〈◊〉 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
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
the Paper in the North against the Practice of our Monthly and Quarterly Meetings and intimating their purpose to withdraw and do their business amongst themselves with their chosen Men without us c. and their withdrawing upon it and setting up a Meeting amongst themselves to do business in as there might be occasion and keeping the same up occasionally to this Day demonstrates the Charge to be true against John Story of having a hand in the aforesaid separate Meeting how can it rationally be otherwise concluded John Stories Hand being at the Paper the principal Man of all the separate Company and according to their determination expressed in it withdrew John Wilkinson his fellow Companion and an Assistant in all the contentious Work constantly meeting with them neither of them ever that ever we could hear of shewing any dislike thereof but associating themselves with them of the Separation in their opposite Papers and Works as a Captain Leader and chief Agent amongst them at every turn surely there is not a rational Man that hath had knowledge of the transactings of matters amongst them here distinct from the Brethren and John Story the Man in their Eye for the carrying on their Work but he will conclude John Story is so far from being disconcerned in the separate Meeting that he is the Man upon whom the dependance in order to success in the Design hath hung And William Rogers confesseth That when they heard that John Story had been at a separate Meeting at VVilliam Chambers ' s House it went far with them c. But John Story denying that ever he had been at any made the Certificate of no credit to them Their Case is bad we say that makes Lyes their Refuge We are loath to say it though it hath been too usual with John Story so to do well then by William Rogers's own Words the proving John Story to have been at some of those separate Meetings might have much satisfied them that he had an Hand in the setting up thereof Then as we said in our former Paper given to them Three years ago and more let John Story be asked and 〈◊〉 his Conscience speak whether he was not at a Meeting amongst them of the Separation at 〈◊〉 upon business relating to Church Affairs and another time at Robert Atkinson's about the matter of the Separation separate Work let him deny it 〈◊〉 he hath a Face so to do Yea and that their Meeting was upon business as a Church as they esteemed themselves though distinct from the ancient Meeting in a capacity to do business as justifiable in their Eye though separated from us as they of the Quarterly Meeting could be c. We appeal to the honest Hearted whether this be not 〈◊〉 Scraffling the Work of John Story' s creeping Spirit Were it not more Manlike in him to confess and stand by it as the rest have done seeing they will not condemn it And do they not manifest a blind besotted Heart and Spirit that have chosen such a one as this for their Leader Well then the weight of the matter for Evidence against John Story as touching this Point of his Being concerned in the separate Meeting and a Leader therein hangs upon his being or not being at any such Meeting amongst them of the Separation as William Rogers's Words implys saying The Certificate under the Hands of six Friends proving that he had been at such a Meeting had some weight with them as to that matter till John Story had denied And it stands not upon John Stories having been or not been at the Meeting at William Chambers's House but upon his being at any of those Meetings with them yea or nay Then to determine this matter we require William Rogers or any of them that have been too much enclined to believe Lyes for their satisfaction if they desire any and will not wilfully shut their own Eyes to ask John Story once again and bid him let that in his Conscience speak whether he was not at one or both of these Meetings aforesaid we have yet hope that he hath not that impudence as to deny it although this be the third or fourth time in opposition to this Charge that we have required them to take John Stories Answer once more on this account and yet we never had any Word to the contrary of what we have said touching this Matter And as to our naming William Chambers's House for the Meeting that Day there was this Ground for it seeing several of them that Day met at William Chambers's House first an honest Friend seeing several of them going in thither not knowing but that it had been a Meeting upon the account of Worship had thought to have gone into the Meeting but they would not suffer him but said It was a Meeting of Business Yet afterwards it appeared they went to Robert Atkinson's House and kept the Meeting there for more conveniency as we judge and that John Story was with them let him deny it if he think meet and if there was a little mistake in the Relation touching the place that the weight of the matter hangs not upon that all this ado hath been made of proclaiming Robert Barrow and the rest Givers forth of a false Certificate we leave it to the Judgment of Judicious Men And William Rogers in his Conscience knows that this Information he hath been privy to three times once in the Answer from us to his Narrative and in another Book in Manuscript in Answer to one of theirs dated from John Ayrey's House in Kendal and Thomas Cam also by Words signifing the same to some of them in the South And yet after all this to put in Print to Posterity the said Accusations against us of giving forth false Certificates and never contradicts our Relation which proves the whole substance of the Charge as relating to evil Fact neither shews so much Humanity as to insert also our Answer to the Charge which clears the matter as in Conscience and according to the equal Law of doing as we would be done by he ought to have done We commit the consideration of these things with all the rest of his malicious evil Work to that in all Consciences to take notice of in relation to Tryal and Judgment Whether the Matter alledged in Charge against William Rogers be not certainly true to wit of An Antichristian Apostate A False Accuser of the Brethren An Enemy to the Life and Government of the Spirit instrumentally amongst Gods People the Church of Christ A Layer of Sumbling-Blocks as much as in him lies in the way of Truth the Principle he pretends to A Discourager of Christian Care in the Church of God An Encourager of the Rebellious and Lose Sort An Obstructer of Zion's Peace to the hardening of the Hearts of them that believe not against the way of Truth One that Gratifies the Common Enemy that hath watched for Evil against us and
he was at Draw well the place of his Residence at the Meeting there with many Brethren on John Story 's and John Wilkinson's Account the sence which he had of him then as he testified to several hath not produced such an effect as this which Testimony that he then had for John Blaykling though he smothers it now shall be his Torment and this Testimony we have to bear on his behalf as a Man far remote from such a Spirit or deserving any such Reflection c. And John Blaykling is the same in his Spirit that he then was though prejudice hath blinded William Rogers his Eye c. And William Rogers further upon the occasion of his smiting Query in Relation to George Fox's being of a careless negligent libertine and dark Spirit that was 〈◊〉 or departed from the Truth saith That in my Answer I say Might not William Rogers have applyed this at home who knows in his Conscience what a Libertine loose and dark Spirit he is of in departing from his subjection to Truth to give way to and hath taken a Liberty to make away part of his visible Estate to 〈◊〉 it from the Spoylers in the times of Suffering for the Truth 's sake To which in his Rejoynder it s observ'd William Rogers saith John Blaykling cannot 〈◊〉 his prophane Charge at my Doors with respect to my securing part of mine Estate but contradict his own Testimony for George Fox's keeping his Integrity because George Fox denieth not but that he advised Mary the Wife of Jsaac Pennington to secure her Estate from the Spoilers Answer First William Rogers here doth not deny but that his said Query was an implicite Charge against George Fox and therefore no lye in George Fox to call it so And Secondly He doth not deny but that he did secure part of his Estate and therefore the Fruit of a Libertine Loose Spirit departing from the Antient Nobility of Truth and he did not well in calling it a Prophane Charge from me because he hath confessed it and pleaded for it saying That it was better so to do then so c. as before is cleared only says John Blaykling cannot lay his Prophane Charge at his Doors but contradict his own Testimony for George Fox who says he denyeth not but that he advised Mary Pennington to secure hers c. Well then let the case with respect to this matter stand here William Rogers granting the case as to matter of Charge of securing c. against himself And as to my contradicting my self with respect to my Testimony for George Fox's Integrity because William Rogers charges him in Mary Penningtons case c. I say let William Rogers make good any matter of evil Fact against George Fox relating to Mary Pennington which he hath not yet done neither hath George Fox confessed to any and there will then be a further concern about it as 〈◊〉 case may require And Thirdly It may be observed in my Answer 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rogers that I applyed to William Rogers the case of a loose libertine Spirit and his departing from his Subjection to Truth not only with respect to his 〈◊〉 c. but also with respect to his making it a great part of his concern to 〈◊〉 by and strengthen a Spirit of Strife and Separation the great and 〈◊〉 receptacle of all the loose libertine dark contentious backsliding sort of Professors of Truth so that what woful sad contemptible Work this Spirit of Separation William Rogers hath been so deeply concerned in managing the cause of hath wrought it cannot be expressed Again William Rogers exclaims against me after a very abusive manner for speaking plainly to him and telling him That from a Spirit of Envy against the Government of Christ Jesus Instrumentally and visibly in Gods Power amongst them that believe he ceaseth not to Calumniate the Instruments whom God is pleased to concern in that matter This he storms at and makes a large Discourse what he hath said in the Vindication of the Government of Christ both in Word and Writing but surely we may say and it will ere long appear that he mean's immediately only and not by Instruments in relation to Gods visible Family for otherwise he will contradict his whole design and overthrow the fabrick of all his Work He saith He hath stood for it in his Answer to Robert Barclay's Book The Postscript to the Narrative about the Meeting at Draw-Well His Answer to the Brethren's so termed saith he Narrative at Draw-Well His Dissatisfactions subscribed by him and others at Bristol and several other Papers saith he by all which it appears that I have contended for the Government of Christ. Answer I say what is it for William Rogers to contend for the Government of Christ and his Kingdom which stands not in Words but in Righteousness and Peace when he together with John Story and John Wilkinson have acted so clearly otherwise gratifying and serving an ungodly Spirit in opposition to the Churches Care Labour and tender Exercise in the Spirit and Power of Jesus in order to the keeping down the Spirit and the Works of the Flesh wherein the Kingdom of Sathan stands and is upheld Yea through all his late Work Papers and Books it may be seen how contemptiously he reviles and sets himself against the Instruments which the Lord more 〈◊〉 makes use of in the Church under the Government of his dear Son and in the Power thereof to be a Terror to the Evil-doer and the praise and encouragement of that which is Good and of them that do well William Rogers his 〈◊〉 Book called The Christian Quaker distinguished from the Apostate and Innovator manifesteth what Work he hath made against Church Government and the Care and Order of Truth therein which appertaineth to the Kingdom and Government of Christ Jesus as relating to the visible Family of God I do affirm its meer Deceit and a false Pretence to keep the Head of a false Spirit from under Truths Yoke and the Judgment thereof to talk of standing for the Government of Christ with that Spirit that 's not subject to him nor hath any regard to the unity of Brethren in their Exercises that relate to the same in keeping all things Decent Comely and of good Report in the Church of God to answer the Pure Religion the glory of Christs Kingdom in visiting the Fatherless and the Widow and keeping our selves unspotted of the 〈◊〉 how dare William Rogers say that he stands for the Kingdom of Jesus whilst he lets his Testimony fall in Suffering times in making away his Estate and says in 〈◊〉 It s his Principle so to do and thereby leaves an example for others to fall under Sathans Power to give him that appears like the Second Beast the Power again It s a shameful thing to pretend to stand for Christs Government with such a Spirit as this His Confederates at Chippenham and his great Abettors in the Work he hath had
the same from a clear 〈◊〉 Conscience for it is denied by us affirming also that it is a smiting Accusation in Contempt of Gospel order and the Power of God But what is this in Vindication of their practizing in Opposition to Church Care and the Government of the Spirit instrumentally in the Church of God although they may say its their Principle so to do or they are not perswaded in their Consciences to Act otherwise Certain it is that this is a false application from the Apostles Practice and George Fox's instance in relation to the allowing of Circumcision amongst the Weak for a time in the Infancy of the Church of Christ in his day But William Rogers says for as much as George Fox instanceth the matter of Circumcision as if the practice or not 〈◊〉 of such things were grounded meerly on the Apostles Permission And so by that Example George Fox may do the like c. Answer This also is a 〈◊〉 perverting of George Fox's Application from the Apostles practice let him prove or else lay his Hand upon his Mouth with shame that George Fox hath charged the Apostle that the practising or not practising of Circumcision was grounded meerly as he expresseth it on his Permission We deny that that is chargeable on George Fox nor can it any way be deduced in any Christian sence from his Words as relating thereunto George Fox expresseth plainly on what Accounts or in what Cases the Lord let the Apostle see Circumcision was to be born with and in what Cases and when to be declared against William Rogers manifesteth great Ignorance sometimes as well as gross Wickedness And we say also its a false inference that William Rogers makes upon the 〈◊〉 of George Fox's bringing the instance of Pauls allowing or disallowing of Circumcision and out of all Christian Charity deduced viz. As if the practising or not practising of some things wherein Conscience also might be concerned were 〈◊〉 meerly on George Fox's permission These ungedly Reflections and groundless Accusations against George Fox or any of Gods faithful People we deny and judge in the Name of the Eternal God and they shall lye as false Malicious Charges grounded upon his false Applications and unchristian inferences and which the scope of George Fox's words in any charitable Construction bears not and they shall lye upon William Rogers's Head as marks of an Apostate spirit that others may be warned by him Several things more might be observed which we shall pass by from William Rogers's paraphrasing on George Fox's tender Discourse which he calls his Postscript whereby to manifest William Rogers to be given up to serve a quarrelling Spirit contending against the simplicity of the naked Truth and the Innocent to God who keep in the Power and 〈◊〉 his own Works already discovered and from what hath been observed and spoken to already 〈◊〉 of the matter that he hath in Words and Writing 〈◊〉 concerned in and exposed the same on publick Record to the view of all his Spirit and Work is so clearly discovered to be out of the Life of God that little more need be said for proof thereof Some other things there are in William Roger's aforesaid Book relating to charge against George Fox and other Brethren which do not come so much within the compass of our knowledge but that some others may have a more perfect knowledge thereof neither are we in that Capacity with respect to distance from the places where the Passages relating thereunto have been transacted and therefore uncapeable for the examination and finding out what matter of Fact can be chargeable on the score thereof against those whom in the matter of Charge William Rogers points at therefore we shall leave them to what may be said by 〈◊〉 more particularly on the score thereof according to the Capacity they 〈◊〉 not doubting from the knowledge that we have of William Rogers's Spirit detected by the Fruits thereof as manifestly appears through the Work he hath made as also from the undoubted knowledge and belief that we have of George Fox's Innocency as to the matter he hath impeached him upon which we have had the knowledge of or are easily capable to understand and from 〈◊〉 own Writings on the account thereof But that William Rogers as in this our 〈◊〉 upon the matters that have fallen to our lot to be concerned in is evident will be manifested after all is done to be the false Accuser of the 〈◊〉 and subjected to an Antichristian Power wherein he hath laboured to work Mischief in the Church of God to lay Stumbling Blocks in the way of the Simple and to cause the Name of the Lord to be evil spoken of and that George Fox and the other Brethren he Smites at will be manfested to have kept their first Love in their Integrity for God and his pure Truth and that the innocent tender care in the Church of God remains with them which God will bless them in and the Church of Christ is comforted because thereof The most of the Accusations against him and others by Name and against the Church of Christ in General which we have not herein spoken to are treated of by our Brethren of the Second Days Morning Meeting at London as in their Book called The Accuser of our Brethren cast down is demonstrated to the satisfaction of Gods tender People One thing more we cannot but take notice of which peradventure William Rogers aims at in his charging John Blaikling with giving forth a false Certificate against John Story which he hath inserted in some part of his Printed Book as also in several Manuscripts some Years ago relating to Charge against Robert Barrow John Blaykling and others particularly in a Paper which he sent to London from Bristol he writes thus viz. Robert Barrow and John Blaykling are Men of evil Lives because saith he they 〈◊〉 subscribed a false Certificate against John Story c. William Rogers to make good the Accusation against us saith thus John Story was said to be one that justified the separate Meeting and to prove it saith he a Certificate or Testimony in Writing was produced under the Hands of six Persons to prove that John Story had been at a separate Meeting at William Chambers's House Which saith William Rogers at first seemed to reach far meaning to prove 〈◊〉 Story to be one that justified the same but presently saith he it came to be of no credit to many because John Story solemnly affirmed that he never was at those Meetings in a separation from the Monthly and Quarterly Meetings To which we answer in Manuscript thus viz. When John Story hath said all that he can or dare say as to a denial of having an hand in or encourageing the Separation in the North before the Throne of God he shall stand detected and condemned as a false deceitful Man for in his Conscience he knows that it is so and his subscribing of his Name to
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
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
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