testifie unto them the RIGHT-WAY Hear what Luther says about Opinions Vol. 2. Lib. 7. Fox Acts and Monuments p. 63. Let Opinions remain Opinions so they be not Yokes to the Christians let us not make Mens Opinions equal with the Articles of Faith and to the Decrees of Christ and Paul See the Epitome of Dr. Robert Barns p. 363. Augustine saith Because that those Men by such Observations were led from the Verity by the which they were made free whereof it is spoken The Verity shall deliver you It is a Shame saith he and unconvenient and far from the Nobleness of your Liberty seeing you be the Body of Christ to be deceived with Shaddows and to be Judged as Sinners If you despise to observe these Things Wherefore let no man overcome you seeing you are the Body of Christ that will SEEM to be meek in Heart in the HOLINESS of Angels and bring in Things which he hath not seen Also in his Works p. 298. Entituled Mens Constitutions which are not grounded on Scripture bind not the Conscience Hear him Mark That all Traditions of men which are against or not according to Gods Law must be destroyed Therefore let every man take heed for it belongeth to their Charge for both the Blind Guides and also they which be led shall fall in the Ditch It shall be no excuse for him that is led to say That his Guide was blind but let them hear the Word of God by his holy Prophets Walk not in the Precepts of your Fathers nor keep their Judgment but walk in MY Precepts and keep MY Judgements The other manner of Statutes be when certain Things that be called Indifferent be commanded as Things to be done of necessity As for Example To eat Flesh or Fish this or that day is indifferent and free c. These with all other Outward Works be Things indifferent and may be used and also left Now if the Bishops or Ministers will make Laws or Statutes That these Things shall be determinately used so that it shall not be lawful for us to leave it undone But that we must precisely do them and not the contrary under the pain of Deadly Sin here they must be withstood and in no wise obeyed for in this is hurt our Faith and Liberty in Christ whereby we are Free and not bound to any exterior Work but Free in all Things and unto all Men at all times and in all manners except it be in such a Case whereas Brotherly Charity or the Common Peace should be offended therefore in all these Cases we be free and we must withstand them that will take THIS LIBERTY from us with this Text of Scripture We are Bought with the Price of Christs Blood we will not be the Servants of Men. This Text is open against them that will bind Mens Consciences unto Sin for what is not of Faith is Sin in those things that Christ hath left them free in Brentious upon the 1st of Cor. Chap. 3. No man hath Power to make or give Laws to Christians whereby to bind their Consciences for willingly freely and uncompelled with a ready Desire and chearful Mind must they that come run unto Christ Dr. Taylor in a Discourse of Liberty of Prophesying p. 9. of the Christian-Plea Spir. Mar. I earnestly contend that another Mans Opinion shall be no Rule to mine and that my Opinion shall be no Snare and Prejudice to my self that men use one another so charitably that no Errour or violence tempt Men to Hypocrisy this very thing being one of the Arguments I used to perswade Permissions lest Compulsion introduce Hypocrisy and make Sincerity troublesome See his 16th Section Viz. For it may be safe in diversities of Perswasion and it is also a part of Christian Religion that the LIBERTY of Mens CONSCIENCES should be preserved in all Things where God hath not set a Limit That the same Meekness and Charity should be preserved in the Promotion of Christianity that gave it Foundation and Increasement and Formness in its first Publication And that Persons should not more certainly be Condemned than their Opinions confuted And also see a little of the Judgment of Bishop Taylors Cases of Conscience p. 301. Ecclesiastical Laws saith he must be imposed SO as to leave our Liberty unharmed Pag. 310. Laws of Burthen are always against Charity And Pag. 314. Ceremonies obliege no longer than they minister to the End of Charity Hear also what Bishop Hooper saith Scitis quod res Sancta vera quo magis examinatur per Verbum Dei Explicatur eo fit illustrior purior quanto purior illustrior tanto magis ab omnibus desideratur obviis Ulnis excipitur Nam quod variis modis tentatur ac probatur modo pium ac sanctum fuerit jacturam ab Hostibus nullam sentit sed potius Hostes conculcat ac interficit Nec est quod vobis ipsis metuatis modo re ipsa id prestetis quod ubique jactatis Nam quotquot vestras Partes non sequuntur aliquo gravissimo ignominiae genere nimis Superbe afficitis aequa justa petimus ut palam ac publice lites inter nos componantur nullis enim Legibus Sanctis Justis unquam fuit permissum ut una pars litigans de altera parte Judex constitueretur nos tantum Legem Evangelium Dei in Causa Religionis Judicem Competentem agnoscimus illius Judicio stet vel cadat nostra Causa Which for the Sakes of some is thus Translated Know ye that by how much the more the Thing which is holy and true is examined and by the Word of God expounded by so much 't is become more clear and pure and by how much the more 't is made pure and clear by so much the more 't is by all desired and embraced For that which is tryed and proved after various manners if it hath been pious and holy suffers no loss by the Enemy but rather suppresseth and destroyeth the Enemy neither is there any Cause why you may fear so that you perform in very deed that which you every where boast of For as many as do not take your Parts you too proudly afflict with some grievous kind of Infamy What we desire is both equal and just that these Contentions may openly and publickly be composed For it was never permitted by any holy and just Laws that one Party contending should be constituted a Judge concerning the other Party We do acknowledge that the Word of God is the only competent Judge in the Cause of Religion let our Cause stand or fall to the Judgement thereof CHAP. VII Shews that my self and others in this Country have used private Means about four Years and that no Accomodation or Condiscention was attainable neither Answer to Letter Answer to Query nor when I went to London with a Letter from Friends of our particular Meeting to the Second days Meeting in London and delivered it with my
to discover it if he perceives such things entring the Church Answ That both the Reading of the Scriptures and the care of Religion belongs not to the Pasture of the Church ONLY But that every one that would be Saved ought to make deligent Search whether any Corruption be already or is for the Future like to be Introduced and this to be done no less carefully I hope I shall perform this Duty than if he was perswaded that all besides himself were asleep Now forasmuch as the Profit will be small If some private Man shall observe that an Errour is Introduced unless he discovers the said Errour and lays it open Address to Prot. p. 163. Read pages 93. 94. 95. 144. 146. 141. 142. c. Query IX Whether the Barbadoes Order upon Record which is To give up our whole Concern if required both Spiritual and Temporal to the Judgement of the Spirit of God in the Mens and Womens-Meetings See Babels-Builders p. 5. And the Isle of Elyes Orders upon Record in our Quarterly Book which says Thath for time to come no Friends may permit or suffer Marriages without the consent of Friends at two Mens and two Womens-Meetings being distinct and apart each from other Be not Innovations and the Setters of them up and confirming them Innovators and do they not do violence to our First Principles of Union Answ Yea Whosoever brings in or Sets up other Precepts Constitutions Orders and Practices in Point of Worship and would set up other Traditions than the Apostle delivered either by Word or Writing such are manifest to have the Spirit of Errour and are Innovators See Francis Howgil's Works p. 236. And that he begun to see the Evil Effects of Councils See his Works p. 534. where he quotes Dr. Paraeus Gregorius Theologus and Gregorius Nazianzenus c. Who complained of the Lordliness of the Ministers and Bishops and that seldom any Good came of Councils as he there at large sets forth c. George Fox See if thou hast not as much Need of a Battledoore as the Scholars and Professors had Who art as much Apostatized from they former Principles for Liberty of Conscience as the Scholars and Professors were from the single Language viz. Thee and Thou to a single Person And therefore to bring People to that which is not of Faith is to bring them into SIN to make Shipwrack of Faith and a Good Conscience Gosp Lib. p. 23. wrote 1668. by G. F. And in his several Papers given forth for detecting Deciet 't is thus said The Worlds Guide is without them in the Traditions and Precepts of men which lead from God p. 5. c. But now Conform to Hadenham Orders or Record him out of the Unity c. As at large in Cap. 3. These Orders were made the 1st of the 10th Month 1675. This I set here not to Adore Because I do well understand He that gave forth the Battledore Now brings Grapes of another Land Which Sower be because not free From Force and Impositions Although as yet he will not see Them like Old Romes Traditions These Queries or the Substance of them I sent to G. Whitehead but never received any Answer from him only there came an obscure Letter to my hands from R. R. but who it was or where he dwelt he did not acquaint me and whether the said Letter may be accounted any thing of an Answer or whether he doth not rather manifest the obscure Author to be a Man full of Contempt Scorn and Disdain and Abuse in that he calls and accounts me Conceited Befooled my Ignorance blinded Lyes perverse Lyer and yet doth not particular one Instance to prove me to be such an one c. I shall leave with the Impartial Reader to weigh and consider when he hath read the said Letter and my Answer to it a Coppy of both hereafter follow Francis Bugg I Know thy Name and Nature though not thy Person A mean Sight may discern it through thy own Spectacles plainly enough to be Abusive Vnworthy and Foolish though conceited in this Matter at present I could be glad to know 't were otherwise now so would others If not I believe G. W. will send thy Papers to the Quarterly Meeting who I believe will see and disown thy Abuse both of this Meeting at London particular Friends and themselves and especially the Truth wherein they are concerned and wherein they Labour and Travel though therein thou abusively comparest them to the Abuses of Bishops Orders Constitutions Decrees Cannons Cheating and other Terms I cannot now remember nor thou understand else thou wouldst write them in truer English and better sense This I mention to meet with and abate thy Concietedness to help thee with Spectacles to see how unfit thou art to undertake to be a Judge of Learning in that kind as well as to be a Judge of such Friends in Truth and such Meetings of Friends in an incomparably higher in imperiously and menacingly requiring them to advise and consent to the altering the Quarterly Meeting Book in your Parts as if thou hadst both this and that Meeting at thy Devotion either to bend to thy hand at thy pleasure or else to undo by thy Publication The Bishoprick thou speakest of and the Promotion aspired to by the Bryar and Thistle in Lebanon which can but prick and rake the Skin cannot destroy as it would that within and that Nature thou art in can but blister it for a time and must in the end be crushed So turn from it in time and signifie it to those thou hast wornged is my Advice to thee they Lyes and Revilings are not worth Answering to be like thee they are so gross vain Thy Queries differ in the Principle from which they proceed and the End to which they tend from the thou makest thy Answer from Friends and that which is defective in two Principal Causes is far from Good which is from intire Cause Conceit hath so blinded thee thou canst neither see Beginning nor End If I did not see thy perverse willful gross Lyes I should answer to thy Ignorance But thus much at present is meet thou shouldst know how it hath befooled thee From him that hath learned so much from the Truth though by thee despised and belyed R. R. For Francis Bugg The Queries are before and the Letters wrote by me and other Friends which I suppose he takes the Imperiousness and Menacing from shall follow after the Answer I sent him for which he accounts me so foolish befooled blinded my Ignorance not wrote in true English c. To which I refer the Reader First then my Answer I sent him Viz. F. Bugg his Answer to R. R's Letter R. R. I Have received a few Lines from thee bearing no Date nor yet acquainting me who thou art otherwise than by R. R. nor yet where thou dwellest by which I perceive thou lovest Obscurity If these Lines of mine chance to find thee out
May walk in Love whil'st we are here And all unto him be Subjected That all may in him be Perfected That God o're all may Ruler be And Glorified Eternally But what art thou that art so bold That Womens-Meetings thus Control'd And thus dost seem to lay a Block Against the raising of a Stock Whereas George hath Infallibly Erected them to sit on High And that against their Government None should shew Discouragement Neither Direct nor Indirect Lest out of Vnity they be kept I tell thee I am a Labouring-Man And have been taught to Thresh and Fan And what 's the Chaff unto the Wheat Though it may serve some Beast to eat And to the Wheat may grow so near That both came forth of th' self same Ear And sent forth wrapt in Paper White Wise Men will look ON 'T in the Light And such whose Eyes are in their Head Can see it is not fit for Bread Therefore on it refuse to feed Lest it should ill Humours breed And such Distempers as Blind-Zeal Which noysom are to Common-Weal For when Mens Minds with it are heat Their Fellows they are apt to beat According to their Power and Might They with their Tongues begin to smite And he that is not of their Mind From Truth say they he is Declin'd And Womens-Meetings he doth slight How then can his Spirit be right And then saith one Let 's Mouth be stopt And others cry He must be knockt Another He doth blasting threaten And thus are Fellow Servants beaten From Cross-Bow of their crooked thoughts Which Blind-Zeal bent they shoot their bolts 'T is like I shall be paid with blows For smiting the Image on the Toes That Image of Authority Which Womens-Meetings signifie Although but two or three be there As more seldom do appear When Weather 's cold and Winds do blow I seldom see a bigger Show But I don't mean with them to fight Therefore to keep me from their Sight I 'le to my Refuge quickly fly Even God that Judgeth Righteously And with him also will abide Till he doth Remedy provide That Truth o're all may so prevail As Love to conquer may not fail That as God's one also his Name We all may be one in the same And he may Reign whose Right it is That nothing may be done amiss And then his Saints with Joy shall sing And sound forth Praises to their King Which was his due all times before To him be it given for evermore But now before I go my way Another word I have to say To such as would know my Intent Why this I writ 't is to prevent The further growth of Discontent Rais'd with the Female-Government Although a Charter firm they have And Grant and Confirmation brave Which Strengthen and Corroborate Their Jurisdiction obtain'd of late Yet if the Tree known now may be By the Fruit mine Eye doth see Charter and Confirmation both Are Innovations nothing worth Wherefore I say my Council take And to your selves no Image make Nor to a Likeness now Submit That no Foundation hath in it Now to Gods Grace I all Commend For teaching thereon to depend Which from all Strife can us defend And thus I here shall make an End Who am a Lover of Truth and Peace To all therein wishing Increase A Table of the Contents or principal Matters contained in the Second Part of this Book CHAP. I. Treats of Principles of Truth Received and Believed in the Beginning with an Epistle about Marriage and other Things not as a Form to walk by but as Advice suitable to the Nature and Tendency of the Testimony of Truth Received and Belieed c. Truths Entrance amongst us Pag. 24 25 26 27 28. The 7th Particular in an Epistle of Advice Pag. 29. 30. CHAP. II. Manifesteth an Alteration and Change Shews the Womens Charter for their Jurisdiction Sets forth the Grant and Confirmation made at a London Yearly-Meeting 1675 Viz. G. F. his Platform for Womens-Meetings Pag. 33 34 35 36. 37. The 1st Branch of the Grant Pag. 41 42. 2d Branch of the Grant P. 42 43 44 45. 3d. Branch of the Grant Pag. 48 49. 4th Branch of the Grant Pag. 50 51. Observations upon them Pag. 54. 55 56. CHAP. III. Treats of the Proceedings of G. Fox his Party in the Executive Part of the Charter Grant and Confirmation mentioned in the Second Chapter Their Proceedings against J. Ansloe An Opposition thereunto made by several Viz. Hadenham Orders Pag. 60 61. The Record against J. A. Pag. 63. A Letter to S. Cater by F. Bugg Pag. 64 65 66 67 68. F. Bugg his Protectation Pag. 68 69. Six Queries about G. F. being Head of the Church Pag. 75 76 77 78 79 80. One Query by J. A. Viz. What is Conformity Pag. 82 83. CHAP. IIII. R. Hubberthorns Reasons against Impositions Pag. 88 89. F. Howgils Discovery of Innovators Pag. 89 90 91. G. Fox his Old Doctrine and New Practice Pag. 93 94 95 96 97. A Huntingtonshire Certificate Pag. 97 98. Observations on G. Fox his antient Doctrine Pag. 98 99 100 101 102 103 104. CHAP. V. Shews the Opinion of several of the Clergy both Bishops and Ministers to be against Impositions and the Imposers are the Culpable Dividers and Authors of Schism c. Bishop Dovenants Testimony Pag. 105 106. Dr. Stillingfleets Iron Pag. 106 107. Archbishop Laud against Fisher Pag. 107. Bishop of Heriford Pag 107 108 109 110 111. Alsops Mischief of Impositions Pag. 111 112 113 114. CHAP. VI. Shews the Judgment of Antient Protestants and Martyrs against Forcing a Conformity to Mens Traditions not grounded on Scripture Authority Zanchy's Testimony Pag. 116. W. Tindal about Forms Pag. 116 117. R. Richardson Traced and found fallacious Pag. 118 119. W. Tindal about Services of Women Pag. 119. An Objection answered Pag. 120. Tindal about the Elders erring Pag. 121. Luther about Opinions Pag. 121. Barns against Imposition Pag. 121 122 123 124. Brentious upon Cor. 3. Pag. 124. Dr. Taylor about Liberty Pag. 124 125. Dr. Taylor about Ceremonies Pag. 125. Bishop Hoopers Speech Pag. 125 126. CHAP. VII Shews that my self and others in this Country have used private meanes about four Years and no Accommodation or Condiscention was attainable Neither Answer to Letter Answer to Query no when I went to London with a Letter from Friends of our particular Meeting to the Second-days Meeting in London and delivered it with my own Hand would neither answer the Letter nor so much as discourse me but when I had given them the Letter C. Taylor bad me be gone All which shews the Author to the Accuser his Pretentions to an Accomodation and Condiscention to be Fallacious Deceitful and Hypocritical A Letter from 11 Friends to the Quarterly-Meetings Pag. 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137. F. B's Letter to W. P. about a Composure Pag. 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148. F. B's Letter by way of Prologue to 9 Queries to G. W. Pag. 150 151 152 153. Nine Queries sent to G. W. Pag. 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162. A Battledore and Spectacles for G.F. P. 163. R. R's Letter to F. B. Pag. 164 165 166. F. B. his Answer to R. R's Letter Pag. 167 168 169 170. F. B. his Letter to the Second-days Meeting Pag. 172 173 174 175 176 177. 178 179 180. 11 Friends Letter to the Second-days Meeting Pag. 180 181 182 183. An Answer to Six Interrogatories Pag. 184 185 186. CHAP. VIII Shews that the Severity used by G. Fox and his Party exceeds that of the Judges Justices and Protestant Bishops who have Excommunicated J. B. for selling W. R's Book And if Application be made to them for Redress of Grievances they cry We are deluded and will sometimes refuse to read a Letter but seldom or never answer any And Advice to the Pensilvanians A Letter to Judge Turner Pag. 188 189. Another Letter to Judge Turner Pag. 190 191 192 193. J. B's Excommunication for dispersing W. R's Book Pag. 197 198 199. R. Bayfield burnt for dispersing the Books of Luther Tindal Hus and others Pag. 204. Sir Thomas Moor allowed to read and to answer those Schismatical Books Pag. 205 206. G. Whitehead allowed to buy have possess and read yea and answer W. R. his Book Pag. 205. B. Antribus or J. Fields Objection Answered Pag. 208 209. Advice to the Pensilvanians Pag. 210 211 212 213. A few of the most remarkable Errours corrected the rest are left to the Friendly Reader to correct ERRATA Pag. 4. line 9. for 8th Article r. Articles of Faith p. 5. l. 23. for their r. those p. 17. l. 15. for Woolwick r. Woolruch p. 24. l. 10. for Heavenly Spiritual r. Heavenly and Spiritual p. 26. l. 3. r. declared p 28. l. 22. r. from the Brethren to the Brethren p. 38. l. 16. for Grant or Order r. Charter for Womens-Meetings p. 40. l. 30. for Order r. Charter p. 47. l. 9. for how to r. and how to p. 56. l. 14. for partly r. purely p. 57. l. 3. for Order r. Charter p. 71. l. 16. for the r. their p. 84. l. 17. r. Wâ—tnesses p. 85. l. 20. for lying r. buying p. 93. l. 20 21. r. to wit the Spirit p. 105. l. 16. for Doveman r. Dovenant p. 119. l. 30. f. Little withdrawn r. his Book Entituled p. 125. l. 6. for Increasment and Formnesâ— r. Increment and Firmness p. 153. l. 22. for 1678 r. 1681. p. 206. l. 24. for Clark r. Clarks Shop p 196. l. 17. for discousing r. discoursing FINIS
and Bann Commit and Deliver to the Devil of Hell him or her whatsoever he or she be that have in spite of God St. Peter whose Church this is in spite of all Holy Saints and in spite of our most Holy Father the Pope Gods Vicar here in Earth and in spite of the Reverend Father in God John our Diocessor and the Worshipful Canons Masters and Priests and Clarks which Serve God dayly in this Cathedral Church fixed up with Wax such Cursed and Heretical Bills full of Blasphemy my See the Old and New Pretence upon the Door of this and other Holy Churches within this City Excommunicate plainly be he or she plenally or they and delivered over to the Devil as perpetual Malefactors and Schismaticks accursed may they be and given Body and Soul to the Devil Cursed be they he or she in Cities and Towns in Fields and Ways in Paths in Houses out of Houses and in all other Places Standing Lying or Rising Walking Running Sleeping Waking Eating Drinking and whatsoever Thing they do besides we seperate them him or her from the Threshold and from all the good Prayers of the Church from the Participation of the Holy-Mass No Spiritual Communion then no no more than for J. B. from all Sacraments Chappels and Altars from Holy Bread and Holy Water All pretend to Holiness Holy Holy from all the Merits of Gods Priests and Religious Men and from all their Cloysters from all their Pardons Priviledges Grants and Immunities which an the Holy Fathers Popes of Rome have granted to them And we give them over utterly to the power of the Fiend and let us quench their Souls if they be dead this Night in the pains of Hell Fire as this Candle is now quenched and put out and with that he put out one of the Candles And let us pray to God if they be alive that their Eyes may be put out as this Candle-light is So he put out the other Candle And let us pray to God and to our Lady and to St. Peter and St. Paul and to all Holy Saints that all the Senses of their Body may fail them and that they may have no Feeling as now the Light of this Candle is gone And so he put out the third Candle Except they he or she come openly now and confess their Blasphemy and by Repentance as in them shall lye make Satisfaction unto God our Lady St. Peter and the Worshipful Company of this Cathedral Church And as this Holy Staff now falleth down so might they except they repent and shew themselves And One first taking away the Cross the Staff fell down But Lord what a Shout and Noise there was what terrible fear what holding up of Hands to Heaven that Curse was so terrible Now this fond foolish Fantasie and Mockery being done and played which was to a Christian Heart a thing most ridiculous Bennet could no longer forbear but fell to great Laughter but within himself and for a great Space could nor cease by the which thing the poor Man was espyed for they that were next by him wondring at that great Curse and believing it could not but light on one or other asked good Bennet for what cause he should so laugh My Frieds said he Who can forbear seeing such merry Conceits and Interludes played of the Priests Strait way there was a noise heard Here is the Heretick Here is the Hereticks Hold him fast Hold him fast Now see the parellel betwixt the Papists using Thomas Bennet who was soon after burnt their Power considered and the Darkness of that Age in which a Cloud of Errour and Vail of Darkness had covered the generality and the Vsage of George Fox and his Party to William Rogers and his Friends for almost the same Reason viz. Detecting George Fox c. Considering I say they are a Suffering People themselves no Law to assist them in their Church Censures and the Light of the Gospel breaking forth c. to the Illumination of the generality c. That is to say A Gatalogue of the hard Words censarious Language bitter Invectives and severe Judgment passed upon William Rogers and his Friends by George Fox and those of Party with him as may be found in the several Books put forth against him and others approved on by the Second-days Meeting in London to which I have affixed the Titles and Pages of the said Books c. Whereby their Vsurped Authority is manifest under the Notion of THE CHURCH THE CHURCH THE CHURCH Viz. An Exalted Diotrephes The Accuser of the Brethen Hellish Jealousies One driven out from the Presence of the Lord Vnsavoury Salt Heady Wilful Highminded Vnruly Passionate and Furions This miserable Man W. R. who through Vnwatchfulness Disobedience Rebellion against God which is as the Sin of Witchcraft The unclean Spirit Adversary of Mans Soul the old Accuser of the Brethren having now the Rule in him meaning W. R. and over him makes War through him against the Lamb and his Followers Rude Insolent His prophane speaking concerning the Power of God but from the Spirit of Antichrist the cruel outragious deadly hellish Spirit or Image of Iealousie a murmuring complaining dividing Spirit a rending tearing Spirit a dark jealous Spirit a loose gain-saying opposite Spirit a proud exalted Spirit a contemning scornful Spirit a self-concested Spirit a turbulent willful froward Spirit This cursed Spirit of Satan is now entered into the Heart Soul of William Rogers and such of his Abetters as own the Printing and Publishing his wicked Book aforesaid And are become twice dead pluckt up by the Roots and through Perverseness Paevishness Cross-spiritedness enter into the way of Cain and Spirit of Korah and his Company of which Number and sort is William Rogers and his Adherents who have attempted such manifest Rebellion against Good pure Power A cross Canker'd Spirit Fal'n Antichristian Instruments And which I. say be Co-workers with the Prince of Darkness where the First-born of Death Rules and Reigns without any good Order Of that Seed and Spirit yea are joyned to and led by against the very Heart of God and his Light and Life in which his People live with him in The Titles and Pages of the Books that afford these bitter Invectives here follow c. Dyotrophes Exalted pag. 1. 16. 7. 17. 11 Accuser c. Title-page Introduct An Epistle or Caution pag. 4. 9. Title-page Humph. Woolwick his Epistle pag. 9. 11. This with much more that I might have collected as Rotten Heart Painted Sepulcre Ranter Old cankered Apostate Child of Hell and the like but this may serve to give a Relish of their Proceedings and compleat the Parellel And now Reader Why may not I publish what I find upon due Search and Examination Erronious in them as well and more justifiable too than they thus to vent their Passions against the peaceable People among them because they cannot conform to George Fox his Laws What Have G. F.
before the Mens and Womens-Meetings being distinct and apart each from the other according to the Platform of G. F. c. Secondly That the Rife Practice Setting up and Establishishing of the Womens-Meetings is according to the Mind and Câ—â—nsel of God and done in the Leading and Ordering of his ETERNAL-SPIRIT whereby G. F. his Erection of this as new as needless Ceremony is ratified and confirmed and absolutely corroborated and strengthened by these Presents according to their true Intent and meaning No Pope ever had a more true and loyal Council or one better skil'd or more politick to save his Holiness from any Danger or confirm his Infallible and Unerring Institutions nay further they have granted I think to him his Heirs and Successors for ever for I see no limit in the whole Ecclesiastical Cannon that whosoever directly or indirectly discountenance these Womens-Meetings cannot be look't upon as in Unity with the Church of Christ and then to be sure no Members which if I believed it would be sad News for me Thirdly And lest any should yet chance to call the Proceedings of these New Spiritual Lords in Question or call their Meeting Synodical or the Members thereof like Popes Bishops c. their Epistle Decrees Cannons or Edicts of Men c. it is Ordained by the Authority aforesaid that such are not to be permitted i. e. to be at Unity with them for alas that is all they can yet do Viz. Reckon us as Heathens and I look upon it better to be under that censure than after all private meanes used and they not reclaimed to let them go undiscovered Fourthly But lest all this should not do here is one stratagem more and that is To Record those disobedient Sons to all Eternity for it is further Enacted by this New arbitrary Authority who did without the consent of the People perhaps forgetting that we are English-men that the Testimony of the Church shall be recorded and the Condemnation of the Transgressors of these Ordinances and infallible Laws to which indispensible Obedience is required which is partly and plainly and very truly so interpreted if their Intents may be measured by what hath followed as the event of these Things which this Treatise will yet further manifest So that upon the whole matter I cannot see what could have hindred the compleating this Grant and Confirmation had they but put these four Branches to the remaining eight for there are in all 12 Particulars and obtained their passing both Houses of Parliament and the Royal Assent the neglect whereof hath been greatly disadvantagious to their carrying on their then notable Designs CHAP III. Treats of the Proceedings of George Fox and his Party in the Executive Part of the Order Grant and Confirmation mentioned in the Second Chapter their Proceedings against John Ansloe an Opposition made thereto by several Viz. HAving in the two former Chapters manifested the Way Manner and Method of our Church-Government first as it was in our primitive Gathering when as we pleaded to the Magistrate for Liberty of Conscience so we had the free Exercise of it allowed amongst our selves in Matters Spiritual And Secondly with reference to latter Years when Liberty of Conscience is only pleaded for to the Magistrate but utterly denyed to be put in practise amongst our selves which I hope may serve for a Proof to the Author of the Accuser c. and a convincing one too that W. R. when he published his Book Entituled The Christian-Quaker Distinguished from the Apostate and Innovator In Five Parts Was not without ground when he cryed out of Forms Impositions Orders Prescriptions Rules Cannons c. But that it may yet more plainly appear I shall now descend to the Proceedings in our own Country which I am an Eye-Witness of where these Laws Rules Cannons and Directories have been put in practice on the greatest Penalties we are capable to inflict and then perhaps the Author of the Accuser may accept of my Endeavours both for a Proof and Catalogue of the unparrelled severity according to the State and Capacity we stand in to the Members of our own Society considering how liable we are to the Persecution of so many penal Statutes every day yea I say I know not where to find a Parrellel for our Proceedings our State and Capacity rightly considered we that differ from others and desire their Forbearance yet at the same time differing among our selves cannot nay will not bear one with another we cry to the Magistrates for the Liberty and the free Exercise of our Consciences in Matters Spiritual and will not nay resolves not come what will come to allow the free Exercise of Conscience in matters Spiritual to our discenting Brethren as this Treatise will make manifest Oh! depth of Hypocrisy and Fore-runner of Tyranny Should you have Power put into your Hands before the Peoples Eyes are a little opened to see your Treachery your double dealing your antichristian dealing You are like the deaf Adder you will not hear How often have I wrote unto you How have I wooed and intreated you to race out one Cannon To condiscend a little Which I had great hopes of when I saw W. P's Addr. to Prot. But alas he hath told us by his Liberty Spiritual p. 13. his meaning Viz. Nor is it the least Evil this Spirit of strife is guilty of even at this day that it useth the words Liberty of Conscience and Imposition against the Brethren in the same manner as our Suffering Friends have been always accustomed to intend them against the Persecuting Priests and Powers of the Earth Whereby it is manifest that it is accounted a great Evil if not the least to call for Liberty of Conscience since they are accustomed to intend it only to the Magistrates for themselves and not by that Expression to any that shall call for it to them Well I am loth to trouble my Reader with my single Coment upon these things but shall come more close to the matter even to what is upon Record and Proceedings thereupon and then leave it to the Conscience of the Impartial Reader First then see a Copy of the Orders Recorded in our Quarterly-Meeting Book in the Isle of Ely which is as followeth Viz. IT is ordered and agreed upon at this Quarterly-Meeting that no Friends for time to come may Permit or suffer Marriages without the consent of Friends at two Mens and Womens-Meetings and the Man and Woman to come both to the said Meeting to receive the answer of Friends that so no disorderly or indirect Proceedings may be carried on any more contrary to the Unity of Friends Dated the 1st of the 10 Month 1675. This Cannon or Directory being usher'd in amongst us under the specious Pretence of Good Orders and to keep things clean It was by our Meeting generally received and by me recorded I being Writer at that time but many of us little thought that it was intended for a Rule and
and Recorder out of the Unity at her pleasure which manifests her to be the false Church for the true Christian Religion was introduced by Perswasion and ought to be so carryed on for if I believe and practice only because the Church doth so ad not from a convincement in my self my Faith and Obedience would be false and Idolatrous The Apostles who had the Mind of Christ became all unto all stooped to all Capacities to all Degrees of Knowledge valued what was good in all these were his Injunctions who said As every Man is fully perswaded so let him walk for what is not of Faith is Sin He did not Record out of the Unity such as saw not so clear as himself but became all unto all that he might save some but you that would force all become all to none you will not stoop at all nor condiscend at all but exalt and magnifie your Orders and written Prescriptions how many weak Brethren soever you offend You value not the good in any but Conformity to your Humour and to your Will and though some are otherwise minded about Discipline and Church-Government you will not let them alone but you will impose upon them Stigmatise and Record them out of the Unity which is no less than Excommunication Wherefore take W. P's Advice FLY ROME AT HOME and lay not Stress where God lays not Stress Thus twice over as it were have you herein the genuine sense of Dear W. P. And Oh! that every one concerned would make a diligent search in his own Heart and like the beloved Disciple smite upon his Breast and say Is it I Is it I that am guilty of this Severity of this Presumption if carrying things too high of setting up such Orders as prove a Snare or at least a burthen to the Conscientious yea of laying a Stress and a great Stress where God never laid any One that am the Cause of this Disturbance in the Church One that bears witness of my self and that will be both Party and Judge Oh! let me a little Examine my self Am I One that cannot become all unto all One that cannot condiscend at all to my Brother One that will value not the good in any but Conformity to my Will and Humour One that would have all believe and practice as I do whether I convince their Vnderstanding of the Truth of what I believe and practice or not and if not condemn them for Hereticks without any more a do I say Oh that every one would thus reflect upon himself that so you might consider of these things for many are offended and grieved with the continuance of the aforementioned Record against J. A. And again beseech and intreat you to reverse the same that so Love and Good-will Unity and Concord may spring amongst us as in the Beginning which is heartily desired by your Friends who subscribe their names hereunto Francis Bugg Elizabeth Bugg Joseph Masson Jane Masson Joseph Ellington Rachel Ellington John Thrift Joseph Tetsall William Bellsham Phillip Wing Mary Huggins Sarah Bird. Dated the 15th of the 3d. Month 1680. Note That John Thrift who carried the recited Letter to the Quarterly-Meeting said that they would not suffer it to be read but cryed out You are deluded Which by the Second-days Meetings own Rule if they approved W. P's small Tract Entituled A Brief Examination and State of Liberty Spiritual is a mark of Imposition For in the said Tract p. 4. 't is thus written I ask thee May I not exhort thee to the Practice of that I am moved to press thee to the Practice of If not thou are the Imposer by restraining me from my Christan-Liberty and not only so but away goeth Preaching and with it the Scriptures that are both appointed of God for Exhortation Reproof and Instruction Their Proceedings herein need no Comment being worse than the Magistrates ever served me who do as really believe me to be deluded as they could pretend to any such Thing and yet they will often hear and do Justice too And after I had waited more than a Year and saw no Redress I then wrote to W. P. thinking he might be an Instrument to compose things but what he did whether any thing or nothing I never had any Answer to this Day A Coppy of which now followeth Viz. This for W. P. with Care c. Dear Friend VVHen I consider the Nature of the Controversy betwixt W. R. and G. F. and the multitude of Friends on each side in almost all Counties together with the lamentable Consequences which will unavoidably follow the same if not timely put a stop to by a Brotherly Condiscention I am even bowed down and grieved to behold the same and under a sense thereof I desire to lay before thee my Apprehension both of the Cause and Cure that so thou together with G. W. to whom I have already wrote may endeavour a Composure of this Controversy and in remembrance of what thou didst declare at the Meeting at Devonshire House the 27th of the 3d. Month last after the Debate gives me Incouragement so to do as also they Printed Addr. to Prot. for saidst thou If I knew of such a Design as is surmised to bring in an Implicit Faith and Blind Obedience by forcing a Conformity before Conviction I would oppose it with my at most Endeavour or to that effect Now that thou mayst know if yet thou dost not as that thou shouldst not by thy positive Assertions in Alexander the Copper Smith pag. 10. 12. 15. I will give thee a Copy of Orders Recorded as our Cannon or Rule to walk by in the Quarterly Book for the Isle of Ely Verbatim Parenthesis excepted Viz. It is ordered at this Quarterly-Meeting and agreed upon that no Friends may for time to come permit or suffer Marriages without the consent of Friends at two Mens and Womens-Meetings and the Man and Woman to come both to the said two Meetings to receive the Answer of Friends that so no disorderly a notable Hedge without parrellel I presume or Indirect Proceedings may be carryed on any more and yet never more disorderly than since contrary to the Vnity of Friends Written at a Quarterly Meeting in Hadenham the 1st of the 10th Month 1675. Behold the Nature Manner and Form of these Orders and compare them with the Condemnation of J. A. for not coming up to a strict Conformity who was Recorded out of the Unity the 4th of the 7th Month 1678. in the same Book as may be seen for not proceeding in his Marriage according to the Orders Now see whether we do not first make a Rule or Cannon to walk by and compel a Conformity to the same before Conviction nay not only so but pass Diffinitive Sentence too for Nonconformity to the utmost of our little Power we have and when any Body questions the Authority of these Orders and Practices G. F. is presently quoted and that being as some say moved to
give forth such Orders who ever oppose them they oppose the Power of God and thereupon call us Men of an Opposite Spirit I say take a special view of what is said and then impartially peruse this following Advice of Friends in the Case of Marriage which was amongst many other things in the Beginning given forth by the antient Labourers in Gods Vineyard whose Care and Skill was manifest and then see if we govern our selves upon our first Principles That is to say The Elders and Brethren sendeth unto the Brethren in the North these necessary Things following to which if you in the Light wait to be kept in Obedience you shall do well Fare you well c. 7thly ' That if any one moved of the Lord and in his Light called to take a Brother or Sister in Marriage Marriage being honourable in all and the Bed undefiled let it be made known unto the Children of Light especially to those of the Meeting to which the Parties are Members that all in the Light may witness it to be of God let them be joyned together in the Lord and in his Fear in the presence of many Witnesses according to the Example of the Holy Men of God in the Scriptures of Truth Recorded which were written for our Example Here is true Humility and Learning and that no Scandal may rest upon the Truth nor any thing done in secret but all things brought to the Light that Truth may triumph over all Deceit and that they that are joyned together in the Lord may not by man be put asunder whom God hath joyned together that there may a Record of the Time and Place in Writing witnessing the Time and Place of such Things be kept within the Meeting of which the one or both are Members under which Writing the Witnesses present may subscribe their Names or so many of them as may be convenient for the stopping of the mouths of Gain-sayers and for the manifesting the Truth to all who are without Now observe the Conclusion of the said true Christian-like Epistle Dearly Beloved Friends these Things for there were many besides Marriage we do not lay upon you as a RVLE or FORM to walk by but that all with the measure of the Light which is pure and Holy may be guided so in the Light walking and abiding these Things may be fulfilled in the Spirit not from the Letter for the Letter killeth but the Spirit giveth Life c. Now consider I pray thee First our Primitive Principle and Institution Direction and Christian-Liberty and see if the late Orders and Imposing them and Compelling a Uniformity to them have not doe violence to them see thy own words and how our Practice contradicts them Addr. to Prot. pag. 149. 150. c. That is to say For all Societies are to govern themselves according to their Institution and first Principle of Vnion where there is violence upon this part Tyranny and not Order is Introduced Now since Perswasion and Conviction began all true Christians Societies all Christian-Societies must uphold themselves upon the same free Bottom or they turn Antichristian Thus saist thou and I say the same pray consider on it and endeavour a Reformation I could further paraphrase hereupon and many other Places of thy Address c. Some Pages whereof with some others I may quote and leave to thy perusal being loth to be too tedious concluding with thy Address Pag. 221. That 't is base Coyn that needs Imposition to make it current but true Metal passes for its own intrinsick value Oh miserable Imposition and the mischief of it What Censuring Sentencing Recording Judging Yea What Superstition Formality Idolatry and Hypocrisy hath it begotten And what Animosities Heart-burnings Persecution and Bloodshed hath it been the Cause of Which had People been left to their Christian-Liberty had never been As these following pages shew Address to Protestants pages 122. 156. 143. 67. 68. 77. 93. 94. 95. 97. 98. 99. to the 104. 141. 148. 142. 144. 145. 146. 185. 190. 192. 193. Francis Howgils Works pag. 534. 617. 620. 236. 625. Richard Hubberthorns Works pag. 188. Josiah Coal's Whore Vnvailed pag. 71. 72. Coloss 2. 16. 17. 18. Eccle. 12.13 Joh. 14.15 Mat. 5. Mat. 28. Christs Sermon 5.6.7 Phil. 8.15 Rom. 14.5 Indeed thy Book alone is so full of matter against Imposition against Force and compelling a Conformity to Outward Rules Cannons and Prescriptions of Human Invention and for Christian-Liberty that I know not well how to leave it I pray God keep thee steady and with a continual Dependency upon the Divine Revelation of Gods holy Spirit which is the Rock upon which the true Church is built and every Member of it that so an Understanding of thy Duty may every day be received and a necessity therefrom come upon thee to perform it that so thou mayst not look one way and row another a thing some suspect by thy disputing on G. F. his Part when he some think was ashamed to appear himself But for my part when I consider thy Labour and Service in the Truth therein spending both thy self and Estate together with thy Zeal in vindicating Truth against all Opposers I cannot have any Suspition Object But perhaps thou mayst say to me How is it possible that a Composure of this Controversy can now be c. Answ If I may not be too tedious I will give thee my Answer thus Let there be a present Cassation of all Controversy for three Months proclaimed on both Sides and a Day set and Place appointed Mutually by G. and W. to have a Meeting equally constituted with ten or twenty Friends more or less on each Side by them respectively chosen and when this is agreed upon let them exhibit their Charges in Writing by way of Declaration and send it to each other a Month or more before the said Set Day that they may both know what to plead to and how to make their Defence and what Witnesses to bring to prove their several Charges so exhibited And then where either of them are found guilty let them make that Satisfaction which is suitable to the nature of their Crime and wherein clear let them be acquitted This on W. R's Account I dare Engage shall be performed and that this is both a just and reasonable Method I dare appeal to all Judicious Persons in the World Why then shall this intollerable Controversy be continued Why should there be occasion ministred for those grievous Animosities Rents and Divisions which every day increase And taking all Advantages against each other by Printing Preaching or otherwise as if the one Side were infallibly all Christians and impossible for them to Err and the other Side Heathens Infidels and Pagans and that by Predestination too without any Recovery by that figure of using no Endeavour Oh dreadful Work But if any shall say to me no George shall never be thus brought upon the Stage or be thus made publick for he cannot
Practices a man may discern without a pair of Spectacles ERROUR and SUPERSTITION coming in apace LIMPING upon their old crooked Crutches of IMPLICIT FAITH and BLIND OBEDIENCE And least you should not know how to answer these Queries I will answer them in the Words of our own Principles that so you may the better behold your Revoltings and perceive your Innovations and take notice of your Apostatizing from your Primitive Principles But if my Answer please you not then let me see by one Answer of your own what you can say for your selves Query I. Whether to Impose any thing upon another Mans Conscience either to do or practice be not a doing otherwise to others than we would they should do unto us and so Antichristian See the Second and Third Chapter about Marriages Answ Yea For so says R. Hubberthorn in his Works p. 188. where he tenders seven Reasons why no Impositions ought to be upon any Mans Conscience by any but the Lord. And says he To Impose any thing upon another Mans Conscience either to do or Practice is not A doing to others as they would be dealt by and therefore is contrary to Christs Doctrine which say I is ANTICHRISTIAN Query II. Whether such Societies as do not govern themselves according to their Primitive Principles but erect new Orders and new Models of Government New Ceremonies and new ways of Sentencing Judging and Condemning the Innocent Recording and Excommunicating such as cannot yield Conformity and Uniformity thereunto do not more resemble Tyranny than Order Nay Is it not Antichristian Answ Yea For all Societies are to Govern themselves according to their Institutions and First Principle of Union where there is violence upon this Part Tyranny and not Order is Introduced Now since Perswasion and Conviction begun all true Christian Societies ALL Christian-Societies MVST uphold themselves upon the same Free Bottom or they turn Antichristian Query III. Whether to restrain People from the free Exercise of their Consciences or to compel People to act against their Faith and Perswasion in Matters Spiritual be not Popish and a Practice of the Church of ROME Address to Prot. pag. 149. 150. Answ Yea For the Apostle in his Day said Let every Man be fully perswaded in his own Mind or Conscience And did not go about to force People to Conform to such Things as they were not perswaded of in their own Consciences But the Church of Rome doth not admit that every one should Walk or Act as they are Perswaded in their own Conscience See Josiah Coal's Whore Vnvailed p. 71. 72. Query IV. If so Whether it be not Wisdom to beware of this Trojan Horse of this Practice which so much resembles Rome who commonly lay more Stress upon their own Ceremonies and written Traditions Orders and Institutions than upon the holy Scriptures or the Primitive Christians Example Answ Yea I beseech you Protestants by the Mercies of God and Love of Jesus Christ Ratified to you in his most precious Blood Fly Rome at Home have a care of this Presumption carry it not too high lay not Stress where God hath laid none Neither use his Royal Stamp to Authorise your Apprehensions in the Main of his Institutions Address to Prot. p. 77. Query V. Whether the holy Scriptures be not of more Authority than our written Traditions and Orders And whether it be not as commendable now to search the Scriptures to see whether our Orders Traditions and Ceremony be agreeable to them as it was formerly for the Bereans who by the Scripture examined Pauls Testimony Seeing some of you call them the Professors Weapons and will not suffer them to be alledged in our Quarterly-Meetings Answ Yea For it cannot be denyed But that the great Foundation of our Protestant Religion is the Divine Authority of the Scriptures from without us and the Testimony and Illumination of the holy Spirit within us Vpon this Foot the First Reformers stood and made and maintained their Separation from Rome with good Cause therefore it is the general consent of all Sound Protestant Writers That neither Traditions Counsels nor Cannons of any Visible Church much less the Edicts of any Civil Sessions or Jurisdiction but the Scripture ONLY Interpreted by the Holy Spirit in us give the final Determination in Matters of Religion and that Only in the Conscience of Every Christian to himself which Protestation made by the First Publick Reformers against the Imperial Edicts of Charles the Fifth Imposing Church Traditions without Scripture Authority Mark you Order Makers the same Cause moves to the same thing gave first beginning to the Name Protestant and with that Name hath ever been received this Doctrine which prefers the Divine Authority of the Scriptures and Spirit to that of the Church and her Traditions Address to Prot. p. 148. Query VI. Whether it be not a Popish Tenet to cry down Wisdom and to say That Wisdom will destroy us as 't is usually with you to say for the Papists care not how foolish the Common People are nor how much in Ignorance it being as they say the Mother of Devotion they educate them provided thir Ministers and Jesuits be very expert and able to defend their way of Worship and heap of Ceremonies And when do any that Write or Dispute to defend our Way of Worship write and speak like Fools except they can neither write nor speak otherwise and why do you cry out against Wisdom upon every occasion as if Ignarance were become our only Darling Answ For to admire what Men do not know and to make it a Principle not to enquire is the last Mark of Folly in the Believers and of Imposture in the Imposers To be short a Christian Implyes a Man and a Man implyes Conscience and Vnderstanding but he that hath no Conscience nor Vnderstanding as he hath not who hath delivered them up to the Will of another men is no Man and therefore no Christian Upon this Principle Men must be made Fools in Order to believe Shall Folly which is the Shame if not the Curse of a man be the Perfection of a Christian. Address to Prot. pag. 187. Query VII Is it not great Deceit and Illusion first to make Rules or Cannons to walk by and when any refuse Obedience to them and cannot for Conscience sake Conform to them then to Senctence Judge and Record such out of the Unity and yet to the World pretend and that in Print that we do no such Thing I say Is not this great Decoit and Delusion Answ Yea That our Friends says W. P. meaning us the People called Quakers Require any men to practice what they are not convinced of I utterly renounce in their Name and that at an Infamous Slander Alexander the Copper-Smith page 10. Query VIII Whether Antichristian Practices Popish Principles Contempt of Scriptures Folly Ignorance and Partiality Practising one thing and Pretending another be Corruptions or no If yea then whether or no a private Man ought not
R. that it was the Advice of such an Eminent Friend as it was of Party with G. F. Viz. Let not this Spirit be reasoned with enter not into Proposals and Articles with it but feed it with Judgment that is Gods Decree Which gives me occasion to write to you at this time to DESIRE then not to require as R. R. says a Letter from you whether you will Advise and Consent to the Racing out the said Orders which prohibit Marriage to the manner of the Publication of the Parties Intention and whether you will advise and consent to the Racing out the Record against J.A. for his Nonconformity to the said ORDERS or else maintain and prove them Apostolical and agreeable to the Way and Manner of the Apostles and Primitive Christians Proceedings by answering my Queries sent to G. W. c. But if you refuse to do either That is to say To race out the said Orders for Marriage on Record and the Record against J. A. or else maintain and prove them Apostolical Then I do hereby let you know that I purpose if the Lord will to bear a publick Testimony against your Innovations Usurpations Directories Orders Decrees Cannons and Constitutions But on the contrary mark my Terms of Submission If you shall race out the said Orders and Record against J. A. or shew mark I pray you your Advice and Consent by Letter to me to the Friends belonging to our Quarterly-Meeting to and for the racing out the said Orders for Marriage and Record against J.A. for his Nonconformity to them so that it be done effectually OR mark the reasonableness of my Proposals prove them Apostolical by answering my Queries sent to G. W. or otherwise as aforesaid Then I do hereby promise to forbear such publick Testimony whether by Printing or otherwise and to wait in hopes that Things which are amiss may be mended And why you refuse this Request which would tend to the gladning the Hearts of many I know not Christ said to the lofty Professors in his Day If you Believe me not yet Believe me for my Works Sake And I say though you may slight me yet for the Reason sake that I offer for Liberty of Conscience as an Expedient for Reconciliation and for the Peace of the Church and that Liberty of Conscience in the Free Exercise of it where neither Christ nor his Apostles have set a Limit may be enjoyed and preserved from Violence and Usurpation Have some Regard to what I say It is not unknown to you how our Practice hath been sometimes to the King and his Council sometimes to the King and Parliament for Liberty of Conscience and the Free Exercise of it and that we might be exempted from the Penalties assigned for our Nonconformity to the Rites and Ceremonys of Prelatical Institutions Established by the Laws of the Land This hath been still is and ought to be our Practice WELL THEN How comes it then 〈…〉 pass that we should be such humble Suiters for Liberty of Conscience and now such severe Imposers on each others Consciences and to such Orders as G. W's Learned Friend R. R. in his Perplext Vnlearned and Ill-compos'd Ingredients p. 11. 12. had no better way to vindicate than by two Proofs The one from the Popes Nunnery a Place I do not like at all and I pray God preserve me in that Faith and Practice which may be defended by the Holy Scriptures and Primitive Christians Example that so I need not be put to that Shift and Extremity as to go to the Popes Nunnery to defend the same but as W. P. elsewhere saith though to his own Confutation in that he handed the Grant and Confirmation mentioned in the Second Chapter Errour is only upheld by Errour and so he may see in time The next Proof of his is That in the Jews Apostacy to Idolatry the Women wove Hangings And that as the First Implyes some Womens Service amongst the Primitive Christians So the last shews that Women did some Service in the Temple Oh profound Learning And if this way of Reasoning was pursued What Heathenish Practices and Popish Superstitions may not be Introduced But says he These are * * Note Imperfect Footsteps Imperfect Footsteps And I think as Impertinently Quoted and if R.R. hath no better Logick he need not be admired by G. W. in Print for his great Learning nor perhaps had not only he hath found out some History or Popish Author which says There were Deaconesses as well as Deacons Which was helpful to G.W. in his Preaching and Disputing for Womens-Meetings lately in Huntington-Shire and elsewhere where he took too much upon him and behaved himself more like a Lordly Bishop or Popish Prelate than an humble Minister of Christ and by me at this time is and stands Impeached as an Enemy to Christian-Liberty a Vsurper over the Conscience the which I stand ready publickly to assert maintain and vindicate And as you have in your Solicitations for Liberty of Conscience shewed our King at the latter End of the Treatise of Oaths the Example of the Grave of Nassau and the Prince of Orange and divers others who in their time gave Liberty so may I and with great reason too set the Example of our King before your view who though he hath not granted all you ask yet hath done much more comparatively than you will do for your Brethren and that in a twofold manner that is to say First In that about eight or nine Years since by his Letters Pattent was graciously pleased to Release many of us out of Prison who lay under the Sentence of Premunire Secondly By racing out the Exchequer Records where many of us stood convict of Recusancy and thereby out of his Princely Clemency set us free from the Censures issuable thereupon These Things are manifest Why then will you not bear with a little Nonconformity to one Ceremony and that such an one too for which there is neither Precept nor President in all the Holy Scriptures Why will you not learn of the King who raced out and made void the Judges Sentences which were severe enough and blotted out the Exchequer Records that so you may thereby give us some ground to believe that if you were in Power to Inflict Corporal Punishment for our Non-conformity to your Church-Government YOU WOULD NOT c. Oh that you would consider these Things in a Christian Spirit which would lead you To do to others as you would that others should do unto you So desiring your speedy Answer I rest your Friend who cannot sow Pillows under your Arm-holes Milden-hall The 12th of the 9th Month 1681. F. Bugg Thus it is left with the Reader to Judge what Imperiousnes is herein manifested considering my former Endeavours and Patience therein for nigh four Years The next is a Letter sent by a dozen Friends that belong to our particular Meeting And then after some Remarks upon their Procedure I shall conclude this
Chapter To the Second-days Meeting of Friends Assembled in London Friends and Brethren FOrasmuch as some of us know and others of us are credibly informed that there is an Order Established in our Quarterly-Meeting and that upon Record in our Register-Book belonging to the same Meeting which shuts but and excludes all Marriages amongst us SO as neither to Permit or Suffer them except the Parties both Man and Woman shall go twice to the Mens-Meeting and twice to the Womens-Meeting distinct and seperate one from the other both at Monthly and Quarterly Meetings to publish their Intentions to each Meeting respectively and by reason that some Friends have refused for Conscience sake a Conformity to the said Orders great and many have been the Debates Disputes and Controversial Contentions about the same insomuch as that in the Case of J. A. Friends put it to the Vote Whether he should be Condemned by publick Censure for his Nonconformity to the said Orders or not Whereupon it was determined by S. Cater and about nineteen more they being the Major Part that the said J. A. should be Recorded out of the Vnity although at the same time they did confess they had nothing against him only he did not take his Wife according to the Order of Friends And as some of us know and others of us are credibly informed that there hath been Suite made For several of their Hands are to the Letter sent to our Quarterly-Meeting mentioned in the Third Chapter by many Friends for the racing out the said Record which was obtained by the Major Part of Votes as aforesaid against J. A. But all Endeavours have proved ineffectual Wherefore we at this time desire a Letter of Request from you to the Friends that belong to our said Quarterly-Meeting for the racing out the said Orders which prohibit all Marriages to the manner of the Parties publishing their Intentions and for the racing out the Record against J. A. that so those Friends which reckon it a Duty incumbent upon them to go to the Womens-Meetings to publish their Intentions according to the said Orders may and those that are otherwise Minded may be let alone and not impos'd upon beyond their Freedom and yet nevertheless Remain as Brethren In Vnity except other Matter appear than that of Nonconformity and thus we conclude desiring your Answer to the Premises by our Friend Francis Bugg the Bearer hereof and rest your Friends who subscribe our Names as followeth Viz. Josepb Ellington John Thrift Elizabeth Bugg Rachel Ellington Joseph Mason William Bellsham William Handslip Joseph Tetsall Jane Mason Margaret Belsham Elizabeth Thrift Kat. Handslip c. The 20th of the 11th Month 1681 2. And persuant to the Trust reposed in me I went to London and carryed the said Letter my self and delivered it to the Meeting with my own Hands the 6th of the 12th Month 1681 2 where were Assembled G. Fox G. Whitehead C. Taylor and about a dozen more to whom I said Friends about a Month or two since I wrote to this Meeting and since that time I have received no Answer and now there are several Friends belonging to our Meeting have sent you a Letter and desire your Answer by me and so laid the Coppy of the abovesaid Letter on their Table and as soon as I had delivered it C. Taylor told me That I had done my Business and might be gone and so after I had told them that I should stay in Town two or three days I went away as Christopher bid me saying I might be gone c. So at night came Benjamin Antrobus and John Field and examined me about many Things but at last I took their Particulars in Writing a Coppy whereof followeth with my Answer which I sent the next day to Benjamin Antrobus as I promised and how much they tend to an Answer either to the Letter I sent them or the last recited Letter of Friends I shall leave to the Conscience of every Impartial Reader An Answer to these six Interrogatories put to F. B. by B. A. and I. F. the 6th of the 12th Month 1681 2. Query I. In whose hands are the Original Subscriptions Answ In Francis Bugg his own Hands or Keeping Query II. Whether they are the Friends own Hands respectively that are Subscribed Answ Yea. Query III. And whether those other Friends concerned in and for the Record complained of do refer the Matter to the Second-days Meetings Advice for the Racing out their Order or not Answ That Question I never asked those Friends so refer you to the Persons concerned and the sence you have of the Letter Query IV. And what others are the Subscribers that complain of the Order upon credible Information and not on their own Knowledge Answ I cannot tell exactly their number Query V. And whether doth F. Bugg esteem it fair and Judicial for all Friends here to determine this Case without hearing both Parties Answ If you upon Sight of the Orders find them not Apostolical and according to Scriptures and Proceedings of the Apostles you may determine them Antichristian Vnscriptural and Erronious Query VI. And where is a Coppy of these Orders Answ They are Recorded in the Quarterly-Meeting Book in Hadenham in the Isle of Ely A Coppy of them I here send you Verbatim Viz. It is Ordered and Agreed upon at this Quarterly-Meeting that NO Friends for time to come may PERMIT or SVFFER Marriages without the Consent of Friends at two Mens and Womens-Meetings and the Man and Woman to come both to the said Meetings to receive the Answer of Friends that so no disorderly or Indirect Proceedings may be carryed on any more con … y to the Vnity of Friends These Answers were delivered and I stayed in Town two or three Days but heard no more of them And in regard I would leave Things plain I am constrained to be large which hath swelled my Book beyond what I at first intended so that I shall leave the Paraphrase hereof to the Reader and so proceed to the next Chapter where I intend to conclude c. CHAP. VIII Shews that the Severity used by G. F. and his Party exceeds that of the Judges Justices and Protestant Bishops who have Excommunicated J.B. for Selling W.R. his Book And if Application be made to them for Redress of Grievances they cry You are deluded And will sometimes refuse to read a Letter but seldom Answer any Also some Advice to the Pencilvanians HAving treated at large about the Cause of the Differences amongst us the People called Quakers and of our Endeavours to have prevented the Increase thereof which might have been if Brotherly Condiscension according to our Pretentions thereto might or could have taken place and inasmuch as I have at times mentioned the Kings Indulgence and in the Letter I sent G. W. about a Composure which is recited in the 7th Part of the Christian-Quaker Distinguished c. By W. R. mentioned my Writing to Judges Justices and Men
own Hand would neither Answer the Letter nor so much as Discourse me but when I had given them the Letter C. T. bad me be gone All which shews the Author to the Accuser his Pretentions to an Accommodation Condiscention to be fallacious Deceitful and Hypocritical Object BY this time some may be ready to object and say It is true these Things as Stated cannot be denyed but to have used a more private way might have been as convincing and not have ministred that occasion to such as are Enemies to all Religion as this way of Proceeding perhaps may especially since the Author of the Accuser says p. 127. We can the more easily concur and accord as to Circumstances and Outward Methods and in the Wisdom of God so condiscend one to another and accommodate Matters as not to divid about them Answ That I with many other have used private meanes for about the space of four years without any Redress nay not so much as a Christian Answer and that the Pretence of the Author of the Accuser to Condiscention and Accommodation is fallacious and false and a meer piece of feigned Hypocrisy to amuse his Reader and delude the World I shall make evidently appear before I pass this Chapter especially considering what meanes I used at our Quarterly-Meeting in the Case of J. A. made mention of in the third Chapter both by Letters and Queries First then see a Letter that eleven Friends belonging to our Meeting in Milden-Hall sent to our Quarterly Meeting who were so far from Condiscention Accommodation as that they refused to have it read amongst them but said We were all deluded A Copy whereof followeth To Friends at the Quarterly Meeting in Hadenham the 4th Mo. 80. Dear Friends THese Lines are to put you in Mind that many Friends belonging to our Meeting as well as in divers other Places are offended and burthened by reason of the continued Record against John Ansloe which exclude him what in you lye out of the Unity of Friends which is nothing less than Excommunication to the utmost of your Power whereby we are constrained to visit you in this manner entreating you to race out the said Record out of your Quarterly Book Indeed had J. A. denyed Marriage the very forbidding of which is a Doctrine of Devils you might justly have thrown him out for Marriage is Gods Ordinance But the Controversy is not here but about manifesting his Intention to Marry Behold the Crime as you account it and consider of it we beseech you for Peace sake and lay not such a Stress where Christ nor his Primitive Followers laid none And that thereunto you may be encouraged ponder the saying of W. P. in his Address to Prot. p. 77. I beseech you Protestants by the Mercies of God and Love of Jesus Christ ratified to you in his most precious Blood FLY ROME AT ROME Look to the Enemies of your own House have a care of this Presumption carry it not too high lay not Stress where God hath laid none The Impositions of such Opinions is the Priviledge of Hypocrites and the Snare of many honest Minds And p. 93. If we consider the Matter well I fear saith W. P. it will be found that the occasion of Disturbance in the Church of Christ hath in most Ages been found to lye on the Side of those who have had the greatest Sway in it And Pag. 94. If the Spiritual Guides and Fathers of the Church would be a little sparing of incumbring Churches with needless Supersluities there were far less danger of Schism and Superstition And Pag. 144. Nay Christ himself to whom all Power was given in Heaven and Earth submitted himself to the Test He did not require them to believe him because he would be believed he refers them to the Witness that God bore of him saying If I bear witness of my self my witness is not true He also sends them to the Scriptures but an Imposing Church bears witness of her self and will be both Party and Judge require Assent without Evidence and Faith without Proof therefore false But Christian Religion ought to be carryed on only by that way by which it was Introduced which was Perswasion If any Man will be my Disciple let him take up his Cross and follow me Pag. 146. For if I believe what the Church believes only beause She believes and not because I am convinced in my Vnderstanding of the Truth of what She believes my Faith is false though hers be true I say 't is not true to me I have no Evidence of it And Pag. 141. The Apostle became all unto all that he might win some but this is becoming all unto none to force all he therefore recomends the utmost Condiscention that can be lawful he stooped he became all unto all that is he stooped to all Capacities and humbled himself to those Degrees of Knowledge that Men had and valued that which was good in all These Allurements were all his Injunctions nay in this Case he makes it an Injunction to use no other Let us therefore saith he as many as be perfect be thus minded and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded God shall reveal even this unto you you shall not be Imposed upon Stigmatized or Excommunicated for want of full satisfaction or because you do not consent before Conviction Thus far William Penn. Now let us a little animadvert upon this Noble Mans Words Lay no Stress saith he where God hath not laid Stress as if he should have said Friends God never laid any such Stress about publishing the Intent of Marriage Why then do you Have a care of this Presumption carry not things too high neither Smite Record nor Excommunicate one another about such Things which are at best but Mens Traditions and Impositions which may prove a Snare to the Honest and Conscientious but a seeming Priviledge to the conformable Hypocrite for you see that such as have the greatest Sway in the Church are evermore the cause of these Disturbances who pretending themselves Fathers and Spiritual Guides are not sparing of cumbring the Churches with needless Superfluities and such Orders as Christ never commanded nor his Apostles ever practised which had they been so useful as you pretend they be surely Christ and his Apostles would not have been so forgetful of Prescribing such Outward Observations nay but on the contrary they have told us in Holy Writ The Kingdom of Heaven comes not that way neither consists in such things You also may perceive that Christ was such an Example of Meekness and Self-denyal and so far and free from Force and Imposition that he only said If any Man will be my Discipie let him take up his Cross and follow me but an Imposing Church bears witness of her self and though She sets up such Orders as Christ never commanded yet She requires assent without Evidence and Faith without Proof for She will be both Party and Judge
by them I am willing to inform thee that I do not pretend constantly to write true English but thy Pride and Contempt is manifest which becomes not a Man of thy Pretences and whether mine and other Friends Desire to have that Cannon Rule or Order Recorded in our Quarterly Meeting Book which prohibits all Marriage to the manner of the Parties publishing their Intentions and the Record of Condemnation against J. A. for his Non-submission to the said Orders Reversed and Raced out be such a piece of Imperiousness and Menacing as thou seems to apprehend I shall leave to the Consciences of others Especially since it is the declared Judgment of Friends and hath past the Second-days Meetings Approbation That all Rulers are accountable to the People See pag. 442. of Edw. Burroughs Works where it is written And we believe that all Governours and Rulers OUGHT to be accountable to the People and to the next Proceeding Rulers for all their Actions which may be enquired into upon occasion c. What Is it our Opinion that Constables and all other Governours and Rulers are accountable to the People and is it such a piece of Imperiousness and Menacing in me and others to write a few Lines to the Second-days Meeting desiring not requiring them as thou fallaciously words it the annihilating and repealing of such an Antichristian Yoak of Bondage meaning the Orders as anon will appear If I have wrote Queries so foolishly as thou imaginest let thy Grave and Learned Answer to them instruct my Ignorance If thou thinkest I miss the Matter then shouldst thou shew me wherein by a distinct solid and an Intelligeable Answer As for G. W's sending to our Quarterly-Meeting that cannot fright me for except he lays his Indictment True and Legal I shall Demur to their Jurisdiction as believing that they have not the Kings Broad Seal to Commissionate them to call Delinquents to an account if such an one I were nor yet one Verse in the Holy Scripture the great Visible Charter of our Christian-Liberty that Authorises them to give a Summons thither But if he will admit of a Meeting rightly constituted and Men by him and my self equally chosen I do hereby offer to prove the Verity of whatever I have wrote to him or others on the Foot of this Controversy and this I desire thee to let him know Thy Lines I look upon impertinent and in several places false and unsound But in regard I am not certain that they past the Approbation of the Second days Meeting in London and also considering they are produced through such Obscondency I have wrote enough in answer to such a hidden conceited Projector although perhaps not in such true English as that every word is right spelled which piece of Fallibility I must confess attends my Writing often and better Schollars than my self or thou either So let this Acknowledgment suffice and when thou writest again write more to the purpose and let me know who thou art for many Names begin R. R. and also where thou dwellest that I may the better know how to give thee a suitable Reply And thus I conclude and rest accounting it my Duty to discover Errour publickly when all private Endeavours will not avail and Hypocrisy how hiddenly soever it makes its Progress Known by the Name of Mildenhall in Suffolk the 2d of the 1st Month 1681. F. Bugg Now followeth a Coppy of a Letter which I wrote to the Second-days Meeting out of which I presume he apprehends my Imperiousness as by his Letter to me appears the which also I will leave to the Readers Conscience that therein I may have a Witness against such unrighteous Reflections for I begin to see the Truth of Robert Rich his Words in a Letter from Barbadoes to his Friends Abstracts c. p. 20. And I can assure you that who meddle with the Quakers had need be fenced within and without with the whole Armour of God Truth and Love to Righteousness Davids Sling and Stone and enabled to use both Hands the Left as well as the Right c. So that to the Witness of God in the Readers Conscience I commend the following to see whether I did Imperiously and Menacingly require or Friendly desire their Annihillating of the said Order especially considering what private means by my frequent Letters Queries Protestations Debates I have had with them near four Years together as this Chapter and the 2d and 3d. Chapters sufficiently manifests Viz. To Friends of the Second-days-Meeting in London Friends FOrasmuch as it hath so happened that a Difference amongst us the People called Quakers is risen about Church-Discipline Church-Government and Outward Orders Forms and Prescriptions and that by no meanes a Condiscention can be admitted of whereby a Christian Composure may be obtained in order to the settling a Happy Union and Blessed Fellowship amongst us as in the Beginning but instead thereof begin to Excommunicate and Censure one another for that which is no Sin against God but meer Formality no Breach of Gods Commandments but Mans Traditions I say inasmuch as it hath thus happened and that there yet appears no probability of a Reconciliation and that as you look upon your selves the Heads of the People and chief Governours of the Church and as such assume the place of Approbation of what passes the Press and other Epistles directory to the Churches for their Information how to proceed in Matters Ecclesiastical c. So that it is with me at this time to write a few Lines to you not that I admit you to have any Power or Lawful Authority over the Consciences and Perswasions of your Brethren or any particular Right of Dominion transmitted to you beyond your Brethren yet I say Inasmuch as you assume the Place and Authority aforesaid although Vsurped I hereby signifie to you that whereas there is a Decree or Cannon called Orders Recorded in our Quarterly-Book Dated the 1st of the 10th Month 1675. which say That NO Friends for time to come may PERMIT or SVFFER Marriages without the Consent of Friends at two Mens and Womens-Meetings and the Man and Woman to come twise to the said Meetings c. And that J. A. stands Excommunicate or Recorded out of the Vnity for his Nonconformity to the said Orders Decree or Cannon and I having wrote to several Friends particularly and to Monthly and Quarterly-Meetings touching these Things and being for several Years dissatisfied with these Proceedings have desired to know by what Authority Womens-Meetings are Set up Monthly distinct and apart from Mens-Meetings with a Power committed to them to hear examine and determine Matters relating to the Government of the Church as in particular in the Cases of Marriage and in whose Name a Conformity is required to their Jurisdiction And to this Day no man hath given me one Line in Answer I not then knowing what I now understand by the Preface to the Christian-Quaker Distinguished c. put forth by W.