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A40945 The Quakers plea with the bishops at their ecclesiastical courts, or, An answer of the people of God, reproachfully called Quakers, to the bill of presentment put against them into the bishops courts, for not coming to the church as is pretended whereby it may appear, that the Quakers, so called, do come to the church, both according to the Scriptures, and Common-prayer books account, and ought not in equity and reason to be presented, or punished for that, &c. / by Richard Farnsworth. R. F. (Richard Farnworth), d. 1666. 1663 (1663) Wing F499; ESTC R9314 16,422 24

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us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we should live soberly righteously and godly in this present world as it is written Tit. 2.11.12 The grace of God hath a teaching office in the hearts of the people of God and they are taught by the grace of God to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts in order to a godly life and conversation They who in obedience to the teachings of the grace do deny ungodliness and worldly lusts in order to a godly life conversation do make it appear thereby that they are under the administration of the grace of God and subject thereunto And it is an evident demonstration that such are the beloved people of God and we who are reproachfully called Quakers are under the teachings of the grace of God and it is apparent to the world by our denial of ungodliness and worldly lusts in order to a godly life and conversation humbly be it spoken in the denial of all self-justification And the Common-Prayer doth acknowledge that God doth instruct his holy Church with heavenly doctrine see S. Marks day in the Collect so called Here the Church of God is not declared to be a company of miserable sinners who have no souls health in them and if they have no souls health in them have they any cure of souls or heavenly doctrine in them but the Church is here declared to be a holy Church And on Good Friday so called in the Collect the whole body of the Church is said to be governed and sanctified by the Spirit of God So that the Church which is governed and sanctified by the Spirit of God is declared to be the holy Church and the holy Church is a sanctified body and under a spiritual Government because the whole body of the Church is governed and sanctified by the Spirit of God as aforesaid And such a Church we own and come unto as is holy and instructed by the Lord with heavenly doctrine If God instruct his holy Church with heavenly doctrine S. Mark day Coll. and the people of God be the holy Church which God doth so instruct then the people of God are a holy people and under the administrations and teachings of the Light and holy spirit of God which we own in principle doctrine and conversation And you own the same in declaration are you not then in words or declaration therein become one with those you call Quakers How can you then in equity and reason go about to present or punish us for owning in life and conversation that which you own in declaration but seem to come short of in life and conversation Consider well of it and let the light and spirit of God Judge in this case between you and us and joyn you therewith so will you clearly acquit and justifie us and our innocent cause which is the cause of a good conscience And on Sim. and Jude Sim. Jude the Coll. in the Collect so called it is said Almighty God which hast builded thy Congregation upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone Here again may it not be observed that Cathedrals and Parish Meeting-places nor a company of miserable sinners though they may meet therein are not accounted the Church which is the building and holy Congregation of God by him builded upon the foundation of the Prophets and Apostles Christ Jesus himself as aforesaid Then to meet in point of Religion and worship of God with them who are sought and taught of the Lord according to John 4.23 and 6.44 45. and are the holy Congregation or building of God by him built upon a spiritual foundation of the Prophets and Apostles Christ Jesus himself as aforesaid according to Eph. 2.18 19 20 21 22. is to come to the holy Church and houshold of God which is governed and sanctified by the Spirit of God though they may not come to a Cathedral or Parish Meeting-place to meet with a company of miserable sinners who have no health in them as aforesaid The holy Church is a sanctified Church both according to the Scripture and Common-prayer account and they who are governed and sanctified by the Spirit of God are the holy Church as aforesaid and such a Church we are members of and come to in point of Religion and worship of God Concerning the service of God In the second Collect for peace 2 Coll. for peace it is said O God which art the author of peace and lover of concord in knowledge of whom standeth eternall life whose service is perfect freedom If God be the Author of peace then he is not the author of persecution about matters of Religion but a lover of concord and lovers of God are lovers of peace and concord Who then are the authors of persecution about matters of Conscience in point of Religion and worship of God For our Lord Jesus Christ hath said to his friends who do his commands John 15.14 I command you that ye love one another John 15.17 If the world hate you ye know that it hated me before it hated you Remember the word that I said unto you The servant is not greater then the Lord If they have persecuted me they will persecute you John 15.18 19 20. True Christians the friends of Christ that are obedient unto his commands they love one another with the love of Christ and are hated and persecuted by the spirit of the world for their love and faithfulness unto Christ And whereas it is said that the service of God is perfect freedom what is it then is it not a freedom from sin wrath and condemnation and are not they that are in the service of God in perfect freedom And if the service of God be perfect freedom whether ought any to be forced either to it or from it by outward compulsion and if you say though the service of God be perfect freedom yet it is not perfect freedom from sin what is it perfect freedom from and unto seeing that the Apostle saith when ye were the servants of sin ye were free from righteousness Rom. 6.20 Are servants of sin free from righteousness who are they then who daily err and go astray from the ways of God and daily offend against Gods holy Laws being as themselves say miserable sinners What fruit have they then in those things whereof they are now ashamed for saith the Apostles the end of those things is death Rom. 6.20.21 But the same Apostle speaks of a freedom from sin saying Now being made free from sin and become servants to God ye have your fruit unto holiness and the end everlasting life Rom. 6.22 23. They who are free from sin are at liberty to serve the Lord whose fruit is unto holiness and the end thereof is life everlasting as aforesaid Concerning the Light In the third Collect for aid against all perils it is said Lighten our darkness we beseech thee O Lord. Are you yet in
THE QUAKERS PLEA WITH THE BISHOPS AT THEIR Ecclesiastical Courts OR An Answer of the People of God reproachfully called Quakers to the Bill of Presentment put against them into the Bishops Courts for not coming to the Church as is pretended Whereby it may appear that the Quakers so called do come to the Church both according to the Scriptures and Common-Prayer books account and ought not in equity and reason to be presented or punished for that c. By Richard Farnsworth LONDON Printed in the Year 1663. The Quakers Plea with the Bishops at their Ecclesiastical Courts c. VVHereas the People of God reproachfully called Quakers are presented to the Bishops as Offenders for not coming to the Church as is pretended Now if we can make it appear as we hope we can according to truth the Scripture Common-Prayer account that we are the onely people or of them that do come to the Church and Service of God then we ought in equity and reason to be cleared and clearly acquitted from those pretended offences and from all punishments due thereunto the case in controversie ought to be terminated and we to be acquitted and clearly discharged therefrom and our Accusers to be sharply reproved to the end and intent that they do so no more One main question or thing enquirable by the Bishops or their Officers of us at their Ecclesiastical Courts now in this age and time is Whether we come to the Church and Service of God or no In order to a full and satisfactory answer to the things in that case charged against us we ask What is it that you do really own to be or call and account the Church Whether the Church according to your own account be the Cathedrals and Parish Meeting-places because many in ignorance call them the Church And whether doth the Scriptures or Common-Prayer book account or declare Cathedrals or Parish Meeting-places to be the onely true Churches which we and all the people of God are enjoined to come unto in point of Religion and worship of God according to Gospel-order and practice of the people of God under that dispensation as left upon record in the holy Scriptures If in answer thereunto you say no then we further enquire Whether you would have us to own that to be the only true Church of Christ which is neither really owned or declared so to be either by the Scriptures or Common-Prayer-book And would you make us offenders when neither Scripture nor Common-Prayer-book maketh us so or would you punish us as offenders for not coming to that which in reallity is neither owned by the Scripture or Common-Prayer-book Is there any equity or reason for that Consider well of it and if upon serious consideration the witness of God in you answer the equitableness and justness of our innocent cause tel you by testifying to your consciences that there is neither equity nor reason to punish us as offenders for that which is neither owned by the Scripture or Common-Prayer-book because you profess them both as your rules in point of Religion and worship of God Then be advised and do not proceed against us in judgement when the witness of God in your own consciences answereth for us lest God the righteous Judge enter into judgement with you for so doing And if you be convinced and perswaded in your hearts and consciences that Cathedrals or Par sh-Meeting-places are not the onely true Church of Christ as well you may if you have any right understanding in the things of God according to Gospel dispensation because the Scriptures do declare the onely true Church to be the body of Christ and Christ to be the head of the Church which is his body as it is written and left upon Record in Scripture Ephes 1.22 23. And if you do believe that the Church is the body of Christ and that Christ is the head of his body the Church then you may well be convinced and perswaded or at least ought that Cathedrals or Parish Meeting-places are not the Church because Cathedrals and Parish-Meeting-places are not the body of Christ Christ so loved the Church that he gave himself for it that he might sanctifie and cleanse it and make it unto himself a glorious Church that it should be holy and without blemish Eph. 5.23 24 25 26 27. And also the Lord doth nourish and cherish the Church as it is written Eph. 5.28 29. But where is it written that Cathedrals and Parish-Meeting-places commonly called Parish churches are the body of Christ or that Christ is the Head of them or that Christ laid down his life for them or that they are nourished and cherishby the Lord as aforesaid If you say Cathedrals and Parish Meeting places commonly called Parishes are not the body of Christ therefore not the Church neither did Christ lay down his life for them neither are they nourished and cherished by the Lord as aforesaid therefore we do not account them the Church What then is it that you call and account the Church and require us to come unto which we are presented for not coming to if you say and confess that Cathedrals and Parish Meeting places commonly called Parish Churches is not the thing you require us to come unto because it is evident by the Scriptures and Common-prayer Book that Cathedrals and parish Meeting places are not the Church which is the body of Christ and nourished and cherished by the Lord as aforesaid We further ask What is the Church If you deny Cathedrals and parish-metting-places to be the Church as aforesaid are the ungodly people such as are not governed and sanctified by the Spirit of God though they may meet in Cathedrals and parish-meeting-places the Church which is the body of Christ subject unto Christ and as aforesaid And if you say No They who are not governed and sanctified by the Spirit of God are not true Members of the Church of God If so then may not we say That though we may not come to Cathedrals or parish meeting places commonly called parish churches nor meet in point of Religion and Worship of God with such people as are not governed sanctified by the Spirit of God it cannot properly be said that we do not come to the church neither ought we to be presented or punished for refusing to meet in point of Religion and Worship of God with them who are not governed and sanctified by the Spirit of the Lord though they may meet in Cathedrals or parish-meeting-places commonly called parish churches as aforesaid Concerning the Church what it is according to Scripture-account THe sanctified and beloved people of God are in Scripture accounted and declared to be the Church of God It is said in Eph. 5.25 Christ so loved the Church that he gave himself for it And in Eph. 5.1 2. it is said concerning the Saints Be ye therefore followens of God as dear children and walk in love even as Christ hath
to be the church of God It is answered That they who are governed and sanctified by the Spirit of God are the only people owned by or declared in the Common-Prayer-Book to be the church of God Then to meet in point of Religion and Worship of God with them who are governed and sanctified by the Spirit of God is to come to the church necording to the account of the Common-prayer-book But we who are reproachfully called Quakers do meet with them who are governed and sanctified by the Spirit of God in point of Religion and Worship of God therefore we come to the church as aforesaid And so we ought to have equal liberty and toleration with you in point of Religion and Worship of God The Common Prayer Book owneth or declareth the Houshold and Family of God to be the church of God And we say That the Houshold and Family of God are the saints and beloved people of God Therefore to meet in point of Religion and Worship of God with the Houshold and Family of God which are the saints and beloved people of God is to come to the Church according to the account of the Common-Prayer book and we met in point of Religion and worship of God with the houshold and family of God therefore we come to the Church as aforesaid and are neither presentable nor punishable for that by the Church before mentioned For proof that the Church is owned or declared by the Common-Prayer book to be the houshold and family of God 5 Sund. after Epiph. Coll. and 22 Sund. after Trinit Coll. See the 5 Sunday after Epiphany the Collect so called where it is said Lord keep thy Church and houshold continually in thy true Religion And see 22 Sunday after Trinity the Collect so called where it is said Lord we beseech thee to keep thy houshold the Church in continual godlmess Here the Church is declared to be the houshold of God and it is the work or act of God to keep it in continual godliness Then they who are in continual ungodliness are not accounted the houshold and Church of God as aforesaid because they are not willing to be ordered and kept by the Lord in continual godliness as aforesaid So that wicked and unsanctified people are not accounted the Church by the Common-Prayer book neither are we enjoyned thereby to come to meet with wicked and unsanctified people in point of Religion nor presentable for refusing so to do And for proof that the Church is accounted the family of God see Good Friday the Collect so called and moreover it is there said Almighty and everlasting God by whose Spirit the whole body of the Church is governed and sanctified So that the whole body of that Church which is owned or declared of in the Common-Prayer book is said to be governed and sanctified by the Spirit of God as aforesaid then that body which is not governed and sanctified by the Spirit of God is not there owned or declared by the Common-Prayer book to be the Church of God aforementioned If the whole body of the Church be governed and sanctified by the Spirit of God then every particular member of that body is under the government and sanctification of that Spirit And if the whole body of the Church of God be govenned and sanctified by the spirit of God whether are they any Ministers or members of the Church of God who are not governed and sanctified by the Spirit of God for it is said by the Apostle If any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his Rom. 8.9 no Minister of Christ nor member of his Church And doth not the Common-Prayer-book say the same in effect in saying That the Church of God is the houshold and family of God and that the whole body of the Church is governed and sanctified by the Spirit of God Doth it not therefore follow that they are no Ministers of Christ nor members of his Church who are not governed and sanctified by the Spirit of God as aforesaid If so whether they who dayly err and go astray from the ways of God be governed and sanctified by the Spirit of God and if they who dayly err and go astray from the ways of God be not governed and sanctified by the Spirit of God whether such be any Ministers of Christ or members of the Church of God and whether such as daily offend against Gods holy Laws be governed and sanctified by Gods holy Spirit because Gods holy Spirit doth not lead men daily to offend his own Laws Or whether any for denying or refusing for conscience towards God to meet in point of Religion and Worship of God with them who daily err and go astray from the ways of God and for neglecting to meet with such as are not governed and sanctified by the Spirit of God can or ought in equity and reason according to truth be said to deny and refuse to come to the Church which is the houshold and family of God who are sanctified and governed by the Spirit of God as aforesaid will it not follow then and that from the Common-Prayer-book viz. 1 That the Church of God is the houshold and family of God and that the houshold and family of God are the Saints and beloved people of God 2 That the family and houshold of God are governed and sanctified by the Spirit of God and they are the houshold and family of God who are governed and sanctified by the Spirit of God 3 That to come to and meet with the houshold and family of God is to come to and meet with the Church of God 4 That to meet in point of Religion and worship of God with them who are governed and sanctified by the Spirit of God is to come to the Church and service of God 5. That they who are not governed and sanctified by the Spirit of God are not the Church of God 6. That to refuse for conscience towards God to meet in point of Religion and worship of God with them who daily err and go astray from the ways of God and are not governed and sanctified by the Spirit of God is not to refuse to come to the Church as aforesaid 7. That they who daily offend against Gods holy Laws and being untaught of God daily err from his ways and refuse to meet in point of Religion and worship of God with the houshold of God which is governed and sanctified by the Spirit of God those are such as neglect to come to the Church and service of God For we say the Saints and beloved people of God are under the administration and teaching of the light and Spirit of God and subject thereunto And they are the Saints and beloved people of God who are under the administration and teachings of the Light and Spirit of God and subject thereunto as aforesaid For the grace of God which bringeth salvation hath appeared unto all men teaching