some bitterly exasperated and inflamed one against another others grievously wounded and not a few stumbled insomuch that some might with a bowed down Spirit cry out and say O that I had a Cottage in the Wilderness or that I had the Wings of a Dove that I might flee away and be at rest Now the thing is thus and here lies indeed the great Obstruction say some In short its this we are jealous and affraid that it will be so again and till we be sure that we can meet together in the same ancient love and life of Truth as in the beginning better it is for us to continue as it is and where we are Ans By no means Friends pray do not reason so and to avoid all manner of Controversie it is not proper here to enter into the merit of the cause of these Quarrels Confusions c. on either Hand However let not the remedy be worse than the disease neither ought any upon what pretence soever to do evil that good may come do you think that we ever can be brought near in Love and Friendship one to and with another by keeping still at a distance and by being as it were afraid of each other Let us all but once lay aside our Fears Jealousies Doubts and Reasonings and in that Faith which can remove Mountains let us come once more all together again and wait in the Faith and see what may be the Blessed effects thereof who knows but that it may be a good means of raising that ancient Love and Life amongst us which is stronger than Death it self Pray consider what hurt will it be to try this expedient and if it doth not answer what 's proposed or desired we will be but where we were before and where now we are If you seriously compare the advantages of being altogether and the disadvantages in many respects of meeting asunder or on the contrary the supposed Conveniences of the latter with the real and great inconveniences of the former surely there is great odds either way and the one should reasonably be thought quickly to overballance the other that is to say there is a great deal more can be said for meeting all together than can be alledged to the contrary And suppose upon trial it should prove to be as formerly and as objected we can as is said but meet asunder again as now we do if there should not be that Prudence Patience and Charity to bear up and carry through it all And we shall however have this advantage by it to be more excusable both in the sight of God and all sober impartial People when they see we have tried all possible means in order to obtain a Reconciliation and to have peaceable and quiet Meetings together And besides if the same cannot be had it may be the more manifest what has been or is still the cause or occasion thereof But is it not to be hoped and reasonably expected that most Friends on both sides are by this time heartily inclined to Reconciliation and to mannage matters with more Wisdom and Prudence and with more Moderation and Discretion and as it was agreed to that all occasions of publick differences as much as in us lies be avoided on all Hands for time to come and that the truth or Gospel of our Lord Jesus be only and alone declared and preached to and amongst Friends and People and all Personal Reflections or Matters Disputable or in Controversy laid aside or at least suspended for a time and discoursed of more privately and that they will keep the Feasts not with the old sower Leaven neither with the Leaven of malice Zech. 13.6 c. that none shall have cause any more either to ask what are these wounds in thine Hands Nor any to Answer Those with which I was wounded in the House of my Friends And tho' it was so or so before as abovesaid It does not therefore follow that it should always be so Certainly Friends there is neither a necessity nor any reason for it unless it be an unhappy Fate of some persons that can no more live without Contention than the Salamander can live but in the Flames of Fire as is said or a Fish in Water Have we not all had time and leisure enough to bethink our selves and come into a more calm sedate cool and temperate frame of Spirit and to be at least more patient and so wise and unconcerned with these things that do but disturb our inward Peace and disquiet our Minds if any imprudently or indiscreetly do manage Matters or run into unseemly Reflections in bearing and prudently slighting Provocations as if they were not given or no notice taken of them and then they will be sure to return on themselves that give them if not at all minded with a double weight and in time make them weary of them If we cannot be so charitable in being so friendly kind and loving one to another as we ought to be and as we ought to live together as Brethren let us however for our own particular Content and quiet bear and contemn all Injuries c. satisfying our selves as well as the Apostle Paul who seemed not at all to be disturbed or disquieted with the rash Censures of others who had this to answer as a Salve to them all who saith in 1 Cor. 4.3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you or of Mans Judgment c. So let all concerned seriously consider of what is here in universal good will and true tender love to all proposed before it be too late and our differences prove as fatal to us or any of us upon a spiritual account as it s reported that War did upon a temporal account to the Duke of Burgundy which began between him and the Swissers for a very small trifle even but for a load of Sheep-skins wherein the Duke refusing all offers of accord lost in three Battels Honour Life and Wealth See Historical Contemplations Pag. 55. on which the Historian makes this Observation not unsuitable to the present subject Of how great says he advantage to us while we are in this World is Moderation whereby even easily those differences are accommodated and mischiefs avoided which our frowardness and obstinacy widen unmeasurably and many times involve us in utter ruin past recovery It is said in Judges 5.15 16. For the Divisions of Reuben there were great thoughts of Heart For the Divisions of Reuben there were great searchings of Heart And may it not be said also that for our sad Divisions the grievous Distractions Quarrels c. in this place there has been and still there are great thoughts of concerning the same whatever true searchings of Heart have been or however surely ought to have been and yet still one time or other must be even after the Cause or what that has been which hath occasioned and continued these things so as to
Let every of us please his Neighbour for his good to Edification for observe even Christ pleased not himself but as it is written the reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me And those that are stronger and wiser than others must we not also bear with some of their natural infirmities sometimes for where is the Man or Woman wholly exempt or free from them but less or more for want of that due and constant watchfulness one time or other appears in them and therefore the same Apostle tenderly counselled the Galatians to bear one anothers Burdens and so fulfil the Law of Christ. Gal. 6.2 3. For if any Man think himself to be something when he is nothing he deceiveth himself Which if rightly considered none have cause to be proud self conceited or exalted in themselves And to prevent and exclude all vain glorious boasting or insulting or being lifted up either upon a spiritual or temporal account in any whatever may be their Gifts Attainments Abilities or Qualifications let the best the wisest the strongest or richest Man or Woman ponder seriously in their minds but these two or three Queries of the Apostle Paul in his own words or rather such as God by his Spirit moved him to utter and answer them so as they should be and see then if they can justly brag or vainly boast or insult over others 6. The Apostle after he had given the Corinthians a very seasonable caution in the beginning of the 1st 1 Cor. 4 5 6 7. Ch. to beware of rash censorious and forward Judging one another Next of too fondly or foolishly admiring any Mans Person as in the 6th Verse Or as in the Margin distinguisheth These things says he Brethren I have in a figure transferred to my self and to Apollo for your sakes that ye might learn in us observe not to think of Men above that which is written That no one of you be puffed up one against another Then in the next Verse he comes to his close Queries For who maketh thee O Man or O Woman whosoever thou be to differ from another 2dly And what hast thou that thou didst not receive it As most certain it is we all have received whatever we enjoy or whatever we are upon any account it is from him and by him the great and blessed Benefactor to all mankind from whom all good and perfect gifts come and who is rich and liberal to all But 3dly Why dost thou then glory as if thou hadst not received it 7. So it seems there were some in his days that were puffed up and forgot both the giver and themselves too and its like were ready to trample upon rejoyce and insult over others as if they had merited what they were Ja. 4.16 and what they enjoyed for some rejoyced in their boasting which was evil rejoycing Now says the Apostle to them in verse 8. Ye are full now ye are rich ye have reigned as Kings without us and I would to God ye diâ— reign that we might also reign with you We are fools for Christs sake but ye are wise c. And the same Apostle says in the same Epistle Let him that thinks he standeth Ch. 10 12.13 verse take heed lest he fall for there hath no temptation taken you but such as is common or incident as the margine hath it to Man Considering thy self lest thou also be tempted and as in the 13th Chap. to the Heb. in another Cause as being your selves also in the Body For whatever happens to one Man may happen to every Man And had that Christian good advice taken place or yet could be regarded and followed which was given some years ago by a very good tender-hearted devoutand ancient Friend Loved and Respected by most if not all that knew him it would neither ever have been so as it has been nor would it continue long so as now it is amongst us It s worth both the pains of Transcribing seriously perusing is as followeth viz. Let all strive to excell in tenderness and and long-suffering and to be kept out of hard and evil thoughts one of another and from harsh interpretations concerning any thing relating to one another Oh this is unworthy to be found in an Israelite towards an Egyptian but exceeding shameful and inexcusable to be found in one Brother towards another How many weaknesses doth the Lord pass by in us how ready is he to interpret every thing well concerning his Disciples that may bare a good Interpretation The Spirit saith he is willing but the flesh is weak when they had been all scattered from him upon his death he did not afterwards upbraid them but sweetly gathered them again O dear Friends have we received the same Life of sweetness let us bring forth the same sweet fruits being ready to excuse and receive what may tend towards the excuse of another in any doubtful Cause and where there is any evil manifest O wait to overcome it with good O let us not spend the strength of our Spirits in crying out of one another because of evil but watch and wait where the Mercy and healing Vertue will please to arise So the living God the God of Israel the God of everlasting ten-Bowels and Compassions to Israel fill the Vessels of his Heritage with his Life and cause the Peace and Love of his holy Nature and Spirit to descend upon their dwellings and to spring up powerfully in them towards his living Truth and towards one another O Lord my God when thou hast shewn the wants of Israel in any kind sufficiently whether in the particular or in the general bring forth the supply thereof from thy fulness so ordering it in thine eternal Wisdom that all may be ashamed abased before thee thy Name praised in and over all See the Book called many deep Considerations c. VIII One more Testimony and it is of a singular person as profound in the knowledg both of Natural and Supernatural or Heavenly Divine Mysteries as any in this age And indeed there are but few that can equal or come near him in either Whose name as well as the formers is omitted because some may like the Matter of both their Testimonies but may be tho' groundlesly prejudiced against them otherwise and possibly the greatest reason they can give for it is because they were or are not of their party as usually is said such a one is a good Man and such a one is a wise discreet Man But still there follows an if and a but he is of this or the other side Opinion c. This brings to my remembrance what one observes that under the Papacy any Sins find easy absolution if the person be not suspected of Protestantism and any Opinions have tolerable favour if not degenerated from Papal Authority How often besides by Jehu hath that question been past Who is on my side And if the party have been right
tho' many others were very hearty and really much inclined to it And to help to answer the second part How shall it be carried on This is proposed let all such Friends on both sides whose hearts the Lord has inclined hereunto and who are very willing to comply with the aforesaid or any other Christian reasonable Proposals they may see needful to be concluded on and added with joynt consent it s hoped that there are divers such and if they please they may signifie the same by Word or Writing to any Friend or Friends they think fit to acquaint therewith tho' its but meet that those also should know it whom they believe are like-minded with them in this Concern And likewise those who have so far proceeded in it as to publish some Proposals in order to promote the same if they please they may apply themselves to any of us herein concerned and they may be further satisfied about it Now by this Method it may bee seen plainly who are free willing and desirous after a Reconciliation and who are not who are the Obstructers and who the Incouragers of the said on both sides and so even let the fault and blame herein be laid on those to whom it belongeth and who do let and hinder such a good Work And as to the third part of the Objection viz. That both Parties plead their Innocency and neither willing to confess to be in the fault or the cause of the Difference but both shift it off from themselves and throw it upon one another little need be said of this for if there be any others beside some particular Persons that do apprehend so that one side only â—s altogether to be blamed and the other wholly blameless they must needs be certainly either very Ignorant of matters or else too deeply engaged more to a Party than the naked Truth and swayed by some more sinister self-interest or by private affection which blinds the Judgment and darkens the Understanding than by sound Reason or an impartial Examination and fair Hearing of things so take all upon meer trust believe implicity what such a one says or reports see with others eyes and not by their own and besides too much to be feared which is very bad they are likewise plunged too deeply into that dangerous and hurtful thing called Prejudice c. But besides were it needful or serviceable to any as at present it is not the contrary might be fully evinced by too plain Particulars to be much lamented and that by undeniable matters of Fact too that both sides less or more are blameable and have been in the wrong have been Imprudent and Indiscreet in managing Matters have been too Uncharitable Harsh and Sower c. one towards another This is so palpable and so well known even to the World that to mention the same in the Particulars how far some on each side have digressed from both that Golden Rule from that Royal Law of Love and Kindness and from many other Excellent and Blessed Laws also Professed equally by both would be as well too tedious and large as it might tend to exasperate each Party which all along herein from first to last of this Work is avoided as much and as carefully as possibly can be as to any personal and particular Reflections that so neither Partiality nor Uncharitableness might in the least appear However it may be safely said and without any breach of Charity reasonably and modestly concluded as being what is but impartial and according to Truth that it has been visible to all and even plain to a demonstration to all the unbyassed That neither the one nor the other side can justly plead themselves wholly clear but that both less or more have offended and given occasion to each other of Provocations and of causing a Disreconciliation and this unhappy Separation either in the first Fomenting or Raising or Heightning and keeping up the Differences and Controversies to this day amongst Friends And those who may reckon themselves clearest or least concerned herein have no cause if all things be duly and calmly considered to upbraid others saying had it not been for the too hot ungoverned heat or Zeal of one or the Impatience and Imprudence of another or the indiscreet Conduct or the Moroseness Sraitness Sullenness and Shiness of others c. it had never been so or so amongst us Now Friends were it not really more Christian like to lay aside all manner of aggravations or personal reflections and learn now to be of that excellent Charitable Temper which we find Moses and David were of that they were not provoked neither to upbraid or be revengeful against those who had so insolently affronted and abused them when they had an opportunity to do either or both towards them Moses it is said Numb 12.13 cryed unto the Lord to heal Miriam saying heal her now O God I beseech thee she appears with Aaron had murmured and reflected foolishly upon him which highly provoked the Lord and when his Hand was laid on her for it It was then that Moses intreated and interceeded for her he was so far from insulting over her or desiring the punishment to be either Continued Increased or heightned And as concerning David Sacred History gives a large account how merciful and how exceeding tender hearted he was even towards his great outward Adversary Saul and would never by any means take revenge upon him tho' he might of ten have easily done it had he been so disposed Another great instance we have of his princely Clemency and good nature after he was restored again to his Kingdom Abishai was mighty importunate that Shimei should be put to Death because saith he he cursed the Lords anointed and indeed he railed at him and that when he was under adversity 2 Sam. 19.21 22. and that was base indeed most bitterly and extravagantly saying Come out come out thou Bloody Man and thou Man of Belial c. yet for all this David that good Man was so far from revenging himself or remembring old faults so as to bear any hatred or improve them to the disadvantage of his offenders that he reproved those smartly and counted them as his adversaries that laboured to stir him up to the same What have I says he to do with you ye Sons of Zerviah that ye should this day be Adversaries to me c. therefore the King said unto Shimei thou shalt not die and he swear unto him So we may see here was no upbraiding or raking up of old Misdemeanors or faults of one another nor the least appearance of a revengeful Spirit or retaliating again and therefore it is well advised and O that all would take the good Counsel in Prov. 24.29 Say not I will do so to him as he hath done to me I will render to the Man according to his work We are to leave that to the Lord tho' it s said he giveth to all