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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A47144	A Farther account of the great divisions among the Quakers in Pensilvania, &c. as appears by another of their books lately come over from thence, intituled, Some reasons and causes of the late separation, that hath come to pass at Philadelphia, betwixt us, called by some of the seperate meeting, and others that meet apart from us : more particularly opened, to vindicate and clear us and our testimony in that repsect, viz. : that the seperation lieth at their door, and they, and not we, are justly chargeable with it : with an apology for the present publication of these things.	Budd, Thomas, 1648-1699.; Furnis, Henry.; Keith, George, 1639?-1716.	1693 (1693)	Wing K166; ESTC R16901	19,794	24

was declared That G. K.'s Doctrine concerning Christ within and Christ without to be One Lord Jesus Christ was true and that therefore W. S. was blame worthy and yet after all this W. S. persisted in his false Charge against G. K. and hath been greatly excused and supported by many that this hath given such deep Ground of Offence to all of us with other things concurring that because to this day nothing hath been done it being now above a Year since Complaint was made against W. S. by these of the other side who meet in a Separation from us either to bring W. S. or T. F. to Condemnation but suffer them to continue to Preach and Pray in their Meetings therefore we do justly judge That the whole Meeting that meet in a Separation from us that owneth these Men and tollerateth them in their great Error and Trespasses are guilty with them and accountable for their Errors and therefore according to Christs Command recorded in the holy Scripture we ought to be separate from them altho ' as hath been sufficiently proved they began the Separation and they having begun it we cannot in Conscience unite in Meetings with them here at Philadelphia until they give satisfaction to Truth in these weighty things The Second Cause of the Separation which also we lay at their Door is That whereas in the Monthly Meeting in the first Month last a Proposition being made to change the Meetings both at the Centre and in the Town and some being for the said Change and others against it and having good Reasons why they were against the said Change yet a Party in the Meeting contrary to our declared Mind and Assent assumed a Power over them that dissented to change the said Meetings a thing we have not known formerly allowed by Friends any where in their Monthly Meetings that one Party suppose equal or greater in Number than the rest should assume a Power to appoint or change Places and Times of Meetings without the Consent of their Brethren for things of that Nature especially use always to be done with unanimous Consent and not by Plurality of Votes which is not the way of Truth and because we were not free to stand to the Arbitrary and rash Determination as to that Change therefore we met at the ordinary Meeting-place as formerly practised and they began the Separation in keeping a publick Meeting in the Afternoon at the Bank contrary to our declared Sense and Mind only some of us met at a private Family Meeting in the Evening at the House of G. K. that could be counted no seperate Meeting for that day And afterwards we finding they were resolved to continue in their way of Separation and that some had endeavoured to lock us out from Meeting at the Bank in the Forenoon this put us upon seeking a new place to meet in in case we had been disappointed of the other and tho' some of us did declare our sincere Intention and Sense that it were good but to have one Publick Meeting on first Days to end about the second hour and the remaining part to be used for private Meetings in Families yet their keeping up their publick Afternoons Meeting hath given us just occasion at present to have a Publick Afternoons Meeting as well as they for we hope they shall not have any cause to say against us that we are short of them in our Zeal for good Meetings Things being thus far advanced and the Separation being begun and carried on so far by them and justly chargeable upon them some of them having desired us to make some Proposals or Expedients for healing the Breach and uniting again as formerly after some time we sent some Proposals to them that we were satisfied in our Consciences were most equal and just and such as the Truth required of us but they are so far from being satisfied with most of them that they have the more blamed us some insinuating as if we had transgressed the Law but we are not afraid of any such thing provided true Liberty of Conscience according to the just and due bounds of it be allowed to us and for our part we are so well satisfied that all our Proposals to them in that Paper signed by Fifteen of us are just and equal that if they please we shall freely consent to their Printing of them The sum of which Proposals doth principally consist in these two things first That all such of the Ministry among them whom we can prove Guilty of the Preaching false Doctrine or of falsly accusing the Innocent or excusing and defending the Guilty and contending against some sound Principles of Truth in Meetings appointed for hearing these Differences may be brought to Cnviction and Acknowledgment of their Error and Trespasses And 2dly Seeing by a marvelous Providence that hath discovered it that our Monthly Meetings bere-away have consisted of a mixt Number of some Believers and some Unbelievers or of some Men unsound in the Christian Faith that we agree together to put Robert Barclay's Doctrine well approved of by the best of our Friends in England and particularly by G. F. and G. W. into Practice in his Book called The Anarchy of the Ranters c. see § 4. p. 32 33. and § 6. p. 48 49 which is To declare our Faith and Perswasion in certain Fundamental Doctrines of the Christian Faith and Religion that by the same as well as by a good Life and Conversation it may be known who are quallified to be Members of our Church and that every one owned to be a Member of our Church declare his Faith and Perswasion in every one of these Fundamentals which is a secondary Bond of our Union the Spirit being the principal which may be easily done by answering to some plain Questions with Yea or Nay And now a Third and main Reason that we give for this Separation well warranted both by Scripture Testimony and command of Christ Recorded in Scripture and the truth of it sealed to us by the Spirit of Truth in our Hearts that whereas there are divers of them guilty of most gross Unchristian Errors against the Fundamental Doctrines of the Christian Faith who are Publick Preachers among them and whole Ministry they sit under and some encourage them others tollerate and suffer them and that others even of their Preachers are guilty of other gross Errors and other Trespasses that render them altogether unqualified for the Ministry and to uphold or tollerate them is to bring Reproach to Truth and our Holy Prosession and to the Body of our faithful Friends with all whom we remain in dear Unity in all parts of the World hoping that Faithful Friends and Brethren that have an impartial account and information of us and do rightly and duely consider and examin the Righteousness of our Cause will encourage us therein to the Disappointment of such who affirm the contrary but we being principally supported and encouraged by

Adjourned than hath been at many Monthly Meetings here that have been approved And a 4th Reason was That the matter of Difference being a matter of Doctrine and betwixt Friends of the Ministry a Monthly Meeting could not be proper Judges of it To this it was answered That the Difference being a matter of Fact and not a matter of Doctrine that could be called in Question by any Judicious Christian and the Accusation being made to the Monthly Meeting they were proper Judges of it and if the Difference had been a matter of Doctrine we did and do assert That the Monthly Meeting to wit consisting of a considerable Number of Friends of the Ministry and other Judicious Friends were proper Jueges of it but to lodge the Judgment wholly in Friends of the Ministry and to deny all other Friends to have a share in the Judgment even when the Difference is in a Matter of Doctrine we judge is an Encroachment upon our Christian Liberty and savours too much of the Church of Rome as also that other case pressed too indiscreetly at the Quarterly Meeting when some that were known to be Parties against G. K. did require of him his Submission to the Judgment of the Meeting he answered as we judge soberly and Christianly That he would submit to the Judgment of the Spirit of Truth in Friends but to give an absolute Submission he could not to any Society of Men whatsoever for absolute Submission implyeth absolute Infallibility that no Society of Men pretendeth unto but the Church of Rome and therefore to introduce it among us would be Rank Popery at which some prejudiced against G. K. were greatly dissatisfied and one took out his Pocket Book and writ down some words of G. K. to that effect before he had finished the full Sentence which we judge was very unfair as well as unusual But whereas some from this would infer as if G. K. denied any positive Power of Judgment to a true Church or Meeting of true Christians met together in the Name of Christ where he is present in the midst of them G. K. gave no Ground for any such inference for he doth readily grant That a true Christian Assembly hath a positive Power of Judgment when met together in his Name and that he is present in the midst of them and is felt and witnessed to guide them in true Judgment But we all know that it is possible at times that Partiality ond Prejudice and Annimosities may prevail in Meetings that may pretend to meet in the Name of Christ and also to have him present in the midst of them and yet where such things prevail Christ is not in the midst known to give true Judgment or to guide Men to give it as Friends Letter to us from London expresly declareth And therefore we judge That no absolute Submission should be required of any Member to the Judgment of that Society he belongeth unto in a matter of Truth or Christian Doctrine or wherein the Conscience is concerned for it is time enough to submit to the Judgment of Brethren when a Man hath heard it and has brought it to the Ballance and Test of that which giveth true Judgment in every Particular that is in a quallified Frame to understand it even as Christ said As I hear I judge John 5.30 And if any be stiff and Refractory to the true Judgment of the Christian Society he belongeth unto they may freely proceed to put into Practice Gospel Discipline against him without requiring his Submission as it is in Worldly Judicatories But if any say At least it was yielded in the Quarterly Meeting that the Adjourned Meeting in the School-house was a true Meeting but an Appeal was made from that Monthly Meeting to the Quarterly Meeting and the Quarterly Meeting offering to give a new Judgment in the Case and in order thereto ordered G. K. to withdraw he refusing so to do hindered that no Judgment could be given But to this it was and is answered That there could be no Appeal from that Monthly Meeting to the Quarterly Meeting because most of the Quarterly Meeting did consist of the Friends that gave the Judgment at the Monthly Meeting and such as were over were but a few in comparison except some Country Friends that did not care to meddle in that matter and so to appeal from the Monthly Meeting to the Quarterly Meeting was in effect but to appeal from the Monthly Meeting to a small part or Number of Persons in the Quarterly Meeting the most of which and the most leading Men were known to be prejudiced against G. K. and Parties against him and G. K. did offer very fairly in naming Seven or Eight Persons that we know were his opposite Parties and had been mainly Instrumental at former Meetings about a Year ago and at the time of the Year●y Meeting to hinder Justice to be done and true Judgment to be past concerning bringing W. S. to Conviction and Condemnation of his Error That if they would go out he would go out also but they who were his manifest opposite Parties and had manifestly appeared from time to time to excuse and defend VV S. and blame G. K. for his sound Christian Doctrin that he hath Preached among us refusing to go sorth we are satisfied G. K. did well not to go forth so as to submit to the Judgment of these Men who had sufficiently shown their Partiality against him and some of which had unjustly accused him as can be well proved Besides things being duly considered there was no reason that G. K. should have gone sorth either at that Meeting or any other for G. K. was no otherwise concerned in that Difference with W. S. and T. F. than all faithful Friends and the whole Meeting ought to have been concerned to wit to defend one of the greatest Principles of the Christian Faith viz. That the Man Christ Jesus who was Crucified did rise from the Dead and is now in being And that Faith in him is necessary to make Men true Christians And therefore not G. K. alone nor principally but Christ himself and all his faithful Followers are concerned in the same and in none of these Meetings was any Charge of any Trespass proved against G. K. nor so much as brought under the Consideration of the Body of the Meeting only one or two particular Persons falsly accused him but the thing was never brought to any due Tryal And here let it be noted That both the Meeting of Friends of the Ministry at R. E.'s refusing to answer G. K's Complaint against the dishonour done to Christ Jesus that W. S. was guilty of so as to bring him to any Conviction or Condemnation of his Error and also the Meetings at the House of S. C. and A. M. at the time of the Yearly Metting wholly neglecting to bring the said W. S. to Conviction and Condemnation of his Error altho' at the last of six Meetings it

A farther ACCOUNT OF THE Great Divisions AMONG THE QUAKERS In PENSILVANIA c. As appears by Another of their Books lately come over from thence Intituled Some Reasons and Causes of the late Separation That hath come to pass at Philadelphia betwixt us called by some the Seperate Meeting And others that Meet apart from us More particularly Opened to Vindicate and clear us and our Testimony in that respect viz. That the Seperation lieth at their Door and They and not We are justly chargeable with it WITH An Apology for the present Publication of these Things Rom. 16.17 Now I beseech you brethren mark them which cause Divisions and Offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned and avoid them 1 Tim. 6.3 If any man teach otherwise and consent not to wholsom words even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ and to the Doctrine which is according to Godliness c. v. 5. from such turn away 2 Cor. 6.14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers c. and v. 17. Wherefore come out from ●●●ng them and be ye seperate saith the Lord and touch not the unclean thing and I will receive you c. Rev. 2.20 Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee because thou sufferest that woman Jezabel which calleth her self a Prophetess to Teach c. London Printed for I. Dunton at the Raven in the Poultrey 1693. An Apology for the present Publication of these Things WE are sorry that we should have occasion to publish such Account of things in the open View of all who may read the following Account or hear of it that may be occasion of Grief to many especially who had better Thoughts of some here-away than the said Account doth give of them and it is too probable the Enemies of Truth and of all true Religion will seek to take Advantage there-from and think themselves greatly gratified thereby so as to rejoyce the more in their Iniquity and glory over the sincere Lovers and Professors of Truth But as on the one hand we have been deeply afflicted with Sorrow to find some so highly pretending to Truth and to the inward and immediate Teachings and Leadings of the Spirit of Truth which they have greatly professed and some of them have Preached for some years so very Ignorant and unsound in some of the Chief and Fundamental Principles of the Christian Faith and Doctrine and so resolute and confident in their Ignorance and Errour that they have from time to time refused and rejected good and seasonable Information and means of Instructions that have been in Love held forth unto them partly in publick Testimonies and partly in private Meetings and Conferences So after our great and deep Affliction of Sorrow on their account and for the sake of many simple people that owned them as Ministers of Christ whom we saw to be greatly hurt blinded and darkened with them but not further enlightned by means of them notwithstanding of their great and high pretences to Light and Life and to the Spirit and Power of God inwardly revealed we can and do sincerely say on the other hand God hath greatly comforted us and we have great Joy and Consolation in the sence of his Love revealed and sealed to us by his holy Spirit in our hearts being perswaded by the same that according to his Soveraign Wisdom Goodness and Power and great Faithfulness he will make these very things to wit the Discoveries that some men have lately given of themselves to work for good to many and we may sincerely and uprightly say They and not We have discovered and made publick these things for when they heard true and sound Doctrin preached cencerning Christ and the true Faith in him c. they have whispered against it and publickly rejected it which yet hath been greatly refreshing and edifying to us and to many others having felt the Power of Christ accompanying that Doctrine and sealing to the Truth of it in our hearts so that not only we have owned and do own the Doctrin that hath been preached among us of late Times by divers that God hath raised up in a zealous Testimony to the Truth of these Things Denied by some and Rejected by others and meanly esteemed by too many as not Necessary but Indifferent Matters to Salvation to be believed though true but also we have owned and do own the Spirit by which that Doctrine hath been zealously delivered unto us being perswaded it was of God and we do not judge so rashly and uncharitably as some do calling that sincere and godly Zeal that hath appeared in some among us in publick Testimonies Anger and Passion But it is no new thing to hear Light called Darkness as well as Darkness called Light and Good Evil and Evil Good We believe and are perswaded that as to the main it hath been and is a sincere godly Zeal that hath been of God's raising in some of our Brethren both to preach in publick Testimonies this Doctrine so much of late contradicted by some and slighted by others and to defend it with great freedom and boldness in private Conferences and Meetings and at some Monthly Meetings notwithstanding of what humane Weaknesses as to Circumstances might at times on great Provocations attend some that we believe God hath forgiven which have been far greater on their side than on ours wherein some of them have exceeded all bounds of Christian Moderation to the pronouncing Dreadful Woes against the Innocent which none of us have done and giving bad Names to such who did not deserve it thus putting the Sheep of Christ into Wolves and Bear-skins to render them odious and to be the Object of Tongue and Heart-Persecution which too much abounds in this part of the World although by the Mercy of God and the good Laws of the Country Persecution by Violence of the Hands is restrained Now that these men have been the Discoverers of their own Ignorance Error and Unbelief is very apparent because they not only dared to whisper against sound Doctrine in private but only in Meetings appointed to hear these Differences and even at Monthly Meetings they have been so bold as to resist sound Doctrine and shew their Unbelief and the Nature of our Meetings being such especially our Monthly Meetings that too many come to them and sit in them hearing all things there said that are not qualified either with Christian Knowledge or Prudence or indeed with humane Discretion as men to conceal things that are not always seasonable to be published insomuch that scarce any thing hath been said or done in a Monthly Meeting for a long time past but it is soon after publickly known And we desire to reverence the Providence of God and to acknowledge his powerful Hand Wisdom and Goodness and great Faithfulness in this Discovery for we are well satisfied it is far better that the hidden things of Esau be searched and found out than to remain hid for

Judgments only one or two signifying their not throughly understanding the Case declared their unclearness but said nothing against it the true Copy whereof doth also hereafter follow And this Judgment also given by the Meeting being refused by a Party in the Quarterly Meeting to let it be entred in the Monthly Meeting Book gave us just Offence because in so doing they refused us to be a Monthly Meeting and denied our Judgments which we are perswaded in our Consciences by the Spirit of Truth was a just Judgment concerning these Men and we could do no less both for the Peace of our Consciences and the honour of Christ Jesus and also for the Credit of our Profession in all parts of the World where such a Profession is made than to give such a Judgment concerning these Men. Note That G. K. had no hand in giving Judgment concerning th●se Persons and Matters but was wholly passive he being the Person accused And also No●e That they which refused our Judgments were present at the said Monthly Meeting but when they perceived things to go contrary to th●ir Mind they with-drew Another thing wherein the said Party both in the Quarterly and Monthly M●●●ing gave us Offence was That whereas great Opposition had been made by them against a late printed Book entituled The Christian Faith of the People of God called Quakers in Rhode Island vindicated c. several Friends presented to this Meeting a Paper desiring the Meeting to be cautious not to oppose the Rhode-Island Friends Testimony to the Truth whereupon after having read and duely considered the said Rhode-Island Sheet Judgment was given by us approving it and VV. B. for Printing it but this also was refused by them to be recorded in the Monthly Meeting Book wherein they have given a Three-fold Instance that they have denied us to be a Meeting A Practice that we never knew before among the People called Quakers that ever such a thing was suffered that one party of a Monthly Meeting should deny their Brethren and leave them and yet afterwards lay claim to them when they themselves made the Separation Here follows a true Copy of the Judgments given at the Monthly Meeting at Philadelphia the 27th Day of the 12 Month 1691 2. which was the Meeting adjourned by consent from the 26th to the 27th day where they met at the School-House as used in cold Seasons WHereas at the last Monthly Meeting Thomas Fitswater openly accused G. Keith with denying the sufficiency of the Light which G. K. denying T. insisted that he could prove the same And coming into this Meeting to prove his Charge brought VV.S. as his Witness whom the Meeting having heard the said T. F. by his own consent left the Matter to the Judgment of this Meeting which they having duly weighed and considered they do unanimously agree and deliver it as their sence That the said T. F. do give forth a Paper of Condemnation of his falsly charging G. K. and to clear the said G. K. of the said Charge As also it is the Sense of this Meeting that the said T. F. do give Satisfaction to the Friends of this Meeting by a Paper of his true Faith and Belief in Christ's Resurrection and as he is now in Heaven in the Glorified Nature of Man which is not the Godhead he having given this Meeting great cause to question his Belief therein and that he forbear offering his Gift by way of Testimony in our publick Meetings until he hath given Friends and G. K. Satisfaction in manner abovesaid Whereas VV. Stockdale having formerly accused G. K. with Preaching Two Christs and the Charge and Matter having been fully Debated at the last Yearly Meeting before publick Friends and others who did deliver it as their Sense and Judgment That the said W. S. had abused G. K. thereby and that G. K. 's Doctrine was right and true in his Preaching Faith in Christ within and Faith in Christ without and the said VV. S. having never given any Satisfaction but at this Monthly Meeting did say That what he had formerly said in his Charge against G. K. he did yet stand by and justifie The Friends of this Meeting do deliver it as their Sense and Judgment That the said W. S. should condemn his Unrighteous Charge publickly by giving forth a Paper of Condemnation for his so doing and that he desist offering his Gift by way of Testimony till he hath so done There being a Paper presented to this Meeting Signed by several Friends in relation to the Rhode-Island Paper entituled The Christian Faith c. recommending the Service of the said Paper c. whereupon the said Paper being read in this Meeting the Friends thereof do unanimously agree and give it as their Sense and Judgment That the said Paper is for the general Good and Service of Truth and Friends in this Country and elsewhere and that it came forth very seasonably for the Vindication of Truth and Friends and the W. B. ought not to be blamed nor discouraged for Printing the same Signed by Order of the Meeting by J. W. The Names of some of the Friends that gave the aforesaid Judgments at the said Monthly Meeting the 27th of the 12 Mon. 1691. George Hutcheson Paul Saunders John Lynam Ralph Jackson Phillip James Richard Hillyard Anthony Sturges Thomas Peart Thomas Tress John Lostus William Harwood James Chick Thomas Morris John M Comb John Hutchins James Cooper Thomas Winn John Hart Anthony Taylor Abel Noble Nicholas Pearce John Furnis John Redman John Williams Ralph Ward William Dyllwin John Duploveys John Budd William Bradford William Paschall Joseph Willc●x Thomas Budd Thomas Hooton Thomas Paschall Humphrey Hodges Henry Furnis Robert Wallis Thomas Jenner William Davis Francis Cook Henry Johnson Joseph Walker Hugh Derborough William Say William Hard But that it may appear how weak and insufficient the Reasons are that were given by the said Party at the Quarterly Meeting why we were no Meeting we think sit to give an Account of them with our Answers to them One Reason was That a Monthly Meeting could not Adjourn and there was no President for it But to this the Clerk of the Meeting answered That he had Minu●es to sh●w a Monthly Meeting had formerly Adjourned and why could not a Monthly Meeting upon a weighty occasion Adjourn as well as any other Meeting Another Reason was That the Clerk and the Monthly Meeting Book was gone But to this it was answered The Monthly Meeting could make or conslitute a Clerk as other Meetings have done for it is the Meeting that makes the Clerk and it is not the Clerk that makes the Meeting A third Reason was There are few of the Friends of the Ministry or Elder Friends and Brethren that were present at the Adourning or at the Meeting Adjourned To this it was answered That there were more both Friends of the Ministry and Elder Friends and Brethren at that Meeting that did Adjourn and met when

the Spirit of Truth in our Hearts that as such Men immediately guilty of these vile Errors some of which no Protestant Christian Society would tolerate neither Episcopal Presbyterian nor Baptist are to be turned away and seperated from so that Society is to be turned away from whoever they be that doth uphold and tollerate them and bring them not to due Conviction and Condemnation after due and sufficient notice is given unto them as there hath been a long time from one Meeting to another as concerning some of them now many Months since past and nothing done effectually to bring them to any Conviction but that it seemeth they are resolved still to support or tollerate them Now the Scriptures that warrant us in this Separation altho' as is said first made by them are these following 2 Cor. 6.14 15 16 17. 1 Tim. 6 3 4 5. 2 Tim. 6.2 3 4 5. Tit. 3.10 Rev. 18.4 2 Thess 3.6 Rom. 16.17 Rev. 2 14 15 20. and the same is expresly confirmed by the Doctrine delivered by R. Barclay in his said Book well approved by good Friends who expresly saith p. 52. We do safely conclude that where a People are gathered into a Belief of the Principles and Doctrines of the Gospel of Christ if any of that People go from their Principles and assert things false and contrary to what they have already received such as stand and abide firm in the Faith have Power by the Spirit of God after they have used Christian endeavours to convince and reclaim them upon their Obstinacy to Seperate from such § 6. p. 52. and § 4. p. 33. he saith The Escapes Faults and Errors of such who own believe and profess the same Doctrine and Principles of Faith with us and go under the same Distinction and Denomination may by our Adversaries justly be imputed unto us if not seasonably and Christianly reproved reclaimed or condemned And therefore we judge that we have equal Ground and Cause of Seperation as well from that whole Society that doth not condemn these Men for their gross Errors in Fundamental Doctrines as we have to seperate from these particular Men seeing they who tollerate them both by Scripture and R. B's Book are guilty with them and the Errors of these Men may be justly imputed to them Note That whereas it hath been said by some That they would have dealt with these Men who have been guilty of those Errors but that G. K. would not go forth being desired to withdraw at the Meeting at R. E 's and at the Quarterly Meeting To this it is answered That G. K. had good reason not to withdraw at both these times because at both these times these who did take upon them to be Judges were his manifest Parties against him and so could not be in Justice his Judges but at the Yearly Meeting he did withdraw at the Meeting 's Desire and yet they did nothing to bring W. S. to Conviction besides it was not G. K. but the Truth it self that the Difference was concerning and they have had sufficient time since to have done it but nothing that we can hear of is done But it is very strange what some have said That no Error in Doctrin or Trespass whatsoever of particular Persons though tollerated by a Society that we were joyned with in the Possession of Truth can be any just cause of Seperation doth equally blame all our Friends in their Seperation from the respective Societies they were formerly joyned in Profession with as some in their Seperation from the Church of Rome others from the Episcopal others from the Presbyterian and Baptists and doth equally blame the Separation of the faithful Martyrs in Q. Mary's days from the Popish Worship in England yet well approved generally by our Friends And surely for People of contrary Principles and Spirits and having a contrary Faith and Perswasion in Fundamental Doctrines to be united together in one Worship would make the greatest Confusion imaginable and be incomparably more like Babylon than the true Church of Christ and so to affirm is contrary to all common Sense of any that hath the least true Notion of a Church that ought to be as a Field or Garden as clean of Weeds as possible for tho' the Tares are to be suffered to grow in the Field of the World yet they are not to remain in the Church according to Christ's Doctrine But at this rate the Weeds shall remain with the good Corn and Herbs in the same Garden yea and exceed them that cannot but greatly hurt the good Corn and Herbs Besides how can the Gardner delight in such a Garden that is full of Weeds and no care to seperate the good Herbs from the Weeds And tho' it hath been said by some That as the Faithful stand in the Power of God they shall have Dominion over the Unfaithful But we find no warrant or promise that God will give them Dominion if they obey not his Command which is To Seperate and withdraw from such and not to remain in Fellowship with them for what part hath a Believer with an Infidel 2 Cor. 6.15.17 POSTSCRIPT WE have seriously considered how that of late Years especially many are crept into a bare out-side Form of the Profession of the People of God called in Scorn Quakers and have assum'd or suffered themselves to be called by that Name and have frequented not only their publick Meetings but also their Men and Womens Meetings and some have presumed to Preach and Pray therein that to our certain knowledge by manifested Evidence of Words and Works are not worthy to be reputed Members of a Christian Society or Church of Christ because of their great Ignorance and Unbelief in the first Principles of the Doctrine of Christ whereof some here-away of late have given sufficient proof to the great Scandal of our holy Profession by their plain and express words uttered before divers credible Witnesset and sometimes by their unsound Doctrine published and gross Perversions of Scripture to the Observation of many who are but of weak understanding and some of them have been detected of scandalous Conversation and have not given any convincing Evidence of their true Repentance and that there hath been too much forbearance used by some toward such for their hardning and emboldning themselves against the Truth and faithful Friends and Brethren that by the marvellous Providence of God that hath suffered such things to come to light some have discovered their woful Ignorance Unbelief and gross Errors by their late words without all shame or fear and that some others have appeared too manifestly inclined to cloak excuse and support them which giveth us too great occasion to suspect them guilty of the same or the like things and that things are come to that pass of late that contrary Testimonies are born in Meetings by one against another and yet both pretending to the Spirit of Truth and great Disputes and Contentions have