John Wilkinson amongst our selves only to see if vve could yet so order the Business by information to such as vvere out of the vvay that if possible an end of all Differences whatsoever amongst us might be made without any further trouble to the Churches and if at that Meeting there was not a determination concluded amongst us we might afterwards appoint another Meeting for the same end and take to our assistance therein some faithful Brethren of other Countries that matters might be heard before them who had personally been uuconcerned with the Exercise amongst us and this they judged might be orderly and seasonable because that they of us who where not of party with John Story and John Wilkinson c. were rendred in many parts of the Nation by their means to be in the wrong and condemnable and not they A Meeting amongst our selves was first agreed upon to be at the Draw-Well in Sedbergh Yorkshire at the House of John Blaykling and Friends being come together and the Meeting set after a while John Story and some of party with him asked What we had in Writing against him and John Wilkinson it was replyed That it was not our desire or purpose to exhibite matters of charge one against another in Writing if it could be avoided for we desired no memorial of any thing of that tendency to remain we were there met amicably as became Gods People to discourse of matters in which we were not at one amongst our selves by reason of which grievous Exercises and Divisions had been amongst us to the grief of the Innocent and Upright to God and we desired that things might be fairly spoken of that so we might come through Gods help to have a right understanding of one another that if possible the occasion of Differences might be removed and the ancient Unity might arise again and remain with us to our Comfort and Truths Praise But notwithstanding they said That they would not concern themselves with any discourse of that nature with us unless every thing to be discoursed upon were put in Writing We shewed our dislike thereof at present and desired that we might speak of things to see what could be done on that wise first and then if nothing were done this way as to satisfaction to us against the next Meeting it might be considered upon vvhich method to take or Words to that purpose But the conclusion on their parts vvas no discourse to be unless vvhat vve had to say against them vvere put in Writing We instanced some things that vve vvere dissatisfied vvith vvhich they had spoken in opposition to the Churches Concerns in the order thereof vvhich had been a great block in our vvay in the Work of God such and such passages had happened concerning them and such things done by them as vvas the Churches Grief and occasioned the breach of its Peace but nothing vvould they concern themselves vvith because they vvere not put in Writing only in some casual discourse amongst us at that time such Words came from them as gave great dissatisfaction to many there to the breaking their Hearts into Tears through a Testimony from God against them they reflected upon our Meetings to be Formal and not Gospel-like being constantly kept in the freedom of Gods Truth to be ready to attend Friends Concerns vvhen or of vvhat sort soever they might be they called our Practices therein Ceremonies brought into the Churches as they have often called them Mens Prescriptions other mens Lines made ready to our Hands Dictates of fallible men and the like And when all was done nothing did appear to us and many more there present of tender inclination in them to Reconciliation and Peace in any Gospel-Way and so we seeing clearly that they were resolved in relation to hearing of Matters to have all written down that must be spoken to We let them know that according to our Brethrens desire another Meeting was intended by us to be had with them with the assistance of some other Brethren of other Countries with us and then although it should be our last expedient we intended God willing to write down several things with respect to the Opposition made by them in the Church of God to the Order and Practice used amongst us therein and this was the issue of that days Meeting and let the Upright and the Lovers of Peace amongst Gods People consider whether this Spirit of theirs which is acted on this wise be that which is pure peaceable and easie to be entreated which through the Exercise of our next Meeting in relation to them and their work will be more plainly discerned a faithful account whereof we intend through Gods help to give At our next Quarterly Meeting in Kendal Friends being met there and in the sence and weight of the Truth amongst other things in persuance of the aforesaid desire of our Brethren at London was another Meeting agreed upon to be had with John Story and John Wilkinson and some Friends of other adjacent Countries who were nominated by the agreement of the Meeting and some were ordered to send word to the said Friends desiring them as they felt freedom in the Lord to come to be assisting to us The Meeting was appointed to be at a place called Pow-Bank in Westmerland the 24th Day of the 5th Month 1675. of which Meeting John Story and John Wilkinson they not being with us by the order of the Quarterly Meeting were to have notice as in the aforesaid Epistle from Lo don was desired and during the time before the said Meeting it was given out by them after they had notice of it That they did not intend to come at any more Meetings on that Occasion The certainty of their resolve not being known or if they had in their haste said so seeing it had been better to have judged that rashness then to have stood in it John Blaykling wrote a particular Letter to them desiring them upon several Considerations and Accounts to be there John Blaykling's Letter is as followeth Friends and Brethren THe Meeting agreed upon at the last Quarterly Meeting upon the account of the unhappy Difference amongst us although I heard that you had sufficient notice thereof yet I perceiving you had little purpose to observe although agreed upon according to our Brethrens desire at London in manner and form according to our sence of their Letter in that case to us and according to the order of Truth and you having notice given thereof accordingly and the election made of undetected Men amongst us and several others of our unconcerned Brethren wherefore I could see no justifiable Plea you could have in the sight of God and Friends to absent your selves Wherefore it was upon me to get Joseph Baynes to come over to one of you to advise you to take into consideration in self-denial what you do in this case least you render your selves to all the Brethren more and more otherwise then I
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
other Nations and Countries beyond the Seas as by Christian correspondence through many Epistles from our Brethren is demonstrated By Joseph Bains John Pearson John Blayking Pure Religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this to visit the Fatherless and Widows in their Affliction and to keep 〈◊〉 from the World James 1. 27. But if we walk in the Light as he is in the Light we have Fellowship one with another and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son 〈◊〉 us from all Sin 1 John 1. 7. Antichristian Treachery DISCOVERED AND Its Way Block'd up c. MAny have been the Adversaries that the Children of Light have met withal and have had occasion to be concerned with in the Vindication of that pure Truth in which we have believed in the various Exercises which have fallen in our Lot since we have been a People and through all which the Lord hath been our Preservation and Deliverance for the Glory of his own Eternal Name and our lasting Peace Of all which William Rogers our present Adversary seems to be one that hath not had an equal to him apparent to all that weigh the concern which he hath appeared in with respect to the matter of it and the Circumstances that on many Accounts relate to it as shall be plainly manifested The matter he undertakes to be concerned in is to demonstrate as he pretends The Backfliding of them that are not of party with him from the Principle once Received and from the Life of Christianity alledging also what a concern of Conscience lay upon him to appear after the manner he doth least saith he The doctrine and life of Christianity should seem to be wholy extinct amongst the People called Quakers In his Title page he intimates under what Denomination he treats the body of the People of which we are to wit as Apostates and 〈◊〉 except of party with him which he Accounts his Title page and Book clearly shews Now let it be considered if this be the Characters of a true Christian or doth it demonstrate him to be in the Doctrine and life of Christianity or one under a Godly concern to promote the honour of Truth that Principle of Light and Life received and faithfully believed in amongst us in the vindication whereof the Lord hath engaged all that keep 's their Integrity to it unanimously to stand together and hath blessed them with dominion in the sight of their Foes or doth it appear that the Doctrine and Life of Christianity abides in him or that any regard to the Exaltation of Truth and the way of it remains with him Whilst he Publisheth in Print that the many Thousands that have believed in the Light and are not 〈◊〉 Party with him are become Apostates from God and the Life of their Profession setting up Forms instead thereof Mens Orders and Prescriptions and the like and as he renders them To have begun in the Spirit and seek to be made perfect 〈◊〉 the Flesh And yet in contradiction to himself and the Characters of Apostates that he gives us saith That a great part of the Contention amongst us seemes to 〈◊〉 about the Shell and not the Kernel that is to say about some outward Forms and not the Life of our Profession and John Wilkinson saith That the Concord we had 〈◊〉 seems much to be broken c. And the cause God hath manifested to 〈◊〉 saith he Is not in principle of Truth nor in Christ Doctrine nor in any practice which Truth in the members of the Heavenly Body leadeth into but about prescription c. Doth it then become the Christian Quaker As he calls himself or can it be the concern of a tender Conscience that hath regard to Truth and the Unity of Brethren to publish in Print and leave a Memorial of it to Posterity That the Body of Friends to Truth the Family which God hath chosen who still keeps their Integrity to it let William Rogers say what he can are 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 and as if the Life of Christianity were wholly extinct amongst them and them of his party the Christian Quakers only And yet himself saith That the difference is but about the Shell and not about the Kernel and according to John Wilkinson's affirming That its manifested to him to be not in Principles of Truth nor Christ Doctrine nor in any practice which the Truth in the members of the Heavenly Body leadeth into c. What confusion and silly work is this that William Rogers hath engaged himself in Or doth it not render him void of the pure Wisdom of God and Life of Christianity a Man departed from his first Love and regard to Truths Renown and the Unity therein Who can but say rather that he is a Man given to strife and one that sets himself to work Discord in the Church of God a Man also of a lofty Spirit in the work thereof that undertakes to set himself against the Heritage of God whom God hath stood by and been the defence of through all their Troubles and that thus renders many Thousands of God's dear People which he was once in unity with Apostates and Innovators and the like a state most contemptible in the Lords sight and odious amongst Men fearing God And that it is a malicious Spirit he is acted by that would under this Character of Apostates expose the Families of which we are to the Wrath and Indignation of all to our Exercise and Sufferings thereby For what is more dreadful to the Profession of Christianity under which the People of this Nation lives Then an Apostat estate from the Doctrine of Christ and the Apostles Life Under which the great Persecution hath befallen many that sincerely sought the Lord and obeyed him according to what was made manifest to them but our considence is in the Lord and in the integrity of our hearts and we are over his worst and the Inchantment that this Spirit is working in shall never prevail For the Lord is God and changeth not therefore are we not consumed It may be asked William Rogers what is become of the principle of Light he so much pretends to that gives an understanding to all that truly love it and the Christianity that he would be rendered to be in the Life of with them of party with him that he doth not see what a reproach he hath made himself to all the sober minded People of every Profession Surely if Aplause to himself and 〈◊〉 was in his eye he hath mised his aim Who can say that Reads his Book that this is a fit man to stands up for the life of Christianity in the defence of the Principle that so many Thousands have testified to and has a Record in many Consciences for a Sober Conscientious and well meaning People who hath been one in profession with them and now is become such an Accuser of his Brethern rendring them to be Apostates and Innovators exclaiming against their Profession their
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
Authority or Invading Christs Prerogative and bringing in of mens Edicts Laws and Prescriptions and mens Inventions c. VVhat an Invention was this against the Prerogative of Christ Jesus by his Spirit in the Saints that none must sit or act in or about the Church affairs but their chosen men to whom they have given Power May not William Rogers be ashamed of clamouring so much against Church Government and applaud John Story and John Wilkinson at such an high rate when he considers what a Paper of Proposals Resolves and Covenants for Rule and Government John Story and John Wilkingson have subscribed and very probably invented and framed it up ready for the Subscription and upon not being closed with in the Bargain they would have made with us would Excommunicate us as not worthy of their Society and from whom they would with-draw and do their Business amongst themselves VVill not John Wilkinson and John Story blame their Correspondent and Agent in their VVork for manifesting in Print such a Paper as this destructive to the whole design he hath taken in hand and to the undermining the whole Fabrick of the Cause that he hath espoused to himself on their behalf For who can observe these things and not conclude that William Rogers must either let his work and design of Judging and Inveighing against Church Government quite fall or else judge John Story and John Wilkinson and all them of that Party in the North who subscribed the said Paper to be the Apostates also amongst them he brands with it on the account of Order and Discipline in the Church and no other thing and then who will William Rogers have to stand by him but Apostates Innovators and the like What Confusion is here and Inconsistencies with themselves amongst them it makes their work 〈◊〉 to all that takes notice of it But as to the matter before us in short to bargain with them on these terms it was far from us neither had their Company of late amongst us been so comfortable to us their contentious work was such that had their terms been far below that hight of Imposition they appeared in and Lording over the Consciences of the Upright yea the very Spirit of God as 〈◊〉 it was Their Spirit was such in the ground from whence this work sprung that no bargain we could be enclined to make with it So that our Answer was a positive denial on any such termes as those proposed by them as in a Paper given forth by us on the account of many particulars in theirs expressed is inserted at large ready for the service that it may be of if any desire to see it or if occasion be for publishing the same with many more in readiness by us relating to the Strife and Troubles they have occasioned in the Church of God during our many Exercises on this wise which will be their Burden one day And to further this contentious Work and seperate Design John Story' s great work when in the North was and much of his time taken up in going too and again from House to House to proselite to his Faction amongst such as he had hopes to get any entrance upon buzing into Peoples Minds the danger which the Churches were entering into on the account of our Church Government and Gospel Order for nothing else he had to accuse us of the danger of it he represented to such as were infected with a dislike thereof and enclined to reject it and like the unskilful Physicians of no value applyed deceitfully to work 〈◊〉 Gangreen to utter Ruin Had he been a man zealous in the matter of it as Paul was in his day and the Faithful still are and that he had seen some too eager in the concern of it then a word on that wise in Gods Name had been aptly spoken as the Aples of Gold spoken of in Pictures of Silver but he was not of that Spirit neither was it the Upright and the Entire to God that he dealt with in such a concern for they saw his Snare and in vain would he have laid it in their sight it was the profidious the looser sort he generally dealt with others would not take any notice of him he brought into our Meetings for the Contentions sake he was entered into such as had never appeared in the matter of Truth 's concerns to speak of in all their days before the Shrinkers in the suffering times the Tyth-payers were fit for his Faction they hung upon him as their God and the Artist for their concern cunning and nimble hath he been in the matter of the War and seperate Work he hath been in hand with but there is an Eye that hath seen him Poor John whether can he go for help or who can appear to do him good Many Hearts fail them and escape for their Lives and the Champion he hath had dependance upon and hath done what in him lay and as much as one could do with such a Spirit as he is of he Reels and Staggers and as a drunken man jumbles himself with his offs and on s one while yea and then nay the Contradictions the Impertinences the Inconsistances with himself and with them that have trusted their Cause in his hand that his Book abounds with manifested at large in Ellis Hook's on behalf of the 〈◊〉 days Morning Meeting in London demonstrates the Confusion the Lord suffers them to run into so that their way is block up let them struggle and 〈◊〉 whilst they have Breath backward must their Spirit and Work go into the Pit again from whence it came the Lord of Hosts that 's Israels God will work it down and none shall hinder We may tell the Reader that its true they got a List in the North to make a shew and clutter withal at a distance whence Trees look like Men for their confederate work to appear as popular as they could but were they searched into and known what they are many of them are such as their Cause would be disparaged by and none that truly love God and Sion's Welfare would 〈◊〉 to have any such concerned in the defence thereof to appear with them There are many come off from them that have condemned the work thereof and declares That the Paper they grounded their separate design upon scarcely any of them 〈◊〉 heard or read or 〈◊〉 privy to the matter of it but a few got it drawn and Agents they had to get it subscribed here and there mostly upon the 〈◊〉 that J. Story and J. Wilkinson and others had done it as hereafter may appear and of what pitious sort many of the Subscribers and some few others that joyns to them are since those whom God hath redeemed from amongst them came off as occasion may be seen an account thereof is ready to be given But to go on upon our denial to submit to their Terms they being as much as their word in that matter they with-drew
〈◊〉 thereof For notwithstanding our Friends withdrawing from their Huses aforesaid yet they were so far from hindering or forbiding them to come to their Houses whose Dores are open to all that they had Word several times sent them of Meetings when some of our travelling Friends came amongst us And this is the Work of John Wilkinson and them of that Party with him and on this wise with Witchery have they gon about to further their Design which the Lord will break in pieces It 's already begun let them look about them that they may escape the Wrath and perpetual Reproach that 's coming upon them let the Patient wait but a little and they shall see the end thereof The Relation at large we have by us with many Hands at it ready for a surther Service as Occasion may require however from what hath been said touching this matter it may be easily seen whether John Wilkinson be not a principal Leader in this contending separate Work and what treacherous lying Reports is 〈◊〉 abroad by him and others of that Party to work in the Mindes of People a 〈◊〉 of Friend's Exercise in the Church of Christ according to the Discipline and Order thereof And whether William Rogers in his applauding such so 〈◊〉 and none to exceed them in Doctrine and Life that ever he hear'd of is not very much under a great Mistake let the Reader consider when such Work as this is acted by them However this we can truly say these things have greatly wrought the Churches Peace and Quietness and now we are become very Peaceable in our monthly and quarterly Meetings they of the dividing contentious opposit Spirit having left us and the Power and Glory of God overshadowing our Meetings and those Blessings 〈◊〉 on high we are daily made so to enjoy 〈◊〉 our Labours and Work that a true Delight in God and his pure Truth springs up amongst the Faithful and Amiable and Sweet Our Society is without the least appearance of any Jarr or Division amongst us and our Meetings on the account of the Worship of God Friends are truly comforted in in the sence of a daily Increase in the Power and Dominion of God So that Friends Testimonies for the antient Truth are sweet and easy to many notwithstanding what is suffered therefore and several are added to us from off the barren Mountains and gathered home to the true Sheeperd who leads his Flock into green Pastures by the Pooles of Water to our Hearts Comfort and the Glory of him who is worthy for evermore And this we have to say upon the whole matter in relation to the many grievous and sore Exercises that we meet withal for several Years through the occasion of this dividing separate Spirit which had 〈◊〉 the Churches Sorrow and the Breach of its Peace The Lord hath turned the same to our great advantage many ways as hath been demonstrated and livingly felt to the great Joy and Comfort of our Souls that into an holy retirement of the antient Power by which we were first a People all the Innocent to God are brought that thither all might be scattered that had any depending upon any other thing and the Salvation which God revealed in antient days is become precious indeed and which livingly springs to the establishing of all whose dependency wait on him in those antient Testimonies which the Lord hath called us to bear for his Name-Sake so that Peace is become our Portion and the Blessing of God our great Reward And with respect to any publick appearance of opposition by them of that sort as to concern themselves on that wife in our Exercises for Truth the Glory of God in the Order Discipline used amongst us Friends are become here-a ways in the North much what quit of it for they begun to see it was in vain for them to resist and strive with that which they say was too strong for them and their Spirits fainted through the dread of the Eternal God they were in war with and their Hearts failing them in the day of Battel and having much what now given up the management as was said before of the Work and the Design in hand to them of that party with them in the Southern parts with whom John Story much what did remain some cluttering work William Rogers and some of party with him made in those parts but principly he was the man took the matter into his concern and a deal of stir with writing and such like wrangling work he made in some of Friends Meetings and others sent Papers to London and into the North against the Testimony given at Ellis Hooks's Chamber made mention of before with many scornful Terms and malitious Smitings ready also to be produced and many more such-like with Answers and Rejoynders as occasion was which to speak of and insert at 〈◊〉 is not much upon us as not altogether necessary with respect to our concern for that which hath been already said about matters of that nature may be we judg sufficient in the Eye Heart of the Upright to God to leave William Rogers and them of party with him convicted of the matter alledged in charge against them with respect to manisest Opposition to Church Care amongst Gods People and the Order Government of Jesus Christ instrumentally in the Family he hath made choice of to be Glorified amongst during the Tabernacle which God hath given And this we can say and evidence according to Truth that grievous Work William Rogers and his Abettors made against God's innocent harmless People in the South with bawling cluttering Work such as we have met withal in the North The Relation whereof we shall mostly leave to our Brethren in those Parts as they see an Occasion for it In the mean time this may be noted that when they had done all they could both in North and South to beget a Dis-esteem of Friends Care under the Government of Jesus in the Church and Family of God and thereby thinking to obstruct the Order Rule and Judgment thereof and to leave themselves thereby at Liberty in the Flesh and at ease that the Stroak of Gods Truth should not come upon them which is seen to be that Spirits Design they have been acted by Yet all would not do for they were in War with that which was too strong for 〈◊〉 the Glory of God 〈◊〉 over the Darkness they were strugling in and the Church of Christ continued in its antient Glory and beautified she became in the Hearts of Thousands through the Care and Labour the Travel the many Exercises in all Diligence Meekness and Patience used and born in the Concerns and Work thereof and many became more and more established in the Sence thereof even the more that the wrong Spirit and them of it set themselves against it and Fear and Jealousy of the success of their Work no doubt surprized them because of the 〈◊〉 Glory that attended
the one when the Lords secret Hand smote the Hearts of the other so that to another kinde of working in the fame Spirit they betook themselves as 〈◊〉 shall be made appear But first we defire that on the Consideration of what hath been said at large and yet things but hinted at with respect to the multitude of Exercises that have been met withal in relation to the Sorrows Grievances various Troubles and great Afflictions that hath attended the peaceable People of God these several Years through the Spirit of Opposition 〈◊〉 and Mischief that hath wrought amongst them by a sort that hath been acted thereby having let in an evil Heart of Unbelief in departing from Gods eternal Power and with respect to the Care long-Suffering Forbearance and great Patience that hath been used towards them with Exhortations Cautions Counsel and Advice in the day of their declining Age and with Reproofs of Instruction and the pure Judgment that hath been ministred in unto them with Line upon Line Precept upon Precept here a little and there a little as it was in the Prophets days in the case of the rebellious and backsliding People We say it s our Desire that these things being tenderly weighed in sincerity of Heart amongst all where-ever this may come and Occasion may be given to inspect the same may speak whether William Rogers whom we are 〈◊〉 with have justifiable Cause to render this Family in the Church of God and tenderly bowed down and broken with respect to them of his Party whilst a Door was seen to be set open to them the Apostates from God and such as in whom the Doctrin and Life of Christianity is extent and to publish the same in Print and leave the infamous Badg thereof upon us to Posterity or that the Witness of God in all your Consciences do not testify that he is a man of a corrupt Minde and hath set himself to work Mischief amongst the People he was once in Unity with and to work Destractions amongst them and expose a People more justified in Gods sight and amongst the honest hearted than 〈◊〉 to as much Infamy and Disgrace as he can any way do and to bring an Odium upon their Principle and Practice as much as in him lies and that he appears to be in the Enmity of his Minde against them he hath turned his Back of and the just Principle also in himself that would rejoyce to see Evil of any sort befall them and therefore hath set himself to render them the worst 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 devise we leave it also for them to judge whether the Apostate and turning back from the Doctrine and Life of Christianity be not truly applicable to him and them of that Party with him which in the Sequil of this our Concern we shall further demonstrate as the Lord shall be pleased to give us Leave Now to go on and that which is before us further to do is to manifest What other Course William Rogers hath betaken himself unto in the matter of his proving this People whose Testimony and Practice stands to maintain that 〈◊〉 a Gospel Dispensation through Gods invisible Power Church Order and Government visiblely and instrumentally is justificable and commendable amongst Gods People during their Abode in this World as a visible Family to shew forth Gods Praise The Course he takes to effect this matter if he could is to asperse and caluminate with malitious Accusations with all the Eagerness he can devise and work himself into such as the Lord hath been pleased to make most instrumental in the matter of setling the Churches in the aforesaid Order of the Gospel and Government of Christ Jesus many whom he names not yet palpably known to many of Gods People who they are he smites at and several whom he by Name makes mention of and for the cause of his looking upon them to be such as there are no Hopes of any Recovery for meaning out of the apostate State he declares and publishes in Print they are gone into and particularly George Fox he hath very abusively and not like a Christian or a sober Man inveighed against and cast very odious Aspersions upon him to his 〈◊〉 as he intends thereby and indeed if true did very much leave him under the aforesaid Character that he hath given him and many Thousands more It is our Purpose God willing to insert herein the principal Accusations which in his printed Book he hath published against George Fox and to demonstrate by Answer thereunto to all conscientious sober People the Fallacy thereof together with his ungodly perverting George Fox his honest and Christian Sence and Intents in relation to Matters and Words upon which William Rogers grounds his Accusation which his aforesaid Sence and sineere Intents in any charitable and Christian Construction is naturally deducible from 〈◊〉 Fox's Words and Exercises 〈◊〉 thereunto from which William Rogers having perverted them draws his 〈◊〉 Inference whereupon he often makes an Occasion against him It may be observed also how unbrotherly and unchristianly he hath appeared in the matter of the aforesaid Charging of him contrary to all Gospel-Order for the most part and the rule of all profest Christian Societies yea beyond all Bounds of humane Sobriety and Moderation so that if he could but get any colourable Occasion from whence to ground his open and implicit Reflections and malicious smiting Charges against him that as much as in him lies he may bring a Defamation upon his Christian Repute and also a Blemish upon him as a Man thereby also to invalidate the Esteem that remains in the Hearts and Consciences of many Thousands of Gods faithful People of the Christian Care that lives upon his Heart in an innocent Life in relation to Church Government and Order and Discipline thereof setled amongit Gods People in this Gospel Day It is also with us to manifest what malicious smiting Accusations he hath cast upon several others of our Friends that tenderly and yet in a godly Zeal for God the ancient Truth and Unity for Brethren have stood in the Vindication and in behalf of the Government of Christ Jesus instrumentally and visibly amongst Gods People relating to the Tabernacle in which we have a Day therein to shew forth the Glory and Praise of him that created us against the ungodly Workings of a wrong Spirit in Opposition 〈◊〉 And more particularly have shamefully abused 〈◊〉 of our Brethren in the North on the account thereof In relation to which also through Gods Help we doubt not but give the unprejudiced Reader that Satisfaction by a plain and honest Relation of Matters which he grounds his Accusations upon that an Understanding will be opened in them rightly to judge and testify that there is abundantly more Malice against the Particulars he is set against in his Clamouring Work than any real Matter upon which to ground the base Reflections and abusive Accusations that he hath treated them with which declares
before the Lord he will be the more unable to appear when all his daubing and slubbering-over 〈◊〉 and covering such guileful Work as John Story and John Wilkinson for several Years were concerned will not be to his Repute amongst the Innocent to God nor hide the Head of an opposite contentious Spirit under which John Story and John Wilkinson were brought in Subjection and notwithstanding the evading deceitful Answers John Story had made to those things queried of him whether they were true concerning him or no several of them 〈◊〉 to matters of Faith which he hath denyed he stands convicted of as 〈◊〉 at large in the Reply in Manuscript to their Answer to the Articles in 〈◊〉 alledged against them which they never yet made Answer unto And 〈◊〉 was also proved at the Meeting at Drawell before many Brethren against 〈◊〉 which Reply is ready by us for the Service that it may be allotted for And further we say we are willing to put it to the Evidence of Gods Witness in all Consciences to declare if these fatherly and brotherly Exercises upon George Fox and others thus concerned on John Story and John Wilkinson their Behalf do declare them Apostates for the Life of God or the Occasioners of the Strise and Division in the North Or that George Fox hath been as William Rogers abusively renders erroniously concerned in the matter thereof And further William Rogers says 〈◊〉 appears that George Fox hath been principally concerned in the aforesaid Difference because in a 〈◊〉 writ by John Blaykling Note That the said Postscript was writ by John Blaykling and annexed to a Reply to a salfe 〈◊〉 smiting Accusation exhibited by William Rogers against George Fox in which he would unjustly have brought John Blaykling as a Witness for him against George Fox which John Blaykling solemnly denying queried of William Rogers if that was the 〈◊〉 they were put to to make good John Wilkinson's lying Prophesy viz. That God would break us because of the Testimony born against their opposite Spirit as to set us at Variance one against another if they could from which Passage in the 〈◊〉 William Rogers saith John 〈◊〉 who appeared in the 44 Articles against John Story and John Wilkinson rechoned George Fox one of those unto whom John Wilkinson's 〈◊〉 reached and therefore by Consequence he argues that George Fox was principally concerned in the Difference To all which we answer thus There hath been an eternal Sence in George Fox John Blaykling and Thousands more of a wrong contentious dividing Spirit entering John Story and John Wilkinson tending to divide and scatter the Lambs of God And that George Fox and many 〈◊〉 have been concerned in Care over and Regard to them In which many Exhortations and Cautions hath been given and laid before them many tender Papers writ to them by George Fox and John Blaykling and others yea Councel from God ministred to them by many dear Brethren whilest the Day of their Visitation continued unto them and the Lord waited to have healed them Many Reproofs have been upon them for their disorderly contentious Work in many Exercises and Concerns relating to them and orderly Dealings have been with them and upon their not hearing the Judgment of the eternal Truth through Gods People placed upon them satisfactory to the Life and eternal Sence of George Fox and of the Church of God every where who have been concerned in the Knowledg and Exercise thereof We 〈◊〉 not ashamed with respect to the tender brotherly Dealings with them as before is 〈◊〉 nor of the Testimony that has been born against them and that stands over the head of the Spirit they have been led and acted by to the Churches Grief and the Breach of its Peace On this wise we have been concerned in relation to this Spirit and its dividing Work and have been unanimously knit together in such our Concern in the Fellowship of Gods Power in which we are one in the Service of Truth for the Churches Peace against every Appearance to the contrary And God hath blessed us therein with an Increase of Life and 〈◊〉 to the establishing the Feet of the Innocent in God in the Mountain of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 House on the top of all the Hills and mountanous Imaginations that 〈◊〉 Rogers hath a spired unto in his ambitious Mind and proud Attempts 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 eternal God with the Stone cut out of the Mountain without Hands is 〈◊〉 at and will dash in pieces and be the Confusion of all them who take 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 him And the Prophesie vainly and blasphemoufly delivered by John Wilkinson against the Innocent and upright to God will be found true as daily Experience manifests upon themselves whose Breach and downfal perpetually cometh on apace and there is none found able to deliver And as for the Matters in charge against John Story and John Wilkinson alledged in Writing on the 〈◊〉 aforesaid they who were concerned in the Exercise thereof are vindicated by the Witness of the Eternal God in their own Consciences and justified before many Faithful Brethren And the matters thereof was sufficiently proved at Drawel against 〈◊〉 in the order of Truth and presence of the Almighty God whose righteous Judgment accordingly stands upon the Head of them being convicted thereof which shall never fall to the Ground and this 〈◊〉 Work which William Rogers hath made in this matter against George Fox 〈◊〉 him not For God we say again hath not made William Rogers Judg over him And we do affirm That if George Fox be detectable in the matter of the 〈◊〉 which John Story and John Wilkinson have occasioned in the Church of Christ then was the Prophets of the Lord detectable in the matter of Israel's 〈◊〉 from God who were sent early and late in the Lords willingness to heal them to forwarn them of the Evil that would come upon them if they repented not The like Testimony whereof in relation to John Story and John Wilkinson and the backsliding sort George Fox and many more of Gods People and Messengers of Truth in the Dominion of Gods Power have been concerned in in a Warning to them from the Lord by reason whereof God and his People are clear of them Let those of them unto whom God as yet giveth time look to it as they will answer him in the dreadful Day In his Fourth Part page 36. and so on William Rogers surther goes on in the matter of charging George Fox with an erroneous Concern in the Difference amongst the Quakers in the North implying thereby That John Story and John Wilkinson have been falsly reputed the principal Occasioners thereof c. For which cause William Rogers hath inserted a Paper given forth by them and 〈◊〉 he saith at the Meeting at Drawell as their Judgment in relation to the Five Heads that the 44 Articles alledged there against them related to viz. I Their Opposition to Monthly and Quarterly Meetings II. Opposition to Womens Meetings
judged as a malicious perverter of George Fox's sincere Intent in the aforesaid Directions and his drawing his false 〈◊〉 there from tending to make People believe that George Fox's Directions were 〈◊〉 forth with Severity to be urged upon People as he hath often said and as William Rogers hath Suggested and Printed that George Fox's 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 are urged to be Practiced before Conviction and before they 〈◊〉 it their duty to observe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 we say William Rogers his Inserting John Story' s Words on that wise as it tends to a malicious Charge against George Fox its false and abusive as we have often 〈◊〉 for George Fox's Testimony for Truth and his Directions in relation to Church 〈◊〉 and Government have ever been commended to the 〈◊〉 leaving the Issue to the Lord alone and to his Faithful Witness in all and the Faithful to God do receive the same with Gladness as that which answers their Consciences with Satisfaction in the performance whereof as they have felt it their Duty they have found the Presence and Blessings of God with them We say again it is the Fruit of a dark Spirit and imports great Confusion as the reply at large manifests to make this jumbling Work about a clear and plain Truth which would darken Knowledg How can George Fox in the Spirit of the Lord Jesus or any other Instrument in the Lords hand be moved to give forth any Directions or Advice to the Church to be observed and put in practice but there is a necessity thereof and so consequently to be practised amongst Gods People in his leading Grace And what is that Severity they are offended with and thus clamour against Is it any thing else but the laying things home upon the Consciences of them who make mention of Gods Name What other Severity have we used or ever appeared in When William Rogers Prints again let him tell us if ever George Fox or any of us were otherwise concerned in the matter of the Directions which John Wilkinson once confessed to but in commending them to the Conscience and to be led in the Practice thereof by Gods leading Grace as their Duty and if any in a wrong fleshly mind resist the same to declare Dis-union with such as not worthy of that Fellowship which the Faithful are in as William Rogers in his Christian Quaker hath confessed may be done Paul charged before God and the Elect Angels to observe the things he had directed to in the Spirit which he knew would attend them who were innocent in the Practice of those things which he was moved to lay before them But let us ask William Rogers or any of Party with him Do they think that George Fox was moved of God to give forth things to be practiced in the Churches in the Spirit of Truth that fleshly minds should be justified in Gods sight in putting a 〈◊〉 thereupon as John Story did as the Fruit of his dark Mind in any smooth ungodly pretence whatsoever And shall any be Blessed in saying That George Fox only recommended these things to our Consciences to be practiced as we saw need and that we see no need of Womens Meetings or of Monthly and Quarterly Meetings so constant as both John Story and John Wilkinson have said And we see no need of keeping our Meetings in our Houses when twenty Pound Fine is imposed on them that do so We see no need of such Inspection or such Strictness with respect to the bringing of Marriages twice to the Meetings unless there be 〈◊〉 apparent Cause Under these pretences hath Disobedience been sheltered and Loosness nursed up and Weakness prevailed in the time of Persecution and on the score of other antient Testimonies sor God And we testifie that the great ground of Dis-satisfaction about Church Care which John Story and others of Party with him wofully fell into and the great cause of all the Contention which hath been made by them spoken of and which William Rogers says George Fox hath been erroneously concerned in and whom he and John Wilkinson would charge to be the occasion of was the Churches practising in the Life of God those things that were commended to the honest Hearted according to the Directions given forth by George Fox and other Brethren on which occasion the Unfaithfulness of many came to be searched into and found out and judged in the power of the pure Truth which they liked not they could easily have born the reading of them and their being commended to Friends Consciences so that the Practice might have been suspended and not come into but room left for their loose Minds and backsliding Work for John Wilkinson said Thas those things which George Fox 〈◊〉 commended to the Churches were necessary and good things But when Friends desired that all might be found in the Practice thereof and accordingly were concerned and their flying in Suffering times and their backfliding from other Testimonies once born for the precious Truth coming to be spoken to that Judgment might be felt thereupon then John Wilkinson struck in with John Story and others of the same Spirit and of the loose sort and hath continued since in the Opposition and Strife which led into the Separation in which they are unto this Day Divers other smiting Reflections against George Fox William Rogers appears in in his tedious Observations on John Story and John Wilkinson their Answers with his deducted Inferences from George Fox's Words and sincere demeanure in the Church of Christ which he would draw his Accusations from which are not worth the Trouble that we might put our selves and the Reader unto if we should take notice of every circumstance thereof the which we intend not in this place seeing the most that he hath said or can say in his own defence and on the behalf of them of party with him is insufficient whereby to acquit him and them of the Charge that we are bold to stand to against them of Opposition and labouring to work strife amongst Gods People which all who have seen his Book and what hath been said in Answer to it and have a true sence of his Spirit and Work may easily see as insufficient also to detect George Fox of being erroneously 〈◊〉 in the aforesaid Difference as he very abusively hath accused him of and Condemns him and others of the Brethren for their appearing in Judgment against the Spirit that John Story and John Wilkinson have been led by William Rogers goes on and Inserts an Epistle of George Fox's occasioned through an Objection he frames up Object Thy whole Discourse seems to carry a kind of an Edge against the Spirit that of late Years had acted through George Fox 〈◊〉 whom its certainly known from his Writings yet extant that he hath thus Advised Take heed of Judging one another and Judge not one another I command 〈◊〉 in the Presence of the Lord neither lay open one anothers Weaknesses behind one 〈◊〉 Backs
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
of the Scriptures and of what I have writ and what his Name is to And to prove what he seems to hold forth against George Fox he saith I find no where that ever the Apostle forbad Circumcision in the same case in which he practised it Answer It s to be admired what this Man would fetch up or frame matter of to smite with though thereby he demonstrates sometimes his own folly for we say where doth George Fox say that the Apostle did so Nay we do affirm that George Fox doth plainly shew that the Apostle did not forbid Circumcision on the same Account or in the same case in which he practised it and so for William Rogers to say he finds it so no where is the same and no otherwise then what George Fox saith wherein then is George Fox's Ignorance of Scriptures and what his Name is to c If William Rogers knew rightly what himself says he might see how he runs himself into Confusion and makes himself Work with his own Shaddow George Fox intimates that the case in which the Apostle practised Circumcision and tenderly bore it for a season was because of the hardness of the Hearts of some in the days of the Churches infancy and gathering to God that could not easily be brought off from Circumcision and least his very much pressing the unnecessariness of it might have hardened some that used it against the Truth and because also of the tenderness of some others that had made some Conscience of it in Zeal though without knowledge as some of the Jews were said to have therefore also did he forbear and some little practise it and bid the believing Jews in the day of that weakness amongst them to be cautious of judging one another therein and in Meats and Drinks and the like These were the Cases in which the Apostle practised Circumcision and bore with the tenderly weak in those matters And the other case in which the Apostle judgeth them in it was as George Fox says when some who were come to see the nothingness of Circumcision and observing of Days and the like with respect to a Gospel Dispensatiou and Salvation by Christ Jesus and not of Works c. and afterwards turned thither again pretending it to be their principle and make a Sect of it Then the Apostle expressly forbad it saying If you be Circumcised Christ shall prosit you nothing and he said also And now after you have known God or rather are known of God how turn you back agaid into these Beggarly Rudiments the observing of Days and the like It is one thing we say in the Infancy of Truth not to see ones way out of the practice of some things Erroneous and an Exercise of Conscience may be in relation thereunto In which case great forbearance and render dealing with such in the Spirit of Meekness is profitable It s another cause when after Convincement and an understanding be given of the evil and unprofitableness of some thing in order to Life and Peace and yet to stand in the Observation of those things or being once redeemed therefrom to turn back thither again and say it s their Principle and make a Sect of it in this case Truths Authority comes to be exercised and the Judgment thereof placed And this is the substance of what George Fox intimates touching this matter which William Rogers makes so much quarrelling about And had the case on William Rogers John Story and John Wilkinson their Account in Relation to Church Care Government and Order therein which all this ado hath been made against by them been the case of tenderness or want of seeing the necessity thereof because of the Infancy as to Truth that they might have been in and that they had been tender in their Spirits under a fear to have offended the Lord his Church and People undet a mistake in themselves that Simplicity would have been Jealous of then would they not have wanted all possible forbearance every way to have done them good but this was not their case in any respect as their Testimonies and Works demonstrate They were not the Weak in their own Eyes for when they were in the first Love they were not ignorant of the necessity of Church Care Order and Government amongst Gods People in this Gospel day Witness William Rogers Subscription amongst many Brethren to a Paper for the promoting the same and encouraging Friends therein inserted in the first part of this Treatise and John Story his hand amongst the Brethren also on the same Score John Wilkinson owning the Papers given forth by George Fox as Directions touching the same as very good and useful to be practised They were not humble and passive in the day when they begun to stumble thereat and turned back therefrom to indulge a wrong Spirit in a fleshly ease in themselves and such as hung upon them or were gratified thereby much need not be said here what is already inserted in this is sufficient to satisfie touching this matter and William Rogers's Book also fully demonstrates what obstructions he lays in the way of it and what contempt he puts upon the care in the Church of God used amongst the faithful that all this cluttering Work hath been made by them against in a word they are manifested to be such as are gone back again from their first Love and Aeal for Truth and the Power thereof and the concerns of the Churches Advantage and Peace is not of weight upon them but the old liberty in the fleshly part is that they would be indulged in wherein Antient Testimonies for the Truth comes to be departed from to the dishonour of Truth and the holy way of God to the Grief of God's People who keeps faithful to him and this is the case that the Truth cannot allow any such in but the Judgment thereof in the Spirit of Jesus wherein Authority and Rule stands is placed there But again to the matter we were upon Let us see from what touching George Fox's instancing Pauls sometimes using and allowing Circumcision and in some cases judging it William Rogers fetcheth his smiting blows against him for that 's the Work he is concerned in William Rogers infers from this and saith It appears that the actings in some things according to ones Principle in matters of Conscience were condemnable when the practising things not according to ones Principle in matters of Conscience might be justifiable in George Fox ' s 〈◊〉 or some of party with him Answer we say this is a gross Perversion of George Foxs's Words and a false Application from the Apostles Practice and George Fox's instance nor any way deducible there-from And we require William Roger if he can to make it out that ever George Fox or any of them that are of his Spirit and in Fellowship with him ever justified any in the practice of things against their Consciences or disallowed any thing practised by any who acted
on purpose to put Friends by their Testimonies in that matter he had almost over-run the Proposals for Peace William Penn stetp to the Table and writ down a 〈◊〉 to be read in the Meeting that if it Answered the sence of Friends there Assembled it might be 〈◊〉 by them and sent to John Story as their Christian offer towards the Reconciliation of those sad Differences but William Rogers notwithstanding he knew not the contents thereof judged it an unfit Paper to be read and as we conceive contrary to all Truth Justice and common Sobriety said I will oppose it it shall not be read again I say it shall not go as from the Meeting Which we took to be in high Arrogancy and Vsurpation upon the Meeting raising and continuing his voice when it was begun to be read so loud on purpose as to drown the reading of the Proposition his behaviour being so Rude that we never had the like in our Meeting before which rude practice we look upon to be condemnable in all sober and free Societies c. This is testisied to by Twenty Eight Friends of Bristol who were present at the Meeting before mentioned And therefore what credit can be given to William Rogers and them that gives forth such false Certificates to make People believe Lyes which they are glad to make their Refuge let the wise in Heart consider Again as we hinted before William Regers saith in his Narraitive That the Second Days Meeting at London have allowed that which they are not satisfied can stand justified c. The matter is something concerning Robert Barclay's Book In his Narrative he saith thus Robert Barclay speaking of the Order of Government thus saith c. In his Book Entituled the Anarchy of the Ranters in which Book it seemeth as he says is that which he and others are dissatisfied with This is mentioned in his Narrative written at Bristol the Eleventh Month 1677. This is a Passage that happened at London and not at Bristol and so contradicts the preamble to his Relation The Reader also may take notice that in the Third Month 1677. being Seven Months before his Narrative was writ William Rogers by a Paper under his own Hand acknowledgeth that touching Robert Barclay's Book a fair and Christian debate was had before many Friends at a Meeting in London to both Robert Barclay's and his Satisfaction and the things by him objected was fairly and Brotherlike and in much love discoursed and he saith that upon the whole matter he was satisfied that Robert Barclay was not principled as he and others took him to be And further William Rogers saith in his own Paper That it lies upon him to signifie on the behalf of Robert Barclay Since many have taken occasion of Offence against him for that cause and as may be doubted so far as to reject the Testimony and service for Truth it lieth upon me as my duty for his and the Truths sake to warn all to take heed not to entertain a prejudice against his Testimony on jealousies that may enter on score of my apprehensions or mistakes of his Book or that Answer that I have given thereto but rather in an unprejudiced Spirit to wait upon the Lord to feel and savour his Testimony even as if the occasion had never been And further saith William Rogers I freely confess in as much as I published my Book before I gave Robert Barclay notice of my Objections and Intentions therein I acted in that Respect not according to Gospel order but am justly worthy of Blame therein Thus far William Rogers Now let it be considered what a restless unsetled Spirit this Man hath void of Christian Behaviour and Humanity it self Who notwithstanding that under his own Hand he hath cleared Robert Barclay and the 〈◊〉 Days Meeting also and declares himself to be satisfied about Robert Barclay's Book and acknowledgeth his Unchristian carriage touching him c. Yet in his Narrative seven Months after in which he hath spread Robert Barclay's Name up and down the Nation and in his Printed Book thus reflects again upon the second Days Morning Meeting and upon Robert Barklay before he sent to them also concerning it that ever we heard of Now let all see whether these proceedings of William Rogers come from any Honesty or Conscientiousness or whether this restless unsetled 〈◊〉 Spirit of his doth manifest him to be one that can stand for the Kingdom of Christ Jesus as he would be looked upon to do which stands not in Words but in Unity and Peace And for the Readers further satisfaction concerning William Rogers's deceitful dealings with Robert Barclay and the second Days Meeting at London we refer him to William Rogers's own Paper which is a relation more at large of Robert Barclay and his discourse in the presence of near Forty Friends with their advice to him and the sence they had touching William Rogers Objections against Robert Barclay's 〈◊〉 which William Rogers at large confesseth his Errors in as his Paper under his own Hand dated the third Month 〈◊〉 demonstrateth And therefore what credit can ne give to or any confidence have in such an uncertain unsetled Man as this William R gers is Who also is the chief promoter of John Story and John Wilkinson their cause and what matter is it whom he stands for or whom he is against or what he says or Writes or any thing else he does as these things before-mentioned testifie for they have no Witness in the Consciences of the Faithful and that they are not Men of tender onsciences it plainly appeareth what ever they pretend to nor that William Rogers stands in the Gap as he pretends unless it be to turn People out of the right way nor 〈◊〉 the Kingdom of Christ its clear as these his Fruits with many more that might be instanced do manifest Hereby also is the badness of John Story' s and John Wilkinson's Work manifested to all the honest to God which 〈◊〉 Rogers so much quarrels about And further in the Narrative William Rogers saith as followeth viz. We cannot but tell you that we hae Sufficient cause to doubt that under pretence of this Proposition the Meeting will be entertained on your part with such Idle and vain Testimontes in the 〈◊〉 of the Lord as came out of Elizabeth Sturrige her Mouth in our publick Meeting c. Now let it be considered that this is one that cryes so much for Liberty of Conscience and against Imposition and yet see how these would limit the Consciences of Friends and not permit them to clear their Consciences and exercise their gift contrary to the tendency of his Paper of Queries in which Liberty of Conscience is so much cryed for when Elizabeth Sturridge must thus be struct at who spoke nothing that ever we heard of from honest Men then what she might be required of the Lord to do to the clearing of her conscience and yet William Rogers is
said several Answers in Manuscript being given forth several Months since we refer the honest Reader for more full Satisfaction that none may say that we have dealt unfairly with William Rogers his Narrative as if we have taken notice only of something here and there and left the most material matters unspoken to which is below the sincerity of our Spirits and when the said Answers are seen and weighed in the equal Ballance it may be observed there is no cause given by us for any so to do We commend the consideration of these things with respect to the 〈◊〉 of William Rogers his Spirit and Work to that in all Consciences to take notice if they be not fully satisfied whether this William Rogers be not a Man that hath given up himself to a reprobate Minde And in the abbetting of his unrighteous ause he hath undertaken to stand by Whether he be not one that little matters often what he says or whereof he affirms and that little notice is to be taken of him or of what he says or does in things that may any way help his turn in the vindication of John Story' s Spirit and ungodly design the upright unprejudiced ones may clearly see John Blaykling Joseph Baines And seeing that mention is often made in the foregoing Treatise of John Story and he thereby manifested to be the chief Instrument in the Strife Division and Separation that hath happened in these Northren Parts for which cause he became an exceeding great Burden and Exercise to Honest Faithful and Sincere Hearted Friends at such times as he appeared in any of their Meetings either in North or South under the notion of a publick Preacher And especially after that he had been orderly dealt with according to Gospel Order by Counsel and Advice and warned not to offer his Gift till reconciled to his Brethren and the same by him wholly 〈◊〉 and he in a stubborn Spirit persevering he became the more Burthensome and could not be born to appear as a Minister in the Meetings of Friends of Truth who was found in so unrighteous and untruthlike Practices Wherefore many times of late Years as by many Epistles and Christian Correspondence hath been testified he was publickly judged and disowned in Meetings and many living Testimonies sprung sometimes out of the Mouths of Babes and Sucklings to the Confounding and stopping his Mouth and particularly at the last Meeting that ever he appeared in amongst any faithful Friends a little before his Death an account whereof we think of service to Truth to insert as it was drawn up by Thomas Cam and others concerned with him in that Meeting as followeth together with some short account of his Death and Burial THe fifthteenth Day of the eighth Month 1681. I was much pressed in Spirit all that Day to go on the Morrow to visit the meeting of Friends at Kendal and I can truly say it was much in the cross for me to go being that the Meeting at Preston was appointed at a place where I had not been at a Meeting with Friends since my Liberty out of Prison wherefore Friends not only desired but had some encouragement also to expect my being there yet notwithstanding the Lord moving so strongly upon my Spirit by his Word and Power that was as a Fire in my Bones On the First-Day Morning being the sixteenth of the said eighth Month I gave up in Obedience to the Cross and took my Horse and set forward alone but on the way I was under great Exercise and exceedingly bowed with a weight upon my Spirit so that I did secretly supplicate the Lord to know the cause of that my great Burthen and before I came half way to Kendal John Story and several of them of the Separation came within the view of my Spirit so that I was well satisfied of the cause of my present Exercise and after I had this sence of the cause thereof I felt some Ease and went on more Cheerfully having my Confidence in that Eternal Arm that had often girded me with Strength in my many Exercises with those perverse Spirits who had often appeared as Drunk with the Spirit of Enmity And as soon as I was come to the Town I went directly to the Meeting-Place where I found amongst Friends John Story with several others of his Companions in the Separation set in the Meeting-Place who were all surprised and exceedingly troubled as I apprehended at my unexpected appearance there and as appeared by their 〈◊〉 Behaviour and John Story' s standing up to Speak as soon or before I was set down upon my Seat whose Lifeless Dry and Dreaming Testimony became a Burden to the tender Life so that several sensible Ones amongst Friends did 〈◊〉 and Groan under the sence of their present Burden and Exercise which did not only Grieve but also much Confound John Story so that he cryed out because of those 〈◊〉 and Groans Disorder Disorder And the Lord appeared in his glorious Power to the Joy of the Upright and the Exercise of the Power together with several short Testimonies against him that sprang through several whose Mouths were never opened in Meetings before that I know of did so confound him that he lost his Matter and fell into Reflections against Friends all which time which was about a quarter of an hour or somewhat more i sate still in silence in much Peace and Contentedness being sweetly comforted in the sence of that Glorious Power of the Eternal God that filled many of the Hearts of the Faithful there and over-shaddowed the Meeting and the living Testimonies that sprung there-from to the confounding of that persumptuous separate Spirit that dreadeth not to tempt the Lord. Several of John Story his Party seeing him so stopt and confounded begun to be angry and some of them to Mutter Grumble Jangle and propose Questions though John Story was yet speaking And in as much as by experience that that Spirit of Discord and Separation and they that are acted by it have a life in jangling Discourse and would strive to get thither I was therefore under deep travel for the preservation of the Meeting there-from and in a little time I was moved to go to Prayer being well satisfied that the Lord would 〈◊〉 Friends minds in the exercise of his Eternal Power and confound the Spirit of Strife and Jangling thereby and also make way for that Testimony that lived upon my Spirit so having signified the same to Friends we kneeled down whereupon John Story cryed out It was in vain to think to stop him he could not be stopped for he was Commissionated by the great God and went on for a small time while we were Praying but in a little time he was stopped uttering these or other Words to the same effect I see it s in vain to strive I may as well be silent as speak Certainly the Lord did blessedly appear in his glorious Power to the unspeakable Joy Comfort
William Rogers is a Stranger to being gone from the Royal honourable Seed of Life and stumbles at the Testimony born on this wise these things with many more that might be said in relation to George Fox and others for which God hath the praise given together with the Testimony that lives upon the Spirits of many Thousands with respect to his continuing steadfast to God and his Truth as in the day of his first Love being given up to serve the Lord sufficiently evidenceth that William Rogers if he lay a careless libertine negligent dark Spirit to George Fox's Charge and as one that is either departed or departing from the Truth standeth detected as a malicious Slanderer of the Innocent and a false Accuser to receive the Reward that God sees meet to recompence such withal This is the Testimony I have not been 〈◊〉 to bear for this our Antient Friend with many Brethren more and it remains with me which in the Spirit of Truth in which we are known of God and one unto another at this day I stand by on his behalf though it be William Rogers torment and although for this cause and for the Testimony also that I have to bear against that Spirit in him that dispiseth the Government and Order of Truth in the Church of God and hath presumptuously exposed to public view his contempt thereof I be reproached amongst them my Life treads upon it as the Dung upon the Earth which toucheth me not Several unworthy Reflections and smiting Accusations he hath been pleased to treat me with in his Book Printed to Posterity but they touch me not I Bless God it s for mine Integrities sake which I pray God keep me to whilest I have a Day to Live and that my Testim 〈◊〉 may stand sure and steadfast to the End of my Days against his 〈◊〉 shrinking Spirit and them of party with him and his Reproaches 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 my 〈◊〉 and I Bless God that he accounts me worthy and amongst my Antient and more Worthy Brethren I tread upon his worst in the strength of Almighty God to whom I can commit my Cause and that Peace I enjoy over all that none can take away But to go on to his Paraphiasing Discourse upon mine Answer to his Smiring Charge I am Charactered by him for my Testimony which I was in Conscience 〈◊〉 to bear for an Antient and Worthy in the Truth of Christ Jesus in the Sincerity of my Soul to be one that flatters for the Belly and saith and doth in all things to please the humor of another to have a repast or small Dinner so I understand his meaning may be upon the Tearm he gives me Answer In the first place I take this to be a Smiting Reflection on George Fox on whose Account I having been thus concerned against whom he thus appears for whom I am bold to say he is a Man of no such Spirit it s an abhorence to him to Correspond with such or to be gratified with such Dissembling as this If William Rogers's Spirit by which he judgeth others be such let him take it to himself and get such treating and flattering where he can have it he shall have none of it from me and therefore is he grieved and George Fox is known to be a Servant of Christ Jesus and for Christs sake to the least of Gods little Ones and there the honour that is from above attends him which William Rogers with all that Death and Hell can do cannot eclips nor he have a share in whilest such Works are done by him let that stand over his Head And as to the Reflection yea the Gross and Infamous Charge that relates to me as I have a Record in my own Soul over this foul Abuse I do appeal to the Testimony of Truth that lives in the Hearts of my Brethern Familiers and Acquaintance in the Truth who knows my Spirit and are out of this prejudiced malicious Work to speak on my behalf as they have felt and known my Life and Demeanour amongst them in relation to my plain-dealing with all with whom I have had to do I have cleared my Conscience in God sight in faithful dealing with all without flattery or fear though I have Suffered thereby I was never accused on the account of flattering or self-seeking or speaking any way in favour for a Repast or small Dinner till I met with William Rogers's Spirit which is the same which accused Christ Jesus to be a Friend to Publicans and Sinners and as John Wilkinson Impudently said to me and others because of our care in the Church of God That we had got an Office and were puffed up in it and acted therein to get favour of Persons or a piece of Bread and said also that our Office would but cloath us with Rags and Worms would breed in our gatherings and our Bread conjume I bless God as a Mercy I prise I never stood in need of treating any for any such Reward nor my Ancestors before me neither were they of such Spirits as my Country-Men and Neighbours knows from the relation that hath been given of them who have been known in Hospitality open and free and that to the best of People for Religions sake some Generations past and if I have been of another Spirit it s not well for God hath been no less kind to me in giving me of his Truth and the best of things and 〈◊〉 enough as to the World and a Spirit also I bless the Lord in which I-detest the the State he applyes to me and loaths the occasion for such a scandal as he would leave me under I have done something for the Trnth out of that 〈◊〉 God hath given me and it s my Gladness that I have thereof and an Heart prepared even as the Lord shall direct and my Exercise and Travels in my Testimony on Truths account have been a Burthen to none that I know of for I challeng the whole World to lay it to my charge and prove it against me that I have ever received one Penny from any one on the account thereof though I have met with a charge from a corrupt Spirit on that score which I deny If I have been a But then to any on the Gospels account any way let it be made appear and it shall be repaid double I desire to be excused on this wise I am 〈◊〉 as relating to the charge against me of which also I make no Boast but in the Lord and on the riches of his Grace alone by Which I am what I am and the Lord never made William Rogers nor the Spirit he is of in any judge over me I stand to God whose peace I have which comforts my Soul over all In the Answer to William Rogers's 〈◊〉 to George Fox's Reply and my Postscript it is Inserted by some Brethren thus Let William Rogers be asked whether he had not another Testimony in his Spirit for John Blaykling when
in Hand and their Letter to Jeofrey Bullock the old Blashphemous Apostate from Christ of which a little was spoken before mars the beauty of his pretended Zeal for Christ and his Kingdom which he so much talks of the Work he made with his Narrative that himself drew up on the Meeting at Draw-well which was spoken of before and his judging the Narrative given sorth by the Brethren there before they parted and subscribed with an unanimous consent John Wilkinson if not he also calling it a Lying Narrative the Work he made about Robert Barclay's Book of Church Government which at London he confessed his Weakness in and the Narrative he gave forth contrary to Covenant amongst the Brethren at the Meeting about John Story and John Wilkinson c. between George Fox William Penn George Whitehead and others on the behalf of the antient Unity of Brethren and the Churches Peace and William Rogers Thomas Goldney and others on John Story' s account also the Work that he and some of his Associates of the same Spirit made in Wiltshire against the Testimony and Judgment given forth against John Story and John Wilkinson at Ellis Hooks's Chamber in London at the general Meeting asoresaid his contemptible vilifying the good and wholsome Directions given forth to be practised in order to the keeping down fleshly raw and unseasoned works in all professing the pure Truth calling them Mens Inventions other Mens Lines made ready to our Hands dictates of fallible Men Mens Edicts and Laws George Fox ' s Orders and the like rendering in his Printed Book the Lords People yea all that profess the Light to be the way to God except those of Party with himself to reckon the Government of Christ Jesus to stand in outward conformity to other Mens Lines made ready to our Hands to the Reproach of Gods People and the Blemish of the Gospel of Christ and the Order thereof which we testifie against as a Reflection upon the the Heritage of God for its the Spirit of Jesus we would have all in the Spirit of Life 〈◊〉 to in it all to be 〈◊〉 as they have received of God in their 〈◊〉 and place Male and Female as Helps and Governments such as the Apostle spoke of that our Lights may shine and our good Works appear to the 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 and the Renown of that Kingdom that never hath 〈◊〉 Let William Rogers be traced and the Footsteps he hath trod these several Years and the Work weighed which he hath been concerned in as his Writing and Printing demonstrates to all 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and single to God and it may easily be concluded that it is the Kingdom of Sathan he hath been in the defence of for the upholding whereof he hath made all this blustering Work and hath been more dilligent in the concern of it then ever he was to promote the peaceable Truth and the Kingdom of Christ Jesus And this Testimony which I 〈◊〉 to bear in the name and on the behalf of the eternal God and his antient Truth and the Fellowship of the 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 against every 〈◊〉 Spirit I am bold to stand 〈◊〉 let William Rogers 〈◊〉 what he pleaseth and all who take his part and for the sake whereof William Rogers hath been pleased 〈◊〉 to render me as he hath done but I desire 〈◊〉 Lord may 〈◊〉 him 〈◊〉 under the vail of 〈◊〉 that he 〈◊〉 come over him the Meystry of Gods holy Spirit he hath made himself a Stranger to and often 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 he 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I 〈◊〉 take 〈◊〉 of a 〈◊〉 Accusation that William Rogers alledgeth against me 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Spirit which he grounds upon some Words in the beginning of my 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 for George Fox in relation to the Charge against him in which he concerns me the words inserted in the beginning of 〈◊〉 Postscript are these Here follows the Testimony and Certificate of John Blaykling to the 〈◊〉 of George Fox of the Aspersions that William Rogers would 〈◊〉 upon him From this William Rogers concludes and publisheth the same in Print 〈◊〉 Posterity that I have 〈◊〉 to clear George Fox by this Certificate of all the Charges alledged against him suggesting 〈◊〉 and saying in these very Words That 〈◊〉 Fox can get an J. B. or T. B. to write or sign any thing right or wrong that in his sence may tend to his vindication c. as he saith Now whether this be not most 〈◊〉 and uncivil dealing let the Lord Judge who will repay and is 〈◊〉 only a particular smiting Accusation against George Fox who abhors such a Spirit and is 〈◊〉 to be William Rogers's own Spirit that he judgeth others by else would he have been more Charitable and Christian-like 〈◊〉 his 〈◊〉 on this 〈◊〉 seeing that he hath nothing to ground it upon 〈◊〉 his own 〈◊〉 But also I say it is a general reflection upon the whole Heritage of God who are truely in Unity with George Fox's Spirit and are not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it it is also an absurd Reflection upon me and is that which my Soul abhors as not daring to Sign any thing whatsoever in relation to Truth or 〈◊〉 Children of God but what in the Spirit of Truth my Heart and Soul closeth with Neither did George Fox know any part of the matter of what I Writ nor that I was concerned so to do till it was clearly finished and sent away to a Friend to be annexed to George Fox's Answer which I knew he was in hand with 〈◊〉 do I know 〈◊〉 George Fox see it or no till it was sent away 〈◊〉 be given to William Rogers as most particularly concerned therein such surmising as this God will never bless let him look to it as he will be served And in Answer to the 〈◊〉 in the first place let William Rogers be asked whether in his Conscience he can believe that ever I intended to undertake by my 〈◊〉 to clear George Fox of all the Charges he had alledged against him as he says I have and by his so saying grants that his Queries are Charges which he was 〈◊〉 to do because of his charging George Fox so many times with a Lye for saying his Queries were Charges And Secondly seeing that in his 〈◊〉 by the scope of my whole Discourse which relates to the matter of those two 〈◊〉 about George Fox's staying from Meetings as the fruit of a careless libertine Spirit as he called it c. He cannot but 〈◊〉 as a 〈◊〉 mean capacity may easily gather that I did not intend to concern my self on that wife whether hath he acted like a Man of a Christian Spirit in rendering me if the fault in that word 〈◊〉 had been mine an 〈◊〉 for a word And Thirdly I would have him speak whether he did not see the Answer to his 〈◊〉 in which that point is 〈◊〉 cleared to any honest well-meaning person long before his Book was in Print which his Wife 〈◊〉 the receit of to