answered the Lord and was conformable to the Leadings of his holy Spirit therein as his Conscience doth bear him witness to his dayly comfort but could not fulfill in every Circumstance the Wills and Edicts of Men therefore the aforesaid S.C. and others passed their Sentence against him and Recorded him out of the Unity in their Quarterly Book for no other Cause nor Crime Now it is before me to speak something in answer to this Question for the Simples sake who are easily led aside by the cunning Craftiness of Men and taking all for Truth that their Leaders say and it hath been the Leaders of the People in Ages past that caused them to Err drawing them from the Annointing within to Observations without to expect the Kingdom there being an easie way and more pleasing to the Flesh is most taking drawing after them the greatest Number I speak of them that profess the Truth I say What is Conformity Answ Conformity is a MONSTER conceived by the great Whore MYSTERY BABYLON the Mother of Harlots A MONSTER because of its Deformity and Degenerate Birth it can be no other for the Devil is the Father of it I speak of a forced Conformity upon Mens Consciences Christ Jesus never gave any such Command nor left any such Example saying If the Son make you Free then are you Free indeed Neither did he Conform to the Jewish Commands which was often laid to his Charge as Breaking of the Sabbath and the like and they upon better grounds than any since that Day because they were the Commands of the Lord by his Servant MOSES and they saw no further neither did they believe in Christ but we say We believe in his Name and he only is our Lord Lawgiver and the Sheepherd of his Sheep and they hear his Voice and the Voice of a Stranger they will not follow These Sayings are professed by us all but I find but a few in the practise of them I might mention the Doctrine and Practice of the Apostles and a Cloud of Witness both before and since that they neither did command nor compel Conformity in Matters of Conscience relating to Church-Discipline but I shall upon this occasion and at this time rather mention the Truth which we received in the Beginning c. The breaking forth of it was very glorious after so long a Night of Darkness Oh how acceptable was it to my Soul with many more It can never be forgotten How contrary was Compulsion and Driving into Conformity to it Even as Light is contrary to Darkness Oh how did Love and Unity abound amongst us that received the Truth in the Love of it Every one sitting under his own Vine and drinking of the Fountain of Life which the Lord hath opened in us and walking in that Liberty wherewith Christ had set us free Not a word of Conformity or Church-Discipline for many Years and then we loved one another even as Christ had loved us freely for his Names sake and went hand in hand together Serving the Lord and one another and the least Breathing that was after God in any c. How glad were we to see the Faces one of another And how did our Harmony sound in all our Meetings before Conformity was brought in amongst us and cryed up as the only Mark of Christianity Without it neither Hand nor Eye unless with a Frown nor lying nor selling where its Power reacheth This CONFORMITY hath been the cause of Divisions and Persecution in Ages past first Enforce then Persecute and much Innocent Blood hath been shed by it It had its beginning in the Apostacy and is most cryed up in the thichest Darkness beginning at the Pope to the meanest Profession but I did once think it could never have crept in amongst us at least so soon being so many faithful Testimonies against it both in Word and Writing still fresh in our remembrance But the Enemy of the soul of Mankind is buisie NOW as in Ages past with his subtle Devices to beguile the Souls of the Simple transforming himself into an Angel of Light and putting upon him the finest Dress in the purest Profession that the Sons of Men can make mention of to draw away the Heart from the Lord from waiting upon him for the purest Stream of Life and Love into the dirty Puddle of Conformity finding it the easiest way of Entrance having many specious Pretences and fine Coverings Oh! my Heart is grieved for it and I am often bowed down before my God because of these Things and I am not alone but there is a little Remnant with me whose Names are written in the Book of Life and whose Garments are washed in the Blood of the Lamb and wears the Seamless Coat that is woven from the top to the bottom And these things lay upon me to clear my Consoience I could not keep silence any longer that I might be clear of the Blood of all Men having not long to be on the Stage of this World I might lay down my Head in Peace as many of my Brethren have done before me who finished their Course with the same Testimony J. A. The 3d. of the 2d Month 1679. CHAP IIII. Richard Hubberthorn his Reasons against Impositions Francis Howgil his Discovery of Innovations George Fox's Old Doctrine and New Practice A Huntingtonshire Certificate Observation on G. F. his Antient Doctrine Having in great measure by these three foregoing Chapters cleared three Points under consideration By the First Shewing that as we desired Liberty of Conscience from the Magistrates so we allowed it amongst our selves to each other By the Second G. F. his Grant or Order or the Womens Charter granted by G. F. for their Rule and Government in their distinct Meetings and the Grant and Confirmation thereof by the Yearly-Meeting Anno 75. Whereby Liberty of Conscience is wholly excluded and a Degeneracy and an Apostacy from our antient Testimony manifested By the Third a Proof of Persecution as far as our Power reaches in the Case of J. A. whereby the Fruit of such Synods is manifest I am now come to shew how the antient Testimony of Friends and the Writings of many moderate Professors and Bishops and Blessed Martyrs which stand as Witnesses against the Proceedings of G. F. and those of Party with him mentioned in the two last Chapters Richard Hubborthorn renders seven Reasons why no Impositions ought to be upon any Mans Conscience by any but the Lord alone to have the Government thereof Two of which I shall only transcribe for brevities sake See his Works p. 188. First Because no Man can perswade the Conscience of another either what God is or how to worship him but only the Spirit which God hath given to instruct Man Secondly Because to Impose any thing upon another Mans Conscience either to Do or Practise is not To do unto another as he would have another do unto him And therefore is contrary to Christs Doctrine These two
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
Wife replyed That she did not question but that if he did but speak to the Justices they would hear him and he said He would and much Favour he shewed her c. One Instance more I will mention of this Nature and that is in April 78. as I remember my self and four or five Friends of our Town were convict of Recusancy and Persecuted in order to seize our Free-Hold And upon a time I being at Norwich on the account of my Trade when I came home my Wife told me that here had been the Sheriffe and his Bayliffs and had Impanelled a Jury of Inquiry of the value of our Estates who stood Convicted as aforesaid in this Town and the Jury had found us some more some less yet moderately as not knowing indeed what we had clear and further they were not oblieged to find so I forthwith wrote a Letter to Sir Henry North Knight so called who lived in our Town being at London and acquainted him with the nature of their Proceedings and instead of saying to me You are deluded Why do you not Conform to our Church-Disciplin c I say instead of this he took such care as that not only my self and those Friends of our own Town but he took off all our Friends that we knew of who stood in the same Jeopardy in these Parts of Suffolk so that at present I Bless God we live a quiet Life and free from Disturbance And Blessed be the Lord for putting it into the Hearts of the Rulers and Men in Authority to shew Mercy when otherwise they have Power enough to Oppress and Spoil many Families And I further desire that a Blessing may rest upon all such who Act in Moderation and are willing to do as they would be done by for all men would have their Liberty there are none would be Impos'd upon contrary to their Faith and Perswasion c. And now I shall turn to the Bishops of the Protestant-Churches and do not question but shall make it appear that they their Power considered and that the Laws are on their Sides are more moderate use not that Severity to the Members of their Church although they are severe enough too that George Fox and those of Party with him use to the poor Quakers if they chance to transgress their Traditions c. As for Example J. B. in the City of London who is a Man of a good Conversation and one whom they say themselves they have no evil thing to lay to his Charge other than for selling the Book of W. Rogers his putting forth Entituled The Christian-Quaker Distinguished from the Apostate and Innovator c. I do believe the Book did anger them sorely for it Detected G. Fox of Errour and what if I should say It Detected him of that which is worse to wit Lying and False Accusing of the Innocent Namely John Story behind his Back yea and there are many Witnesses stand ready to prove it I say this Book did so anger them that Christopher Taylor called the very Title Blasphemy and the reproachful Words that he and others called W. R. for putting it forth are intollerable no Bishop ever did the like that I read of that are of the Protestant-Churches For Dr. Stillingfleet may write his Opinion of Schisme and Separation and Alsop may answer that and write his Opinion of Imposition and by both their discoussing of these Points and divers others the Standers by may reap Advantage and the Magistrate Information Here is no Excommunication pronounced to either of these Sons of the Church neither are the Booksellers that sell these Controversial Books no such matter for if the Bishop of London should Excommunicate all Booksellers in London that sell any Book that speaks any thing against the Common-Prayer against Marrying with a Ring that speakes any thing against the Bishop of Canterbury c. he should have work enough and thankless work too and perhaps no Bookseller nay in all probability not one Bookseller in London Un-Excommunicated c. But however J. B. is Excommunicated Ipso Facto for nothing else but selling the said Book of W. Rogers c. A Coppy of I.B. his Excommunication here followeth From the Monthly-Meeting at Devonshire-House the 4th of the 11th Month 1681. VVHereas there have been some unruly Spirits gone out from Truth and the Unity of the Blessed Power of God which hath gathered us to be a People Writing Printing and Publishing things hurtful and prejudicial to Truth by Corrupting of Peoples Minds tending also to draw them into disesteem of many of the Lords Servants whose Faithfulness hath manifestly appeared amongst us with whom our Unity stands to our mutual Satisfaction and Refreshment Upon consideration of these things we find our selves Conscientiously concerned to take notice of something of this kind befallen J. B. who was formerly a Member of this Meeting who having dispersed into several Parts of this Nation divers of those pernitious Books in Print wrote by W. R. called The Christian-Quaker Distinguished from the Apostate and Innovator c. Which have manifestly been proved in many material Passages Erronious and False both in the Historical and Doctrinal Part of it was privately and publickly reproved for that unrighteous Action by several Friends at divers times according to Gospel-Order as they found it on their Spirits from the Lord as also admonished against it yet after all the Labour and Travel Friends have had on his Behalf being desirous if possible to reclaim him out of the Enemies Snare into which he is fallen he hath from time to time resisted their Advice and Counsel So that now we being wholly clear having used our utmost Endeavour in the good Will of God to reclaim him as aforesaid do not only testifie against that SPIRIT which hath as aforesaid led him into that disorderly Practice but also against him while joyned thereunto nor can we have Spiritual Communion or Fellowship with him until unfeignedly he shall return unto the Truth by Condemnation of that Work and Spirit which in the Love of God we exhort him to and desire that for him a Place of Repentance may be found Now if I thought the Bishop of London would take Example against the poor Booksellers in London for dispersing any Book that speaks against the Cannons and Constitutions of the Church of England the Rites and Ceremonies of the Church of England I should then repent that I have transcribed this Antichristian Piece of Work But as the Jews were more zealous for their own Traditions than for the Scripture and the Papists more zealous for their heap of Ceremonies than for Holy Scriptures as Dr. Lloyd in his Sermon Preached November the 5th 1678 at St. Martins in the Fields p. 4. 9. 16. sufficiently makes appear and which I was purposed to transcribe as pertinent to my present occasion but Brevity constrains me to leave it out it being somewhat large Even so it is manifest that the Contrivers of
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
a rational Creature if I do I must necessarily be a Judge for my self for if I am guided by another judgment than my own as that I think best for me there is as clear an act of my judgment in so doing as if I were punctually directed by my own This we call knowledge in men God hath given to taste Principles and Notions as the Mouth tasteth Meats take away once the use of this taste and you take away the noblest accomplishment of a man You make a man created in honour if he do not understand like a Beast that perisheth as the Eye guideth the Body so the judgment of the Understanding guides the Soul force a man once from the use of this and you betray him into a dark Chaos of slavery and bruitish subjection and render him an object fit for the same scorn and contempt that Sampson found when he had lost his two Eyes By these things we may plainly discern that the necessity of every mans being a Judge for himself in divine things is grounded both upon Scripture and Reason and that 't is not only lawful but a positive duty God expects the performance of and obliges every man living to And this being so for any Power on Earth to compel men to believe or practise contrary to their Judgment and Conscience must needs be both unlawful and unreasonable Lastly The ill success Force and Imposition in Religion hath ever had and which it hath a necessary tendency to have may very well make us out of love with it there can possibly be no other effect of it but either to debauch men in their Consciences or bring violent Persecutions upon their Persons and Estates If the first those that impose bring a guilt upon themselves and partake of the sin as being the great occasion and causers of it So did Jeroboam when he made Israel to sin the guilt stuck to himself as well as to the People If the second men are sufferers from men for doing their duty to God and part with their Estates because they cannot with their Integrity and in this case the Punishment falls upon the Sufferers but the Guilt still upon the Imposer Either a Magistrate imposing in Religion is to be obey'd in whatsoever he commands or not if he be we shall then excuse those that obey'd Jeroboam and cast reproach upon all the Martyrs that have suffered for refusing the sinful commands of Superiors If they be not there must be then some judgment when they are to be obey'd and when not and that can be no other than every mans own Conscience And if every mans own Conscience and the light of it is to be his Rule by which he is to judge then whenever I refuse to obey a command in Religion because my Conscience tells me 't is sinful I am plainly punished for doing my Duty and following that Light God hath given to guide me Nay suppose my Conscience be erroneous 't is confessed by all 't is a sin not to follow it till better informed and if so I am sure 't is likewise a sin to force me out of it Conscientia quamvis errans semper ligat ita ut ille peccat qui agit contra Conscientiam quoniam agit contra voluntatem Dei quamvis non materialiter vere tamen formaliter interpretive Ames de cas Con. If we look upon this practice in the Roman Church where 't is in its Meridian what a Massacre of Souls hath it made What Darkness and miserable Ignorance is grown up in the Laity by it And amongst the Clergy what Pride Corruption and Tyranny Where it has been practised in the Reformed Churches it has introduced nothing but Divisions and Animosities and the sad effects of them those who have been freed from the Roman Imposition and enlightened in the Protestant Truths being less able to endure Imposition than any being by their departure from Rome furnished with Principles that do wholly overthrow any such Power by whomsoever exercised How little hurt would variety of Opinions about Religion do in the World if it were not for this What hurt could any mans Opinion do me if he used no other Weapons than Reasoning and Discourse 'T is the Imposing Opinions makes them pernicious and troublesom to the World and makes every Party strive to get the Magistrate on their side that they may suppress the rest and turn Religion into a worldly Interest Religion troubles no body as Christ left it but as men make it By this practice men of differing judgments in Religion can never live together in the World nor enjoy the great advantages they might afford one to another in civil concerns and in Religion too so far as they agree because their Consciences will not let them come up to the practice of an imposed Uniformity in all things How different from this were the thoughts of Paul he bids us joyn together so far as we agree and in other matters wherein we do not agree to wait till God shall reveal himself to us What an unreasonable thing is it to oblige Christians either to suffer or follow all the changes made by human Powers in Religion upon what worldly or political ends soever to have the Conscience floating about at the Magistrates pleasure as his property which is only God's peculiar Those that lived in the days of Henry the 8th Edward the 6th Q. Mary and Q. Elizabeth had occasion enough to experience this who must either have withstood a conformable practice with suffering or else surely have been sometimes out of the way But that which should put us perfectly out of all charity with the use of Force in Religion is when we consider the true Worship of the Gospel can never be established by it You may establish a false Worship or a formal outside Worship but never make such Worshippers as Christ speaks of when he saith The true Worshippers under the Gospel are such who Worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth You may establish a false Worship that is a Worship of mens appointing for if they be but outwardly obey'd in what they institute they look no farther Jeroboam's business was to keep the People from Jerusalem if they came but to Dan and Bethel he cared for no more he little minded the Religion he had set up for he made Priests of the meanest of the People his end was Political to bring men into subjection to himself You may also establish a formal Worship you may by force make men hypocritically conform to the out-side of true Worship you may force men to the Sacraments but without they be qualified with those Praerequisites God requires instead of performing an acceptable Service you force them to commit a great Sin That you cannot by force establish the right Gospel-Worship appears by these two things 1st 'T is a spiritual Worship and 2dly 'T is a voluntary Worship First 'T is a Spiritual Worship there is no one
c. got the Keys only in that little Cabinet of Council Ellis Hooks his Chamber Viz. The Second-days Meeting in London What Have they got a Pattent for all Gospel Priviledges Is all Power lookt up Viz. In the Church I mean a Yearly Meeting a Second-days Meeting a Quarterly-Meeting I mean a Meeting of Men and a Meeting of Women apart from the Men. Must we give up all our Concerns both Spiritual and Temporal to the Judgment of the Mens and Womens-Meetings as they say in Barbadoes What Shall we not manifest the Mischief of Impositions Shall they Preach False Doctrine and teach for Doctrine the Traditions of Men and shall we be afraid to reprove them Vnmask and discover them for fear of a few Invecttives No but we will slight them as honest Bennet did the Papists Curse and still hold maintain and assert Christian-Liberty which we in the Beginning pleaded for and admitted the same to each other in Things which God by his Servants the Prophets and Apostles had not set a Limit believing that as the Kingdom of Heaven stood not in Meats or in Drinks nor Carnal Ordinances so did it not come by Outward Observation but that as many as fear God and keep his Holy Commandments are fenced and secured from hurt by Threats and Censures of Men. For in a steady Belief of Christs Word and in confidence of his Power and Protection let all truly Conscientious Christians trust who said Mat. 5.6.7 Chapters which contain his excellent Sermon on the Mount That as many as hear these Sayings of Mine and do them he it is that built on a Rock And yet no Womens Meetings set up by Him or so much as counselled to in the manner G. F. and the New Zealots have devised And he that hears my Sayings and doth them not it is he that will find himself uppn a Sandy Foundation Although he conforms never so exastly to G. Fox his new Model of Government Here is the distinction made by Christ who is Head of the true Spiritual Church His Mystical Body made up of Living Members universally scattered in all Countries Languages Professions and People who fearing God and being faithful to that Discovery they have of him are and I believe shall be accepted of him And the largest Commission that ever Christ gave his Desciples and Apostles was Mat. 28.18 19 20. Where he said Go teach all Nations Baptizing c. bidding them observe whatever I have commanded you Mark have commanded He did not commit the Peoples Observation to what the Apostles should command no no neither did Paul desire to assume it but said Follow us as we follow Christ c. But what I have commanded you that bid them observe for all Power is committed to me and I will have the Government of my Chozen People and since they have such an Esteem of this my visible Appearance by reason of the Miracles and Wonders I do I have told them that it is expedient for me to go away and then he that 's with them shall be in them in a more large manner as they wait for my Appearance in their Hearts And as many as have regard to the Commands of Christ and live in Subjection to Christ their Head they are in Unity tho they may disobey what George Fox hath prescribed for he is not the Prophet that we are to hear in all things no no Christ Jesus is he Blessed and Magnified be his most Holy and Powerful Name for ever Saith my Soul Amen Now forasmuch as there is a Possibility through the Assistance of Christs Holy Spirit which is given by Measure to us to enable us to observe and do those his most excellent Sayings which is as Athanasius saith in his Apology the Perfection of a Christian I would ask Whether he may be capable to be in Vnity with the Church Body and Spouse of Christ although he may not observe George Fox his Orders VIZ. Not submit to the new Order of the Women But if George Fox and his Party shall stiffly stand to it That the Women-Meeting is of Divine Institution and therefore no Conformity no Unity I then would ask them Whether Christ was deficient either in his delivering himself to that Honoured Auditory or in his Memory And if in either then in which did his Deficiency consist And who did he constitute in his room to supply that Defect Which no Christian can admit that there was any Defect c. Whether a visible Head namely George Fox or some other to whom we should have an Eye at whose Mouth we should receive the Law in these Gospel Times If you say No as you dare not say otherwise then I make this reply not at all granting a Deficiency in Christ Jesus That then his Spirit or a Manifestation of it is given to every man to profit withal By which Rule I have my proper Gift and to my own Master I shall stand or fall Who art thou then that Judgest another Mans Servant Is not thy Name and Appearance Antichrist what Pretence so ever thou may'st have I know thou cryest up Holy Orders Good Orders Church Government with abundance of fair Pretences and Specious Shews as if thou wert the very Spouse of Christ and intendedst some special Reformation But alas thou art Jezabel that painted Harlot who art gone a Whoring from thy Husband decking and priding thy self with his Jewels Ornamenns fitting like a QVEEN and saying I AM AND THERE IS NONE BESIDES ME. But Blessed be the Lord the Light hath discovered thee and made thee manifest wherefore return and repent that thy Backslidings may be healed And this is my Desire for you all who begun in the Spirit decrying all Lifeless Forms and Traditions of Men Outward Rules and Directories Imposition and Compulsion Formality and Idolatry But Alas the Scale is turned the Scheme is changed for these Things which you formerly testified against you are now found in the Practise of Building again the Things you once destroyed thereby making your selves Transgressors c. I shall conclude this Preface in the Words of William Penn elsewhere c. Having thus Historically Introduced my Discourse not out of ill will to any God knows but in perfect Love to all that the very truth of Things may be brought to Light in order to a more clear Understanding of that Controversy which is now on foot c. This with much Sincerity I do dedesire that Truth may Triumph over Formality and Conviction be the ground of our Conformity Francis Bugg Milden-hall the 11th of the 1st Month. 1681. CHAP. I. Treats of Principles of Truth Received and Believed in the Beginning with an Epistle about Marriage and other Things not as a Form to walk by but as Advice suitable to the Nature and Tendency of the Testimony of Truth Received and Believed c. THat in the Beginning the Inshining Light of Christ Jesus by his Heavenly Spiritual Appearance in the Hearts and Souls of
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
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
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
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
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
in Authority and of their hearing and doing Justice and Intimated as if their Moderation in some Cases had exceeded whatever yet hath been manifested from G. F. G.W. and those of Party with them I now deem it reasonable to give a Demonstration of it lest it should seem incredible c. I shall begin with a Coppy of a Letter I wrote to Edward Turner Judge of Ely Assizes and the rest of the Kings Justices VIZ. A few words presented in the Love and Fear of the Lord to the Judge of the Assizes and Justices serious Consideration by us who have been Sufferers about three Years only and alone for keeping of a good Conscience c. As for our refusing to Swear we would have you all to understand that it is not out of Obstinacy or Wilfulness that we do refuse or as though we had any Reserve to our selves c. with pritty much on that Subject of not Swearing we being that Assizes to be Premunir'd which for Brevity I here omit But see the Closure and the Effect that followed Thus in short have we endeavoured to satisfie you by shewing you the Cause of our not Swearing which if you weigh our Sufferings in an equal Ballance you will find that you have dealt very hardly by us in keeping of us in Prison one Year after another In which time of Confinement one of the Servants of the Lord Thomas Richardson hath finished his Course and dyed a Witness of Jesus and a Prisoner for his Name-sake And the last Summer the Prison being close was so thronged with Prisoners that it was Gods great Mercy to preserve us from the Contagious Disease of the Plague Thus much in short may serve as a Motive to stir you up to let the Oppressed go free From us who subscribe our Names George Thorrowgood John Ives Francis Bugg William Custance Clement Crabb And others The 10th of the 11th Month 1666. This Letter we sent to Judge Turner by a Woman Friend and the Judge bid his Clark read it which he did deliberately and he leaning upon the Table heard it all and instead of telling us we were deluded the next day or the day after released us all And when our Meetings in Ely were disquieted by the Pesecution of the Act against Conventicles when it came first in Force where I then lived I then again wrote to Edward Turner when he came the Summer Assizes 1670. And he hearkned and heard our Complaint in our Sufferings and after we sent that Letter I do not remember that ever a Warrant was granted during the time of that Storm and because the Letter is short and that his Example may be of Service I may transcribe the most of it which is as followeth Viz. To Edward Turner Judge of Ely Assizes These FRiend as our manner hath been so it is once more in our Hearts to lay before thee in short our Oppressive Wrong and Injury which we have met withal from some Magistrates in Ely Knowing thou art not a Stranger to the Letter nor nature of the Law lately made against Seditious Sectaries who under a Colour of Tender Consciences may contrive Mischief c. That so thou mayst hear consider and do us Justice as in other Cases we perceive thou art very willing to do yea though to Thieves and Murtherers by searching out the Truth in every Testimony or Evidence before thou passest Judgment c. Now as for us who are in Scorn called Quakers who meet together to worship God in Spirit and Truth Not under Colour but in the Reality of our Hearts the Lord is our Witness Whether we be the People against whom the late Act was made or no remaines a Question Seeing in the Preamble of the said Act it is said to be For the suppressing of such who under Pretence of Tender Consciences may contrive Insurrections c. Or words to that purpose which we are clear of Blessed be the Lord having not the least Evil Intention in our Heart against the King nor the Present Government Established But notwithstanding we are clear from the Facts therein provided against and so consequently free from the Punishment therein prescribed for the Fact is the Cause of the Penalty Yet notwithstanding there are many are willing so largely to construe it as to stretch it to us having nothing whereof justly to accuse us save concerning the Law and Worship of our God and whether the Justices be informed against us we certainly cannot tell Yet this we know that whereas the Law says We should be first Convicted We never were so much as brought before them to hear our Accusers and answer for our selves a Priviledge not denyed Thieves and Murtherers nor us in some Places where they have any respect to Justice And thus are we disinabled to go on with our several Imployments through the false Construction of those who are not willing To do as they would that others should do to them By whose meanes our Cloth both Wooling and Linning our Stuffs our Peuter and Brass Boots and Shoes are taken out of our Shops we being of several Trades yea our Feather-beds from under us with other Bedding and Houshold Goods And all this severity extended towards us altogether without any just Cause ministred on our Parts Oh that ever Judgment should thus be turned backward as we have just Cause to say it is and Justice find no Place in the Hearts of those who profess Christianity surely if Turks Heathens and Pagans should be suffered to deal thus with us it would be no other Cruelty than what we should expect at their hands But for our own Country-men our own Neighbours professing all one God Christ and Scripture only differing in some things to deal thus with us contrary to Justice contrary to Law contrary to Reason and Neighbourly Affection Oh surely Will not these Proceedings these Rendings and Tearings Selling Goods not half to their value laying Families Wast and Desolate be a Cause for other Nations to have Christianity in Derision Much more might be said of this Nature but being loath to be tedious at present conclude greatly desiring that both thou and others would lay these Things to Heart which are writ in Love and in the same sent from the People in Ely called Quakers This Letter was given him he likewise ordered his Clark to read it and that in the presence of several of the Magistrates who had Persecuted us so that one would think it might have been the worse for us but from that time no more Warrants as above observed Likewise about three years after many of us were Sufferers in this Town of Milden-hall at which time I wrote a Letter to Judge Hales who was a very courteous man who received my Letter at my Wifes Hand and read it and said Truly Sweetheart the Execution of this Law is left with the Justices and is out of our Power but if I could do you any good I would My
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