they are though under ever so specious Pretences that have indeavoured to Establish Outward indispensible Rules and Orders in matters relating to Conscience for the Church of Christ in this Gospel Day to Walk by neglecting to commit and Commend every one unto the Word nigh in the heart that thereby they may be preserved from subjection to any thing outwardly ordained which they may either scruple in Conscience or are not led by the Word nigh in the Heart to Practise are such as in the best and most Fovourable Construction act from Zeale without Knowledge in which kind of Zeal Paul himself Phil. 3.6 though as to the Righteousness of the Law blameless yet Persecuted the Church This kind of Zeal is accompanied with that Ignorance which the chief amongst Apostatized Churches have accounted the Mother of Devotion by which Thousands in Ages past in the Dark Night of Apostacy have been led into the Observation of many Unsavoury Dictates Erroneous Decrees Unwarrantable Traditions and Superstitious Examples either of one Man or assemblies of men not knowing what they have either believed or Practised to be an incumbent duty upon them through an inward evidence from Gods Witness in their Consciences or Tryal thereof by the Light of Christ May not the same Cloud of Darkness overshadow any of the Children of Light in this our day saith our Souls Moreover 't is observable that if Report be true this doctrine hath of late been exalted NO UNITY BUT IN CONFORMITY which if applyed to the Outward Prescriptions of one Man or Assemblies of men assuming to themselves authority to act and determin in matters appertaining to the Gospel and its Order thereby to become a Bond upon the Consciences of those who have Believed in the Everlasting Light of Christ Jesus as the great Order and Ordinance of God in this Gospel Day may occasion the Continuation of Discord Distraction and Division contrary to the Gospel and Doctrine of Truth which hath been publisht received and believed amongst the Children of Light in these latter days who neither have nor can receive any Doctrine contrary to this Testimony of the Apostle 2 Cor. 3.6 The Letter Killeth but the Spirit giveth Life We now appeal unto every understanding ingenious and impartial Reader whether since the Labour of the Apostles of Christ in the primitive dayes was to draw the Outward Jew off from the observation of these ordinances which were realy established by the appointment of God himself having exalted instead thereof the word nigh in the heart and Law written therein as a fulfilling of that which according to the Word of the Lord by the mouth of his Prophet was to come to pass under the new Covenant which was not to be like unto the Old can consist with the tenour of the new Covenant for any to attempt the establishment or giving forth of Outward Orders Prescriptions Sentences or Decrees to be on that foot a Bond upon the Consciences of those who have believed in the Everlasting Light Especially if they are of the Gentile Stock according to the Flesh unto whom the Law appertained not for so the People of England are and if not whether those who are otherwise perswaded and according to such a perswasion may be found acting may not though under the Outward Profession of Truth it self justly be numbered amongst those of whom in the best sense it may be said They have Zeal without Knowledge and Ignorance is the Mother of their Devotion And now as to those who have Knowledge without Zeal Charity doth not Oblige us to conclude that such in that state chiefly design to live well that so they may dye well for as Christ said so may we Luk. 12.48 Unto whomsoever Much is given of him shall be Much required the want of Zeal in a known Good Cause is as we take it the neglect of a Known Incumbent Duty wherein God hath given Power else how could it have been said to the Luke-Warm Church of Laodicea after an understanding was given unto her how she might come to see viz. by anointing her eyes with Eye Salve Lev. 3.19 be Zealous amend for doubtless Power was given of God into her to amend as well as direction how to see but of the want of Knowledge it cannot be so said as of the want of Zeal Because 't is not equally in our Powers to attain unto Knowledge when we want it as it is Zealously to Practise what we know to be our duty we may therefore conclude that where Knowledge is not accompanyed with Zeal though requisite t is in the best sense a token of a Luke-warm Spirit and in some where it hath predominated we have clearly discerned that first they have been over-awed by the Frowns of man or men and then under the Pretence of bearing all things neglect to give their Testimony for the Truth without respect to any Person whatsoever more than the Truth might require and by this means some have undoubtedly been the occasion whereby many have been caught in the Snare of the Evil one not Knowing through a Neglect of their Inward Teacher which way to turn and that Loads and Burthens have been the Portions of others who whil'st they have kept Stedfast unto the antient Doctrine Exalting the appearance of Christ by his Light to be our Law Rule and Guide have beheld some of their Brethren not only captivated with a kind of a slavish Fear but also in their Practices receeded from what their first Principle would have led them to having used politick Contrivances to retain the Favour and Affections of some who perhaps in their View have appeared to be like unto the rising Sun and so have given more way to a Temporizing Spirit than to acquit themselves as Good Christians in the sight of God by which the Conscience comes to be kept voyd of offence towards God and Man and all this as with respect to some 't is doubted for fear lest they should be termed Sect-masters by such as in this Gospel-day have assumed a Pretended Authority to establish Outward Orders to be a Rule for and Bond upon the Children of Light to walk by without any exception thereby to avoid oppressing a tender Conscience But this is far wide of that Zeal which accompanyed the Apostle Paul in his Converted State who was termed a Ringleader of the Sect of the Nazerenes by the Unbelieving Jews that would have Judged him according to their Law which undoubtedly would then have inflicted Severe Punishment on him which being duly considered we may well say 't is far wide of Pauls Zeal to fear under this Gospel-day the Title of a Sect-Master on the score of refusing Outward Conformity to Outward Rules and Orders relating to the Conscience under the Notion of Gospel-Orders establisht amongst the People called Quakers not only Because they have no Law whereby corporally to Punish but also because we have no Ground either from the Word of the Lord by the
a part 2d Part p. 85 to 92. Iews An Objection raised Whether they acted not from the Light within in Crucifying Christ An Answer to the said Objection 2 d. Part p. 9 10. Ignorant The way how the Ignorant have been Ensnared 4 th Part p. 32 33. Imposer See Church-Government Independency The written Words of a Publick Preacher insinuating as if the Tendency of some of our Spirits were down-right Independencies are treated on shewing That we are Principled to depend on the Sufficiency of God's Grace and not on Man c. 1 st Part p. 38 to 42. Infallibility As relating to Internal Things annexed only to the Spirit of God 2 d. Part p. 11 12. How Men endued with the Infallible Spirit are Deceived Fallible 2 d. Part p. 12 13. An Animadversion on this Sentence That the Church of Christ is Infallible and cannot Err 3 d. Part p. 13. Iniquity not distinguish't by our Opposers from Conscientious Scruples 3 d. Part p. 50 51. Innovation See Apostacy Innovators 3 d. Part p. 49. A Part of their Doctrine 3 d. Part p. 50. Iohn Story and Iohn Wilkinson Some concerned in drawing up Forty-Four Articles against them confessed under their Hands That 't is not any Personal Trespass against any of them that they charge Iohn Story and Iohn Wilkinson with nor any particular Concern of their own as Men that they are in the Defence of but the Cause of Almighty God and the Wrong they have done to him But yet some of us know and that from their own Writings that their pretended Wrong to God is a Slighting some of George Fox's Rule c. which in some of John Wilkinson's and John Story 's Opposers Sence are to be urged with Severity which is no less than an Enforcing on God's Faithful People 1 st Part p. 86 87 88 89. Iohn Wilkinson writ to some who of late were his Opposers That the Word of the Lord came to him the 20 th Day of the 6 th Moneth 1675. the Import whereof is That the Lord would break his Opposers and turn them one against another about their Orders if they Repent not 4 th Part p. 28. John Wilkinson and John Story their Accusers chuse Judges to Judge the Matters whereof they Accuse them 4 th Part p. 29 30. The Testimony of John Wilkinson and John Story in Relation to Five Heads from whence the Forty-Four Articles of Accusation were drawn up against them relating to Church-Government wherein they particularly bear their Testimony against Payment of Tythes 4 th Part p. 37 38 39 40. Isaac Penington his Testimony touching That Authority which Christ excluded out of his Church and Of the Danger of running into Religious Practices before led thereinto by the Spirit and Of receiving Things for Truths because others see them to be Truths and That the great Error of the Ages of the Apostacy hath been to set up an Outward Order and Uniformity and to make Mens Consciences bow thereto 3 d. Part p. 89 to 98. Iustification and Salvation through Faith in Christ owned and cleared from the Objections of such as have seemed to extend the Benefit of Christs Obedience unto Persons whil'st Sin is reigning in their Mortal Bodies shewing That though such as are in Christ are Redeemed from under the Law which consisted in Carnal Ordinances yet they ought to be subject to the Law of Faith which is accompanyed with Works of Righteousness wrought in Man by the Spirit of God 2 d. Part p. 61 to 71. K KIngdome of GOD Things relating thereto are revealed to the Creature but by one way viz. the Spirit though the Manifestation may be various viz. sometimes through Man or the Scriptures as Instruments and sometimes through Himself 2 d. Part p. 2 3 4. Knowledge without Zeal Some Part of the Fruits thereof discovered 1 st Part p. 73 74 75 76. The Want of Knowledge the Cause of a Perishing Estate and Bowing to Men 2 d. Part p. 25. The Meaning of these Words of the Apostle Knowledge puffeth up 2 d. Part p. 26 27. L LIberty and Forbearance in Robert Barclay's Sence refuted 3 d. Part p 80 81 82. Liberty of Conscience A Description wherein it doth consist 3 d. Part p. 17 18. What that Liberty of the Conscience is that is according to the Gospel In particular it admits of no Liberty to Sin 3 d. Part p. 86 87. Light of Christ What the Measure of it is and the Effects of Obedience to it 1 st Part p. 3 4. See the 2 d. Part p. 2 5 6 7 8. Those who this Day say We were taught to follow the Light in our Consciences and not the Orders of Men and That we will not have Men to Rule over us thereby meaning such Men as being in a Separation from the Establish't Religion by Law would yet be accounted Church-Governours over us utters Language becoming Christians And though Robert Barclay hath reflected on such kind of Language yet 't is proved to be Sound 3 d. Part p. 43 44. M MAgistracy Obedience Active or Passive due to it 2 d. Part p. 30 31 32. Master On what Ground and to whom the word Master is dis-used by us 2 d. Part p. 34. Meetings Some part at least of Nine Meetings for Worship of God in Westmoreland submit their Affairs without Restriction either to Temporal or Spiritual Affairs to Establisht Monthly and Quarterly-Meetings and Discharge the Separates so termed who are reputed to be of Party with John Wilkinson and John Story to concern themselves in their Affairs meaning as by the Scope of their Words appears the Churches Affairs 1 st Part p. 89 90. Such Submission may be by us reasonably taken to be in the Sense of such Submitters a Mark to know a Member of the Church at least in those Parts p. 90. And such their Discharge seems a Token of some Imaginary Authority and Designe of the Exaltation of One Man namely George Fox for which several Reasons are given in the Defamation of others and that the Name of Monethly and Quarterly-Meetings are but as a Conduit to convey it to him p. 90 91 92. See also what is written touching Monethly and Quarterly-Meetings in 1 st Part p. 11 12 13 14 and then consider whether 't is not wholly Irrational that such should assume unto themselves the Title of Church and on that Foot expect Submission p. 14. The Order in Collecting the Sence of such Meetings spoken of 1 st Part p. 14 15. And in what Sence the Counsel in holding such Meetings was embraced and the End thereof 1 st Part p. 15 16. Monethly Quarterly-Meetings of Men and also of Women distinct from Men not owned by us to be Established as a Part of Christ's Government 3 d. Part p. 8 to 14. Womens-Meetings distinct from Men how they came to be held and for what End 1 st Part p. 63 to 67. The General-Meeting hath usually consisted of uncertain Numbers of uncertain Qualifyed Persons 1 st
of the Eternal God who was with the Father before the Foundation of the World was laid is become the Horn of their Salvation and hath brought Immortality to Light in them and revealed that Teacher that can never be moved into a corner and therefore these cannot depend any longer on the teachings of man nor yet on outward Canonical Articles Creeds Directories or Church-Faiths prescribed by man but on the teachings of Christ alone by his Light and Spiritual appearance in themselves to lead and guide unto the Father of life The sound of this Alarm as many can yet witness became a joyful sound to that soul which was hungring after the Lord though piercing as a Dart through the liver to the man of sin so that astonishment and amazement seemed to take hold on many whereby they became a By-word a Mock and a Taunt unto such whose dependencies were on their outward Teachers c. as aforesaid I say again Oh Friends let the Remembrance of this Day come before you and consider further what was the voice of the Eternal Power unto such who were struck with amazement after they believed the appearance of that power whereby they were so struck to be the appearance of the Power of God I well remember the voice was on this wise To your own To your own To your own Meaning thereby that they should turn in their minds to the Light of Christ in their consciences which was declared to be that teacher which could never be removed into a corner that so they might witness the fulfilling of that loud voice uttered by the Angel flying through the midst of Heaven Having the everlasting Gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the Earth c. Fear God and give glory to him for the Hour of his judgment is come and worship him that made Heaven and Earth c. For no doubt but the Spirit of the Lord revealed unto those first labourers in the Gospel that there was a pronenesse in the Sons and Daughters of Men to admire to depend upon and sometimes through an affectionate part or blind Zeal to worship such are were instruments to give forth outward Directories or Church-Faiths For we find that the Apostle tells us of worshipping Angels which are Messengers whom God hath sent by him that intrudes into things which he hath not seen therefore I am perswaded that the voice of Truth through them was not only thus viz. To your own which being observed leads into an independency upon others but also frequently on this wise We preach not our selves look not unto us In the Consideration of these things I cannot but cry aloud in the aforesaid words of the Angel that had the everlasting Gospel to Preach Fear God and give Glory to him And then no doubt but every such one that hath concerned himself to condemn his Brother on no better ground than from the example and prescription of another will come to see that therein he hath not kept to his own and so hath been led into a By and Erring Path. Oh Friends let therefore this cry pass through every heart To our Own To our Own To our Own That is to say to every one 's own measure of Christ's Light or Grace of God Received which the Apostle saith is sufficient with this secret breathing of Spirit unto the God of our lives that all may be thereto retired For if that Counsel might but take place it seems to me that there could then be no room for any to impose or press the observation of other mens Lines upon any which no doubt is one great occasion of the religious differences treated on and not only so but it would mould all who retain the name of Christianity into the very nature thereof and so consequently a reconciliation in the everlasting Truth might quickly ensue For if that Door be but once shut through which variance and disunion entred there may then arise a hope of cessation to such contention and strife as is out of the Truth but if not I may then say how can the effect cease whilst the cause remains I well Remember and many with me that whil'st friends kept to their Own and concerned not themselves to promote a zealous observation of other mens Lines made ready to their hands we then heard not of so much contention strife and debate both publick and private as of late years hath been but since the promotion thereof Confusion Disorder Emulation Malice and Envy hath been its Offspring which hath been manifested by publick unjust revilings against some when zealously contending for the Faith of Gods Elect and though these are of that number that prefer obedience to their own measures of Grace received before obedience to the measures of others yet other some there are who have endeavoured to bring Friends into conformity to the pretended Dictates of the Spirit through others or at best through that one man G. F. before spoken of and that under the penalty of being accounted guilty of Corah's sin for scrupling to conform and thus the variance is like to continue unless the God of Heaven for his Names sake by the Arm of his own Power shall put a stop thereto And forasmuch as I could not but say in all seriousness of Spirit for the clearing of my conscience Let the remembrance of the dayes that are past come before you wherein the Servants of the living God sounded by his trumpet an Alarm to the Nations and that the Servant of the Lord Edward Burrough many years deceased is honourably spoken of by some if not by all of both parties of the People called Quakers at variance one that had the Trumpet of the Lord to sound and hath therewith sounded as a Son of thunder as well as of consolation many Alarm unto the Nations I shall conclude with the citation of a part of an Epistle written by him in the Year 1658. to the Friends of the City of London and so leave the consideration thereof to the Impartial Reader to savour whether according to the sense of his counsel we ought not to know the Spirit of God in our selves to be the ground of all our actions and if so then to practise from other mens Lines without an inward conviction by the Spirit in our selves can be no more accepted as indeed it is not than the offering of the halt and the blind for a Sacrifice under the first Covenant was Here follows the citation out of Edward Burrough's aforesaid Epistle YEa it is peace to the Soul and gladness to the Heart and refreshment to the Life to feel and witness the teaching of the Spirit of the Father leading into all Truth and preserving out of all transgressions wherefore I beseech you all let this be your whole desire and the full practice in your life and then shall the Countenance of the Lord shine upon you and his face shall make you glad if in all things you look unto
and have so much memory as from the mouths of others to use the words of that wise Apostle Paul when he said 1 Cor. 3.19 The Wisdom of this World is Foolishness with God as if thereby they had brought some Excellent Proof to Justifie all those Rude Actions and Impertinent Expressions which as the fruit of their Ignorance and Folly in a boisterous unruly Spirit they have brought up Were such but sober girding up the Loyns of their Minds they would undoubtedly come to see that such their Words and Actions are but the Fruits of that Ignorance that lusteth to Envy which is to be silenced and doubtless of this sort were these whom the Apostle Peter hinted at 1 Pet. 13 14. when he said Wherefore gird up the Loins of your Minds be sober as obedient Children not fashioning your selves according to your former Lusts in your ignorance But if such had less folly and confidence and were but as ready to ask Wisdom of God according to the Counsel of the Apostle James as they are to condemn that Gift of Wisdom and Understanding which God hath given unto others Jam. 1.5 they would not be ready to run at the Beck Nod or Call of such as in a boasting imperious Spirit glory exalting them as Judges over God's faithful Servants and that have brought forth * See the 5th Part of the Christian-Quaker Lyes in a bitter envious Spirit which things being earthly sensual and devilish are the very marks of that Wisdom that descendeth not from above As a farther illustration of what is aimed at in this discourse we now come to signifie that some have a far greater portion of Wisdom Knowledge and Vnderstanding than others and that it 's given them of God as they are Creatures distinct from what they are when acted by a good Spirit or a bad and in this respect is Man as a Creature the most excellent Creature that God hath made But yet such is the Ignorance of this Age as to accompt this Portion of Wisdom Knowledge or Vnderstanding as we are creatures to be that Wisdom which the Apostle termed Earthly Sensual and Devilish or the Wisdom of this World or the Wisdom of the VVise 1 Cor. 1.19 which the Lord by the Apostle Paul hath said he will destroy But herein such do manifest themselves not knowing whereof they affirm for that Wisdom Knowledge or Understanding which we have as Creatures is the proper Gift of God and a part of his own Creation and is honourable in its place and it is against the nature of the Divine Being to destroy this Wisdom because it is his own Gift even as it is against his Nature to destroy the Lives of Men which is his Creation Luke 7.5 for the Evangelist saith The Son of man came not to destroy mens lives Obj. What then did the Apostle hint at when he spoke of the VVisdom of the VVorld the VVisdom of the VVise and the VVisdom of VVords To this it may be said Act. 22.3 That as Paul was brought up at the Feet of Gamaliel and taught according to the perfect manner of the Law of the Fathers so doubtless many there were who through Education attained unto that which Paul in his converted state terms to be the VVisdom of this VVorld c. From whence it may be concluded that he hinted at those things which in that day were given forth by the Scribes and Pharisees and other Disputers against that divine Appearance whereby Paul was made a Minister of the Everlasting Gospel which things so given forth we do not take to be the natural Effects of that Wisdom Knowledge or Understanding given unto them as creatures but rather being in the state of Degeneration as the Fruits of their Education and Acquired Parts wherewith being not subject unto the Appearance of Christ they then became Opposers of the Truth Besides as the word Flesh in Scripture is sometimes used not with relation to a Carnal Body but in a Metaphorical and Mystical sense by way of opposition to the Spirit of God so are these words fleshly wisdom used not with respect to man as a creature but by way of opposition to the Wisdom of God that 's from above and therefore is another thing than that which man is endued withal as he is a part of God's Creation To conclude Solomon in his day magnified Wisdom at a high rate as the Scripture testifies too large here to be inserted who in his day did undoubtedly account it the sign of a just man Pro. 10.30 and therefore said The mouth of the Just bringeth forth Wisdom The Apostle in his day did magnifie Wisdom exhorting the Saints to walk in Wisdom Col. 4.5 Christ the Son of God testified Mat. 11.19 VVisdom is justified of her Children These things considered our desires are that those who have true Wisdom may prize it that those who lack it may imbrace the Counsel of the Apostle James Jam. 1.5 and ask it of God who giveth liberally and that those Fools who despise Wisdom may come to have a sense of what Solomon spoke when he thus said How long ye simple ones will ye love simplicity and fools hate knowledge turn ye at my Reproof Sure we are the Apostle's Writings encourages none to cry down Wisdom at the rate 't is of late without distinction exclaimed against by some but rather the contrary for we find the Apostle Paul writing to the Colossians thus to say Col. 1.9 28. VVe do not cease to pray for you and to desire that you might be filled with the Knowledge of his VVill in all VVisdom and spiritual Vnderstanding and again thus VVhom we preach warning every man and teaching every man in all VVisdom that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus But this ignorance we doubt hath happened unto many not only from a Principle of having their Eyes out unto man 2 Tim. 3.15 but also from a neglect to read the Scriptures of Truth given forth by inspiration which the Apostle saith are able to make thee VVise unto Salvation through Faith which is in Christ Jesus As to the word Knowledge this may be added That in the want thereof in days past those who are escaped of the Nations set up their Graven-images according as Isaiah the Prophet testified They have no knowledge Isa 45.20 that set up the Wood of their Graven Images and pray unto a God that cannot save Oh! that at this day there were no cause to take up a Lamentation that the want of Knowledge is the cause that many have appeared ready to exalt man to have an eye to men and in neglect of that heavenly Gift which is given unto Mankind to bow in their Hearts unto Men as having a dependency on the Dictates Prescriptions Orders and Outward Rules of Man this under the Dispensation of the Gospel of Christ we take to be as great a falling
is now so opened as to see that if thou own them thou wilt bring thy self under the Just Censure of Truth for endeavouring to make any Brother an Offender for that which is no Offence And if thou own them not then thou wilt shew thy self out of Unity with the great Opposers of John Wilkinson and John Story However if thou refusest to Answer 't will be Evidence enough that thou walkest not by that Golden Rule To do as thou wouldst be done by More-over Since thy Papers give Testimony against a Spirit Why dost thou not tell us in plain Words who they are in whom according to thy Sense it works For I much doubt that if thou art not the Secret Mover to all this Strife yet the want of the Right Application of some Expressions in thy Papers testifying against Bad Spirits c. is one great Cause of the Increase of Bad Spirits and of their Scribling And therefore be Plain-hearted For I do know that a dark imaginary Spirit is entred and under the Outward Profession of Truth and that also such a Spirit appears amongst those who espouse the Cause against John Wilkinson and John Story and the Fruits that are brought forth by them which evidence that they are of such a Spirit are as followeth viz. Judging the Lord's Servants out of the Truth for particular Matters laid to their Charge without hearing them speak for themselves or first sending their Judgment or Condemnation to them before the spreading thereof contrary to the known Practice of Friends in Truth gathering Friends together on purpose to entertain their Ears with Reports against John Wilkinson and John Story and refuse to bring forth the same to John Story 's Face before Friends equally to be Chosen though desired so to do both by John Story and others Magnifying Unity amongst Brethren and yet appear those who break the Unity reproving the Spirit of Strife and yet not only the Movers but Carryers on of Strife both by Word and Writing or to speak in thy Language Stribling to the Dishonour of God and the Cause of Truth And though such who espouse the Cause against John VVilkinson and John Story may suppose themselves capable to quote Thee for an Example or at least as an Approver of such Actions for none of them as I know of do so much as suppose that thy Words or Scribling tends to reprove them yet know this from me That there are many of God's Antient Flock who retain their First Love for Truth and every Honourable Labourer in the Vineyard dare not approve of this Late and New-found Doctrine publish't against All Reasoning and All VVisdom nor yet can suffer their Faith to stand in Thee or any Man And therefore if Thou or any Man bring forth a Dream or pretend a Night-Vision to run against Faithful Friends and on that foot Scrible against them under the Notion of Bad Spirits it hath no place with them because the Day hath discovered such Folly to Men of Conscience and indued with the Wisdom that 's from Above But yet I cannot say but that as it hath it may have place with some who are of this Number and Sort viz. Such whose Ignorance is so Great as to conclude it the Fruit of Vertue to avoyd All Reasoning and All VVisdom or whose Understandings are so vailed as to have an Eye to the Night-Visions or Dreams of Men more than to the Truth in themselves and on that foot eyeing the Scriblers of Papers more than the Matters therein contained as being convinced that they ought to shut out All VVisdom and All Reasoning a most dextrous Expedient where it takes place for Anti-christ so to exalt his Kingdom as that all manner of Iniquity and Deceit may quickly enter the Flock if once the Leader or Leaders of the People bring forth their own Imaginations under the Notion of Night-Visions and publish them for the VVord of the Lord and then no marvail if such conclude That every Friend is justly Condemned if they are not at Unity with the Paper given forth by the Sixty-Six Subscribers at Ellis Hooks's Chamber as if now 't were Good Doctrine or Exhortation to direct to the Spirit and Power that appeared in the Sixty-Six Subscribers when they brought forth their Unchristian like Papen instead of directing to the Measure of Grace in themselves One thing more lyes upon me to say unto thee That though amongst the Princes of the World there are such Politick Contrivances to carry on their Designs as to ingage such others therein who for Self-Advancement become of a Temporizing Spirit or for want of the Things of this World are ready to follow for the Loaves for being of a Mean Spirit are Hurried or Over-awed with Fear And so if their Designes succeed ill then 't is the Fruit either of Evil Counsel or ill Management but if well then they carry away the Glory thereof Yet it becomes not any one or many professing themselves Members of Christ's Body thus to do And now to Conclude I have this further to Query VVhether thou Conclude thy self no way obliged to bring thy VVritings to the Second Dayes Meeting in London to be approved of there before they be Printed If thou dost not Thou hast been wrong Represented if thou dost and yet think'st all other Friends are as 't is to be doubted thou dost for I have never heard that thy Book about VVomens Meeting was there approved or that all the Things therein contained will be stood by or owned by any one Friend in Truth then 't is an evident Token Thou wouldst Exalt thy self For What is that less than to conclude That the Infallible Spirit is limited to appear through thy Earthen Vessel only For if according to the Principle of Truth the Spirit is the Judge and that its pouring forth in our Day is upon many Sons and many Daughters Why then should not the Appearance of the Spirit through any Vessel have its free Passage as well as through Thine Or Why must Some VVritings given forth by the Spirit be brought to the Second Dayes Meeting to be approved and Others not But to return I have this further to say That if Thou or any are so imaginary as to conclude That all thy Writings and Books are given forth by the Infallible Spirit and that as such they ought to be made use of a part of which I am satisfyed have so been thereby to obtain Proselytes against John Story and John VVilkinson it appears to me as if thy Notorious Erring from the Infallible Spirit in writing some things contained in thy Book of VVomens-Meetings hath been permitted to be as an Evidence Recorded against all such who ignorantly look upon thee so to be as afore-said And therefore it becomes thee to be Humbled before the Lord and to Acknowledge thy Errors therein I am not without a Sense what Entertainment my plain Dealing will have amongst many if thou suffer it to be read or spread