over-run the blessed Heritage of the Lord that lived together in an orderly Family under the law of life and living order of the Gospel with a loose and unsubjected Conversation which would bring confusion to the Church and make us a Derision to the Heathen And to the end that these very persons concerned in this separation may appear to be no lovers of Christian liberty and Gospel Privileges as they pretend let their own Paper which is a Declaration of the Reasons of their so separating be read and weighed in the Universal love and life of Christ Jesus and therein we well suppose will be found the true Nature of Imposition in that none of their own County are allowed to be of their monthly and quarterly Meetings but such as are appointed and chosen by the particular Meetings next that none of other Counties though publick labourers of the Gospel are to be admitted to be at their Meetings unless it be to tell their Message and immediately to depart and these with such like things 87 subscribed as the reasons of their separation and Foundation of a new Goverment amongst themselves which is a plain Independancy from the Practice of the Church of Christ throughout the World O Friends watch in the Power of God against this Spirit that would make them twain that God hath made one and separate that which God hath joyned together and you that have an Interest in them and to whom their regard is Oh have a care that you give them no strength in their manifest separation but stand upon your Watch-tower Dear Friends in Gods love touch not with that Spirit the Enemy of Zions Glory and their Peace give not your strength to them but deal faithfully with them and seek them in Gods Way and Wisdom that whatsoever becomes of them in the end you may be clear of their Blood in the sight of the Lord and that they may not say but that they have had a day of love and visitation and truly that which hath encouraged us in this Epistle is that good success God hath blessed our like Endeavours in his Power with For many deceived by them having seen their snare in tenderness of Spirit have honestly confess'd their Fault and are come from them and have testified both against the separate company and themselves for being of it and now live in Unity with their Brethren and feel the Joy and quiet Habitation that in the Communion of Saints and Fellowship of Jesus is enjoyed Praises to the Lord for ever and as we desire so we hope more will be brought to the same blessed sence so be zealous for the Lord dear Brethren and stand up in his spirit and power for the Peace of his Church in his Precious peaceable life dwell that keeps in soundness of mind then will you shew mercy to that to which mercy is due and Judgment to whom Judgment is due without respect of Persons and herein our pure true love is cleared to them and all mankind and the God of Heavenly love pure and precious continue our Fellowship and be with us all and bless us to the Glory of his Eternal love who over all Spirits Angels and Men Thrones Dignities and Dominions Reigns and is worthy and blessed for ever We are universally Your Dear and Faithful Brethren in the Labour Travail Tribulation Patience Hope and Rejoycing of the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ Thomas Taylor Tho. Briggs W. Fdmonson Amb. Rigg Joseph Batt Jam. Harrison Cut. Hayhurst Jo. Burngeat Bra. Dayley Ste. Smith Tho. Holmes Ja. Halladay Tho. Robeison W. Gosnel Ben. Antrobus Sam. Jennings Rich. Pindle Francis Bell. Ja. Fletcher Tho. Sacre Tho. Bracy Jo. Ticer Tho. Burr W. Fallowfield Jo. Johnson Hen. Jackson Gy. Bernardiston Tho. Atkins Mor. Watkins W. Gibson Ric. Longworth Jo. Bowrem Chr. Bacon Ri. Vickris Ja. Claypoole Ol. Sampson Luke Howard Rich. Smead Jo. Wilford Jo. Elson Sam. Cater Jo. Vaughton Jo. Watson Fr. Fincher Jo. Kilborne W. Whaley Tho. Ellwood Sam. Hulbooke Chris Taylor Rich. Davis Jo. Whitehead Nic. Gates Len. Fell. Jo. Moone Jo. Abraham Jo. Higgons Tho. Latemore Jo. Hill Ant. Tomkins Jo. Boy Chr. Marshall Jo. Blackley W. Penn. Fran. Moore Jo. Swinten Jun. Eze. Wolley ANd there were several Brethren that had left this City before this Meeting wherein this Epistle was subscribed who at other Meetings had testified against this seperate Spirit in the Power of the Lord and so are one with us herein and some there were who have already cleared their Consciences at their last years Meeting and since at other Meetings both by Epistles and other Manuscripts in a full and faithful Testimony against this Spirit of Separation and opposition and those that remain in it and stands witnesses against it and them for the Lord and his Heavenly Truth Let this be read in Monthly Quarterly and other mens Meetings as in God's Wisdom and Counsel may be seen meet and a Service for the same We whose Names are hereunto subscribed being a part of the Lords People a few lines from some of us call'd Quakers in the County Of Wilts and is in answer to a Paper bearing date from Ellis Hook's Chamber in London the 12. day of the 4. Month 1677. subscribed by 66 Persons whose language seem to us as though they did not write only on their own behalf but as persons assuming Authority over the People of the Lord call'd Quakers And therefore are we now concerned in Conscience to give this Testimony viz. that it becomes not them nor yet any person upon Earth to assume a Power and thereby to appear as Lords and Masters over any one member of Christs Body and in as much as we have such a sence that there is such a Spirit this day at work we cannot but say that through the serious considertion of these things the spirit of the Lord God is grieved in us and though the Foundation of God stands sure unto us who have not only believed but also kept our integrity unto the Lord even unto this present day of which we have an absolute certainty confirmed unto us by the evidence of Gods Spirit witnessing with our spirits herein yet the extent of such proceedings may be of such an ill tendency as some thereby may be weakned and others possibly turned out of the way Moreover when we consider what unchristian-like Carriages and unbrother-like proceedings hath been exercised against our ancient Friends and Elders in the Truth those faithful and innocent servants of the Living God Jo. Wilkinson and Jo. Story we cannot but even lament because the testimony of God on their behalf lives with us and remains as an obligation upon our spirits thus to say that though the principle of Truth in our Hearts leads us not to place our Faith in them or any other man or men whatsoever because ever since the beginning of our Convincement of the truth to this day we had a certain sence that all are liable to
love concluded For which blessed be the Name of the Lord whose Loving Ancient and Fresh Power and presence was with us But truly with bowed Spirits and grieved Hearts have we perceived the obstinate and obdurateness of some that have gone into the Self-will despising Heavenly Dignities and casting tender Love and Intreaties behind their backs setting up and continuing in and promoting false and pernicious Jealousies Mutterings and secret Smitings whereby they are darkned in their Understandings and so have through the Power of the Enemy of the King of Righteousneses and Peace set up a kind of Standard of Seperation from that blessed Fellowship and Communion of the Churches of Christ sweetly possessed together to the Dishonour of God his Truth and People More especially John Wilkinson and John Story notwithstanding the many Visitations and Admonitions of Love and Life even in the deepest Travails and that from time to time and year to year particularly the sence and admonition of the last yearly Meeting writ in great love that they might return and be reconciled to their Brethren before they offer their Gifts which they have rejected And forasmuch as it appears to us that they will not come to us nor near us in the peaceable Truth which we have frequently and truly desired for their good but that they go on in their opposition and evil smiting against the Faithful Brethren and Practice of the Church of Christ refusing to dissolve their separate Company in the North or clear their Hands of them by a faithful Testimony against them or so much as blot their Names out of their Paper of Separation And because we are sensible they have made an ill use of our Forbearance even to the strengthening themselves in their Separation and cover their evil Designs among some simple-hearted Friends persevering therein by Word Writing and Practice we are constrained after this continual waiting and exhortation thus slighted by them for the Glory of the Name of the Lord and sake of the Peace of the Churches of Christ that we may stand clear in the Power of God of the Blood of all in the great and notable day of Account more publickly to reprove and judge them And we do hereby reprove and judge that jealous rending and separating Spirit and them and their separate Company as being in the Spirit of Separation and that by the Spirit and Power of our God we warn all to whom this comes to beware of the said John Wilkinson and John Story whose way at present is not the way of Peace and Christian Concord For if it were they would not offer their Gift till reconciled to their Brethren And therefore Brethren stand up in the Power and Wisdom of God for the Testimony of Truth against that wrong murmuring and dividing Spirit and where they come warn them to go home in the name of the Lord and be reconciled to their Brethren and not go thus up and down to offer their Gift which in this State is not a Peace but a Division offering contrary to the Precept of Christ Jesus our Lord first being reconciled whatever their pretences be and therein will you acquit your selves in Gods sight and shew true Love and Friendship unto them and those that may be hurt by them which our Souls most earnestly desire ye that it may be truly well with them both here and for ever And from the Lord we say had they loved the Prosperity of Zion and the Peace of Jerusalem more than their own Self-will and Self-separation and had they sought the Unity that is in the Truth and sweet Communion of Brethren which stands in that Love that thinks no evil and that Wisdom that is gentle and very easie to be intreated with the Brethren sweet and precious had been our Fellowship to this day And it is our Godly Exhortation to you Friends and Brethren of Monthly and quarterly Meetings that you watch in the Light and Power of God against this separating Spirit that smites at the blessed Fellowship of the Churches of Christ and where it enters any in Gods love to admonish exhort and warn such to take heed of that ravenous Spirit and to keep the Unity of the Peace of the Family of the Lord the Houshold of Christ which we are and if notwithstanding your Christian Dealing and Forbearance such persons persevere and go on in their separate Spirit and Practice let Gods Truth be clear of them and Truth set over their Heads according to that blessed Order of the Gospel of Christ setled amongst you And dear Brethren be careful not to suffer your Meetings which were gathered not by the will of Man but by the Power and Wisdom of the Lord God to be disturbed over-ruled and spoiled by heady obstinate and contentious Persons that disturb the Peace of the Church of Christ neither fear Man but eye the Lord and wait in his Wisdom and Power to be guided and ordered and so go on to your work in the name of the Lord For the Seed of Life and not the Wisdom which is from below must rule and have the Dominion for ever But forasmuch as the way of the working of the subtil Enemy hath been to suggest that it is the design of some to make themselves Lords over Gods Heritage and to set up an Arbitrary Power in the Churches of Christ and then to run out into severe Exclamations against Impositions crying up Liberty of Conscience thereby casting a mist before the Eyes of the simple and a Stumbling-block in the way of the weak Thus we feel our selves constrained in the love of our Lord for the good of all to declare and the Lord that gathered us and preserved us to this day is our Record that we deny and abhor any such thing for we have one Lod Judge and Law-giver and that is Christ Jesus unto whose Light Power and Spirit we have been turned and in that have worshipped him and had Fellowship together to this day and are your Servants for his sake and we are assured in the Lord that those that keep in the Light Life and Power of Christ will have Fellowship with us and truly our Fellowship is with the Father and the Son and though it is far from us to bruise or hurt the poorest or least member in the Church of Christ who may not have that clearness of sight and strength of Faith which the Lord hath brought us to but that they may be cherished yet by that Salt that we have in our selves from the Lord we are enabled to savour between the Transformations of the Enemy and the scruples of the Innocent and as to be tender of the one so to give Judgment against the other and our day hath lamentably shown us the effect of that Spirit that under a pretence of crying down Impositions and pleading for Liberty and doing nothing but what it is free to endeavouring to lay waste the blessed Unity of the Brethren and so
err if they watch not yet we have and still do firmly believe that it hath pleased our Heavenly Father to commit unto them a dispensation of the Gospel of Life and Salvation with which they were by him two or three and twenty years since sent amongst us who in that with many of their dear Brethren now deceased bore the Burthen in the heat of the Day and as we firmly believe have continued faithful Labourers in their Masters work and service to this very day and through the Wisdom of God committed unto them we well remember a word of reproof and instruction from them hath been a word of comfort it being given in great care and tenderness for the preservation of that part of the Flock of God now accompanied with many exercises who were gathered by them as Instruments in the hand of the Lord and now through the length of time our experimental knowledge concerning them and their righteous walking before us from time to time hath so confirmed us that we freely give it as our belief and judgment that they have not hitherto changed their way Therefore you who have concerned your selves to write against them to give over such work for time to come and mind that which belongs to you and let them alone to their Lord and Master the true and living God whose true Messengers they have been and now are For be it known unto you all that you shall never be able to destroy that Interest God hath given these his Servants in the hearts of his people while they keep the station where they now stand for being wise in the wisdom that is from above they have been Instruments in the Lords Hands to turn many to Righteousness who with them if they continue therein shall shine as the brightness of the Firmament and as the Stars for ever and ever We confess your Paper is filled with many high expressions viz. of Heavenly Unity and crowned with Glory and Dominion using the word Dignity c. which puts us in mind thus to query of you since you as we take it so boast what is the honour and advancement that you are lately arrived at Have you any thing but what you have received How can you expect we can believe such things are truly found amongst you as in words you do so largely make a profession of vvhile we see and behold the spirit of prejudice flow from you even in the very same Paper against faithful Brethren who harms you not neither have or do we understand that they seek Revenge or render evil for evil but leaves their Cause unto the Lord recommending the same unto the faithful and true witness of God in all Consciences knowing that all Gods people are to act and speak as God thereby shall open their Understandings We cannot positively charge every one of you that you have acted on the credit of others but yet we are in our very Consciences satisfied that several of you have so done and so understand not what you have done but yet remember this from your Friends that whosoever hath so done to the wrong of the Lords Servants it will redound to their own shame and no imaginary power or authority whatsoever will be able to uphold the betrayed or betrayers from the just Judgment in the day of the Lord. We take notice you thus say notwithstanding the many Visitations and Admonitions and that from time to time and from year to year c. we desire that every one of you will now look back and behold your work and consider whether great part of you did ever in all your lives either visit or admonish the said Jo. Wilkinson and Jo. Story upon that account We also find in the said Paper these expressions Whereas they meaning J. S. and. J. W. concerning their evil Designs amongst the simple persevering therein many being deceived by them setting up and continuing in and promoting false and pernicious Jealousies a ravenous Spirit and such like and we do hereby reprove and judge say you that rending Spirit and them and their seperate company here you have not only charged in general terms but also past Judgment upon your general Charge notwithstanding which the particular matter of Fact as evidence of the charge lieth yet behind which we in regard to the Law of Love and Christian Charity do on the behalf of our suffering and innocent Brethren expect that you make good and in order to our satisfaction whose Consciences are concerned on the behalf of the truth do query of you what is the evill designed by them And where hath it been made appear And how do they persevere therein Who are the many deceived by them And what have they deceived them of What hath been set up by them and what do they continue in and promote that 's false What ravenous actions have been committed by them As to your general Charge we cannot but turn them upon your own heads as false there to remain until you prove them by particular matter of Fact We know it is become a custome with some to revile innocent men but yet we also know it is an ill way to exalt one Brother by the defamation of another that is innocent Our desires are that this sin may not be laid to any of your charges but rather if you are conscious to your selves of guilt herein you may speedily repent You also thus say we warn all to whom this comes to beware of the said J. S. and J. W. and not only so but seems to prescribe a form of words viz. where they come warn them to go home and by their so doing they will acquit themselves in Gods sight mark an easie way to be acquitted We demand from whom have you power to give forth such a large Commission since we certainly know that a man may speak your prescribed Form of words like a Child that learns a Lesson by roat and yet be far from standing acquitted in Gods sight Alas Friends we have a godly Jealousie that some imaginary whimsie hath led you to appear so confident as to warn them to go home because we believe the word of the Lord dwells richly in them but perhaps you may think the stress of all lies in silencing them or sending them home if you so think you deceive your selves for we testifie that the same word of life which dwells in them and that cannot assent that the Servants of Israels God should bow to any Image or Image-maker dwells in many Brethren Praises to the Lord for ever It appears by your words you are afraid of being a derision to the Heathen do you not take the ready way and walk directly in the path that leads thither And can you think otherwise but if the Heathen knew but your unchristian-like carriages and proceedings against the Brethren they would certainly have you in derision Now as touching the separate Meeting in the North unto whose Paper which is a
Declaration of the reasons of their so seperating you refer us desiring us both to read it and to weigh it and then say you you we well suppose then will be found the true nature of Imposition We tell you we have both read it and weighed it and do not only well suppose but also certainly find a great deal more in it than we find from you For though some passages therein might have been worded to answer the intent of the subscribers better than the words laid down doth yet Charity would so construe of the Reason Equity Truth and Justice offered by them therein as not to put such constructions thereon as never was their meaning But what if we in this County or any Friends elsewhere should say to any of you at London or other Cities or Counties as to the publick concern in the management of our affairs meddle not with us unless concerned but if the word of the Lord is really with any of you we are ready to hear it If we should so say unto you we cannot think barely of this saying of yours you may well suppose this to be the true nature of Imposition neither do we understand theirs to be any otherwise and no part of the nature of Imposition in it having no penalty annexed thereunto And now we might by way of question ask when and from whom you received cower over them or any other and over what part your power doth extend Seeing we certainly know Conscience ought to be free with which you are not to intermeddle and as for our outward Property it belongs not to you neither in it are we by you defended and as to matter of Fact you prove nothing against them These things considered we cannot understand why or wherefore you should use such language as we find in your Paper To us it seems rather to spring from the spirit of Lordship exercised amongst the Gentiles then from that Spirit that delighteth to be Servant to the Brethren for Christs sake and whereas you say because we are sensible they have made an ill use of our forbearance to the strengthening themselves and so forth we do hereby reprove and judge them and others c. If you pretend not to a power over them what need the word Forbearance And if you pretend not to be their Judges why do you undertake to pass judgment But forasmuch as we certainly know you have no power over them neither spiritual nor temporal we therefore tell you you are Intruders and your Paper of false judgment on this account we do undervalue as too mean and too light either to affright or take place with us that are established in the Truth and the weightiest expression therein contained is no more to us than the flying of Thunder over our Heads for in it we feel no weight at all and the Lord assisting of us do resolve not to walk by the light of your sparks nor see with your Eyes neither favour with your Salt in these your proceedings but to our Lord and Master will we either stand or fall And we further declare unto you and give it as our belief and judgment whatever you think or however you may create a peace unto your selves in these things that the more you stir and the more you strive after this manner the more will be the increase of your weight and burthen Therefore our Advice and Counsel to you is that you labour to be still and quiet and pursue peace as much as in you lies and lay not that upon others which properly belongs unto your selves but that which is your portion be content to take home to your selves For you are the people you speak of that occasions the mist to be cast before the eyes of the simple and a Stumbling block in the way of the weak and you are the Troublers of Israel this day and although we truly desire peace and a cessation to these things and could be heartily glad if you would insist on them no farther yet forasmuch as it appears to us that this is the way or path you or at least some of you intend to walk and delight to trade in we do therefore advise you to look to your selves and mark well your steps for although we have hitherto for the most part born many things not pleasant to us and that many times for the sake of others yet having had continual provocations and now you thus publickly appearing through the Nation as by the directions of your Paper doth appear we are in the Spirit and Power of our God stirred up to appear as becomes Christians in defence of the cause of Truth wherein we look only and alone unto the Lord and not unto man with that eye that is open in us that sees and beholds your out-goings in those things that tend to strife and debate contrary to the truth which we have received and the Lord enabling shall therein well observe you and as occasion offers our Faith is that we shall always be ready according as the Spirit of Truth shall lead us to detest fictions proceedings as you have been exercised in and therefore for time to come to be more careful of what you undertake and see that according to the Truth Right Reason Equity and Justice you are able both to stand by and defend it otherwise it will return back upon your own Heads with shame as this hath done and no doubt 't will yet farther do And we have yet farther to declare unto you concerning our selves such is our present state and condition that notwithstanding these things we can this day to our comfort boldly say we are what we are by the grace of God and in that Grace we are daily waiting to be made more in his time and in his time to be content desiring nothing more than the encrease of that Grace and that therein we may continue to the end walking before the Lord in all honest and godly Conversation according to the present manifestation of his good Spirit given to us and our Faith and Trust in the Lord is that through his strength and power we shall be preserved thus to continue to the end of our days and not to take up or enter into the practice of any thing though under never so fair nor high pretence but as by faith in this power we come to feel the Lord leading us thereinto and expecting it at our hands as a duty incumbent upon us enjoyned by God alone in which as we feel our Service our Faith is that as we have been so we shall be ready to every good work and act a deed of Charity amongst us either to our Friends or any other whom Christian Charity obligeth us to serve wherein we may be serviceable and for the keeping all in good order amongst those who profess the Truth and here is neither Paul nor yet Apollo but that Christ that was Crucified comes here to be both Lord