Reasons are so home to the matter and such a Demonstration of Equity and Reason as one would think it were impossible for any Man and especially such who still seem to have R. Hubberthorn in Estimation to deny it yet being gone from the Tenderness that was in the Beginning are but like the Pharisees who in words would highly commend the Prophets garnish the Sepulcres of the Righteous who at the same time were devising how to Persecute the Blessed Messiah because he could not Conform to their Orders and Outward Observations c. Next I shall produce somewhat out of F. Howgil's Works in p. 614. 616. 617. 620. 625. 626. c. Whereby it will appear how his Testimony is contradicted by our late Proceedings in our Church-Government c. See Francis Howgil c. FAith is the Gift of God there are divers Degrees and Measures according to the Mind and good Pleasure of the Giver so he that hath received any Measure or Degree must not be excluded as having no Faith though he attains not to that Degree that some do enjoy and the Apostles Doctrine was That every one should be fully perswaded in his own Mind and if any were otherewise minded they were to be let alone until God revealed it to them And whatsoever PEOPLE or CHURCH though they claim Infallibility that teach a contrary Doctrine to this we have good reason to suspect IT to be that HASTY-DRIVING and OVER-DRIVING SPIRIT that would FORCE A FAITH where God hath not given it For we are the Elders of the Church and we say the Papists and others too like them have the INFALLIBLE SPIRIT and though we make Decrees contrary to what the Apostles made in their day yet none to question that the Church was but in its Infancy then as unwashed and unswadled and in Persecution but now She is grown up to a greater Stature and Power and endued with greater Priviledges And that say the Papists may be necessary now that was not necessary then c. And whosoever brings in Now mark Set up other Precepts Constitutions Orders Practices in Point of Worship And in Marriage and the Celebration thereof there is a point of Worship in Opposition and contrary to the Practices which were held forth in the Primitive Times and would set up other Traditions than the Apostles Delivered either by Word or Writing such are manifest to have the SPIRIT of ERROVR and are Innovators and Bringers in of other things as necessary in point of Worship amongst Christians which the Apostles and Ministers of Christ did not see necessary then and yet they wanted no part of the Council of God And furthermore they said We have the Mind of Christ and Christs Mind is not variable And speaking of the Spirit said It is that only sure Guide Iudge Way Rule in which there is certainly and Assurance of the Love of God to Mankind it is that by which the Deeds of the Flesh are mortified What shall I say but this Let all Flesh be confounded before it and all Deceit stop its Mouth and all the Sons of Men how before it all COVNCILS and CHVRCHES all RULERS and ELDERS all Reason and Comprehension all Words and Writings of Men yea of Holy Men. Observations From whence it may be observed that such as Set up other Orders Constitutions Traditions c. than the Apostles delivered either by Word or Writing are INNOVATORS and are manifest to have the Spirit of Errour and that G. F. G. W. and those of Party with them have so done is manifest from what is said in the 2d and 3d. Chapters or else I am under a great mistake so that W. R's Title of his Book The Christian-Quaker cannot be Blasphemy as C. Taylor falsly and wickedly says but both the Tile and the Book which answer the same will stand a Witness against them unless they repent and make void their Cannons Orders and Prescribed Rules and Platforms to be observed by the People and indispensibly obeyed under pain of being Recorded out of the Vnity c. I shall at present only add something of G. F. his Testimony in former times before those Orders had a Being which Testimony sufficiently thwars and contradicts their new Model of Church-Government and Proceedings thereupon and then shall finish this Chapter having elsewhere occasion to mention W. P's Address to Protestants c. Viz. Several Papers given forth for the spreading of Truth and Detecting Deceit by G. Fox Minister of the Eternal Word of God Pag. 5. The World is ruled by Outward Rules and all goeth from the Rule The Saints Rule is within them Christ who Ruleth over them is Head of the Body The Worlds Record is without them The Saints Record is within them the Spirit which God hath given unto them is their Record The Worlds Guide is without them in the Traditions and Precepts of Men which Lead from God The Saints Guide is within them to the Spirit c. All you Professors that read these things read your selves where you are whether you are within among the Saints or without among the World And Pag. 31. Query 44. What Scripture have you for sprinkling Infants and for the Word Sacrament and if no Scripture Whether it be not the Commands of Men taught for Doctrine Observations For my part I am at a stand to see how this Mans former Doctrine contradicts his present Practice and if W. R. calls him Apostate And Innovator as that he is manifest enough to be then he is angry and those of Party with him stigmatize and abuse W. R. instead of endeavouring to convince G. F. of the Errour of his way Nay some of them have said to me Admit all you say were true and that it were granted oo be as you seem to Suggest YET for you to Print and Publish these Things is great Wickedness To which I answer Nay If all we say be true touching your Innovations as that we stand ready to prove then I say That 't is no evil to discover such manifest Hypocrisy as you are guilty of What pretend one thing intend another as your Practice manifests Indeed were they not true then to publish such things would be great Wickedness But after all Endeavours privately used to bring you to a sense of these things and to intreat you and beg of you to make void your Anti-christian Cannons which limit People to a stinted Form and for Non-Submission must be put out of Fellowship as I have done for four Years together as my Letters from time to time which I have now made publick do abundantly manifest I say if after all these private Endeavours by my self and others by Letters to Quarterly Meetings to particular Friends to the Second-days Metting by way of Intercession for Peace-sake and that you would race out one Order one Cannon one Condemnation for Non-submission upon which I promised to cease all further Testimony against you whether by Print or otherwise in
be a Record in Writing witnessing the Day Place and Year of such things to be kept in that Meeting the which the one or both of them are Members under which Writing the Witnesses may subscribe their Names or so many of them at may be convenient for the stopping of the Mouths of Gainsayers and for the manifesting of the Truth to all who are without This is the seventh Particular mentioned in the said recited Epistle of Advice to the Brethren in the North which in number were twenty wherein it is manifest what regard they had to the Practice of the Holy Men of God recorded in Scripture and yet by the Conclusion of the said Epistle it is manifest that they were far from limiting Friends in that Day to a prescribed Rule or Form and that under the greatest Penalty too that they were able to inflict as of late days hath been the Practice of George Fox and those of Party with him as hereafter will be manifest see the Conclusion of the said Letter of Advice which is as followeth Viz. Dearly beloved Friends these Things meaning the 20 Particulars advised to we do not lay upon you as a Rule or Form to walk by but that all with the measure of Light which is pure and holy may be guided and so in the Light walking and abiding these things may be fulfilled in the Spirit not from the Letter for the Letter killeth but the Spirit giveth Life c. Thus the Reader my see That in the Beginning our Advice by Letter did concur with our publick Testimony and both with the Scriptures and Evidence of the Spirit in the Hearts of the People to winch our Ministring Friends in that Day both by Word Epistle and Doctrine desired to be made manifest for they then did not desire to exercise Dominion Gentile-like c. CHAP. II. Manifesteth an Alteration and Change Shews the Womans Charter for their Jurisdiction Sets forth the Grant and Confirmation made at a London Yearly-Meeting 1675. I Am now come to manifest the Alteration and Change and the cause of Divisions amongst us about Matters of Faith and the Exercise of it Church-Discipline and Conformity to it whereby William Penns Saying in his Address to Protestants pag. 149. is fulfilled Viz. For all Societies are to govern themselves according to their Institutions and First Principles of Vnion where there is Violence upon this part Tyranny and not Order is introduced Now since Perswasion and Conviction began all true Christian-Societies All Christian-Societies must uphold themselves upon the same free Bottom or they turn Antichristian c. And for proof that we so find and by woful Experience know there is an Alteration and Change and Violence done to our First Principles of Union I am now about to manifest and in order thereunto I shall here insert George Fox his New Order which was wrote about the Year 71. for Womens-Meetings to be held distinct from Mens Meetings and was confirmed afterwards by a general Council or Yearly-Meeting c. VIZ. Dear Friends TO whom is my Love in that which changes not it would do well and be of Service for you to have a Womens-Meeting as they have in other Parts that the Women may come into the Practice of the pure Religion which is to visit the Fatherless and Widdows and to see that all be kept from the spots of the World and so the Lord Jesus redeeming you by his Spirit out of the Old Adam in the Fall into the Image of Gods Righteousness and Holiness that Man was in before he fell in which you are all Helps Meet to the Men in Righteousness and Truth and Holiness and Justice and the Wisdom of God and you may assist and inform the Men of Necessities in what you cannot do your selves for Man and Woman being both in the Power and Seed of Christ they are both Helps Meet and so it would do well for the Women to have a distinct Meeting by themselves as it is in other Places and to set that nothing be lacking then all is well amongst you that you all may be perfect and compleat in Christ Jesus your Heed holding Him from whence you have Understanding and Wisdom to order all things toh is Praise and Glory and when you do see that all is well and nothing is lacking to honour God that all may be kept out of that which dishonoureth Him and all may be kept in your Testimony of Jesus and to see that nothing is lacking outwardly in Gods House in his Family who have the Mind of Christ to do good unto all especially the Houshold of Faith and when you see that all is well then whose mouth the Lord opens in the Womens Meetings 〈…〉 praise confess him to his Glory they are to be obedient as it is in other Womens-Meetings so once a month to have a Womens-Meeting in the County Town or other Places convenient then the other Neigbouring Women may come and go home they Meeting together about the tenth Hour of the Day And so they may keep a little Stock among themselves to help the Poor and those that be in necessity and what they cannot do themselves they may inform the Men of all the poor Widdows and poor Mens Children that are fit to go to be Apprentices and to Services to Friends that they may be trained up in the Fear of God and in the New-Covenant He might have said in the New-Governmet that they may be the Children of the New-Covenant where all may come to know the Lord who is Blessed for ever Amen George Fox having thus laid a Foundation on for the Womens-Meetings distinct and apart from the Men to be once a month at the tenth hour of the Day and to get a little Stock by them under many specious Pretences and Fine Coverings insomuch that many began to assemble and to meet together accordingly in several Parts of the Nation yet there were also very many that waited to see the End and Purpose of their so meeting it being a New Thing and also knowing that the very Papists at their raising and first ordaining the several Orders of Fryars and Religious Nuns were not without as fair Pretences and fine flourishing Shews as this Grant or Order of George Fox for the ordaining these Womens-Meetings so that after a little season several Friends perceiving that these Women thus assembled aspired after the comly and beloved Apple of Rule and Government they shewed their Dislike and it began to be too hard for George Fox to carry them on on his own sole Authority so that at a Yearly-Meeting or General Council held at London in the Year 1675 the said Grant or Order was strengthened and confirmed in all Points and with as much Policy as ever the Learned Bishops or grave Senates used to Establish their Monarchical Governments c. And that the Reader may be assured of the Truth thereof and that it is not of my own devising to accuse
Practices a man may discern without a pair of Spectacles ERROUR and SUPERSTITION coming in apace LIMPING upon their old crooked Crutches of IMPLICIT FAITH and BLIND OBEDIENCE And least you should not know how to answer these Queries I will answer them in the Words of our own Principles that so you may the better behold your Revoltings and perceive your Innovations and take notice of your Apostatizing from your Primitive Principles But if my Answer please you not then let me see by one Answer of your own what you can say for your selves Query I. Whether to Impose any thing upon another Mans Conscience either to do or practice be not a doing otherwise to others than we would they should do unto us and so Antichristian See the Second and Third Chapter about Marriages Answ Yea For so says R. Hubberthorn in his Works p. 188. where he tenders seven Reasons why no Impositions ought to be upon any Mans Conscience by any but the Lord. And says he To Impose any thing upon another Mans Conscience either to do or Practice is not A doing to others as they would be dealt by and therefore is contrary to Christs Doctrine which say I is ANTICHRISTIAN Query II. Whether such Societies as do not govern themselves according to their Primitive Principles but erect new Orders and new Models of Government New Ceremonies and new ways of Sentencing Judging and Condemning the Innocent Recording and Excommunicating such as cannot yield Conformity and Uniformity thereunto do not more resemble Tyranny than Order Nay Is it not Antichristian Answ Yea For all Societies are to Govern themselves according to their Institutions and First Principle of Union where there is violence upon this Part Tyranny and not Order is Introduced Now since Perswasion and Conviction begun all true Christian Societies ALL Christian-Societies MVST uphold themselves upon the same Free Bottom or they turn Antichristian Query III. Whether to restrain People from the free Exercise of their Consciences or to compel People to act against their Faith and Perswasion in Matters Spiritual be not Popish and a Practice of the Church of ROME Address to Prot. pag. 149. 150. Answ Yea For the Apostle in his Day said Let every Man be fully perswaded in his own Mind or Conscience And did not go about to force People to Conform to such Things as they were not perswaded of in their own Consciences But the Church of Rome doth not admit that every one should Walk or Act as they are Perswaded in their own Conscience See Josiah Coal's Whore Vnvailed p. 71. 72. Query IV. If so Whether it be not Wisdom to beware of this Trojan Horse of this Practice which so much resembles Rome who commonly lay more Stress upon their own Ceremonies and written Traditions Orders and Institutions than upon the holy Scriptures or the Primitive Christians Example Answ Yea I beseech you Protestants by the Mercies of God and Love of Jesus Christ Ratified to you in his most precious Blood Fly Rome at Home have a care of this Presumption carry it not too high lay not Stress where God hath laid none Neither use his Royal Stamp to Authorise your Apprehensions in the Main of his Institutions Address to Prot. p. 77. Query V. Whether the holy Scriptures be not of more Authority than our written Traditions and Orders And whether it be not as commendable now to search the Scriptures to see whether our Orders Traditions and Ceremony be agreeable to them as it was formerly for the Bereans who by the Scripture examined Pauls Testimony Seeing some of you call them the Professors Weapons and will not suffer them to be alledged in our Quarterly-Meetings Answ Yea For it cannot be denyed But that the great Foundation of our Protestant Religion is the Divine Authority of the Scriptures from without us and the Testimony and Illumination of the holy Spirit within us Vpon this Foot the First Reformers stood and made and maintained their Separation from Rome with good Cause therefore it is the general consent of all Sound Protestant Writers That neither Traditions Counsels nor Cannons of any Visible Church much less the Edicts of any Civil Sessions or Jurisdiction but the Scripture ONLY Interpreted by the Holy Spirit in us give the final Determination in Matters of Religion and that Only in the Conscience of Every Christian to himself which Protestation made by the First Publick Reformers against the Imperial Edicts of Charles the Fifth Imposing Church Traditions without Scripture Authority Mark you Order Makers the same Cause moves to the same thing gave first beginning to the Name Protestant and with that Name hath ever been received this Doctrine which prefers the Divine Authority of the Scriptures and Spirit to that of the Church and her Traditions Address to Prot. p. 148. Query VI. Whether it be not a Popish Tenet to cry down Wisdom and to say That Wisdom will destroy us as 't is usually with you to say for the Papists care not how foolish the Common People are nor how much in Ignorance it being as they say the Mother of Devotion they educate them provided thir Ministers and Jesuits be very expert and able to defend their way of Worship and heap of Ceremonies And when do any that Write or Dispute to defend our Way of Worship write and speak like Fools except they can neither write nor speak otherwise and why do you cry out against Wisdom upon every occasion as if Ignarance were become our only Darling Answ For to admire what Men do not know and to make it a Principle not to enquire is the last Mark of Folly in the Believers and of Imposture in the Imposers To be short a Christian Implyes a Man and a Man implyes Conscience and Vnderstanding but he that hath no Conscience nor Vnderstanding as he hath not who hath delivered them up to the Will of another men is no Man and therefore no Christian Upon this Principle Men must be made Fools in Order to believe Shall Folly which is the Shame if not the Curse of a man be the Perfection of a Christian. Address to Prot. pag. 187. Query VII Is it not great Deceit and Illusion first to make Rules or Cannons to walk by and when any refuse Obedience to them and cannot for Conscience sake Conform to them then to Senctence Judge and Record such out of the Unity and yet to the World pretend and that in Print that we do no such Thing I say Is not this great Decoit and Delusion Answ Yea That our Friends says W. P. meaning us the People called Quakers Require any men to practice what they are not convinced of I utterly renounce in their Name and that at an Infamous Slander Alexander the Copper-Smith page 10. Query VIII Whether Antichristian Practices Popish Principles Contempt of Scriptures Folly Ignorance and Partiality Practising one thing and Pretending another be Corruptions or no If yea then whether or no a private Man ought not
that power Where will he find a Rule in the Gospel to bear with some kind of Heresies and not with others He must not make submitting to a civil Penalty to compensate for an Heresie unless Christ had appointed that as the punishment of it that 's a selling of sin and making a bargain for iniquity for his own advantage and profit That therefore which the Magistrate under the Gospel may not do and without him I am sure the Church cannot do in which negative restraint upon him all Liberty of Conscience is comprehended and the Freedom Christ hath so dearly and fully purchased comprised and which is chiefly intended to be made good by this discourse shall be declared in this following Position which is That no Prince nor State ought by force to compel men to any part of the Doctrine Worship or Discipline of the Gospel The proof of which shall lie in the Reasons following First 'T is a thing against the light of nature so to do and if the Magistrates Power be grounded in the light of nature then to do a thing against that light of nature must needs be very Heterogeneal and wholly out of his compass it must needs be against the common Light and Reason of mankind to force me to be believe a thing wholly out of the compass of my knowledge and capacity and which nature reveals not to me Such are all Gospel Truths they are not like the matters of the moral Law but they are things purely supernatural and of divine Revelation such things as from the beginning of the world eye hath not seen nor ear heard nor never entred into any mans heart to conceive of these things the Apostle saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A man with all the endowments of nature discerneth not because they are spiritually discerned No man can call Jesus the Christ but by the holy Ghost Will you punish a man for not having the holy Ghost that is no way in his power to get but is like the Wind that bloweth where and when it lists 'T is a strange contradiction to our common reason to force men about things wholly unknown to them and out of their own power If Force should be used at any time it should be to bring men from Paganism to Christianity for without that we cannot be saved but when once Christians we may be saved under different apprehensions and yet we may not force a man to be a Christian 1st because 't is unlawful and 2dly because 't is impossible 'T is not lawful because 't is not Christs way of making Christians nor a means by him appointed for that purpose 2dly 'T is impossible because force upon men will never beget or change Principles or Opinions And as we should not force men at the first to the Gospel because till God reveals it we are wholly ignorant of it so we should not force men that are under the Gospel to any thing they believe not for they are as great strangers still to every farther attainment of knowledge in the Gospel till God please to reveal it as they were at first to the whole and therefore the Apostle calls us to patience in these things one with another till God please to reveal himself The light of nature must needs condemn that practice for another to force me about such things wherein my own eternal good or ill is only concerned where it is not to be imagined that I can have any aim but my own Salvation and can hurt none by my belief but my self When I have used rational suitable means to inform another I ought to acquiesce it being not a supposition to be made that a man would willingly design that which he knows will be his own ruin and which will hurt no body but himself He that forceth me to a Religion makes me hate it and makes me think there wants reason and other evidence to evince it Nature abhors compulsion in Religious things as a spiritual rape upon the Conscience No man by the light of nature was ever angry with another for not quitting his Conscience till his judgment was suitably informed because every man finds it an impossibility in himself so to do That which some say That though we may not force men to believe yet men may be forced to the outward means of believing is very little to the purpose for if by outward means they mean a bare outward act distinct from any Religious Worship no doubt Superiors may command it but if they mean any Religious means if the means be such as my Conscience is not satisfied in I ought not to be forced to it if it be such as I am satisfied in force is altogether needless and it belongs not to this Discourse Secondly To use force in Religion is wholly unlawful in any hand whatever because 't is no means appointed by Christ to bring about any Gospel end For the Magistrate to enforce the Laws of the Gospel by temporal power or compel men into the Gospel by such a power is to act without the least Precept or President and to induce an Engine to execute the Gospel contrary to the nature of Christs Kingdom which is not of this world and contrary to the nature of all Gospel institutions The Magistrate as he should be careful to see the Gospel put in execution so in the manner Christ in his wisdom hath appointed for the doing of it which is by his own Institutions and his own invisible power operating and working with them The great Rule of the Gospel is a rule of the Spirit in the hand of Christ as Mediator and 't is a Rule in the hearts and spirits of men and to set up a Rule by any humane power over any part of the Gospel is highly to derogate from that mediatory dominion of Christ nay to use force is not only to act without but against the declared mind of Christ Does not Paul positively deliver this That the Weapons of the Gospel are not carnal but spiritual and mighty through God 'T is not Faggots and Halters but spiritual means by which men are both to be brought in and cast out of the Gospel Church 'T is hearing and not forcing by which Faith is wrought The sword of the Spirit is the weapon by which Christ does all yea by which he will destroy Antichrist the greatest Gospel-enemy the world hath produced Among all the arguments that are brought to prove the Compulsatory Power of the Magistrate under the Gospel the greatest weight is laid upon the Practice of the Kings of Israel and Judah and what they did under the Law in compelling men to the Worship of God then established In the due consideration whereof we shall find the truth in hand no way invalidated and that what was then done by the Kings of Israel and Judah cannot reasonably be made a Rule to Magistrates now under the Gospel and that the Analogy will no way hold may be made
appear both from the different station and posture those Kings were in from all Magistrates now and also from the different condition of the Church then and now and many circumstances peculiarly relating to both First The worship and policy of the Jews being in it self typical and representive of what was to come hereafter their Government was likewise so and in their Kings very eminently that David and Soloman did very plainly in the type represent the Kingly Dominion of Christ none will deny and 't is as plain that the very Throne of David it self upon which the succeeding Kings of Judah sate was likewise so there being that Prophesie long before That the Scepter should not depart from Judah until Shiloh came and therefore the Power David and Solomon and the succeeding Kings of Judah for amongst the Kings of Israel after Solomon we find not one concerned for the true Worship of God who were of the lineage of David exercised had a peculiarity in it that is not applicable to any Magistrate now Secondly God was pleased in those times upon all eminent occasions of reformation in his Worship and proceedings of that nature to send Prophets to declare his positive mind and to put an end to all doubts that could be about such things nay some of the Kings themselves were Prophets immediately inspired and did not only take care of the Worship established by Moses but did themselves by divine Authority bring in things of a new Institution into the Worship of God this David did and Solomon in bringing Musick into the Temple and setling the courses of the Priests and were divinely inspired to write part of the holy Scriptures No Magistrates now can pretend to any such power in themselves nor have they any such extraordinary direction to guide them but are punctualy obliged to whatever Christ hath revealed in the Gospel and therefore in this respect the Analogy no way holds good Thirdly The state of the Jewish Church and Common-wealth was such as wholly differed them from all others since that was a Church and a State in the very constitution of them mixed together none could be brought into one but he was a member of the other nor could a man be cast out of the Church but he was thereby cast out of the State to be out-lawed and excommunicated was there amongst the Jews the same thing Grotius expresseth it well At that time saith he the Wisdom in Divine and Humane Law was not divided and he proves it by this As the Magistrate did intermeddle in Church Affairs so the Priest did intermeddle in Cvil things For saith he the Priest was a Judge and did not only give Judgment in Sacred but in Civil Affairs being the best Interpreter of the whole Law And saith the same Grotius further That the Priest had Magistracy This alone may be proved in Deut. 17.8 That he is to dye who obeys not the Command of the Priest 'T is most clear also That Eli was chief Priest in Israel and chief Judge in Shiloe 'T is not any way to be avoided but that the Civil and Ecclesiastical Power lay then interchangeably mixed and with as equal reason may we bring Magistracy into the Ministerial Power of the Gospel from what the Priests then exercised and their example as to bring such a power in Religion into the Magistrates under the Gospel from the parallel of what those Kings did then Besides the Magistratical power was so absolutely necessary to the Jewish Church-Policy so mixed that it could not be upheld without it the very Municipal Law of the Nation was their Religion He that was chief in the State must needs be Head of the Church They were a Holy People living in a Holy Land appointed to Worship in one Holy City and in one Holy place of that City and to offer upon one Altar in that Holy place The Church of the Gospel is totally of another nature perfectly distinct from the civil State can well subsist without a relation to it and is no way intermixed in its Concerns with it And therefore to say all Magistrates now must do as those did that governed such a mixed complicated Church and State in one carries no proportion at all of reason or equity in it more then if a man should argue from a Par ratio that what Moses did at first amongst the Jews who was King in Jeshuron that Kings may now do amongst Christians under the Gospel Lastly What was then done was by Gods command and was in a way suitable to the frame and state of the Church the Jews were imbodied in and lay chiefly in bringing men from Idolatry to the Worship of the true God for in differences between Sect and Sect amongst themselves there was nothing that we find done at any time they continued till our Saviours time and putting such a kind of Worship in execution as lay in outward carnal Services and was in every minute particular exactly set down and determined First The state of the Gospel-Church now is wholly differing from what that was and is setled upon clear other grounds and principles Secondly Here is no command in the Gospel for the Magistrate to do any thing of that nature Thirdly Let it be granted as truth that in parity of reason because Magistrates were appointed to take care of Religion then they are to do so still it must of necessity be granted also that they must do it by the means appointed by Christ under the Gospel as they did heretofore by those God appointed under the Law It is an Inference very infirm That because the Kings of Israel and Judah compelled men by Gods own appointment to acknowledge the true God and forsake Idolatry therefore Magistrates now may not only without but against Christs commands and the whole tenor of the New Testament compel men to the Spiritual Belief and Worship of the Gospel The truth is the civil Power of the Magistrate is no means of Christs appointing for the carrying on of the Gospel the Gospel in the very nature of it carries an Antipathy in it to all outward force Instead of all the temporal promises and corporal punishments under the Law Christ makes this Declaration He that believes shall be saved and he that believes not shall be damned That 's the Language of the Gospel Christ sets Hell and Wrath to come before men and by his Spirit working upon and convincing the Conscience works more admirable effects upon men that way than all the outward punishments in the World could ever bring about The Word of Christ is quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged Sword and can divide between the Soul and the Spirit the Joynts and the Marrow and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the Heart We have in the Hebrews a very perfect account of Gods dealing with men under the Law and now under the Gospel and the plain difference in the manner of the one and
the other Heb. 10.28 29. He that despised the Law of Moses died without mercy under two or three Witnesses Of how much sorer punishment suppose ye shall he be thought worthy who hath trodden under Foot the Son of God and hath counted the Blood of the Covenant an unholy thing and done despite unto the spirit of Grace Here is the highest offence imaginable against the Gospel and the punishment as 't is clear in the next Verses is not Corporal but Spiritual and Eternal and to fall into the hands of the living God himself to execute it He that broke Moses's Law fell but into the hand of man and suffered corporal death but this offence under the Gospel brings a man to fall into the Hand of God for eternal death The sorer punishment he speaks of cannot be outward or corporal for there can be no sorer punishment of that kind than what was inflicted under Moses's Law to put a man to death and therefore he speaks of another punishment in the nature of it So Piscator upon the place Graviori supplicio scilicet Eterno the Supream Punishment under the Law was inflicted by Moses upon the Body suitable to that outward state of things that sorer Punishment for Offences under the Gospel according to the nature of it is inflicted by God himself upon the Soul eternally And so the kinds of the Punishments under the Law and the Gospel suitable to the offences relating to each are here clearly distinguished Those Scriptures that are usually urged out of the New Testament to justifie compulsion in the Magistrate and corporal punishment for spiritual offences are of so little cogency and so apparently wrested from their native sense that every eye may if unprejudiced perceive it I will instance in two or three of those chiefly insisted on by Mr Prinne and those who earnestly contend that way Ananias and Saphira were struck to death by Peter therefore corporal Punishment is to be inflicted under the Gospel Who is there that does not see that whole business to be miraculous and extraordinary as the healing the Lame the Blind was First the punishment is wholly extraordinary and secondly the ground of it so For it was upon a Judgment passed on Hypocrisie and Evil latent in the heart However if we will continue that Power to any now we must I hope derive it to the Church and not to the Magistrate Another Scripture earnestly urged is that of our Saviour Luke 19.27 But those mine Enemies which would not that I should reign over them bring them hither and slay them before me This speech relates to the Parable before which is of a noble man going into a far Country to receive a Kingdom and to return and then to take an account of all his Servants what they had done in his absence What can be more clear than that this Parable is spoken to set forth Christs ascension into Heaven and his return to Judgment in the end of the World And this place is a clear Prophetick expression of that Judgment Christ will then execute upon his Enemies both Jews and Gentiles The words of Calvin upon this place are very express this way and indeed 't is not possible to interpret yet any other His words are these In this second part he seemeth specially to reprove the Jews yet he toucheth all which in the abscence of the Master do bend themselves to fall away And Christ purposed not only to terrifie such with denouncing of horrible Vengeance but also to keep his in faithful obedience for it is no light temptation to see the Kingdom of God shaken by the faithlesness of many Therefore that we might remain quiet amongst so many tumultuous stirs Christ saith That he will come again and will be revenged at his coming of that ungodly falling away Another Scripture pressed to serve for the proof of this is that wish not command of Paul's in Gal. 5.12 I would they were even cut off that trouble you This makes as little for the purpose as the other Some amongst the Galatians highly pressed the observation of the Jewish worship upon them in Circumcision and other things the Apostle bespeaks them to a Gospel-punishment in the Jewish Language Casting-out under the Gospel comes in the room of Cutting-off under the Law the Apostle means a Gospel-rejection under the Jewish terms of cutting-off which was oppositely expressed to those that pressed the observance of the Law So Beza upon the place Paulus ad pelliculae sectionem alludit quam ipsi urgebant And a little after Possumus istud de Excommunicatione simpliciter intellegere qualis fuit illa incestuosi Corinthij Nothing is more usual than to express Gospel-matters in the Typical Language of the Jewish Church So the Saints are called Priests their Alms Sacrifices and we are bid to eat the Passover And so in that famous place of our Saviour where he bids us If an Offender refuse to hear the Church to count him as an Heathen man and a Publican 'T is nothing but a Gospel-Precept expressed in the Jewish dialect Of as little moment or less if it may be to the purpose in hand are the other Scriptures insisted on Let the New Testament be but fairly dealt with and suffered to enjoy its own native sense and we shall not find a word to countenance the execution of the Laws of the Gospel by Temporal force nor to inflict upon any man corporal punishment for a Spiritual offence committed in the Church Our Saviour directly tells Pilate and Paul to Timothy calls it a good confession That his Kingdom is not of this World he means no doubt the Kingdom of the Gospel and therefore his Empire would no way invade Caesar's though the Jews told Pilate If he let Christ go he was none of Caesar's Friend His meaning was That his Kingdom as Head of his Church was a Spiritual Kingdom distinct from the World and that as God governed the World by the Temporal power in the hand of the Magistrate so Christ governs his Kingdom by the Power of his Spirit and by Officers and Institutions wholly different and distinct from the World and suitable to such a Dominion Nothing since Christ's Ascension hath more disturbed the Christian World or brought more disorder into Religion than mixing those two Dominions in their distinct powers that of the World and this of the Church together 'T is absolutely necessary to keep these Powers distinct and several The Magistrate will be most useful to the Church by keeping the civil Power in its due bounds and the Church will be most safe and secure in the use of its Spiritual weapons Let the Sword of Justice govern in one and the Sword of the Spirit in the other and men will be most happy in both That the Laws made to punish Offenders corporally under the Jewish Church are not now to be executed without making our selves debtors to the whole Law sufficiently appears Take an
certain evil that way But the Author proceeds and tells us In a little time it will remove the cause of the Error That is to say Forcing men if you do it long enough will convert them and the reason he gives is this Because Paul ranks his Heresies amongst the works of the Flesh and it is not seated so solely in the mind but that it hath often no sublimer motives then other sensual transgressions and as outward considerations are sometimes the cause so they may be the cure of it That ever any man did change an Opinion first or last by being forced since the World began is without instance and impossible in the nature of the thing to be One says well You may as well cure a man of the Cholick by brushing his Cout or fill a mans Belly with a Syllogisme These things do not communicate in matter and so neither in action or passion But Heresie is a work of the Flesh so is every mistake of the Soul Heresie is a work of the Soul rather in mis-believing than mis-doing 't is a thing in Opinion rather than Fact The Apostle in Galatians 5. where Heresie is reckoned amongst the works of the flesh does not put the distinction between works of the flesh as things outwardly acted opposite to what is inwardly believed but by the flesh he means the corrupt and carnal mind opposite to the Spirit of God for he says plainly in the Verse before The Flesh lusts against the Spirit and the Spirit against the Flesh By the Flesh there he means the corrupt state of man in Soul and Body so that Heresie may be a work of the flesh and yet purely seated in the mind Every corruption in the mind is a work of the flesh and yet as 't is there only is in some sence a thing spiritual and speculative But saith he Outward considerations are sometimes the cause of an Opinion and may be sometimes the cure of it If outward considerations suitable to a conviction of my understanding have wrought upon my understanding and made me really believe a thing there is then no proportion at all of reason to say That force because 't is an outward thing wholly incapable of working upon my understanding may make me as well disbelieve it And if those outward considerations he means have not really convinced me then 't is not my Opinion Either outward considerations are the ground of such Opinions or they are not if they be they will best discover themselves in their effects such causes are best so known and only so known and those effects will be obvious if they be evil to a due punishment if they be not the cause of them 't is first a superlative want of Charity to make our selves evil Judges of other mens hearts and then an eminent piece of injustice to punish men upon such a false supposition He that will take upon him to judge the grounds of any mans Principles which he knows not may make any Opinion have what Original he pleaseth 'T is a most absurd thing to believe any man for outward respects should suffer all reproach and persecution You may as well say all the Martyrs suffered only to set up a Pillar and get themselves a Name 't is obvious enough to any impartial eye those outward considerations are more probably to be mens temptations that go another way Fourthly No man under the Gospel ought to be compelâ—ed to believe or practice any thing and if not to believe then not to practice for the practice ought to correspond with and be but the counter-part of the belief 't is strangely unreasonable to require uniformity in the practice where there is variety and difference in the Judgment 't is to bid a man go directly against his Light 't is miserable to rend a man into two pieces his Conscience in one part and his outward man and practice in another part God arrests him and draws him in a way suitable to his rational Soul one way and men by means wholly contrary another Who think we has the greatest right and whether is it better to obey God or man in such a case Those that thus impose upon men do what in them lies to ruin them eternally I say 't is not reasonable to compel men to believe or practice for practice should suppose belief because God tells so very often He only accepts a willing Service in his Worship and abhors all other God detests the smell of a Sacrifice where the heart is not where the heart is far from him and 't is impossible it should be near him where a man is compelled directly against his own judgment How much does the beauty of the Gospel lie in this that Gods People are made by him a willing People and that God hath his Creature wholly in his Service Such are the Converts of the Gospel where every man is in his rational Soul so satisfied enlightned and convinced that he does all freely 'T is a severe thing to enjoyn me by penal Laws to worship God in a way I neither like nor he accepts which he does not though it be what he has appointed for the matter if I come not in the manner he has likewise appointed to it I shall neither please him nor advantage my own Soul This was the case of the Jews when God hated their solemn Assemblies and said Incense was an abomination to him 'T is usually false worship that needs force 't was Jeroboam that upon Politick grounds began to force a Religion and 't is said of him He made Israel to sin by compelling them to Dan and Bethel If men intend to make Converts to God they must not do more for him than he does for himself he never violates the liberty of the rational Soul but approves things to the understanding if they under this pretext intend to make Proselites to their own power 't is very sinful Fifthly The practice of Christ and the Apostles positively contradicts this course they could have commanded what power they had pleased if that had been the way of setling the Gospel in the world Christ would have no Fire come down from Heaven but that of the Holy Ghost nor no Sword used in the Church but that of the Spirit he bids them Teach all Nations Baptizing them c. that is his way of initiating men into the Church Not as the Spainards Convert the Indians who leave them no choice but to be Baptized or Murthered Men are first to be enlightned and then led into conformable practice Paul prays for men That the Eyes of their understandings might be enlightned And our Saviour when he preached called for an eye and an ear to hear and discern his Doctrine 'T is no matter for either where force is the Medium This deserves to be very well weighed that the Apostles never urged the Truths of the Gospel in their infallible Ministry of them upon farther or other terms than Perswasion
his People was our Principle the very Foundation Principle and Corner Stone in our Building there are yet many Living Witnesses and our Work and Labour in that day was to turn Peoples minds thereunto as to the more sure Word of Prophesy whereunto as many as took heed did well and that there was Sufficiency in it being obeyed to lead to Salvation And as our Minds came to be turned to this Inward Teacher And as we came to experience the Vertue and Excellency of this Holy Vnction so we held a publick Testimony thereof to others that they might thereby be provoked to make tryal thereof that so they might have the Witness in themselves and see for themselves and tast for themselves and to this Word nigh in the Heart were we committed and recommended suitable to the Doctrine and Antient Prophesies of Christ Jesus our Lord and his Blessed Apostles and Prophets and in that Day How did our Harmony sound in our Assemblies And how did our Love abound one towards another And our Zeal for the Holy Name of our God In this stood our Unity in this stood our Fellowship even in that Inward Testimony which God committed to us to bear for his Names sake here was the moving Cause of our Love to God one toward another even the Inward Testimony or Manifestation of his Spirit which God in his Infinite Love hath given us to profit withal persuant to his former Promises to our Fathers by his Prophets saying I will give Him for a Light to the Gentiles and to be my Salvation to the Ends of the Earth I will give him for a Commander and a Leader to my People Israel And as we came to believe this Report and to experience the fulfilling of these Promises and to be Witnesses of the Vertue of this his Blessed Appearance so we declare to others that they also might believe and have Fellowship with us therein and the more we came thus to be Spiritually-minded and Spiritually-exercised and the more we came to take delight therein and to meditate therein the more the Lord manifested his Love unto us and his pure Power amongst us and became a Hedge about us and a Wall unto us and gave us Favour in the Sight of the People Blessed and Praised be his Holy Name for ever And in that Day when others would boast of their Church Authority and Church Discipline Vseful Ceremonies Comely Orders and Decent Vestments c. We told them the Spirit of God was the Foundation of our Church as well as the Foundation of the Prophets and Apostles That Christ Jesus the Second Adam the Lord from Heaven who is a Quickning Spirit was Head of our Church Lawgiver to our Church on whose Shoulders the Government and Authority of our Church is laid yea the Hedge and Pale of our Church and able to preserve our Church and in this Faith we lived and walked in pure undefiled Love If any said to us Lo here is Christ in this Ordinance or in that Observation We told them Nay Christ is within and there they must wait to know Him except they were Reprobates for the Kingdom of Heaven is within and there they must wait to receive the Earnest of it for it comes not by Outward Observations This we told People this we proved to the People out of the Holy Scriptures This upon all occasions we testified to all People Professor and Prophane Bond and Free Noble and Ignoble When they told us of their Articles of Faith and how many they had and of the Scripture being the Rule c. We told them That Faith was the Gift of God and to be waited for and that Faith was the Evidence of things not seen and that although in the World there were Faiths many and Lords many yet to us there was but one Faith and one Lord Jesus Christ who was the Author of that Faith And that although the Scriptures were good and a true Declaration of those Things which were most surely believed by the Apostles and by us ought to be believed yet not the only Rule But still the Spirit of God which was the First Principle the Foundation Principle the Palc and only Hedge of the Church and Sanctified People of God so likewise it was the Rule of Life Practice first and before any other Rule and always had the Preheminency in our Testimony from the Beginning And if any question the Truth of what I have here affirmed then for Proof thereof I refer them to the Testimonies of Isaac Pennington Edward Burrough George Bishop c. Published by T. Crisp together with the Writings of Francis Howgil Richard Hubberthorn and many other Antient Friends c. And in that Day if any Brethren gave forth a Letter of Advice and Counsel for the Help and Information of the weak and lately Convinced It was so worded as that Christian-Liberty was preserved and the People not Impos'd upon beyond their Freedom And that it was so I shall prove by an undeniable Instance in a Letter of Advice from the Brethren in the North about twenty Years since containing twenty particular Things wherein Advice and Counsel is given yet SO as to leave them to their Freedom and not to impose them further than Friends to whom they wrote could receive them or see a Service in them as is evident both from the Title or Direction of the said Paper and also from the Closure and Conclusion of the said Letter both which I shall here insert as also that Clause or particular Advice about Marriage which is the seventh particular thing wherein Counsel is given in the said Paper or Letter of Advice That is to say The Elders and Brethren sendeth unto the Brethren in the North these necessary Things following to which if you in the Light wait to be kept in Obedience you will do well Fare you well This is the Title or Direction of the said Letter of Advice now follows the 7th Particular which is about Marriage c. That as any are moved of the Lord and in his Light called to take a Brother or Sister in Marriage Marriage being honourable in all and the Bed Vndefiled let it be made known to the Children of Light especially to those of the Meeting of which the Parties are Members that all in the Light may it witness to be of God and being in the Light made manifest to be of God let them be joyned together in the Lord and in his Fear in the presence of many Witnesses according to the Example of the Holy Men of God in the Scriptures of Truth recorded which was written for our Example and Learning and that no Scandal may rest upon the Truth nor any thing be done in secret but all things to the Light brought that Truth may triumph over all Deceit and that they who are joyned together in the Lord may not by Man be put asunder whom the Lord hath joyned together That there may
him and that the Author of the Accuser c. in Answer to W. R's Book may not say to me as he in pag. 86. Viz. Howbeit W. R. produceth not any now Prescriptions Methods Rules Orders and Forms of Church-Government Now saith the said Author of the Accuser c. Now he should have produced some new Orders and Forms of Church-Government Introduced amongst in since that time meaning the Year 1673. to prove his Charge of Apostacy and Innovation against G. F. and those he calls his Party c. And Pag. 133. We affirm that his meaning W. R. crying out Impositions Form of Church-Government Orders Prescriptions c. in general is no Answer nor any Proof of his Charge of Apostate and Innovator against us let him either specifie saith this notable as well as confident Author of the Accuser c. the Particulars thereof that he condemns us for as Apostates and that we practice as Church Discipline or else for ever be ashamed c. And Pag. 3. And what New and Unchristian Doctrines and Practices are they meaning G. F. and his Party fallen into we find no Proof nor Discovery thereof in all his Books c. And Pag. 128. of the said confident Author of the Accusers c. We do profess seriously a notable serious George if we may believe him we see no real Cause or valid Reason our Opposer meaning W. R. shews for the great Noyse and Rumble he makes about Outward Laws Prescriptions Orders Edicts or Decrees Outward Form of Government Apostacy Innovation Impositions Lording over Faith over Conscience c. whil'st he shews us no unjust no unlawful nor uncomly Order or Proceedings amongst us as a People nor yet gives us any Instances or Catologue of those Impositions Innovations New Doctrines or Practices brought in and received amongst us which are inconsistent with our First Testimony to the Light and Grace of God within and Teachings thereof c. I say things considered as practised amongst us I marvel that the said Author which is said to be G. Whitehead should have the Confidence thus to call for a Proof to call for a Catologue of the New Orders that are Introduced amongst us when he at the time of his Writing could not be ignorant of the Things complained of by W. R. who 't is probable thought there was no need to produce such Proof such a Catalogue and such manifest Instances to prove the same and that none would have the Confidence or rather Impudence to deny such Things as are every Month put in Practice amongst us But as I said that be may not say so to me I will bring him both Proof and President and if he will call them a Catologue he may But first the Confirmation of the Foundation of the Womens-Meetings Namely George Fox his Order above recited by a General Council held at London Anno 1675. Concerning Propounding Marriages London the 27th of 3d. Mon. 1675. IT is our Judgment that for better Satisfaction to all Parties that there may be due time for Inquiry of clearness of the Persons concerned it is convenient that Marriages be at twise propounded to the Meetings that are to take care therein both to the Mens and Womens Meetings where both are Established before they are accomplished and when Things are cleared that the Marriage be accomplished in a Grave and publick Assembly of Friends and Relations Observations And now set the Authority and Confirmation of the Womans Meetings and how G. F. his pretended Motion is corroborated and strengthed I am necessitated to transcribe more of the Transaction of this notable if not Universal Council than I am willing lest G. Whitchead should again call for a Proof or Catologue of their new stamped Government c. Concerning Mens and Womens-Meetings IT is our Judgment and Testimony in the Word of Gods Wisdom that the Rise and Practice Setting up and Establishment of Mens and Womens-Meetings in the Church of Christ in this our Day and Generation is according to the Mind and Counsel of God and done in the ordering and leading of his Eternal Spirit and that it is the Duty of all Friends and Brethren in the Power of God in all Places to be diligent therein and to incourage and further each other in that blessed Work and particularly that Friends and Brethren in their respective Countries incourage their Faithful grave Women in the Settlement of the said Meetings and if any professing Truth shall either directly or indirectly discountence a notable Warning and little obeyed except by G. F. his Men of War or weaken the Hands of either Man or Woman in the VVork and Service of the Lord let such be admonished according to the Order of the Gospel and if they receive it not but resist Counsel and persist in the work of Division we cannot but look upon them as therein not in Unity with the Church of Christ and Order of the Gospel Therefore let Friends go on in the Power of God and in that Work for Him his Truth and People and not to be swayed or hindred by them or their Opposition Observations Behold the difference between this Decree and the Letter of Advice and Counsel in the First Chapter of this Treatise that hath a particular relation to the Scripture and the Practice of the Holy Men recorded therein but this is wholly a stranger to any such Authority yet that was not proposed otherwise than Advice and Counsel and not as a Form or Rule to walk by notwithstanding there was so much in it to justifie the pressing of it both as being bottom'd on Scripture Authority and the Practice of the holy Men of God recorded in Scripture but this no relation to Scripture Authority Precept or President no relation to the Example of the holy Men of God recorded in Scripture nor any Command of God or Jesus Christ who is Head of the true Church and Lawgiver too but notwithstanding the Authors of this Decretal Order are peremptory and positive none must refuse a Complyance none must discountenance the Observatition of it directly or indirectly for if they do they are not to be lookt upon in Unity with the Church that is not to be lookt on as Christians and Members of Christs Church and so at once made Heathens by this new fashoned Edict But to make good Provision against any that shall yet dare to slight this new Model or new found Method of Church-Government or call in question their Power or Authority See what a strict and severe Admonition is uttered forth even as if it had come from the Popes Council of Jesuits and crafty Fryars I Know that some will be mighty angry and sore displeased with me for transcribing so much of their hidden Mysteries but in my apprehension there is no reason for it for if Womens-Meetings be of such Excellency and their Government and Jurisdiction so vertuous amiable as that whoever comply and yield obedience to them are in
the state of Salvation and within the Pale of the Church and capable to be in Spiritual Union and Fellowship with the Brethren But on the contrary such as do not countenance them but either directly or indirectly weaken the hands of such Womens-Meetings they are to be looked upon as out of the Unity of the Church I say if it be so Why should not the Episcopalians Presbyterians Independants Baptists c. know of them how to erect them spedily I will not say the Papists for I perceive by Richard Richardsons Ingredients that they have something like it Viz. their Nunneries c. But if it be a meer Imagination of their own Brain and an Idol of their own erecting Why should it not publickly be brought to Light and made as manifest as the Lord Cromwel made the Papists great Idol Viz. the Rood of Grace which had goggling Eyes and would smile when a good Gift was offered to it when he caused it to be brought to Pauls-Cross where the People tore it all to pieces in King Henry the Eigth's Time which did not a little vex that infallible People So then take it which way you will and it doth not amount to a publishing in Gath and a telling in Askelon suitable to that made mention of by David c. But to return let us hear what shall be said to such as transgress this Ordinance this notable not Scriptural but Anti-Scriptural Edict VIZ. It is our Sence Advice Admonition and Judgment in the Fear of God and the authority of his Power and Spirit to Friends and Brethren in their several Meetings that no such slight and contemptible Names arid Expressions as calling Mens or Womens-Meetings Courts Sessions or Synods that they are Popish Impositions useless and Burthen-some that faithful Friends Papers which we testifie have been given forth by the Spirit and Power of God are Mens Edicts or Cannons or imbracing them bowing to Men. Elders in the Service of the Church Popes and Bishops with such scornful Sayings be permitted among them but let Gods Power be set upon the top of that unsavoury Spirit that uses them c. Observations This Admonition thus stamped with the Name and Authority of Gods Divine Power is enough to put any man to a stand and to admire their Confidence First To erect a new Model of Church-Government even such an one as no one Society from Noahs Flood to this Day ever practised and to bring all into a Subjection to this New Discipline use these high and lofty Expressions and yet this is not all but now they are resolved to secure their Interest and the way to do it is very notable First To make a Law that the Churches Testimony is to be recorded and the Condemnation of Transgressors except they come and acknowledge their Fault That Part of this Yearly Cannon I may subscribe and then leave it as having taken enough to shew the Author to the Accuser a Proof of their Innovations and manifest Apostacies and Degeneration from the Nature and Tendency of the Epistle mentioned to be wrote to Friends in the North in the First Chapter of this Treatise c. Concerning Recording the Churches Testimony and the Party's Condemnations c. THat the Churches Testimony and Judgment against disorderly and scandalous Walkers also the Repentance and Condemnation of the Parties restored be recorded in a distinct Book in the respective Monthly and Quarterly Meeting for the clearing Truths Friends and our holy Profession to be produced or published for that end and purpose so far only as in Gods Heavenly Wisdom they shall be needful and 't is our Advice in the Love of God that after any Friends Repentance and Restauration he abiding faithful in the Truth that condemns the Evil none among you so remember his Transgression as to cast it at him or upbraid him with it for that is not according to the Mercy of God c. Subscribed by William Penn. George Whitchead Steven Crisp Alex. Parker Tho. Salthouse John Burnyeat Observations Perhaps some may expect a great deal of sincerity under these fine Pretences and that the meaning hereof is to Record the Condemnations of such Persons as have lived a scandalous Life and broke the Commands of God disobeyed the Precepts of Christ laid down in the four Evangelists or refused Obedience to the Doctrine of the holy Apostles But alas if I may speak what I have known and what my Eye hath been a Witness of ever since these Cannonical Rules were made I must say the contrary for let any man search the Records of our Quarterly-Meeting Book in Hadenham in the Isle of Ely and they shall there find a Record of Condemnation against John Ansloe a Minister of the Gospel and every way so far as ever I heard or knew of a blameless Conversation wherein he is recorded out of the Unity not for any Breach of Christ his Commands or any matter of Evil Fact but for not taking his Wife according to the Order of Friends i. e. not publishing his Intention before the Womens-Meetings as hereafter will be further manifest but not one Recorded that ever I remember for any Breach of Gods Commandments or matter of evil Fact in all the said Quarterly-Book and if any man can convince me that there is a man called a Quaker in the Isle of Ely or else where that hath lived so uprightly as that in all his time of being under that Denomination he hath not in any wise violated some of Gods Commandments or Christs Precepts whereby he hath sinned against God and grieved his holy Spirit and stood in need of his Pardon Mercy and Forgiveness then I shall conclude and not while then that there is some sincerity in the Contrivers of these Cannons and the Recorders of these Condemnations for if there be any such Man or Men they may leave out that part of the Lords Prayer which he taught his Disclples who well knew what Form of Prayer suited best with the Condition and State of Man who by Nature is prone to Sin and liable to Temptations and no longer preserved from entring into the Temptation than there is a diligent Watch kept the Clause I mean is this Forgive us our Sins as we forgive them that trespass against us And truly that man that says He hath no need to make this one of his Petitions or after that manner when he put up his Prayers to God I am satisfied he too much resembles the proud Pharisee who said he was not as other Men c. A General Observarion upon the four foregoing Branches of the said General Councils Grant and Confirmation of G. F. his Erecting of Womens-Meetings as appears by his Order about the beginning of this Second Chapter and then I shall proceed to the next Chapter First It is decreed that Marriages from the day of the date of those Cannons shall be propounded that is the Intention thereof published yea no less than twice published
before the Mens and Womens-Meetings being distinct and apart each from the other according to the Platform of G. F. c. Secondly That the Rife Practice Setting up and Establishishing of the Womens-Meetings is according to the Mind and Câ—â—nsel of God and done in the Leading and Ordering of his ETERNAL-SPIRIT whereby G. F. his Erection of this as new as needless Ceremony is ratified and confirmed and absolutely corroborated and strengthened by these Presents according to their true Intent and meaning No Pope ever had a more true and loyal Council or one better skil'd or more politick to save his Holiness from any Danger or confirm his Infallible and Unerring Institutions nay further they have granted I think to him his Heirs and Successors for ever for I see no limit in the whole Ecclesiastical Cannon that whosoever directly or indirectly discountenance these Womens-Meetings cannot be look't upon as in Unity with the Church of Christ and then to be sure no Members which if I believed it would be sad News for me Thirdly And lest any should yet chance to call the Proceedings of these New Spiritual Lords in Question or call their Meeting Synodical or the Members thereof like Popes Bishops c. their Epistle Decrees Cannons or Edicts of Men c. it is Ordained by the Authority aforesaid that such are not to be permitted i. e. to be at Unity with them for alas that is all they can yet do Viz. Reckon us as Heathens and I look upon it better to be under that censure than after all private meanes used and they not reclaimed to let them go undiscovered Fourthly But lest all this should not do here is one stratagem more and that is To Record those disobedient Sons to all Eternity for it is further Enacted by this New arbitrary Authority who did without the consent of the People perhaps forgetting that we are English-men that the Testimony of the Church shall be recorded and the Condemnation of the Transgressors of these Ordinances and infallible Laws to which indispensible Obedience is required which is partly and plainly and very truly so interpreted if their Intents may be measured by what hath followed as the event of these Things which this Treatise will yet further manifest So that upon the whole matter I cannot see what could have hindred the compleating this Grant and Confirmation had they but put these four Branches to the remaining eight for there are in all 12 Particulars and obtained their passing both Houses of Parliament and the Royal Assent the neglect whereof hath been greatly disadvantagious to their carrying on their then notable Designs CHAP III. Treats of the Proceedings of George Fox and his Party in the Executive Part of the Order Grant and Confirmation mentioned in the Second Chapter their Proceedings against John Ansloe an Opposition made thereto by several Viz. HAving in the two former Chapters manifested the Way Manner and Method of our Church-Government first as it was in our primitive Gathering when as we pleaded to the Magistrate for Liberty of Conscience so we had the free Exercise of it allowed amongst our selves in Matters Spiritual And Secondly with reference to latter Years when Liberty of Conscience is only pleaded for to the Magistrate but utterly denyed to be put in practise amongst our selves which I hope may serve for a Proof to the Author of the Accuser c. and a convincing one too that W. R. when he published his Book Entituled The Christian-Quaker Distinguished from the Apostate and Innovator In Five Parts Was not without ground when he cryed out of Forms Impositions Orders Prescriptions Rules Cannons c. But that it may yet more plainly appear I shall now descend to the Proceedings in our own Country which I am an Eye-Witness of where these Laws Rules Cannons and Directories have been put in practice on the greatest Penalties we are capable to inflict and then perhaps the Author of the Accuser may accept of my Endeavours both for a Proof and Catalogue of the unparrelled severity according to the State and Capacity we stand in to the Members of our own Society considering how liable we are to the Persecution of so many penal Statutes every day yea I say I know not where to find a Parrellel for our Proceedings our State and Capacity rightly considered we that differ from others and desire their Forbearance yet at the same time differing among our selves cannot nay will not bear one with another we cry to the Magistrates for the Liberty and the free Exercise of our Consciences in Matters Spiritual and will not nay resolves not come what will come to allow the free Exercise of Conscience in matters Spiritual to our discenting Brethren as this Treatise will make manifest Oh! depth of Hypocrisy and Fore-runner of Tyranny Should you have Power put into your Hands before the Peoples Eyes are a little opened to see your Treachery your double dealing your antichristian dealing You are like the deaf Adder you will not hear How often have I wrote unto you How have I wooed and intreated you to race out one Cannon To condiscend a little Which I had great hopes of when I saw W. P's Addr. to Prot. But alas he hath told us by his Liberty Spiritual p. 13. his meaning Viz. Nor is it the least Evil this Spirit of strife is guilty of even at this day that it useth the words Liberty of Conscience and Imposition against the Brethren in the same manner as our Suffering Friends have been always accustomed to intend them against the Persecuting Priests and Powers of the Earth Whereby it is manifest that it is accounted a great Evil if not the least to call for Liberty of Conscience since they are accustomed to intend it only to the Magistrates for themselves and not by that Expression to any that shall call for it to them Well I am loth to trouble my Reader with my single Coment upon these things but shall come more close to the matter even to what is upon Record and Proceedings thereupon and then leave it to the Conscience of the Impartial Reader First then see a Copy of the Orders Recorded in our Quarterly-Meeting Book in the Isle of Ely which is as followeth Viz. IT is ordered and agreed upon at this Quarterly-Meeting that no Friends for time to come may Permit or suffer Marriages without the consent of Friends at two Mens and Womens-Meetings and the Man and Woman to come both to the said Meeting to receive the answer of Friends that so no disorderly or indirect Proceedings may be carried on any more contrary to the Unity of Friends Dated the 1st of the 10 Month 1675. This Cannon or Directory being usher'd in amongst us under the specious Pretence of Good Orders and to keep things clean It was by our Meeting generally received and by me recorded I being Writer at that time but many of us little thought that it was intended for a Rule and
limited Form to walk by as it seems as if it was designed by the Projector thereof by the Event for we had so long disputed against the Holy Scripture being a Rule that we never thought that instead thereof we had been introducing a Rule of our own making neither did we once conceive it to be the product of a London Consult as afterwards we found it was when it came to be imposed as a Rule to be indispensably obeyed under the Penalty of being Recorded out of the Unity But when J. A. came to be concerned in taking a Wife and perceiving the ill tendency such Records might produce in after times and being willing to maintain Christian-Liberty and like the Apostle would not be brought under the Power of any thing that might prove a Yoke to his Brethren he would neither touch nor tast nor in the least conform to it whereupon many Contests arose and strong Debates about it some crying out That he must own his Condemnation for not Marrying according to the Order of Friends others said nay but what Evil hath he done What Commandment of God or Precept of Christ hath he broken others said If we let him alone others will take Example by him and then the Orders will not be regarded And amidst these Controversies it was put to the Vote Whether he should be condemned by publick Sensure or not Whereupon Samuel Cater and about nineteen Friends more they being the major part Voted That he should be recorded out of the Vnity Which accordingly was done a Copy whereof followeth c. At a Quarterly-Meeting in Hadenham the 4th day of the 7th Month Anno 1678. We at this Quarterly Meeting having the Business of John Ansloe his taking his VVife contrary to the Order of Friends brought before us and Friends having several times spoke to him about it and he not giving Friends satisfaction we do testifie that we have no Union with him in this his so doing This unrighteous and unchristian Precedure was testified against at the same time by Edward Love Thomas Wright Francis Bugg Phillip Taylor and some few others which told them That all Vnrighteousness was Sin and Sin was the Transgression of the Law and if they could make it appear that he had committed Sin in disobeying their Order we were ready to hear them Edward Love told them they had exceeded the Deeds of the Wicked But notwithstanding they being the Major part and the Poll over they resolved to pass that Sentence on him above recited although they then did confess that they had nothing against him save his not taking his Wife according to the Order of Friends Whereupon soon after Francis Bugg wrote a Letter to Samuel Cater a Copy whereof here followeth Viz. Friend I Having since our last Quarterly-Meeting weighed and pondered the Recording of J. A. and upon a deliberate Consideration thereof do find it not Apostolical nor agreeable with our Profession at least in my Apprehension but that it rather seems to be the Product or Fruit of that Spirit which doth Apostatize and draw back into the old compelling Path where Dominion is exercised over the Faith and Perswasion of others which is not a Doing to others as we would that others should do unto us It is true I do think that publishing our Intentions of Marriage is very meet and for my part if it were my concern I know not but that I should do it as desired But that mine or any other Man or Mens approbation herein should be an absolute Rule for others under the Penalty of being Recorded to Perpetuity I know no reason at all for 't is my Judgment That no Imposition ought to be upon Mens Consciences by any but the Lord for the Apostle in his Day said Let every Man be fully perswaded in his own Conscience and did not go about to force People to conform to such Things that they were not perswaded of in their own Consciences and whatsoever People or Church though they claim Infallibility that teach a contrary Doctrine unto this we have good reason to suspect it to he that hasty driving and over driving Spirit that would force a Faith where God hath not given it Even like the Church of Rome c. This is my Judgment and Opinion the which I am very free to communicate to thee or any one as not being ashamed thereof and if upon thy serious consideration thou seest Cause to race out the said Record lest it prove an ill President to Posterity as well as great Injustice to the Party concerned then I desire thee peaceably and quietly to joyn in the racing of it out again forasmuch as thou hadst a chief Hand in the obtaining of it through the Influence thou hadst upon the Meeting and doubtless caused them to err But if thou shalt stand to maintain it or justifie it then it will stand thee upon to appear at the next Quarterly-Meeting there to vindicate it by sound Arguments for many are offended at it and burthened with it and by the same Spirit that opposed the Papists Antichristian-Impositions it will be opposed and withstood And this I thought good to let thee know for divers Reasons partly because thou mayst consider of it and not be surprised and partly because thou mayst not do as several Bishops and Teachers have done who as soon as they have broached any Heresie as ever more they were the Original Cause thereof and kindled a flame amongst the People then they slank away and seldom or never manfully maintained the same as Socrates Scholastious Evsebius and Evagrius Scholasticus and divers other Historians make mention of in the Church-History Thus in a few Words I have cleared my Mind thus far and rest a Lover of all such as serve our Lord Jesus Christ purely for for his Name-Sake F. Bugg The 22d of the 9th Month 1678. But although Samuel had the recited Letter time enough yet he did not appear at the next Quarterly-Meeting but I being there did endeavour what I could to have raced it out as well as some other Friends but we could not then I desired that some one of them who was for its continuance would prove it Apostolical but none would adventure to take that Task upon them whereupon I entred my Protestation in Writing and several Friends put their Hands to it on the backside the substance of it followeth the which I left among them c. F. B. his Protestation FOrasmuch as that on the 4th of the 7th Month last past J. A. a Minicter of the Gospel was by S.C. and divers others they being the Major part by Vote adjudged and that in his absense Condemned and Recorded out of the Unity for not observing the prescribed Rule and Order of Friends in taking his Wife and none of you will adventure to prove the said Rule Apostolical nor the Proceedings against J. A. according to Gospel Order And thereupon I Francis Bugg do offer to prove
the said Record either openly by dispute or publickly by Writing to be contrary to Christs Doctrine and Example and contrary to the Apostles Doctrine and Example and contrary to the Doctrine and Example of Francis Howgil Richard Hubthorn and divers other Friends Testimonies in Print and not only so but Antichrictian and Romish and thereupon do hereby enter my Protestation against the said Record and every part thereof Witness my Hand the 4th of the 10th Month 1678. Francis Bugg All which desire of their proving their Proceedings Apostolical and debating the Matter both by me and others they denyed and utterly refused But I marvail the less since I now understand by the Preface to the Book of W. R. In Five Parts Entituled The Christian-Quaker Distinguished c. That it is the Advice of such an Eminent Man of Party with G. F. that we should not be reasoned with a notable way but methinks very Singular yea so Singular that there is no Profession of People that I know of now extant in England that will refuse to be reasoned with except only the Papists and they are so infallibly sure that upon that Foot they do not doubt nor scruple their Faith and Belief for they Believe as the Church Believes and G. W. says in his Apost Incendi c. p. 16. That the true Church is in the true Faith that is in God and we must either Believe thus as the True Church Believes or else it were but folly and Hypocrisy to profess our selves to be of the True Church Indeed the first part of George his Assertion is true for the Church of God which is made up of faithful Members amongst Episcopalians Presbyterians Independents and Baptists or under any other Denomination whatsoever in any County City Language or People that fear God and work Righteousness these all have their Faith in God but that those with respect to Degrees Growths or Measures do differ and are of different Perswasions in many Points and thereupon ought to bear and forbear Judging one another is manifest as also from the Practise of the Primitive Christians as W. R. and T.C. have fully manifested which not only thwarts G. W's Answer to the four Positions mentioned in the 15th and 16th pages of the said Book But the whole Rubrick Laws and Cannons Ecclesiastical of G. F. and other Innovators who are so infallibly sure of the way and that all that differ from them are in the wrong that as I said they have no will to reason things to debate things but too much like the Papists would have things taken upon trust Implicitely Believe as the Church Believes Practice as the Church Practices and in all Points yield obedience to her Decrees without any Examination Scruple or Doubt Or else why should that Abetter of the Cause of G. F. advise as followeth Viz. Let not this Spirit be reasoned with Enter not into Proposals and Articles with it but feed it with Judgment that is Gods Decree Mark the Nature and Tendency of this Advice for should the Apostles have thus Preached to the Boreans What Liberty had been left for their Search and their further Examination nay Christ himself reasoned in the Synagogue of the Jews and the Apostles did the like nay when any Difference arose amongst themselves a free Debate was admitted which amongst us hath been both by Advice and Practice stiffly denyed as I shall yet more manifest Six Queries propounded by F. B. the 12th Month 1678. Some Qveries propounded to such amongst us as endeavour to impose a Uniformity and Conformity to such Rights and Ceremonies as have ho Foundation in Scripture and to such a Church Discipline as neither the Prophets Christ Jesus nor his Holy Apostles Primitive Christians Saints or Martyrs in any Age or Generation either Commanded or Practised and do expect your Answer according to Scripture for the Scripture testifies of Christ and of his Example and the Apostles who wrote Scripture had the Mind of Christ and his Mind is not variable so let your Answer accord with Scripture And whereas you pretend you are for Holy Orders and good Government in the Church maintain the same by Scripture Proof otherwise we shall look upon your Pretentions altogether vain and your plea no better than that which is commonly used by the Persecuting Papists and degenerated Protestants who when we bid them prove the Use of their Ceremonies and other Observations by plain Scripture they say They need not for the Apostle said Let things be done decently and in order And the Church seeing a Decency in the Vse of these Things She hath a Power committed to Her to impose them on Her Members and by Vertue of Her Authority She commands the strict Observation of them under pain of Her Displeasure and if any will not yield obedience to Her Decretal Orders when once approved on by a General-Council or Synodical-Assembly or question her Authority She hath a Power to Excommunicate and cut off such as Heriticks or Gain-sayers or Men of Opposite Spirits c. Thus says ROME and thus say the Episcopalians thus say all Imposers who have no Authority from Christ Jesus for their un-scriptural Traditions that it begins to be so with us is plain manifest and for a particular Instance view the Case of J. A. who was both judged and Condemned and Recorded out of the Unity at a Quarterly-Meeting or General Council held at Hadenham in the Isle of Ely the 4th of the 7th Month 1678. And in as much as you seem to make G. F. the Author of your Errours it stands him upon finally to reject and to bear a publick Testimony against your New Strange and Dangerous Innovations and Babylonish Inventions and to shew that he hath no Hand in the Introducing and promoting the same WHEREFORE answer these things following that so your Minds Intents and Purposes may be fully and clearly manifest and upon what Bottom you stand and who gave you your Power and whence you derive your Authority and in whose Name you compel a Conformity to your New Invenetd Orders and Rules under Pain of Condemnation QUERY I. Whether Christ Jesus the true God and Eternal Life in whom the Fulness of the Godhead dwelt Bodily be the Head of the True Church OR Whether George Fox who is but a Man unto whom the Spirit is given but by Measure be Head thereof Answer QUERY II. If you say that Christ is the Head thereof as I hope you will not dare to say otherwise then I further Query Whether Christ be not Lawgiver to his Church Answer QUERY III. If you say That Christ is and of right ought to be both Head and Lawgiver to his Church as I presume you will not say otherwise Then I further Query Whether we who profess our selves to be Disciples Followers of Christ ought not to follow and obey the Example Practice Precepts Commands Prescriptions and Exhortations of Christ Jesus our Lord and Master
give forth such Orders who ever oppose them they oppose the Power of God and thereupon call us Men of an Opposite Spirit I say take a special view of what is said and then impartially peruse this following Advice of Friends in the Case of Marriage which was amongst many other things in the Beginning given forth by the antient Labourers in Gods Vineyard whose Care and Skill was manifest and then see if we govern our selves upon our first Principles That is to say The Elders and Brethren sendeth unto the Brethren in the North these necessary Things following to which if you in the Light wait to be kept in Obedience you shall do well Fare you well c. 7thly ' That if any one moved of the Lord and in his Light called to take a Brother or Sister in Marriage Marriage being honourable in all and the Bed undefiled let it be made known unto the Children of Light especially to those of the Meeting to which the Parties are Members that all in the Light may witness it to be of God let them be joyned together in the Lord and in his Fear in the presence of many Witnesses according to the Example of the Holy Men of God in the Scriptures of Truth Recorded which were written for our Example Here is true Humility and Learning and that no Scandal may rest upon the Truth nor any thing done in secret but all things brought to the Light that Truth may triumph over all Deceit and that they that are joyned together in the Lord may not by man be put asunder whom God hath joyned together that there may a Record of the Time and Place in Writing witnessing the Time and Place of such Things be kept within the Meeting of which the one or both are Members under which Writing the Witnesses present may subscribe their Names or so many of them as may be convenient for the stopping of the mouths of Gain-sayers and for the manifesting the Truth to all who are without Now observe the Conclusion of the said true Christian-like Epistle Dearly Beloved Friends these Things for there were many besides Marriage we do not lay upon you as a RVLE or FORM to walk by but that all with the measure of the Light which is pure and Holy may be guided so in the Light walking and abiding these Things may be fulfilled in the Spirit not from the Letter for the Letter killeth but the Spirit giveth Life c. Now consider I pray thee First our Primitive Principle and Institution Direction and Christian-Liberty and see if the late Orders and Imposing them and Compelling a Uniformity to them have not doe violence to them see thy own words and how our Practice contradicts them Addr. to Prot. pag. 149. 150. c. That is to say For all Societies are to govern themselves according to their Institution and first Principle of Vnion where there is violence upon this part Tyranny and not Order is Introduced Now since Perswasion and Conviction began all true Christians Societies all Christian-Societies must uphold themselves upon the same free Bottom or they turn Antichristian Thus saist thou and I say the same pray consider on it and endeavour a Reformation I could further paraphrase hereupon and many other Places of thy Address c. Some Pages whereof with some others I may quote and leave to thy perusal being loth to be too tedious concluding with thy Address Pag. 221. That 't is base Coyn that needs Imposition to make it current but true Metal passes for its own intrinsick value Oh miserable Imposition and the mischief of it What Censuring Sentencing Recording Judging Yea What Superstition Formality Idolatry and Hypocrisy hath it begotten And what Animosities Heart-burnings Persecution and Bloodshed hath it been the Cause of Which had People been left to their Christian-Liberty had never been As these following pages shew Address to Protestants pages 122. 156. 143. 67. 68. 77. 93. 94. 95. 97. 98. 99. to the 104. 141. 148. 142. 144. 145. 146. 185. 190. 192. 193. Francis Howgils Works pag. 534. 617. 620. 236. 625. Richard Hubberthorns Works pag. 188. Josiah Coal's Whore Vnvailed pag. 71. 72. Coloss 2. 16. 17. 18. Eccle. 12.13 Joh. 14.15 Mat. 5. Mat. 28. Christs Sermon 5.6.7 Phil. 8.15 Rom. 14.5 Indeed thy Book alone is so full of matter against Imposition against Force and compelling a Conformity to Outward Rules Cannons and Prescriptions of Human Invention and for Christian-Liberty that I know not well how to leave it I pray God keep thee steady and with a continual Dependency upon the Divine Revelation of Gods holy Spirit which is the Rock upon which the true Church is built and every Member of it that so an Understanding of thy Duty may every day be received and a necessity therefrom come upon thee to perform it that so thou mayst not look one way and row another a thing some suspect by thy disputing on G. F. his Part when he some think was ashamed to appear himself But for my part when I consider thy Labour and Service in the Truth therein spending both thy self and Estate together with thy Zeal in vindicating Truth against all Opposers I cannot have any Suspition Object But perhaps thou mayst say to me How is it possible that a Composure of this Controversy can now be c. Answ If I may not be too tedious I will give thee my Answer thus Let there be a present Cassation of all Controversy for three Months proclaimed on both Sides and a Day set and Place appointed Mutually by G. and W. to have a Meeting equally constituted with ten or twenty Friends more or less on each Side by them respectively chosen and when this is agreed upon let them exhibit their Charges in Writing by way of Declaration and send it to each other a Month or more before the said Set Day that they may both know what to plead to and how to make their Defence and what Witnesses to bring to prove their several Charges so exhibited And then where either of them are found guilty let them make that Satisfaction which is suitable to the nature of their Crime and wherein clear let them be acquitted This on W. R's Account I dare Engage shall be performed and that this is both a just and reasonable Method I dare appeal to all Judicious Persons in the World Why then shall this intollerable Controversy be continued Why should there be occasion ministred for those grievous Animosities Rents and Divisions which every day increase And taking all Advantages against each other by Printing Preaching or otherwise as if the one Side were infallibly all Christians and impossible for them to Err and the other Side Heathens Infidels and Pagans and that by Predestination too without any Recovery by that figure of using no Endeavour Oh dreadful Work But if any shall say to me no George shall never be thus brought upon the Stage or be thus made publick for he cannot
this Exommunication are more zealous for G. Fox his Laws and written Prescriptions which that Book of W. R. ath manifestly Detected than they are for the Scriptures for a Man may transgress the Scripture days without number but yet never be Excommunicated by G.F. nor his Party but J. B. never sold but one Book namely that of W. R. his Publishing that ever I heard of and lo you see he is Dismembred no Spiritual Fellowship no Spiritual Communion they can have with him until he returns to the Mother Church no by no meanes Stand off for I am more Holy than thou crys the Proud Pharisee for I am not as other men nay they do not only testifie against that BAD SPIRIT as they account it but HIM ALSO Viz the MAN ALSO Oh that we could but say Take him Goaler and that Effectually So that I do not find a Parallel betwixt the Proceedings of the Protestant Bishops with the Sons of their Church to wit the Booksellers to equalize the Proceedings of G. F. and his Party with W. R. for Writing and J. B. for Selling the Book called The Christian-Quaker c. For Edmund Hickeringal wrote the Naked-Truth of Matters and Things transacted amongst the Clergy and the Booksellers Disperse and Sell them but for the same we hear of no Excommunication or such bitter Invectives as attend W. R. J. B. and as many as adhere receive or favour the said Book or Liberty the Authors thereof stand for and vindicates A Coppy of the said Bitter Invectives Censorious Antichristiand Dreadful Judgments uttered against W. R. for Writing J. B. for Selling my self and others for Buying Owning and Reading the said Book of W. R. Entituled The Christian-Quaker Distinguished c. and for refusing subjection to the Jurisdiction of the Women as I took them out of several Books approved on by the Second-days Meeting in London for which very piece of Service Stamp and Probatum est I think that very Meeting deserves to have a TRIPPLE-CROWN Pray hear the Invectives and then Judge VIZ. The Accusers of the Brethren driven out from the Presence of the Lord Vnsavoury Salt Heady Wilful Highminded Vnruly Passionate and Furious this miserable Man W. R. who through Vnwatchfulness Disobedience Rebellion against God which is as the Sin of Witchcraft The unclean Spirit Adversary of Mans Soul the old Accuser of the Brethren having now the Rule in him meaning W. R. and over him makes War through him against the Lamb and his Followers Rude Insolent His prophane speaking concerning the Power of God but from the Spirit of Antichrist the cruel outragious deadly hellish Spirit or Image of Iealousie a murmuring complaining dividing Spirit a rending tearing Spirit a dark jealous Spirit a loose gain-saying opposite Spirit a proud exalted Spirit a contemning scornful Spirit a self-conceited Spirit a turbulent willful froward Spirit This cursed Spirit of Satan is now entered into the Heart Soul of William Rogers and such of his Abetters as own the Printing and Publishing his wicked Book aforesaid And are become twice dead pluckt up by the Roots and through Perverseness Peevishness Cross-spiritedness enter'd into the way of Cain and Spirit of Korah and his Company of which Number and sort is William Rogers and his Adherents who have attempted such manifest Rebellion against Gods pure Power A cross Canker'd Spirit Fal'n Antichristian Instruments and which I say be Co-workers with the Prince of Darkness where the First-Born of Death Rules Reigns without any good Order of that Seed Spirit ye are joyned to and led by against the very Heart of God and his Light and Life which his People live with him in c. These with many such other Terms are to be found in several Books approved on by the Second-days-Meeting as at large appears in the Preface to the Reader where the Books and Pages out of which I took them are Quoted I say A Parallel whereof I know not where to find nay had I all their Books of Controversy by me I presume it were a thing too hard for me to undertake so that I must take a step into the Papists Road of Cruelty and Severity and then perhaps I may first then see the Prohibition sent by Cuthbert Tonstal Bishop of London to his Arch-Deacons c. in King Henry the Eighths Time as left upon Record by Fox in his Eighth Book continuing the History of the Martyrs c. Pag. 248. Cuthbert By the Permission c. By Duty of our Pastoral Care we are bound diligently with all our Power to Foresee Provide for Root out and put away all those things which seem to tend to the Peril and Danger of our Subjects and especially the Destructions of their Souls wherefore we having Vnderstanding by the Report of divers credible Persons and also by the Evident Appearance of the Matter that many Children of Iniquity Maintainers of Luthers Sect Blinded through extream Wickedness the Old and New Pretence wandring from the way of Truth and the Catholick Faith craftily have Translated the New Testament into our English Tongue and Erronious Opinions pernitious and Offensive seducing the Simple People Pestiferous and most pernitious Poyson dispersed throughout all our Dyocess of London in great number which truly without it be speedily foreseen without doubt will infect the Flock And with much of this Nature giving the People 30 Days to bring in all the Books which have been dispersed c. But Richard Bayfield who refused so to do but still Owned and Dispersed those Books which opened the private Cabonet of the obscure Consults of the close Designing Papists was Sentenced and Condemned and Burnt as you may read in p. 291. 292. of the aforesaid Book for bringing into London and publishing several Books which were wrote by Luther Zuinglius Lambert Bucer Hus Frith and others as bad Spirits to the Interst and Design of the then Papists as W. R. can be to G. F. and his Party and yet doubtless they think he and his Friends are bad enough or else they would not have given them the Characters afore described except they be Arrant Hypocrites indeed c. But one thing by the way that Fox noted is worthy our Consideration which is set down p. 289. Intimating that the Papists might have of these Books to read and peruse them and to answer them upon occasion as G.W. and others have had of the Books of W. R. but not a word against them as if they were Heirs apparent to that right honourable in the Papists account Sir Thomas Moor. Hear what Fox says Although all these Books were Inhibited Viz. Prohibited c. Yet Licence was granted before to Sir Thomas Moor by Tonstal Bishop of London Anno 1527. That he notwithstanding might have and peruse them with a Letter also sent to him from the said Bishop or rather by the advice of other Bishops desiring him that he would shew his Cunning and play the pritty