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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A50259	A novelty: or, a government of vvomen distinct from men, erected amoungst some of the people, call'd Quakers. Detected in an epistle, occasionally written to a man-judge, upon a young man's refusing (for good conscience sake) to submit to their authority in marriage, seeing that relations and friends were already satisfied. To which is added, a lamentation for the fall of so many of that people. Published for no other end, but to deter all honest hearts of the said people, from erecting the like unscriptural government. Tho' this may not so far prevail with such women as has a secret command of their husbands purses; together with those preachers that reap profit by such a female government, as to consent to the disanulling the same. Written by William Mather, a dear lover of the said people, who has for several years been much troubled, that some of them should fall from there primitive institution, as to set up women's and men's meetings, as guides in government, ... .	Mather, W. (William), fl. 1695.	1694 (1694)	Wing M1284C; ESTC R221850	22,580	23

shall force me to confess that I err in what I write before I see it my self are the Imposers My Opinion is this by way of Advice † † From a weak one yea one of the most despised in Israel being not a Conformist When a Couple shall come to your private Monthly Meeting in Huntington to acquaint you of their Intentions of Marriage say to them as to the antient Christian Quakers Friend Who made us Judges over you Go if you find freedom of Spirit and publish your Intentions at the end of the Publick Religious Meeting for Worship to which you belong or nearest to your Dwelling * * The ancient Practice of Friends for they best know whither or no you are clear from all other Engagements in this kind where you may have a sufficient number of Witnesses at your Certificate And that we now let you know this was the Innocent Practice of our dear deceased Friends in the beginning when God sent among us to turn our Minds to Christ's Inward and Spiritual Grace † † Mention'd in the Church of England's Catechism to be the Substance Baptism and the Supper of the Lord being but signs thereof in each Soul to be our Guides not Man Likewise on the other Hand say unto this Couple in the fear of God Friends If you have freedom and find it 's not contrary to the Teachings of Christ's Inward and Spiritual Grace † † Mention'd in the Church of England's Catechism to be the Substance Baptism and the Supper of the Lord being but signs thereof in your own Souls Publish your Intentions of Marriage twice in our Women's Meetings and when all the VVomen-Judges think you a fit Match then you must mention it also twice to us of the Men's Meeting which we think necessary * * This Decree was made at the Yearly Meeting 1657 and also in a Quarterly Meeting in the Isle of Ely And that when we who are most commonly Strangers to your Proceedings tho' we are well informed by a Friend all things are clear on both sides yet you are to come and wait on us Monthly or Quarterly until such time as all the VVomen and Men of both Meetings say you may joyn in Marriage for fear you should bring a Scandal upon the Truth tho' your Dwelling be Twenty Miles off or more from hence † † Not caring how it hinders their Business Horse-hire These two manner of ways of Marriage we lay before you chuse which of the two that answers best to the witness of God in your own Souls for we are not to be Judges of that So we freely leave you to your Choice * * The want of this has brought much Confusion so as you come together in the fear of God and we shall think never the worse of you † † How have you hated those that conform'd not For we seek God's Glory not our own which is according to our first Institution when first we became a People For our Labour is to perswade People to submit to Christ's Spiritual Government in their own Souls So that as we are not to answer for your Miscarriges neither are you for ours If thou believest I write this to thee in Enmity to any Person or Persons whatsoever thy diserning is but weak so not fit to sit as a Judge in Israel But hope better things of thee to whom my true Love is and to all that do faithfully return to the Truth as it was amongst Friends when first the Mockers called us Quakers Bedford 11d 5m 94. I am thy Friend William Mather To which Letter no Answer hath yet been given A Lamentation for the Fall of so many once Worthies in Spiritual Israel OH The Author's Sorrow what shall I say or write unto you that once run to and fro on Foot from place to place spending your Time and Strength to turn Peoples Minds into the Centre of their Souls to Christ's Inward and Spiritual Grace to be their Teacher and Leader into all Truth But now that you should contradict your former Advice by setting up VVomen and Men Guides over an Innocent People is greatly to be lamented How are you fallen what Lamentation shall I take up for you Oh! that mine Eyes were as a Fountain of Water that I might weep Day and Night for the Fall of so many once Worthies in Spiritual Israel who were once in that Spirit and Love of Jesus that they could lay down their Lives to win Souls to God loved their very Enemies yea could forgive the Trespasses of a Brother Matth. 18.22 seventy times seven But alas this true Love or Lamb's Patience is not now to be found on Earth O Truth art thou fled to Heaven again Is Man's Souls too straight to contain thee except amongst a few upright Hearts that has chosen Christ's Inward and Spiritual Grace for their Guide such can wash the Feet of their Enemies Deceive not your selves for you cannot save your selves by saying you are in the Light when you envy any Man for whoever doth is in Darkness even until now 1 Joh. 1.9 Now let me a little reason with you Was there not true Love and Charity in general amongst the Professors of the Truth when all thought themselves Poor and Low in their own Eyes * Have you not forgotten that good Day before Ambitious Women and Ambitious Men crept in among you such I mean that thirsted for Honour and Rule over an Innocent People Absolon like saying in Heart O that I was a Judge in Israel when alas most of such Judges The Heart of Man is deceitful none can know it but by the Grace of God What is not of Faith is Sin have and do busie themselves in judging others for the Moats in their Eyes when the Beam is still in their own Eyes These Lordly Spirits in Women's-Meetings and Men's Meetings would have an Innocent People submit to their Rules Orders and Ceremonies whither the Parties see it their Duty to obey or not Holding those Meetings Monthly and Quarterly in private Rooms where sometimes there are not above four Persons that take upon themselves to Rule † And alas most of them Ignorant ones not knowing who gave them their usurped Power yet will be as angry as a Woman if you obey not their Wills when you come before them and there dispose of such Monies as they collect at the end of Religious Meetings where the most Givers are where they ought also to give a publick Account how they disposed of the Money unto the general Givers but this I never see them do except the Collection was for a Fire c. It 's true Monies for the Poor were at first that is when first God raised us to be a People who discovered more of his Love to us than too many before us in this latter Age. I say then Moneys were collected or freely given always

of such Couples as go to marry at a private Women's Meeting and Mens Meeting Did not you know it was Friend's Practise in the beginning to mention their Intentions at the end of several Religious Meetings and if none oppose justly then might enter into that State by speaking fit Words at the end of another Publick Religious Meeting There Answer was always to me to this effect We thought it a very hard Tryal For fear of displeasing you how many Couples has conformed against Conscience that after all things was agreed on for Marriage to begin again to mention it to a Woman's Meeting most Strangers and after they were satisfied then to go to a Man's Meeting to wait for the 〈…〉 But this we did contrary to our Freedom that they might not think ill of us You can 〈…〉 one Couple among you but will give an Answer much to the same effect Your own Bigots see the trouble of waiting upon you which by this may easily be seen what Dominion you exercise over the Innocent that to keep favour with you must leave their Inward Guide to please you But to plead for your new Arbitrary Government some of you do say A frivilous Argument That in the beginning a Couple has come rudely into a Meeting and said they took each other as Man and Wife and so brought a Scandal upon us What then Is there never a wise Man among you or Woman in a Religious Meeting that can say to such a Couple you ought to give the Meeting time to make inquiry whether you are clear from all Engagements in this Kind to any other Person or Persons and we shall do our Endeavour to resolve you next first day See the true Christians Rules as to Church-Government in the 4th Edi●… of The Young Man's Companion not written to enjoyn others to obey but left to the witness of God in all People for here 's none that desire to put you off from time to time by needless Delays and as soon as w● find you are honest and are for coming together in the fear of the Lord we shall freely set our Hands to a Certificate of the Lawfulness of your Marriage at the end of a Religious Meeting the more publick the better nor will we send you many Miles to a Meeting of a few Women who may be strangers to you and they to send you when they think Good to a private Man's Meeting who may tell you that if you will not submit to our Orders we shall not stand by you in Tryals c. but shall begin and end your Marriage at the nearest Religious Meeting where you are best known which was the innocent Practice of our dear deceased friends at rest I was married so ☞ without any Opposition for then How I was married and many others neither Woman-Judges nor Men-Judges in private Rooms was set up Now because some may be ready to say we know of no such Law or Decree that injoyns a Couple to go twice to propound their Marriage to a private Women's Meetings and twice to a private Men's Meeting here folllows the Copies of two of them From a Yearly Meeting in London the 27th of the 3d. Mon. 1675. IT is our Judgment Two new Laws established that for better Satisfaction to all Parcies that there may be due time for Inquiry of clearness of the Persons concerned it is convenient that Marriage be at twice propounded to the Meetings that are to take care therein both to the Men's and Women's 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 and Relations An●ther Decree upon Record THat for Time to come no Friends may permit or suffer Marriages without the Cons ent of Friends at two Men's and two Women's Meetings being 〈◊〉 and apart each from other To mention more Decrees to this purpose is needless But the Women in London you may be sure w●●● glad of their Exaltation in finding that the Men had pre●●●●●d 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 upon the account of Marriage And finding the sweetness of Ruling did together with Men judge all in the Country as Libertines that conformed not to the Deeree and do judge such to this day as one of their 〈◊〉 Preachers T. R. One of late G. F.'s Priest-Threshers said to me I w●●● this Country are of a Libertine Spirit and an indifferent 〈◊〉 only because for good Conscience like we did not set up Womens Meetings Our Women are wiser here Tho' it is true some of this County has so far conform'd to the Decrees as to set up Men's Meetings Monthly and Quarterly for Government which is one in Nature to the other 〈…〉 Yet tho * Did not ●a●… lament that the Dames of Rome became Governors of their husbands It is strange saith he that these ●…ks commanded the World 〈…〉 to 〈◊〉 to Women See 〈…〉 P. 〈…〉 some say such Meetings are very 〈◊〉 in the City where the Women dwell near together tho' not so 〈◊〉 in the Country dwelling so far asunder I say they are needful nowhere to be observed Monthly because thereby they become proud of the Authority W●men's Meet●●● Monthly no where 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Which is the 〈◊〉 of the Ambitious that 〈…〉 For if a Marriage is intended to be propounded at the end of a Religious Meeting to prevent Lordship● and the Meeting happen to be a great one as is commonly in London the Man him self or he may d●sire a Friend to declare at the end of the Meeting that here is one that desires to publish his Intention of Marriage and if the People are 〈◊〉 going away you may call as many People as are free to draw into the next Room and there publish it both Men and Women being together This done some of the Meeting may tell the Man that if he 〈…〉 next first Day they will resolve him according to what Inquiry they have made and as soon as we find you are clear from all Engagements of this Kind to any other Person or Persons you may take each other as Man and Wife before as many Witnesses as you please the more the better for such Concerns cannot be too publick c. This I write from the Innocency of my Soul not as a Law for others but this way may prevent the Insulting 〈◊〉 Ambitious Men and Women who do pretend better things in Words who delight in Dominion and are so confident as to say We dispise Dignities or Government in not submitting to these unscriptural Government of Woman and Men's Meetings Obs Some may say What art thou also against our Men's meeting Monthly for Government for did not the Apostles advise to choose Elders c. Ans I am not against the Meetings of such Elders for the innocent to advise with as the Apostle would have chosen that is such as are Meek

Tower the Name of the Lord * Wherein thy strength lies O Man 2 Cor. 12. 9. As it was for Paul when buffeted by Satan neither Men nor Devils can deceive him and he will truly Love all People though they are of a different Persuasion to him in points of Religion And will the truly Faithful to the Grace of God in themselves be advising People to obey the same Grace in their own Souls and will not seek by any means to draw their Minds from the Obedience thereof fearing they may fall as the young Prophet did which obeyed the old Prophet contrary to his own Gift from God or Message 1 K. 13.18 These honest Souls that has chosen the good part God's Grace for their Guide Oh! the Love of an honest Heart to all People is to be praised above Rubies c. will envy no couple that do from a free and willing Mind propound their Intention of Marriage twice to a Woman's Meeting and twice at least to a Man's Meeting Nor will envy a Couple that does and thinks is more agreeable to Truth to propose their Intentions at the end of several Religious Meetings where Men and Women are met together seeing the more publick the better satisfaction to all People that a Judge did once acknowledge that such publick Marriages was lawful Oh! Oh! that all Imposers might obey God's Grace and no longer preach from Head-knowledge making People believe it is as God's Spirit gives utterance that you Imposers would obey as well as preach up God's Grace for Peoples Guide then would you come into the Lamb's patience into that Love that overcomes Anger and forgive your Brethren's Trespasses as you hope God will forgive yours Preach no more of such Love until you witness it I am your Friend and God knows my heart I write in love to you Though some of you no doubt will account me your Enemy for thus telling in part how you are fallen from your first Institution If I am to blame pray blame no body else If the Au●●●● deserves Blame he 〈◊〉 take all to ●●●self for 〈◊〉 Eyes are 〈◊〉 come Di● 〈◊〉 weeping f●● you with true broken Heart and contrite Sp●rit God o●●● knows no 〈◊〉 else at this time for no person dictated any thing to me or put me upon this Work I do not see that I Err therein Yet have I long seen and known that many honest Hearts have been much grieved to see such an alteration in the Professors of the Truth to what they were in the beginning when Innocence and true Love to each other had dominion in the Souls of God's People that is beaore Women and Men set themselves up as Judges in the Meetings ●foresaid That you maysee your Error and return to the Truth as in the beginning is the desire of your Loving Friend William Mather I do not take you to be mine Enemies because I am no Man's Enemy praised be God for it and that I continue as I have hither been a Friend to all a Foe to none To conclude If you say I have been some-what too sharp upon you I write n●● these things because I think you ha●● me but because I love you so do no● hate you If 〈◊〉 want love then let me lose life if i● be the Will of God I say I have not been so sharp as the Matter of Fact requires Have you not trampled under your Feet many Epistles of Love sent to you scorning to bait an inch of your Authority where you can over-rule Therefore If you are designed to Answer me then I desire you to let some Ancient Honest Friend do it from the Gift of God in himself and go not down to AEgypt for help That is go not to the Logicians whose cunning Sophistry can make a good Cause seem bad and a bad Cause seem good I mean such an one as T. E. † one skilled in the Art of Reasoning or Disputing who can by Sophistry so multiply Words as to darken his innocent Readers who is too often made to believe his Cause must needs be good his Matter is so long Alas How are men deceived in that The fewer Words the more Truth And if he or such as say I have Tautologies * a repeating the same thing in other words herein a thing most of the Formal Preachers are guilty of if it be a fault The Author desires that a Friend in the Truth may Answer his Writing but no Sophister blame me not for that For I do not profess my self a Schollar in the Languages and therefore most fit that such a Schollar as I should answer me But if it s come to that with you that Scholarship Man's Wisdom and Reason must be Judge over such Consciences as are rectified by God's Spirit never more blame those cunning Men that drown'd the Text in the Comment Likewise Have you not often declared to the People and do daily Man must lay down their Crowns at the feet of Jesus that this is the day that The loftiness of Man shall be bowed down and the Haughtiness of Man shall be made low and the Lord alone shall be exalted Isa 2.17 What Eyes thou read'st with Reader know I not Mine were not dry when I these Failings wrote Take ye heed every one of his Neighbour and trust ye not in any Brother for every Brother will utterly supplant and every Neighbour will walk with Slanders Jer. 9.4 Was this Jeremiah's Complaint in his day the same may be taken up this day Read his 9th Chapter Oh! that all may fear before the Lord by obeying his Grace or Gifts in themselves that we may all say with Holy David Mercy and Truth are met together Righteousness and Peac● have kissed each other Truth shall spring out of the Earth and Righteousness shall look down from Heaven Psal 85.10 11. Amen Postscript ABOUT the 9th of this Month of September came to my hand from Tobias Hardmeat the Letter I sent him above Printed with several little Sentences he wrote on the Margent thereof in Answer to which take as follows T. H. It 's not Imposition but Advice to good Order Answer Is it not Imposition to brand all as Libertines Apostates and not of God that conform not to your Unscriptural Orders If you did not compel none would oppose you Though I may ask you From whence you had your Authority without Offence I hope as you have asked other Religious Societies before you Why they enjoyn'd unscriptural Orders T. H. That Spirit that opposeth Truth is curst Answ Dost thou curse me for opposing a Female Government If that Authority be thy Truth thou so often speaks of then am I an Opposer and thou an Imposer T. H. Having learned Therefore I speak and testifie Answ What Spirit has learned thee to call Women 〈…〉 Truth and to Curse and testifie That all those that oppose a Female Government is not of God T. H. To desire