do do it with thy might for there is no work nor device nor wisdome nor knowledge in the grave whither thou goest If therefore you have light leading you to bear your testimony in word and practice against such superfluities Walk in the light whilst you have the light Joh. 12.36 Fourthly Although the putting off such things seems to present no present outward advantage to any man yet inasmuch as it puts a man into the better capacity to help forward a generall Reformation among Gods people and seeing the great good which may bee expected to come thereby will to the great satisfaction of publick-spirited Christians soon countervail the parting with those things which are no gain but rather losse to them that wear them therefore let them bee parted with and no longer retained by Saints The Conclusion That it is expedient there should bee some Reformation among Saints in their Apparel in respect of some extravagancies and vain superfluities most or all good men acknowledge As for the way that is presented to the Saints in this Discourse I deny not but it may bee liable to exceptions in some cases and so are many or most generall Rules in the Scriptures of (z) That great Command and for doing no manner of work on the Sabbath did admit of exceptions in some cases as appears Matth. 12. the beginning of the chapter 2 Pet 2.12 Truth If they who are friends to this work dislike this essay or rough draught let them bring forth their polished Endeavours on this Subject In the mean time this I say to all that fear the Lord who upon the reading hereof shall remain dis-satisfyed in this matter Take heed that yee speak not evill of the things yee know not or have not considered but seriously weigh as in the sight of God and in his holy fear the things laid down in this Discourse not forgetting or neglecting to seek the Lord herein remembring the words of wisdom Prov. 28.5 They that seek the Lord understand all things I shall shut up all with the words of Gamaliel to the Jews If this counsell or work bee of men Acts 5. it will come to nought but if it bee of God yee cannot overthrow it lest happily yee bee found to fight against God QVERIES for the People called QVAKERS FIRST WHether are you willing that the depth of your perswasion or opinion touching Jesus Christ his being now contained in the Heavens the raising of our dead bodys after natural death the Tryal of Spirits and Doctrins according to the Scriptures should be clearly and openly known and published Secondly Whether do you not by many of your sayings which admit of a double construction craftily hide your perswasion in many things from the sight of some honest people who take you to hold the same truth with beleevers in general concerning Christ the Scriptures and the resurrection of the dead Do you not endeavour to make them beleeve you hold otherwise in some things than you do And is not this dissimulation at the bests or lying after the manner of Annanias and Saphira Act. 5.8 Thirdly Whether your selves even all of you bee not men and women of sinfull failings and imperfections as act those Godly people you cry down Doth not the light within shew you this If not 1 Joh. 1.8 tell us who are the persons among you without their failings or imperfections And how came they so to bee Fourthly Do you in 〈…〉 of the Congregations of Beleevers as well look after those things which are Commendable as those things which are Condemnable in their practices Do you not overlook the example of Christ in this who in his message to the Church of Ephesus writes in praise of the good things in them Rev. 2.2 and particularly that they hated the Doctrin of the * Are not some Churches now to be commended for hating evill doctrins 〈◊〉 Though withall hee reproves them for leaving their first love and Sardâ—s Church being reproved some few names are excepted Do not you on the contrary cry them down in general without any mercy Fifthly Whether your declaring against instrumental teaching yet going about divers of you informing and instructing your selves and others who are free to hear you doth not discover a grosse contradiction between your profest principles and practice and plainly shew that you would have them hear none but you and whether this be right to set them against instrumental teaching to bring them to hear your declaring as some of you call your speaking altering only the name Sixthly Whether instrumental teaching bee unsuitable to the new Covenant If so Why did Christ being ascended appoint Pastors and Teachers in the Church to continue untill wee all come into the Unity of the Faith c. thus ordaining Ministers for the work while work remains for the ministery Did Christ burden his Saints with needlesse appointments Seventhly Whether the Scriptures you bring to oppose Gospell Ordinances do not serve only to make void Circumcision with other Ordinances of Moses Law and to witnesse against walking after the tradition of men with the carnall formall practice or idolizing of true Gospell Ordinances All you say making not at all against a spiritual practice of Church-Ordinances as breaking bread and exhorting one another c. wherein the Saints have the footsteps of the flock in the primitive times going before them and the appointment of Christ for the continuance of these till his coming which must bee understood of his personal coming the second time he being come in the Spirit with great glory when hee gave those Commands 1 Cor. 11.25 26. Revel 2.25 Heb. 10.25 Eightly Whether it is not better to wait on God in his good old ways recorded in his word expecting his work to be gradually carried on as the growth of a building or of a plant or child so running with patience the spiritual race set before us or as the manner of some is to forsake the principles of faith whereof the Saints have had so great experience in hope to start up suddenly from a low stature into perfection by imbracing a new doctrine Ninthly Whether Jesus Christ hath not prayed for those who beleeve through the word of the Apostles according to John 17.20 And if so Whether they are not in a good and safe way who beleeve accordingly And whether it be not better to credit their testimony so fully confirmed by the Lord and acknowledged by the Saints for many generations than to forgoe that to imbrace Heb. 2.3 and follow the sayings of some of your company Tenthly What is that faith which the Spirit speaks expresly Some shall depart from in the latter dayes giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils 1 Tim. 4.1 Eleventhly Whether that doctrine which in sum is no more but LOOK TO THE LIGHT WITHIN with a curse upon disobedience and a blessing upon obedience thereunto be that glorious Gospel preached by Christ and
and servants of God ought not to declare the Nationall-Church of England viz. the Nation pretending to be a Church to be indeed no Church of Christ but a Daughter of Babylon And is it not their duty to discover her abominations in such Language in speaking of Babylon either the Mother or her Daughter as the Spirit of God makes use of and commends to us in the holy Scriptures Doth not that command to Gods people to reward her as shee hath rewarded them extend to a full reward both in words and deeds And if through flatteries of men slavish feare or foolish pitty Gods Archers his Ministers withhold to shoote such arrowes against Babylon in preaching or printing as God hath put into their Quiver for that purpose may they not be justly rebuked for it 9. Whether a bare forsaking of the Nationall Church and a verball declaring against it be a sufficient witnesse-bearing for Christ against Antichrist in the matter of Worship or whether besides all this are not Gods people called by a bold profession and visible practise of the ordinances of Christ according to the Gospel pattern to hold forth a true Baptisme Church-worship and so by a contrary practise to beare their testimony in the strength of Gods Spirit and truth against that false way And in so doing though the worke of Zions building may appeare now in its beginning as nothing in comparison of that glorious patterne in the Apostles dayes is there not ground to beleive God will vouchsafe his presence and helpe to his people in the work according to his good word Haggai 2. 1 2 3 And when the Saints come out of Babylon ought they not then to call upon one another to flow to Zion and there to declare the worke of the Lord Jer. 1.6.9 10. And if this be the season for the former duty why not for the latter and having with and amongst them the Word and Spirit according to that stable Covenant to beleivers in all generations Isa 9.21 Neh. 2.18 What hinders but they should rise and build 10. Whether many zealous Ministers and people in the Parish-way by reason of their ignorance of the times and seasons and the great worke of God at this day to bring his people out of Mysticall Babylon may they not be in danger of fighting against God and kicking against the pricks as did many devout Jewes who were zealous of the old legall Worship not knowing or considering that the time of reformation from Jewish rudiments Heb 9.10 was come And doe not many now as they then little consider Gods call to his people to reforme thorowly from all Antichristian pollutions and to touch no uncleane thing in this day of the Lords controversie for Sion And may wee not see as then so now the things which God winked at in times of ignorance hee will not winke at but witnesse against in times of light And is there not a very great security upon many professors Can yee not discerne the signes of the times Mat. 16.3 and darknesse upon their right eye that notwithstanding all the signes of the times and all the late wonderfull workes of God they are not awakened to discerne and doe the speciall duties which God by his strange dispensations calls them to And is it not apparent that many who should instruct others in the duty of the day It is the duty of the wise Steward to give the Children of God the portion of Doctrine sutable to the season Luk. 12 42. doe discourage them from enquiring into such things telling them of the danger of mistakes and the great difficultie of finding out truth referring them in many things to the footesteps of the flock in times of Popish darknesse But is it not high time for Gods people to goe a step beyond such Watch-men enquiring after Christ in the further discovery of truth And seeing God hath chosen the weake and foolish things of the world to confound the wise ought not even such to search into the booke of revelation seeking God by faithfull fervent prayer for his promised Spirit to lead them into all truth remembring the words of David Thou through thy precepts hast made me wiser then mine enemies I have more understanding then all my teachers Psal 119.98 99. 11. Whether the Parish-Ministry in their standing and acting as such are not found taking part with Babylon and warring against the true visible Churches of Christ and all others who withdraw from and witnesse against the Common polluted way of worship And if so whether those who are enlightened may warrantably upon the account of the gifts and godlinesse of such Teachers follow after them so as to have fellowship with them in their broad Church-way And is it not to make Idolls of them and preferre them before Christ and set them above him if they choose rather to follow after such Ministers in that way which hath no word of God for it then to follow Christ in that despised way of worship which hath the sure word of Scripture for its warrant Mark how Satan makes use of Eminent instruments sometimes to promote his wicked Designes If Peter that eminent Preacher might be and was so farre captivated by the Tempter as to oppose by rebuking Jesus Christ himselfe when he spake of his suffering death Mat 16 21 22 23. And againe denied him shamefully when he came to suffer with cursing and oathes saying he never knew the man And after all this at another time the same Peter who was so famous an instrument in Gods hand for converting so many soules even he becomes a misleader in a way of dissimulation Gal 2.11 12 13 14. so that Barnabas an eminent Minister of Christ If some who see such dissembling tell them that dissemble that they are to be blamed they do but as Paul did who told Peter of his fault Gal. 2.14 and divers others were carried away with his dissimulation If so it were with Peter is there not ground enough for the good people in that way to feare that their Ministers even the choicest of them may be fallen into temptation to be prejudic't against the worke of a thorow-reformation seeing their preferments livings and honours seeme to be struck at and so being offended labour to draw in others to be one with them in their offence and opposition against the Saints in their present warfare for Christ against Antichrist 12. Whether the greater number of people in the Parish-Assemblyes are not in danger of eternall Damnation through their high presumption that they are in Christ and in a good estate And whether have not Englands Church-Ministry much to answer for who have begotten and cherished this confidence in them by declaring them in their old Catechisme To be regenerate in their Baptisme made Members of Christ and inheritors of the kingdome of Heaven If this be true and no lye they have taught them who thus exalted them unto heaven
who strike in with that deadly interest at the latter end of the day to act their part against Christ and his Cause Should not all men take heede how they touch or take part with that interest least they come under the guilt of all the former bloody persecutions of Gods Saints Whether are not the opposite interests of flesh and Spirit now at warre the same interests which were at variance in Cain and Abell the seeds being the same two as formerly though brought forth in severall ages though the controversie betwixt them not alwayes upon the same part or point of truth or errour ENDEAVOVRS FOR REFORMATION IN APPARRELL OR Some reasons rendred for Saints forbearing to put upon their Garments such trimmings and ornaments as are alltogether superfluous and apparently uselesse With Answers to severall Objections Put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh to fullfill the lusts thereof Rom. 13.14 Moreover the Lord saith Because the Daughters of Sion are haughty and walke with stretched forth necks wanton eyes walking and mincing or tripping nicely as they goe and making a tinckling with their feete Isa 3.16 Therefore the Lord will smite with a scab the crowne of the head of the Daughters of Sion c. vers 17. In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of their tinckling ornaments c. vers 18. Behold the day commeth which shall burne as an Oven and all the proud and all that doe wickedly shall be as stubble and that day that commeth shall burne them up saith the Lord that it shall leave them neither roote nor branch Mal. 4.1 If yee will not heare my soule shall weepe in secret places for your pride Jer. 13.17 LONDON Printed for Livewell Chapman in Popes-head Alley 1656. I shall gladly submit to the judgement of such touching these following Endeavours knowing full well that they dare not so turne the grace of God into wantonnesse as deliberately to slight on the account of liberty the least hint of truth clearely convincing them of duty yet seeing such may be tempted for a worldly interest to stifle their light in this thing my Counsell is that they bare in minde the great price of their Redemption from a vaine conversation which if they doe they will not thinke it much to suffer losse in their names and trades for righteousnesse sake in this fiery trying day which is growne so darke to some who not long since rejoyced in the light that now they complaine in the words of the Prophet Isaiah 59.9 We waite for light but behold obscurity c. Whilst knowledge seemes to be desired is not doing omitted And are there not many who will not see the things they have no minde to practise But precept must be upon precept line upon line here a little and there a little that they may goe and fall backward as men doe who begin to reforme and then when their interest is struck at fall backward and be broken snared and taken Isa 28.13 Courteous Reader I shall not hide from thee the rise of this discourse and the occasion of its publication The Lord having eminently appeared to a considerable number of his people in their waiting on him together in severall solemne Meetings clearely witnessing to their Consciences against their superfluous ornaments on their apparrell in so much as diverse did forthwith repent and reforme Some calling for a reason for this reformation I thought it needfull to avoyde much speaking of this matter to put pen to paper and since that to prevent the labour of transcribing Copies to put my papers to the presse If God teach thee to profit by them give him alone the glory As for scorners let them delight in scorning but let the wise heare the whole matter and then give judgement And as for such who are strong and by reason of use have their senses exercised to a cleere discerning between good and evill let such beare with my rude Endeavours and bring forth a better testimony against that abomination of pride in apparrell wherewith most professors are so spotted and the profession of godlinesse by reason thereof so much evill spoken of that if all should hold their peace a man might expect according to the words of Christ in another case Luk. 19.40 The stones would immediately cry out Who knowes but the least of the flock by an holy zeale accompanied with many infirmities which love should cover may provoke some great Preachers to looke more narrowly into this matter Rom. 2.14 and to examine themselves why seeing there was never more occasion given to declare against pride they have no more discovered this iniquity which now it is to be feared they winke at in others because so much of it cleaves to themselves and theirs The Lord who is faithfull and true hath promised That he will purely purge away all the drosse of Syon and take away all her tinne then will he restore unto them Judges as at the first and Councellers as at the beginning Isai 1.25 26. Which good thing that the Lord may speedily performe is the hearty desire and dayly prayer of The Lords most unworthy servant whom he hath pluckt as a brand out of the fire JOHN PENDARVES ENDEAVOVRS FOR REFORMATION IN APPARRELL OR Some Reasons rendred for Saints forbearing to put upon their Garments such trimmings and ornaments as are alltogether superfluous and apparently uselesse With Answers to severall Objections THe first reason or argument First Ground or Reason takes its rise from the death and resurrection of Christ and the Saints fellowship with him in both and first from his death The Crosse of Christ is that by which every true beleever is taught with Paul to be crucified to the world and that not onely as his faith presents to him the glory of a crucified Christ hidden from an eye of sence Gal. 6.14 1 Pet. 2.11 Tit. 2.11 12. 1 Pet. 1.8 9. farre exceeding all outward worldly glory but also as it teacheth him to warre against all sensuall worldly lusts in confidence that Christ dyed to redeeme him from them And herein doth the vertue and glory of the sufferings of Christ on the Crosse Phil. 2.6 7 8. wherein he is commended to us as amost glorious patterne of selfe-deniall eminently appeare in his followers in crucifying the lusts of the flesh the lusts of the eyes Gal. 5.24 and pride of life Rom. 6.4 all which stand in opposition to that newnesse of life Saints are called to walke in Now seeing the lusts of the flesh were found warring against Christ on the Crosse and doe dayly warre against his Spirit in the hearts of Saints and Christ warred and doth warre against them Gal. 5.17 Rom. 13.14 his Souldiers ought not to make provision for them by such superfluous deckings least in so doing they be found feeding and cloathing Christs enemies whilst they neglect to feede and cloath his members and least thereby they