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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A62156	Righteous judgment placed upon the heads of malicious opposers and persecuting apostates in some brief animadversions upon Francis Buggs book, entitled, De Christiana libertate, in which his great weakness and gross wickedness is detected, his foul defamations and uncivil reflections are reprehended : with a seasonable warning to him and the rest of his abettors in their mischievous work of opposition to and separation from, the Lord and his people / by a lover of peace, Robert Sandilands : together with an Ingredient by another hand.	Sandilands, Robert.; Richardson, Richard, 1623?-1689. Another ingredient against the venom in F.B.'s book.	1683 (1683)	Wing S661; ESTC R32326	57,765	142

exercise of it Church Discipline and Conformity to it Poor Man Thou look'st far abroad to seek the Cause of Division and little minds to look at home in thine own House and for all thy vain insolent Braggs and proud Boastings in bringing thy proof That there is Violence Tyranny and what not done to our first Principles of Union citeing W. P's Saying in his Address to Pro●● pag. 149. That Perswasion and Conviction began all true Christian Societies and whether his violence upon this part Tyranny and not Order is introduced c. I say it is a Lie in thee to insinuate the contrary as to us and Reader to evince the same consider but the weakness of his Proof for which he inserts G. F's New Order as he in his flouring mind terms it wrote about the year 71. for Womens Meetings to be held Distinct from Mens Meetings and was confirm'd afterwards as he says by a General Council or Yearly Meeting c. viz Dear Friends To whom is my love in that which changes not it would do well and be of service for you to have a Womens Meeting as they have in other parts c. I refer thee to the perusal of the rest of G. F.'s Epistle which I believe he wrote from a sense of the holy Power and see if thou canst find any thing therein like unto imposition violence or alteration done to our first Principles of Union In page 38. he scoffingly and impertinently says At the Yearly Meeting or General Council held at London in the year 75. The said Grant or Order was strengthneed and confirmed in all points and with as much Policy as ever the Learned Bishops or Grave Senates used to establish their Monarchical Governments c. The understanding Reader may perceive his weakness and folly herein And in page 40. he greatly braggs to give both proof and president of what he insinuated and so transcribes something concerning propounding of Marriages which he calls the confirmation of the Foundation of the Womens Meetings namely G. F. his Order above recited by a General Council held at London Anno 1675. London 27. 3 Mo. 75. IT is our Judgment That for better satisfaction to all parties that there may be due time for Enquiry of Clearness of the persons concerned it is convenient that Marriages be twice propounded to the Meetings that are to take care therein both to the Mens and Womens Meetings where both are established before they are accomplished and when things are cleared that the Marriage be accomplished in a Grave and Publick Assembly of Friends or Relations I have set this down verbatim as I found it in F. B's Book wherein thou maist observe First It 's said It is our Judgment that for better satisfaction to all parties c. not for Imposition upon any Secondly It is convenient here 's a good cause and reason And Thirdly Where both are established c. For my part he must see further than I can that draws such an Unnatural Conclusion from the premises of Imposition Violence or Tyranny done to the first Principles of our Union But to prove yet the same it seems he is somewhat pinched for he strains and snatches greedily every thing he can to make out his matter In pag. 42. he saith I am necessitated to transcribe more of the transactions of this Notable if not Vniversal Council than I am willing Alas that ever thou should'st have been so willing to serve the Devil at such a rate as thou does too too willing Francis to make use of all thy strength to hatch out of Hell and plod in the dark if thou canst thereby but abuse an innocent people lest G. W. should again call for a Proof or Catalogue of their new stamped Government And to this end he inserts another paper which Friends wrote concerning Men and Womens Meetings It is our Judgment and Testimony in the Word of Gods Wisdom that the rise and practice setting up and establishment of Mens and Womens Meetings in the Church of Christ in this our day and generation is according to the mind and counsel of God and done in the endearing of his eternal Spirit and that it is the duty of all Friends and Brethren in the power of God in all places to be diligent therein and to encourage and further each other in that blessed work c. I refer the Reader to consider the rest of this and compare it and the former with a Letter of advice and counsel for the help and information of the weak and lately convinced pag. 28. wherein in he says It was so worded as that Christian Liberty was preserved and the People not imposed upon beyond their freedom And see if there be such a vast difference as he would insinuate in pag. 45. Behold says he the difference between this Decree and the n = * Yet in that I do not find Chap. nor verse of Matthew Mark Luke or John which he calls for so much Letter of Advice and Counsel inn the first Chapter c. That was not proposed otherwise then Advise and Counsel and not as a Form or Rule to walk by c. CHAP. V. ANd Reader That thou maist see whether this Author either looks like to be a sober discreet prudent Man or like a true Christian Quaker as he and W. R. and some few of their party would be reckoning themselves as only such I will here insert something of his flouting Mockery and idle Drollery in his Observations upon the fore-going paper and indeed the greatest part of his Book I mean this Second part and what properly may be termed his is stuffed up with such impertinent Stories and uncivil Reflections In pag. 46. But says he to make good provision against any that shall yet dare to slight this new Model or new found Method of Church Government or call in question their power and authority see what a strict and severe Admonition is uttered forth even as if it had come from the Popes Council of Jesuits and Crafty Friars c. In pag. 47. and speaking of Womens Meetings I say if it be so why should not the Episcopalians Presbiterians Independants Baptists c. know of them and why not as many of them do of which we are not ashamed if all the World knew it and by the sober part of them are commended therefore but if it be a meer Imagination of their own brain I think strange Francis thou hast now so much discretion as but to suppose it and say If to it it seems it sticks a little in thy throat and thou wouldst fain come out with a positive Assertion if it were not an absolute down-right Lie of which it may be thou art conscious thy self to the contrary and therefore couldst not determine that it is meer Imagination c. and an Idol of their own erecting why should it not publickly be brought to Light and made as manifest as the Lord Crumwel made the Papists

so that nothing can be justly charged against them that is apparently Wicked and Gross yet in the mean time their Hearts not right nor ●ound before the Lord something that is ●bominable offensive and grievous to his Holy ●pirit Thus hath it been with many of the seperate party is secretly lodg'd ●nd privately enter●ain'd as their beloved Delila which at ●ast may be breaks forth into some Extravagancy or other I say one as a Hypocrite may be thus dressed up with a specious shew and fair cover appear so and so Yea and for their interest sake Conform to that which is good and praise-worthy and which in its self is commendable and laudible but in the bottom rotten and deceitful yet though these do so it will not follow in good reason that those who are truly and inwardly sanctified cleansed and purified in their Conscience from dead works and whose Hearts are Sincere Honest and Upright should not so and so appear as to the outward in an holy harmless Life and innocent Conversation and also in a Conformity and Submission to that which is Orderly and Decent and to be subject to follow that which is convenient needful and profitable amongst a People no more then that 's true though as the common Proverb is It is not all Gold that glisters And as we say All are not in the Possession of what they are in the Profession of Yet is there no true Gold that glisters And surely those who do possess of the living Vertue of Truth and are faithful to the Lord they are ingaged publickly to appear in Profession of and Confession to the same In the beginning of the Preface page 7 F. B. says The main thing intended by this Discourse is to shew the Mischief of Impositions on tender Consciences in matters Spiritual c. Thus he insinuates as a false charge upon the whole Body of our Friends to be guilty of which indeed is their main principal Basis or ground from whence doth proceed all their fierce violent Clashings bitter and malicious Invectives base and unchristian Reflections viz. Their Imaginary formed and groundless supposition and envious suspicion That we endeavoured to compel and force tender Consciences in matters Spiritual to be conform'd and in subjection to that contrary to the perswasion of their minds and Light of Christ in their Consciences this is easily disprov'd and has been fully confuted by many living Testimonies that we have given forth on this account both by word and writing and for a further confirmation thereof thus do I affirm on the behalf of all my dear Friends who are thus abused by these foul perverse and scoffing Spirits That the Almighty God the searcher of Hearts and tryer of Reins he knows we never endeavoured nor designed to compel any to subject in a Conformity to that which we know was both just and reasonable who were not fully satisfied in their own Consciences and not freedom and clearness in their minds thereto For they who received Truth in the love thereof and continue in subjection to it the power and force of it will inable and make them willing to obey the voice of God immediately in their own Hearts and in the Mouths of his Servants which Voice of God calls unto Holiness without which none shall see him and there being an aptness or proneness in many after they are reached to by the Lord to neglect that Duty he requires of them therefore in his tender Love hath he given Gifts for the work of the Ministry for the perfecting of the Saints for the Edifying of the Body till we all come in the Vnity of the Faith into a perfect Man unto the measure of his Stature of the fulness of Christ Eph. 4.8 c. And well said the Apostle Peter Yea I think it meet as long as I am in this Tabernacle to stir you up or to stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance that we may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the Holy Prophets and of the Commandement of us the Apostles of the Lord and Saviour knowing this first that there shall come in the last days scoffers walking after their own Lusts 2 Pet. 1.15.3.1 2. c. Which also was practised by the Apostles in Exhortation Admonition Counsel Reproof and Condemnation as the Spirit of Truth Directed them and according to the several states of People to whom they Ministered by Word or Epistle And Reader it is well known that any who were really scrupulous from a true tenderness of their Spirits careful or fearful to do any thing but what they found to be their Duty and in the Light of Christ Jesus did see they were called to be obedient to the same over these we have been very tender and have encouraged and counselled them Singlely to wait upon the Lord for a sight and sense from him by the in shinings of his pure Light of that which they ought to do and if we could inform their understandings and in the good hand of the Lord be instrumental to clear their Judgments by opening to them the profit and great advantage reaped by those who have found it their place to be in Unity with their Brethren in a Christian Condescention to those things that are decent orderly and profitable in the Church of Christ that we have endeavoured to do and blessed be the Lord our labour of Love and pains therein hath proved successful and many have been helped thereby to see through the Mysterious wiles and subtle workings of the Enemy both immediately and instrumentally So thou mayst be assured we never pleaded for a conformity or submission of any to the Christian Order and wholesome Discipline amongst us but as they came to be Convinced in their own Consciences and well perswaded in themselves from a clear and sensible Conviction That it was their bounden duty so to do And therefore I say and thou mayst see that this Authors false Charge with all the rest of his confederacy in all their lying Clamours proceed from a base perverse Spirit that does surmise to People that we were bringing in an implicit Faith and blind Obedience by forcing a Conformity before Conviction which is opposed by us with our utmost endeavours and is of the Devil the Father of lyes who is the original Author of all this mischievous dark work of Separation c. and makes use of those his wicked Agents to defend the same under the specious pretence of Liberty of Conscience Liberty of Conscience and influences them to defame the Lords faithful and innocent Servants by malicious abusive Reflections and false Insinuations to amuse People as if the end of all their labours and travels in the Service of Truth for the preservation of Gods Heritage were to bring them into a Vniformity of such and such Canons Decrees and Orders that tended to an Apostacy Imposition and what ●ot Now I hope Reader thou wilt plainly see that the

thee Francis Bugg alas how hast thou betrayed thy great weakness folly and envy had it not been farr better for thee thou hadst never set Pen to Paper in bringing forth such a wicked piece of work hast thou not clearly evinced there how aptly thy name answers to thy crooked perverse nature and thy devlish venomous disposition the enemy hath wrought in thee for thou hast done what thou could to wound hurt and spoil not only the good name and reputation of particular persons but hast endeavoured with all thy strength and policy to bring a lash and blur upon many thousands of faithfull Friends however all thy Malicious smitings in the dark and thy open notorious abuses and scandalous reflections will be in vain and return as a weighty load upon thy own head for I know that the Innocency and uprightness of the one with the honest circumspect conversation of the other will out-live confute and disprove all thine and the rest of that hellish Combination your forged callumnies and lying stories and all your malicious insinuations and false suggestions shall but redown to your own utter ruine and everlasting shame perpetual defamation and eternal Confusion if you repent not but stoutly persevere and obstinately continue in this wilfull wicked work of opposition to and separation from the Lord and his People and be of such who have sold themselves to do wickedly and so devoted to the Devils service to be his Vassals Slaves and subjects Oh! for shame for shame that ever it should thus befall any who have made profession of Gods Truth and confession also to the Testimony thereof through many sufferings and hardships and yet to become the absolute greatest enemy to the Profession and Progress of it which I am perswaded had more gloriously shined and that more universally in the Nations had not these Clouds of Division and separation loosness indifferency and dishonest conversation of many convinced of and who have appeared for the same come over to Ecclipse the Splendor of this glorious day but I know in due time the Sun of Righteousness will so arise and shine in that brightness and Glory as that all these Mists and Clouds shall be dispelled and scattered And therefore this is that which is weighty upon my spirit in the Powerfull Name of the Dreadfull God of Heaven and Earth to warn you all to cease from the evil of your doings and O return return so long as it may please the Lord to strive in you by his Holy gentle spirit and bow every one to his righteous Judgments in your hearts to destroy that wicked perve●se opposing and separating Spirit that 's prevailed upon you and remember what the Apostle said that is very weighty For if God spared not the Angels that Sinned but cast them down to Hell and delivered them into Chains of Darkness and spared not the old World and turned the Cities of Sodom and Gomorah into Ashes and in his Exhortation to the Hebrews 10 25. Says Not forsaking the assembling of our selves together as the manner of some is For observe well what follows Oh! how near and close a Sentence is it IF WE SIN WILFULLY after that we have received the knowledge of the Truth there remaineth no more Sacrifice for Sins but a certain fearfull looking for of Judgment and fiery Indignation which shall devour the adversaries Oh! dread fear and stand in awe of the living Almighty God who is a consuming fire to all the workers of iniquity and who knoweth how to deliver the Godly out of Temptations and to reserve the unjust unto the day of Judgment but chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and dispise Government who are Presumptuous self-will'd they are not affraid to speak evil of Dignities mark these sayings And let me tell you plainly that for all your fair specious pretences Plausible Eloquent Orations smooth speeches cunningly contrived your great and high Notions glorious-like appearances and Mysterious Transformations may be as an Angel of light or like unto a lamb covered with a profession of Truth it self and Preach up the words and Principles thereof in the manly part and with the Wisdom from below that 's your beloved darling endeavours thereby to catch the affectionate itching part of simple People and such as are but young raw and unsettled in their minds For all this know as certain and which I am constrained in the holy fear of God to forwarn you off You that are the workers of iniquity however you may cover and hide your selves for a time from the Eye of Mortals if you dye as thus you have lived in opposing the Work of Truth in separation from the Lord and his People you I say shall be eternally excluded and forever shut out from entering into the Pure everlasting Kingdom of Eternal Glory rest and Felicity and the Lord Jesus will no more acknowledge you than he did those that though you as they did Cry Lord Lord have we not Eaten and Drunken in thy presence have we not Prophesied in thy Name and cast out Devils and done many wonderfull works yet you shall meet with the same dreadfull Sentence depart from me I know you not for all your fair Plea ye workers of iniquity Wherefore this is a seasonable warning to all you gain-sayers who are in the work of Corah in the Devils work of Division opposition of tearing rending and devouring of disorder and confusion and innovation who are become mockers scoffers and abusers of the Lords work and his Innocent People and that in a higher Degree than any of your former Predecessors if you come not sadly to mourn deeply to lament for and unfeignedly to repent of the same a most terrible heavy stroke and dreadfull cup of weighty vengeance shall be your Portion from the terrible hand of the mighty Pure God of righteousness the just Judg of Heaven and Earth who shall reward every man according to his works This from the Lord I lay before you receive or reject it as you please however I shall enjoy Peace with him in clearing my Conscience to you and discharging my Duty before him and so shall be clear of your Blood who sincerely wisheth and earnestly Prayeth for the Recovery of backsliders and Restoration of all such whose gracious day of Visitation is not quite expired By one that heartily prays for the daily increase of the Peace of Jerusalem and the prosperity of Sion and for the Advancement of Holy Jesus over all throughout all the Earth R. Sandilands Postscript FRANCIS BUGG I desire to advertise thee that what I have now wrote in Answer to thy Book was in the First place with a regard to the clearing of my Conscience inthe sight of God as a Testimony against Malicious Opposers and crued Hard-hearted Apostates and in the Second place it was with a true desire and real intent of mind for thine and others good if perhaps thou maist be thereby perswaded