any do so calling them to an Account for it whilst these recover'd Brethren and Sisters walk with us in the Ways and Statutes of the Lord Jesus We also being greatly humbled for divers Breaches made among us upon the bonds of Love do in the Presence and resting on the Grace that is in our Head for us solemnly promise to our Lord and one another watch against all those Evils that destroy viz. groundless Jealousies evil Surmisings that are the first coolers of brotherly Love so also against secret Whisperings Tale-bearings and Backbitings which are the cursed Seed of Sedition and Discord sown in a Church and in like manner against all Wrath Prejudice and Malice swellings or vauntings over one another and despisings of one another Tumults Seditions Factions Clamours or evil Speaking of or to one another forbearing all manner of Reflections Reproachings and Revilings for Christ's sake a 2 Cor. 12.20 Gal. 5.20.21 Eph. 4.31 And no less do we engage against Wronging one another as to worldly Goods Life or Liberties against all cowardly and covetous refusings the assisting one another by Countenance Advice and Purse to the utmost of our Ability b 1 Cor. 6. 1 Tim. 4.16 Rom. 12.10.13.16.17 Phil. 2.3 4. c. Gal. 5.13 2 Cor. Ch. 1.9 and against any other thing or behaviour that is in the least contrary to the Royal Law of Love We think our selves in Conscience bound and engag'd to love the Persons of those that are under Dealing and Excommunication among our selves so also to love the Persons of the World and the Professors that we hope are Godly tho' they hate us for Christ's sake But above all not to abate in our Love in the least towards our Brethren and Sisters differing from us in some Perswasions c Rom. 14.1 though we Judge we are bound by the great Law of Love to endeavour the Convictions of each other in all things wherein we differ not by absurd Cavillings and fleshly Objections for Mastery but by the Word and Spirit of the Lord in Meekness and Tenderness without heats and prejudice purely for the discovery of the Truth d Gal. 6.1 2 Tim. 2.23 24 25. that we may be still growing to that stature of Fulness which is in Christ e Eph. 4 13. And so came at last to speak the same things to be perfectly joyn'd together in the same Mind and Judgment f 1 Cor. 1.10 which will be the Crown and Glory on Churches in the latter Day g Isa 52.8 and therefore let us pray in Faith and in the Holy-Ghost using all Endeavours for that end and purpose that are according to the Mind of Christ and the Rule of his Word As to Members of Sister Churches we judge we are in Dury bound to love them as our own they being also of the Body of Christ and to use the same Methods towards them in love when we see them offend and if we see them impenitent to bring them before the Church to which they belong We also judge the Vows of the Lord are upon us to walk in Communion with Sister Churches giving them no just Offence h 1 Cor. 10.32 unless they take Offence at the matters of our God We judge 't is not in our power to Un-church them tho' they do not come up to such degrees of Purity in Reformation yet we think our selves in Duty bound and solemnly engage our Lord to warn them of Errours in Doctrine and Practise especially to testifie against the Opposition to the Faith and Order of the Gospel to invite them to go along with us in Generation work and the Work of Reformation to warn them in the Bowels of Christ of the carelessness and neglect therein to manage those kind and brotherly Admonitions by Messengers Letters or by Printing yet not publishing their Faults to the World as shall be thought most expedient by the advice of Faithful Sister Churches And if this reforms them not to declare Non-Communion with them And furthermore we the afflicted Children of the Lord in this Church having in several days of Prayer laid low at the Foot of Christ for divers Neglects and Remissions in following him in all the Ordinances in his House do now in his Righteousness and the Light and Life that is in him solemnly Vow to his Anointed King and Lord to follow him fully in all his Appointments in his House and to fill his House as soon as we can with such Officers as are mentioned in his Word a 1 Cor. 12.28 Epâ— 4..11 Acts 20.17.28 Acts 6.1 1 Tim. 3.12 Rom. 1.16 1 Cor. with 1 Tim. 5.6 v. 17. We also engage conscientiously and constantly to b Acts 1.14.21 Acts 2.42 Heb. 6.2 Mat. 3.56 attend on the publick Ministry of the Church to joyn with them in the Ordinances of Christ such as Baptism c 1 Cor. 11.23 c. and the Lord's Supper d 1 Cor. 14.23.24 to v. 34. Preaching Prophecying e Acts 1.14 Acts 2.4.2 Praying f Mat. 26.30 1 Cor 14.16 Col. 3.16 Rev. 5.9 Rev. 14.31 Praising by Vocal Singing Teaching and Admonishing one another in our Meetings by Doctrine Exhortation or Revelation also in Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs according to the Command of our Lord Jesus g Zech. 14.17 Acts 2.42 We also solemnly engage to come up to solemn Days appointed by the Church and likewise to come up unanimously to Church-Meetings h Rom. 10.9.10 to govern with our Lord in his House and keep it clean to admit Members upon a Confession with their Mouths that they have believ'd on Christ and his Righteousness with their Hearts i Ez. 43.10.11 with also a Profession of their Allegiance to follow Sion's King in the Laws and Statutes of his House k 2 Cor. 8.5 and for that end their solemn Covenanting with the Lord and us Likewise to admonish Offenders and to cast out if need be and to give our joynt Advice and Assistance in all cases of Difficulty Therefore we do again come under our solemn Vows to the Lord to frequent all the Assemblies of Sion unless hindred by length of Days weakness of Body or such extraordinary Occasions that may be sufficient Reasons in the ballance of the Sanctuary for our absence at any time We as a Church and each Member in our private Capacities do in Christ's Presence and Strength engage to watch over our Brethren and Sisters that they be not negligent and remiss in attending the Assemblies and Services of the Church We also solemnly Promise to the Lord and to one another that we will not keep away from the Lord's Table upon the account of Satan's Temptations or our own Unbelief or upon the account of Offence given to us by any Brother and Sister Brethren and Sisters and that we will not in Christ's Strength disobey him our King despise his Ordinances sin against our holy Fellowship and punish our selves for the Offence of
of Antichrist singled out to support its tottering Cause in this his last War with the Lamb in these last days who c Gal. 1.7 pervert the Gospel turning it up-side down asserting Faith Repentance and Holiness to be given to the Soul before the Person of Christ and his Righteousness denying that blessed Order of the tenders and gifts of the Gospel which is first the d Rom. 8.32 Son of God freely and then all things freely with him refusing him and his Righteousness to have the e Col. 1.18 pre-eminence in all things f 1 Joh. 5.12 even in their actual bestowment as they ought to have And besides all this wickedly intruding a new Law of their own Invention requireing imperfect Faith and Repentance and Gospel Obedience on Man's part as the imperfect and sinful Conditions of the Gospel-Justification thereby g Rom. 3.31 vacating the good old righteous Law of God setting up Terms of obtaining Spiritual Blessings exceeding derogatory to the Holiness of God's Nature Ways and Laws and contrary to the freeness of his Love and Grace from the Eternal Purpose thereof in Election even unto the Execution of Electing Grace here and in Glory We do declare and protest against them and their Doctrine and likewise all those that teach us to h 1 Cor. 1.31 2 Tim. 2.1 glory in any thing but the Lord or be strong in any other Grace but that Grace that is in Christ Jesus And do resolve in the strength of Christ's Grace to testifie all manners of ways even unto our Blood against any other Gospel than the Gospel of our dear Lord and against all other Doctrines than those that are i Tim. 6.3 Tit. 11.1 according to Godliness and if Men most noted for knowledge and Holiness or an k Gal. 1.9 Angel from Heaven preach any other Gospel and maintain those Tenents before-mention'd we do in the presence and strength of Christ promise and engage to witness against them by publick Preaching and declaring against such Principles by withdrawing from them and not receiving them to our Houses nor bidding them God's speed according to the Command of the Lord 2 John 10. and by cheerfully and triumphantly delivering our Possessions Liberties and Blood as a Testimony against them and their pernicious ways if called thereto We likewise now judge and are perswaded that when we Covenanted with one another to follow the Lord in the Observation of Gospel Ordinances and the performance of all relative Duties in this Church we professed for all his Ecclesiastical Interest and * Ezek. 43.11 gave up our selves to walk with him and one another in all the Forms Laws Ordinances and Statutes in his House all which Forms and Statutes are most holy and a Ez. 43.13 tend to promote Holiness in the b Psal 15. Holy Citizens of Zion Particularly that we are thereby obliged and by his Word to love our Lord and King with the c Gal. 5.6 highest love and to testifie love to him by keeping all his Commands in his d Joh. 14.15 Mat. 10.40 c. 18.17 18. House to Honour Reverence and bow to his Authority and Power lodged therein and that Authority also as cloathing his e Heb. 13.17 Officers Ruling in his Name to f 1 Pet. 5.3 maintain the Rights and Privileges of any particular Church his Clergy his Body g 1 Cor. 12.27 against all Innovations and Usurpations from Officers or Members within from Sister Churches or their Officers without not committing by Delegation the Power and Judgment of the Church to any h 2 Cor. 2.6 minority of it because thereby the form and fashion of a Gospel Church is alter'd and is not according to the Pattern in the Mount We farthermore see that we ought to maintain towards each other pure Love and unfeigned in all the Roots and Springs and Effects thereof and i 1 Rom. 12.9 1 Pet. 1.22 to watch against all defects therein either in Root or Branch And therefore we being now griev'd for great decays on us in our love towards the Lord Jesus and to one another do in the presence and might of our Blessed Advocate and Intercessor promise and resolve to abide in the Love of Christ k Joh. 15.9 that our Hearts may be stirr'd up to love him and in love to obey his Royal Laws particularly to reverence and subject to his awful Power and Authority in Church Assemblies as if he were himself personally among us not affronting his Presence by a slight Carriage nor his Majesty there on his Throne by proud rebellious undervaluing Thoughts by passionate Reflectings Revilings or contemptuous Speeches or by any unbecoming Carriage or Gesture whatever nor despising his Dominion in his House as the l Jud. 8. 2 Pet. 10.11 filthy Dreamers of old not grieving nor quenching his Spirit nor stubbornly nor rebelliously despising and rejecting his Admonitions in his Church not thinking his Yoak heavy nor his Burden weighty but counting it an unvaluable Blessing to be under his strictest and highest Watch and Care in his Church Matth. 11.30 And if his Children which God forbid should err in the Judgment of any of us we shall by Praying for them by Reasoning with them from Christ's Rules in his Bowels Meekness and with our own bringing the Advice of other Sister Churches most faithful to Christ endeavour to reduce them but shall not slight them nor uncover their Nakedness because they are the Throne of Christ's Glory and the place of the Soles a Ezek. 43.7 of his Feet least we should thereby wound his Person his Honour affront his Majesty Crown and Dignity in his House We that are Rulers do in the presence of Christ engage to rule faithfully diligently b Rom. 12.8 and couragiously c Josh 1.6 7 9. in Faith in the fear of God d Sam. 23.3 in Meekness e Gal. 6.1 2. Tim. 2.25 Lev. 25.43 and Authority f Tit. 2.15 hating Covetousness and Partiality g Ex. 18.21 having took the over sight of the Flock of God which he has purchas'd with his own Blood and not for filthy Lucres sake nor out of constraint h 1 Pet. 5.2 3. not ceasing to warn them Night and Day with Tears i Acts 20.29 c. watching against the Assaults of Satan and their own Corruptions against grievous Wolves that may not spare them and against them that may arise among themselves speaking perverse things endeavouring to turn them aside from the Lord that bought them k Tim. 1. to 8th Tit. 1. â— to the End Tiâ— 2.1.7 8. We also that are ruled in the Church of Christ do before our Crowned King and strengthened with his might solemnly promise to obey our Rulers set over us in the Lord to follow their Faith and consider the ends of their Conversation to submit our selves to them according to the Word of the Lord for they watch for our
others We likewise engage to the Lord and one another to keep the Church visible as a City set on a Hill in all its Laws Statutes and Administrations and to appear publick there in the face of all Opposition whatsoever We do also resolve as a Royal Priesthood in our Profession Ordinances Walk and Conversation with the loss of our Names Lives and Liberties our Reputations and Estates and every thing that is dear unto us to bear our Testimony against all false Churches and Worship whatsoever To wit against the Mother of Harlots and all her Daughters and we likewise protest against Idolatry Superstition Imposition and Persecution where ever and whatsoever And in love to him and Honour of his Crown who first loved us we resolve and engage by the assistance of the Grace that is in him to have nothing to do to go near their false Worship unless it be to testifie against 'em that we will withdraw from 'em and that we will not joyn with those that joyn with 'em who are confederates against Christ And this Testimony we engage in Christ's Presence to bear every way and in every place whatever even in Courts of Judicature and at the Place of Execution if call'd thereto Furthermore we being convinced and humbled that we and our Fathers have either selfishly neglected or cowardly betray'd the Interest of our Blessed Lord as King of Nations and do humbly waiting for his Coming in his strength resolve that we shall from time to time as he enlightens us leads us and calls us be ready to part with our All in asserting and maintaining all his Royal Prerogatives and Rights as King of Kings and Lord of Lords against all Enemies and Opposition whatever to his Crown and Dignity to whom the Kingdoms of the Earth belong and that we shall faithfully testify against any that shall thus betray his Cause and Interest And also when we in our late Covenant engaged to perform all relative Duties not only in the House of God but also elsewhere we judge that by the Word of the Lord and our own Vows we are obliged to fill each his place and discharge our relative Duties in our respective Stations and Capacities We therefore greatly grieved for divers Neglects and Breaches therein do engage in the Presence Power and Spirit of the Lord Jesus to have continual recourse to the Blood of Sprinkling to wash away the Stains thereof and do in his Presence and Strength promise to watch against all such Breaches of his Rules in our selves and others We do also Covenant with the Lord and with one another to seek the good and welfare of the Nation we live in Heb. 2.10 to be subject to those higher Powers the Lord Jesus sets over us Rom. 13.12 Nor only for Wrath but for Conscience sake paying Tribute to 'em as God's Ministers v. 6. yet as free Servants of God but not using our Liberty for a Cloak of Maliciousness 1 Pet. 2.16 and hereby putting to silence the Ignorance of foolish Men v. 15. We that are Husbands do promise to love our Wives as Christ does the Church Eph. 5.25 And as our own Bodies v. 28. leaving all and cleaving to our Wives v. 38. not being bitter against 'em Col. 3.19 dwelling with 'em according to Knowledge giving Honour to 'em as the weaker Vessels forbearing to sin afore 'em and covering their Infirmities as being Heirs together of the Grace of Life that our Prayers may not be hindred We also that are Wives Covenant with the Lord and with one another to love and submit our selves to our own Husbands as unto the Lord Ephes 5.22 being subject to 'em as the Church is unto Christ v. 24. having our Conversation chaste with Fear and Reverence to our Husbands 1 Pet. 3.2 Avoiding the Pride of Apparel and conformable Fashions v. 3. being meek and quiet in our Spirits and Deportments in our Houses v. 5. our Obedience being founded on love without fear and slavery v. 6. being Sober lovers of our Husbands and Children Discreet Chaste keepers at Home obedient to our Husbands 1 Tit. 2.4 5. We that are Parents engage to the Lord and to his Church to discharge all Duties to our Children as the Lord enlightens us and strengthens us teaching 'em in the way wherein they should go bringing 'em up in the Nurture and Admonition of the Lord not provoking 'em to wrath by unjust and cruel Carriage Eph. 6.4 We that are Children promise to the Lord and his Church in the strength of his Grace to Obey our Parents in all things in the Lord Ephes 6.1 Col. 3.20 We that are Masters and Mistresses also Covenant with the Lord and his Church in the strength of Christ to carry it justly and mercifully towards our Servants forbearing Threatnings and unchristian Violence Eph. 6.9 We that are Servants Covenant with the Lord and his People to Obey them that are our Masters according to the Flesh with Fear and Reverence not with Eye-service as Menâ—leasers but in singleness of Heart as unto Christ as having a respect to his Eye on us more than Man's Ephes 6.5 6. c. 7.8 Col. 3.22 endeavouring to please 'em in all things not contradicting or answering again nor robbing 'em of their Time nor Goods but shewing all good Fidelity Tit. 2.9 10. and thus we will carry it not only to godly and gentle Masters or Mistresses but also to those that are Carnal and Froward 1 Pet. 2.18 Lastly we promise to the Lord and his Church to carry it with Justice and Mercy to the Names Estates Bodies and Souls of our Carnal Neighbours forbearing to Reproach 'em and wound their Reputation to do 'em the least Damage in their Estates or injury to their Bodies or laying stumbling blocks in the way of their Souls And thus as much as in us lies we follow Peace with all Men but with Holiness which consists in avoiding Joyning with 'em in the least Evil or give up to 'em the least Truth of Christ or for to please 'em in denying the least thing that relates to the Faith and Order of the Everlasting Gospel Now to sum up all we finally Promise and Covenant with the Lord and his Church in the Presence and Grace of Christ to obey his whole Will revealed in his Word explained to us by his Spirit nor do we by this Covenant limit our selves to what is herein contain'd but engage to wait on the Lord for further discoveries of his Mind and Will believing he will reveal it to us and if there be any Wood Hay or Stubble in this Form of Covenant we are content it should be burnt up by the Holy Spirit We also solemnly promise and engage in the Presence and Strength of Christ whatever farther discoveries of Light may be first manifested to the meanest of us we will examine it by the Word of God and in fervent Prayer and shall be far from rejecting or fighting against it unless it be revealed to us
are to be stopt and judged as there 's a woman tale in her person and fleckled in her face and also one John Harding who are for judgment and to be condemned 13ly And if there happen any difference betweene Friend and Friend of any matters if it cannot be ended before the Generall meeting Let half a dozen Friends from the Generall meeting be ordered to put a speedy end therevnto That justice may speedily done that noe difference may rest nor remaine amongst any And let your Generall meetings be once every Quarter of a yeare and to be appointed at such places as may be most convenient for the most of Friends to meete in Soe that the house may be cleansed of all that is contrary to puritie vertue light life and Spirit and power of God soe that Friends may not be one anothers sorrow and trouble but one another joy and Crowne in the Lord 14ly and all Friends see that your Children be trained vp in the feare of the Lord in Sobernesse and holynesse and Righteousnesse and temperance and meeknesse and lowlynesse and modesty in their apparrell and carriage and so to exhort your Children and families And teach your Children when they are young then will they remember it when they are old according to Solomon soe that your Children may be a blessing to you and not a curse 15ly And that Friends do buy Convenient burying places as Abraham did who bought a place to bury his dead and would not bury amongst the Aegyptians and Cananites and Jacob was brought out of Aegypt and Joseph and they were buryed in their Grandfather and great Grandfathers burying place And soe Friends to buy decent burying places for your meetings and to keep out of the Spirit of the Sodomites and Aegyptians and Cananites which corrupts the earth and let them be Decently and well fenced that you may Condemne the world in all things 16ly And also that Friends buy convenient Bookes for the Registring of births marriages and burialls as the holy men of God did of old as you may read through the Scriptures that every one may be reddy to give a Testimony and Certificate thereof if need require or any be called therevnto 17ly And also that all the Sufferings of Friends of all kind of Sufferings in all the County be gathered vp and put together and sent to the Generall meeting and soe sent to London to Ellis Hoakes That noe thing of the memoriall of the blood and cruell Sufferings of your Brethren be lost which shall stand a testimony against the murdering Spirit of this world and be to the praise of the everlasting power of the Lord in the ages to come who supported and vpheld them in such hardships and cruelties who is God over all blessed for ever Amen 18ly And let inquiry be made concerning all such as pay Tithes which make void the Testimony and Sufferings of all our Brethren who have Suffered many of them to death by which many Widdowes and Fatherlesse have beene made and which is contrary to the Doctrine of Apostles and the Doctrine of the Martyrs and contrary to the Doctrine of the Righteous in this present age all such are to be inquired into and to be exhorted 19ly And let Query be made concerning all Prisoners that are poore that they may be relieved and soe incouraged in their Sufferings and also that care be taken for their wives and families that they do not suffer for want of Supply of outward things And let enquiry be made how many prisoners there are in all the prisons in all your severall Counties Let Diligent enquiry be made into all these things at every monthly meeting and at every Quarterly meeting to take care accordingly Deare Friends be faithfull in the Service of God and mind the Lords businesse and be Diligent and bring the power of the Lord over all those that have gaine said it And all you that be faithfull goe to visit them all that have beene convinced from house to house that if it be possible you may not leave a hoofe in Aegypt and soe every one goe seek the lost sheep and bring him home on your backs to the fold and there wil be more joy of that one sheepe then of the ninety nine in the fold Coppies of this to be sent all abroad amongst Friends in their mens meetings G. F. All my Friends every where who are gathered in the name of Jesus Christ keepe your meetings according as you did in the beginning between the 10th and 11th hour when the Priest is in the heart of his worship and soe you all to be in your meetings feeding on the bread of life when the Priest and his company are in his and their dishes and pleasures and you then to break vp your meetings as you feele the power to order you about the third or fourth houre when the Priest is in the heart of his worship and soe you may go away when he is in his heart and sitt over his dishes and goe away in his heart This was the practice of Friends in the the beginning Therefore continue in it and doe not loose it keepe your meetings on the First dayes and your weekly meetings in the name of Jesus that never changes And Friends all take heed of sleeping in meetings and Sottishnesse and dullnesse for it is an ill savory thing to see one sitt nodding in meetings and soe loose the sence of the Lord and shamefacednesse both and it grieves the vpright and watchfull that waites vppon the Lord to see such things And for the Priests people and others that comes into your meetings and to see you that come together to worship God And to meete together to waite vpon him to have fellowship in his Spirit for you to sitt nodding is a shame and an vnseemly thing Therefore be carefull and watchfull and let it be amended and mind the light and power of Christ Jesus in you and that will condemne all such things and lead you out of and above such things and make you watchfull one over another for your good Let this be read in all your meetings G. F. Mem. This is Spelt and Pointed according to the Copy FINIS
AN ACCOUNT OF THE DOCTRINE AND DISCIPLINE OF Mr. Richard Davis of Rothwell in the County of Northampton And those of his SEPARATION With the Canons of George Fox appointed to be Read in all the Quakers Meetings LONDON Printed in the Year 1700. Reader THere have been great Contentions and various Disputes concerning the Doctrine and Proceedings of Mr. R. Davis of Rothwell and those of his Separation and as well the Magistrates and Ministers as the People of England are yet in the dark concerning them Wherefore having in my hands a Copy of their Church Covenant together with the Explanation thereof as it was Printed by their Order in the Year 1694 and delivered to divers whom they stile Church-Officers and others in Fellowship with them I deemed it not amiss to communicate the said Covenant with the Explanation to the end the Nation in general may be acquainted with their Doctrine and manner of Discipline among themselves that for the future they may not lie under any false aspersions nor the People of England under any mistakes with regard to them I would not hereby intimate that every individual Member of this Separation lyeth under the obligation of this Covenant in terminis For I 'm inform'd that very few besides their Church-Officers are acquainted with it and that the new Members are admitted by a shorter Covenant But the Mystery lies here That the People as occasion serves are by the Officers informed of the meaning and design of their entring into Covenant with them from the Contents of this Covenant and Explanation So that it is the same thing in their sense and as the Officers manage the matter as if they had expresly obliged themselves to all and every thing contained therein This is all I think fit to say on that Head Let the Covenant plead its own Cause especially coming into the World with the advantage of so large a Comment from its own Masters You have here likewise an Account of the several particulars of their Discipline wherein I hope and I verily believe I have not injured or misrepresented them in any respect If I have and they please to give publick notice of it I will be obliged to retract all such particulars and to give them publick notice thereof in another Edition For as I design nothing hereby but the service of the Church of God in general and of this Excellent Establish'd Church of England in particular so I could not hope that God would permit me to be instrumental in either respect should I be found in the number of those who wilfully or negligently Slander or Misrepresent their Brethren And if the State of that Separation be indeed such as is set down in the following Account which I take to be the case of the greatest part of the Independent-Congregations throughout the Nation I would humbly propose it to the Reverend the Clergy to consider what Methods are most probable to reconcile this Branch of the Separation to the Communion of our Church and among others whether the present endeavours of forming the Clergy into Societies pursuant to the Advice of His Grace the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury may not prove a probable means through the Blessing of Almighty God to secure so great an happiness to this Church and Nation The most effectual way to deal with an Enemy seems to be to turn his Weapons upon himself If these Men secure the interest of their Societies by a mutual Correspondence what hinders but we may do the like Were they dispersed as the Ministers of the Church are or did they neglect to acquaint each other with those things which relate to their common Interest it would be impossible for them to Subsist Indeed the several Sects among us are so many formed Combinations against the Establish'd Church and tho' in many things they differ from each other as much as Light doth from Darkness yet they seem universally agreed to Crush the Church of England If so the consequence is plain You Gentlemen of the Church of England look about you and suffer not your selves to be undone by piece-meal which you must necessarily be without a joint Vnion among your selves Nothing is more confirm'd by Reason and Experience than that every publick Work is best carry'd on by a friendly Vnion and Correspondence among the Vndertakers and certainly the great Work of the Salvation of Souls deserves our Consideration in the Methods of the most prudential Polity God Almighty has distributed his Talents variously among us and the only way to make them all useful is first by frequent and familiar Conferences with each other to discover where they lie and then to employ them as the publick judgment shall determine After the Copies of these Papers were sent to the Press Francis Bugg delivered into my hands a Copy of the Canons of George Fox which are judged proper to be Printed with the Account of the Davisites they being a farther Confirmation of the Agreement of the Sectaries in endeavouring to distress the Church of England and for that reason among many others very obvious I have here presented you with a just view of the said Canons A Church Covenant WE the Members of the Church of the Living God having greatly revolted from our dear Lord in the deep sense of both former and latter Miscarriages against his Love Blood also Honour Crown and Dignity as King of Souls Churches and Nations firmly believing all these blotted out by the Blood of the Lamb and that we have an undoubted Right to our Father's renewed Manifestations of his Pardon and Favour Do now again give up our selves and all ours in a most solemn manner in this our renewed Act of Covenanting unto the Lord to be his for ever solemnly promising and engaging in his awful Presence and his Angels in the presence of Professors and of the World to walk continually in him and with him and for him maintaining every manner of way the Faith once deliver'd to the Saints as to Act and Doctrine against all Opposition and Opposers whatsoever And we will in the strength of Christ endeavour that all our Holiness shall flow from Faith in Exercise working by Love And thus we subject to him as King of Souls We also solemly Promise in the strength of Christ to observe all the Forms Fashions Statutes Laws and Ordinances of his House especially the great Law of Love to our Lord and to his Members resolving in the Grace that is in Christ Jesus to bear a becoming Evangelical Testimony against what is contrary to Love or any other particular Form Statute Ordinance or Law of his whatsoever either in our selves or any of our Brethren and Sisters of this Church or any other We farther Covenant with our dear Lord and with one another to discharge all relative Duties in this House of God or in any other Relation we stand in whatsoever And this is our professed Subjection to him as King of Sion Finally We
promise in the strength of Christ and in the presence of our Royal Husband to profess our Allegiance to him as King of Nations and to * The asserting of the Kingly Power of Christ over Nations does assert also the Rights and Authority of Kings and these Magistrates that Reign under him maintain his Rights and Prerogatives as the King thereof to whom the Kingdoms of the World belong with our Lives and all dear to us every manner of way as his Word Spirit and Divine Providence shall from time to time call us thereunto And in all those things we in the Grace that is in our dear Lord shall endeavour to walk according to his Word and the Explication of this our Covenant which is annexed thereto To the only Wise God be Glory and Dominion for ever and ever Amen AN EXPLANATION OF THE COVENANT WE the Covenanted People and Church of God being greatly humbled that in our former and latter Covenanting we were so ignorant and legal and that it came to pass thence that we have been guilty of so many Breaches thereof both we and our Officers now in the steadfast believing Views that all those Breaches are blotted out and Transgressions pardoned in him and for his sake who is our constant a 1 John 2.1 Advocate at the Father's Right hand Jesus Christ the Righteous and being constrained by the Sense of the boundless Love of the Father and the Son and the past and present Testimonies thereof to our Souls do professedly and publickly b Deut. 26.17 this day avouch again solemnly the Lord Jesus to be our c Isa 33.22 Judge and King and Lawgiver and d John 8.36 compar'd with Rom. 6.8.22 profess our selves his Subjects according to the Tenour of his blessed Word and our former Covenant And for as much as many of us if not all of us were then more or less ignorant how extensive our former Covenant was when we engaged to obey e Exod. 19.8 all his Voice f Heb. 12.25 that speaks from Heaven g Rev. 19.10 in his House and because since through Grace we are more enlighten'd by his Spirit from his Word concerning our Generation-work We think it highly Necessary now to declare our Sense of those several particular h Ezek. â—3 10 Ordinances Laws and Judgments that we now are engag'd to maintain and to perform by the Bowels of his tender Mercies his holy Word and our consent thereto in our former Covenanting And First We do judge that our then solemn Covenanting as a Church was a publick Declaration and i Rom. 1.9.10 Confession with our Mouths that we had by Faith with our Hearts laid hold of Christ Jesus as k Rev. 22.16 1 Cor. 15.45 our Root l Heb. 7.22 Surety and m Rom. 5.12 c. Representative The Grace of Election as being from Eternity fixed on a certain number of n Ep. 1.4.5 Persons and that those determinate number of Persons for the most part should be of a Race Kindreds Families and Fatherhoods not excluding the Seed of Strangers in all Ages but especially in the latter Age of the World when the Partition-Wall was to be broken down between Jew and Gentile This is abundantly witness'd to by the Word of God Deut. 4.37 c. 10.15 which words though they speak literally of literal Israel and of the Election of their Seed to suceed in their then Church yet Israel and their Seed was typical inclusive and expressive of the whole Election Rom. 9.6 and the Election and Separation of the Seed of Abraham out of the World was to prove and exemplifie God's Eternal predestinating a certain number for himself to the Adoption of Children This Truth also was attested to by the series of Divine Providence in all Ages chiefly causing Electing Grace to run through Godly Families and filling up the Old and New Testament Church with their Seed yet never excluding the Seed of Strangers We likewise judge that in our Covenant we profess that by Faith we laid hold of the Eternal Compact made with our Lord the Redeemer as our Root Surety and Representative and with us in him and ours too that were of the true Israel Isa 59.21 which words though they be spoken by God the Father to our Lord Jesus the Surety and Dispensator of the New-Covenant and Testament to his Seed and Seeds Seed in him yet he therein is also the Messenger or Angel of the Eternal Compact And the New-Covenant it self in its most glorious Administration is but a fuller Copy thereof promulgated and publish'd We professed then and now do also to lay hold of this Eternal Compact as promulgated in a more comprehensive way in the Old and New Testament as running with Noah Abraham the Patriarchs David the Righteous the Godly the Church and their Seed Rom. 4.16 compar'd Gal. 3.8 Gen. 17.17 compar'd 2 Cor. 6.18 with Acts 2.39 1 Cor. 7.14 Gen. 12. 7.13.15.15 compar'd with Heb. 14.8 with Rom. 11.17 2 Kings 8.19 1 Kings 2.4.8.25 Psal 132.12 Psal 25.13.112.2 1 Kings 1.2.33 Psal 37.25 26 89.28 29.36 2 Sam. 7.11.19.29 Deut. 1.8.11.9.10.15.4.37 Psal 22.30.69.36.102.28 Num. 24.7 Deut. 30.6 ver 19. Psal 105.6 Deut. 4.10 Prov. 11 21. Psal 25.13.112.2.127.3 4 5.128.3.6 John 5.25 Isa 22.24.65.23 Psal 72.4.103.17 Prov. 14.25 26.20.7 Gen. 17.13 Deut. 7.9 Psal 122.28 Isa 6.13.43.5.44.3 4 5.54.3.61.9.65.23 59.21.66.22 Joel 2.28 Heb. 8.10.11 compar'd with ult pars 11. Rom. 11.16 17. Acts 2.16 17. vers 39. 1 Cor. 17.14 Matth. 10.12 13. Luke 10.5 6. Luke 19.9 Acts 16.31 Matth. 19.14 Mark 10.14 Luke 18.16 Being therefore convinc'd that in our first believing we laid hold on the Covenant in the most comprehensive extent of the Grace thereof for us and ours And filled with joy and wonder at the Manifestations of this Covenant-blessings and Privileges declar'd in the Gospel as we have in our former Covenanting so in this our Renewal do now again publickly and solemnly give up our selves and ours to the Lord Jesus our Royal Head and Husband to be his for ever now again publickly declaring that he is our Lord a Psal 45.11 and we will Worship him We likewise do judge that in our former Covenant with the Lord we being b Pet. 18. Col. 1.13 Chosen and Redeem'd by him c Mat. 19.27 28 translated into his Kingdom by his Spirit at Effectual Calling gave up our selves to follow him in the Works of our day to be Assertors of his Spiritual Ecclesiastical and Temporal Interest in the World and to be witnesses of this threefold Interest of his against all Oppositions or Opposers whatsoever And now considering we are not our own but bought a 1 Pet. 18.19 with a price and redeemed from a vain and fruitless Conversation to serve him Mov'd with a sense of his unspeakable Love to us ward being greatly humbled and filled with self-Abhorrence that we and our Fathers have too much declined and forsook the Cause
Souls as they that must give an Account that they may do it with joy and not with grief l 〈◊〉 13.7 8.17.18 〈◊〉 5.12 and also pray for them m 〈◊〉 4.3 1 Thes â— 25 2 Thes 3.1 We do now in the presence and Grace of our dearest Lord that hath redeem'd us likewise engage as a Church of Christ in all respects to endeavour to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of Peace n Eph. 4.3 unfeignedly loving the Persons of one another without dissimulation o Râ—m 12.11 1 Pet. 22. even when we bear the greatest Testimony against their sin and as the effects of that endeared brotherly Love to watch p Thes 5.15 over our Brethren and Sisters that they do not decline in their acts of Faith or turn aside from the Faith of the Gospel considering and getting down into one anothers Hearts continually that we may mutually provoke one another to love and to good Works not forsaking the assembling our selves together any manner of way for this good end and purpose q Heb. 10.24.25 Likewise with the assistance of the Spirit of Grace we shall endeavour to be very tender of one anothers good Names a Psal 15.3 Bodies Health Lives b Mat. 5.38.39 and outward Estate c 1 Câ—r 1. ad 11 â—ev 19.17 We shall be ready to assist one another herein to the utmost being concern'd for the particular welfare of each other therein as for our own We no less judge it our Duty not to suffer the least Sin and the least appearance of evil to rest on one another d 1 John 1.6 〈◊〉 10.17 Mâ—t. 18.17 as knowing that Sin resting on a Brother or Sister will mar their present Communion with the Lord Jesus a 1 Joh. 1.6 If the fault be secret we shall with great Secrecy admonish a Brother or Sister and out of due regard to their Reputation forbearing to reveal it to our most intimate Bosom Friend b Mat. 18.15 unless it be to some Officer if the Case be dubious provided we can but gain by our Loving Admonition But if not we shall in the Strength of the Lord take two or three more c Mat. 18.16 as Witnesses and Associates with us farther to warn and beseech them in the Bowels and tender Mercies of God in Christ to repent of their evil yet not presume to publish their Faults to any but those we take with us and if any among us publish the Miscarriage of any Brother or Sister unless it be with a design to take the Parties with them as Witnesses we shall faithfully admonish them for breaking the Rules of Christ in so doing In all the discharge of our Duties hitherto we shall carefully watch against any Prejudice to their Persons by acting and dwelling in the Bowels of Christ and considering them as cloath'd with his Righteousness and clean in God's sight d Cant. 4.6 We also leaning on Christ's Strength to assist us shall endeavour to discharge our Duty with great Faithfulness to them as well as Tenderness contentedly bearing Oppositions from themselves and others in hard Thoughts Speeches Frowns and sinister Constructions out of sincere love to Christ's Glory and the good of their Souls And if we cannot reclaim them by these methods of Mercy and loving Kindness for the Prevention of the farther spreading of their evil without delay acquaint the Church with it e Mat. 18 1â— We with him on Thrones of Judgment in his Name and Power in his Presence and Might and in his render Bowels shall admonish any Brother or Sister thus brought before us f 1 Thes 5.14 or any whose Faults are in their own nature publick g 1 Tim. 5.20 publickly backing our Admonition from his Word and Authority and his Sovereign Grace committed to us If we see one Admonition begin to take place we shall wait for their thorough Repentance till we see occasion And when ever we see our Administration blest for their thorough Humiliation and our Endeavours used in a Spirit of h Gal. 6.1 Meekness succeed we shall be most ready to receive them into the Bosom of our Lord and his Church testifying in his Name his and our declar'd Forgiveness to them Forgiving them with all Readiness and Chearfulness as God for Christ's sake has forgiven us i Eph. 4 32. no Man daring to upbraid them in the least whilst they walk with us in Love and the Laws of Christ But if to the dishonour of the Name of Christ the wounding and hard'ning of their own Souls and our Grief and Shame they continue obstinate and impenitent we having mourned first over them shall in the Name and Power of Christ our King with enflamed Zeal for his Name Rule and House in Tenderness Love and Faithfulness to their Souls cut them off and deliver them to Satan for the Destruction of the Proud Flesh that their Spirit may be saved in the Day of Christ a Mat. 18.17 1 Cor. 5.2 3 4 5 1 Tim. 1.20 2 Tim. 3.5 Tit. 3.10 2 Thes 3.14 and this will we do with the Lord's help in Faith that this Ordinance shall be blest for their recovery in God's time b 1 Cor. 5.5 if they belong to the Election of Grace Nevertheless we shall continue to love their Persons and pray for their recovery not counting them as Enemies but warning them as those that yet may approve themselves to he Brethren c 2 Thes 3.14 when ever we meet them by charging their Evils on them And yet will notwithstanding withdraw all manner of familiarity or Communion with them d 2 Thes 3.5 even that what may be us'd with the most profligate Sinners most conscientiously abstaining from Eating and Drinking with them e 1 Cor. 5.10.11 All this we shall do in the Exercise of the greatest love to their Persons firmly believing these are the greatest Testimonies of love that can be shown them under such Circumstances being assur'd that such Carriages towards them conscientiously practised in Faith and Love will be blest in time to shame reclaim and re-instate them into Fellowship with the Father and the Son and his Children In the conscientious discharge of this Duty towards them as a Church and as Members thereof in our respective private Stations We shall not be affraid of Anger Revilings nor Persecutions from them from Churches Professors or the World but willingly and cheerfully submit to all manner of Sufferings f Luke 17.3.4 2 Cor. 2.7.8.10 upon this Account for Christ's sake When ever God gives them true Repentance we shall with great readiness cheerfulness and tenderheartedness forgive them in the Person Name and Spirit of Christ receiving of them to Communion with the Lord and us with the greatest Demonstrations of Love towards them imaginable g Eph. 4.1.32 not only forgiving but forgetting and never upbraiding them with their faults h Col. 3.13.13 and if
by the Spirit after due search that it is of Antichrist We do now solemnly declare that we do not hereby not will not impose on the Consciences of our Brethren and Sisters that are amongst us in Indifferences of lesser moment that walk conscientiously up to their Light exhorting all to be faithful thereto and of a peaceable Spirit ready to follow on to know the Lord. We engage likewise and solemnly promise all of us that if any of us should hesitate about any Doctrine or Practise ☜ contrary to the Faith and Practise of the Church to consult with the Church and its Officers at least for our own Satisfaction if not for the Churches Conviction provided it be right or before any of us do cordially and thoroughly espouse it The whole Will of God revealed in his Word we solemniy promise and engage in the Love Strength and Presence of the Lord and his holy Angels and Believers to consent to and approve of to comply with to study to be found in the practise of and make the Rules of our holy Walk to be humbled for the least breach thereof and to have continual recourse to the Blood of Sprinkling as cleansing from the stains thereof to abide in the Person and Righteousness of Christ by Faith who in our room and stead as one surety has perfectly performed these our Engagements and Presents our Obedience as wrapt up in his Righteousness through the hands of our High-Priest in the Exercise of our Royal Priesthood to our God and Father for the Honour of his Name the commendation of his Holy Religion as the Testimonies of our Love Thankfulness and Gratitude towards him Now to him that hath washed us from our Sins in his own Blood and has made us Kings and Priests to God and his Father to him be Glory and Dominion for ever Amen There are some Errata's in this Covenant and Explanation which the Publisher did not think fit to alter they being the same in the Copy THE DISCIPLINE ANno 1692 Richard Davis who stiles himself Pastor of the Church at Rothwell in the County of Northampton admitted Members according to the Substance of the Form under-written which he called A Church Covenant viz. Pastor Do you in the presence of God the Father Son and Holy Ghost and this Congregation here present Give your selves up unto us as we have given our selves to one another (a) To justifie this they urge 2 Cor. 8.5 to walk with us and only us in all Gospel Ordinances and the discharge of all Relative Duties as God shall help you Answ Yes Pastor So do we in the aforesaid awful Presence Covenant to walk with you in the same and if we shall be let into any further Light to make it known to you In the time of Thomas Browning the Predecessor of Richard Davis the custom at Rothwell had been to have their Pastor Ordained by the Elders of other Churches but when Davis was made choice of for their Pastor the Church at Rothwell pleaded that they were Independent and consequently ought to have the privilege of Ordaining their own Pastor and accordingly Ordained R. Davis This occasioned some Differences in the Congregation and by degrees others arose whereupon about the Year 1694 the other Covenant was Framed and Printed with the Explanation by way of Renewal of their former Covenant to which the greater part assented and remained Members Those who did not when they had pleaded for a dismission and were refus'd it joined with other Congregations according to their discretion and were cut off by those at Rothwell Their Church Officers Church Officers are of three sorts viz. 1. Pastor 2. Elders 3. Deacons 1. The Pastor Pastors is chosen by the consent of the major part of the Congregation and is Ordained by Imposition of the Hands of the Elders of the Congregation His Office is to Preside to Teach to Consecrate the Elements in the Sacrament and to Baptize 2. Elders Elders who are chose likewise by the Congregation and set apart by Imposition of Hands and are of two sorts viz. 1. Preaching Elders whose Office is to Preach and Rule 2. Ruling Elders whose Office is to Rule only Not but that they may Preach occasionally if they please 3. Deacons Deacons who also are chosen by the Congregation and set apart to that Office by Imposition of Hands Their Office is to take care of the Three Tables viz. 1. The Lord's Table 2. The Pastors Maintenance 3. The Poor They Collect the Alms of the Congregation every Sacrament-Day which is ordinarily once every three Weeks or Month. They carry the Bread and Wine to the Communicants They have the Custody of the Money in Bank and are accountable for it This is a small Sum reserv'd to answer any particular extraordinary occasion Out of these Officers the Elders are generally chosen not always They hold that the Power of each particular Officer is equal with the rest only the Pastor presides for Order sake and if the Pastor and Officers cannot agree the Majority of the Congregation in a Church Meeting determines the matter The Ordination of the Pastor is by Imposition of the Hands of the Elders The Ordination of Elders and Deacons by Imposition of the Hands of the Pastor and Elders Herein they tie themselves to no form of Words they stand during the Ceremony and Pray before and after either the Pastor or Elders or both This is always done at their Church Meetings where none have any Business besides the Members and where none else usually are present The Pastor is maintain'd by those in Covenant with him Maintenance of the Officers There is a Book for Subscriptions and if any Member able to contribute refuse he is requir'd to give his Reasons in publick and if they are not approv'd of and he continue to refuse he is dealt withal as a Sinner This Subscription Money is by the Deacons collected quarterly and paid to the Pastor Note That this Subscription Money is not the whole of the Pastors Maintenance because the Women whose Husbands are of other Congregations do privately contribute and that liberally and 't is observed That the separate Congregations have generally more Women than Men. Those likewise of meaner condition among them who have dependance on any of the Church of England for a Livelihood are oftentimes excused from Subscribing tho' not from contributing in proportion to their Abilities The Members only are obliged to Subscribe but the whole Assembly is exhorted to contribute when the Deacons on the sacrament-Sacrament-Days collect the Alms of the Congregation These Collections are made every sacrament-Sacrament-Day and out of these the several Officers if they want are supplied Meetings Their Meetings are of four kinds viz. 1. On every Lord's Day for Prayer and Preaching and receiving the Sacrament as often as it is Adminstred likewise for receiving the publick acknowledgments of those whose ☞ Crimes have been publick The
will not give him a discharge unless it be with a Testimonial recommending him to some Congregation they approve of If he refuse to joyn with such a Congregation as they approve of and withdraw himself from them they cut him off as an Apostate No pretence of Conscience will prevail with them to allow any to joyn with the Church of England or the Presbyterians or Quakers or the strict Baptists They plead they cannot discharge them because those Churches they desire to joyn with do not walk accordingly to the Rule of God's Word saying should we suffer you we should comply with you in Sin Therefore the Officers charge them with their Covenant and Command them to obey the Authority of Christ invested in them upon pain of the displeasure of the King of Heaven When any Member revolts Excommunication the method they profess to observe is To send for him to give his Reasons to the Church if he comes they admonish him to return if he does not come they empower one or two Messengers to go to him and admonish him in the Name of the Church this they do a second time If this prevails not after some time allowed according to their discretion they send Messengers to acquaint him that on such a Day they intend to cut him off and when they have cut him off they send to acquaint him with it This is always done at a Church Meeting If the Pastor be Living it is his Sole Privilege to pronounce the Sentence of Excommunication The Method is to Pray and Exhort the People on this occasion and then to pronounce the Sentence in these or the like Words viz. I do in the Presence of God with the judgment and consent of this Church To justifie this they urge 1 Cor. 5.4 5. deliver A. B. unto Satan for the destruction of the Flesh to be buffeted by him that his Soul may be saved in the Day of the Lord. They then blot his Name out of the Book of Subscriptions which they call the Book of Life and henceforth avoid him according at it is set down in the Explanation of the Covenant If any sick Sick Person desires it the Pastor and some Elders repair to him and Anoint him Praying over him They dip their Fingers in a Porringer or Sawcer of Oyl wherewith they rub the Temples of the Sick Person They traduce the Publick Prayers of the Church of England as Idolatrous and Antichristian the Ministers as scandalous in their Lives negligent in their Duty forsaking their own Articles formal in their Administrations legal in their Preaching without the Power of Godliness c. They call all Churches and Worship false which are not Establish'd by a Covenant like theirs i. e. all Churches that are not Independent They engage not to go near these Churches and if any of the Members occasionally go and are uncovered there they interpret such uncovering an assent to the Prayers and deal with such Persons as Sinners cutting them off if they do not testifie their Repentance They say That God hath before ordained whatsoever comes to pass even the worst of Sins and that Sinners cannot avoid committing them That it is to no purpose to pray for or endeavour after Repentance because the Sins of the Elect past present and to come are already forgiven and therefore they ought to pray only for the Manifestation of their Pardon They look upon themselves obliged to Trade with their own Members or those of their Way if possible When some have done otherwise the Pastor hath publickly declared in their Church Meetings that it was their Sin and the Elders have joined with him 'T is a general Rule among them Trade with any rather than the Church of England In order to perpetuate this Schism Davis breeds up Young Men in his House According to the best account I can get There are about Thirteen gathered Congregations of this Separation under setled Pastors the Members whereof are computed to be between two and three Thousand Besides these they have divers Congregations for Prayer and Preaching which have no setled Pastors nor any Administration of the Sacraments When any of the Hearers desires to be admitted a Member of any particular Congregation notice is given to that Congregation who at their Church Meeting appoint the Pastor with some Elders and Deacons to go and hold a Church Meeting near the place where such Hearer dwelleth and to examine and admit him as before specify'd When they have gained a competent Number of Members in any part they fix a Pastor among them and embody them This was the state of the Separation at Rothwell about the Year 1696 which as I understand has receiv'd no considerable alteration since that time THE CANONS OF GEORGE FOX Friends Fellowshipp must be in the Spirit and all Friends must know one another in the Spirit and Power of God First IN all the Meetings of the County two or three being gathered from them to goe to the Generall Meetings for to give notice one to another if there be any that walkes not in the truth and have beene convinced and gone from truth and soe dishonoureth God that some may be ordered from the meeting to goe to exhort such and bring into the next Generall meeting what they say 2ly If any that professe the truth that follows pleasures drunkennesse gameings or is not faithfull in their callings and dealings nor honest nor just but runs into debt and soe brings a Scandall vppon the truth Friends may give notice to the Generall meeting if there be any such and some may be ordered to goe and exhort them and bring in their answer the next Generall meeting 3ly And if any goes disorderly together in Marriage contrary to the Practice of the holy men of God and assemblies of the righteous in all ages who declared it in the assemblies of the Righteous when they took one another all things being cleere and they both being free from any other And when they doe goe together and take one another let there not be lesse then a dozen Friends and Relations present according to your former order having first acquainted the mens meeting and they have cleernesse and vnity with them And that it may be Recorded in a Book according to the word and Commandement of the Lord and such if any walk contrary to the truth herein let some be ordered to speak to them and give notice thereof to the next Generall meeting 4ly And all that be widdows which have Children and doe intend to Marry let Query be made what shee hath done for her Children If there be noe will made then let such part of her late husbands Estate be set out for her Children as is equall and according to truth and what they can doe afterwards let them do also And where there is a will made let those Legacies and Portions be improved and secured before Marriage for the Children of the deceased with what more