lay not so much against the Matter and Substance of the said Robert Barcly's Book as against the way of Expressing some Passages therein This I say is untrue my Objections were against the very Matter and Substance of some things contained in his Book On the whole matter I have this to say I could not obtain a Meeting of Friends to be chosen by Robert Barclay and my self though the Person immediately concerned which agrees not with the Examples of the Scriptures of Truth Read Acts 15.1 2. And that the aforesaid Eminent Preacher as the Mouth of others under the Notion of the Church Obstructed and though in the Meeting held Friends Deportment was grave orderly and inoffensive as to me ward whilst the debate on my Objections held yet I am greatly satisfied that by the Publication of the said two Papers every Impartial Reader that will be at the paines seriously to weigh the said Papers this Answer and Robert Barcaly's Book and Postscript may easily discern the Errour of Robert Barclay and Charles Marshal with the Thirty Six subscribers but those who will have an Eye to Papers and Bookes for the Writers Sakes more then for the matters Contained therein may in time come to have their Understanding so Vailed as to be brought to worship Images and to esteem * See George Fox his Book of Womens Meeetings wherein he queries and was not Micah's Mother a virtuous Woman Read Judges 17th and then a few Lines of these and such like Women were recorded for their Wisdom and their Virtue Michah's Mother a vertuous Women in Israel though she caused a Molten Image and a Graven Image to be made and put in the House of her Son Judges 17. If any should be offended at these Lines let such Exhort Charles Marshall and the other Thirty Six Subscribers concerned to make better Use for time to come of so much Condescention as appeared in me for the sake of Robert Barclay whom I once accounted my Brother when I perceived from the Words of Robert Barclay's Mouth that he appeared a better Principled Man than his Lines imported William Rogers The FOURTH PART OF THE Christian-Quaker Distinguished from the Apostate Innovator WHEREIN A RELATION is given of several Proceedings since George Fox's Wife caused a Paper dated the 21 th of the 11 th M on 1672. to be Read against Iohn Story in a Quarterly-Meeting in Westmoreland Therein signifying that he judged the Power of God as it broke forth in Hymns or Spiritual Songs And is chiefly to discover That George For hath Erroneously concerned himself in the Divisions amongst the People called Quakers Which therefore may serve for A WARNING TO THE Children of Light that their Dependency may not be on G. F. a mis-led fallible Man nor yet on any Mortal Man Men or Name whatsoever save the Name of JESUS who is given of the Father to be Salvation unto the Ends of the Earth By William Rogers Hosea 9.7 The Dayes of Visitation are come the Dayes of Recompence are come Israel shall know it the Prophet is a Fool the Spiritual Man is Mad for the Abundance of thine Iniquity and great Hatred Printed in the YEAR 1680. The FOURTH PART OF THE Christian-Quaker Distinguished from the Apostate and Innovator c. THis small Treatise is chiefly designed to be Communicated unto those who profess the Appearance of Christ Jesus the Son of the Eternal God by his Light in the Consciences of the Sons and Daughters of Men to be a sufficient Guide unto the Father of Life The Faith of such is That those who receive this Appearance or Gift of God so as to Live and Walk according to the Divine Motions and Dictates thereof shall come to know the Salvation of God through Christ Jesus their Law-giver Lord and Saviour 'T is publickly known that this Principle of Truth hath been held forth and owned by those who in Derision have been called QUAKERS of whom it may be now said to the great Grief and Exercise of the Spirit of the Faithful Followers of Christ amongst them That though the Principle in which such of them who have received from God a Divine and Spiritual Knowledge have believed is Unchangeable yet the Enemy hath so prevailed as that the Seeds of Dissention and Discord sown amongst them have taken so deep Root as that their Publick Meetings for Worship in several Parts of this Nation have become the Stages of Contention to the Dishonour of God his Truth and People And in divers Parts of this Nation 't is reputed that George Fox is at least one of the Chief Abettors of one Party and Iohn Story of another But how far that Report may with respect to G. F. have Credit with others besides my self I shall leave to the Sense and Savour of the understanding impartial Reader when he hath throughly perused this Treatise And though from their Names mentioned in the Title-Page some may be in Expectation that the Difference between the People called QUAKERS with respect to the present Seperation in some Parts of this Nation may be Treated on at large yet that 's not my present Design or Purpose Though I must confess that Matter is at large Collected and impartially Stated and lies ready by me for the Press and in Probability may come forth or at least a Part thereof more than what is in this Fourth Part contained in its proper Time and Season unless the Lord shall be pleased to change the Hearts of the Persecuting Opposers of John Wilkinson and John Story and other Servants of the Lord unto whom the Truth is as dear as ever and that the Door may be opened again in our Publick Assemblies for Worship of God whereby those who have the Word of the Lord to Publish in the Demonstration of his Power and Spirit may not be so frequently obstructed by the airy imaginary and empty Discourses of such as have pretended to have the Word of the Lord to declare when
Wilkinson and John Story and your Company to call in all your Papers which ye have given forth in your Separation which tend to nothing but disquieting Friends Minds and bring them into Strife Jangling and vain Disputing and corrupt their Minds and draw them from better Things and from the Lord and his Peaceable Truth And you may see if you will not shut your Eyes what your Spirit begetteth into viz. Strife and what Spirit is it that hath led and guided you So if you do not give over your Work and Separation the Lord God will blast your Spirit and Work and you will become hardned and as bad as the old Opposers James Naylor and his Company and John Perrot and Pennyman and Cobet and Muggleton Mark your End for the Seed of Life Reigns and will grind to Powder its Opposers This 23 d. of 8 th M on 76. George Fox To the afore-said Letter John Wilkinson returned this ensuing Answer George Fox I Received thy Lines in which thou say'st This is the Word of the Lord to you John Wilkinson and John Story and your Company to call in all your Papers which you have given forth in your Separation c. I judge thou meanest not that that is a Separation that all Friends meet not Outwardly together Truly George we might have expected thou would have told us in Love what the Separation thou speakest of consisted in whether we are separated from the Light within the Doctrine of Truth or have builded again that which we have once destroyed or what we have left undone that God's Truth in our Hearts requires of us and what Papers we have given forth against the Light Within When the Word through thee concerning this Matter enters our Hearts and gives Light to us that the Light of Truth manifests us guilty of a Separation from God's Truth and Giving out Papers against it we shall readily confess it and Repent But till we know it the Word of the Lord that is as a Hammer and thy Prophesies be to them who are in the Separation and in Strife causing Divisions viz. with Articles of Accusations disquieting Friends Minds with a New Form and Way of Proceeding carryed on with a Profession of Church-Authority and great Help which indeed was seldom wanted in a Separation from Truth when the Apostacy entred And truly there is great Cause of Iealousie what will be the End of these Things Thou shouldst have told us what new Things we have brought in as bad as the old Opposers James Naylor and his Company and John Perrot and Pennyman c. before thou hadst told us The Lord God would blast your Spirit and Work And if James Naylor's Opposition consisted in Not Reproving his Company when they bowed to him and cryed Hosanna let it be a Warning to thee and Reprove thy Company when they give thee the Titles and Honour due to the Highest lest they that love Preheminence and Rule out-live thy Time and render thy Weakness to others as thou hast done his when thou art Dead and in thy Grave turned to Dust Therefore be Humble as a Member of the Heavenly Body under Christ the Head who Ruleth in his Church and People whose Right it is And remember the word to Moses with the time and place of his Death who sanctified not God in the sight of Israel his people Oh! well may Friends be called Apostates in their Day and be Curst of Men when they are Dead whose Condemnations are left on Record by others to Posterity in the Churches Books seeing James Naylor by thee is called an Old Opposer who confest his Weakness Repented and Dyed in Truth and Peace with God But George we might have been perswaded that thy Counsel and Advice thou gavest to the Churches in writing is greatly abused and we cannot Judge how thou couldst intend Force or such a way of proceeding with Friends about them That which I see at present tending to Vnity is for thee to Manifest what thou intendedst by them if thou intendest no force with them which thou couldst not do in Truth for that would let thee see Divisions would be the effect of them then manifest the Abuse they have done to thee and thy Counsel to Friends by their proceedings about them that we may know that thou art the same in Principle in Doctrine and Practice as in the beginning when thy Testimony was recommended to the Witness of God in all Consciences that thou mayst clear thy self that thou approvest of no Force about Religion but the Force and Effect of the Word delivered that the encrease may be of God and we all unto whom Gods Love hath been large may have Vnity in Truth as in the Beginning The 9th Mth. 76. From thy Friend John Wilkinson Unto this Letter George Fox gives this ensuing Answer John Wilkinson I Received thy Letter as I judge Subscribed J. W. wherein thou wouldst seem to shuffle off that which I writ to Thee and John Story and the rest as the Word of the Lord to you and that I should have told you Wherein you were Separated and what Papers you have given forth contrary to the Light and Truth c. Your Paper of your Eighty Subscribers is not from the Light of Christ nor as it was in the Beginning which you sent up and down and if it was not to beget into Strife Why did you send it to Carlisle and up and down to other Places and another Paper lately that you have sent besides all your other Papers And as for my Papers or Writings that I have been moved of the Lord to give forth I know no Friends that do abuse them if thou knowest any thou shouldst have mentioned them And if thow wer 't not Blind who art gone from the Light of Christ and the Spirit by which thou wast first Convinced thou wouldst see that I am the same as I was in the Beginning And as for thy Fear of making Force in Religion there is nothing but what is Pure can come into it But look into your own Paper wherein you say None of your own County nor other Counties must sit amongst your Chosen Men but whom you have given Power unto c. But I say as Christ said unto you He that Believes is Saved and he that Believes not is Condemned already And thy Neighbours and all that have been concerned with you do know what you are Separated from And I say also You are Separated from that Power and Spirit which did first Convince you for if not you would have been in Unity with me as at the first And thou hadst better have taken the Word of the Lord patiently and not resisted it But it seems it has been as a Fire unto Thee and You. For it was sent in Tenderness and Care unto you and for your Good though thou wouldst make thy self ignorant of what Separation you were gone into For you are separated from the Inward Light and Spirit that
you went from before you separated Outwardly And this Spirit was afraid of being limited but it would limit the Universal Spirit both in Males and Females as your Fruit has manifested concerning the Practice of Womens-Meetings and Recording Condemnations and Admonishing Payers of Tythes and other Evils as your Books and Papers and Neighbours can testify But thou who hast said They must be left to themselves to Condemn this Year or the other c. this gives Liberty to the Flesh For whil'st it is to Day they must hear his Voice But John I savour thy Spirit and know that thy Words come from an Angry Disquieted Fretful Peevish Spirit And poor Men and People for my part I pitty you as knowing and seeing that you are out of the Life and are not in the Spirit that did first Convince you and so not in the First Love And if ever thou comest to the tender Spirit and Light of Christ in thy Heart thou wilt see all those your Books and Papers of Strife and your Separation is all for Condemnation with the Light of Christ and they are the Works of that Spirit that led thee into Death and Strife And now thou cryest What and Wherein and This and the Other But come in and look into thy self And I say again It is the same Spirit that led James Naylor and John Perrot and others and John Perrot cryed against Imposition as you do and against the Mens-Meetings as you do against the Womens Though I know James Naylor did for himself Condemn that Spirit that led into a Separation which had been well if you had done so too And his Resurrection is Recorded as well as his Condemnation But many of his People remain to this Day out and have been and are as much against Men and Womens-Meetings as you And so it is but the same Spirit still And James Naylor's Opposition did not consist only in Not Reproving his Company for the Titles they gave him but his Opposition stood several Years about other Matters and his People cryed against our Meetings and sought with all their Might to destroy them But the Lord's Power blasted them all that did not come in by Repentance and Judgment And thou further sayest Let James Naylor's not Reproving his Company be a Warning to me and bid'st me Reprove my Company when they give me Titles and Honour due to the Highest c. Poor Man Is here thy Envy broken out But What are the Titles and Who are them that have given them And When and Where And whereas thou sayest Lest they that love Preheminence and Rule out-live my Time and render my VVeakness to others John Who are those that love Preheminence And What is my VVeakness that they may render it Why didst thee not mention it in thy Paper But this is from a prejudiced malicious Spirit and not from the Light of Christ to render my Weakness c. when I am Dead and in my Grave turned to Dust Nay John that which thee strikes at and thy Company and all the Evil Spirits in the World have struck at and all the Apostates before thee shall never turn it to Dust neither shall you ever get it into the Dust Glory to the Everlasting God for ever For He that Over-comes shall go no more forth and shall never Perish and he that Believeth on the Son of God hath Everlasting Life But if this be the Way of thy Preaching that the Members of the Heavenly Body turn to Dust I fear thou hast begotten none to God but into a Profession that will turn to Dust like thy self and Dust is the Meat of this Spirit that I know For I am in a Life that is over that Spirit which neither Thee nor the World cannot touch And if thou comes to be as Judas and Betray the Truth to the Priests I know what thee and they can kill if God will suffer you But I do not fear it And I must tell thee it is the Spirit of Judas the Betrayer that is gone from Truth and now would betray others from the Heavenly Body in the Eternal Fellowship in the Eternal Head For That which is Earthly is Earthly and that which is Heavenly is Heavenly And thou bidst me Be Humble as a Member of the Heavenly Body under Christ the Head c. So thou tell'st me I am a Member of Christ the Heavenly Body yet thou sayest When I am turned to Dust and Dead Is this thy Doctrine Are the Members of the Heavenly Body turned to Dust and Dead This Doctrine surely proceeds from Darkness and not from the Light of Christ And Is it to this thou wouldst have me bow and be humbled to Nay John I need none of thy Ministry and it will do no good in the State thou stands in to any For it is an Angry Malicious Froward Spirit that has possest thee And further thou bid'st me Remember the Word to Moses with the Time and Place of his Death who Sanctified not God in the Sight of Israel his People What dost thou infer from thence John That I have not Sanctified God before his People So thou hast set me above a Common Member and put me into an Office then but Must that which Sanctifies God be turned to Dust I thought John thou hadst owned Christ to be the Sanctifyer of all who is Greater than Moses and the End of Moses But John Wherein have not I Sanctified the Lord What Liberty have I given to Sin or any that are Faithful that have not followed you in your Separation Have you not taken Offence against some of them that came to Admonish such as were not Faithful amongst you and called it Over-driving them yea such as have been moved by the Spirit of God And Was it not called Popery when some went to Admonish Preston Meeting when they did not stand stedfast to the Lord And How was the Lord sanctifyed amongst you then And How was the Lord sanctifyed amongst you concerning your Paying of Tythes or your Conniving at your Wives or others Paying for you Much of which I could write concerning such like Things but I shall forbear But when you were in Strife I would have had you come over to me that you might have been brought into Unity before your Separation but you refused Nevertheless if Thee and John Story bring your Eighty Subscribers and come to me I will shew you wherein you Writings and Actions are contrary to the Light of Christ Jesus and Spirit of God by which you were Covinced in the Beginning Which had you loved the Gospel of Peace you would have come to me before you had made such a Jumble with your strife up and down the Nation For I have heard by several Faithful Friends where you have sent your Papers to prejudiced Persons against Men and Womens-Meetings and Recording Commendations and other Friends Practices which has begotten a great Dislike in Friends concerning you For what hath this been