keeping Gods holy will and conmandements and walking in the same all the daies of their lives being such as are governed and are sanctified by the spirit of God and are of the houshold and family of God and this is according to the constitutions and Cannons of the Church of England then to meet together in point of Religion and worship of God with them that live up to a righteousnesse of Faith towards God and a righteousnesse of life both towards God and man who are regenerated or born again and are of the houshold and family of God who are also sanctified arid governed by the spirit of God is to come to the Church though they cannot meet in point of Religion and worship with them that are not such as aforesaid and with such as abovesaid we meet with all in point of Religion and Worship of God therefore we come to the Church and worship of God as aforesaid And acording to the Scriptures the Church is in God the Father of out Lord Jesus Christ but Steeple-houses or Parish-meeting places are not in God how then are they Churches and why are people presented and punished for not coming to Steeple-houses or Parish-meeting-places seeing they are not Churches according to the Scriptures for Paul and Silvanius and Timothyus write to the Church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ but in writing to the Church in God they did not write to Steeple-houses or Parish-meeting-places therefore people may be in the Church and come to the Church according to the Scriptures though they come not to the Parish-meeting-places 1 Thessalonians 1. and 2. Thessa 1. Again Christ is declared in Scripture to be the head of his body the Church so that the Church is the body of Christ according to the Scripture Eph. 1.22.23 Eph. 2.19.20.21.22 but Steeple-houses or Parish-meeting-places are not the body of Christ how then can they be said to be Churches whereby it is evident that people may be members of the Church of Christ and come to the Church according to the Scripture though they come not to the Parish-meeting-places 5. Ephe. 23.24.25.26.27.32 And as concerning the Temple of God 1 Cor. 6.15.16.17.18.19.20 the Saints body under the new covenant and Gospell dispensation are said to be the Temple of the Holy Ghost for God to dwell in through the spirit and the Saints are said to be as a spiritual building fitly framed in Christ Jesus and do grow together in him to an holy Temple in the Lord 2 Cor. 6.16 in whom they are also builded together for an habitation of God through the spirit and this is according to the Scriptures 2. Ephe. 19 20 21 22. so that to meet with the Saints of God is to come to the Temple of God according to Scripture And concerning the house of God according to the Scripture and under the new Covenant and Gospel dispensation the Holy Brethren who are partakers of the heavenly calling who hold fast the confidence and the rejoycing of the hope firm unto the end are declared to be the house of God and Moses verily was faithfull under the Law in all his house as a servant for a Testimony of those things which was to be spoken after but Christ as a Son over his own house under the Gospel whose house are we if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoycing of the hope firm to the end according to that of the Apostle to the Hebrews Heb. 3. And as concerning the meetings of the people of God called Quakers in meeting together with them that are born of God and are governed and sanctified by the spirit of God in point of Religion and Worship of God according to Gods appointment or agreable to Gods holy Will and Commandements ought they not to be owned allowed of countenanced and tollerated by the Episcopal and Protestant Priests Rulers and People because they have covenanted with God and caused others to covenant with him by promise and vow made unto God before many witnesses to keep Gods holy will and Commandements and walk in the same all the daies of their lives And therefore for us and others to live up to a righteousnesse of life towards God and man and in meeting together according to Gods appointment and walking answerable to Gods holy will and Commandements and continuing therein is according to the fundementalls of the Episcopal and Protestant Religion And for so doing we ought not to be fined presented or punished either by Eclesiasticall sensure or Temporal punishment but rather to be freed and clearly acquitted therefrom to all intents constructions and purposes whatsoever if they regard their promise and vow made unto God as aforesaid A Prophesie of Christ which was Prophecied above sixteen hundred years since hath been and is now in fulfilling c. GOd is a spirit and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth for the Father seeketh such to worship him John 4.23 24. And because God is a spirit he will have his people to be spiritually minded that they may mind the things of the spirit Rom. 8.5 6. Seeing that God is a spirit and requireth his people to worship him in spirit why should they be compelled from the worship of God in spirit or punished and persecuted if they do not forsake the way and worship of God to follow the Ceremonies and Inventions of Men what cause is there for it but that the Scriptures may be fulfilled is this come to passe For Christ Jesus hath said to the Disciples and true Believers in him they shall put you out of the Synagogues yea the time cometh that whosoever killeth you will think that he doth God good service And these things will they do unto you because they have not known the Father nor me John 16.2 3. It is evident that by the Scriptures or prophecy of Christ First that the Disciples of Christ and true believers in him shall be excommunicated or put out of the synagogues Secondly that the believers in Christ and worshippers of God the Father in spirit and truth shall be in great danger of their lives for saith Christ in his prophecie John 16.2 They shall excommunicate you or put you out of the synagogues and that part of the prophecie of Christ is fulfilled and now in fulfilling Yea the time cometh that whosoever killeth you will think he doth God service and is not that part of Christs prophecie also near at hand to be fulfilled Two things are very observable from hence First That the Saints and Believers in Christ shall be excommunicated or put out of the sinagogues by Enemies or Strangers to Christ Secondly That after excommunication or being put out of the sinagogues by such they shall be in great danger of their Lives If it be asked who they are that shall deal thus hardly and cruelly with the Saints and Believers in Christ as First to excommunicate
THE PUBLIQUE WORSHIP OR The Worship of God Baptisme and Sacrament so called according to Gods appointment or as hereafter appeareth And concerning coming to the Church according to Scripture And also a Prophesie of Christ in fulfilling and how it is against the Law of the Land to banish Christians for the Service and Worship of God Together with an Epistle to Friends Written in the Year 1664. by R. F. Printed in the Year 1664. CONCERNING The Worship of GOD Baptism and Sacrament So called And coming to Church as hereafter followeth AS there is one onely true God who is a Spirit so there is one worship of God under the new covenant and gospel dispensation John 4.23.24 which is the worship of God alone and is to be performed in spirit and in truth according to the mind of the Lord who is to be worshipped and as there is one body Eph. 4.3.4 and one spirit so are the true spiritual believers and worshippers of God the Father in spirit truth which is the true publick worship of God called in one hope of their calling Colos 1.20.21.22.23.24.25.26.27 and they are to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace or in Christ Jesus who is the covenant of peace and the hope of glory wherunto they are called even into him who is the hope of their calling to whom God doth make known what is the riches of the glory of the great mistery of Godliness which is Christ in them the hope of glory And as there is one spirituall Lord and one spirituall Faith so there is one spirituall Baptisme Eph. 4.5 6 7. amongst them that are the caled of God the Father of them all who is above all through all and in them all who giveth grace to every one of them according to the measure of the gift of Christ Jesus 1 Cor. 12.12.13 for as the body is one and hath many members and all the members of that one body being many are one body so also is Christ for by one spirit we are all baptized into one body and have been all made to drink into one spirit so that as the Saints true spiritual believers are baptized by one spirit into Christ Jesus John 6.32.48.49.50.51 they also do unite and meer spiritually in him even to eate and drink spiritually together in a sweet spiritual communion and he is bread and wine our souls nourishment and feeding to them who are to live in him and feed spiritually upon him for he is the bread of life come down from Heaven for Immortall souls to eate of and live for ever this is the bread that cometh down from heaven which a man may eate of and not dye eternally Labour not for the meat which perisheth but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life John 6.27 Which the Son shall give unto you for him hath God the Father sealed for the bread of God is he which came down from heaven and giveth life unto the world And Jesus said unto them I am the bread of life he that cometh to me shall never hunger and he that believeth on me shall never thirst John 6. 35 who then would not but come unto Christ that their fouls might eate and drink spiritually in him and be satisfied with his vertue and sweetnesse that they might live for ever and not dye eternally and as many as are baptized into Christ doe put on Christ and they are all one in him and such are Children of God by faith in Christ Jesus and are heires according to the promise Gal. 3.26.27.28.39 And for as much as to be a Christian and member of the Church of Christ according to the constitutions and Cannons of the Church of England is to be Baptized and to be Baptized is to enter into a Covenant with God by promise and vow made unto God before many witnesses to be perfect and free from sin First In forsaking the Devil and all his works Secondly In keeping Gods Holy will and Commandements and walking in the same for term of life and also to be regenerate and born again Seeing then that it is so ought not the Priests to perform to the People what they have promised to them and ought not they to perform unto God what they promise and vow unto him and if the Priests cannot regenerate any they cannot baptize any and untill they can regenerate them ought they not to excuse the People for not bringing their Children unto them and if they be not regenerated they are not baptized according to the Constitutions and Cannons as aforesaid and if they do not forsake the Divell and all his works and keep Gods holy will and Commandements and walk in the same all the dayes of their lives arid be not regenerated how then are they Church members if they be not such how are they the Children of God and inheritours of the Kingdome of Heaven confider well of it Concerning the Sacrament as now it is by many so called And concerning the Passover there was and is a Spirituall Feast to be kept amongst the Saints and true Christians for Christ is their Passover who is sacrifized for them 1 Cor. 5.7.8 Purge out therefore the old Leaven that ye may be a new lump ye are vnleavened for even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us therefore let us keep the Feast not with old Leaven neither with the Leaven of mallice and wickednesse but with the Unleavened bread of Sincerity and Truth 1 Cor. 5. So that as Christ is the Saints Passeover and is Sacrificed for them they are to keep a spiritual feast that is to say the Feast of Un-leavened bread the bread they are to keep this feast with is the Unleavened bread of sincerity and truth and Christ who is the Saints Passeover is the Unleavened bread of sincerity and truth or the bread of life come down from Heaven for them to keep the Feast with and as he is the bread which the Saints are to break or administer and feed spiritually upon so he is the wine or water of life to refresh souls spiritually withall for he is the spirituall Vine and as wine is the vertue of the Vine so the vertue of Christ who is the true spiritual Vine is as spiritual wine to the souls of the Saints for their refreshment and great consolation and if to receive Christ Jesus be to receive the signification and substance of the word Sacrament and so in effect to receive the Sacrament then we have receive and do receive Christ Jesus therefore we have and do in effect receive the Sacrament because we receive the signification thereof as aforesaid Concerning coming to the Church And concerning the Church it consists of Regenerate ones who live up to a righteousnesse of Faith towards God and a righteousnesse of life both towards God and man First In forsaking the Divel and all his works and Secondly In
them or cast them out of the synagogues and after endanger their lives It is answered in the 16 Chapter of John 2 and 3 verses by our Lord Jesus Christ who hath said these things will they do unto you and why The reason given by the Lord Jesus is this because saith he they have not known the Father nor me It is evident therefore and that by the Scriptures or prophecie of Christ that ignorant men who know neither God nor Christ but are strangers unto them will deal so hardly and cruelly with the Saints and true believers in Christ as to Excommunicate them or put them out of the synagogues and after endanger their lives by possessing the ignorant and ungodly with a false confidence that to kill the Saints under the notion of Hereticks is good service and done for the glory of God But these things the Saints have been in expectation of and they come not untold of by Christ nor unlooked for by them for these things have I told you said Christ that when the time shall come yee may remember that I told you of them John 16.4 And in the dayes of the Prophet Isaiah the Lord had a broken hearted People who trembled at the word of the Lord for which cause they were hated and excommunicated or cast out of Church fellowship and they that hated them and cast them out pretended the glory of God in that act of excommunication or casting them out as aforesaid but the Lord sent his Prophet with a Message that included two things First Gods owning of that broken hearted people who trembled at his word when they were excommunicated or cast out by their pretended Brethren who covered their act of excommunicatition or casting them out with the pretence of bringing glory to God And secondly Gods dislike unto and displeasure against them that so excommunicated or cast them out from amongst them saying hear the word of the Lord all ye that tremble at his word your Brethren that hated you and cast you out for my names sake said Let the Lord be glorified but he shall appear to your joy and they sall be ashamed Isa 66.5 First It is to be observed that God promised to appear to them that were Excommunicated or cast out and not only appear but he also promised to appear to their joy And if to their joy that were so Excommunicated or cast out then for their encouragement and for the owning of them And Secondly It is to be observed that God promised to appear to them that did Excommunicate or cast them out but it should be to their shame and if to their shame then not to the owning of them in their Act of Excommunication or as aforesaid They that are Excommunicated or cast out because of their love and faithfulnesse to the Lord need not to be ashamed though they that hate them and cast them our account them hereticks and pretend they do it for the Glory of God Their Excommunicating or casting of them out cannot hinder God for owning of them nor for appearing to them for their joy For he hath promised to appear to them for their joy that are so hated and cast out and to the shame of them that so hates them and casts them out as aforesaid Who are they that Christ said the Ignorant who know not God should Excommunicate or put out of the Synagogues and after endanger their live John 16.2.3 I answer First They are such as are beloved of Christ and commanded to continue in his love John 15.9 Secondly they are such as are in Christ Jesus as branches in a Vine who are purged that they may bring forth fruit unto God John 15.1 2 3 4 5. Thirdly they are such as are the friends of Christ who manifest their love to him by abiding in him and keeping his Commandements John 15.4 14. For what cause do they Hate Persecute Excommunicate and endanger the lives of the Friends of Christ who abide in him and keep his Commandements I answer First because they are chosen of Christ Secondly Because they are ordained that they should goe and bring forth fruit unto God John 15.16 Thirdly Because they abide in the Doctrine of Christ and love one another as he hath commanded John 15.17 Fourthly Because they are not of the World but are chosen out of the World as Christ hath declared and said John 15.19 Are these the causes why the people of God reproachfully called Quakers together with the Saints and Believers in Christ are hated persecuted and Excommunicated I answer Yea these are the very causes because they abide in Christ and keep his commands For if they should depart from Christ and go into the spirit of the World and cease being Godly and Righteous and learn to be deboyst and wicked and comply with the spirit of the World in its wayes and Worships then persection against them would be at an end and cease And if they should daily erre and go astray from the waies of God and follow the devices and desires of their own hearts and cease bringing forth fruit unto God disobey the Commands of Christ and daily offend against Gods Holy Laws and be miserable sinners then persecution would cease Who are they that are the haters and persecutors of the Friends of Christs Saints and Believers in him I answer First They are the World Secondly They are such as are haters of Christ for saith he If the World hate you ye know that it hated me before it hated you John 15.18 Thirdly They are such as are of the same nature and spirit which they were of that persecuted Christ who hath said by way of remembrance That the Servant is not greater then the Lord if they have persecuted me they will also persecute you John 15.20 Fourthly They are such as know not God as Christ hath said all these things will they do for my names sake because they know not him that sent me John 15.21 And they hated Christ without a cause John 15.25 So do they hate his friends without a cause for if they could depart from him and disobey his commands and enter into the spirit of the World again and be one with the world in profanenesse and will-worship then persecution would cease as Christ hath said If ye were of the World the World would love his own but because I have chosen you out of the profanenesse will-worship and spirit of the World therefore the World hateth you John 15.19 And inasmuch as the friends of Christ are hated without a cause there is no just cause why the Saints and Believers in Christ should be hated and persecuted But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the spirit even so it is now Gal. 4.29 But as then he that is born after the flesh had no right nor authority from God given to persecute him that was born after the spirit no more hath he now For they