Selected quad for the lemma: scripture_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
scripture_n	authority_n	church_n	err_v	2,923	5	9.8588	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A30026	De Christiana libertate, or, Liberty of conscience upon it's [sic] true and proper grounds asserted & vindicated and the mischief of impositions amongst the people called Quakers made manifest : in two parts : the first proving that no prince nor state ought by force to compel men to any part of the doctrine, worship, or discipline of the Gospel, by a nameless, yet an approved author [i.e. Sir Charles Wolseley], &c. : the second shewing the inconsistency betwixt the church-government erected by G. Fox, &c., and that in the primitive times ... : to which is added, A word of advice to the Pencilvanians / by Francis Bugg.	Bugg, Francis, 1640-1724?; Wolseley, Charles, Sir, 1630?-1714. Liberty of conscience upon its true and proper grounds asserted and vindicated.; Wolseley, Charles, Sir, 1630?-1714. Liberty of conscience the magistrates interest.	1682 (1682)	Wing B5370; ESTC R14734	148,791	384

the Glorious Presence of Christ upon Earth and which might any way contribute to rear up the Fabrick of the New-Testament Church 'T is much that such an Officer of so absolute concernment as this Opinion makes him should not be in the Christian World for three hundred years together If we will seek the meaning of this providential disposal of things may we not soberly think it to be that the Gospel was a thing wholly founded upon Spiritual Power was compleat therein and needed not any Temporal power to contribute to its perfection This impowering the Magistrate with a Superlative Authority in setling what relates to the Government of the Church supposeth this That the Scripture hath revealed no Truth that is binding in this matter but this That what the Magistrate pleaseth to settle in every place that is right and this I am sure the Scripture hath no where revealed and so we are like to have as many distinct Governments as there are States and distinct Kindgdoms in the World 't is strange those that are for exact Uniformity in any one Church should lay a foundation of such confused multiplicity in the Church Universal Either we must suppose Christ was not faithful to reveal all that concerned the Government of the Gospel-Church which God intrusted him with or else that it was the Will of God there should be no more revealed but that all should be transiently left to the Magistrate To say the first were but to urge Blasphemy for Reason if the second 't is to impower an Officer in such a necessary and weighty matter whose very being in the Church with an ability to do it had a futurity of three hundred years to come During all which time if Christ and the Apostles setled no Government in the Church and there being no Christian Magistrate that could settle any How could the Church then come lawfully to have any If it be said Where there is no Christian Magistrate every Church may use their own discretion then 't is plain the Government of the Church under the Gospel hath no other bottom than what every Magistrate and every particular Church pleaseth and so not only Magistrates but Churches and indeed all the World may be their own Carvers in this weighty matter 'T is very hard to be credited that the Government of the Church which does so greatly relate to the preservation of the Truth of Doctrine in it should be left to such floating uncertainties Besides this Position makes all that part of the Gospel which lies in Precept and President about the Rule of the Church and what was by the Apostles then practised and commanded to be of no use to us nor obligation upon us farther then the Magistrate pleaseth 't is to give him a dominion over that part of the Scriptures and opens a door to make him as some have fully done Lord over the whole New-Testament Two things are usually said to prop up this Power in the Magistrate First That there is nothing positively determined in the Gospel about these things because the Gospel being to take place throughout the whole world no one frame or Model of Government could be composed that would conveniently fit all Persons and Places where the Gospel might come to be received and setled and therefore the Wisdom of Christ hath left things of that nature wholly undetermined This is a thing taken for granted and wholly without any Divine Ground to warrant it and is in the reason of the thing it self insufficient for we find nothing in command or practice by the Apostles in setling the Christian Churches but what will agree with any Nation or People in the World He that will say That the Order of the Gospel as we there find it practised and required will not agree to any place may with as much reason if not more say That the receiving of the Gospel it self in the general belief of it will not agree to that place These things make it evident that the Order and Discipline we find setled in the Gospel-Churches in the Apostles time must needs fit every place and people and can do no hurt any where 1st It highly intends to heighten and compleat the duty incumbent on all Moral and Natural Relations that which Christ hath appointed to preserve order among Christians as Christians will never hinder but farther it amongst men as men 2dly The power upon which Christ's Rule setled in his Church is founded is wholly Spiritual it can never do any Violence to mankind nor clash with any humane power because that is the Boundery of it 3dly The thing designed and attained by the Order of the Gospel-Church is no more than to preserve men in a regular capacity to enjoy all Christs Institutions and therefore he that will say This Order will not sute any Nation must say in effect None of Christs Institutions will agree to that Nation 4thly There is nothing in Christs Government of his Church that is properly relative to the Political Government of a State or does any way determine the form of it but it may be equally exercised under any Government whatsoever The Religious policy of the Jews did highly relate to the State and was commixed with it and the same Government of that Church could not have been without a sutable conformity of the State to it and so could not well reach beyond that Nation and peculiar Country and People But the Gospel-Church and the Rule of it is grounded upon quite other terms and hath its first Principle in that saying of our Saviour Where ever two or three are met together in my Name there am I in the midst of them And there is no place nor people under the Sun but where with much advantage the order of the Gospel as well as the Gospel it self may be introduced A Second thing made to prop up this power in the Magistrate is Because of the wonderful difficulty we find in the New-Testament about matters of this nature This I acknowledge should put us upon much enquiry and great indulgence to each other but I cannot yield it a good reason to establish a visible Judge to settle a Civil Pope for at last upon the same grounds it will be found out that the Scripture in Doctrinals is obscure too and so the Magistrate must be likewise an Umpire in those things and finally in all Were once all these Carnal Interests and Political Concerns that are now twisted into the Government of the Church laid by it would be found a thing very feasible to deduce from Scripture Precept and Example limitted to no particular case in the reason of it a systeme of Ecclesiastical Rule sufficient for the obtaining all the holy and good ends designed by the Gospel and compleating men in a Spiritual Society as an Organical-Church and if a Church can be so constituted which is a thing in it self of no harship if men would be contented with the simplicity of

who is both Head and Lawgiver to his Church which are frequently laid down in Scripture by the four Evangelists and other his Prophets and Apostles Rather than the Practice Precepts Commands Prescriptions and Exhortations of G. F. or any other Mortal Man QUERY IV. If you say That the Commands Precepts Prescriptions and Exhortations of Christ Jesus ought Rather and in the first place to be obeyed as I hope you will not dare to say otherwise Then I further Query Whether Christ or any of his Apostles commanded that a Womens-Meeting should be set up Monthly distinct and apart from the Men and a Power committed to them to hear examine and determine Matters relating to the Government of the Church as now practised by many of us and that if any did not subject themselves to the Skill Prudence and Approbation of such Women-Governours and Government of the Church that they should be Judged and Condemned and Recorded out of the Vnity OR hath Christ or any of his Apostles left a Precise or particular Command that when any are intended to joyn in Marriage that first and before the Accomplishment thereof they the said Couple should always twice go to a Mans-Meeting and Womens-Meeting they being distinct and apart from each other for so they must be or else not according to G. F. his Orders and then all is in vain to publish their Intention of Marriage and when so done to stay a compleat Month and then go again to the said Meeting Viz. first to the Womens-Meeting for they have the Preheminence in our New Church Procedure and then to the Mens-Meeting they being distinct as I observed before which is a MAIN PRINCIPLE in this New Frame of Church-Government to ask and receive their Approbation and Licence to Marry and this to be done under pain of the Church's Censure which peradventure may be to Record them out of the Vnity If there be such a particular or general Command pray shew it us Or Whether did not Christ leave his People to their Liberty and Freedom How and in what manner they perform and compleat the Outward Ceremony provided they come together Chast and Clean as becomes the Gospel and the Professors of it QUERY V. If you say That Christ nor his Apostles left neither Command Example nor President for Womens-Meetings a part from the Men to be set up Monthly any way to intermeddle with the Government of the Church as that you must confess how angry soever you may be at the Discovery of these hidden Mysteries then I do further query of you the said Imposers Where had you your Power And from whence had you your Authority to Institute and ordain such a Way of Government in the Church by Women or otherwise containing such Rites and Ceremonies as have no President in Scripture And in whose Name do you compel to a Vniformity and Conformity thereunto And whether is not Christs Doctrine and Commands laid down in Scripture of more Authority than the Commands Institutions and Prescriptions of G. F Which if you grant they be as I know in words you dare not deny whatever you think Then I still further Query of you Directory-Makers What is the Reason and what doth it mean That neither Mathew Mark Luke nor John nor any one Chapter of any of those Books are Recorded in our Great Book of Records first and before the Epistle of G. F. as that which is more Powerful more Binding and of much more Authority Answer these Things QUERY VI. Whether were not the Bereans commended in that they searched the Scriptures to see whether Pauls Testimony accorded therewith yea and accounted more Noble than they of Thessalonica who were not so Inquisitive And is it not more commendable to search the Scriptures to see whether the Institutions Orders Cannons Degrees Traditions and Ceremonies of G. F. and other Innovators of Party with him Together with the Compelling a Vniformity and Conformity thereunto which hath occasioned so much Division Discord Strife and Contention since their Arrival be according to Scripture yea or Nay Seeing it is written Try all Things And if upon a diligent Search they be found directly contrary to Scripture and the Practice Doctrine and Example of Christ Jesus and his Holy Apostles Saints and Martyrs in all Ages Then I further Query Whether they ought not to be opposed withstood and testified against by all those that have a certain Sight thereof Alledging constantly according to Scripture That every one should be fully perswaded in his own Mind and if any be otherwise or contrary Minded they ought to be let alone until it pleases God to reveal and make manifest his Will unto them For what is not of Faith is Sin as saith the Apostle So answer these Things touching the Point of Church-Government for your Practice brings you into Suspition and you must come to Tryal as others have done before you F. B. The Twelfth Month 1678. To these Queries there were some Testimonies of Friends added which for Brevity sake I here omit likewise the Letter wherein I inclosed them to S. Cater I also at present omit for some Reasons And to this day I never had any Answer to the said Queries whereby I perceive what Effect the Advice given by a Publick Preacher of Party with G. F. hath taken Viz. Let not this Spirit be reasoned with enter not into Proposals and Articles with it but feed it with Judgment that is Gods DECREE Which Advice when compared with this kind of Doctrine frequently published as W. R. avers in his Preface to the Christian-Quaker Distinguished c. Viz. Let us exclude the Reasoning the VVisdom and the Jealousie and let us have an Eye to the Brethren I say when I compare them and many other like Exhortations it is the less marvel that they should refuse any Answer especially considering that if they should answer there is no way to evade being discovered and Errour loves Obscurity for its Habitation is Darkness and Ignorance is the Mother of its Devotion and Conformity the Monstrous Womb that produc't it and when attended with the Secular Power supports all its deformed Parts with great Admiration crying Who is able to make War with the Beast c. I shall add one Query which J. A. put forth to which I never heard that he had any Answer and by that the Reader may understand his Sense about the Proceedings of our Quarterly-Meeting against him and then I purpose to conclude this Chapter c. A Question propounded to S. Cater and others of the Isle of Ely and elsewhere who force a Conformity to Church-Discipline and say Without Conformity no Unity The Question is What is Conformity A very short Question and easily answered it may be S. C. and others may say It is to the Spirit but not mean so but intend the Wills and Edicts of Men as in Example the late Proceedings against J. A. concerning taking his Wife who in every particular

Practices a man may discern without a pair of Spectacles ERROUR and SUPERSTITION coming in apace LIMPING upon their old crooked Crutches of IMPLICIT FAITH and BLIND OBEDIENCE And least you should not know how to answer these Queries I will answer them in the Words of our own Principles that so you may the better behold your Revoltings and perceive your Innovations and take notice of your Apostatizing from your Primitive Principles But if my Answer please you not then let me see by one Answer of your own what you can say for your selves Query I. Whether to Impose any thing upon another Mans Conscience either to do or practice be not a doing otherwise to others than we would they should do unto us and so Antichristian See the Second and Third Chapter about Marriages Answ Yea For so says R. Hubberthorn in his Works p. 188. where he tenders seven Reasons why no Impositions ought to be upon any Mans Conscience by any but the Lord. And says he To Impose any thing upon another Mans Conscience either to do or Practice is not A doing to others as they would be dealt by and therefore is contrary to Christs Doctrine which say I is ANTICHRISTIAN Query II. Whether such Societies as do not govern themselves according to their Primitive Principles but erect new Orders and new Models of Government New Ceremonies and new ways of Sentencing Judging and Condemning the Innocent Recording and Excommunicating such as cannot yield Conformity and Uniformity thereunto do not more resemble Tyranny than Order Nay Is it not Antichristian Answ Yea For all Societies are to Govern themselves according to their Institutions and First Principle of Union where there is violence upon this Part Tyranny and not Order is Introduced Now since Perswasion and Conviction begun all true Christian Societies ALL Christian-Societies MVST uphold themselves upon the same Free Bottom or they turn Antichristian Query III. Whether to restrain People from the free Exercise of their Consciences or to compel People to act against their Faith and Perswasion in Matters Spiritual be not Popish and a Practice of the Church of ROME Address to Prot. pag. 149. 150. Answ Yea For the Apostle in his Day said Let every Man be fully perswaded in his own Mind or Conscience And did not go about to force People to Conform to such Things as they were not perswaded of in their own Consciences But the Church of Rome doth not admit that every one should Walk or Act as they are Perswaded in their own Conscience See Josiah Coal's Whore Vnvailed p. 71. 72. Query IV. If so Whether it be not Wisdom to beware of this Trojan Horse of this Practice which so much resembles Rome who commonly lay more Stress upon their own Ceremonies and written Traditions Orders and Institutions than upon the holy Scriptures or the Primitive Christians Example Answ Yea I beseech you Protestants by the Mercies of God and Love of Jesus Christ Ratified to you in his most precious Blood Fly Rome at Home have a care of this Presumption carry it not too high lay not Stress where God hath laid none Neither use his Royal Stamp to Authorise your Apprehensions in the Main of his Institutions Address to Prot. p. 77. Query V. Whether the holy Scriptures be not of more Authority than our written Traditions and Orders And whether it be not as commendable now to search the Scriptures to see whether our Orders Traditions and Ceremony be agreeable to them as it was formerly for the Bereans who by the Scripture examined Pauls Testimony Seeing some of you call them the Professors Weapons and will not suffer them to be alledged in our Quarterly-Meetings Answ Yea For it cannot be denyed But that the great Foundation of our Protestant Religion is the Divine Authority of the Scriptures from without us and the Testimony and Illumination of the holy Spirit within us Vpon this Foot the First Reformers stood and made and maintained their Separation from Rome with good Cause therefore it is the general consent of all Sound Protestant Writers That neither Traditions Counsels nor Cannons of any Visible Church much less the Edicts of any Civil Sessions or Jurisdiction but the Scripture ONLY Interpreted by the Holy Spirit in us give the final Determination in Matters of Religion and that Only in the Conscience of Every Christian to himself which Protestation made by the First Publick Reformers against the Imperial Edicts of Charles the Fifth Imposing Church Traditions without Scripture Authority Mark you Order Makers the same Cause moves to the same thing gave first beginning to the Name Protestant and with that Name hath ever been received this Doctrine which prefers the Divine Authority of the Scriptures and Spirit to that of the Church and her Traditions Address to Prot. p. 148. Query VI. Whether it be not a Popish Tenet to cry down Wisdom and to say That Wisdom will destroy us as 't is usually with you to say for the Papists care not how foolish the Common People are nor how much in Ignorance it being as they say the Mother of Devotion they educate them provided thir Ministers and Jesuits be very expert and able to defend their way of Worship and heap of Ceremonies And when do any that Write or Dispute to defend our Way of Worship write and speak like Fools except they can neither write nor speak otherwise and why do you cry out against Wisdom upon every occasion as if Ignarance were become our only Darling Answ For to admire what Men do not know and to make it a Principle not to enquire is the last Mark of Folly in the Believers and of Imposture in the Imposers To be short a Christian Implyes a Man and a Man implyes Conscience and Vnderstanding but he that hath no Conscience nor Vnderstanding as he hath not who hath delivered them up to the Will of another men is no Man and therefore no Christian Upon this Principle Men must be made Fools in Order to believe Shall Folly which is the Shame if not the Curse of a man be the Perfection of a Christian. Address to Prot. pag. 187. Query VII Is it not great Deceit and Illusion first to make Rules or Cannons to walk by and when any refuse Obedience to them and cannot for Conscience sake Conform to them then to Senctence Judge and Record such out of the Unity and yet to the World pretend and that in Print that we do no such Thing I say Is not this great Decoit and Delusion Answ Yea That our Friends says W. P. meaning us the People called Quakers Require any men to practice what they are not convinced of I utterly renounce in their Name and that at an Infamous Slander Alexander the Copper-Smith page 10. Query VIII Whether Antichristian Practices Popish Principles Contempt of Scriptures Folly Ignorance and Partiality Practising one thing and Pretending another be Corruptions or no If yea then whether or no a private Man ought not

appear both from the different station and posture those Kings were in from all Magistrates now and also from the different condition of the Church then and now and many circumstances peculiarly relating to both First The worship and policy of the Jews being in it self typical and representive of what was to come hereafter their Government was likewise so and in their Kings very eminently that David and Soloman did very plainly in the type represent the Kingly Dominion of Christ none will deny and 't is as plain that the very Throne of David it self upon which the succeeding Kings of Judah sate was likewise so there being that Prophesie long before That the Scepter should not depart from Judah until Shiloh came and therefore the Power David and Solomon and the succeeding Kings of Judah for amongst the Kings of Israel after Solomon we find not one concerned for the true Worship of God who were of the lineage of David exercised had a peculiarity in it that is not applicable to any Magistrate now Secondly God was pleased in those times upon all eminent occasions of reformation in his Worship and proceedings of that nature to send Prophets to declare his positive mind and to put an end to all doubts that could be about such things nay some of the Kings themselves were Prophets immediately inspired and did not only take care of the Worship established by Moses but did themselves by divine Authority bring in things of a new Institution into the Worship of God this David did and Solomon in bringing Musick into the Temple and setling the courses of the Priests and were divinely inspired to write part of the holy Scriptures No Magistrates now can pretend to any such power in themselves nor have they any such extraordinary direction to guide them but are punctualy obliged to whatever Christ hath revealed in the Gospel and therefore in this respect the Analogy no way holds good Thirdly The state of the Jewish Church and Common-wealth was such as wholly differed them from all others since that was a Church and a State in the very constitution of them mixed together none could be brought into one but he was a member of the other nor could a man be cast out of the Church but he was thereby cast out of the State to be out-lawed and excommunicated was there amongst the Jews the same thing Grotius expresseth it well At that time saith he the Wisdom in Divine and Humane Law was not divided and he proves it by this As the Magistrate did intermeddle in Church Affairs so the Priest did intermeddle in Cvil things For saith he the Priest was a Judge and did not only give Judgment in Sacred but in Civil Affairs being the best Interpreter of the whole Law And saith the same Grotius further That the Priest had Magistracy This alone may be proved in Deut. 17.8 That he is to dye who obeys not the Command of the Priest 'T is most clear also That Eli was chief Priest in Israel and chief Judge in Shiloe 'T is not any way to be avoided but that the Civil and Ecclesiastical Power lay then interchangeably mixed and with as equal reason may we bring Magistracy into the Ministerial Power of the Gospel from what the Priests then exercised and their example as to bring such a power in Religion into the Magistrates under the Gospel from the parallel of what those Kings did then Besides the Magistratical power was so absolutely necessary to the Jewish Church-Policy so mixed that it could not be upheld without it the very Municipal Law of the Nation was their Religion He that was chief in the State must needs be Head of the Church They were a Holy People living in a Holy Land appointed to Worship in one Holy City and in one Holy place of that City and to offer upon one Altar in that Holy place The Church of the Gospel is totally of another nature perfectly distinct from the civil State can well subsist without a relation to it and is no way intermixed in its Concerns with it And therefore to say all Magistrates now must do as those did that governed such a mixed complicated Church and State in one carries no proportion at all of reason or equity in it more then if a man should argue from a Par ratio that what Moses did at first amongst the Jews who was King in Jeshuron that Kings may now do amongst Christians under the Gospel Lastly What was then done was by Gods command and was in a way suitable to the frame and state of the Church the Jews were imbodied in and lay chiefly in bringing men from Idolatry to the Worship of the true God for in differences between Sect and Sect amongst themselves there was nothing that we find done at any time they continued till our Saviours time and putting such a kind of Worship in execution as lay in outward carnal Services and was in every minute particular exactly set down and determined First The state of the Gospel-Church now is wholly differing from what that was and is setled upon clear other grounds and principles Secondly Here is no command in the Gospel for the Magistrate to do any thing of that nature Thirdly Let it be granted as truth that in parity of reason because Magistrates were appointed to take care of Religion then they are to do so still it must of necessity be granted also that they must do it by the means appointed by Christ under the Gospel as they did heretofore by those God appointed under the Law It is an Inference very infirm That because the Kings of Israel and Judah compelled men by Gods own appointment to acknowledge the true God and forsake Idolatry therefore Magistrates now may not only without but against Christs commands and the whole tenor of the New Testament compel men to the Spiritual Belief and Worship of the Gospel The truth is the civil Power of the Magistrate is no means of Christs appointing for the carrying on of the Gospel the Gospel in the very nature of it carries an Antipathy in it to all outward force Instead of all the temporal promises and corporal punishments under the Law Christ makes this Declaration He that believes shall be saved and he that believes not shall be damned That 's the Language of the Gospel Christ sets Hell and Wrath to come before men and by his Spirit working upon and convincing the Conscience works more admirable effects upon men that way than all the outward punishments in the World could ever bring about The Word of Christ is quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged Sword and can divide between the Soul and the Spirit the Joynts and the Marrow and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the Heart We have in the Hebrews a very perfect account of Gods dealing with men under the Law and now under the Gospel and the plain difference in the manner of the one and

him and that the Author of the Accuser c. in Answer to W. R's Book may not say to me as he in pag. 86. Viz. Howbeit W. R. produceth not any now Prescriptions Methods Rules Orders and Forms of Church-Government Now saith the said Author of the Accuser c. Now he should have produced some new Orders and Forms of Church-Government Introduced amongst in since that time meaning the Year 1673. to prove his Charge of Apostacy and Innovation against G. F. and those he calls his Party c. And Pag. 133. We affirm that his meaning W. R. crying out Impositions Form of Church-Government Orders Prescriptions c. in general is no Answer nor any Proof of his Charge of Apostate and Innovator against us let him either specifie saith this notable as well as confident Author of the Accuser c. the Particulars thereof that he condemns us for as Apostates and that we practice as Church Discipline or else for ever be ashamed c. And Pag. 3. And what New and Unchristian Doctrines and Practices are they meaning G. F. and his Party fallen into we find no Proof nor Discovery thereof in all his Books c. And Pag. 128. of the said confident Author of the Accusers c. We do profess seriously a notable serious George if we may believe him we see no real Cause or valid Reason our Opposer meaning W. R. shews for the great Noyse and Rumble he makes about Outward Laws Prescriptions Orders Edicts or Decrees Outward Form of Government Apostacy Innovation Impositions Lording over Faith over Conscience c. whil'st he shews us no unjust no unlawful nor uncomly Order or Proceedings amongst us as a People nor yet gives us any Instances or Catologue of those Impositions Innovations New Doctrines or Practices brought in and received amongst us which are inconsistent with our First Testimony to the Light and Grace of God within and Teachings thereof c. I say things considered as practised amongst us I marvel that the said Author which is said to be G. Whitehead should have the Confidence thus to call for a Proof to call for a Catologue of the New Orders that are Introduced amongst us when he at the time of his Writing could not be ignorant of the Things complained of by W. R. who 't is probable thought there was no need to produce such Proof such a Catalogue and such manifest Instances to prove the same and that none would have the Confidence or rather Impudence to deny such Things as are every Month put in Practice amongst us But as I said that be may not say so to me I will bring him both Proof and President and if he will call them a Catologue he may But first the Confirmation of the Foundation of the Womens-Meetings Namely George Fox his Order above recited by a General Council held at London Anno 1675. Concerning Propounding Marriages London the 27th of 3d. Mon. 1675. IT is our Judgment that for better Satisfaction to all Parties that there may be due time for Inquiry of clearness of the Persons concerned it is convenient that Marriages be at twise propounded to the Meetings that are to take care therein both to the Mens and Womens Meetings where both are Established before they are accomplished and when Things are cleared that the Marriage be accomplished in a Grave and publick Assembly of Friends and Relations Observations And now set the Authority and Confirmation of the Womans Meetings and how G. F. his pretended Motion is corroborated and strengthed I am necessitated to transcribe more of the Transaction of this notable if not Universal Council than I am willing lest G. Whitchead should again call for a Proof or Catologue of their new stamped Government c. Concerning Mens and Womens-Meetings IT is our Judgment and Testimony in the Word of Gods Wisdom that the Rise and Practice Setting up and Establishment of Mens and Womens-Meetings in the Church of Christ in this our Day and Generation is according to the Mind and Counsel of God and done in the ordering and leading of his Eternal Spirit and that it is the Duty of all Friends and Brethren in the Power of God in all Places to be diligent therein and to incourage and further each other in that blessed Work and particularly that Friends and Brethren in their respective Countries incourage their Faithful grave Women in the Settlement of the said Meetings and if any professing Truth shall either directly or indirectly discountence a notable Warning and little obeyed except by G. F. his Men of War or weaken the Hands of either Man or Woman in the VVork and Service of the Lord let such be admonished according to the Order of the Gospel and if they receive it not but resist Counsel and persist in the work of Division we cannot but look upon them as therein not in Unity with the Church of Christ and Order of the Gospel Therefore let Friends go on in the Power of God and in that Work for Him his Truth and People and not to be swayed or hindred by them or their Opposition Observations Behold the difference between this Decree and the Letter of Advice and Counsel in the First Chapter of this Treatise that hath a particular relation to the Scripture and the Practice of the Holy Men recorded therein but this is wholly a stranger to any such Authority yet that was not proposed otherwise than Advice and Counsel and not as a Form or Rule to walk by notwithstanding there was so much in it to justifie the pressing of it both as being bottom'd on Scripture Authority and the Practice of the holy Men of God recorded in Scripture but this no relation to Scripture Authority Precept or President no relation to the Example of the holy Men of God recorded in Scripture nor any Command of God or Jesus Christ who is Head of the true Church and Lawgiver too but notwithstanding the Authors of this Decretal Order are peremptory and positive none must refuse a Complyance none must discountenance the Observatition of it directly or indirectly for if they do they are not to be lookt upon in Unity with the Church that is not to be lookt on as Christians and Members of Christs Church and so at once made Heathens by this new fashoned Edict But to make good Provision against any that shall yet dare to slight this new Model or new found Method of Church-Government or call in question their Power or Authority See what a strict and severe Admonition is uttered forth even as if it had come from the Popes Council of Jesuits and crafty Fryars I Know that some will be mighty angry and sore displeased with me for transcribing so much of their hidden Mysteries but in my apprehension there is no reason for it for if Womens-Meetings be of such Excellency and their Government and Jurisdiction so vertuous amiable as that whoever comply and yield obedience to them are in

be in such Fault as is surmised I say that Time will manifest such to be his greatest Enemies and I pray let such consider that if they thus resolve to keep him behind the Curtain as if he were ascended above the reach and out of the the Sight of his Breathren although it be the occasion of never so much Contention Debate and Strife I say let such consider if this be not more indiscretion than the World which we say lyes in Wickedness in their open Wars do at any time produce As for Example Suppose there was a very great Army laying Siege against a City and resolved to Raze it to the ground and to leave neither Man nor Woman alive except the Citizens would deliver up such a Captain to them who had betrayed his trust pretending an extraordinary Commission Yet acted in his own Name only and by Vertue thereof had been the chief Cause of that War and Bloodshed and upon Delivery up of that Imperious Arbitrary Captain all Wars should cease pray What City would be so sottish and so stupid as to hinder such a Malefactor from being brought to condign Punishment for his criminal Offences rather than run the hazard of so many thousands of innocent well meaning People on both Sides Oh William Let these things be considered on and let not the Wedge of Gold nor the goodly Babylonish Garment be thus hid any longer in the Camp but let a Search be made upon that very Consideration that something is amiss something is the Cause of all these things and let none say to me in disdain or out of Prejudice as Eliah said to his Brother David who came up to the Camp of the Lords Host though he was but a Stripling for if they do I will say unto them as David did i. e. Is there not a Cause 1. Sam. 28.29 and conclude with the Apostle Every Man ought to bear his own Burthen without respect to Persons That was once our Principle I have much to say and yet have said enough to shew my Desire and to clear my Mind whether thou wilt answer my Request yea or nay And Rest thy Friend Francis Bugg Address to Protestants Pag. 152. Principiis obsta sero Medicina paratur Cum mala per longas invaluere moras Resist betimes that Medicine stays too long Which comes when Age has made the grief too strong And I wrote another Letter much to the same purpose on the 22d of the 6th Mo. and sent it to G. W. which for Brevities sake I here omit and the rather because it is amongst other things incerted as I understand in the latter End of the 7th Part of the Christian Quaker Distinguished c. put forth by W. R. in Answer to the Accuser c. And after I could have no Answer but instead thereof G. W. came to our Quarterly Meeting the 7th of the 7th Month 1681. and instead of healing Breaches was an Instrument and a great one too against Robert Smith of Colne his Proceedings in Marriage except he would go and Publish his Intention before the Women they being in number about five or six in a cold back Room by themselves according to G. F. his Order as heretofore I have treated on Insomuch that it came into my Mind to send him a few Queries a Copy whereof here follow Viz. The Letter as Prologue to them c. George Whitehead I Wrote to thee not long since to desire thy Assistance in a Composure of the late Differences but in thy last Journey I was loth to say Circuit this way thou hast shewed me and others thy Resolution It is reported that Nicholas Lucas told thee Thou wentest up and down to cheat the Country I reckon he meanes not of Money but the People of their Liberty they have right to Truly thy Behaviour hath manifested the Truth of his Words in a great measure as I am able to make appear not only by thy Advice in Huntington-shire but also by thy Erronious Doctrine amongst us if G. F. said true in his Gospel-Liberty pag. 23. And therefore to bring People to that which is not of Faith is to bring them into Sin and to make them make Shipwrack of their Faith and of a good Conscience But I believe the time is hastning that such as thou shall be oftner called in question than yet thou hast been for we begin to see the Truth of W. P's Doctrine who says in his Address to Protestants That the neglect of questioning our Ministers is the Cause both of Superstition and Schism However at present I desire and expect an Answer from thee touching these Things queried Viz. Either of thy Approbation of my Answer or an Answer of thine lest I spread them before thee in fairer Characters than my hand can write for thine and others Practices have brought you into suspition with the People for we see how you seek to usurp Authority over the Conscience and contray to your Pretentions exercise Dominion Gentile-like over your Brethren as if you were resolved to turn Monopolizers and Ingrocers of all Power Rule and Dominion over Consciences into your own Hands But your Authority is coming into Question and by the Holy Scripture which is by you so slighted must you be examined tryed and proved and the less you value the Scripture or Direction therefrom the less will you be valued and the more you magnifie your Directory Orders and Cannons which have no relation to the Scriptures or the Primitive Christians Example the more will your grow despised and turned from Wherefore consider your ways and wherein you can see and perceive your selves INNOVATORS and APOSTATES let there be a Return to your First Love Viz. when you loved both to give and receive Liberty in Matters Spiritual And do your first Works and do not think to heal your selves by calling others what you really are your selves for that will not now do By your Fruits you are manifest and we know you by them Oh! the Discord Contention and Debate which entred and doth dayly increase by reason of your Ceremonies and your forced Conformity to them and the chief Cause hereof lyes at your Doors for now as in Ages past the Leaders of the People cause them to Err who have greatly increased the Differences instead of healing the Breaches and that you may see as you are seen I have drawn before your view your Practices and thereby shewed you your Errour yet in as much as thou art more especially concerned I derect them to thee for a more immediate Answer Who am a Lover of Truth F. Bug. The 7th of the 8th Month 1678. A few Queries propounded to such amongst us who are crying up Holy ORDERS CHVRCH-GOVERNMENT and are adding new Ceemornies and Outward Observations whereby we thwart and contradict our avowed Principles and so are building again the thing we once destroyed and cryed out against Condemning in others the things we allow in our selves THROUGH which

Man as the Author to the Accuser did in Expunging the Doctrines and Opinions of those Books c. I could also tell you the Story of the cruel Sufferings of Thomas Green for spreading Books in Queen Marys Reign but you may read it at large in p. 218. of the Sp. Mar. Revived c. Object But some may perhaps say That though the Papists were against the spreading of these kind of Schismatical Books yet they allowed or at least permitted wicked Books and that doth not G. Fox or his Party c. Answer This I confess was an Objection which had some place in my Mind But being in London in the Month of February last after I had seen the Excommunication against J. B. I was resolved to try the Truth of the matter and so I went to Benjamin Clark who is a great Man for G. F and his Party and sells the Answers to W. R. his Book but I suppose 't is against his Conscience to sell one of W. R. his Books although it hath more Divinity Truth and Reason in it than all the Books extant against it yet inasmuch as G. F. is therein Detected their Church-Government reprehended and R. B. his Book of Government Anatomised the said B.C. will not sell one of them However I went to his Shop as a Country-man and Stranger and asked if they sold no pritty Books for Children no pritty Play-Books or Papists Books in short I had all sorts brought to my view and as wicked Books yea such as I never saw that I remember which if they desire a Proof of their Badness I may for ought I know afterwards have occasion to produce one out of them Oh gross Deceit and manifest Hyppocrisy Were ever more vain Pretences amongst the Papists than are now entred this sort of New Church-Governours Oh! How did G. Fox Buffet Thomas Vincent who had rather that his Hearers should go to a Bawdy-House than to a Quakers Meeting in his Epistle to the Book Entituled The Divinity of Christ c. Put forth by G.W. yea the whole People saying How now Presbyterians High Priests What Is this your Doctrine that you Preach up for your Hearers to go to a Bawdy-House c. Over and over they are pelted as if that kind of Wickedness the Presbyterians had been Principled in because T. V. in his over hot Zeal might use such an unjustifiable Expression and now may they say to G. F. How now G. F. What Hadst thou rather that B. Clark and J. Bringhurst should sell Papists Books Play-Books Jesting-Books nay 〈…〉 Books rather than that Book of W.R. because it discovers the Naked Truth of your New-Model of Church-Government c. Object Perhaps some may object and say as B. A. or J. F. or one of them said to me Viz. Well but suppose all that you say or suggest be true admit that were granted yet to publish it that is abominable and wicked Or words to that purpose c. Answ Indeed if things were not true and that what we suggest had no bottom but barely our own Apprehension and Suspition then to publish things of this nature thereby to Expose and falsly Represent a People this would be very wicked and such a Practice is and ever was hated of God and good Men but admitting they be real Truths and no Fictions which I hereby expose as that I stand ready to make appear then upon that Foot and upon that Bottom I do account it both Just Reasonable and a Christian Duty in three Respects First To reprove the Erronious by shewing them their Errours if not then were the Apostles Martyrs and the whole Line of Protestants in the wrong and under Blame greatly Secondly To undeceive the World and the credulous People therein who are very apt to be led aside by the Flourishes and fair Pretences of Men and not like the Noble Bereans search the Scriptures in Order to examine things relating to Life and Salvation and the Doctrine and Discipline their Teachers lay down to be indispensibly obeyed Thirdly To manifest the right Way both to the Erring Persons and the Ignorant World of Implicit Professors and this to be done for the Good of Souls for the Increase of Knowledge and Gods Glory and that this is my main End and peculiar Intent I appeal to God the Searcher of all Hearts and knows the Intents thereof c. A Word of Advice to the Pensilvanians FRiends you have the Advantage of those that went into New-England Barbadoes and other Plantations formerly you may perceive the Rock upon which they have miscarryed what hath been an Impediment to the Increase of Love and Charity amongst them to wit Impositions on the Consciences of those that differ from them in some Religious Point of Church-Discipline or other How hath New-England that fled from hence under a Complaint of the Bishops Tyranny made their Little-Finger as heavy as their Loynes Witness the Sufferings of our Friends to Death under their Tyranny And Secondly Enquire and see how sweetly our Friends lived in Barbadoes in Love and Charity one towards another until G. F. his Law came to take place there Insomuch as that at length at a Quarterly-Meeting at Ralph Fretwells House in Barbadoes the 23d of the 10th Month 1680. Where the Sum of their Testimony amounted to a Choice to be made Viz. Whether Friends would cleave abide to theVniversal Spirit Viz. in the Mens and Womens-Meeting c Or Whether to their particular Measures c. A strange kind of Proposition And after many Testimonies given to the further Opening the Question the Judgment underneath was written and voluntarily Subscribed by both the Men and Women c. That is to say I Desire to give up my whole Concern if required both Spiritual and Temporal unto the Judgment of the Spirit of God in the Mens and Womens-Meetings as believing it to be more according to the Universal Wisdom of God than any particular Measure in my self or any particulars with which the Mens and Womens-Meetings have not Unity Subscribed by 39 Men 43 Women Total 82. Thus Implicit Faith and Blind Obedience for the magnifying of G. F. his Laws and Orders began to spread far and near but this Papistical Judgment and Erronious Opinion stands Answered by T. C. in a Small Tract Called Babells-Builders Unmasking themselves c. Also you have the Advantage of seeing the Effects of G. F. his Laws here in England Wherefore in short this is my Advice to you Keep the Holy Scriptures in Esteem amongst you and if any would lay a Foundation for Church-Government that is not warranted by the plain Text thereof and would compel you to a Conformity to the same slight it and never submit to such an Yoak neither be intangled thereby though there may be a Shew of Wisdom in them as the Apostle said Gal. 5. Heb. 9 10. Isaiah 29.13 Mat. 15.9 I say keep the Scpipture in great Esteem if your Teachers

May walk in Love whil'st we are here And all unto him be Subjected That all may in him be Perfected That God o're all may Ruler be And Glorified Eternally But what art thou that art so bold That Womens-Meetings thus Control'd And thus dost seem to lay a Block Against the raising of a Stock Whereas George hath Infallibly Erected them to sit on High And that against their Government None should shew Discouragement Neither Direct nor Indirect Lest out of Vnity they be kept I tell thee I am a Labouring-Man And have been taught to Thresh and Fan And what 's the Chaff unto the Wheat Though it may serve some Beast to eat And to the Wheat may grow so near That both came forth of th' self same Ear And sent forth wrapt in Paper White Wise Men will look ON 'T in the Light And such whose Eyes are in their Head Can see it is not fit for Bread Therefore on it refuse to feed Lest it should ill Humours breed And such Distempers as Blind-Zeal Which noysom are to Common-Weal For when Mens Minds with it are heat Their Fellows they are apt to beat According to their Power and Might They with their Tongues begin to smite And he that is not of their Mind From Truth say they he is Declin'd And Womens-Meetings he doth slight How then can his Spirit be right And then saith one Let 's Mouth be stopt And others cry He must be knockt Another He doth blasting threaten And thus are Fellow Servants beaten From Cross-Bow of their crooked thoughts Which Blind-Zeal bent they shoot their bolts 'T is like I shall be paid with blows For smiting the Image on the Toes That Image of Authority Which Womens-Meetings signifie Although but two or three be there As more seldom do appear When Weather 's cold and Winds do blow I seldom see a bigger Show But I don't mean with them to fight Therefore to keep me from their Sight I 'le to my Refuge quickly fly Even God that Judgeth Righteously And with him also will abide Till he doth Remedy provide That Truth o're all may so prevail As Love to conquer may not fail That as God's one also his Name We all may be one in the same And he may Reign whose Right it is That nothing may be done amiss And then his Saints with Joy shall sing And sound forth Praises to their King Which was his due all times before To him be it given for evermore But now before I go my way Another word I have to say To such as would know my Intent Why this I writ 't is to prevent The further growth of Discontent Rais'd with the Female-Government Although a Charter firm they have And Grant and Confirmation brave Which Strengthen and Corroborate Their Jurisdiction obtain'd of late Yet if the Tree known now may be By the Fruit mine Eye doth see Charter and Confirmation both Are Innovations nothing worth Wherefore I say my Council take And to your selves no Image make Nor to a Likeness now Submit That no Foundation hath in it Now to Gods Grace I all Commend For teaching thereon to depend Which from all Strife can us defend And thus I here shall make an End Who am a Lover of Truth and Peace To all therein wishing Increase A Table of the Contents or principal Matters contained in the Second Part of this Book CHAP. I. Treats of Principles of Truth Received and Believed in the Beginning with an Epistle about Marriage and other Things not as a Form to walk by but as Advice suitable to the Nature and Tendency of the Testimony of Truth Received and Belieed c. Truths Entrance amongst us Pag. 24 25 26 27 28. The 7th Particular in an Epistle of Advice Pag. 29. 30. CHAP. II. Manifesteth an Alteration and Change Shews the Womens Charter for their Jurisdiction Sets forth the Grant and Confirmation made at a London Yearly-Meeting 1675 Viz. G. F. his Platform for Womens-Meetings Pag. 33 34 35 36. 37. The 1st Branch of the Grant Pag. 41 42. 2d Branch of the Grant P. 42 43 44 45. 3d. Branch of the Grant Pag. 48 49. 4th Branch of the Grant Pag. 50 51. Observations upon them Pag. 54. 55 56. CHAP. III. Treats of the Proceedings of G. Fox his Party in the Executive Part of the Charter Grant and Confirmation mentioned in the Second Chapter Their Proceedings against J. Ansloe An Opposition thereunto made by several Viz. Hadenham Orders Pag. 60 61. The Record against J. A. Pag. 63. A Letter to S. Cater by F. Bugg Pag. 64 65 66 67 68. F. Bugg his Protectation Pag. 68 69. Six Queries about G. F. being Head of the Church Pag. 75 76 77 78 79 80. One Query by J. A. Viz. What is Conformity Pag. 82 83. CHAP. IIII. R. Hubberthorns Reasons against Impositions Pag. 88 89. F. Howgils Discovery of Innovators Pag. 89 90 91. G. Fox his Old Doctrine and New Practice Pag. 93 94 95 96 97. A Huntingtonshire Certificate Pag. 97 98. Observations on G. Fox his antient Doctrine Pag. 98 99 100 101 102 103 104. CHAP. V. Shews the Opinion of several of the Clergy both Bishops and Ministers to be against Impositions and the Imposers are the Culpable Dividers and Authors of Schism c. Bishop Dovenants Testimony Pag. 105 106. Dr. Stillingfleets Iron Pag. 106 107. Archbishop Laud against Fisher Pag. 107. Bishop of Heriford Pag 107 108 109 110 111. Alsops Mischief of Impositions Pag. 111 112 113 114. CHAP. VI. Shews the Judgment of Antient Protestants and Martyrs against Forcing a Conformity to Mens Traditions not grounded on Scripture Authority Zanchy's Testimony Pag. 116. W. Tindal about Forms Pag. 116 117. R. Richardson Traced and found fallacious Pag. 118 119. W. Tindal about Services of Women Pag. 119. An Objection answered Pag. 120. Tindal about the Elders erring Pag. 121. Luther about Opinions Pag. 121. Barns against Imposition Pag. 121 122 123 124. Brentious upon Cor. 3. Pag. 124. Dr. Taylor about Liberty Pag. 124 125. Dr. Taylor about Ceremonies Pag. 125. Bishop Hoopers Speech Pag. 125 126. CHAP. VII Shews that my self and others in this Country have used private meanes about four Years and no Accommodation or Condiscention was attainable Neither Answer to Letter Answer to Query no when I went to London with a Letter from Friends of our particular Meeting to the Second-days Meeting in London and delivered it with my own Hand would neither answer the Letter nor so much as discourse me but when I had given them the Letter C. Taylor bad me be gone All which shews the Author to the Accuser his Pretentions to an Accomodation and Condiscention to be Fallacious Deceitful and Hypocritical A Letter from 11 Friends to the Quarterly-Meetings Pag. 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137. F. B's Letter to W. P. about a Composure Pag. 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148. F. B's Letter by way of Prologue to 9 Queries to G. W. Pag. 150 151 152 153. Nine Queries sent to G. W. Pag. 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162. A Battledore and Spectacles for G.F. P. 163. R. R's Letter to F. B. Pag. 164 165 166. F. B. his Answer to R. R's Letter Pag. 167 168 169 170. F. B. his Letter to the Second-days Meeting Pag. 172 173 174 175 176 177. 178 179 180. 11 Friends Letter to the Second-days Meeting Pag. 180 181 182 183. An Answer to Six Interrogatories Pag. 184 185 186. CHAP. VIII Shews that the Severity used by G. Fox and his Party exceeds that of the Judges Justices and Protestant Bishops who have Excommunicated J. B. for selling W. R's Book And if Application be made to them for Redress of Grievances they cry We are deluded and will sometimes refuse to read a Letter but seldom or never answer any And Advice to the Pensilvanians A Letter to Judge Turner Pag. 188 189. Another Letter to Judge Turner Pag. 190 191 192 193. J. B's Excommunication for dispersing W. R's Book Pag. 197 198 199. R. Bayfield burnt for dispersing the Books of Luther Tindal Hus and others Pag. 204. Sir Thomas Moor allowed to read and to answer those Schismatical Books Pag. 205 206. G. Whitehead allowed to buy have possess and read yea and answer W. R. his Book Pag. 205. B. Antribus or J. Fields Objection Answered Pag. 208 209. Advice to the Pensilvanians Pag. 210 211 212 213. A few of the most remarkable Errours corrected the rest are left to the Friendly Reader to correct ERRATA Pag. 4. line 9. for 8th Article r. Articles of Faith p. 5. l. 23. for their r. those p. 17. l. 15. for Woolwick r. Woolruch p. 24. l. 10. for Heavenly Spiritual r. Heavenly and Spiritual p. 26. l. 3. r. declared p 28. l. 22. r. from the Brethren to the Brethren p. 38. l. 16. for Grant or Order r. Charter for Womens-Meetings p. 40. l. 30. for Order r. Charter p. 47. l. 9. for how to r. and how to p. 56. l. 14. for partly r. purely p. 57. l. 3. for Order r. Charter p. 71. l. 16. for the r. their p. 84. l. 17. r. W●tnesses p. 85. l. 20. for lying r. buying p. 93. l. 20 21. r. to wit the Spirit p. 105. l. 16. for Doveman r. Dovenant p. 119. l. 30. f. Little withdrawn r. his Book Entituled p. 125. l. 6. for Increasment and Formnes● r. Increment and Firmness p. 153. l. 22. for 1678 r. 1681. p. 206. l. 24. for Clark r. Clarks Shop p 196. l. 17. for discousing r. discoursing FINIS