understood that they intended to make us so for continuance and perpetuity Then what Right have they to Excommunicate and Persecute us For if they cut off the Members of Christ either by Excommunication or Persecution do they not destroy Christ in his Members in so doing And is not that contrary to the Minde and Will of God and against the Innocency and true Intent of the Liturgie of the Church of England And doth not such proceedings beget a dislike and dis-esteem to them who so openly and manifestly erre from their owne Principles or Fundamentals in matters of Religion and Practise as aforesaid And for as much as the Bishops and Priests doe promise to People that by the Act of Baptisme so called they do Regenerate their Children and do thereby conclude them Regenerate saying Dearly Beloved Seeing this Childe is Regenerate and Borne again let us give Thanks Then if by that Act they do not Regenerate them they doe neither truly Baptize them nor Admit them into Church Fellowship Do not they therefore pretend to do that which they neither intend or really do not perform And is it not time for people to take notice of them For if no Priest in England can Regenerate any then no Priest in England can Baptize any who promise and pretend to Regenerate them by that Act as aforesaid and do not And seeing that by the Liturgie of the Church of England the Church is declared to be the Houshold and Family of God and by the Act that none may meet out of their owne Family above the number of five under pretence of Religion and Worship of God contrary to the Liturgie of the Church of England Then it seems that they who are of that Family and the whole Houshold and Family of God may meet together by that Act and not above five amongst them that are not of the Houshold and Family of God And the Liturgie of the Church of England doth plainly say that the whole Body of the Church is governed and sanctified by the Spirit of God So that the Houshold and Family of God are under the Teachings Sanctification and Government of the Spirit of God And by the Act it seemes all such may meet together to Worship God and not above five joyn with them that are not Governed and Sanctified by the Spirit of God for they are not Members of the Church nor of the Houshold and Family of God who are not Governed and Sanctified by the Spirit of God because the whole Body of the Church is said to be Governed and Sanctified by the Spirit of God and that according to the Liturgie as aforesaid Is it not evident then or may it not be concluded that by the said Act there is a toleration given for all to meet together who are under the administration and teachings of God who are governed and sanctified by the spirit of God and then what will this be against the meeting of the Quakers and innocent people of God if rightly understood and not perverted because they are the onely people that meet together in point of religion and worship of God according to the Liturgie because they are under the administrations and teachings of God and are governed and sanctified by the spirit of God And doth it not remain true that those who are prohibited by the act to meet above the number of five contrary to the Liturgie of the Church of England under pretence of religion are such as are not of the houshold and family of God that is to say such as daily errs and goes astray from the wayes of God and are not governed and sanctified by the spirit of God as aforesaid Concerning Infants Baptisme And as concerning Baptisme if the thing thereby promised and pretended be not effected the end doth not answer the means as they call it or indeed the meanes doth not lead to the end so that it is more a pretence and shew or shadow then any thing of substance and as necessary unto salvation and when the means leads to the end or the end answers the means so that the Priests do make it appear that they really can and do regenerate people by that act of baptisme so called as they pretend then we shall beâ—â—â—â—â— them and bring children unto them to have that conferred upon them and in the mean time it is but resonable to be excused for not bringing little children unto them whilst that part is more pretence then real practice or substance and we judge it a reasonable thing to be freed and clearly acquitted from all Ecclesiastical censures and temporall punishments concerning the same and if you think otherwise let the Lord and all true experienced sound upright hearted Christians judge between you and us in this case Concerning the Sacrament so called Is there any true spirituall right or gospel authority whereby any should be punished by Ecclesiastical censures or temporal punishments for not receiving that as an Ordinance of Christ which the Scriptures no where makes mention off if you say no Then we say the Scripture nowhere makes mention of the word Sacrament in any place that we ever read of and if you can produce any place of Scripture that plainly makes mention of the word Sacrament when you have produced that Scripture we shall take it into due consideration and if you say there is no such Scripture to be produced but the word sacrament is a significant word and it signifies the receiving of Christ Iesus and of an inward and spiritual grace which are holy things if so then to receive Christ Iesus in spirit and the grace of God is to receive the signification of the word Sacrament and so effectually to receive the Sacrament or the thing signified which is the end of the sign and we have received and do receive Christ Iesus and the inward grace of the spirit of God and so in effect do receive the Sacrament or signification of the sign and ought to be freed from all Ecclesiastical censures and temporal punishments concerning the same 1. Then to meet together in point of Religion and worship of God with them that are governed and sanctified by the spirit of God is to come to the Church and that according to the Liturgie or common prayer book therefore such are to be tolerated and ought not to be molested or troubled but rather freed from all Ecclesiastical censures and temporal punishments concerning the same 2. To meet together to preach and pray and perform duty to God in point of Religion and worship of God is not to meet contrary to the practice of the Liturgie of the Church of England because they pretend to do the same therefore they who meet together in the fear wisdome and spirit of God to preach pray and perform duty to God in point of Religion as worshippers of him ought not to be molested disturbed or called in question for so doing THE END
as by the Scripture is evident Rom. 8.9 Rom. 8.15.16.17 And as the children of God are led by the Spirit of God so therein they are in the liberty given and allowed of God 2 Cor. 3.5.6.7.8 2 Cor. 3.17.18 To serve and worship him in the glorious ministration of the spirit which exceeds and excels that of Moses in a far greater glory and therein they ought to continue and not be forced from it by men And as for the people of God reproachfully called Quakers they have under every government peaceably demeaned themselves ever since they were brought into covenant with God and have suffered for their obedience and faithfulnesse to the Lord more then any people in this Nation for many years by past and the Lord hath hitherto tryed them and they have been found faithful to the Lord upon tryal and they have been tryed by men and by the power and authority of the kingdome and do appear upon every tryal to be a people true to their principles to God-ward and honest and upright in their dealings with men it is well known to the Nation that they are a harmlesse people and very industurous and profitable to men and of an honest and good conversation unwilling to be burthen some unto them wherefore there is no just cause why they should be injured wronged or destroyed either in their principles persons or estates for their tender consciences and faithfulnesse to God in matters of Faith and Religion but ought to be defended and preserved therein And as for their meetings upon the account of religion to wait upon God as his people there is as much and more of the spirit and life of truth and of the refreshing vertue of the word and power of God amongst them made known from the Lord unto them for their satisfaction and souls consolation as amongst any professing people in the Nation And it doth appear after several years trial had of that people that their meetings never produced any bad effects either to the terrour of the people or endangering the peace and safety of the kingdome And therefore they ought not to be suppressed and broken but rather countenanced and preserved in their principles and practises which are so faithful and honest both towards God and man And whereas it hath been said by some of them in authority that the Quakers are in some part of their principles much like unto the primitive Christians who would not take up arms to fight either for or against the best of Kings or worst of Tyrants And therefore the Quakers say they are to be commended in that and others of the Magistrates have said as concerning the Quakers having any hand in plotting or designing mischief against the King and his government they are so innocent and harmlesse that they durst put them into the Magazin so that me thinks they should have no cause to suspect them for indeed they are a people that wishes no man any harm but would rather do good unto all men therefore they ought not to be destroyed or banished but countenanced and preserved in their principles and practises which are good and answers to the witnesse of God in the consciences of men It is more consistent with trueth and well pleasing to God and agreeable to the other part of the principles of the people of God and primitive Christians 2 Tim. 3.10.11.12.14 to suffer persecution for their faithfulnesse to God and their continuation in the trueth of the Gospel and meeting together to wait upon God in the way of his worship and have the love and favour of God then to be unfaithful to God and untrue to their principles by forsaking the same for fear of the frownes and rebukes of the spirit of the world or an outward suffering from men and incurre the Anger and displeasure of God for so doing Heb. 10.26 Heb. 10.24.25.26.27.28.29.30.31 God had a people in Egypt under great bondage Exod. 3.1.2 to the 13. and in great captivity bowed down and oppressed but he remembred them in his mercy and sent his servant Moses as his messenger to acquaint them with it Exod. 8.1 Exod. 9.1 and also to speak to Pharoah then King of Egypt by whose power they were oppressed Exod. 5.1.2.3.4 to require of him their liberty and freedome in the worship which God made known and required to be performed and done But King Pharoah denyed the Lord in that thing Exod. 8.8.12.13.14.15 and gave the Lord an occasion against him who brought great judgement upon his kingdome because he refused to give liberty to the people of God in the worship or service of God and said they were idle Exod. 8.8 12.13.14.15 and yet when he was under the sense of the judgements of God he promised them liberty but he did not regard to make good his promise which signified nothing but as a testimony against him and to provoke the Lord to wrath Exod. 8.25.26.27 who renewed his judgements and weakned the power and policy of Egypt for withstanding the liberty which God required of Pharoah on the behalf of the oppressed Israel Exod. 12 29.30.3â—.32.33 and in his own time made Pharoah to know that he was too strong for him and by his power alone wrought their deliverance after many trials that they might give glory unto him as by the Scripture is plain Exod. 12.40.41.42 Though Pharoah the King Exod. 1.15.16.17 Exod. 1.20.21 commanded the Hebrew Midwives to destroy all the male children of the Hebrews when they did the office of a Midwife yet because the fear of God was in their hearts they durst not do it so that they rather chused to obey God in preserving the lives of the innocents then to obey the command of the King which was so contrary to the minde of the Lord who would have had the seed destroyed which the Lord preserved and blessed King Pharoah could have been content to have letten the old stock of Israel have lived Exod. 1.8.9.10.11.12.13.14 c. if there had been no encrease but policy taught him to put a stop to that and if the Lord had not put a stop to that design Israel had been cut off and destroyed in the seed Exod. 1.17 For if the Hebrew Midwives had not feared and obeyed God rather then man the male children had been destroyed when they had come out of the womb Daniel was a man beloved and blessed of the Lord and there were such as sought an occasion against him with an intent and purpose under the colour of transgressing a known Law to have cut him off and destroyed him as there have been and are now such as seeks an occasion against the Daniels and beloved people of God with an intent to destroy them And as they could finde no occasion against Daniel but for the law and worship of his God so they can find no occasion against the Daniels or beloved people
government though suspition might arise in the minds of some and be ready to judge it unsafe to suffer such meetings And it came to passe that when Jesus had finished these sayings he departed from Galilee Mat. 9.1.2 and came into the coasts of Judea beyond Jordan and great multitudes followed him as by the Scripture is plain But if Christ was here now and did so he must be imprisoned and banished by a law and by that law the people might be kept from following Christ or else suffer imprisonment and banishment for following of him and that by such as pretends to be friends unto him But it is not every one that pretends love to him or saith Lord Lord that shall enter into the kingdome of Heaven but he that doth the will of the Father as Christ Iesus hath declared and said And Jesus came at another time nigh unto the Sea of Galilee and went up into a mountain and sate down and great multitudes came unto him Mat. 5.29.30 as by the Scripture is plain whereby it is evident and remaines true that there either was no law that prohibited such great meetings on mountaines and to keep the people back from following of Iesus after that manner or if there were any such lawes then in being they were not regarded by Christ and the followers of him in matters of faith and salvation And at another time Iesus entred into Capernaum and it was noised that he was in the house and straitway many were gathered together insomuch that there was no room to receive them no not so much as about the door and he preached the word unto them Mark 2.1.2 as you may read in the Scripture of truth But if Iesus was here now and did so might not he and the people be imprisoned and banished or sold for so doing consider well of it and let the Lord judge in this case And before Christs ascention being assembled together with his disciples and friends which were about the number of five he commanded them that they should not depart from Ierusalem but wait for the promise of the Father which saith he ye have heard of me Act. 1.1.2.3.4 And when they were come in they went up into an upper room where abode both Peter and Iames and Iohn and Andrew Philip and Thomas Bartholomew and Matthew Iames the son of Alpheus and Simon Zelotes and Iudas the brother of Iames which were above the number of five and they did not disperse themselves into numbers under five but these all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication with the women and Mary the mother of Iesus and with his brethren as you may read Act. 1.13.14 And if there had been such a law that they might not have met upon the account of religion from a parish Church to the number of five or above under pain of imprisonment and banishment as now Act. 1.3.4 Act. 1.13.14 they might either have disobeyed the commands of Christ or else have broken such a law as is directly against that command of the Lord Iesus as by the Scripture is evident And when the day of Penticost was fully come they were all with one accord in one place and not dispersed into companies under the number of five as you may read Act. 2.1 And suddenly there came a sound from Heaven as of a rushing mighty winde and it filled the house where they were sitting Act. 2. 2. so that they were not met in a parish Church or Chappel but in a house and God mightily honoured their meeting for they were filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak as the spirit gave them utterance as by the Scripture is evident Ast. 2.1.2.3.4 And the Servants of Iesus did meet together in houses and in great numbers also or else how should there have been three thousand soules added unto them on one day as there was by the preaching of Peter Act. 2. And in private houses they met often and also in multitudes as by the Scripture appeareth and some of them believed and consorted with Paul and Silas Act. 17.4.5.6.7.8 and of the devout Greeks a great multitude and of the chief women not a few but the Iewes which believed not moved with envie took unto them certain lew'd fellowes of the baser sort and gathered a company and let all the City on an uproar and assaulted the house of Jason and sought to bring them out to the people and they drew Jason and certain of the brethren unto the Rulers of the city crying these that have turned the world upside down are come hither also whom Iason hath received saying that there is another King one Iesus and they troubled the people and the Rulers of the city when they heard these things so you may see how the old envious professours and the baser sort of people did trouble the people and Rulers by haling out and abusing the primitive christians and reporting of them as aforesaid but the true christians did not persecute any but were persecuted as by the Scripture appeareth Act. 17.4.5.6.7.8 And after the uproar was ceased Paul called unto him the Disciples and embraced them and departed for to go into Macedonia Acts 20.1 And upon the first day of the week the Disciples came together and met neither in a Parish Church nor a Chappel Act. 20.8 but in a private house and Paul continued his Speech until midnight in the Chamber where they were gathered together Acts 20.7 8. Whereby it is evident and remains true that it was the practice of Christ and his Apostles to meet together in private houses and in great numbers and they never made any uproar nor abused any but they were abused and suffered as those do who follow their examples Eph. 5. Gal. 5.16.22 23 24 25. Heb. 10.22 23. and live in the Spirit as they did It was the practise of the primitive Christians to assemble themselves together and wait upon God in the way of his Worship and they were to hold fast their Profession without wavering because he was faithful that promised Heb. 10. though they were persecuted for meeting and worshipping contrary to the custome of the envious Jewes and contrary to the way and worship of the World as aforesaid Whereby it is evident and remains true that it is the duty of true Christians Saints and Believers in Christ Jesus to be true and faithful unto God in meeting together in the Way and Worship of God and mind their continuation with God in the same though they be attended with a suffering condition from men for so doing and as it is their duty to meet together as the Worshippers of God according to the manifestation and perswasions of God so it is a danger to neglect the same as by the Scripture is evident and plain Heb. 10.22 23.24,25 And as Preaching is not an Art of Nature but a spritual gift so none are required by the Lord to minister from