over-shaddowing them to the encrease of Life and Faithfulness to God amongst them Love encreases and Life springs in the Assemblies of the Righteous a People saved by the Lord and all srinking creeping hidden Works of Darkness are judged down the snare 〈◊〉 laid therein being seen Deliverance is wrought to Gods praise and his Peoples joy and this is the effect God hath wrought to our Advantage glory to his Eternal name for evermore Secondly Through the workings of the Spirit that prevails on them whose Habitation is not in the Lord the Negligent the Careless the Rebellious that dwell in the dry Land and have wanted the vertuous Life of God through unbelief into whom Looseness is entered and the Works of the Flesh wrought antient Testimonies for God let fall by them to Truths dispraise and the wounding the Hearts of the Innocent whose Testimony abides sure and through whose unfaithfulness Afflictions are added to the Bonds of the Upright to God to the Churches Grief they having turned the many visitations of Gods Love behind the Back and grown worse and worse such as these comes to be shaken off and the Camp cleansed of them and they manifested to all and that they who are approved may be made manifest a Separation being wrought between them that truly serve the Lord and them that serve him not betwixt them that live in the Antient Power and in Life and Faithfulness glorifies the same and them that talk only of the Light and inward guidance of the Spirit of Jesus and yet in Works deny him Let but the Reader and the Innocent wait a little in the patience and you shall see the end of this Spirits Work to its utter Reproach its Memorial shall rot and never rise again Thirdly That although this appearing Difference amongst us may and hath caused a Flutter amongst the Gazers and Wonderers that would not believe and for the present might put a little discouragement for a time upon the unestablished in God and obstruct a little the gathering unto us such as the Lord will deliver and shall be saved and what an expectation hath there been through this occasion in our publick Enemies that have watched for it of our disadvantage thereby in the way of Truth if not our Ruin yet it were well if such would take notice that notwithstanding the worst of this Spirit 's Work how the Lord hath Blessed his People in every place even where the greatest Blunder hath been with the more Zeal and Integrity for him and that more is added to us since that day then for many Years before And lastly That which we observe and it were well if notice of it were truely taken this talk of Difference amongst us which we do affirm is not in the Camp of God but a Testimony is born by us against the Backslided and Apostate it doth tend to the hardning of a disobedient and gainsaying People that would not receive the Testimony of the Light and Life of Christ Jesus to believe in him for Salvation but have turned the visitations of Gods love behind their backs in their rebellion against the Lord and the Spirit of his Grace to their greater ruin and the more speedy execution thereof if in time they repent not and it were well if such yet would fear Almighty God and be subject to the Truth before it be too late to find Mercy In our Advice to the Reader and Introduction to the ensuing matter of what is before us to concern our selves with we cannot but first take notice that some may say If it were true that the Author af the aforesaid Book and those he seems so much to standby are in a backsliding state and seperated from you whom you seem to disown as out of fellowship with you What is the meaning of all this Writing against George Fox so vehemently and more principally then any others together with others also whom by name he makes mention of And what is the truth of the matters and things laid to his and others charge which if true bespeaks a backsliding in him and others he speaks of as well as in them you declare against Answer As for George Fox we say and Testifie that as he was an Instrument in Gods hand through the Demonstration of the Spirit being a Minister of the new Testament the everlasting Gospel through whom many were turned from Darkness to Light to behold the Glory of the everlasting Day and the Faces of many Thousands have been truely and livingly set Sion-wards and their Feet established in the way thither Let William Rogers say and do his worst he is one who hath kept his Integrity to the Lord and is honorable in Gods power amongst the Children of the Light that keep their habitation in it an Elder that hath ruled well and is worthy of honour for the gift of Gods sake that he hath been faithful in the concern of and is the same with an encrease of Life and pure Wisdom that ever he was notwithstanding the fury of wicked and lying Tongues And as it was in Christ and the Apostles days because of the testifying against the World by him and his Desciples that their deeds were evil the World hated them above all the Jews stumbled at him because of his Testimony against the Adulterous profession of the chiefest of them and their Righteousness which it was said must be exceeded or no coming into Gods Kingdom for which cause also they hated him and put him to Death The first and most Glorious appearance of the breaking forth of the more clearer Day after an Apostatized state was ever resisted with great Indignation by them upon whom the Apostacy from the Life and Power of God had prevailed and the publishers of the same Testimony from God the most hated and persecuted with the cry of Help Men and Brethren and withal the fury and might imaginable to obstruct the breakings forth thereof This Generation hath not forgot that in a resolved combined Covenant made with Death was the Testimony resisted that this Servant of the eternal God bore against the Sin self Righteousness and false Judgment that a wicked and a pervers Generation lived in and under the profession of to the total stopping and crushing of it by all means Imaginable if they could or that could be contrived and far contrary to the work of a professing Gospel Ministry and dispensation of a Gospel day to the shame of such as were the contrivers thereof and stirrers up of Persecution therefore It may be remembered what such an one he was rendered to be even as the worst of Men and yet nothing could be laid to his charge save for his crying against Sin c. and keeping a good Conscience to God recommending his Testimony to the Witness of God in all Consciences in the patience that possessed the Soul the Lyes the false Aspersions Calumnies and Reproaches raised against him and cast upon him with rage and fury and
Meetings their Society their Care therein over each other their Discipline their Order their Practice of Uisiting the Fatherless and Widows and their care that every ones Testimony may stand true and faithful and they steadfast in it and to keep themselves unspotted of the World This can never be will the Sober and Conscientious say the Spirit of Christ thus to Rend and Tear and Bespatter his Brethren and the Society of which he was crying out an Apostacy and bringing in mens Laws Prescriptions and Imposing and Lording it over mens Consciences and a forcing of a blind obedience and an Implicit Faith and 〈◊〉 like and yet confess they differ from him and he from them but about the Shell and not the Kernel and his Correspondent J. Wilkinson whom he applauds as none to 〈◊〉 him that he hear s of in Doctrine and Life sayes God hath revealed it to him that the difference is not about the principles of Truth nor in Christ's Doctrines nor in any practice which the Truth in the members of the Heavenly body leadeth into c. But only in some Forms and Methods relating to Discipline c. mark then What! are we the same in the Principles of Truth are we the same in Christ's Doctrine are we in the Practice of what Truth leads the Members of the Heavenly Body into Then wherein are we Apostates And why are we rendred such as in whom the Life of Christianity is wholy extinct Will not all the unprejudiced who understand things say that his spirit is Naughty and Wicked and he the Apostate he would charge others wirh and envies the Integrity of the Faithful that keep their first love and in it their Care for Gods Glory It 's meer Malice that is in his heart that hath blinded his Eye and led him into the confusion his Book is stuft with of which much we might manifest at large obvious to all the Sincere where the knowledge of things may come but to take up our time with that it is not upon us much at this time his Inconsistency with himself and his applauded Friends his Contradictions and the meer Confusion he hath run himself into under the darkness that he is Surprised with as a Judgement and his Just desert upon him amongst the wicked whose candle is to be put out being plainly demonstrated and brought to view in the Treatise being an answer to W. Rogers's Book called The Accuser of our Brethren cast down unto which we refer the Reader and to T. Elwoods Antidote c. W. Rogers hath not only as to us it appears missed his aim with respect to repute as a Christian or as one in whom the life of Christianity is not extinct being in his work reproachful in all Christian Societies as out of the Order and rule thereof in this his clamorous Work But in our Sense as a man he is become a Spectacle for reproach amongst all sober unprejudiced People let his Book with the Answer to it be soberly viewed and this Query will arise in the hearts of sober People What is this man that is of that Confidence as to assume an engagement against the Lord and his People to excommunicate to curse and to bring to Ruin if he could such as have stood the many Onsets they have met with many wayes through Professors and Prophane yea Principalities and Powers What doth he think to do with this his Babylonish confused broken Instrument he hath framed in his malitious outragious bespattering work of Printing publishing and spreading abroad the same pretending to have it brought forth on the behalf of his Brethren as well as himself who as he 〈◊〉 had a concern of Conscience upon them for his so doing And yet not one will appear in any Nobility as men to stand by it that can be heard of but what they do it 's done in a hidden creeping manner as the works of darkness are wrought And the darts that are shot thereby we say touch not our Life for the Armour of the Lord's sake we are furnished with But they turn back again upon their own heads And it will prove unto them although they have confidently leaned upon it as the broken Reed of Egypt the Splinters whereof will pierce their hands and be their Torment incurably if they repent not It may be further said What is become of W. Rogers's parts as a Man that his presumptuous confident undertaking on this wise promiseth or where was that considerate Weightiness of Spirit that necessarily should attend him and becomes a man of that reputation as his undervaluing others without respect to Parentage and Birth should have declared himself to be furnished with as also with respect to the Occupation or Calling he is of Viz. a Merchant as he calls himself and applauds himself thereby in his publishing the Meanest of the Occupation of others he would defame as hereafter shall be made appear Many may say Doth this kind of work tend to his Praise thus to heap up Confusion and publish the same to his own shame to accuse to slander and defame with all the malice and Venom that through his Pervertings and Inferences he can stretch matters to to make accusations thereof as much as possible under any colour he can devise and then place his own Judgment thereupon and makes a flutter therewith like children that play with their own shadows And as to many charges and Accusations he brings they are upon no better Evidence then If Reports be true poor William for so he is although he be full and rich in his own Esteem since he went from the Light and the peaceable meek Spirit he hath marred his repute in the eye of God and God's People and brought Disgrace and shame on himself amongst men yea common and civil Societies are ashamed of his Work as a Nauseous thing let him go on if nothing will be a warning to him and doe what he hath to do for his day is almost over it were well if Repentance he could yet find Now to proceed further in relation to the matter of this high and horrid charge against us we mean the Family and body of that people that have believed and are in Union in Christ amongst whom we are bold to appear whom W. R. hath presumed to impeach as Apostates from God for we dare presume to say according to our belief from good observation that there is but very few that ever was in any measure of us that are of party with him and seeing he hath granted that the difference is not about the 〈◊〉 but the Shell and John Wilkinson says God hath manifested to him that the Difference is not in principles of Truth nor in the Doctrine of Christ nor in any practice that the Truth in the Members of the Heavenly Body leadeth into as in a Letter from him to George Fox is plainly in those very words inserted And seeing the state of Apostaey is truly applicable to
of the Innocent to discourage the Testimonies born for God and his Truth so that they of the Meeting he belonged to had many of them almost lost all relating to Truth but the form of Words and outside Profession and in that also a grief to the Faithful which many of the simple hearted amongst them came off from them since with Joy in true brokenness do tenderly confess And in this shrinking work John Wilkinson also publickly appeared to stand by them to the grief of many for his sake On these occasions as that which was needful least the Life of Christianity as William Rogers applies to the Faithful 〈◊〉 be quite let fall and extinct amongst us the Lord stirred up Zeal and Care in the Church of God amongst the Faithful and the Spirit of the Lord strove in that day with a gainsaying backsliding People who would not be subject to him in the spirit of their own minds and many Exhortations and good Advice they had in Love and Mercy mixed with sound Judgment upon the Spirit that had prevailed over them and upon the works thereof and the Hearts of many in other Countries were touched with sorrow for the Glory of Gods sake which this perfideous Spirit was striking at and in an holy Zeal for God many Brethren that came amongst us were moved in a Testimony for him to clear their Consciences in Gods sight to the comfort and heart breaking gladness of the upright amongst us but to the grief and vexation of the other sort whereupon they cryed ou against 〈◊〉 over-driving and urging things with Severity And Margaret Fox and some other Friends being come to visit Friends at our Quarterly Meeting very tenderly signified to us That she heard there was Divisions amongst us and that she partly believed it and was sorry therefore she desired also That if there was dissatisfaction in any on any account relating to Church Care and Gospel Order that they would speak that things might be openly Discoursed and none go privately under hand to work Discontents in any on the account thereof or words to that purpose John Story was not then amongst us but John 〈◊〉 on the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 himself and them of party with him replied saying 〈◊〉 What 〈◊〉 have we to practice things imposed upon us by man or in the will of man that there is no Scripture Proof or Example for In reply whereunto M. Fox asked him If 〈◊〉 would say that our Meetings relating to Church Care was set up in the will of man or words directly to that purpose unto which he gave no direct Answer neither would plainly and openly declare what it was that he and they took occasion to stumble at yet that which principally was upon him to make an opposition to 〈◊〉 afterwards was observed was Womens Meetings on the account of Church concerns thinking thereby to undervalue lessen the esteem and authority of our whole concern in the Church of God which practice in the Church was vindicated by the honest hearted as a very proper concern for them according to the measure of the Spirit received in their Place Order and Sex It seemed strange also to many why John Wilkinson propounded such a Question in opposition to Women's Meetings seeing that he twenty three more at a former Quarterly Meeting in Kendal had subscribed a Paper signifying their consent to the Womans Meetings with several Expressions in it tending greatly to encourage the same And upon the occasion of a Paper from G. Fox read in the said Meeting to encourage Women Friends to meet together on the account aforesaid the Meeting with an unanimous consent as appears by the Subscriptions expresses themselves thus viz. It is further agreed upon that this Paper be read in every particular Meeting That the Women Friends who are faithful may be stirred up into a serious consideration in the Light of the Lord To answer the Lord with diligence c. And in the Womens assembling together to see and consider that all Women Young and Old who profess the Truth do walk therein in Order and in Modesty out of the Customs and Fashions of the World Herein Male and Female are serviceable in our Place and Calling in our Day and Generation c. So all Women Friends who feel secret desires in themselves to be Instruments of good unto others let them meet together as aforesaid and in this desire certainly the Lord will assist you in his Wisdom and Counsel c. And so all the faithful Women who are thus enclined and affected herewith may signifie their Minds and Intents to the Mens Meetings and so be encouraged by us whose Names are hereunto subscribed viz John Wilkinson 1st Henry Story John Clearkson R. Pinder and 20. more And yet notwithstanding the said Paper it did appear that it was Womens Meetings that they were dis-affected with and smote at in their minds in the same Spirit that disliked also our Mens Meetings but that they were afraid to appear so openly against them for afterwards they broke forth into more disdainful terms against the Womens Meetings calling them an Idol a 〈◊〉 Invention Imposition and the like yet contradictorily to their own approbation and well-liking thereof as the aforesaid Paper demonstrates That earthly loose 〈◊〉 Spirit that had been all along stirring in some of the Rich and wiser sort in the VVisdom that is from below against the Churches Care and Discipline thereof was offended with it because of the Inspection of it and limit thereby to their wrong Spirit yet durst not publickly appear in opposition to it but in a private 〈◊〉 manner was working Contempt and Dis-esteem thereof where it could prevail till on these occasions it was forced either submissively to bow and fall under which it was not willing to do or else to appear with its open Face to manifest it self and stand up in its own defence The Lord suffered these things to be that Esau's hidden Guile might be found out and the way thereof blocked up what ever it cost the Innocent to God to accomplish the same and blessed be God things have wrought well and will do to the Glory of that Name that is the Strength and Crown of the Righteous that shall never Rot For in the Exercise that the Faithful met withal through this Spirit which the Lord hath blessed to us Life sprung in the Hearts of the Righteous and many Souls was tenderly concerned 〈◊〉 God and his antient Truth which had been the Glory of the North where many living VVitnesses had been raised for God to the glading of many Thousands and from amongst whom faithful Labourers sprung for the publishing the everlasting Truth where the Lord hath called them And the Glory of the Eternal Truth appearing even to lie at stake the Lord put Courage into the Hearts of several younger Brethren that from Babes and 〈◊〉 the Lords Praise might be perfected And the more the Lord appeared amongst us the more
gnashing of Teeth for grief they are far beyond expression To a gainsaying Rebellious Spirit the Testimony of Light that condemns for Sin is an hateful thing and the Ministers of Antichrist have bent themselves against it and against them the Testimony is born by And seeing that Early of this our day it was first and principally born by him how could he escape the wrath of Man that produceth evil things and avoid the fury of it Nay this was his Lot with others of Gods faithful Servants whom God hath upheld and delivered through all and he hath seen the travel of his Soul and the fruit of his labour into his bosome manifold in recompence for all to his hearts Joy whatever the worst of Men imagine against him The same enmity lodgeth still and venteth it self again and again through any new occasion given to it or that it can get hold of in the wilful resisters of our principle and lifes appearance and in all them that Backslides therefrom and enters again into the old Cainisn Murthering Spirit that crucifies the Lord of Life again and would put him to open shame Never a publick opposing Apostate from the life of Truth that hath risen up in Judgment against it since we have been a People but in the old Enmity of the cursed Serpents Image he hath run against George Fox Oh it s admirable to us and renders William Rogers in this cursed work of his to be a Man running on to Ruin that he does not take notice and that with Terror of the breakings forth of the eminent hand of the Lord against such to their misery and shame that thus tempts the Lord to deal with him as hath been dealt with his predecessors gone before whose footsteps he follows with all the haste and fury he can appear in let him take heed though his presumption be great in defying the Work of God in his Servants let him vapour with the Bulk of the Weapon his ungodly Book he hath formed in his stout and ambitious mind the Lord is risen to dash in peices and is upon the Throne who with the Antient though dispised Instrument of simplicity and the naked truth which he hath in his Hand will wound the head and glory of this uncircumcised One to its utter Ruin and the perpetual reproach of all them that lean upon it the Mouth of the Lord of hosts hath spoken it and it shall surely come to pass And as to the particular matters of Accusations by William Rogers cast upon George Fox we do testifie and in the Truth affirm and can commit the same to the tryal of the righteous principle of God and equal Law of doing as one would be done by that if many of the matters in charge against him were true which we believe are malicious and false the malice the rancour of his Spirit that appears in his perverting George Fox his words his misconstruing and putting his own corrupt sence upon them disingeniously and unlike a Man and then placing a Judgment thereupon his disorderly bringing them forth having not first examined the truth of matters and dealt with him face to face as in the sequel of our matter may be manifested he hath not done His publishing in Print and exposing the same to publick view by sale or allowing thereof in Shops so that it is come to the view of the great enemies of Truth and us and the applications he puts upon our tender care in the Church of God as Antichristian and Rome-like with the invectives and malicious Smitings he can invent renders him plainly to be an Apostate from Truth an enemy to God and the Principle we have believed in an accuser of the Brethren not fit for Christian Society but to be rejected as reproachful thereto and left to the righteous God of Heaven and Earth to reward him according to his works Friendly Reader our Testimony is for the sake of that principle of Light and Life in Christ Jesus our Lord and Law-giver in which we have believed and are bold to Testifie to and stand in the vindication of against all the opposers thereof as that which is our life and the comfort of our days through the Salvation that we have known thereby wherein we have peace and for the sake whereof reproaches are not hard for us to bear and for the removing of the Stumbling-blocks out of the way thereof that if it were possible all Men might walk therein and find mercy We say in a godly concern that lies upon us we intend through Gods assistance a little to discover the Face and Image of a Ungodly Backsliding Separate dividing Spirit by rending off the covering it hath got upon its head to hide its nakedness and shame withal in the departing of those it hath prevailed upon from the living God from the way of Truth and from the unity of the Brethren to the casting off the Subjection to Gods power which they once knew and unto which also Obedience should be given and giving way to a corrupt mind in themselves and to a false Liberty that Truth leads not to have set themselves being of that sort that loves not found Judgment against the rule and government of Christ Jesus whose right it is in the Spirits of their own minds and against the Discipline of the Church of God according to Gospel-order and the practice of the Church in the Apostles dayes and thereby encouraging a loose and licentious Spirit in others that would draw back into the liberty of the flesh again to satisfie the Lusts thereof and thereby bring a reproach upon that eternal name in which we have believed and testified Salvation to be thereby as if it were not Sufficient to compleat the work thereof by us expected and waited for which we Testifie against whoever otherwise say Reader If thou dost but duely consider as before the Lord of William Rogers's Book thou mayest easily see whatever he pretends to its liberty for the Flesh that the design of him and others in this their work tends to and for that cause is it that the Churches care is undervalued by them despised and maliciously reproached under the denomination of over-driving imposing lording over Mens Consciences setting up in the Church another Government then that of the Spirit which we testifie to be false and a malicious smiting accounting the wholsome directions according to Gospel-Order taken notice of and practized amongst us that in all things we may be of good report the bringing in of Ceremonies Mens Prescriptions and the like thereby to put a dis-esteem upon them in the minds of such as are unto liberty in the flesh inclined whence the opposition hath sprung and the dividing Spirit has sought to prevail to the exercise of rhe true and upright to God and the Churches grief the looseness also of this Spirit and its design to gratifie the Flesh which produceth contempt and opposition to the Churches care that the Author to
the aforesaid Book is charged with and its dis-regard to Truths praise and the glory thereof is plainly manifested by the Work William Rogers hath made to defame with all possible reproachful Speeches slanderous and lying accusations such as have kept their first love to Truth unchristian-like yea unhumanly and contrary to all Gospel-order and Rule of common Societies Printing and publishing the same against the Antient and Elder Brethren without hearing or convicting after any human or Gospel way such as have been made more particularly Instrumental in the matter of setling thereof in the Power and Spirit of Jesus in the Churches justified owned and practised amongst the upright-hearted to God to their unspeakable comfort for the Glory and blessings 〈◊〉 that attends the concerned therein particularly George Fox is the Man that his venomous Darts are shot at which his corrupt heart hath been filled with which through his Printed Book he hath let fly with all the eagerness and extravagancy of Spirit that he can work himself into to bring a reproach upon and make him contemptible to all to the undoing of him if it were in his power both as a Man and a Christian and supposing in his 〈◊〉 and fall to throw down the Discipline and the Order of Truth amongst the faithful to the letting go from the Bond of the Power such as would be from under the yoke thereof which the pure God blesseth the faithful with as Instruments in his hand for discouraging of Sin and Wickedness and incouragement of Christian Vertue Purity and Holliness The tendency of this our Adversaries Spirit to liberty in the Flesh and to gratifie the Backsliding 〈◊〉 that 's going thitherward Reader thou mayest be more fully satisfied thereof if thou do but take notice with what vigour and the might he hath he appears to stand by to applaud and to proclaim John Wilkinson and John Story for two Antient and honourable Labourers in the Gospel whose Conversation and Doctrin I have not known or understood saith he to be exceeded by any mortal man whatsoever Which by several passages relating to them in William Rogers's Printed Book inserted and explained in the Answer to it called The Accuser of our Brethren cast down thou mayest detect and plainly see it s but a meer flattering boast of his unbridled Tongue and that they are no such ones as he would render them to be And when through Gods help we shall have laid open the exercises and griefs we have met withal in the Church of God in Westmoreland through the opposition that these two Men have made to Friends tender Care amongst Gods People for the promoting the honour of his Truth in Righteousness and Holiness of Life and against our care that all might keep faithful in their Testimony for the Truth as received of God and the obstructions in our work and concerns relating thereunto wrought by them and others of a wrong and loose Spirit encouraged thereby to stand by them which by sad experience we have found and are able to demonstrate as in plainness and according to the naked Truth through Gods help we intend to do of this Spirit and of its work we shall then leave thee as more capable to judge and doubt not but to give thee also cause to say and conclude that the Author of the aforesaid Book hath been Malicious Partial and Fallacious in the work he hath had in hand and that it is no matter whom he Blesseth and whom he Curseth whom he Justifieth or whom he Condemneth Now as to 〈◊〉 off the Fig-leave covering of this Apostate Spirit which its fallen to be our Lot to be concerned with amongst the many perils we have been carried through by the Arm of Israels God and to manifest to all its nakedness and shame to be the more detestable because of the impudency it appears in the cause whereof William Rogers hath presumed principally to espouse and appear in the defence of to the utmost of the Breath and Force that he hath and that he is a man departed from the Faith and the good 〈◊〉 standing by a Rebellious loose sort despising the dignity of Gods Power and though talking of the Light and antient Truth yet out of the Life of it an Opposer of Gospel-Order and wholsom Discipline in the Church of God a discourager of the weak in their antient Living Testimonies for the Truth an encourager of the Backsliders from the Life of God and a separate faction from the Fellowship of Truth in the visible concerns of Gods People relating to the honour of Truth and that he is a false Accuser of the Brethren a malicious Slanderer of the Innocent and one that hath set himself to do the mischief he can to the defamation of our holy Principle and Profession and to bring an Odium upon all those that will not adhere to his Spirit and abet him in his contentious Work but 〈◊〉 against the same in their Testimony that stands sure and shall never be shaken by him and that he is a man rejected of the Lord for his works sake and shut out from the fellowship of the Saints in Light and his Works cast out as the unsavoury Salt good for nothing but to be troden under foot of men And for a further proof thereof several things are materially necessary to be made good reduced into these following heads First That under a Gospel dispensation visible Order Discipline and Government in the exercise of the Spirit is necessary justifiable and ought to be found in Subjection to Gods Power amongst Gods People according to Christs Doctrine Apostolical care and the practice of the Primitive Churches of Christ proved by Scripture Record Secondly That the care of the Churches of God in this our day amongst the Children of the Light with respect to Discipline according to the order and rule of Truth and their practice accordingly stands justified as consistant with the Apostles Doctrine with the command of Christ Scripture Example and the primitive practice touching this matter Thirdly That William Rogers in his Book though after a broken contradictory manner and very much inconsistant with himself hath denied the care discipline and order used amongst us in the Church of God and hath Judged the same And that John Wilkinson and John Story with them of the Separation in the North and of Party with him in an opposite Spirit thereunto have sleighted despised and laboured to put a dis-esteem thereupon and have laid Stumbling-blocks in the way of the weak in relation thereunto and have laboured to obstruct the care and exercise of Gods People in relation thereunto Fourthly That George Fox and others of the Antient Brethren their care and exercise as Instruments in the Lords hand to see the Churches of Christ every where in this our age setled in the aforesaid Order and Discipline as the Apostles care was in his day hath been Justified Embraced and freely closed with as that which has
any where it may have reception to the dafamation of our holy Profession and the Unity we have enjoyed therein as also to the disparagement of such as the said William Rogers and they who adhere to him in their malicious undertakings sets themselves against We 〈◊〉 that such where this may come who have also seen William Rogers's Book would weigh the matters discoursed upon betwixt him together with his Adherents and us with them in whose behalf we are thus concerned not in that Spirit which is gratified with an occasion which seems through this Exercise amongst us to be put into their hands which appears to them to be that which may work us under and blot out our name from off the Earth as too many are apt to do as that which hath been long desired by an unbelieving People and hath been waited for that they might rejoyce in our fall thereby to strengthen themselves in their unbelief of that holy Principle of Light and Spirit of Truth which condemns for Sin and convinceth the World thereof and of their self Righteousness and false Judgment which we have born witness to for if things be weighed in such a Spirit as this it will be an occasion Reader to shut thee up from the blessing of God that gives an understanding and under the vail of that darkness that will by reason thereof cover thee thou wilt betray thy self of that inward sence that God gives and be left uncapable to give right judgment of matters in hand not knowing what thou sayest or whereof thou affirms wherefore to prevent the danger thou art in on this wise we desire in all sincerity that thy Heart may be open to God who opened the Heart of Lidia and made her capable to receive the Truth And let all prejudice be shut out and prejudging of us because of any former grudg that hath been too much born concerning us because of our Testimony in any respect and our practice accordingly otherwise as to any advantage that thou canst gain in the matter of thy perusing hereof thy Labour will be altogether in vain And do not think that we are too severe with William Rogers for with great Gentleness and Brotherly care hath he and others of party with him been treated whilest we felt the Door of mercy open as in the Sequel of our concern shall be made appear and they still hardened over all so that as we have said before we cannot now treat him as a Friend or Brother in Truth but as an open Enemy of the highest rank and the Testimony we have now from God on his account and our exercise accordingly is to 〈◊〉 Judgment upon the head of that Spirit he hath been led by and the work he hath had in hand and let it go into the Pit forever from whence it came that some that have entered the snare of it may yet be brought back and escape the Torment that is its due for evermore We desire thee also whilest thou Reads consider of things with respect to our Principle our antient Practice our Testimonies our faithfulness therein our Sufferings by reason thereof our Labours to confirm each other in the way of Truth and not to weaken each others hands to the letting fall any of our Testimonies for Truth our antient Love each to other as one Family led by one and the same Spirit our Brotherly fellowship and care over each other our desire and endeavours to cover the weaknesses of any that have partaked with us of the Grace of God for the honour of that Principle and holy Name we have as a People distinct from other Professions received and believed in and had our Society together in the power of Mind also what abhorrence hath been upon our Spirits to watch for evil against any to get occasion to defame them thereby much more our antient Brethren and Elders in the Truth least our Enemies should rejoyce and harden themselves by it against our Principle which we would have all to receive and find Salvation by if thou doest but consider things on this wise thou mayst easily apprehend what Spirit it is that William Rogers is led by in his Printing Publishing and spreading abroad his Books stuffed with the most Infamous Disgraceful terms he can find out whereby to bespatter our Profession our Fellowship and Unity that he is gone from our Innocent care in the Church of God and our decent Order and Diseipline in relation thereunto calling it but a Form of Government set up by Man other mens lines made ready to our hands Mens Orders and Prescriptions and the like And what work he makes to defame the Instruments the Lord hath been pleased to make use of in this concern we need not say much they that Read his Book may see how it s stuffed with such ridiculous work as this So that it may be affirmed and that in truth they are blind who does not easily apprehend the wickedness of this Spirit and the tendency of its work whence it arises and whither it leads to wit into the Earth again to satisfie the Flesh with its affections and lusts they are happy that are aware thereof and do not touch therewith John Pearson Robert Barrow Brian Lancaster Joseph Bains John Blaykling Antichristian Treachery DISCOVERED AND Its Way Block'd up In a clear Distinction betwixt the Christian Apostolical Spirit and the Spirit of the Antichristian Apostate Being something in Answer to a Book put forth by William Rogers falsly called The Christian Quaker Distinguished from the Apostate and Innovator The First Part. Shewing That under the Gospel Dispensation Church Government Discipline and visible Order is justifiabie necessary and commendable in the vissible Family of God according to the Doctrine of Christ and the Apostolical practiee Wherein also it is treated upon and Demonstrably proved First That the Discipline and Order used and practised in the Church of Christ amongst the people vulgarly called Quakers is consistant with the Doctrine of Christ and the practice of the Primitive Churches of God touching the same before the Apostacy entered Secondly That our present Adversary William Rogers hath denied the aforesaid Care Discipline and Order used amongst the aforesaid people the Children of God with contemptible reproachful Terms and hath judged the same and abusively aspersed the Church of Christ in general and the Instruments in Gods hand in their care and exercise in relation thereunto Thirdly That the aforesaid people that keep true to God and their first love are unanimously satisfied in their practice therein and as helps one unto another Instrumentally in Gods hand are strengthened thereby and comforted because thereof as therein being Truths praise Fourthly That George Fox and other Instruments which the Lord hath made use of in setling the Churches under the aforesaid Discipline and Order are Satisfactorily owned and vindicated in their care therein amongst the aforesaid people in all their Christian Societies throughout this Nation and in
such as goes from the Power of God and from the Life and Kernel of Truth and to none other as in the Scripture-Sense it is clear and as later experiences also have demonstrated and to apply that State to such as have the Kernel of Christianity and are in the Truth in the Doctrine of Christ and in the Practice of things that the Truth in the members of the Heavenly Body leadeth into is 〈◊〉 Confusion a false Application and a ridiculous thing amongst all sober Conscientious People and renders the asserters ' thereof in a state of Distraction as to the Knowledge of God ready to be cast aside not worth the taking notice of What further need were there may many say of any further Proof of the matter against him and them of party with him as to the trampling upon this false and malicious charge but hold him to his and John Wilkinson's grant concerning us and then see how he 'l prove the accusation against us Unless we are willing to give them leave to retract what they have confessed Which seeing we see not that he is willing to call back his charge for the further manifesting his confusion his folly his malice and his envy and for the Vindication of our Innocent Life and care in the Church of God which Grieves the Backsliding sort we are inclined to do And shall proceed to examine farther what is the matter on the Churches account or what hath he against us for which he thus renders us in Print and leaves it on record to posterity that we are Apostates Innovators and such as in whom the life of Christianity is extinct and Intruders into the Government that belongs to Christ Imposers bringer's in of mens Prescriptions with what Inveterateness he can in the height of Malice appear in In order to which we say thus it may be observed through his whole book what work he makes against the Order and Discipline used and practised amongst us in the Church of God under the exercise of the Spirit which God hath given us a knowledge of and a Portion in and we Testifie that none other Government but that of the Spirit of our Lord Jesus do we as the Children of God maintain and stand in the vindication of to which subjection we owe for Conscience sake and under which we desire and are concerned as Instruments in Gods hand to be helps in Government in the Church to the keeping down that which would not be subject to Truth That so in all things we may be decent lovely and of good report keeping ourselves unspotted of the World according to that holy Profession we have maintained and confessed to before all It 's admirable to take notice what ado he makes against Discipline and Order in the Church and what contemptible Terms he puts upon the Directions and Instructions Justifiable and commendable therein to be get a disesteem thereof in the minds of people let but his book be perused through it will manifest it together with what is observed out of it by the Authors of the Accuser of our Brethren 〈◊〉 down Subscribed by Ellis Hookes c. therein Inserted and fully spoken to Demonstrably so that much here on that wise need not be inserted reference being had unto the a foresaid Treatise because whereof we shall much what pass by the trouble of recollecting the same or much concerning our selves therewith It 's obvious to all what down-right slighting he is in and what Inveighing he makes against any concern on that wise in the Church of God under a Gospel-Dispensation in many parts of his Book there is scarcely one Page without reflections on that wise See Page the 4 th in the first part of his Book Whosoever should endeavour by Outward Ways and Means to establish an outward Government outward Laws Rules and Orders c. under the Notion or pretence of Christ's Government would be found Invaders of Christ's Prerogative And in page 43. of his first part he says And if we do but consider how fruitless in days and years past as well as in this present Age all mens outward endeavours have been under the notion of Church-Government to preserve in any true Real and Heavenly Society c. and from thence places upon all concerns on that wise the badge of Apostacy Thus he manifests his slight of the Care of Gods people in the Church with respect to the outward exercises we should appear in for God and our mutual help comfort edification and building up one another and to render the same the more contemptible and useless he brings in a false Instance from the Apostate State that the Churches in days past according to what John saw coming over them fell into who lost the Power and only kept the Form in which all their endeavours could not be successful to preserve in Love nor any Christian heavenly Society and as this is not only an unchristian Comparison and a Reflection also upon the Primitive Care and Endeavours on that wise before the Apostacy was which the Churches were zealous in and God blessed their Endeavours in that day but also it is inserted here by our Adversary and the Adversary to the Churches Life and Peace in a Contempt of that good Order Discipline and Care used amongst us in the Spirit of Truth for Gods Glory and one anothers comfort in the Fellowship of the Gospel in which is peace and thereby doth he plainly demonstrate that the Tendency of his Spirit is to Emmulation and 〈◊〉 and the 〈◊〉 loose of a corrupt mind that is gratified therewith So that it may be concluded that Church-Government in the Spirit under which there is a godly care for one another in Righteousness and a tender Inspection in relation to it and sound 〈◊〉 to the limiting of the Flesh that likes not subje ction to Truth is that which is in his way and the great occasion of the Discontent of his Mind as the like also we have met withal from them of his Spirit and Party with him in the North which through sad experience we have had a certain Knowledge of and are able to demonstrate as in the sequel of our discourse God willing in Sincerity we purpose to do And on this score has the discomposure grown in the mind of William Rogers under which he hath vented the heat and rancour of his Spirit in opposition to Church-order and Discipline and his contempt of the good and wholsom Directions observed and used amongst us called by him Mens Prescriptions other mens Lines made ready to our hands Dictates of Fallible Men Dutward Rules Orders and the like under which discomposure of Spirit he hath run himself into grievous Mistakes and Contradictions in relation to Government and 〈◊〉 Directions and Rules observable and practicable therein and not like a man of his parts as he would be rendred nor like a man stedfast in the good understanding God gives but very brokenly and under
in against our Brethren in their Exercise what greater reproach could he any way bring upon our Meetings and our Order and Care therein more vilifie with Derision the exercise and concern thereof the Advice the Counsel that may arise amongst us the Exhortations and Reproofs that any may be concerned in as the Lord instructs and leads accordingly as any occasion may offer it self What can he do or say more in Contempt of all when he hath done his worst and what Spirit this is and what its work tends to the Lord be Judge in all Consciences and give the knowledg thereof that the Snares of this wicked envious one may never on this wise prevail any more upon any For to let loose the Licentious Unclean Libertine Ranting Spirit is that which in the Ground he aims at wherein the Apostacy is entering the letting go the Bond of Truth the Authority of it in himself and in such as adhere to him and are taken with his Bait where the departing also from the Life of Christianity prevails which William Rogers would charge others with himself is detected to have the mannagement of the design thereof which he bends himself to perfect to his own disgrace and wo world without end And what blasphemous work also he is clearly detected to be concerned in who pretends what a concern of Conscience he and others of his Brethren had upon them to appear in Print lest the Life of Christianity should seem to be extinct amongst the People called 〈◊〉 and yet such absurd notoriously wicked and ungodly matter brought forth as his Book is stuffed with he himself might see if he would but let that in his own Conscience speak One other Instance out of many we think good to insert out of W. Roger's Book plainly demonstrating his condemning all visible Order and Discipline in the Church of Christ and so his opposition thereunto In the Title page to the 3d part of his Book called The Christian 〈◊〉 c. it is delivered by him thus Manifesting saith he that there is but two sorts of Governments owned by the Children of Light or the Christian 〈◊〉 one is the outward Government under which we Live unto the Laws whereof we owe either Active or Passive Obedience c. The other is the inward Government of Christ who alone is Lord over the Conscience which is not represented by Persons visible by carnal Eyes invested with power from Heaven to execute outward Laws Prescriptions Orders Edicts in any outward Form of Government visible as aforesaid Our Brethren of the Second days morning Meeting in London well observing as in the Treatise called The Accuser of our Brethren cast down is inserted that this assertion of W. Rogers directly contradicts the Paper therein made mention of and in this Treatise also hereafter inserted signed at Ann Travers House 1673. subscribed by him while he kept his first Love and Care for God amongst many other of his Brethren It contradicts also a Paper given forth in the Year 1672. relating to Godly Care Order and Government in the Church wherein advice is given to Friends who have a care and oversight committed to them in their respective places for good Order and eomfort in the Church as the Words therein are Which Epistle is signed by James Parke Jasper Batt John Story Thomas Curtis John Crooke Stephen Crisp and Fourteen more Friends the 3d of the 3d Month 1672. so here John Story when in Unity with his Brethren is Uindicating and Encouraging Church care and visible order and his Party have since expressly set themselves against it In the aforesaid Book viz. The Accuser of our Brethren cast down c. it is also expressed thus page 117. observe First That W. Rogers and his Party are by him accounted the Christian Quakers and Children of Light and that all those that are not of his Party nor in Unity with him them are accounted Apostates Innovators and why so but because they are for some outward Laws Orders c. in an outward form of Order and Government in the Church of Christ that 's visible Secondly That this outward Order and visible Form is such as by his sence and state of the Case is rendered obnoxions both to the outward Government under which we Live and against the inward Government of Christ Insomuch that all the People called Quakers that are for outward and visible Form and Order amongst them are Charactered Apostates and Innovators c. This is Malicious and tends to expose that People to Persecution and is unjustly rendered for our peaceable deportment on the account of the outward Government under which we Live hath been and is well known to be such as our Opposer is not able to disprove neither need we vindicate our selves therein c. This also is not only Malitions but Absurd As if because Christ's immediate Government and Kingdom is inward and spiritual in the Conscience therefore he must have no visible Ministers in his Kingdom no visible Order or Form of Government under his Dominion no visible Persons exercised in any outward Rule Orders Laws or Decrees under his Government as if all Christ's Ministers Apostles Elders Overseers Helps Governments which were appointed by him in his Church with all the Instructions Decrees and Commands of the Apostle setting in order all things that were lacking doing all things decently and in order were all Invisible and nothing outward Visible or Formal because Christ's inward and spiritual Government from whence all these proceeds is Invisible We can argue no better then on this kind in our Adversaries distinction of his Christian Quaker from the Apostate and Innovator Nor deduce a more natural Inference from his opposition against visible Persons being concerned in an outward Form of Government and Order in the Church of Christ How doth this kind of arguing also of his consist with that Paper signed in the North by his two honorable Friends John Story and John Wilkinson and them of Party with them which he says is accounted the Foundation of the seperate Meeting In which Paper are these Words We who are chosen by the Churches and in their behalf to Act Some of other Countries and some amongst our selves not chosen by the Churches have usurped Authority over us The Meetings by whom we were Imployed Our men who have their Authority given them by the Churches choise c. Are hindered by others c. To whom we gave no Power But deny that they have had Authority from us and again Our chosen men They who are not chosen by the Churches You who are righly chosen by the Churches With many other Passages intimating Power Authority and Government together with Records and Orders surely W. Rogers will not say that those Churches chusing and giving Power to others and the Persons chosen to be imployed in their Affairs were all invisible and their Affairs and Businesses invisible and their respective Meetings with the
Methods they intended therein invisible and their Records and Orders invisible Surely the said Paper of theirs with the limitted prescriptions therein was not invisible any more then the Persons that formed them Will his Correspondents and Abettors in the North be pleased that he should in Print lay open their Contradictions Confusion and Inconsistencies with themselves as well as with himself and his Arguings in such distraction as this we commend these things 〈◊〉 the wise in heart to consider of and judge as they see cause Now are we come to the 3 d and 4 th things formerly inserted material to our present concern to be treated on in this First Part of the Antichristian Treachery Discovered and its Way Block up viz. That Gorge Fox whom William Rogers so inveterately inveighs against and others of the Antient Brethren their Care and Exercise in the Church of God as Instruments in Gods 〈◊〉 to see the Churches of Christ every where in this our Age settled in the aforesaid Order and Discipline as the Apostle's was in his Day hath been justified embraced and freely closed with as that which hath tended to Friends Advantage in the Truth and the Honour thereof by the Churches of Christ throughout this Nation and in many other Nations And that notwithstanding W. Rogers and others of Party with him their abusing G. F. with Malicious Slanders and Lying Accusations as one that would Introduce his own Prescriptions and Orders and invade Christ's Prerogative and in a wrong Spirit exalt himself over the Heritage of God with many other Aspersions that are cast upon him as hereafter we shall make appear G. Fox ' s Advise and Directions in Relation to the Duty of Gods People in the Tabernacle God hath given us visible to appear in hath been acceptably closed with and Testified to both in Word and Writing amongst the Faithful and upright hearted to God as in the sequal of our Concern shall be made appear To which we say in as much Brevity as the Evidence and Proof thereof will admit without damage to it and the satisfaction that we desire all may receive that in any measure desire to be informed thereof seeing we are daily the more satisfied how this envious Spirit for that is the mark it deserves to bear labours to asperce him every where where his Book can get reception for into the hands of the publick Enemies of Truth of many sorts it s already gone the reward of which work shall be surely repaid We say we need no better proof in relation to the matter on Gorge Fox's account then the publick Records of our Monthly and Quarterly Meetings throughout the Nation and other Nations and the Testimonies of many Thousands of Gods People every where where the Lord hath gathered them of which we having a Seal and Evidence in the Spirit of Truth in which the Saints were when absent in Body yet present in Spirit and as living Epistles in one anothers Hearts we do believe will evidence to the truth of the aforesaid assertion concerning him And as to the proof of the publick Records in our Meeting Books on this wise we do affirm that the Order and Practice of Friends every where accordingly which we have the knowledg of Testifies thereunto and we also dare in the sence of the Fellowship that we are in through the power of God give W. Rogers leave to disprove us in this matter and vve see not but that if this he could effect he vvould be as diligent in the matter of it as the eagerness of his Spirit could vvork him to be And until W. Rogers hath effected this let all the 〈◊〉 minded conclude that the undertakers of the design against Church Government and Discipline thereof and against the Instruments in Gods hand are only a fevv broken shattered and separate sort that 's dravvn from the simplicity of the Gospel of Christ and the povver of their first Principle and have set themselves against the Dignity thereof unto which every Soul should be Subject as that which comes from God and is of him and that their designs tend to gratifie Youth in a false Liberty and to indulge the backsliding sort from the Life of Truth and his pretences to be abetted by such as in whom the Life of Christianity is not extinct and that he has undertaken things on a Consciencious Account on behalf of many Brethren is but a deceitful flourish and a false thing arising from his viz. W. Roger' s own corrupt Heart and a lying Spirit which the Lord will not bless but will become his shame let the Patient wait and mark the end of it We have been comforted in our Souls to have an Account from the Faithful Brethren of most of the Countries throughout the Nation and other Nations of the prosperity of Truth and the amicable peaceable fellowship therein and the sweet society amongst the Brethren notwithstanding the worst of W. Rogers and his Spirits Work and to hear of the good Order of the Churches every where settled therein and concerned in the Spirit of Truth in the exercise thereof to shew forth the pure Religion to all of visiting the Fatherless and Widow and to keep our selves unspotted of the World this is our Comfort and the cause of our Joy as that which is laboured for and the Lord supplicated in the behalf of We tread upon W. Roger's aspersions and clamorous work which is but a blast of Wind that will over our Redeemer Lives The stability of the Faithful in the Life of Truth and in their Antient Testimonies for the same and in it their tender Care in an Innocent Life in the Church of God their Order and Discipliue therein and the Blessings of God that will and do attend the upright in the concerns thereof to the encrease of Love to God and regard amongst us of his Glory through us in Body 〈◊〉 and Spirit will work through this Babilonish Apostate Work to Truths honour and the renown of the Government of Christ Jesus amongst the ransomed Ones and to the Confounding of all his Foes who alone shall Reign whose right it is Hath W. Rogers in this corrupt and detestable Work against the Churches Care Power and Government and against the Instruments in Gods hand in the matter thereof and most especially against George Fox whom he hath set himself against as a mischievous Person to work the worst he can We say has he forgot when he was of a better mind before the evil thus prevailed over him what he himself with many other Brethren Subscribed at London the 26th of the 3d Month 1673. on G. Fox's behalf as an Instrument in Gods hand and on the behalf of the tender care that was on the Brethren at that time in the Church of God in relation to the Order Discipline and Government thereof W. Rogers with above Thirty more Friends Testified on this wise Dear Friends Let the Authority of Gods Power heavenly and
peaceable Wisdom be eyed in all your Assemblies that the Government of Truth and Righteousness may be exalted over all and true Judgment and Mercy may have their place and though a general care be not laid on every Member touching good Order and Government in the Churches Affairs nor have many travelled therein yet the Lord hath laid it more on some in whom he hath opened Counsel for that end and particularly in our dear Brother and Gods faithful Labourer George Fox for the help of many and hath in his Wisdom afforded those Helps and Governments which are not to be despised being in subjection to Christ the Head and Law-giver answering his Witness in all and so all necessary Connsel Admonitions or Testimonies that have been given forth and received in the universal Spirit of Life and Unity have their Service for God in subjection to his Light and Subserviency to and in order to answer the great Rule and Law of the Spirit of Life as proceeding from it and they that are spiritual will acknowledg those things spoken or written from the Spirit and for this end to be the requirings of the Lord c. Ellis Hookes and the rest on the Words quoted out of the said Epistle observes thus and that very materially to the confuting of our Adversaries great Work and substance of his whole Book out of his own Mouth as that which his Heart sealed to and made his own subscription unless he hath been an old dissembler before the Lord which God will bring to Light let him clear himself one way or other if he can That W. Rogers and the rest have plainly confessed First To that care the Lord hath laid on some with respect to good Order and Government in the Church Secondly To the Counsel which the Lord hath opened for that end particularly in G. Fox And thirdly That G. Fox is therein owned as a dear Brother and faithful Labourer Fourthly That God hath afforded these Helps and Governments in the Church which are not to be despised c. We say what need W. Rogers grant more then what he hath there subscribed to to the consuting of the greatest part of his whole Book against Church Government and the Instruments in Gods hand concerned therein and against the outward Methods and Rules that he calls G. Fox's Orders in the 86 Page of his First Part. And if W. Roger's object and say as he seems to do in his 4th part page 93. That there are some new Prescriptions which he cannot imbrace for Conscience sake which G. Fox is accounted either the Author of or the Countenancer thereof Yet however W. Rogers produceth none of these new Prescriptions or Methods set up and imposed by G. Fox as the aforesaid Authors of the Book subscribed by Ellis Hooks well observed with other contradictions between W. Rogers and his Friend J. Story relating to this matter to which Book we refer the Reader as worth his observing John Wilkinson also confessed to a Friend in Westmoreland which we hope he hath not forgot if he have we can help his memory therein by the circumstances relating to the time and place where That he had read over George Fox ' s Paper of Directions meaning that which tended to Order and Discipline in the Church of God and Testified that they were all very honest and good things and useful to be put in practice or words to that very purpose So then in short this is the sum of this matter that there was a time when W. Rogers according to the aforesaid subscribed Paper amongst his Brethren owned Church Care and Government in subjection to the Power and the necessary Counsel and Advice therein as Helps and Governments subservient to the Rule and Law of the Spirit and that G. Fox was one in whom most especially the Lord had opened Counsel for that concern and that he was a dear Brother and saithful Labourer c. And John Story confesseth that Instructions and Rules may be given orth commending them to the Church and to Gods leading Grace to be made use of as God shall Direct And John Wilkinson consessed that the Instructions and Directions for that end given forth by George Fox were all very good and useful What is the matter then of all this clutter that 's made by W. R. against care in the Church G. Fox his Directions given forth owned by Friends in their Meetings throughout the whole Nation and what is the meaning of J. Stories and J. Wilkinsons silence under all this ado from shewing as publickly their dislike thereof as William Rogers appears to applaud them and take them in his quarrelsom contentious Work that he thus with his Inconsistances and Confusion gravels himself in May not any that has an unprejudiced mind and considers things conclude George Fox to be the same that ever he was when these men owned him and his concern in the Church of God and his Directions in relation thereunto as all the Churches in the Nation that ever we hard of will Testifie in his behalf And seeing that W. Rogers cannot produce one of the Churches amongst them all that will stand by him nor one single man that we can hear of that doth appear to vindicate his Spirit and Work saving 〈◊〉 Thomas Crispe whose works of Darkness will also be brought to Light of late putting forth the Venome and Sting of the Dragons Tail and those that creepingly abets his work are a few shaken ones who have mostly been the Truths shame and the Churches grief and where the Apostacy stands that W. Rogers makes the Subject of his large Discourse is plainly seen as the Sun at Noon by the matter he is concerned in and the way and work in which he doth 〈◊〉 and whether the Apostacy from the first Principle from his antient regard to Truths praise from his vindication of Church Government and respect to such as were Instruments therein concerned be not justly chargeable upon himself and them of Party with him to be turned back on their own Heads as just from God let the Lord and that which is pure in all Consciences judg who instead of dwelling in the peaceable Spirit and holding fast the unity therein in the bond of Peace in a regard to God and his tender People with all the concerns that belongs to them is become the Champion of a confederate sort in an ungodly Work and one on whom their dependency hangs as ever the Uncircumcised of old did on their great Goliah to make War in Death that 's come over them against the Lord and his tender People to Blaspheme that Name we were Redeemed by The great God that changeth not will visit for these things in the day of Torment that hastens on in which who shall be able to deliver And as to this matter we have yet this further to say to most of the Quarterly Meetings of Friends in Truth throughout the World on whose account we
have presumed to place a belief upon our Spirits with respect to a Testimony bearing by you on G. Fox his account whom the Apostates that have risen at any time since we have been a People have ever ran upon with all the bitter Revilings that through malitious Accusations they could devise more impudently then many that never knew the Lord and his Power durst have adventured lest the hand of the Lord should have smitten them to their 〈◊〉 and Wo for evermore We are bold to put the matter to the test concerning him on this wise we have a concern upon us you must bear with us the honourable Truth Gospel Order and the repute of our elder Brethren whom God regards seems to many that are not settled in the power of Truth to lie at Sake through the Impeachment W. Rogers hath appeared in for whose sake we ask you Are you not sensible that as the Lord made him an Instrument in his hand early of the day to gather many to God out of Darkness and from under the power of Death and that since we have been a People in the Truth and gathered into a Society in this earthly Tabernacle that the care of the Churches have been upon him Hath not a Record dwelt upon your Hearts in in the Spirit of Life that the Lord hath been with him in this matter Have you not had an answer in your Consciences unto which he hath ever appealed for a Witness there that the Instructions and Directions with respect to Church order and the Discipline thereof hath been commended to you in the Spirit of Truth as the Lord might direct to be put in practice amongst you Have you not 〈◊〉 the Spirit of Truth in your selves sealing to that eternal power that hath been upon him and other dear Brethren in the matter thereof Have you felt any straitness upon your Spirits or want of freedom in the Lord when you kept to the power to be concerned in the Church of God according to the order growth and place in the Truth whereinto the Lord hath brought you Have you not felt the Blessings of the Eternal God with you in answering the Care the Advice the Counsel and Directions of the Brethren in the matters thereof Are you not comforted with respect to your own inward Advantage the furtherance of the Gospel amongst you and the Truths honourable esteem amongst men through your Exercise Labours and Travels therein so that you can say to Gods praise your Labour of Love hath not been in vain We are bold to appeal on this wise unto you in Truths behalf Have we not a Record in all your Hearts of you that are saithful to God and have received of his Spirit as a cloud of Witnesses in this matter for us who have set our Signets thereunto Deal ingeniously with us as in the Lords sight in this matter its integrity to God our Souls delights in and an evidence in that we crave of all whether with us or against us touching the same however W. Rogers renders us we abhor Flattery or having mens persons in Admiration any further then the honourable Image of God appears in them as their Habitation abides in that to which the honour is due We leave this matter with you and before all whom it may concern where-ever any exercise may fall in relation thereunto and as you Hear and Learn of the Eternal God so Judge and Speak We might in this place very fitly fall in hand with the many Accusations Reproaches and Slanders that William Rogers hath malitiously the matter of his Work gives it this Character devised and raised up against G. Fox through his perversions and inferences that he hath put on his innocent clear sence and Christian Exercise about matters he was concerned in from which he deduceth very wicked and horrid charges against him in that old Cainish Spirit in which he would utterly destroy his Repute if it were in his power before all the fallacy whereof we doubt not but detect in the considerable matters thereof to the satisfaction we hope of all the innocent where this may come Yet we chuse first to give a true and sincere Relation of the many grievous demonstrable Exercises that the Church of God in Mestmoreland hath met withall more or less for the space of six or seven Years or upwards through this Spirit which secretly hath wrought in too many to draw them from the first Love and ancient regard to God his Truth into a kind of libertine loose sort of Life animated and strengthened we dare boldly say though with grief by John Story and John Wilkinson who having declined their antient regard to that Eternal Power and Innocent Life in which once they were truly concerned for God amongst his People and leaning upon the Wisdom that is from below in the mans part and not rightly discerning the things of God became darkned in their Minds and in that state discouragers of the antient Zeal for Truth and the honorable Testimonies born therein amongst the Faithful to the gratifying a People backsliding from the Lord and the holy way of Truth whereupon we have livingly seen and some have warned them of it the Lord withdrawing of his good Spirit by little and little from them as he did from Israel of old whose Backslidings he would have healed but they regarded not but hardened their Hearts more and more to their Irrecoverable Ruin in which declining state they became the wounding of their own Souls and the piercing the sides of many of the weaker sort to the Churches grief We also together with the concern on this wise shall manifest to all what care was used in the Church of God and with several in particular for the preservation of these two men the principal abettors of the dividing Spirit with tenderness towards them with desires and travels both in Soul and Spirit and in many bodily labours in relation to them with many cntreaties for and patient waitings over them that if possible they might be saved The Contest and Exercise in relation to it broke forth first in the North through them William Rogers that we know of was not at first so early concerned in the matter of the aforesaid contentious Work but became an espouser of it to himself on their behalfs being a man of an arragant Spirit and appeared to love being popular and in the height and restlesness of his mind undertook the work that the Lord blessed him not in but being drawn aside from the simplicity of the Gospel to abet a wrong Spirit in himself and others of the loose sort is become the Evil-man and Seducer that grows worse and worse heaping up Damnation to himself that slumbers not Antichristian Treachery Discovexed AND Its Way Block'd up IN A clear Distinction betwixt the Christian Apostolica Spirit and the Spirit of the Antichristian Apostate BEING Something in Answer to a Book put forth by William Rogers falsely
another Course as hereafter shall appear And thus much at present in short as a little of the Flood that broke forth upon us to have been our ruin from that Spirit of Enmity that has been at work against the appearance of Truth ever since God gave us to believe therein and would not have had the Lord Jesus to Reign nor the Government to be established upon him whose right it is which we are sufficiently able to demonstrate to all in relation to the Exercises we met withal thereby and through the partakers with it against our godly concerns for Truth and the Family of God to the unutterable Grief of many Hearts before they broke off from us and we desire in the Love of God that from what we have said and of which proof hath been already made as the occasion offered demonstrable to the upright that have been concerned therein and indeed we say it is but a little of what we have to say and publish as occasion may fall out which we may expect and are ready for it because of the restless state that this Spirit is in under the torment that is upon it that 's sooner come for its destructions sake then it looked for and will not cease to fret and some till amongst the Swine it make its end and be no more seen we desire that all the upright hearted to God we say would but consider and give 〈◊〉 Judgment in the Light of Christ Jesus whether these things hinted at in relation to the Troubles that have been met withal in the Church of God in 〈◊〉 through the Spirit that hath wrought in John Story and John Wilkinson with those encouraged by them to appear in the Quarrel and dividing Work against the Family and Heritage of God in the matter of their Order Discipline and Government amongst them as a visible People gathered into an heavenly Society therein to be Truths Praise do not manifest them to be in a backsliding 〈◊〉 from Truths Life and Love to Righteousness and against the Government of Truth in the Kingdom of Jesus and apparently concerned to Indulge and Gratifie the Spirit of Death and the Grave of Sin that would come over again if the Lord and his People in his hand were not zealously concerned in the defence of Truth and the holy way and practice of it against every contrary thing And whether William Rogers is not a man given up to great Delusion that stands so much in the vindication of these two men thus charactered according to the naked Truth as if none did exceed them in Doctrine and Life And whether he has not set himself with open face against the antient Truth and Life of Religion in the practice thereof that has espoused to himself the management of such a Cause as they of the separation in the North have been concerned in And whether he hath not as obvious to every Eye Blasphemed the Lord and the honourable way of Truth abused Gods People against whom he together with them of party with him have set themselves as to render them Apostates from God such as in whom the Life of Christianity is extinct yet for no other cause then that we are established through the Spirit of Truth and in subjection to it in a Christian care for Gods Glory in the practice of that Religion which is Justified of all that loves Righteousress that is to say to visit the Fatherless and the Widow and to keep our selves unspotted of the World Now we come to speak something of what more particularly relates to them of the seperate Spirit on the account of their opposite dividing Work in seperating from us as to concerns relating to us as a Family and visible Society gathered into Church 〈◊〉 to be each others Help Comfort and Joy The Authority of Gods Power continuing with us blessed be his Name with an encrease thereof to our unspeakeable Comfort and Strength so that many were knit together in the vindication of our Cause and Concern to the great Grief of the other Party and a disappointment to their Expectation to have driven down before them and to have made us subject The course they now consulted to take as appeared was a seperation from us and that they might do it upon some seemingly justifiable account some of them drew up a Paper and got what hands they could to it of any sort that had any shew of profession of Truth in them in which several Proposals was offered to us and Conditions upon which assented too by us they alledged an 〈◊〉 to abide with us otherwise to with-draw and do their Business amongst themselves By their Proposals unto us we were to covenant with them That none of our own Country should be 〈◊〉 in Church affairs but our chosen men to whom we had given Power This was to debar the fresh and living Witnesses of the younger sort to be concerned with us such as were grieved with the disturbance they had made and that the old backslided ones at first chosen of the Rich and Wiser sort in the Wisdom that is from below might over-rule and carry matters as they would We were to covenant with them according to their terms That none should come out of other Countries nor of our own Country not chosen by the Churches and sit amongst our chosen men c. But if they had any thing to offer there they might declare their Messuage and with-draw and such as did otherwise come amongst us though in the Spirit of the Lord Jesus which is but one in all and is not to be limited by mens Laws and Prescriptions were to be looked upon as usurpers of Authority having no Power given them by the Churches as they alledged and several other things as in the said Paper at large is inserted tending to the limiting of the Spirit and Power of God and to bring in such Prescriptions indeed as the like has not been heard of among a People professing the 〈◊〉 and universal Spirit and to be in the Life of Christianity as is pretended too It s a shame to think what Tyes and Bondages they would have brought in contrary to the 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 in the universal concern of the whole Family of God which is but one if ten Thousand and contrary to the Rules of Common Societies and the Liberty granted in places of Judicature What a Jurisdiction would this have been and a Lording it to purpose over the Exercise of the Spirit in the Conscience By this rule Paul might not have come although the care of the 〈◊〉 was upon him into any Church but his own to see the order that was among them and sit amongst them but have been accounted an usurper of Authority as one to whom the Churches had not given power so to do Was there ever the like of this Prescription and yet these are the men that crys down Church Government and Church Order under the name of usurping
Authority or Invading Christs Prerogative and bringing in of mens Edicts Laws and Prescriptions and mens Inventions c. VVhat an Invention was this against the Prerogative of Christ Jesus by his Spirit in the Saints that none must sit or act in or about the Church affairs but their chosen men to whom they have given Power May not William Rogers be ashamed of clamouring so much against Church Government and applaud John Story and John Wilkinson at such an high rate when he considers what a Paper of Proposals Resolves and Covenants for Rule and Government John Story and John Wilkingson have subscribed and very probably invented and framed it up ready for the Subscription and upon not being closed with in the Bargain they would have made with us would Excommunicate us as not worthy of their Society and from whom they would with-draw and do their Business amongst themselves VVill not John Wilkinson and John Story blame their Correspondent and Agent in their VVork for manifesting in Print such a Paper as this destructive to the whole design he hath taken in hand and to the undermining the whole Fabrick of the Cause that he hath espoused to himself on their behalf For who can observe these things and not conclude that William Rogers must either let his work and design of Judging and Inveighing against Church Government quite fall or else judge John Story and John Wilkinson and all them of that Party in the North who subscribed the said Paper to be the Apostates also amongst them he brands with it on the account of Order and Discipline in the Church and no other thing and then who will William Rogers have to stand by him but Apostates Innovators and the like What Confusion is here and Inconsistencies with themselves amongst them it makes their work 〈◊〉 to all that takes notice of it But as to the matter before us in short to bargain with them on these terms it was far from us neither had their Company of late amongst us been so comfortable to us their contentious work was such that had their terms been far below that hight of Imposition they appeared in and Lording over the Consciences of the Upright yea the very Spirit of God as 〈◊〉 it was Their Spirit was such in the ground from whence this work sprung that no bargain we could be enclined to make with it So that our Answer was a positive denial on any such termes as those proposed by them as in a Paper given forth by us on the account of many particulars in theirs expressed is inserted at large ready for the service that it may be of if any desire to see it or if occasion be for publishing the same with many more in readiness by us relating to the Strife and Troubles they have occasioned in the Church of God during our many Exercises on this wise which will be their Burden one day And to further this contentious Work and seperate Design John Story' s great work when in the North was and much of his time taken up in going too and again from House to House to proselite to his Faction amongst such as he had hopes to get any entrance upon buzing into Peoples Minds the danger which the Churches were entering into on the account of our Church Government and Gospel Order for nothing else he had to accuse us of the danger of it he represented to such as were infected with a dislike thereof and enclined to reject it and like the unskilful Physicians of no value applyed deceitfully to work 〈◊〉 Gangreen to utter Ruin Had he been a man zealous in the matter of it as Paul was in his day and the Faithful still are and that he had seen some too eager in the concern of it then a word on that wise in Gods Name had been aptly spoken as the Aples of Gold spoken of in Pictures of Silver but he was not of that Spirit neither was it the Upright and the Entire to God that he dealt with in such a concern for they saw his Snare and in vain would he have laid it in their sight it was the profidious the looser sort he generally dealt with others would not take any notice of him he brought into our Meetings for the Contentions sake he was entered into such as had never appeared in the matter of Truth 's concerns to speak of in all their days before the Shrinkers in the suffering times the Tyth-payers were fit for his Faction they hung upon him as their God and the Artist for their concern cunning and nimble hath he been in the matter of the War and seperate Work he hath been in hand with but there is an Eye that hath seen him Poor John whether can he go for help or who can appear to do him good Many Hearts fail them and escape for their Lives and the Champion he hath had dependance upon and hath done what in him lay and as much as one could do with such a Spirit as he is of he Reels and Staggers and as a drunken man jumbles himself with his offs and on s one while yea and then nay the Contradictions the Impertinences the Inconsistances with himself and with them that have trusted their Cause in his hand that his Book abounds with manifested at large in Ellis Hook's on behalf of the 〈◊〉 days Morning Meeting in London demonstrates the Confusion the Lord suffers them to run into so that their way is block up let them struggle and 〈◊〉 whilst they have Breath backward must their Spirit and Work go into the Pit again from whence it came the Lord of Hosts that 's Israels God will work it down and none shall hinder We may tell the Reader that its true they got a List in the North to make a shew and clutter withal at a distance whence Trees look like Men for their confederate work to appear as popular as they could but were they searched into and known what they are many of them are such as their Cause would be disparaged by and none that truly love God and Sion's Welfare would 〈◊〉 to have any such concerned in the defence thereof to appear with them There are many come off from them that have condemned the work thereof and declares That the Paper they grounded their separate design upon scarcely any of them 〈◊〉 heard or read or 〈◊〉 privy to the matter of it but a few got it drawn and Agents they had to get it subscribed here and there mostly upon the 〈◊〉 that J. Story and J. Wilkinson and others had done it as hereafter may appear and of what pitious sort many of the Subscribers and some few others that joyns to them are since those whom God hath redeemed from amongst them came off as occasion may be seen an account thereof is ready to be given But to go on upon our denial to submit to their Terms they being as much as their word in that matter they with-drew
he used to do in the North where he could prevail which the sad experience afterwards that some of the Churches of God had in those Parts of this Spirits work does declare came into the North who of a certain truth hath been the Grandee in the whole Design and blew up the Sparks 〈◊〉 kindled by him and others into a vehement heat of Discontent and Grief because of our Gospel concerns having encouraged himself with those who were entred into Faction with him where his Travel and Work had been he set a work to drive all before him discouraged the concern and tender practice of Friends in relation to Testimony against Tythes judged the recording Condemnations with the Repentance of such as had been out of the way of Truth to the open blemish thereof judged the Paper in relation to Womans Meetings which John Wilkinson as said before with many more had subscribed encouragement to some of whom he afterwards brought off to abet his Design and Work so that Friends Books were to have been altered according to his motion but that being stopt one of Party with him and a princiqal Stickler and Preacher amongst them but since quite turned out tore his Condemnation for being Married with a Priest out of the Book and such work as this he occasioned amongst us and John Wilkinson turned his back-side of that tenderness that had been upon him and became with him a resolved man to stand it out several Friends had a private Meeting with him in Kendal to have done him good occasioned through George Fox's means but he shewed himself an angry perverse man When Friends tenderly asked him whether such or such things were true which he had said or done as was repeated in relation to a manifest mark of his being departed from the Life of Truth to oppose the order thereof in order whereunto Friends desire was to have dealt with him as a Brother and an Antient amongst us and the brokenness that was on Friends in their Exercise with him testified the same and the Bowels that earned towards him that day would have broken many Hearts yet in a wilful stubborn disquieted frame and indisposure by reason thereof he broke away very aburtly and unchristian-like treading upon his Brethrens Care and Good-will towards him telling them That he would stand upon his own Legs and not be beholden to them for their Curtches Not long after John Wilkinson being grieved and his Spirit much discomposed writ a Letter to one of us which he called The Word of the Lord and by his order to be shewn to many Brethren full of enveighing Language such as becomes not a Minister and Servant of Christ to his fellow Servants telling us That we had begged Authority from others to make our selves work withal and to be commissionated to act therein to get favour of Persons or an Office or a piece of Bread and was puffed up therein and then places this Judgment upon us and our work saying That our Office would cloath us with Raggs and that Worms would breed in our gathering and that our Bread should consume with this final Sentence upon us That the Lord would break us The Friend to whom this was directed to be communicated to others writ privately to him before he shewed it to any and desired him to take it back again and consider better of it otherwise it would be his shame tend to his great dammage many ways but nothing would serve him but that it must be delivered Mark the end of it So that it plainly appeared they were resolved to try their strength with that which proves too strong for them After a while at the request of some of our ancient Brethren and sincere to God who had private knowledg of the difference amongst us it being also our inclination a Meeting was had with them of that Spirit John Story and John Wilkinson being amongst us we being desired also to have with us other three Neighbouring Friends who had been true and faithful to God from the beginning never detected upon any account who being come and set amongst us they also being privy to the Transactions amongst us John Story and John Wilkinson shewed their dislike of having them with us and resolved not to concern themselves with any discourse relating to the matter unless the said Friends would with-drew but those Friends having a sincere Exercise in the motion of God as by them it was signified to us durst not with draw upon the motion of that wrong Spirit being otherwise preswaded in their Hearts consistant also with the aforesaid Brethrens request as also comfortably agreeable with the sence and desire of the sincere hearted and truly sensible of that Spirit 's opposite work amongst us whereupon John Story and John Wilkinson with-drew any further concern in the matter and took a party of the dark sort after them so that after a while the Meeting ended without any effectual work relating to an Agreement and Peace amongst us The Spirit of Contention prevailing in them animated also through the Adherents John Story had wrought into the Strise with them in the South where his and John Wilkinson Travels had sometimes been such as they had stampt their Image upon and that readily complyed with them against the Unity of 〈◊〉 in the Exercise and Practice of Truth in the Church of Christ the Brethrens Troubles hereaways encreased and our Tryal became great John Story making his boast vainly how many he could have to stand by him and yet have but proved as Egypts broken Reeds unto him for all his boast and the same Spirit in William Rogers and others thereaways that espoused the Quarrel on the two John's behalf of whom he became chief fell upon us with such Force and Courage as if nothing could stand in their way but the Lord was in our Eye and our expectation waited on him who had been our help and refuge to that very time to whom be Praise for evermore so that now the Exercise in the North became such which we had long born in the Patience which God gave us and in which we desired to see the end of that Spirits Work which had occasioned the same and that the knowledge of the Differences hereaways might not be spread abroad and the Strise occasioned through them being risen to that hight and the distance with respect to Unity became such and the knowledge of it abroad that it began to touch the Hearts of many Brethren in several parts of the Nation seeing that the 〈◊〉 of this Spirits work would be sad if the way of it were not blockt up And now our Friends and Brethren at London having a certain knowledg that the Difference in the North was come to be such as that it appeared to grow higher rather then an end thereof was like to be suddenly composed they writ to Friends and desired that we would appoint a Meeting on purpose with John Story and
have desired you should have done to your further disparagement and great loss it is upon me once more to let you know that it seems strange to me that it should be so upon you being as you may remember at the last Meeting we had I told you seeing no other means would do we must now be constrained to bring things to open view against you which I desired we never might have been caused to have done if it could have been avoided and should be our last shift I told you also that all that ever you have by any of us been charged with would be proved against you and you have altogether accused us both before that Meeting and since for not doing so wherefore now in our own defence and in the defence of Truth 's Testimony at this Meeting you may expect sufficient proof of such things as I know the Brethren will be sorrowful for upon your accounts considering the honorable esteem we have 〈◊〉 of you unless you can pretty much clear your selves and as I judge that which will be your strongest plea in your defence in the case will be to make out that against us or others of the Brethren which in many Expressions and Passages that have come from you in opposition to Friends holy Care and Exercise you have pointed at to wit our imposing things in the will of man which undoubtedly in the straitness and opposition of you Spirits you have rendered us to be in both hereaways and in many parts of the Nation which charge if you can make good against us then you may be some little more excusable though not one fold of many sufficiently in what you have done which said Charge against us and the Unity of the Brethren hath such a reflection upon us and hath jumbled the Minds of the Weak to the Churches great Trouble breach of its Peace that it is expected you should appear to make it good against us if you can which if so that it can be proved against us we shall willingly acknowledge if required and no occasion of Discord shall remain upon our part otherwise and that which I doubt not but we shall be able to do through Gods help we may clear our selves of all such Aspersions in the sight of the Lord and before our dear Brethren to Truth 's Satisfaction and in the Unity of Gods Life we may stand to go on in our Exercise for God against whatever may oppose the same wherefore Friends in true love I would have you to mind things and consider what you do in these cases for undoubtedly the God of Heaven is at work to carry on his own Cause in Righteousness who will be found too strong for all that lifts up a hand against him and the Unity of his own Life I am thus far clear in the Lords sight concerning you remaining still Your Friend in singleness of Heart John Blaykling The Meeting gathered at Pow-Bank aforesaid and many good Friends there with them also of other Countries agreed upon to be with us as the Lord made way John Wilkinson and John Story came not but only sent a Paper of slight and disregard of Friends weighty concern in relation thereunto alledging That at the Meeting at Draw-Well we had no matter in charge against them in Writing which in Truth and Righteousness was no plea for their absenting now because we told them how unwilling we were to appear on that wise if it could be avoided and an end put to things without it but seeing they said they would not take any notice of any thing we would say unless it were writ we told them then before the breaking up of the Meeting that we would do it at our next Meeting which we were to have with them by the advise of our Brethren seeing nothing would be effected there that day we told them also we did believe forty matters would be brought against them to manifest their Opposition and John Story replyed You must prove them it was answered he need not question that for it was so intended and several things we told them then by word of Mouth when together in order to the proof that should be made thereof They alledged also in the said Paper That they told us at that Meeting that they intended to meet no more about such matters the truth of which we own not for we cannot hear that any one of all the Meeting heard any such Words amongst us and if any thing of that nature was spoken vve believe it vvas privately to some after the Meeting broke up upon their jealousie hovv things vvould go All vvhich signifies nothing but meer Deceipt and an absolute unvvillingness to come to Tryal at all as aftervvards vvill be more clearly manifested alledging also That if they had been clear of the purpose of giving no more Meetings they did not find themselves obliged to take notice of our summoning of them who were both Accusers and Witnesses and chose the Judges Which is all impertinent and silly Discourse seeing the Persons chosen vvere chosen by the agreement of the Quarterly Meeting long before they separated from us and they might have been there as usually they vvere vvont to do if they had not at that time absented on purpose and vvhat vve did vvas also in persuance of the Brethrens request from London and to object against the Witnesses vvas not only 〈◊〉 as amongst men but also frivolous inconsistant with Truth 's Power and order thereof as also insufficient in the sight thereof to ground a plea upon for their contemptuously absenting themselves and thereby avoid the Tryal and Judgment as probably they expected it might do in that it vvas the Cause of Almighty God the King of Heaven and his Subjects Peace hovvever right or vvrong it served them to absent upon But to proceed the Exercise that the Friends chosen for to hear and examine matters in order to give their Sence and Judgment as they found the Case had that day and the day following at Milnethorpe a Meeting being there appointed for that end we shall refer the knowledge thereof to what hereafter follows as an abstract taken out of the former part of their own Paper to which their Sence and Judgment is 〈◊〉 The Friends of Westmerland according to what was intimated at Draw-Well asoresaid and in persuance of Friends advice from London as also what John Story and John Wilkinson called for at the said Meeting had there fairly writ down several matters in charge against them which they gave to the Friends there which notwithstanding the two John's abstance in contempt of the Churches Order and Care they the aforesaid Friends chosen by the Quarterly Meeting could not but take notice of it being the general concern of the Church of God taking notice also what proof could be made thereof which said matters alledged in charge related to prove viz. First That John Story and John Wilkinson had opposed our
heavenly Truth of God in which we have believed which Words and Passages doth also tend to the weakening Friends in keeping up their Testimony according to the nobility of the heavenly Truth of God which we have received in which our Faith stands in that honourable practice of our open and publick Meetings in times of Persecutions as at other times as also to the quenching and stopping of such holy Breathings Groanings and Living Sounds which may arise and pass through one while another is Praying Preaching or Prophecying which is not inconsistant with the Truth but in unity with those that act therein and therefore in the love of God we entreat and beseech all Friends to beware of that Spirit where-ever it is that doth bring forth such things either in Words or Actions as have this tendency in them so much to undervalue and overthrow our heavenly Testimony that we have to bear for him and for the appearance of his blessed Son in our Age by which the evil one labours to weaken the hands of Gods faithful Witnesses that so he might bring back again into an Apostacy from the nobility of that Life by which all the Faithful must be upheld in their living Testimony for God which he hath raised them up unto as also the obstructing of the Lords faithful Children in their holy Zeal for God in the performance of their duty in the Mens and Womens Meetings and to the discouragment of any to be concerned therein which are for no other end but for putting forward and propagating of Truth Righteousness Mercy and Justice amongst us that so as the Lord hath called us to shew forth his Praise in all things we may endeavour the promotion of that which rends unto the same and surely we can say with the rest of the Faithful That the holy God doth own us with his Presence to our great Refreshment and Confirmation in this our holy Practice and heavenly Order and therefore we cannot but in the Power of God place Judgement upon the Head of that Spirit where and however it doth appear that would put stumbling Blocks in the way of Gods People to cause any to stumble or to weaken their Faith in those things that tends both to their comfort and growth and the Unity and the edification of the true Body and so as such who have had experience of the evil tendency of this Spirit and the sad effects it hath brought forth in all its appearances to the overthrowing of the Faith of some and to the making of Rents and Divisions in the Body we desire that all may keep to the Power of the Lord God who will preserve in the Unity of the Spirit and Bond of Peace where the Body will edifie it self in Love that there may be always a building up in the most holy Faith which Faith will forever give us the Victory over the World in which our Testimony standing we shall not be overcome So with our Love to you all we remain Your Friends and Brethren in the holy fellowship of the Gospel Milnethorpe the 24th of the 5th Month 1675. John Burnyeat Richard Robinson Robert Lodge John Grove and the rest It may be observed also that besides some Letters tending to Peace that George Fox writ to them from Swarthmoore where he was about this time weak in Body he sent to them also to desire them to come over to him there for he had a desiro to speak with them about the matter of Difference amongst Friends in Westmerland he was neither of ability to come to them nor to the Meeting at Pow-Bank but they did not take any notice thereof nor went to him though we are fully satisfied that what he did was in his tender care for their Preservation and the Churches Peace but this William Rogers our present Adversary accounts in George Fox Ambition in his sending for them but where the Stoutness and Ambition was its easily seen for the time was when they would have gone much further when they were Poor and Low in their own Eyes but now being Full and Rich in their own Esteem thinking they want for nothing will not step out of their way nor turn aside for Truth nor the unity therein because of the Ambition they are filled with and therefore will the Lord scatter them with all the Imaginations of their corrupt Hearts And instead of giving the Friends a Meeting as aforesaid they put an evading slighty Answer to the Charges against them and sent it abroad amongst those they hoped to make of party with them which with a large Answer thereunto is ready to be seen when a further occasion by William Rogers or any of them is given And not withstanding all this care and tender respect used and reached out towards them they still heardened their Hearts against the Lord and the fellowship of Brethren in the Churches concerns stuck to the loose and unfaithful ones as was said before and grew more and more opposite to Friends in their Exercise for Truth and sit in the Confederacy that was hatched amongst themselves and the design laid to break off from Friends into an open Seperation they betook themselves and up and down the Nation was the cry amongst those of party with them from an unchristian mis-representing of things by them here in the North That a Judgment was out against them without hearing upon the evidence of Persons being both the Accusers and Witnesses of which as the matter is in short truly stated according to the Circumstances relating to it we desire the honest and impartial Reader to judge Whether the Persons before mentioned are justified in the sight of God the order of the Gospel and amongst Gods People according to the rule of Truth in the aforesaid matter and transactions relating to them Or whether they are manifested by their doings to have the pure peaceable Spirit that is easily entreated and that they have upon them any design for the Churches Peace Or whether they are not the Self-Willed the Heady and High-Minded who have the Form of Words only without the Power that unites and knits together and whether to work Distractions in the peaceable Family of God their design be not laid And whether their plea for their not receiving dear Brethrens Advice and Care over them and orderly proceedings to have done them right every way if they could have manifested the contrary and their obstinately absenting themselves from the Meeting aforesaid on any such account be not a very ridiculous thing amongst men and not worth taking notice of For it is according to our Judgment that the just Law of Nature and Nations that gives an 〈◊〉 priviledge to be heard before Judgment be given if he will accept of it upon notice given according to the rule of it is contemned by an obstinate wilful and on purpose absenting himself and the want of his privile 〈◊〉 thereby of being heard is his own default and not imputable to
the Law nor the Executors thereof nor in the Kings Cause and the Nations Peace is the Witnesses Evidence although Complainers detectable nor the Sentence given accordingly to be Condemned and that this is the state of our Cause on the account of the God of Heaven and Earth the King of Saints his Peoples Peace and that our proceedings have been justifiable on the account thereof we do leave it before the Lord to be Judge and it s very clear that William Rogers has gained no credit to his Cause of Vilifying and Condemning the Discipline and Order used in the Church of God by his proclaiming these men in his Printed Book to be such as that he hath heard of none to exceed them in Doctrine and Life who are thus Stout and Ambitious Stuborn and Self-Willed And on what justifiable account before the Lord or amongst men he placeth the dreadful Judgment upon us of being Apostates from God and the Life of Christianity as he is pleased to do we yet see not let them appear boldly and 〈◊〉 themselves that do and give over this deceitful hidden Guile and creeping Work which the holy and just God abhors as an hateful thing and our first Principle condemns forever But to go on things running at this rate and they growing up to this height of Impudency in their opposit Work it now became the great concern of our Brethren at London and other parts of the Nation seeing what a Combination there was amongst John Story' s Adherents to rebel against the Lord and the ancient Truth that keeps in Unity such as abides in it and that it was the Practice of the Church of God throughout the whole Nation that with respect to our Monthly and Quarterly and General Meetings in order to the Discipline of the Church of God they were resolved to set themselves against with the might and force they could engage themselves into and that according to their former declared purpose they had set up a sign of defiance in a separate Meeting to be kept when they saw meet or as occasion offered as they themselves declared was intended by them to be done and they seeing that it was not the rafling loose sort that were readily drawn into their Snare that the Temptation only reached unto but that several also of the more Innocent to God that loved Righteousness were hurt thereby whose Names they had got into the List to subscribe amongst them to their Paper in their contentious Work many of whom blessed be the Lord to their Joy are comfortably come off again as hereafter may be more fully declared and they seeing also now how the design lay of gathering to them every where as the oppertunity served and knowing that their contentious Papers were sent abroad up and down the Nation where any reception could be obtained for them and that John Story principal in the whole design was very officious in the matter thereof in the Western parts where his Travels were wont to be and that in those parts he then was and had proselited into his factious Work several of the Earthly-wise and looser sort and that the Innocent also were in danger to be betrayed the Temptations being so guilefully laid whereupon at a Meeting on the account of suffering Friends held at the House of James Claypoole Merchant in London the 18th of the 8th Month 1675. It was agreed upon amongst the Brethren there and concluded as followeth Whereas there hath been depending an unhappy Difference between several Friends and Brethren in the North on the one Party and John Wilkinson and John Story on the other Part and that all the Endeavours hitherto have not prevailed to that healing composure desired and since the said Brethren in the North for the more effectual conclusion of the said matter have desired the Brethren of this Meeting to take it into their serious Consideration that if any thing can be further offered by them then what has been already done for the Service of the Truth and Peace of the Church of God It is from the deep sence of the thing and the sad consequences thereof unamimously desired by the 〈◊〉 Brethren that George Whitehead John Whitehead William Gibson and Alexander Parker or Gerard Roberts go from London and two from Bristol to be chosen by the Persons hereafter nominated either out of themselves or any other Friends of that City The Friends nominated to chuse two Friends as aforesaid are as followeth Dennis Hollister Thomas Gouldney Charles Hartford Richard Snead Richard Vickris 〈◊〉 Love William Ford Charles Jones William Rogers The said two Friends with the four before named to go into the North to give the Brethren a Meeting with John Wilkinson and John Story if they will be perswaded to return for the assisting the Church and Friends there to hear and determine the said Difference as in the Wisdom and Council of God they shall be directed for Peace and Unity in the Church Stephen Smith Stephen Crispe Thomas Green Ambrose Rigg and William Penn desired to meet together this Evening and draw up two Letters one to John Wilkinson and John Story and an other to Friends at Bristol aforesaid It may be taken notice of that Friends in the North although they were satisfied with the Labours and Travels of the Brethren concerned in the afore-mentioned Meetings from a true sence of the presence of Almighty God with them as also with the Testimony and Judgment aforesaid upon the afore-mentioned Spirit of Opposition and Strife and against all whomsoever that were found in the Works thereof being one and the same with that which had lived on their Hearts in relation to that Spirit as that which the pure God would never bless nor the Works thereof as also in a sence and knowledge of what a Noise was gone out through them of that Spirit against the aforesaid Proceedings of our Brethren and Judgment on the case to the leaving a jealousie upon the minds of some that probably things might not be so bad with respect to John Story and John Wilkinkinson as matters seemed to import and the Judgment given did imply We being also conscious to our selves of any deficiency on our parts whereby to invalidate the Judgment given or to have our selves detected in the matter of the occasion of the Difference amongst us having also a sincere desire that what dissatisfaction remained upon any with respect to the Judgment given without hearing c. although the default in that matter lay on John Story and John Wilkinson their part that our Innocence before the Lord which our Consciences bore record to might also the more appear and that whosoever had a mind might have the oppertunity of hearing matters relating to us on the score of being culpable as well as they as we had been rendred up and down the Nation by them of that Spirit and having also a sence of the continuation of the Exercise and Sorrow that we
were yet likely to be exposed to through the separate Meeting to the blemish of Truth and our holy Profession It s true we did signifie our inclination yea our desires that on some or all the aforesaid accounts our dear and respected Brethren might have under their tender consideration our continuing Exercises through the hardness and obstinacy of that wrong Spirit amongst us which as yet was likely further to occasion the Churches Trouble and the want of its Peace and for that end we moved if they pleased that some might come down into the North for their and others further satisfaction if they desired or saw cause for a further examination and hearing of matters relating to the depending Difference In order unto which Meeting agreed upon at London amongst our Friends there they signified unto us what was intended God willing to be done by them if all concerned would signifie their free and acceptable complyance therewith in answer whereunto Friends in the North signified by a Paper under many Hands a free and ready closing therewith unto the Meetings satisfaction there as in an answer to ours from them was signified It may be noted also that the Brethrens tenderness towards John Story and John Wilkinson was such they being then both in the West parts as also that they might the more readily be perswaded to submit to an hearing of matters and things relating to the Difference with Friends here in the North Face to Face which formerly they had refused to do in a resolve to come at no more Meetings on that score but that they again a little retracted that resolve and proffered as aforesaid to refer the matter to two chosen by each party one We say the afore-mentioned Friends being iealous whether they would submit to a Meeting or not for condescention sake gave the Friends at Bristol liberty to chuse two c. where John Story s and John Wilkinson's great Interest as was then expected stood and in persuance of the aforesaid agreement amongst Friends at James Claypool's London two Letters were writ Coppies whereof we have not inserted here but are produceable with many more material Letters of Advice Answers and Replies in Papers and Books in Maniscript Material and Satisfactory in order to the concern of a more large Hystorical Relation of matters on the account of the unhappy Differences occasioned through this ungodly Spirit as the day will declare which aforesaid Papers and Books in Maniscript are preserved ready for the service of Truth against the coming forth in Print of William Rogers s Book in Maniscript so often made mention of by him or upon what other occasion as the Lord may direct shall be seen meet with respect to all which this our present Relation of things may be taken only as a small yet perfect and impartial Abstract Yet upon the matter of the two Letters being sent as aforesaid the one to John Wilkinson and John Story in the West and the other to the Friends at Bristol William Rogers happening to be one for the Journey into the North on the aforesaid account without whose Company and Assistance 't is likely John Story had not been prevailed upon to have come being a man of a Turbulent Boysterous Spirit and one that likes the Applause of men and loves Preheminence as in his quarrelling contentious Work in the Ambition and Stoutneses of his Mind in several Papers and Concerns observable he hath manifested himself to be as many Ear and Eye Witnesses will Evidence to which also some of us are not Strangers with respect to our particular knowledge he now buckled himself to carry on the espoused matter of f. Story' s and J. Wilkinson's Cause even with all the eagerness he could work himself into like a Champion for the Work and desparate Design contrived and taken in hand which in plain words tended if the Lord had not blockt up their way to have laid waste the whole Heritage of God and not have left his People a-name where by to be known So that many opposite wrangling Papers and Letters past from him with some few more of his Adherents tending to delay the Journey into the North as was desired on the Meetings account to be had there which together with John Story' s and John Wilkinson's aversness and perverse replies to the London Brethren that were tender and friendly to them-wards gave daily a more and more perfect knowledge of what sort they were and what their Work tended to many also of the truly conscientious sort who were of their Adherents once having been hurt by them in and about the City of Bristol and the Country adjacent became in measure satisfied that they were wrong and that their Work did to Strife 〈◊〉 and began to draw back in the Spirit of their Minds from any such complyance with them as formerly they were inclined to and many in those parts of the upright hearted to God and lovers of Righteousness are come away from touching with them any more and are truly and livingly concerned in a Testimony for God against them and the Work they are concerned in which hath been their Hearts Joy and the Comfort of the Ransomed Ones Much ado 〈◊〉 was before any solid hopes our Brethren could be wrought into that any Meeting with them would be got but at last about the first Month. in the Year 1676. George Whitehead on purpose coming by them with the influence 〈◊〉 had upon them got John Story perswaded to give up to the matter desired for their lakes and for the 〈◊〉 of all Differences whatsoever that the Church might again enjoy its Peace The four 〈◊〉 from London and William Rogers only from 〈◊〉 being come into the North 〈◊〉 Benson of Kendal in Westmerland was added to them to be concerned in the aforesaid matter John Story and John Wilkinson being now come into the North also a Meeting was agreed upon to be the third Day of the second Month 1676. at the House of John Blaykling at Draw-well in Sedbergh in York-shire and accordingly that day begun and many good Friends and Ministers of the blessed Truth out of several parts of the Nation were there together with 〈◊〉 of the nine Friends that had heard the matters alledged in charge against John Story and John Wilkinson at Pow-Bank asoresaid and had given their Judgment upon that Spirit from which the said matters and things had proceeded not leaving John Story and John 〈◊〉 uncapable of clearing themselves thereof if they were able to do it and many Friends to the Truth were also come from Westmerland to the Meeting Gods eternal Power evidently broke forth through many in Living Testimonies for God and his Truth and in Heavenly Supplications that the Presence of the Eternal God might be with his People in that Exercise for which that Assembly was gathered which to the Comfort of many there present was truly felt during four days Exercise for the space of ten or twelve
and this Separation will apparently wither and come to nought And we must tell you that some of us hoped and expected that ere this you would in the Fear and Dread of the Lord have born a publick Testimony against that Spirit of Division and Meeting of Seperation in those Parts And we are livingly assured in the heavenly Counsel of God that is now with us that in all places where any hurt hath come and entered by this Spirit through you the Lord first requireth this at your Hands and in the Name Power and 〈◊〉 of the God of Truth and Peace we are constrained to press you to be first reconciled to your Brethren and in your Spirits and Practices be united to the Church of Christ before you offer your Gift or excercise your selves in publick Testimony among Gods People and so no more leave that Country in 〈◊〉 and Seperation for otherwise the Breach will become wider and you more discover your selves to be of that Spirit which would augment Contest and Division which we desire that God in Mercy may deliver you from for against that Spirit the sharp Sword of the Lord is drawn and thus far have we cleared our Consciences in his sight and presence whose ancient Power gloriously springs and reigns amongst us Eternal Praises to his his Name forever George Whitehead Iohn Burnyeate William Gibson Robert Lodge Alexander Parker Thomas Taylor Iohn Bowren Iohn Tiffen William Penn. We whose Names are here under Written being at London at this Yearly Meeting having heard the above written Letter twice read at a second days Meeting in the City being the 22d of the 3d Month 1676. do hereby declare that it contains the real sence of our Hearts as was expressed by several Testimonies there given to that purpose from Gods Truth in many of us and therefore are in unity with it Pattrick Livingstone George Hutchinson Richard Pinder Hector Allen William Fallowfield Samuel Cater Iasper Batt Samuel Thornton Thomas Cooke Iohn Lanstaffe Edward Edwards Iames Claypoole Brayan Doyley William Peacke Richard Webster Francis Moore Iames Parke Richard Samble William Mead Leonard Fell Stephen Smith Iames Sikes Charles Floyd Daniel Smith Thomas Salthouse Stephen Crisp Anthony Thompkins Iohn Haywood Ellis Hooks Authur Cotton Let God be witness this Day betwixt the Church of God and these two Men and them of Party with them whether in the tender Love of God and of dear Brethren they have not been delt withal in Compassionateness through great long Suffering and Patience beseeching them in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ and Gods manifold Mercies and Forbearances towards them that they would be reconciled to God that they might find acceptance with him as that which was a Soul Concern yea the concern of eternal Recompence World without end and that which hath been testified in many Labours and Travels Night and Day on their accounts and how unwilling Friends were that they should be rejected and cast aside and their Names blotted out from the remembrance of the Righteous and out of the Number of the Worthies of Israel whom the Lord Blesseth and makes as Saviours on Mount Sion to his Eternal Praise and the Comfort of the Church of Christ and the Peace of the Immortal Soul forever So that we have a Record from God upon our Spirits in true satisfaction that we have discharged a good Conscience in the Lords sight with respect to them and that if any of them Perish it shall lie at their Doors the Lord is clear and his People thus far clear let them look to it as they will answer at the dreadful Day Yet after all these Labours and Travels in the Love of God and Spirit of Grace and Supplication towards and in behalf of them they still continued in the Alienation from Truths Life in their separate contentious Work and the more the Lord and his People strove with them the more obstinate and hardned they grew and where the Apostacy which William Rogers is pleased to charge us with will be seen to center a little time will declare further So it was that as the evil Men and Seducers that grows worse and worse they put on resolution and Courage to stand it out John Story betook himself into the South-West to keep the Design on Foot there and to muster up all whom he could draw after him with the Pollicy and Might he had he set himself William Rogers ratled about with a dishonest Narrative that he himself had drawn up of the Transactions of the Meeting at Draw-well as his prejudiced jealous Mind acted him and sent it abroad up and down the Country where any would take notice of it took off the beliefe or hopes where any in kindness to John Story and John Wilkinson had been begot of any submission given by them or any real acknowledgement made by them there notwithstanding the paper they had given forth and at that time under an exercise if they had stood to it which William Rogers set at naught accounting it but a Rattle to please Children with John Wilkinson also as he had before denied that they had Condemned any thing writ to some of the Brethren at London very comtemptibly in a slight of all their Love Labours and Travels concerning them in the North inveighing against the Relation given and subscribed there of matters transacted amongst us and the product thereof calling it a lying Narrative c. And that Courage they took to themselves and cambined Resolution to stand to their Work that he together with about eleaven more subcribed a Book written by them and sent it abroad in Manuscript up down the Nation amongst those that had entertained Jealousies and let in Prejudice against the Antient Brethren who kept true to God and had let in Murmuring and Discontent against the Order and Discipline used in the Church of Christ. The said Book called or at least rendred to be their Remonstrance or Declaration pretending therein to stand to the antient Principle of Truth and Faith therein as also speaking of certain Practices used amongst them Directed to Monthly Quarterly Yearly and Second Days Meetings in a bold and open Contest with the whole Church of God throughout the whole Nation in which they possitively declare themselves and those of party with them to be that part of the whole Family of the Children of Light that keeps their antient Integrity and Stability in the Truth and for that cause say they are they called by the rest Separates meaning by the Monthly Quarterly Yearly and Second Days Meetings they are also bold to say that we that is to say all those that are in faithfulness to God careful with respect to Church Order and the Discipline thereof unto which the aforesaid Meetings relate and not of party with them are departed from our first Principle of Light and Life in Christ Jesus and setting up Forms and outward Methods in the Church and the like And for no
them upon which proposal a Letter was sent from the Meeting which the Woman belonged to signifyng that he was not clear of her neither did the Woman give him up to marry another Friends also of the Meeting he belonged to gave notice thereof to some of them before whom the Marriage was proposed and desired them to put a stop to it till matters were cleared concerning the other VVoman and that Objection removed and that the VVoman might have right done her which made complaint They were so far from being answerable in Practice to what they presumed to say is their Order that there was no notice taken of it at all with respect to respite after Friends had sent them that notice but within a few days the Marriage was accomplished Let the sober Reader consider whether these doings be Gospel-like and whether such work as this doth bespeak a People faithful to God according to their first love and care for Truth and the sweet Savour of it and whether it bespeak solidity and weight in and about the things of God to make such a noise against Church order which is practised amongst the Faithful and for which cause William Rogers proclaims the Children of God Aposlates to Prosterity in a Printed Publick Record and John Wilkinson signifies no disowning of it and his Abettors in these Parts spreads them abroad and yet confesses to Order declares what Order they have among themselves least they should be rendred Loose and Careless with respect to Truth and yet when their Orders in the practick part of them comes to be search'd into what sorry VVork they make which indeed cannot but in the Eye of the Simple the Honest and VVise in God render them not only Obnoxious to the Order and Discipline in the Power used in the Church of God amongst us but also a sort of People that through their jumbling wrangling VVork they have had in hand have lost not only the Savour of Truth but even a great part of those parts as Men which the Lord endued some of them with and for the clearing up of these matters a little spoken to and several more relating to them and their Practice now a days we refer the Reader to our Answer in Manuscript to the aforesaid Book Subscribed by Edward Burrow Richard Stephenson John Wilkinson and several more The Title of our said Answer is called The Answer to the Remonstrance of them of the Seperation in the North. And further it may be observed That as a People resolved to stand by themselves they continued meeting together now and then as they had occasion and kept their Meeting at an House which Friends of the Quarterly Meeting had withdrawn from a long time before partly on the account of the disorderly walking of him that lived therein And that confidence they had in the matter thereof that they sent to our Quarterly Meeting claming an equal right with us to our Quarterly Meeting Books of account of the Transactings of the Affairs of the Church from time to time together with the Records of our Births Marriages and Burials and by vertue of their pretended Title claimed liberty to an equal use thereof as well as we from time to time as they might have occasion and for that end demanded that the aforesaid Books might be brought to and kept at the House where they kept their Meeting that Friends had withdrawn from long before they parted from us on the occasion of his disorderly walking Yet well enough still for their Fellowship in that Spirit they are gone into Friends gave them a plain and sober Answer in a measure of denial of their Proposal as stated desiring them to condemn the wrong Spirit that had led them away from the Brethren and break off from the Separation and their Meeting in it and in that which was good associate again with Friends from whom they were goue then would the joynt Right and Priviledge therein be enjoyed amongst us But this gave them no Satisfaction but a more peremptory demand they then made signified in a Letter to us Subscribed by John Wilkinson William Cartmell Richard Stephenson William Chambers Thomas Hodson and the rest to the number of Thirteen in which several reproachful Terms given to our Quarterly Meeting is inserted As if the Name of it must be bowed to and on that account seek Preheminence over the Brethren and 〈◊〉 their just right from them c. with much of that Nature and at last comes to an expedient as they call it to avoid greater Inconveniences as they say viz. If we will be pleased to re deliver the Books to John Airey from whence they 〈◊〉 taken c. Note that 's the Man whose House Friends left as to the Meeting and took away the Books also for he was a Man Scandalous to Truth in his Conversation That say they we may have the use of them as well as your selves and for which end they were purchased c. The Reader may take notice that upon the first demand of the Books when we denyed them an equal use of them being the Churches Records which they were gone from we told them if they would not be pleased to condemn their absenting in a tender mind and come again in the true Love if they would be pleased to send us a Bill of what they had laid out on the account of them or what Charge had been contracted on them by reason of any Record therein they should have it returned to them again and if they pleased to have a Copy of any or all the Records therein of Births Marriages and Burials that appertained to any of them they should have a Copy thereof given them but these things would not give them content but the asore-mentioned Paper they sent into our Quarterly Meeting without any Name or Hand to it which we returned again without taking any more notice of it then having such a knowledge thereof as that we perceived it was the same that afterwards they sent to us Subscribed as aforesaid An Answer whereunto we returned to them from our Quarterly Meeting the 〈◊〉 of the 7th Month 1676. and because of the grievous out-cry they made against us of Injustice after a very abusive clamorous manner who are not negligent in spreading abroad Papers of that tendency we think good here to insert some part of our said Answer to their demand about the Books that the Reader may be in a better Capacity to judge of this matter in relation to us We having answered several abusive Speeches and Reflections cast upon our Monthly and Quarterly Meetings in their aforesaid Paper of Demand in our Answer we insert their demand 〈◊〉 That Churches Books of Records should remain at the aforesaid John Airey ' s 〈◊〉 from which Friends had withdrawn because of the Scandal he had brought to Truth To which our Answer is thus Whether this be a just demand let the Witness for God and all Faithful
Simple in many places where reports of this Spirits Work came were filled with various thoughts concerning them with respect to the real state of matters not knowing well how things were in relation to them on which account many might become hurt and darkned in themselves and an occasion thereby given for a Vail to come over under which those Temptations might enter which might produce the hurt of many wherefore in persuance of the many blessed and living Testimonies that arise among Friends in the breaking 〈◊〉 of the Glory of the Lord upon Friends in relation to a Testimony to go 〈◊〉 in the Name of the Eternal God against the ungodly backsliding rending Spirit that had prevailed over many to draw them out of the Fellowship of the Spirit in the Church of Christ into Strife and Contention and into a Separation from the Antient Brethren together with the Abettors every where perticularly against John Wilkinson and John Story as the great Fomenters thereof and the Pillers of the 〈◊〉 Destracted Work that had been occasioned and brought forth amongst the Lords People unto which Friends there present unniamiously agreed together with a joynt consent that this follwing Paper should be given forth and signed to go abroad throughout the Nation as in the Wisdom of God might be seen meet Our dear Friends and Brethren THE Lord who is the Antient of Days the Unchangable and Holy One of Israel that was and is and is to come our Rock and Strength for ever hath graciously brought us together by his own Power and is with us yea and hath covered us with his Love and Spirit and filled our Hearts with his undeclarable Kindness the sence of his Mercies hath exceedingly over come us and the remembrance of his ancient Goodness hath even melted us and semented us together and Blessed and Sweet and very Precious to our Souls is the Heavenly Unity of Life amongst us wherein at this Meeting the Lord our God hath Crowned us with Glory Dominion and Peace Blessed forever be his pure Name Oh how good is it for all to keep in the living sence of God and his Truth where plentious Redemption and Preservation is known where the Murmurer and Repiner c. can never come therefore all that are in the Muttering Dissatisfied and Jealous Nature full of Doubts Reasonings and Objectings goe from the pure Eye and out of Truths Habitation in themselves and so come to suffer Loss Dear Brethren at this time as on the like occasions has been frequent with us the care of the Peace and Welfare of the Churches of Christ came upon us and blessed be the Lord things are generally well and florishing and Truth grows Famous though Sufferings abound in several places yet it is well with Friends and the Lords Power reigns and great hath been the concern of Friends about the Sufferings of our Brethren and other things and blessed Meetings have we had wherein things have been clearly opened sweetly and tenderly treated on and in much Love and Brotherly Kindness concluded for which blessed be the Name of the Lord whose living antient fresh Power and Presence was with us but truly with bowed Spirits and grife of Heart have we perceived the obstinacy and obdurateness of some that have gone into the Self-will and dispising heavenly Dignities and casting tender Love and Intreaties behind their Backs setting up contriving and promoting false and pernitious Jealousies Murmurings and Smitings whereby they are darkned in their Understandings and so have through the Power of the Enemy against the King of Righteousness and his Peace set up a kind of Standerd of Separation from the blessed Fellowship and Communion that the Churches of Christ sweetly possest together to the dishonour of God his Truth and People more especially John Story and John Wilkinson notwithstanding the many Visitations and Admonitions of Love and Life even in deepest Travels and that from time to time and from year to year particularly the Sence and Admonition of the last Yearly Meeting writ in great Love that they might return and be reconsiled before they offered their Gift which they have Rejected And forasmuch as it appears to us that they will not come at 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 Surmisings against the faithful Brethren and practice of the Church of Christ refusing to desolve 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 sencible they have made evil use of our Forbearance even to strengthen themselves in their Separation and cover their evil designs the more amongst some simple-hearted Friends preserving therein by Word Writing and Practice we are constrained after this continued Waiting and Exhortation thus slighted by them for the Glory of the Name of the Lord the Sake of the Peace of the Churches of Christ and 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 them in those things and we do hereby reprove and judg that jelous rending and separating Spirit and them and their separate Company as being in that Spirit of Separation and that by the Power and Spirit of our God and we do warn all to whom this comes to beware of the said John Story and John Wilkinson whose ways 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 therefore Brethren every where stand up in the Power and Wisdom of God for the Testimony of Truth against that wrong jealous murmuring and dividing Spirit and when they come warn them in the Name of the Lord to go home and be reconciled to their Brethren and not go thus up and down to offer up their Gift which in their State is not a Peace but a Division Offering contrary to the Precepts of Jesus our Lord of being first reconsiled whatever their pretence 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 yea that it may be truly well with them both here and forever and from the Lord we say had they loved the Prosperity of Sion and the Peace of Jerusalem more than their own Self-will and Separation and had they sought the Unity that is in the Truth and sweet Communion of Brethren which stands in that Love which thinks no Evil and that Wisdom that is gentle and very easie to be intreated by the Brethren sweet and precious had our Fellowship been together at this day and it is our godly Exhortation to you Friends and Brethren of the 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 in the Peace and Unity of the Family of the Lord the Househould of Christ which we are and if notwithstanding your tender Christian dealing and forbearance such Persons persever and go on in their seperate Spirit and Practice let Gods Truth be cleared of them and Truth set over their Heads according to the order of the Gospel of Christ setled amongst you and dear Brethren be careful not to suffer your Meetings which were gathered up not by the will of Man but by the Power and Wisdom of the Lord God to be disturbed over-ruled and spoyled 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 Power and Wisdom 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 that 's below must rule and have the Dominion for ever but for as much as the way of the working of this subtil Enemy hath been to suggest that it is the design of some to make themselves Lords over Gods Heritage and to set up a Worldly and Arbitaray Power in the Church 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 Stumblingblocks in the way of the Weak Thus we feel our selves concerned in the Love of the Lord for the good of all to declare and the Lord hath gathered us and preserved us to this day and his Spirit is our Record that we deny and abhor any such thing for we have our Lord Judge King Lawgiver in the Church and that is Christ Jesus unto whose Light Power Spirit we have been turned in that have Worshiped him and had Fellowship together to this very day and are your Servants for his sake and we are assured in the Lord that they that keep in the Light Life and Power of Jesus 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 which we have in our selves from the Lord are we 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 and Age hath lamentably shewn us the effects of that Spirit that under pretence of crying down Imposition and pleading for Liberty and doing nothiug but what it is free to hath endeavoured to lay waste the blessed Unity of the Brethren and to ove-rrun the Heritage of the Lord that lived together as an orderly Family under the Law of Life and living order of the Gospel with a loose and unsubsetled Conversation which would bring Confusion in the Church and make us a Derision to the Heathen and to the end that these very 〈◊〉 concerned in this Separation may appear to be no true Lovers of Christian Liberty and Gospel Priviledges as they pretend let their own Paper which is a Declaration of the Reasons of their Separating be read and weighed in the universal Love and Life of Christ Jesus and therein we will suppose will be found the true Nature of Imposition in that none of their own Country are allowed to be of the Monthly and Quarterly Meeting but such as are appointed and chosen by the perticular Meeting Next That none of their own or other Countries though publick Labourers in the Gospel are to be admitted to be in their Meetings unless it be to tell their Message and immediately to depart And these with such like things Eighty seven subscribed as the Reason of their Separation and Foundation of a new Government themselves which is a plain Independensie from the Life and Practice of the Church of Christ throughout the World Oh 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 any 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 God s Love touch not with that Spirit the Enemies of Sion's Glory and their Peace give not your Strength to them but deal faithfully with them and seek them in God's Way and Wisdom that whatever becomes of them in the End you may be clear of their Blood in the Sight of the Lord and they may not say but that they have had a Day of Love and Visitation And truly that which hath incouraged in this Epistle is that good Success that God hath blessed our like Endeavours in his Power with For many deceived by them and confederate with them having seen their Snare in tenderness of Spirit have honestly consessed their Fault and are come from them and have testified both against the separate Company and themselves for having been 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 the Churches of Jesus is enjoyed praises to the Lord for ever and as we desire so we hope that more will be brought to the same blessed Sence So be jealous for the Lord dear Brethren and stand up in his Spirit and Power for the Peace of his Church and in his precious peacible Life dwell that keeps in soundness of Mind then will you shew Mercy to that which Mercy is due and Judgment to that which Judgment is due without respect of Persons and herein our pure true Love is shewn to them and all mankinde and the God of our Heavenly Love Peace and pretious Fellowship be with usall and bless us and keep us to the Glory of his Eternal Name who over all Spirits Angels and Men Thrones Dignities and Dominions reigns and is worthy and blessed for ever We are unanimously Your dear and faithful Brethren in the Labour Travail Tribulation Patience Hope and Rejoycing of the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Thomas Taylor Thomas Briggs Ambros Rigg William Edmonsor H nry Jackson James Harrison Thomas Zachry John Burnyeat 〈◊〉 Blaykling William Gibson John Abram Samuel Cater Morgan 〈◊〉 John Bowran 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 John Whithead Thomas Atkins Rudger Longworth Luke Howard Richard Pinder Joseph Hill Richard Davis Nicholas Gaitts Bray Dayla Stephen Smith Thomas Holmes James Halliday John Moone Thomas
〈◊〉 thereof For notwithstanding our Friends withdrawing from their Huses aforesaid yet they were so far from hindering or forbiding them to come to their Houses whose Dores are open to all that they had Word several times sent them of Meetings when some of our travelling Friends came amongst us And this is the Work of John Wilkinson and them of that Party with him and on this wise with Witchery have they gon about to further their Design which the Lord will break in pieces It 's already begun let them look about them that they may escape the Wrath and perpetual Reproach that 's coming upon them let the Patient wait but a little and they shall see the end thereof The Relation at large we have by us with many Hands at it ready for a surther Service as Occasion may require however from what hath been said touching this matter it may be easily seen whether John Wilkinson be not a principal Leader in this contending separate Work and what treacherous lying Reports is 〈◊〉 abroad by him and others of that Party to work in the Mindes of People a 〈◊〉 of Friend's Exercise in the Church of Christ according to the Discipline and Order thereof And whether William Rogers in his applauding such so 〈◊〉 and none to exceed them in Doctrine and Life that ever he hear'd of is not very much under a great Mistake let the Reader consider when such Work as this is acted by them However this we can truly say these things have greatly wrought the Churches Peace and Quietness and now we are become very Peaceable in our monthly and quarterly Meetings they of the dividing contentious opposit Spirit having left us and the Power and Glory of God overshadowing our Meetings and those Blessings 〈◊〉 on high we are daily made so to enjoy 〈◊〉 our Labours and Work that a true Delight in God and his pure Truth springs up amongst the Faithful and Amiable and Sweet Our Society is without the least appearance of any Jarr or Division amongst us and our Meetings on the account of the Worship of God Friends are truly comforted in in the sence of a daily Increase in the Power and Dominion of God So that Friends Testimonies for the antient Truth are sweet and easy to many notwithstanding what is suffered therefore and several are added to us from off the barren Mountains and gathered home to the true Sheeperd who leads his Flock into green Pastures by the Pooles of Water to our Hearts Comfort and the Glory of him who is worthy for evermore And this we have to say upon the whole matter in relation to the many grievous and sore Exercises that we meet withal for several Years through the occasion of this dividing separate Spirit which had 〈◊〉 the Churches Sorrow and the Breach of its Peace The Lord hath turned the same to our great advantage many ways as hath been demonstrated and livingly felt to the great Joy and Comfort of our Souls that into an holy retirement of the antient Power by which we were first a People all the Innocent to God are brought that thither all might be scattered that had any depending upon any other thing and the Salvation which God revealed in antient days is become precious indeed and which livingly springs to the establishing of all whose dependency wait on him in those antient Testimonies which the Lord hath called us to bear for his Name-Sake so that Peace is become our Portion and the Blessing of God our great Reward And with respect to any publick appearance of opposition by them of that sort as to concern themselves on that wife in our Exercises for Truth the Glory of God in the Order Discipline used amongst us Friends are become here-a ways in the North much what quit of it for they begun to see it was in vain for them to resist and strive with that which they say was too strong for them and their Spirits fainted through the dread of the Eternal God they were in war with and their Hearts failing them in the day of Battel and having much what now given up the management as was said before of the Work and the Design in hand to them of that party with them in the Southern parts with whom John Story much what did remain some cluttering work William Rogers and some of party with him made in those parts but principly he was the man took the matter into his concern and a deal of stir with writing and such like wrangling work he made in some of Friends Meetings and others sent Papers to London and into the North against the Testimony given at Ellis Hooks's Chamber made mention of before with many scornful Terms and malitious Smitings ready also to be produced and many more such-like with Answers and Rejoynders as occasion was which to speak of and insert at 〈◊〉 is not much upon us as not altogether necessary with respect to our concern for that which hath been already said about matters of that nature may be we judg sufficient in the Eye Heart of the Upright to God to leave William Rogers and them of party with him convicted of the matter alledged in charge against them with respect to manisest Opposition to Church Care amongst Gods People and the Order Government of Jesus Christ instrumentally in the Family he hath made choice of to be Glorified amongst during the Tabernacle which God hath given And this we can say and evidence according to Truth that grievous Work William Rogers and his Abettors made against God's innocent harmless People in the South with bawling cluttering Work such as we have met withal in the North The Relation whereof we shall mostly leave to our Brethren in those Parts as they see an Occasion for it In the mean time this may be noted that when they had done all they could both in North and South to beget a Dis-esteem of Friends Care under the Government of Jesus in the Church and Family of God and thereby thinking to obstruct the Order Rule and Judgment thereof and to leave themselves thereby at Liberty in the Flesh and at ease that the Stroak of Gods Truth should not come upon them which is seen to be that Spirits Design they have been acted by Yet all would not do for they were in War with that which was too strong for 〈◊〉 the Glory of God 〈◊〉 over the Darkness they were strugling in and the Church of Christ continued in its antient Glory and beautified she became in the Hearts of Thousands through the Care and Labour the Travel the many Exercises in all Diligence Meekness and Patience used and born in the Concerns and Work thereof and many became more and more established in the Sence thereof even the more that the wrong Spirit and them of it set themselves against it and Fear and Jealousy of the success of their Work no doubt surprized them because of the 〈◊〉 Glory that attended
judged as a malicious perverter of George Fox's sincere Intent in the aforesaid Directions and his drawing his false 〈◊〉 there from tending to make People believe that George Fox's Directions were 〈◊〉 forth with Severity to be urged upon People as he hath often said and as William Rogers hath Suggested and Printed that George Fox's 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 are urged to be Practiced before Conviction and before they 〈◊〉 it their duty to observe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 we say William Rogers his Inserting John Story' s Words on that wise as it tends to a malicious Charge against George Fox its false and abusive as we have often 〈◊〉 for George Fox's Testimony for Truth and his Directions in relation to Church 〈◊〉 and Government have ever been commended to the 〈◊〉 leaving the Issue to the Lord alone and to his Faithful Witness in all and the Faithful to God do receive the same with Gladness as that which answers their Consciences with Satisfaction in the performance whereof as they have felt it their Duty they have found the Presence and Blessings of God with them We say again it is the Fruit of a dark Spirit and imports great Confusion as the reply at large manifests to make this jumbling Work about a clear and plain Truth which would darken Knowledg How can George Fox in the Spirit of the Lord Jesus or any other Instrument in the Lords hand be moved to give forth any Directions or Advice to the Church to be observed and put in practice but there is a necessity thereof and so consequently to be practised amongst Gods People in his leading Grace And what is that Severity they are offended with and thus clamour against Is it any thing else but the laying things home upon the Consciences of them who make mention of Gods Name What other Severity have we used or ever appeared in When William Rogers Prints again let him tell us if ever George Fox or any of us were otherwise concerned in the matter of the Directions which John Wilkinson once confessed to but in commending them to the Conscience and to be led in the Practice thereof by Gods leading Grace as their Duty and if any in a wrong fleshly mind resist the same to declare Dis-union with such as not worthy of that Fellowship which the Faithful are in as William Rogers in his Christian Quaker hath confessed may be done Paul charged before God and the Elect Angels to observe the things he had directed to in the Spirit which he knew would attend them who were innocent in the Practice of those things which he was moved to lay before them But let us ask William Rogers or any of Party with him Do they think that George Fox was moved of God to give forth things to be practiced in the Churches in the Spirit of Truth that fleshly minds should be justified in Gods sight in putting a 〈◊〉 thereupon as John Story did as the Fruit of his dark Mind in any smooth ungodly pretence whatsoever And shall any be Blessed in saying That George Fox only recommended these things to our Consciences to be practiced as we saw need and that we see no need of Womens Meetings or of Monthly and Quarterly Meetings so constant as both John Story and John Wilkinson have said And we see no need of keeping our Meetings in our Houses when twenty Pound Fine is imposed on them that do so We see no need of such Inspection or such Strictness with respect to the bringing of Marriages twice to the Meetings unless there be 〈◊〉 apparent Cause Under these pretences hath Disobedience been sheltered and Loosness nursed up and Weakness prevailed in the time of Persecution and on the score of other antient Testimonies sor God And we testifie that the great ground of Dis-satisfaction about Church Care which John Story and others of Party with him wofully fell into and the great cause of all the Contention which hath been made by them spoken of and which William Rogers says George Fox hath been erroneously concerned in and whom he and John Wilkinson would charge to be the occasion of was the Churches practising in the Life of God those things that were commended to the honest Hearted according to the Directions given forth by George Fox and other Brethren on which occasion the Unfaithfulness of many came to be searched into and found out and judged in the power of the pure Truth which they liked not they could easily have born the reading of them and their being commended to Friends Consciences so that the Practice might have been suspended and not come into but room left for their loose Minds and backsliding Work for John Wilkinson said Thas those things which George Fox 〈◊〉 commended to the Churches were necessary and good things But when Friends desired that all might be found in the Practice thereof and accordingly were concerned and their flying in Suffering times and their backfliding from other Testimonies once born for the precious Truth coming to be spoken to that Judgment might be felt thereupon then John Wilkinson struck in with John Story and others of the same Spirit and of the loose sort and hath continued since in the Opposition and Strife which led into the Separation in which they are unto this Day Divers other smiting Reflections against George Fox William Rogers appears in in his tedious Observations on John Story and John Wilkinson their Answers with his deducted Inferences from George Fox's Words and sincere demeanure in the Church of Christ which he would draw his Accusations from which are not worth the Trouble that we might put our selves and the Reader unto if we should take notice of every circumstance thereof the which we intend not in this place seeing the most that he hath said or can say in his own defence and on the behalf of them of party with him is insufficient whereby to acquit him and them of the Charge that we are bold to stand to against them of Opposition and labouring to work strife amongst Gods People which all who have seen his Book and what hath been said in Answer to it and have a true sence of his Spirit and Work may easily see as insufficient also to detect George Fox of being erroneously 〈◊〉 in the aforesaid Difference as he very abusively hath accused him of and Condemns him and others of the Brethren for their appearing in Judgment against the Spirit that John Story and John Wilkinson have been led by William Rogers goes on and Inserts an Epistle of George Fox's occasioned through an Objection he frames up Object Thy whole Discourse seems to carry a kind of an Edge against the Spirit that of late Years had acted through George Fox 〈◊〉 whom its certainly known from his Writings yet extant that he hath thus Advised Take heed of Judging one another and Judge not one another I command 〈◊〉 in the Presence of the Lord neither lay open one anothers Weaknesses behind one 〈◊〉 Backs
for thou that dost art of Hams Family which is under the Curse c. Upon the consideration of this William Rogers saith the Objector may then say Object How comes it to pass that many of his Actions comes under the just censure of his own Words William Rogers says to this I know not how better to Answer then to testisie that Pride must have a Fall and God-suffered this Evil to come upon him c. To all which we Answer thus That which hath grieved William Rogers and John Story hath been the Judgment of the 〈◊〉 Truth upon the loose backsliding Work of the Spirit that they and them of Party with them have been led into This was William Rogers's Torment in which he hath let loose his angry malitious Tongue which venteth his smiting Accusations against the Faithful as may be hereafter manifested For because an Epistle of George Fox's reached him that had made away part of his personal Estate to his Servant to avoid Sufferings thereby as himself hath confessed not alledging any occasion of Payment of Debts or the like for his so doing therefore in his Torment would on this wise Revenge himself But let him be asked how it is that he now condemns George Fox for giving Judgment although against a wrong Spirit and yet he himself in his 〈◊〉 Quaker hath Judged the 〈◊〉 Family of God who have believed in the Light fave them of Party with him to be the Apostates and Innovators And how is it that George Fox must be so abusively rendred in Print to Posterity as he hath rendred him who says His 〈◊〉 must have a Fall and that this Evil is come upon him c. For Judging a wrong Spirit that is Accursed seeing George Fox formerly said Judge not one another nor lay open one anothers Weaknesses behind one anothers Backs c. And yet William Rogers notoriously guilty in that matter as said before who caused a Paper 〈◊〉 with malicious smiting and false Accusations against George Fox to be Published in a publick Meeting when George Fox was nigh two hundred Miles distant and knew nothing of any such thing neither was the Paper of Accusations sent to him till after it was behind the Back published on that wise whether this be not Hams Spirit let himself judge and with this same Spirit he 〈◊〉 the Heritage of the most high God to be Apostates and what not It s admirable that William Rogers cannot see the Envy and Pride of his Heart that he may take heed of the miserable Fall that he is nigh unto if with speed he Repent not and that he is not ashamed to make mention os these things that he would lay to 〈◊〉 charge when he is thus horredly guilty thereof himself and if the least 〈◊〉 were in any others Eye he would take notice of that and will not see the 〈◊〉 in his own It s too plainly manifest that God for the Wickedness 〈◊〉 hath appeared in on this wise hath given him up to a reprobate mind that he may fill up the measure thereof for the Damnation that slumbers not We further say Let William Rogers be also asked would not the Apostle Paul have come under his Judgment of Pride that must have a Fall because he gave the same Charge viz. Judge not one another and who art thou that Judgeth another Mans Servant he stands or falls to his own Master c. and yet said An Heretick after the first and second Admonition reject He bid them also cast out the Incestious Person He said Know ye not that the Saints shall Judge Angels how much more things that pertain to this Life William Rogers may 〈◊〉 How comes it to pass that Pauls Actions comes under the 〈◊〉 of his own Words and so consequently he knows not how better to answer then that Pride must have a Fall Oabominable Wickedness indeed Must not George Fox or any spiritual man unto whom the Lord committeth Judgment 〈◊〉 in his Hand as he also maketh Pastors and Teachers c. and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 concern from God is on that wise place a Judgment upon such as backslide from the Life of Truth and the Practice of the pure Religion after tender and orderly dealing with such according to the Command of Christ and the Primitive Example in such Cases because they have admonished and charged the Children of the Lord to take heed of Judging one another or speaking Evil one of another c. What dark Confusion is this and great Ignorance of the Spirit and Power of God wresting things to their own Destruction We tell William Rogers he is not treated of us now as a Brother and one of us neither is he and them of his Spirit judged as those to whom Paul writ nor as those unto whom George Fox directed his Epistle of Advice on that wise to take heed of judging one another but they are dealt withal as Enemies to the Life of God and the Fellowship of Brethren as their separate Work and Strife demonstrates them to be and Judgment is set on the Head of the Spirit they are led by which also they cannot escape whilst in subjection to it and are doing its Work and in the Testimony from the Lord God unto them we are bold to say whether they will hear or forbear that the Indignation of God and Wrath from Heaven is to be revealed upon them and that with speed if Repentance they find not Another thing we take notice of relating to charge against George Fox by William Rogers Inserted in the 4 th Part of his Christian Quaker distinguished c. which he abusively Clamours against him withal is concerning Micha's Mother whom George Fox makes mention of in his Exhortation to and encouraging of Women to be Faithful to God according to the Gift received from the Lord to profit withal to the Praise of him who is the Giver And making mention of several honourable Women that were concerned in the Work of God both under the Law and in the Gospel Day shewing also that God is not strait in dispencing of his Grace to the Female as well as the Male that so every one might be doing for God in their Age and Day he makes mention also how the Lord was pleased by his Invisible Power and Vertue to reach the Hearts of Women in the very greatest Darkness and Idolatrous Times to manifest that the Lord is willing to work in all and through all to the Praise of his rich Grace on which occasion he instanced how the Lord reached the Heart of the said Micha's Mother with his living Power which caused her to confess to the Eternal God who had made her Son to confess That he was the man that had taken the 1100 Shekels of Silver which had been stolen from her and upon his being constrained by the Lords secret Power to confess and restore the same She replyed saying Blessed be thou of the Lord may Son c. The Virtue
he had wrought Dissatisfaction and Strife in the Church of Christ heading and standing by a Contentious Party with him and leading them into a Separation from the ancient Fellowship in the Truth and Services relating to it and an acknowledgment of the wrong which he had done to the Truth and Gods People we expected and the Spirit that led him to it to be Condemned by him this the Lord and the Truth first looked for from him as we told them And also we say William Rogers hath dealt very Disingeniously with us in his Printing thus to our Defamation in that he hath not also Printed the Reasons we gave him and them why we could not take any notice of Advice or Councel from him or of his Expedients for Uniting c. in the Capacity he stood We asked him that brought the Paper into our Quarterly Meeting whether it was directed to the Meeting from John Story or whether it was a Testimony from John Story of Judgment against himself for the abusive Work he had made amongst us of neither of which any account could be given us which if it had we should readily have received and embraced the same but otherwise we could not do it for the order of Truths sake he being a man that had run himself out of the Unity of Brethren and disconcerned himself in the Church Affairs and the Judgment of Truth through the Brethren being gone out against him and he continuing in the Separation and Strife still we say and we appeal to Gods faithful Witness what notice could we take of any Papers from John Story unless it were to acknowledg his runnings out and condemning himself therefore that so he himself might come again into Unity with us which we truly desired and then we should be glad of his Advice and Proposals in the Spirit of Truth for the helping back again of such as he had helpt to lead 〈◊〉 and thus we proposed to him as most proper for his Concern with much more in the Love of God and Sincerity of Soul being desirous with all our Hearts to receive him and them in again at the right Door that so we might have been comforted in our Souls therein which we have at large to shew in the Copy of a Paper sent from our Meeting to him and them as 〈◊〉 in Manuscript for what further occasion may be seen for it After all this nothing could we hear of from John Story or any of that Party of any submission in him to the Order and Judgment of Truth but in obstinacy of 〈◊〉 in Contention and Separation growing worse and worse he continued for all his smooth deceitful Words and Work that we have had too much of to our Grief Notwithstanding a Meeting was appointed amongst us in relation to the tender hearted amongst them of the Separation in whom the Witness and Life of God was not yet Slain to be at the House of Thomas Camm desiring and word sent them accordingly that all those who had any sence of their Weakness on the account of the asoresaid Division and Separation and were willing to ackowledg the same might come unto it and giving the Brethren that satisfaction as the Truth did expect we should be glad thereof and receive them in amongst us with Joy and if they pleased to bring John Story' s Paper thither for their satisfaction probably we should be willing to have it read but none of the Stout or Stuborn of them came nor any such Paper heard we of however God was with us and our Labour was not in Vain in the Lord for several of the Upright amongst them who loved Righteousness in Heart and Soul came to see from whence they were fallen and returned to their first Love and have done their first Works and the Lord hath Healed them to their Hearts Comfort and the Churches Joy giving God the Praise who is worthy Here follows a Paper given forth by them that came off from them of the Separation To the faithful Flock of God the Children of Light every where the dear and tender Salutation of your Friends whose Names are here unto Subscribed your little Brethren through the Redeeming Hand of the Lord most dearly reacheth you SIgnifying that we are given to understand that there are Copies of a Paper formerly subscribed by many professing the Truth in this our County of Westmerland 〈◊〉 and spread up and down the South and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 England and what farther we know not directly opposire to the Exercise of the Church of God in its tender Care in these Parts upon which said Paper was grounded the unchristian and disorderly 〈◊〉 from the ancient 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Exercise and Service of Truth faithfully continued amongst them to Truth 's great Blemish principally occasioned by John Story and John Wilkinson and some other chief Abetters thereof and Pertakers with them And whereas we also understand that all the Names which at the first were inserted in the said Paper of Subscription do continue thereat as if no Testimonies had been given against the same by any of the said Subscribers that thereby the Leaders in that said Work of Separation and Strife might hold their Interest in the Minds of such as are led away by the same Spirit to persecute the design and Work thereof And in as much as our Names were once put to the said Paper and thereby were Encouragers of them that were the Fomenters and Upholders of that Spirits Work which we now see would have laid waste the Heritage of God if it could have prevailed we are heartily sorry that ever we should be any encouragement thereof or that ever our Names should be put thereunto And as formerly several of us have given forth Papers to the same effect to follow the said subscribed Paper we do now from the bottom of our Hearts and with one Heart and Soul condemn that Spirit that led us thereunto which was the very same Spirit that led some of us to leave our Houses in the Worship of God in the time of Persecution and to meet together in private hidden Places to our shame which thing also we do really judge together with a Paper given 〈◊〉 in vindication thereof and the aforesaid Paper of Subscription against the Brethren of the Monthly and Quarterly Meeting and Exercise thereof we do bear our Testimony against as Inconsistant with the Honour of the Naked Truth and Order of the Gospel in the Power of God and the Unity of dear Brethren having a true sence of what evil report it hath been and what hurt we our selves incurred thereby together with many simple Ones who were offended and 〈◊〉 by it and what Exercise Gods faithful People have met withal by reason thereof and we desire that our Names may be rased out of the said Paper where-ever it may be met withal and that where this our Paper and Testimony may come Copies of it may be sent abroad where any occasion
pound might descend to him as his Birth-right when as Simplicity will conclude his words could have no such tendency in them nor bear any such Construction as this he nakedly saying I might have had something that descended to me as my Birth-right this could not imply much nor shew forth any ambition in him as William Rogers would charge him with And when he cannot avenge himself by bluring his Repute as a Christian he bends himself to abase him as a Man by undervaluing the parentage he sprung of speaking hightly and scornfully of his Kindred and falsely too For we are satisfied that for all his sleight of his Relations c. that his Parents lived comfortably and commendably too amongst Men in the Tabernacle God gave them to reside in and left to each of their Children something to live upon when the Lord took them and they were never a shame one to another Ask William Rogers to stop his boasting Mind whether some of his best and nearest Relations be not a shamed of him and have turned their Backs of him as the Lord doth the Rebellious not expecting a Blessing for him The Occupation also and 〈◊〉 calling he had in which as we well understand he was a good savour amongst People that 〈◊〉 God William Rogers speaks sleightly of it but in Discretion he might have been sparing in that for concerning his Descent and Relations George Fox hath not concerned himself therewith William Rogers might have be-thought himself of what 〈◊〉 some of them were he knows best in relation to that matter himself he might have forborn also on this wise for his Companions John Story 's sake whom he so highly applauds who was no less respected of Gods People for all that whilest he kept to Gods Power Oh the shame the Man exposes himself unto and the Madness that he is detested of by which he makes himself ridiculous amongst Men and so makes People call to memory what W R's Relations were for if he himself were not a puffed up Fool he would be ashamed to upbraid any one about Relations we are perswaded many of his own Adherents cannot but dislike his work it gains no Repute to them nor Credit to their Cause they have in hand having no better Spirit to mannage their Design then such as this William Rogers Reflects upon George Fox for not labouring with his Hands as he says the primitive Apostles did or otherwise being Industrious in some outward calling whilest Ability and Leisure would permit that the Gospel of Christ might not be chargeable These are his words in the fifth part of his Christian Quaker c. page 49 Implicitly charging him thereby as his work is We say let the man come forth that can lay Idleness or Sloth to his charge and prove it against him William Rogers's Aspersion toucheth him not the calling that he was of as a Man he was diligent in from his Youth we are bold to say whilest leisure permitted let this stop William Rogers's Mouth yea after the Lord made him in measure a Minister of the everlasting Truth we are able to Evidence the same against William Rogers false charge till the Lord brought him more to serve the Gospel and the concern thereof became his Work and might not serve Tables and for the sake whereof let the daily Exercise he hath had upon him his many unwearied Travels his Imprisonments in Dungeons and nasty Places his tedious and long Journeys beyond the Seas watchings and lying out of doors in the Night season make William Rogers Blush to charge him with being not Industrious when Health and Oppertunity served him and his Travels of late Years since bodily Weakness attended him and much what upon his own charge Testifies to his Zeal for the Gospel and Care over the Churches of Christ and clears the matter against all that William Rogers or any whosoever with respect to Sloth or making the Gospel chargeable would lay to his charge It were well if William Rogers could justly say that John Story whom he speaks so highly of as none to exceed John Wilkinson and him in Doctrine and life that ever he heard of in true diligence with respect to Testimony and Service for Truth which he had committed to his Charge had cleared his Conscience in Gods Sight as George Fox hath done or that he had kept the like Record and Interest in the Hearts of Gods Faithful Children as George Fox at this Day pretionsly retains then would John Story never have been such an Exercise and occasion of Grief in the Church of Christ as he and William Rogers have been in heading a Separate Faction and backsliding sort that a Spirit of strife and separation hath prevailed upon and then would their account have been more easie to have been given in the Day of the Great God when the Books will be opened and things laid to Charge and the Lord will reckon with William Rogers sor his hard speeches and the evil Deeds he hath done against the Lord and his Faithful People Our Hearts tremble to think of that Day with respect to them of that Spirit for the sad work they have made as Thousands of the Children of God know and their own Consciences too although William Rogers desperately hardens over all yet Vengeance is the Lords and in the end he will repay It had been well for William Rogers that he had forborn this Work long ago it weighs him down and will be his Torment too hard to endure and for all William Rogers's reflecting on this 〈◊〉 upon George Fox let him bring forth the Man that will say that George Fox hath made the Gospel charge able to him let him bring an Account thereof and he shall have repayed double William Rogers goes on and says It hath been reported that John Story was Judged by George Fox or by some of his party for giving his Mother the Rent of his Land that was given him and said he should have kept it to have born a Testimony against Tythes 〈◊〉 and he says also Whether it ought not as well to have been George Fox's duty to have kept his that descended to him by Birth-right to have kept up his Testimony against Tythes as well as John Story In Answer we say as to the first part of the Charge against George Fox or them 〈◊〉 party with him relating to John Story that William Rogers brings no Proof or Certificate from any concerning that which he would charge upon George Fox or those others he speaks of that John Story should be blamed by for giving his Mother the Rent of the Land that was his or that John Story did give it to her which when William Rogers doth we shall further concern our selves in Relation thereunto neither did we ever hear of any such thing and George Fox doth deny it and therefore it is a false charge that shall lye as his door amongst the rest but this we have heard that the same
intended that the said Meeting should have continued longer for being spoken in the plural Number it must not relate to that particular Meeting at that time but to Friends Meetings more generally and many Hnndreds we believe will testifie that George Fox hath said on that wise at the breaking up of many Meetings when no Persecution hath attended them in an Exhortation that many have been comforted in and much more occasion might he then have for such an Advise as is frequent with him to give because that Persecution in those days attended Friends Meetings and surely if this Man had been of a right Spirit and single to God and had had regard to Truth and the Repute of the Church of Christ he would not have aggravated the force of his Evidence against an Elder and an arraigned innocent Person through William Rogers's wicked murtherous Spirit with what Circumstances relating to Charge he could any way do it let him beware least the Lord lay that to his Charge that he will be much less able to acquit himself of then he whom William Rogers and he too have set themselves against Here follows another Certificate to prove William Rogers's malicious Charge against George Fox I Do remember on this occasion that George Fox did depart out of the Meeting aforesaid before the Meeting broke up or Friends departed and at that time Friends were attended with Persecution and as he was departing he said to Friends to this effect Keep your Meetings and I do believe his so departing was to save himself from being taken by the Persecutors 〈◊〉 Day To this we say It s observable that this Evidence is no proof answerable to William Rogers's Charge and doth bespeak abundantly more Prejudice and Malice then any Christian Love or Charity and doth produce no repute to the Author thereof amongst Gods faithful People or amongst sober Men and 〈◊〉 is no Evidence at all to the matter in Charge for he saith not a word of any Persecutors coming up the Stairs whilst George Fox was speaking or of George Fox's leaving of speaking on a sudden and hastening away c. But it is matter of Charge from himself grounded upon his own belief like William Rogers's Evidence viz. If Reports be ture or I firmly believe or It s probable so And as to George Fox's saying Friends keep your Meetings that 's Answered before in the Answer to the other Certificate satisfactorily to such as are of an honest Mind and William Rogers as to proof to his Charge against the Innocent is yet in the foyl and makes his Works and theirs also of Party with him ridiculous in the Eyes of the wise in Heart who cannot but be ashamed of him and his Work too Here is yet one more that appears to his shame in abetting William Rogers in his malicious detestable Work his Words are as followeth I Do on the occasion aforesaid declare that I remember that George Fox did depart out of the Meeting aforementioned a considerable time before the Meeting broke up and at that time Friends were attended with Persecution I do also remember that mine Vnele Dennis Hollister did acquaint me that George Fox did advise him to absent himself from Meetings in the time of Persecution Samuel Hollister Answer This Evidence also is short like the rest and is not answerable to the Charge no mention being made of any Persecutors coming up the Stairs whilst George Fox was speaking or that he left speaking on a sudden and hastened down c. and manifests William Rogers's Charges suspicious if not altogether false which however afterwards we doubt not but to do Who said That the Officers came up one paire of Stairs whilst George Fox was speaking and that George Fox on a sudden left off speaking and hastened down another pair of Stairs c. which manifests either dimness of sight in William Rogers or that his prejudice and jumbling restless Work he hath made in the Envy that lodgeth in him hath infatuated his Understanding and Memory that he forgets himself or otherwise we may conclude that his Wickedness is such that he often matters not what he saith to the running down of such as he sets himself against the Lord doth take notice of these things And it is not proper discreet nor evidential for Samuel Hollister to bring up the Words of his deceased Uncle to make an Accusation thereof against the Innocent who was a Man of that Gravity Wisdom and tenderness of Spirit as some of us can testifie that we believe that he would have abhorred to have appeared on this wise against an Elder but have given him more Gospel Order if true then either William Rogers or he hath done Did Samuel Holister ever acquaint George Fox with what he hard his Uncle say touching this matter that he has brought in Charge against him and put it into the Hands of an open Enemy to Truth and George Fox's Foe to be put in Print on Record to Posterity against him Where is the Christian Dealing and Gospel Order which William Rogers hath blamed others for being deficient in on John Stories and John Wilkinsons account Who in order to get a Judgment against them saith he 〈◊〉 forth Charges behind their Backs that Judgment might be brought forth against them unhard VVe can tell William Rogers that his and his Certificers Case is far remote from that in relation to us whom he hath placed a Judgment upon in Print to Posterity on the account of our dealings with John Story and John Wilkinson as hath been evidently manifested in 〈◊〉 Treatise already for we say John Wilkinson and John Story were acquainted with proceedings intended concerning them by the Advice and Order of the Quarterly Meeting in persuance also of Advice from Grave and Ancient Friends from London a Meeting was appointed that they might be heard and they had liberty granted to make their Defence and to make their Objections against the Witnesses if they pleased and that all things might be examined Face to Face betwixt them and those appearing on the Truth and on the Churches behalf against them which they were acquainted with yet they contemptuously refused to appear in the ambition of their Hearts and shut themselves from the priviledge of being heard and justly therefore exposed themselves to the sentence of Truth through Gods People against them Let these Certificers and Accusers also be asked whether ever they acquainted George Fox with what they intended to do in relation to Charge and Evidence touching this matter Did they give the priviledge of a Friend and Brother in Truth according to Gospel Order Did they give him liberty to be heard and make his Defence Face to Face according to judicial proceedings that he might have the liberty to have cleared himself or given that satisfaction which the Truth and the Gospel of Christ required before they published him in Print to Posterity If they have been deficient in this matter they have
be concerned in We say his Charges being False and Malicious according to George Fox's Words he weighs them as a little thing they touch him not and all he can say against him when he hath said his worse he treadeth up on without notice taken of them as to hurt his Life or break his Peace with God or lesten his Repute amongst the Faithful he may go on and what he hath to do do it quickly for his time is far spent and the Damnation slumbers not But doth he say That George Fox and his Party are in Confusion because notwithstanding some say his Papers are not worth Answering yet they are Answered he says Answer We say it again and will stand to it that his Papers were not worth taking any notice of with respect to himself and the baseness of his Spirit as a Man given up of God and hardned for Ruin neither are his smiting Queries that his Paper is filled with worth regarding being manifestly seen to come from a wicked prejudiced malicious Mind that discovers themselves and the Spirit from whence they come to the wise in Heart who sees beyond all and in as much as that the Lord and his People were clear of him if no more had been said nor he and his Papers taken notice of yet for the more clearer manifesting his Spirit to all and his unchristian doings that all might beware thereof as also for the removing the stumbling Blocks out of the way of the weaker sort that are laid thereby and that they that are yet without may not harden themselves because thereof and for the 〈◊〉 him see his own Confusion Contradictions and Inconsistances therein that he might take notice and fear otherwise that Coals of Fire may be heaped upon him if he repent not that upon these Considerations George Fox should find it with him in his freedom to put an Answer to it where is the Confusion he speaks of let him consider and speak But William Rogers saith This is one thing he taketh notice of to be a sign that John Wilkinson ' s Prophesie is fulfilling Poor Man Is this the shift they are glad of to hide John Wilkinsons false Prophesie withal viz. That those who were not of Party with John Story and him in opposition to Church Care but testified thereunto in the Name of God should be broke to pieces A poor shift indeed which John Wilkinson can never thank him for for it brings his Testimony and Prophesie into the Dust if the fulfilling of it must center in this But what doth William Rogers say in relation to the dealings of Almighty God concerning the Rebellious that are not worthy of the Lords forbearance and long suffering towards them nor their Works worth taking notice of and yet the Lord waits to be Gracious and would heal their Backslidings as was testified of from him in relation to the backsliding Jews Let him take heed of bringing the Power and Kindness of the Lord under his Judgment for the Lord will not hold him Guiltless in so doing Dare William Rogers say That the Lord was divided against himself in the exercise he had with them far beyond their deserts or any worthiness in them of the Mercies that waited over them What absurdity is this to attribute the fulfilling of John Wilkinsons Prophesie to such a matter as this that is so common with the Lord and his dear People also William Rogers may know that its their own Case and is coming on their own Heads they are in a divided Spirit broken off from the Life of God and Unity of Brethren in the Spirit of Truth and many of their own Pertakers comes away with joy their Kingdom totters whose fall will be great its Foundation is rotten it cannot stand several of the few of them that remain are beholding with fear the Structure which they have framed are making a way to escape with their Lives They who love the Lord and Righteousness will quit their Hands of this ungodly Work that William Rogers is so disperate in let him look about and those few that yet sticks to it many are cut off on every Hand and the Hearts of the great Ones begin to fail them for they can find no Hands in the day of Battel God of a Truth will blast their Design forever let them go whither they will for help it s all in vain the Desolation of their Spirits Work is determined of God and they 'l perish forever if they repent not The wise in Heart sees how they are looking about them for help any way and bemoan them for the ancient Glories sake that some of them were covered with Let William Rogers be asked what he says of his great Confederates at Chippenham in Wiltshire the place of John Stories great Interest and what he says of their Letter sent to Jeofrey Bullock in Suffock the old Apostate that was publickly denied of Friends for denying that Christ that dyed at Jerusalem and hath been a publick opposer of Truth in Friends Meetings several Years In which Letter they applaud him and his Blasphemous Books being as they say affected therewith and desires Correspondency with him and to have some of his Books in opposition to the Foxman Party and Orders as they contemptuously speak of him and the Churches Care we may have occasion hereafter to insert the aforesaid Letter to Jeofrey Bullock and discover his Spirit by the Works thereof William Rogers and them of Party with him may think their Case sad and disparate when Jeofrey Bullock and the Apostate John Pennyman who spreads abroad Jeofrey Bullock's Books against Truth and the Friends of it becomes William Rogers's and his Confederates Friend to associate with and they are glad to solicit him to their aid as their letter to him plainly imports surely it may be said their case is bad and their Design can never be blessed that 's upheld by such a spirit as this Oh it were well if any of them would yet truely be turned to God that they might yet be healed William Rogers further goes on his smiting Work against George Fox which he takes occasion to appear in from some of George Fox's Words and saith he Now I come to take notice of a Postscript written by George Fox in these words viz. Here follows mine Epistle that hath touched thee meaning the Epistle to Friends formerly inserted relating to faithfulness in the time of Persecution which saith George Fox to William Rogers thou makest all this Work and Writing about who would make me Inconsistant with my self and so mightst thou have done the Apostle who one while Circumcised and afterward forbad it who one while said they should not judge one another about dayes and Meats and Drinks and afterward judged them for it who made it their Principle so to do These few Lines saith William Rogers do manifest that George Fox doth not divide and distinguish as he ought to do if he be not Ignorant
the pure Truth and One that would expose the Heritage of God whom he is gone from to Persecution and what not if the Lord were not in his way to block him up whose Impudence hath been such in raking up false and slanderous Accusations bringing them sorth contrary to all Gospel Order and Rules of Christianity or Common Societies as hath 〈◊〉 plainly demonstrated against a People he hath been in Unity with as the like of him hath scarcely been ever heard of in Age or Day And as upon a deliberate weighing of matters and things relating to him and the Work he hath in Hand the Honest Unprejudiced Sincere-Hearted exercised in a Christian Spirit comes to find things before the Lord and their own Consciences let them speak and give their Judgment upon the whole Matter and it is our sincere disire in that Love that 's born by us to all Men that the Consideration and Sence of this Spirits Work may cause many to fear and beware lest the like Temptation should overtake them to their perpetual Ruin World without end And forasmuch as that William Rogers in the last Lines of his aforesaid Rejoynder which he often Mentions in the first part of his Christian Quaker intimates that He together with John Story and John Wilkinson and their separating Party reckons themselves to be the Heritage of God and that they cannot leave the way of the Spirit of Life wherein they have begun in expectation to be made perfect through Conformity to outward Ordinances knowing that those who have begun in the Spirit cannot be made perfect in the Flesh We think meet for the further satisfaction of the Honest Unprejudiced People as formerly we hinted to insert here a Letter which during the time of the great exercise that the Church of God met withal through the dividing seperate Spirit that William Rogers John Story and John Wilkinson gave themselves up to serve to the Churches grief was subscribed by four Men of Chippingham in Wilshire one of whom as we understanding is a Preacher amongst the aforesaid turbulent sort of Professors of Truth in the said Country and John Story' s great Correspondents and Abettors in the confederate contentious Work which said Letter was directed and sent to one Jeofery Bullock of Sudberry in Suffolke whose horrid Tenets and Practices Discovering the Wickedness of his Spirit being manifested by some few Quotations out of one of his Books Printed and spread abroad by Apostates together with the aforesaid letter subscribed by those of Chippingham and sent to him whereby it will be plainly demonstrated to all the honest Hearted that the aforesaid William Rogers and them of party with him are in a backslided State and are not such as they would have themselves rendred to be viz. such as have begun in the Spirit and look not to be made perfect by the Flesh or that they are the Heritage of God or a People that keeps to their First Principle and the way of the Spirit of Life to be made perfect therein as they would be looked upon to be rendring others to be departed there from and to be such as would be made perfect through outward Ordinances c. The Reader may take notice that this Jeofery Bullock is one that Apostatized from the Truth several Years ago and became an open Opposer of Friends in their Meetings Friends gave forth a Paper of Judgment against him several Years since for denying That Christ that dyed at Jerusalem to be the Judge and Saviour In his Book also Entituled Antichrist's Transformations discovered c. These following Assertions are laid down First That the Woman is the Soul Heart and Mind of every visible Man 〈◊〉 It is said therein That there is an Iavisible Woman which God did make and place in every visible Man Thirdly It is said in his Book That its plain in Scripture that there are two Christs Fourthly Ieofery 〈◊〉 querieth What is the Fruit of the Tree of Knowledge and he again gives the Answer in his Book saying It is the Scriptures Fifthly He saith in his Book It was the Man in the Mistery that dyed which was one with the Mistery which was the Christ of God he saith Sixthly Again he saith in his Book It was the Womans part that died which was the Soul and Body for he says Eve was in the 〈◊〉 thus far Ieofery Bullock We say What Horrible Darkness Blasphemy and Confusion is this Now here followeth the aforementioned Letter sent to him Friend Jeofery Bullock Chippingham the 4th of 4th month 1679. FRiends here have seen two Books of thine one Entituled One blow more at Antichrist another Entitled which several Friends have good Unity with But here are also a Company of called Friends which are very much for Foxmans Order which may be called Mens Invention that do make it their Work to 〈◊〉 and Calumniate all them as do not conform thereunto some of which thee and 〈◊〉 of which we are perswaded in our Hearts are the Servants of the Living God amongst whom thou hast a share of being Vilified to be a bad Man although to us it 's no manner of Invitation for us to give credit thereunto but rather to the contrary as well knowing it is one of their stratagems they always use by them they cannot proselite to their faction but as it was once said And my Soul enter not thou into their secrets If thou please to send a few Lines direct it to William Dyer we shall take it very friendll only for a little Satisfaction Barnadiston and another have been here and besides their envious Darts flyes very secretly and swiftly Also if thou please to send half a Dozen of thy Books and deliver them to William Wescott at the Green Man without Aldgate and take Mony of him for them and the Charge of them putting it to John Jones's Account and advise William Wescott to send to him They say of thee that none of thy Neighbours Friends or others can speak well of thee I have forgot the Title of the other Book which defect I believe thou canst make out William Dyer John Jones William Jones Francis Browne It may be noted that since Jeofery Bullock hath received this Letter above written he was so lifted up that he should be so much taken notice of that he hath shewed the Letter to some of the Worlds People and by that means Friends came to get a Copy of it These are of the sort that promote John Story' s and John Wilkinson's Interest in that County of Wilts where their Travels have been and are they that cry down Man and yet what sorry Men even one of the worst of Apostates they set up and are glad of him to side with them in their backsliding and opposite Work against the Truth which manifests plainly of what sort they are and what their Spirit is The Reader also may remember what a boast William Rogers hath made of his standing for the
not ashamed to call it an Idle Vain Testimony in the Name of the Lord. And yet in another place of the Narrative and other of their Writings they of this Spirit said John Story and John Wilkinson must be left to Act as their Lord and Master shall lead them And yet would not allow Elizabeth Sturridge to clear her Conscience as her Lord and Master might require her Doth not this manifest a partial and byassed Spirit in judging thus partially as he hath done And yet contrary to their former Judgment as some of them of that Spirit have said to wit That we must not judge of Spiritual things And how answers this also that which they say That all must be left to the Witness of God in themselves And from what 〈◊〉 do we say doth that Jealousie and Fear arise of having the Meeting entertained with Testimonies being the same also with that which made all the Bawling in the Meeting at Bristol when Friends were waiting upon the Lord for the Testimony of Life to arise amongst them that William Rogers said His Soul abominated such 〈◊〉 which was to wait to see if any thing might arise in any to Write to John Story about the reconciling the sad Differences risen as the Certificate imports Is not this the Spirit that 's gone from the Truth and likes not sound Judgment being gone from the Command of God Cain after he had done evil concerning his Brothers Blood his countenance fell and he thought that every one that met him would slay him But it is not so with the Righteous for they are bold and makes no such provision for the Flesh And is not William Rogers's Testimony more Idle and Impertinent and John Story' s also and John Wilkinson then Hers was who saith God hath raised them up to stand in the Gap and yet are opening Gaps for the Loose and Fleshly to enter in at out of the Way of Truth and their Testimony for it to wit William Rogers's making away part of his Estate from the Spoylers and says It s his Principle and John Story creeping in suffering times and John Wilkinson standing to justifie it and what an idle Testimony was that in John Story that condemned Friends Soundings and making an noise in Heart-Melody to God in their Meetings whilst others were Preaching or Praying and said He had born his Testimony against it and he would do it and bring it down or leave Preaching And was not John Wilkinson's Testimony Idle and Prophane and charged it upon the Lord too that said God will break us when we were in the exercise of Truth according to Gospel Order and yet it fell on the neck of his own Spirit for many not long after broke off from them and came away with joy Again in the Narrative it is said by them That from henceforth there may be no occasion to say that they are Men of Strife c. We say Would they be look'd upon not to be Men of Strife we can confidently say that William Rogers's work of spreading abroad this Narrative and others his contentious Papers sufficiently gives himself the lye if he say so and the Fruits of John Story and John Wilkinson and their Company in their Subscriptions and Separation and Contentious Work sufficiently manifests that they are not Men of Peace We further observe that it is said in the Narrative That the consideration of the present Differences amongst Friends and the sence they have that the Name of the Lord is dishonoured amongst the Heathen who at this Day may clap their Hands for joy and cry Ha! Ha! They say They have cause to enter into the House of Mourning rather then Joy In Answer we say it may be seen what a deceitful Spirit this is thus to pretend and use a deal of smooth Words in Hypocrisie that have no Answer in the Consciences of the Faithful to God For hath not John Story and John Wilkinson and other Partakers with them in this contentious VVork been the only cause of dishonour to the peaceable Truth and the Name of God Doth not the Separation and such work of Strife and VVrangling as is brought forth amongst them and William Rogers's sending abroad his contentious Papers up and down the Nation contrary to Covenant and Agreement made and signed testifie of what Spirits they are Their Resistance to the tender Advise and Judgment of the most of Friends in the Nation sheweth them to have a stubborn Heart far from the House of Mourning VVhat Kindness and Care hath been extended and used towards this People VVhat tender Entreaties have been made to them to be reconciled to God and the Brethren and to come off from the Separation And John Story and John Wilkinson have been desired that they would be instrumental in breaking up the Separate Meeting or testifie against it and yet with an imperious Spirit do they despise and resist all and this Hyprocrisie atop of all causes the Lord the more to abominate their doings Hath William Rogers forgot the Crys and Tears to the Lord for them at the Draw-well when he and they stood in that heardness of Heart that many were made to admire Let them say what they will the House of Mourning they are Strangers too yet the Day of it will come from the Lord God who sees their VVorks and will judge accordingly for neither their Spirit nor their VVorks do answer the Light of Christ nor the Grace of God that hath followed them and the Strife that is begun and which they still maintain shall be laid at their Doors let them look to it as they will answer the Lord in the great Day VVe observe also that William Rogers in the Narrative recites two Questions that were put to the Brethren at Draw-well by John Wilkinson and John Story to be resolved although we shall not concern our selves here much to give any Answer to them then what was delivered amongst the Brethren then yet we desire that the said Queries may be compared with the Paper of Prescriptions subscribed by John Story and John Wilkinson and them of the Separation The first Question Whether or no we and all Gods People ought not to be left in all matters of Faith and Discipline c. to the manifestation of Gods Spirit and Truth in our Hearts to Speak and Act therein as we are thereby Instructed and Perswaded and not otherwise The Answer was given Affirmatively viz. They Ought And our Sence and Judgment in the Truth closed therewith as that which we stand for and have maintained against every contrary appearance And yet John Story and John Wilkinson in their Paper of Subscription the foundation of the Separation in the North say together with others of the Separation That none of their own Country or of other Countries must sit amongst them to concern themselves in the Business of their County although it be about matters relating to Discipline but their chosen Men to whom they give
for the last Words he heard him speak were not sensible neither do we preceive during the time that his Understanding and his Speech continued with him that ever he demonsttated the least sence of Remorse or Repentance for the great Damage he had brought upon Truth Dishonour to our Holy Profession and Grief and Trouble to the Church of God but rather Dyed in the hardness of his Heart as appeared by his Presumption to say That he died in the Favour of God and Peace with all Men when it was manifest 〈◊〉 his own Words that it was false in part at least for when he gave order about his Burial he charged that Thomas Camm should not be invited to his Burial yea so far was he from being in Peace with the said Thomas Camm that when his Brother Charles Story desired him to put such things out of his 〈◊〉 praying him that he would suffer him the said Charles to invite Thomas Camm to his Burial he would by no means be perswaded so neither Thomas Camm his Wife nor any of his Family were Invited to the said Burial although Thomas Camm's near Neighbours that were Unbelievers and not of John Story' s Kindred were Invited to it Nay moreover scarce any one of Preston Meeting to which he formerly belonged and died within the compass thereof were Invited to his Burial except those of the Separation notwithstanding they invited the People of the World Friends Neighbours and left them out by all which it is evident that his pretending to die in peace with all Men was untrue and only a false pretence and his Heart being so hardened to assert such untruths how should he die in the Favour of the Lord let the understanding and wise in Heart judge But as he had in the time of his Life since he fell from Truth been the greatest Agent in the Hand of the Adversary in Sowing the evil Seeds of Strife Division and Separation and also the most Industrious to keep those in the Separation that he had led thereinto so was he not wanting as appears to confirm his Proselites at his Death by telling them That he died in the Favour of God and Peace with all Men yet notwithstanding all the subtil Sleights and cunning Craft of deceived Men the Lord hath confounded this Spirit of Strife and Separation and many of those who have been most eminently concerned in promoting its Interest and Work the Lord hath removed out of the way by Death therefore it were well if those that are yet left alive would fear and dread before him and none of them any longer be so hardy as to tempt the Lord lest his overflowing scourge sweep them away and they perish in his Wrath forever The 6th of the 3d Month 1682. William Walker Joseph Gregge Richard Sill Junior Here followeth a short Testimony for the Truth and against the envious Spirit of William Rogers given forth by an Antient Friend in Westmoreland whose name is Thomas Atkinson IN or about the Year 1652. It pleased the Lord God to raise up the seed of Life in some of his Servants in this Nation of England and called those and sent them abroad as Lambs amongst Wolves into this World by the same Spirit and Power by which he chose and sent the Apostles in the Primitive Times And the first that was so sent in our Age and Generation and appeared amongst us in the Demonstration of the Spirit with the joyfull Message of Life and Salvation in this Country of Westmoreland was George Fox who being raised from Death to Life I bear Record was anointed of God to Preach and publish glad tidings of Peace Life and Eternal Salvation in the name of Christ Jesus to lost Man and many in this County did gladly receive his Message and Testimony at that time and did joyn with it some of whom the Lord made Ministers of the Everlasting Truth early of the day as Gervis Benson John Camm John Audland Francis Howgil Edward Burrow with some others whose outward Bodies are laid in the Dust yet their Memorial lives and remains with us a sweet savour to God and will do to Ages and Generations to come for their Faithfulness and Works sake with many more who are yet alive in the Body to bear a faithful Testimony to Truths praise and the Comfort of the Flock of God And seeing that this true and faithful Servant of the Lord George Fox the first Publisher of Truth in our Age in this and many other Counties and places through this Nation yet remains in the Body and a Record living upon my my Soul and Spirit of his faithfulness to the Testimony born by him who in the hand of the Lord was made Instrumental to the turning me many Thousands more to the Lord as also of 〈◊〉 care over the Flock of God that they all might be established in the Truth and present Grace of God revealed in which he is a sweet favour to God and his Witness in all Hearts in which Work and service his Labours Watchings Travels and Sufferings have exceeded many if not all others both in this Nation and in many places beyond the Seas for the space of about Thirty Years and God hath blessed him in his Labours so that he hath seen the travel of his Soul in a great measure answered many Thousands being gathered to and established upon the Everlasting Foundation Christ Jesus that stands sure for ever I say this Record living upon my Soul and Spirit a concern of Conscience remained with me to bear a Testimony for the Lord his Truth and this dear Servant George Fox whom we count worthy of double Honour for his Work and Service sake as an Instrument and Servant in the Hand of Christ our Lord and also a Testimony lives with me in the behalf of Thousands of Faithful Friends and Brethren against that turbulent and wicked Spirit in William Rogers and others who came out with us and partaked of the Grace of God with us but have turned their Backs of it who have in their Printed Books and Papers gone about to calumniate him and bespatter his Innocent Life and Testimony for God that thereby they might make him a Sacrifice to the fury of the Wicked and we do in Gods presence testifie that its the same Spirit under another similitude or transformation that hath all along persecuted him for his Work and Testimonies sake by 〈◊〉 he hath often been cast into Prison cruelly used in nasty Holes grosly aspersed with being a Papist a Jesuit and Blasphemer and what not that 's bad and wicked Now peruse William Rogers's Book and compare his Work and Language with this of the common Enemies of Truth and they will bespeak themselves to be the children of one Father Satan the old Persecutor of the Saints and Accuser of Brethren which the Lord will cast out in his hot displeasure So let William Rogers and all other Opposers and Gainsayers be warned before
remember and my Answer in Sincerity implies the same that in 〈◊〉 Brotherly Discourse which George Fox and I had in the time of such his Weakness when I was with him one time I speaking of the Exercise the Church of God had in 〈◊〉 with them of the opposite contending Spirit against Church Care and Gospel Order and telling him that some of them had given out reflecting seornful Words against him on the occasion of his not being constantly at the Meeting and had rendered him to have lost his condition as to Truth c. And that they had presented the same to some that were more Honest and Simple then the rest to the hurting of them and to make the Care in the Church of God more contemptible which George Fox had been an Instrument in Gods Hand on the account of and yet neither John Story nor John Wilkinson would come to see him in that State although he had been to their own acknowledgement as a Father to them and many more nor any of them that so wickedly represented him behind his Back would so much as come to see how the matter was but in a base mind that watcheth for Evil smote against him behind his Back which the Lord will avenge Whercupon for the sake of the Simple and for the bringing Shame and Confusion on the other sort and for the sake of the Church of God in general it was desired in secret Cries to God that the Lord might if it was his Will again enable him so with Bodily strength as that the Innocent tender Lambs of God might enjoy his Bodily presence with them as formerly they were wont to do to their Refreshment and Comfort and the Lord blessed be his name heard his Cries and the Groans of the Righteous in that matter to the enlargement of the Churches comfort and great advantage thereby whatever William Rogers and they of that Spirit say in contempt thereof and during his exercise of Bodily weakness at that time I was with him one day in his Chamber during the Meeting in a lower Room and I do affirm if these were my last Words that the Power and glorious Presence of the eternal God was with us to the breaking of my Heart and an Exercise of travel in Spirit was upon him on the account of the Church of God in general its Unity and Peace and with respect to the Backsliding sort of John Storys Spirit that the Lord might forgive them and restore them into the first love and living sence again and if this be the recompence that they render the Lord and him for the Labour of love in long suffering and patience on this wise used towards them I am satisfied that he is truly content and that their Reproaches are not grievous to him in the love of God who hath enabled him to endure all for his and his Peoples sake whose reward is with him and none can take it away And I do declare in the presence of the God of Heaven before whom I stand 〈◊〉 on this 〈◊〉 was the concern bet wixt him and me in Relation to this matter on the score whereof William Rogers thus wickedly appears with his siniting Charges against him which touch him not neither doth it hurt my Life nor my Peace with God whatever William Rogers doth suggest or bring forth against me touching this matter and I do appeal to that in all Consciences whether William Rogers's 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 against George Fox in which also he hath made me concerned 〈◊〉 the same be not false and maliciously alledged against him without any 〈◊〉 Ground seeing that George Fox's Weakness was such as many will evidence if occasion were as that he was as likely in a short time to be taken out of the Body as otherwise and so faint often in his Spirit by reason thereof that the 〈◊〉 Breath of People near him he could very 〈◊〉 endure or what 〈◊〉 William Rogers hath so basely to smite him in his Queries with his 〈◊〉 and And 's or 〈◊〉 John Blaykling hath contradicted himself on this occasion and 〈◊〉 his confusion or that John 〈◊〉 's 〈◊〉 is any way fulfilled hereby the wise to God may consider And as to the latter part of the Charge in William Rogers's two Queries on this occasion viz. Wouldst not thou have accounted this in another the Fruit of a Carless Negligent Libertine dark Spirit that was departed or departing from the Truth Implicitly charging him thereby to be of such a Spirit In the answer thereunto it is denied that this state is applicable to George Fox as Thousands can testifie it is required also that the Man may come forth that can 〈◊〉 charge him ever to have been of such a Spirit from his Childhood nay let his Dilligence in the service of Truth ever since the Lord made him a Minister of it and in all self-denial his exposing of himself in his Testimony therein to the Displeasure of the whole World great and small Professors and Profain testifie to his readiness to Work and Labour in the Gospel let the many Reproaches Buffettings Knockings-down for Dead Stripes and Imprisonments in Dungcons and nasty Places and yet never shrinking nor growing weary of his Exercise notwithstanding all that his Travellings on 〈◊〉 and lyings out of door in the Night-time whilest the Lord was pleased so to concern him let his Travels beyond the Seas in many Countries and Islands yea even of late Years since Bodily Exercise in Pain and Weakness took hold upon him make William Rogers or any that takes his part ashamed to lay a Slothful Negligent Libertine dark Spirit to his Charge Yea let that in the Consciences of all the honest Hearted to God that have known him and his Spirit testifie and give a Record for his care in the Church of God Instrumentally in Gods Hand with many other dear Brethren in the settling the Churches and Family of God under a wholsom Discipline and Order wherein the Faithful have been comforted and made each others Help and Blessing in the Lord who is worthy of the Praise yea blessed be the Lord many have good cause to say for the Instruments that he was pleased to raise up for the publishing the glad tidings of the Gospel-day and for their Faithfulness according to their places the Lord hath set them in as the Elders that rule well and are accounted worthy of Honour yea that Honour which is Eternal that God gives and covers his People withal as it was said in the Scriptures of Truth He that Honoureth me him will I Honour and again This Honour hath all his Saints to bind Kings in Chains and Nobles in Fetters of Iron but saith he I will not give my Glory to another I will not give it to Graven Images Surely if the Lord be pleased to Honour his on this wise and give them his Glory it is not displeasing in the Lords sight to restifie on Gods behalf accordingly but this Honour
he was at Draw well the place of his Residence at the Meeting there with many Brethren on John Story 's and John Wilkinson's Account the sence which he had of him then as he testified to several hath not produced such an effect as this which Testimony that he then had for John Blaykling though he smothers it now shall be his Torment and this Testimony we have to bear on his behalf as a Man far remote from such a Spirit or deserving any such Reflection c. And John Blaykling is the same in his Spirit that he then was though prejudice hath blinded William Rogers his Eye c. And William Rogers further upon the occasion of his smiting Query in Relation to George Fox's being of a careless negligent libertine and dark Spirit that was 〈◊〉 or departed from the Truth saith That in my Answer I say Might not William Rogers have applyed this at home who knows in his Conscience what a Libertine loose and dark Spirit he is of in departing from his subjection to Truth to give way to and hath taken a Liberty to make away part of his visible Estate to 〈◊〉 it from the Spoylers in the times of Suffering for the Truth 's sake To which in his Rejoynder it s observ'd William Rogers saith John Blaykling cannot 〈◊〉 his prophane Charge at my Doors with respect to my securing part of mine Estate but contradict his own Testimony for George Fox's keeping his Integrity because George Fox denieth not but that he advised Mary the Wife of Jsaac Pennington to secure her Estate from the Spoilers Answer First William Rogers here doth not deny but that his said Query was an implicite Charge against George Fox and therefore no lye in George Fox to call it so And Secondly He doth not deny but that he did secure part of his Estate and therefore the Fruit of a Libertine Loose Spirit departing from the Antient Nobility of Truth and he did not well in calling it a Prophane Charge from me because he hath confessed it and pleaded for it saying That it was better so to do then so c. as before is cleared only says John Blaykling cannot lay his Prophane Charge at his Doors but contradict his own Testimony for George Fox who says he denyeth not but that he advised Mary Pennington to secure hers c. Well then let the case with respect to this matter stand here William Rogers granting the case as to matter of Charge of securing c. against himself And as to my contradicting my self with respect to my Testimony for George Fox's Integrity because William Rogers charges him in Mary Penningtons case c. I say let William Rogers make good any matter of evil Fact against George Fox relating to Mary Pennington which he hath not yet done neither hath George Fox confessed to any and there will then be a further concern about it as 〈◊〉 case may require And Thirdly It may be observed in my Answer 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rogers that I applyed to William Rogers the case of a loose libertine Spirit and his departing from his Subjection to Truth not only with respect to his 〈◊〉 c. but also with respect to his making it a great part of his concern to 〈◊〉 by and strengthen a Spirit of Strife and Separation the great and 〈◊〉 receptacle of all the loose libertine dark contentious backsliding sort of Professors of Truth so that what woful sad contemptible Work this Spirit of Separation William Rogers hath been so deeply concerned in managing the cause of hath wrought it cannot be expressed Again William Rogers exclaims against me after a very abusive manner for speaking plainly to him and telling him That from a Spirit of Envy against the Government of Christ Jesus Instrumentally and visibly in Gods Power amongst them that believe he ceaseth not to Calumniate the Instruments whom God is pleased to concern in that matter This he storms at and makes a large Discourse what he hath said in the Vindication of the Government of Christ both in Word and Writing but surely we may say and it will ere long appear that he mean's immediately only and not by Instruments in relation to Gods visible Family for otherwise he will contradict his whole design and overthrow the fabrick of all his Work He saith He hath stood for it in his Answer to Robert Barclay's Book The Postscript to the Narrative about the Meeting at Draw-Well His Answer to the Brethren's so termed saith he Narrative at Draw-Well His Dissatisfactions subscribed by him and others at Bristol and several other Papers saith he by all which it appears that I have contended for the Government of Christ. Answer I say what is it for William Rogers to contend for the Government of Christ and his Kingdom which stands not in Words but in Righteousness and Peace when he together with John Story and John Wilkinson have acted so clearly otherwise gratifying and serving an ungodly Spirit in opposition to the Churches Care Labour and tender Exercise in the Spirit and Power of Jesus in order to the keeping down the Spirit and the Works of the Flesh wherein the Kingdom of Sathan stands and is upheld Yea through all his late Work Papers and Books it may be seen how contemptiously he reviles and sets himself against the Instruments which the Lord more 〈◊〉 makes use of in the Church under the Government of his dear Son and in the Power thereof to be a Terror to the Evil-doer and the praise and encouragement of that which is Good and of them that do well William Rogers his 〈◊〉 Book called The Christian Quaker distinguished from the Apostate and Innovator manifesteth what Work he hath made against Church Government and the Care and Order of Truth therein which appertaineth to the Kingdom and Government of Christ Jesus as relating to the visible Family of God I do affirm its meer Deceit and a false Pretence to keep the Head of a false Spirit from under Truths Yoke and the Judgment thereof to talk of standing for the Government of Christ with that Spirit that 's not subject to him nor hath any regard to the unity of Brethren in their Exercises that relate to the same in keeping all things Decent Comely and of good Report in the Church of God to answer the Pure Religion the glory of Christs Kingdom in visiting the Fatherless and the Widow and keeping our selves unspotted of the 〈◊〉 how dare William Rogers say that he stands for the Kingdom of Jesus whilst he lets his Testimony fall in Suffering times in making away his Estate and says in 〈◊〉 It s his Principle so to do and thereby leaves an example for others to fall under Sathans Power to give him that appears like the Second Beast the Power again It s a shameful thing to pretend to stand for Christs Government with such a Spirit as this His Confederates at Chippenham and his great Abettors in the Work he hath had
in Hand and their Letter to Jeofrey Bullock the old Blashphemous Apostate from Christ of which a little was spoken before mars the beauty of his pretended Zeal for Christ and his Kingdom which he so much talks of the Work he made with his Narrative that himself drew up on the Meeting at Draw-well which was spoken of before and his judging the Narrative given sorth by the Brethren there before they parted and subscribed with an unanimous consent John Wilkinson if not he also calling it a Lying Narrative the Work he made about Robert Barclay's Book of Church Government which at London he confessed his Weakness in and the Narrative he gave forth contrary to Covenant amongst the Brethren at the Meeting about John Story and John Wilkinson c. between George Fox William Penn George Whitehead and others on the behalf of the antient Unity of Brethren and the Churches Peace and William Rogers Thomas Goldney and others on John Story' s account also the Work that he and some of his Associates of the same Spirit made in Wiltshire against the Testimony and Judgment given forth against John Story and John Wilkinson at Ellis Hooks's Chamber in London at the general Meeting asoresaid his contemptible vilifying the good and wholsome Directions given forth to be practised in order to the keeping down fleshly raw and unseasoned works in all professing the pure Truth calling them Mens Inventions other Mens Lines made ready to our Hands dictates of fallible Men Mens Edicts and Laws George Fox ' s Orders and the like rendering in his Printed Book the Lords People yea all that profess the Light to be the way to God except those of Party with himself to reckon the Government of Christ Jesus to stand in outward conformity to other Mens Lines made ready to our Hands to the Reproach of Gods People and the Blemish of the Gospel of Christ and the Order thereof which we testifie against as a Reflection upon the the Heritage of God for its the Spirit of Jesus we would have all in the Spirit of Life 〈◊〉 to in it all to be 〈◊〉 as they have received of God in their 〈◊〉 and place Male and Female as Helps and Governments such as the Apostle spoke of that our Lights may shine and our good Works appear to the 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 and the Renown of that Kingdom that never hath 〈◊〉 Let William Rogers be traced and the Footsteps he hath trod these several Years and the Work weighed which he hath been concerned in as his Writing and Printing demonstrates to all 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and single to God and it may easily be concluded that it is the Kingdom of Sathan he hath been in the defence of for the upholding whereof he hath made all this blustering Work and hath been more dilligent in the concern of it then ever he was to promote the peaceable Truth and the Kingdom of Christ Jesus And this Testimony which I 〈◊〉 to bear in the name and on the behalf of the eternal God and his antient Truth and the Fellowship of the 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 against every 〈◊〉 Spirit I am bold to stand 〈◊〉 let William Rogers 〈◊〉 what he pleaseth and all who take his part and for the sake whereof William Rogers hath been pleased 〈◊〉 to render me as he hath done but I desire 〈◊〉 Lord may 〈◊〉 him 〈◊〉 under the vail of 〈◊〉 that he 〈◊〉 come over him the Meystry of Gods holy Spirit he hath made himself a Stranger to and often 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 he 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I 〈◊〉 take 〈◊〉 of a 〈◊〉 Accusation that William Rogers alledgeth against me 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Spirit which he grounds upon some Words in the beginning of my 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 for George Fox in relation to the Charge against him in which he concerns me the words inserted in the beginning of 〈◊〉 Postscript are these Here follows the Testimony and Certificate of John Blaykling to the 〈◊〉 of George Fox of the Aspersions that William Rogers would 〈◊〉 upon him From this William Rogers concludes and publisheth the same in Print 〈◊〉 Posterity that I have 〈◊〉 to clear George Fox by this Certificate of all the Charges alledged against him suggesting 〈◊〉 and saying in these very Words That 〈◊〉 Fox can get an J. B. or T. B. to write or sign any thing right or wrong that in his sence may tend to his vindication c. as he saith Now whether this be not most 〈◊〉 and uncivil dealing let the Lord Judge who will repay and is 〈◊〉 only a particular smiting Accusation against George Fox who abhors such a Spirit and is 〈◊〉 to be William Rogers's own Spirit that he judgeth others by else would he have been more Charitable and Christian-like 〈◊〉 his 〈◊〉 on this 〈◊〉 seeing that he hath nothing to ground it upon 〈◊〉 his own 〈◊〉 But also I say it is a general reflection upon the whole Heritage of God who are truely in Unity with George Fox's Spirit and are not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it it is also an absurd Reflection upon me and is that which my Soul abhors as not daring to Sign any thing whatsoever in relation to Truth or 〈◊〉 Children of God but what in the Spirit of Truth my Heart and Soul closeth with Neither did George Fox know any part of the matter of what I Writ nor that I was concerned so to do till it was clearly finished and sent away to a Friend to be annexed to George Fox's Answer which I knew he was in hand with 〈◊〉 do I know 〈◊〉 George Fox see it or no till it was sent away 〈◊〉 be given to William Rogers as most particularly concerned therein such surmising as this God will never bless let him look to it as he will be served And in Answer to the 〈◊〉 in the first place let William Rogers be asked whether in his Conscience he can believe that ever I intended to undertake by my 〈◊〉 to clear George Fox of all the Charges he had alledged against him as he says I have and by his so saying grants that his Queries are Charges which he was 〈◊〉 to do because of his charging George Fox so many times with a Lye for saying his Queries were Charges And Secondly seeing that in his 〈◊〉 by the scope of my whole Discourse which relates to the matter of those two 〈◊〉 about George Fox's staying from Meetings as the fruit of a careless libertine Spirit as he called it c. He cannot but 〈◊〉 as a 〈◊〉 mean capacity may easily gather that I did not intend to concern my self on that wife whether hath he acted like a Man of a Christian Spirit in rendering me if the fault in that word 〈◊〉 had been mine an 〈◊〉 for a word And Thirdly I would have him speak whether he did not see the Answer to his 〈◊〉 in which that point is 〈◊〉 cleared to any honest well-meaning person long before his Book was in Print which his Wife 〈◊〉 the receit of to
me many Months before and then I ask him whether he can say that it was any thing but a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Spirit in him that seeks occasion against the Innocent to render 〈◊〉 Paper a false Certificate on the score thereof with many other abusive 〈◊〉 upon me in Print to Posterity and whether he hath done in this case as he would have been done by For I know he is a Man of that understanding as to see and acknowledge that where a Word in a sentence happens accidentally to be on the account of 〈◊〉 or the like that causeth the sentence to carry another signification then the scope of the 〈◊〉 Discourse relates to or where the Speaker or Writer doth signifie that the 〈◊〉 or the intent of his mind therein was not according to the signification of the said Word but otherwise as he then expresseth himself Such an one on such an occasion according to Scripture Rule and the Charity that is to be extended to all is not to be made an Offender and a clear occasion William Rogers had given him by the scope I say of my whole Paper relating to that matter to know my mind therein as also I cannot but believe but that my Answer to this Charge he had received before he needed to have 〈◊〉 this matter in Charge against me in Print and yet for all this he hath made me and Published me to the whole World an Offender for a Word yea I may say for a Letter which is so far from the rule of Christianity Civil Society and Honesty amongst morral Men that its an absurd 〈◊〉 thing for a Man of his supposed Parts and very nausious in the sight of wise and 〈◊〉 Men. And further I may tell William Rogers that had he been a Charitable 〈◊〉 Man and not one that watched for an occasion for Evil or had he exercised the Parts which God gave him as a Man he might easily have gathered that seeing my Name was at the Conclusion of the said Certificate or Testimony then those Words from which he grounds the Charge were not properly like to be mine neither indeed were they any of them nor are they in the first Copy nor in any Copy that came from me but had been put in by the 〈◊〉 without my knowledge in that Copy which it seems came to him which I cannot but say was a little weakly placed there by whom I know not in 〈◊〉 much 〈◊〉 that the Letter 〈◊〉 is at the end of the word Aspertion which should not have been upon which occasion William Rogers very 〈◊〉 with respect to the material 〈◊〉 appertaining to the Case and unmanly hath done concerning me for as I had no Hand in that Word so 〈◊〉 had I any thoughts as my Paper demonstrateth to concern my self in any 〈◊〉 in relation to the clearing 〈◊〉 Fox from the Aspersions cast upon him any further then what the clearing of him from that charge and 〈◊〉 alledged against him might tend as to the invalidating of all 〈◊〉 rest which I must 〈◊〉 and as I believe many will conclude that it greatly tendeth unto And 〈◊〉 to speak as charitably of the Transcribet as in 〈◊〉 we ought to do I say that the little Prologue prefixed to my Paper by him might be very 〈◊〉 done and not worthy of any such occasion to be taken on the Score thereof for to 〈◊〉 at the beginning of the matter being annexed to another's Matter or Discourse was very properly to be done whereby more Intelligibly to distinguish between them for the Words expressed taken in the most charitable sence might not import that it was intended thereby to clear George Fox of all c. but that they tended to clear George Fox of the Aspersions cast against him that the following matter related to so all things every way considered in that Love that thinks no Evil it s clearly seen that for 〈◊〉 of matter William Rogers in the malice of his Mind catcheth at any thing to keep his restless turbulent discomposed smiting Spirit at Work with thereby manifesting that he runs himself into great mistakes touching the same not only perverting thereby the thing he aims at but gives occasion through that means to manifest his 〈◊〉 the more Several other abusive reflections William Rogers hath cast upon me in his Rejoynder or Answer to my Certificate about the matter in charge against George Fox spoken to in the Answer to his Rejoynder which touch me not nor do they hurt my Life and Peace with God viz. That I am puft up with Spiritual Pride my Zeal turned into Envy my Wisdom into Folly whereby I am now become as heretofore in another case relating to John Story so dexterous in giving forth a false Certificate Answer This is my Comfort in the midst of all God hath not made William Rogers Judge over me though he would intrude into the Prerogative of 〈◊〉 Jesus and take upon him that which the Lord hath not given him therefore never reacheth my Life and if for my Testimony for God and his Antient Truth and the Fellowship of Brethren and my Zeal for the propagating the Government of the Spirit and Gospel Order in Gods visible Family and for my tender concern in the holy Exercise thereof I am become 〈◊〉 I am resolved in the Strength of the Eternal God to keep fast my stedfastness therein to the end of my Days that I may lay down my Life in Peace although for my so doing I shall become more vile yet and I am livingly satisfied that all his and others Reproaches which the Lord suffers to be my lot tends to my Advantage in God and the knowledge of Truth and no way lessens my repute in the Hearts of Gods faithful People and let William Rogers and those of the 〈◊〉 Company do their worst the Burden in the end shall be their own And as for that smiting Charge of my giving forth false Certificates against John Story There is none I testifie that I have been concerned in in relation to him but the Substance thereof shall be stood to when William Rogers or any of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 lets me see what they are and undertakes to convict me thereof 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 William Rogers mentions none here I take no notice of it any 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to manifest his unchristian Spirit that watcheth for Evil and smiteth 〈◊〉 the Back neither do I believe will it be of any credit with them that fear the 〈◊〉 and love Righteousness and desire to do unto all as they would be done 〈◊〉 And William Rogers hath no good cause to Impeach me thus with respect to John Story for many are Witnesses what Kindness and good-will I did bear with respect to his 〈◊〉 good and keeping his antient Repute in Truth amongst Gods People and that I stood by him in his Weakness so far as any way 〈◊〉 I could in excusing of him until he became my Shame through turning his Back of the Lords Kindness and the Brethrens too and became hardned in Evil till the Lord gave him up to a Reprobate Mind And I bless God that the good-will I bore to John Story and my care whilest his Day lasted and my Testimony born against a 〈◊〉 sort the reward thereof is returned into my Bosom having cleared my Conscience every way thus far concerning him and he rest of them let them consider of it in time as they will Answer the same 〈◊〉 the Lord in the great Day John Blaykling THE END Which wrong Spirit will never give them to see their duty nor lead them into it Printed by John Bring 〈◊〉 These Accusations are 〈◊〉 and his Eyes were evil John Story said He would have his Hand Cut off before he would take his Name from off the Paper for Separation This he said to R. B.
the one when the Lords secret Hand smote the Hearts of the other so that to another kinde of working in the fame Spirit they betook themselves as 〈◊〉 shall be made appear But first we defire that on the Consideration of what hath been said at large and yet things but hinted at with respect to the multitude of Exercises that have been met withal in relation to the Sorrows Grievances various Troubles and great Afflictions that hath attended the peaceable People of God these several Years through the Spirit of Opposition 〈◊〉 and Mischief that hath wrought amongst them by a sort that hath been acted thereby having let in an evil Heart of Unbelief in departing from Gods eternal Power and with respect to the Care long-Suffering Forbearance and great Patience that hath been used towards them with Exhortations Cautions Counsel and Advice in the day of their declining Age and with Reproofs of Instruction and the pure Judgment that hath been ministred in unto them with Line upon Line Precept upon Precept here a little and there a little as it was in the Prophets days in the case of the rebellious and backsliding People We say it s our Desire that these things being tenderly weighed in sincerity of Heart amongst all where-ever this may come and Occasion may be given to inspect the same may speak whether William Rogers whom we are 〈◊〉 with have justifiable Cause to render this Family in the Church of God and tenderly bowed down and broken with respect to them of his Party whilst a Door was seen to be set open to them the Apostates from God and such as in whom the Doctrin and Life of Christianity is extent and to publish the same in Print and leave the infamous Badg thereof upon us to Posterity or that the Witness of God in all your Consciences do not testify that he is a man of a corrupt Minde and hath set himself to work Mischief amongst the People he was once in Unity with and to work Destractions amongst them and expose a People more justified in Gods sight and amongst the honest hearted than 〈◊〉 to as much Infamy and Disgrace as he can any way do and to bring an Odium upon their Principle and Practice as much as in him lies and that he appears to be in the Enmity of his Minde against them he hath turned his Back of and the just Principle also in himself that would rejoyce to see Evil of any sort befall them and therefore hath set himself to render them the worst 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 devise we leave it also for them to judge whether the Apostate and turning back from the Doctrine and Life of Christianity be not truly applicable to him and them of that Party with him which in the Sequil of this our Concern we shall further demonstrate as the Lord shall be pleased to give us Leave Now to go on and that which is before us further to do is to manifest What other Course William Rogers hath betaken himself unto in the matter of his proving this People whose Testimony and Practice stands to maintain that 〈◊〉 a Gospel Dispensation through Gods invisible Power Church Order and Government visiblely and instrumentally is justificable and commendable amongst Gods People during their Abode in this World as a visible Family to shew forth Gods Praise The Course he takes to effect this matter if he could is to asperse and caluminate with malitious Accusations with all the Eagerness he can devise and work himself into such as the Lord hath been pleased to make most instrumental in the matter of setling the Churches in the aforesaid Order of the Gospel and Government of Christ Jesus many whom he names not yet palpably known to many of Gods People who they are he smites at and several whom he by Name makes mention of and for the cause of his looking upon them to be such as there are no Hopes of any Recovery for meaning out of the apostate State he declares and publishes in Print they are gone into and particularly George Fox he hath very abusively and not like a Christian or a sober Man inveighed against and cast very odious Aspersions upon him to his 〈◊〉 as he intends thereby and indeed if true did very much leave him under the aforesaid Character that he hath given him and many Thousands more It is our Purpose God willing to insert herein the principal Accusations which in his printed Book he hath published against George Fox and to demonstrate by Answer thereunto to all conscientious sober People the Fallacy thereof together with his ungodly perverting George Fox his honest and Christian Sence and Intents in relation to Matters and Words upon which William Rogers grounds his Accusation which his aforesaid Sence and sineere Intents in any charitable and Christian Construction is naturally deducible from 〈◊〉 Fox's Words and Exercises 〈◊〉 thereunto from which William Rogers having perverted them draws his 〈◊〉 Inference whereupon he often makes an Occasion against him It may be observed also how unbrotherly and unchristianly he hath appeared in the matter of the aforesaid Charging of him contrary to all Gospel-Order for the most part and the rule of all profest Christian Societies yea beyond all Bounds of humane Sobriety and Moderation so that if he could but get any colourable Occasion from whence to ground his open and implicit Reflections and malicious smiting Charges against him that as much as in him lies he may bring a Defamation upon his Christian Repute and also a Blemish upon him as a Man thereby also to invalidate the Esteem that remains in the Hearts and Consciences of many Thousands of Gods faithful People of the Christian Care that lives upon his Heart in an innocent Life in relation to Church Government and Order and Discipline thereof setled amongit Gods People in this Gospel Day It is also with us to manifest what malicious smiting Accusations he hath cast upon several others of our Friends that tenderly and yet in a godly Zeal for God the ancient Truth and Unity for Brethren have stood in the Vindication and in behalf of the Government of Christ Jesus instrumentally and visibly amongst Gods People relating to the Tabernacle in which we have a Day therein to shew forth the Glory and Praise of him that created us against the ungodly Workings of a wrong Spirit in Opposition 〈◊〉 And more particularly have shamefully abused 〈◊〉 of our Brethren in the North on the account thereof In relation to which also through Gods Help we doubt not but give the unprejudiced Reader that Satisfaction by a plain and honest Relation of Matters which he grounds his Accusations upon that an Understanding will be opened in them rightly to judge and testify that there is abundantly more Malice against the Particulars he is set against in his Clamouring Work than any real Matter upon which to ground the base Reflections and abusive Accusations that he hath treated them with which declares