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
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
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
to Gods tender Suffering People thereby whose Bonds by such his fleshly arguing and doings as this he adds Affliction unto which the Lord takes notice of as done to him and William Rogers may be ashamed to cover his shrinking Work with the plea of paying his Debts and maintaining his Family being a Man of such an Estate and Repute as he would appear to be having so many Hundreds of Pounds else-where as he makes mention of and his real Estate besides and the Occupation he is of viz. a Merchant as he renders himself It s well if these Doings and Provision in the Flesh out of Gods Council in a distrustful Mind be not a block in his way as to success therein and straiten those Blessings upon him as to things of this World without which that which we visible enjoy is but an empty thing the Lord is Just and will be justified in the Day in which he meets with all the Sons of Men. William Rogers's eight and ninth Queries or smiting Accusations against George Fox being so frivolous as not worth much taking notice of George Fox denies that they touch him and William Rogers ought in point of Christianity to have made good out of the Mouth of two or three Witnesses but falling short in the matter thereof he passeth by them in his Rejoynder without taking notice thereof and thereby hath rendred himself to be a false Accuser must be accountable before the Lord because thereof unto whom the Cause of the Innecent is committed to be pleaded when he sees meet William Rogers shaving gone by the four last mentioned Queries or smiting Charges alledged against George Fox without concerning himself therewith or making any proof thereof and therefore shall they be left at his Door the Fruit of his false and malicious Spirit saith Now I come to reckon with George Fox for his Answer to the tenth Query the Query runs thus The tenth Query Whether it be fit for one that feeds on the Fat of the Land and lives in fulness of Plenty attended in many respects like an Earthly Prince and hath Twelve or Thirteen Hundred Pounds with the encrease thereof well secured for many Tears if any be out of the reach of the Spoylers and Persecutors to admonish a few Poor Innocent Harmless Friends that may have three or four Cows apiece to feed themselves and Children not to secure them from the Spoylers and if it be not fit for such an one to Admonish then I Query whether thou art not the Man that art so qualified and who in effect hath so Admonished Answ. This Accusation as William Rogers confesseth Queries may be and a foul Aspertion were it indeed were William Rogers able to prove it however it 〈◊〉 a false treacherous Spirit to his Principle and the Unity of Brethren to lodge in him in bringing 〈◊〉 the same thus maliciously behind the Back of an Elder in a publick 〈◊〉 amongst many People without first dealing with him in private about it and now exposing the same with the rest of his malicious Accusations to publick View in Print and it is utterly denied by George Fox Let us see what proof William Rogers makes thereof which in Conscience he ought to do or confess himself to be a false Accuser Object William Rogers says for his Proof That part of George Fox's Answer is The Lord knows I never had Twelve or Thirteen Hundred Pound secured c To which William Rogers says again That George Fox denieth that he hath Twelve or Thirteen Hundred Pound secured c. But saith he denieth not but that he hath so much Answ. We say this denial and William Rogers not being able to prove the smiting Accusation about this matter proves the falshood of the Charge and leaves him detected as a false Accuser But it appeareth that William Rogers is grieved that George Fox doth not tell him how much he hath and therefore most sad unchristian like and inhumane Work he makes with himself about this matter whereby he cannot but incur to himself the reproach of Fools It may be plainly seen that the matter that toucheth William Rogers is the Judgment of Truth through many Berthren that rests upon him for securing a great part of his Estate from the Spoilers in the time of Persecution on Truths account and to avenge himself in his discontent he labours to make others as bad as himself if he could and George Fox is the Object in his Eye to revenge himself upon he states his smiting Accusations by way of Query it s answered in the Negative and if he could not prove the contrary as he hath not attempted to do this might have satisfied him if he had been a reaonable Man but the unsatiableness of his revengeful Mind is such that to get occasion to pervert and to get matter of Accusation in a busie unmanly Spirit he 〈◊〉 to know what outward Estate George Fox hath in reply whereunto the Proverb may be properly observed in relation unto him Answer not a fool according to his 〈◊〉 What is it to William Rogers what George Fox hath Unless he could detect him of coming to it by some Indirect means could William Rogers detect him of coming to or keeping that which he hath dishonestly or by securing the same 〈◊〉 the Spoilers as he himself hath done and if William Rogers had been a clear Man himself then had there been somthing to have grounded an Accusation upon against George Fox which if he had been able to have done we might no doubt have heard positively thereof and never have had the case Queried though Smiting surely was in his Heart And notwithstanding his being frustrated with respect to proof yet will he not be quier but any way 〈◊〉 the line of Reflection to the utmost bound thereof against him If this Work he hath made in his Rejoynder upon George Fox's Answer be but in sincerity looked thorow his Wickedness and Impudence therein is such that little more need be said then what it manifests to leave him convinced of being a Scornful Impudent Malicious Aceuser of our Brethren as the like hath scarcely buen heard of amongst Men much less amongst People professing the Truth of God as it is in Christ Jesus let but any sober Man read over what he hath said in relation to this matter and he will admire and be ashamed of it He reslects upon George Fox and renders him Ambitious because he saith He had something left him as his Bith-right but he gave it away to his Relations as not mattering to concern himself with it when he came to be publickly concerned on Truths account and his Relations were no less 〈◊〉 towards him but ministred to him for all that But William Rogers in the wickedness of his Mind as his Words demonstrateth would have all to inser as he doth from George Fox's Words as that he would have People believe he was descended from Rich Parents that 12 or 1300
rendered themselves to be out of the Doctrine of Christ Obstructers yea Despisers of Gospel Order and the Rule of common Societies Accusers of the Innocent Parties with William Rogers in his malicious Work in criminating on this wise and their Evidence if any material had been therein not to be regarded by Men fearing God Lovers of the Christian Religion and the Society of Brethren in the Spirit of Truth and that their Works cannot but be despised and cast out as the unsavoury Salt good for nothing but to be trodden under Foot of Men. And to that in all Consciences we can appeal where these things may come to be taken notice of whether it be not clearly demonstrated as the Sun that shineth at noon Day that this Work of William Rogers's hath proceeded from meer Malice seeking occasion against the Faithful whose Testimony stands and lives against his and his Abettors backsliding State at which they freet and fume and tugs to and fro and fastens themselves the more thereby to their greater Shame and Reproach in the pit of Infamy and Disgrace which they would have had others cast into And for a further manifestation of the fallacious Work of William Rogers and those of party with him as their Words demonstrate which have bew rayed them in this concern relating to George Fox his leaving the Meeting at Broad-Mead in the City of Bristol after the manner that they would charge him with We think meet to Insert here the substance of a Certificate given forth on the aforesaid occasion by Twenty eight Persons and Friends to Truth in the City of Bristol several of whom some of us knows to be Persons of grave and solid Deportment Men of good report in Truth and of a good conversation and repute 〈◊〉 all sober Men whom although William Rogers in his Paraphrasing 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 their said Certificate doth most abusively below the Spirit of a Man render them we are satisfied it shall stand touching this matter of William Rogers's 〈◊〉 Charge by all we can any way observe an Evidence for George Fox's 〈◊〉 therein in the Consciences of all the Faithful to God every where who comes to have the knowledge thereof with the 〈◊〉 that relate to it The Charge was thus If when the Persecutors came up one pair of Stairs whilest George Fox's was speaking he had not been of such a Spirit which some may call 〈◊〉 and despairing as on a 〈◊〉 to step down and hasten out of the Meeting at a back pair of Stairs which he once did of which mine Eyes with many more were Witnesses The Substance of the Answer of the aforesaid Friends is to this effect viz. WE have this to say who were generally all of us at all or most of the Meetings which George Fox was at there That we never 〈◊〉 or can remember that any Persecutors did come up the Stairs whilest George Fox was speaking so as to occasion the ceasing of his Testimony on that aocount And for a further confirmation of George Fox's clearness against this malicious Charge they add viz. And this Testimony for him we have in our Hearts as a Man remote in Spirit and Example from any such Practice of flying in time of Persecution though now charged therewith by Apostates c. And this we though fit to insert as Persons concerned 〈◊〉 the vindication of our dear Friend G. F's Innocency in this Case according to the best of our knowledge and remembrance who neversaw any just occasion for such a Charge as W. R. hath aspersed him with c. Now we leave this matter before the honest Hearted where this may come to 〈◊〉 whether George Fox himself having denyed the Charge as false and malicious we havenot much more ground on George Fox his Account touching this matter to give credit to Charles Hartford Charles Jones and Richard Snead and the twenty five Persons more of known Credit and Repute and Men of 〈◊〉 Spirits and tender with respect to Truth and the fellowship therein amongst Brethren who understanding that William Rogers had given out a Charge on this wise amongst many others against George Fox and had in Manuscript sent it abroad up and down the Nation had a concern of Spirit in the Vindication of Truth on their own free accord to give forth the relation aforesaid then to give credit to these few Certifiers on William Rogers's account against an Elder in Truth unheard and behind his back Who also have given Judgement against him and thereby manifested themselves to be Parties in the Design Printed as a Record to Posterity from their own particulat belief in a Criminal matter of such a tendency as this appears to be And shall leave to the Righteous God to clear the Innocent in all Hearts and that the Guilty and Blood Suckers of the Lambs of Jesus may be manifested to all that the Lambs may be aware thereof And for a further manifestation of George Fox's Innocency touching the charge of flying in the time of Persecution we 〈◊〉 the reader to George Fox's tender and simple Relation there in his Answer to William Rogers smiting 〈◊〉 and should be glad that all the tender Hearted who are void of Prejudice had 〈◊〉 oppertunity to look over the same believing that the tenderness of the Mans 〈◊〉 in the Life of God is such that it might be able to convince all Gainsayers yet such hath been the wickedness of William Rogers's Spirit in his paraphrasing thereupon to help his Work thereby that he hath taken hold of pieces thereof here and there that he could any way bend to the Advantage of his so charging and the rest of the Words that might make out George Fox's Innoceney touching the matter them he for the most part quite leaves out all which to insert together with what might be said to his pervertions and ungoodly deductions therefore in his Rejoynder would trouble the Reader with more then in Conscience we are bound to do or then there is any occasion for either with respect to the clearing this reproached and approved faithful Servant of God and for Jesus sake to every little one George Fox from the wicked Accusations alledged against him touching this matter together with the rest spoken to or as any way needful to manifest William Rogers's evil Mind for they are dark who see him not having occasion to be concerned with him Yet we desire to be born a little in giving the Reader a short account of some Passages that George Fox met withal that Morning before he came to the Meeting that the Charge against him relateth to which William Rogers in his Rejoynder denieth not one Word of as to the substance thereof yet how therein by his perverting and drawing ungodly Inferences therefrom how he makes that plain and honest Relation to look it would make ones Heart to tremble only in a few Words by the way whereby to remove the dubiousness that seems to lie in the following
the same from a clear 〈◊〉 Conscience for it is denied by us affirming also that it is a smiting Accusation in Contempt of Gospel order and the Power of God But what is this in Vindication of their practizing in Opposition to Church Care and the Government of the Spirit instrumentally in the Church of God although they may say its their Principle so to do or they are not perswaded in their Consciences to Act otherwise Certain it is that this is a false application from the Apostles Practice and George Fox's instance in relation to the allowing of Circumcision amongst the Weak for a time in the Infancy of the Church of Christ in his day But William Rogers says for as much as George Fox instanceth the matter of Circumcision as if the practice or not 〈◊〉 of such things were grounded meerly on the Apostles Permission And so by that Example George Fox may do the like c. Answer This also is a 〈◊〉 perverting of George Fox's Application from the Apostles practice let him prove or else lay his Hand upon his Mouth with shame that George Fox hath charged the Apostle that the practising or not practising of Circumcision was grounded meerly as he expresseth it on his Permission We deny that that is chargeable on George Fox nor can it any way be deduced in any Christian sence from his Words as relating thereunto George Fox expresseth plainly on what Accounts or in what Cases the Lord let the Apostle see Circumcision was to be born with and in what Cases and when to be declared against William Rogers manifesteth great Ignorance sometimes as well as gross Wickedness And we say also its a false inference that William Rogers makes upon the 〈◊〉 of George Fox's bringing the instance of Pauls allowing or disallowing of Circumcision and out of all Christian Charity deduced viz. As if the practising or not practising of some things wherein Conscience also might be concerned were 〈◊〉 meerly on George Fox's permission These ungedly Reflections and groundless Accusations against George Fox or any of Gods faithful People we deny and judge in the Name of the Eternal God and they shall lye as false Malicious Charges grounded upon his false Applications and unchristian inferences and which the scope of George Fox's words in any charitable Construction bears not and they shall lye upon William Rogers's Head as marks of an Apostate spirit that others may be warned by him Several things more might be observed which we shall pass by from William Rogers's paraphrasing on George Fox's tender Discourse which he calls his Postscript whereby to manifest William Rogers to be given up to serve a quarrelling Spirit contending against the simplicity of the naked Truth and the Innocent to God who keep in the Power and 〈◊〉 his own Works already discovered and from what hath been observed and spoken to already 〈◊〉 of the matter that he hath in Words and Writing 〈◊〉 concerned in and exposed the same on publick Record to the view of all his Spirit and Work is so clearly discovered to be out of the Life of God that little more need be said for proof thereof Some other things there are in William Roger's aforesaid Book relating to charge against George Fox and other Brethren which do not come so much within the compass of our knowledge but that some others may have a more perfect knowledge thereof neither are we in that Capacity with respect to distance from the places where the Passages relating thereunto have been transacted and therefore uncapeable for the examination and finding out what matter of Fact can be chargeable on the score thereof against those whom in the matter of Charge William Rogers points at therefore we shall leave them to what may be said by 〈◊〉 more particularly on the score thereof according to the Capacity they 〈◊〉 not doubting from the knowledge that we have of William Rogers's Spirit detected by the Fruits thereof as manifestly appears through the Work he hath made as also from the undoubted knowledge and belief that we have of George Fox's Innocency as to the matter he hath impeached him upon which we have had the knowledge of or are easily capable to understand and from 〈◊〉 own Writings on the account thereof But that William Rogers as in this our 〈◊〉 upon the matters that have fallen to our lot to be concerned in is evident will be manifested after all is done to be the false Accuser of the 〈◊〉 and subjected to an Antichristian Power wherein he hath laboured to work Mischief in the Church of God to lay Stumbling Blocks in the way of the Simple and to cause the Name of the Lord to be evil spoken of and that George Fox and the other Brethren he Smites at will be manfested to have kept their first Love in their Integrity for God and his pure Truth and that the innocent tender care in the Church of God remains with them which God will bless them in and the Church of Christ is comforted because thereof The most of the Accusations against him and others by Name and against the Church of Christ in General which we have not herein spoken to are treated of by our Brethren of the Second Days Morning Meeting at London as in their Book called The Accuser of our Brethren cast down is demonstrated to the satisfaction of Gods tender People One thing more we cannot but take notice of which peradventure William Rogers aims at in his charging John Blaikling with giving forth a false Certificate against John Story which he hath inserted in some part of his Printed Book as also in several Manuscripts some Years ago relating to Charge against Robert Barrow John Blaykling and others particularly in a Paper which he sent to London from Bristol he writes thus viz. Robert Barrow and John Blaykling are Men of evil Lives because saith he they 〈◊〉 subscribed a false Certificate against John Story c. William Rogers to make good the Accusation against us saith thus John Story was said to be one that justified the separate Meeting and to prove it saith he a Certificate or Testimony in Writing was produced under the Hands of six Persons to prove that John Story had been at a separate Meeting at William Chambers's House Which saith William Rogers at first seemed to reach far meaning to prove 〈◊〉 Story to be one that justified the same but presently saith he it came to be of no credit to many because John Story solemnly affirmed that he never was at those Meetings in a separation from the Monthly and Quarterly Meetings To which we answer in Manuscript thus viz. When John Story hath said all that he can or dare say as to a denial of having an hand in or encourageing the Separation in the North before the Throne of God he shall stand detected and condemned as a false deceitful Man for in his Conscience he knows that it is so and his subscribing of his Name to
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
Power and if any do they are usurpers of Authority they say yea it was moved also by them That no Ministers of Truth should be any of those chosen Men only they come in afterwards with a proviso That if any had a Message from God to deliver amongst them they must declare their Message and withdraw Now let the wise in Heart see What Darkness and Contradiction is this For doth this Proposition and Practice of theirs answer their Conclusion in this Cuestion That all must be left to the manifestation of Gods Spirit and Truth in their own Hearts to Speak and Act therein as ' they are Instructed and Perswaded that would thus limit the Spirit of the 〈◊〉 in his People by shuting out such as might be moved of the Lord to come and sit amongst them to be concerned as the Lord might instruct them And how doth this answer the Liberty and Motion upon Peoples Consciences they so much cry for And how doth this answer those Words in the Narrative That John Story must be left to Act as his Lord and Master should 〈◊〉 him And yet John Story and John Wilkinson by their Order and Prescription will not allow others the like priviledge but says That none must came and sit amongst their chosen Men but such as they have chosen and to whom they have given Power although their Lord and Master by his Spirit should lead them Is not here exercising Lordship over Mens Consciences to purpose even over the Heritage of God And is not this Order and Prescription of theirs which they would have had Gods People to have submitted to worse then the Worlds Courts either such as are called Spiritual or any of the 〈◊〉 Courts or Sessions The second Question proposed at Draw-well aforesaid inserted in William Rogers's Narrative is as followeth viz. Since there are diversities of Talents and Gifts 〈◊〉 ven by the Spirit of God and received by Men whether the judgment of Truth given forth through a part of the Members of Christs Body can become any bond upon any other part of the same Body further then their Vnderstands are enlightened thereby This Question was answered in the Negative and in the Spirit of Truth we have Unity therewith but we do further affirm that whatsoever is given forth in the Judgment of Truth and from the Gift of the Spirit by any of the Members of the Body of Christ that the rest of the Members of the same Body which keep their Eye in Christ their Head have Unity in the Spirit of Christ therewith and if any slight thereof or opposition thereunto do arise in any Members of the 〈◊〉 it is because they are become benumbed Members and have lost the spiritual lively sence of the Truth in themselves and are become thereby Strangers to the mind of God communicated to such as keeps alive in the Body to be distributed by such as Instruments in his Hand for the good of the Body as the Lord sees meet But how doth this Question of theirs answer their Order and Prescription subscribed by them that would have all to submit to what they give out as their Judgment and Order to be condescended to and covenanted in or else they would withdraw from such as would not and do their business themselves amongst their chosen Men and the Order such as would limit the 〈◊〉 of the Lord in the Members of Christs Body and to cause subjection to such their Inventions as Christianity would be ashamed of And yet these are the Men that cry against Orders and for Liberty but that it is the Order of the Gospel the Power of God that they cry against not loving sound Judgment and that the Liberty they would be at and which they are 〈◊〉 after is the Liberty of the Flesh its clear to all that love Righteousness and trace the Path that this unclean Spirit of theirs is treading in Here was no allowing the Tryal of their Prescription and Order by the Spirit of the Lord nor time given to those they presented their Propositions to to have their Understands enlightened touching their Order but a full and positive Conclusion was determined by them on this wise If they were not closed with and covenanted withal they would without any more ado with-draw and accordingly they did and some of them do continue in the Separation to this Day What horrible Confusion Contradiction and Hypocrisie is this In crying against Orders and none scarce ever heard of like theirs and to cry for Liberty of Conscience and yet would exercise Lordship over Mens Consciences on this wise It s a shame for any professing Truth and the Spirit of the Lord to touch with such a Spirit as this Much more might be observed upon William Rogers's Narrative whereby to manifest his Contradiction and the dishonest unchristian yea inhumane Work he hath made in the matter of his relation of the Passages which he saith happened at Bristol at the Meeting aforesaid and how opposite to the Covenants and Agreements subscribed by himself he hath concerned himself therein as cannot but be taken notice of by the Impartial Reader as ridiculous and below morral Honesty and how he together with John Story and John Wilkinson do render themselves inconsistant with themselves in crying out against Orders and outward Ordinances which they say Have been the cause of all the Differences and yet the Order and Prescription that they made and presented to be submitted to being denyed by the Brethren who kept to the Order of the Gospel in the Power of God occasioned the further manifestation of their own disorderly Spirit of Strife which led them into a Separation from the ancient Unity and Bond of Peace to the working Truth 's Blemish and the breach of the Churches Peace to their shame We say much more might be taken notice of as to this matter but that as to the substance of the most material things touched upon in the Narrative it hath been already Satisfactorily writ to by the several Parties principally concerned therein viz. one part thereof by George Fox and another part by Robert Barclay as also considerably spoken to by the Brethren at Bristol and that part of it that concerns the Brethren in Westmoreland answered by them viz. about some of the Articles alledged in charge against John Story and John Wilkinson which William Rogers by his perversions and unfairly dealing therewith would annihilate as relating to matter of Charge against them whose craft in taking out pieces here and there in the Charges and the Reply to John Story and John Wllkinson their Answer and his leaving out the most material Words being discovered in the sight of the single-hearted to God we say they are found still detected of opposition to Church Care and Disesteem of Gospel Order and in a Backsliding state in themselves discouraging the Antient Testimony for Truth in others that the Articles in charge principally against them relate to Unto which