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A35009 The first part of Babel's-builders unmasking themselves as appears by the following judgment from Barbadoes (promoted by George Fox his party, and subscribed by eighty two of them) : with a letter of G.F.'s, G.W's, &c. in answer thereunto, and observations thereupon : also a false prophesie of that lying prophet, Sol. Eccles : whereas the following discourse was formerly printed and privately disposed ... amongst those called Quakers, but finding some of G.F.'s party have since publickly exposed it with slanderous and false charges on the author, this second impression with some small addition, is now made publick ... / Thomas Crisp.; Babel's-builders unmask't. Part 1 Crisp, Thomas, 17th cent.; Fox, George, 1624-1691.; Eccles, Solomon, 1618-1683.; Whitehead, George, 1636?-1723. 1682 (1682) Wing C6951; ESTC R10390 16,901 16

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OF ONE MIND AND JVDGMENT For if you gain but that Point to have Power in any Case of Conscience to give positive Sentence WHO but YOV who say you are the CHVRCH must determine in what Cases so that it is in what Cases you please which is as good as if you had said YOV HAVE POWER IF YOV PLEASE IN ANY CASE OF CONSCIENCE TO GIVE POSITIVE SENTENCE AND JVDGMENT And I see not but if that you have such absolute Power in Cases of Conscience but that you may also claim it in Meum and Tuum and have Power to determine as R. B. saith To remove such Differences by your positive Sentence And let the wise in Heart Judge how little this is less than all Spirituals and Temporals according to the Barbadoes Judgment for if any difference be between the Lording Ruling Universal Party and some other Particular the Universal Party will not fail to say They be the true Church have Power if we must be all of one Mind and Judgment Whose Judgment ought we to be of but the Church's Viz. YOURS being in the true Faith c BEHOLD WHETHER THIS DRIVES And according to C. Taylors Doctrine it may be said as in his Book Something c. p. 35. FOR OVGHT I KNOW you will centre in ROME and say It is the positive just and righteous Sentence of the Church It is truly said in Addr. to Prot. p. 144. An Imposing Church will be both Judge and Party So that according to this Doctrine you have a Charter to give positive Sentence in any Cases of Conscience c. TO HAVE AND TO HOLD if you can until you please to give Setence against your selves And when the Second-days Meeting have resolved when that shall be and in what Cases and in what not you have Power to give positive Sentence then their needless Question before mentioned gendring to Strife and Bondage may be answered but until then them and their Question to be avoided according to the Advice of the Apostle Beware of the Concision beware of Evil Workers Pray consider what sentence had poor Micajah among the 400 Prophets the 1 Kings 22.24 When Zedekiah went near and smote him and said Which way went the Spirit of the Lord from me to speak unto thee Also Jeremiah other of the Prophets from the Church in their days who could speak high words saying The Lord lived that brought them out of the Land of AEgypt and out of the House of Bondage Also consider what positive Sentences Christ and his Apostles had from the Pharisees and Ruling Party of the Church who garnished the Sepulchres of the Prophets saying If they had lived in their days they would not have killed them And thought highly of themselves saying They were Abrahams Seed and never were in Bondage and reputed themselves Elders and Overseers and those to whom God hath given Counsel Authority and Power to and as the true Church gave positive Sentences and as they thought Just and Righteous against the Servants of Christ and demanded by whose Authority they did those things as some of you have done when one Speak or Pray in your Meeting and because not in exact Conformity to G. F's Laws therefore have asked Doth or did G. F. allow or approve of it Also consider when all Asia was turned aside and all men forsook Paul and none stood by him only some few Particulars What was their positive Sentences Doubtless they thought them just and righteous and obligatory as they were the Church being the Universal and Ruling Party Therefore without Evidence from Scripture or by the Spirit in our own Hearts of the Justice and Righteousness of your positive Sentences and Orders they are but the Traditions of Men altho taught for Doctrines And the Light or Spirit of Christ within is a surer Guide and Leader to every particular than the Unity or being of one Mind and Judgment with any of G. F's c. Mens and Womens Meetings For in the New Jerusalem coming down from God out of Heaven in which John saw no Temple neither had it need of Sun or Moon but the Glory of the LORD and the LAMB is the Light thereof WHat is here afore-wrote is not as a full Answer or Detection of the depths of Satan and Mystery of Iniquity that is couched under or lies hidden in this Judgment asserted in the Paper from Barbadoes and the seeming Answer of dislike thereto given by G. F. c. but only as a Mite from one and according to present Ability to manifest his detestation of all such Principles and Practices But I doubt not but there will be some of greater Ability who shall contribute much more to the uncovering Her who hath long sat as a Queen and deceived many yet says I shall not see Widdowhood nor Sorrow because her Children are many and mighty through the Power they have received from that Beast on which she rides and will suffer none to buy nor sell in their Market but who receive her Mark in their Forehead or Hand For notwithstanding their Judgment seems such bare-fac'd Popery and so contrary to their pretended Principles yet observe how G.F. c. treat the Authors Viz. We know your Care and tenderness for Truth and that you aim at the best Things and are manifestly declared the Epistle of Christ written with the Spirit of the Living God which will bring you to the City of the Living God c. And not one sharp Reproof in all only Caution for fear of its Publication and dislike that any particular measure should not be one with their Men and Womens-Meetings c. But when we consider the Names and Terms are given to others that profess the same Faith and agree in all Things except as aforesaid Viz. Something about Womens-Meetings and some Forms of Marriages c. they for this conscientious forbearing to practice such Things as they have no Faith in are termed Apostates departed from the Truth such as the Vniversal Spirit cannot receive c. By all which we may see how they would hedge up the way to God and leave no Door to come in by but G. F's Forms nay not only so but tie up or limit God that if he reveals any thing to any particular he must give up all to the general and if they have not Unity with it must cleave to the general against that particular Measure of Knowledge or Manifestation in himself but I think hereby is plainly manifested that there be such Innovators as W. Rogers hath mentioned in his Book Viz. The Chrictian-Quaker distinguished from the Apostate and Innovator Which Title C. Taylor saith is notorious Blasphemy But hereby it not only appears that the Title is proper and no Blasphemy but also that there was just Cause for W. R's writing that Book for the Cause why those they call Apostates separate from them is not out of any dislike or denyal of the Principles of Truth altho they
Nay but as many as are led by the Spirit of God are the Sons of God this Spirit Christ said he would send should be in them Forasmuch as the foregoing Letter of G. F. c. to Barbadoes was produced as a proof of their denial of the said Paper I observe therein That they are more afraid of its Publication than ashamed of the Matter and do more object the subscribing the Paper than owning that Principle Viz giving up all to them as appears by their Words If it should come into the Hands of Opposers c. they would say we set up Arbitrary Power Implicit Faith c. but they say not so which are the plain tendency thereof But it is needful to know what they mean by the Universal Spirit being that is so often mentioned I take it to be the Opinion or Judgment of the Ruling Party or Foxonions among the Quakers because they exclude those who oppose their Orders as being Apostates and gone out from the Universal Spirit Also I take this Spirit of theirs not to be the Universal Spirit of God but a private selfish Spirit of their own because they say As for the Stubborn and Wilful that are against Men and Womens-Meetings the Vniversal Spirit cannot receive that Now those they term Stubborn c. are not against Mens and Womens-Meetings but differ about the Form and Power thereof they are only against Women having Meetings apart from the Men when they have no business requires it not against them in Cities great Towns and Places where they live near together and Occasions require but where they live remote from each other and have no business Also the Form of Marriages c. This is great part of the difference and the Case of those Persons G. F. c. term Apostates Bad Spirits c. And G. F. c. says The Vniversal Spirit cannot receive that I shall shew by Testimonies of Scripture and Friends that notwithstanding Differences yet Christians ought to receive each other and walk in Love as Brethren E. Burrough says Notwithstanding their difference in Judgment whether in Cases Substantial or Ceremonial yet they were still to be in Love and Vnity pag. 809. And every one to mind the Teachings of the Spirit in himself Hereby you may see that E. B. could receive in Love and walk in Unity with such as differed in Cases Substantial which is as high a difference as any about Womens Meetings can be Also W. Pen saith Address to Protestants p. 70. I cannot see how such Men can excuse themselves from great presumption c. who deny those Persons to be Members of Christ's Church that in Conscience refuse to subscribe any other Draught than their Lord hath given them Then how can G. F. c. excuse themselves who say Those that be against Womens-Meetings the Vniversal Spirit cannot receive Unless G. F. c. prove that such Dissenters have had their Form of Womens-Meetings from the Lord. And G. F. c. must admit them Members of Christs Church or prove they refuse that which the Lord hath given them or else G. F. c. are inexcusable and condemnable by their own Testimonies Also 2 Pet. 1.5 Give all diligence thereunto add to Faith Vertue Knowledge Temperance Patience Godliness Brotherly-Kindness Love for if these things be in you and abound ye shall not be unfruitful nor barren c. Wherefore give all diligence to make your Calling and Election sure for if ye do these things ye shall never fail for an Entrance shall be ministred unto you into the Everlasting Kingdom Now I appeal to any sober Christian Whether all these Qualifications may not be in one and yet conscientiously dissent from a Form of Marriage or Womens-Meetings as order'd by G. F. If it can be as I am sure it may that one may be so qualified and assisted by Gods Spirit as to attain these Vertues expressed by the Apostle Peter and not comply with G. F's Womens-Meetings then a sure entrance is made into the Everlasting Kingdom and they are received by the Universal Spirit of God therefore G. F's c. Universal Spirit so often mentioned is not that of God nor of E. B. or Is P. nor the Spirit of Christ nor his Apostles for they said Judge not and that the Tree was known by its Fruit. But G. F. c. will judge and condemn for evil and gone from the Spirit altho no evil Fruit appears only Nonconformity to them Also where evil Fruit does appear as in this their Judgment yet he can say to them because they own his Form and Womens Meetings We know your Care and that you aim at the best things So that to give up to his Orders tho contrary to their own measures seems by him termed the best Things and they are manifestly declared the Epistle of Christ wrote with the Spirit of the Living God c. Whereby he seems to place more Vertue and Power in conforming to his Orders of Womens Meetings c. than in all Faith and Fruits of the Spirit expressed in the Scripture And where-ever G. F. mentions the Universal Spirit I take him he meanes the Spirit that set up and adores those Meetings and persecutes all such who cannot for Conscience sake conform thereto Now Christ said Whatever you would another should do unto you that do unto them Love thy Neighbour as thy self c. This is the true Universal Spirit to desire no more Liberty nor Charity from another than one would be content to allow them and Impose no more on another than one would have them Impose on ones self G. F. c. once cryed for Liberty of Conscience none must perform any Worship but as taught and led thereinto by the Light in their own Hearts but having gathered a People to themselves now say they Submit to your Elders and if not Conform to his Orders for Conscience sake then Wilful Stubborn out of the Vniversal Spirit and Truth Enemies Rebels accursed from all Eternity c. And it appears that the Subscribers and G. F. c. do differ for he says This would make the Belief which is in the Light and the measure of the Spirit in their own particulars not one with the Vniversal i. e. G. F's Spirit c. Indeed so it doth for there be many that believe in the Light and measure of the Spirit and its Sufficiency that are not one with G. F's c. Imposing Spirit which he calls Vniversal but against it altho the true Universal Spirit of Christ and in all His hath now as formerly Unity with the least measure in any Member tho for Conscience sake they may be of a differing apprehension in some things and therefore the Apostle He became all to all weak or strong and said bear one anothers Burdens and bear one with another and therefore he condescended to Baptise and Circumcise to win over and endeavoured the encrease of their Faith and Understandings
not blind Conformity before Convincement but said If any be otherwise minded God shall reveal it c. As their Faith encreased so should their Obedience The Spirit the Apostle was in could receive those that differed in Judgment and Practice in some things and did not say they were erred from their measures and if against Womens-Meetings that the Universal Spirit could not receive them but were careful not to offend the weak would deny themselves that which was lawful for the benefit of the weak therefore not of G. F's pretended Universal Spirit Now G. F's c. Letter is so jumbled together seemingly disowning and yet owning the Paper too but take them either ways if they disown then that manifests a difference if they own it then they plainly manifest themselves to be what the Dissenting Party hath objected against them many Years only G. F. c. have imperiously and wrongfully born them down Viz. That they do in their Actings contradict their Principles and Doctrine that is they as the Pharisees say and do not for it is evident by the scope of their Letter that they are dissatisfied with the wording of it and that latter Clause which admits a particular measure may differ from the general also afraid of its Publication knowing they cannot justifie it and that it is that they have been charged for practising these many years and for this cause many have and do dissent from them whom they term gone from the Power of God and Opposers of the Order of the Gospel Setters up of Standards against Truth and many other Names and marks of Sons of Perdition when they have nothing else against them only not submitting to G. F's Orders without Conviction for G. F. c. do not at all contradict the Principle Of giving up all only the subscribing to it nor deny but their Meetings have such power or ought to be given up to only would insinuate that it is done from the Universal Spirit of God and all who do not so believe and act the Vniversal Spirit cannot receive c. But all that fear God beware of such who be thus given to change and believe and act so contrary to what they say and pretend and notwithstanding the good words of the Apostle in the latter end of G. F's Letter which be sound and had they kept themselves to their primitive Testimony and sound Doctrine as in Scripture there had not been this Seperation but having followed the Devices of their own Heads with fair words and speeches they beguile many simple ones but now their Folly is made manifest and that they have only a Form of Godliness but deny the Power thereof therefore from such turn away And it 's better to be by such accounted Separates than for their favour to deprive your selves of the benefit of your own measures of Light and Life according to which all shall be at last Judged As for the seeming dislike or blame of the Judgment from these following words in G. F's Letter Viz. This would make the Belief in the Light and the measure of the Spirit in their own particulars not one with the Vniversal Spirit in the said Meetings That this is a disowning of or a Reproof for the Judgment in general or the giving up of all c. is but a fallacious cover as appears by his high commending and extolling them in the latter part of his Letter in p. 5. Also his words to them he terms Stubborn and Wilful that cannot give up all c. of those he saith The Universal Spirit cannot receive that those that the Mens and Womens Meetings have not Vnity with in the Vniversal Spirit of God they are erred from their own measures c. What this Vniversal Spirit is that they so often mention is shewed in the Introduction and pag. 9. Also they say in W. F's Book Spiritual-Liberty c. pag. 4. Those that be left with the one Spirit of Truth must be of one Mind they cannot be otherwise These words be of one Mind and having Vnity with G. F's Womens-Meetings is all to the same effect as the Barbadoes Judgment only that is more naked and plain and not so subtilly worded as some here could have done it for we must believe and practice just as they do or would have us or else no Unity which implyes as much ●iving up as the Barbadoes Judgment doth as is further manifested by their severe Judgments against those that cannot so do and by rendring them Apostates c. And G. F's c. dislike or blameing them is not for their giving up all c. but for the latter Clause of the Judgment which admits that a particular measure may differ or not agree with the generally in the Mens and Womens-Meetings who be too much swayed and over-ruled by his Party and termed the Vniversal Spirit of God but this Judgment proves that their Vniversal Spirit and Ruling Party have erred therefore Particulars ought not to have Unity with them but testifie against them It 's evident from the Asian and all others Churches since down to this very Barbadoes Church that the Universal Ruling Part have erred and been testified against and reproved by particulars as G. F's Lording Spirit in himself and Party have been altho they seem to be so resolved as that they will have the Power Authority and Judgment c. and will Govern and rather than they will want a Place where and Subjects over whom to govern c. they will stretch their Power over the Consciences of their Brethren even in the Seat or Throne of Christ as is further manifest from R. B's Anarchy c. vindicated by the Second-days Meeting in their false Accuser c. page 57. Where they ask this Question If in no Case of Conscience the Church of Christ hath Power to give such positive Sentence as is just and righteous When they mention the Church of Christ in respect to this present Age that they mean only themselves seems evident from the said R. B's Anarchy c. p. 43. Also Judas or the Jews c. p. 28. Where they term themselves the Body of Christ And in other Writings they the People of God and none else Also when they mention the Government and good Ordinances of Christ or in his Church it is evident they mean some new invented Formalities and Ceremonies of their own and not fundamental Principles according to the Precepts and Examples of Christ and his Apostles mentioned in the holy Scripture Therefore their terms of the Church of Christ and pretentions to Just and Righteous Sentences and Judgment are but Covers and such Robes hath the Woman which sitteth on the Scarlot coloured Beast been arrayed with in all Ages since the Apostacy pretending themselves the True Church and their Sentences and Judgment Just and Righteous as you do and you have provided Weapons for them that may in time prove to your own hurt IF YOV BE NOT ALL
say all that oppose them be gone from Truth but in opposition to their Usurping Authority over Peoples Consciences in Religious Matters and requiring Conformity to their Orders before or without Conviction This is the chief Cause of their hard Speeches and false Accusations against those they term Apostates and Seperates and say In the Name of the Lord they resolve to give Battle where-ever they meet that Spirit But others are resolved in the Spirit of the Lamb not to bow to their Image having seen that they should as they have done manifest themselves to be what they are even empty Clouds The Lord open the Understandings of all the simple-hearted among them as I believe there be many and preserve all blameless and in Love that they may have no just Cause to speak evil of you but separate from such who have a Form of Godliness and high swelling words of Church-Power and Gospel-Order which they have made to themselves and are bowing to even the Work of their own hands as appears by the foregoing and following Lying Prophecy of S. Eccles. and have your Minds girt up towards the Lord and your Conversation as becomes the Gospel in Meekness and Fear not terrified by their high swelling Words and seeing the evil Effects of forsaking the Teaching of the Lord by his Spirit to give up to Mens and Womens-Meetings and Orders beware lest you be carried away with the Errour of the wicked and fall from your own Stedfastness but endeavour to grow in Grace and of the Knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ to whom alone be Obedience and Glory for ever which is the desire of my Heart as for my self so for all that desire to follow the Lord and that we may be kept from Idols Here follows the False Prophesy of S. E. taken out of his Letter which he accompanied with two eminent Friends and Espousers of G. F. and his Party delivered to J. S. who lived some years after notwithstanding his predicting the contrary O JOHN STORY What hast thou done against the Lord and thy own Soul Thou hast divided the Heritage of God and the good Ordinances which Christ Jesus hath set up in his Church hast thou contemned especially Womens-Preachings and Womens-Meetings therefore will the Lord throw Contempt upon thee and if thou dost not repent speedily miserable will be thy End O how hast thou lost thy Place and Dignity which thou hadst amongst the Saints in Light and now to be numbred amongst the Rebellious If ever thou find Mercy with the Lord go home to the North with speed and break up the Divided Meetings which thou and John Wilkingson have been Instrumental to divide from the Body of the Lord Jesus Christ The Anger of the Lord is chiefly against thee and thou art bound with two Bonds for the Church and Brethren have bound thee on Earth and thou art surely bound in Heaven and this is the Testimony of Jesus to thee neither shalt thou be able to get from under these Bonds till thou art reconcil'd to the Brethren i.e. submit to G. F. c. O hast to the Work abovesaid lest the Wrath of the Lord overtake thee before it be done and be reconciled to G. F. who is God's Friend and the Servant of the Living God and Great Apostle of Jesus Christ Hast away to the North for thy time is short and go quickly thou and thy Brother if possible you may bring again to the Body of Jesus Christ those ye have scattered lest their Blood be required at your Hands Arise quickly and be going for this is the Word of the Lord to thee Viz. That this Year shalt thou John Story die because thou hast Taught Rebellion against the Living God SOLOMON ECCLES 1st day of the 1ct Month 1677. READER OBserve what this S. E. one of G. F's Preachers delivers in the Name of the LORD Viz. 1. That their Womens-Preachings and Womens-Meetings are the Good Ordinances which Christ hath set up in his Church 2. That being reconciled i. e. submitting to G. F. and his Imposing Party is the only way to find Mercy with the Lord. 3. G. F. c. who call themselves the Body of Friends he terms the Body of Jesus Christ 4. That great Lye he delivered in the Name of the Lord Viz. THIS YEAR SHALT THOV JOHN STORY DIE c. Who was then Ill and not like to live long but yet lived about four years after This is here inserted that all who read or hear it may fear and beware of taking the Name of the Lord in vain Also of having G. F. or any Persons or their Orders in Admiration as this S. E. and others his Brethren and Preachers of G. F's Party have so frequently done as appears by the Titles they have given G. F. Viz. One greater than Moses a Prophet indeed It was said of Christ he was in the World the World was made by Him and the World knew Him not so it may be said of this true Prophet whom John said he was not but thou shalt feel this Prophet one day as heavy as a Milstone upon thee and though the World knoweth him not yet he is known Also G. F. hath been stiled The Father of many Nations whose Life hath reached to us thy Children even to the Isles afar off whose Being and Habitation is in the Power of the Highest in which thou Rules and Governs in Righteousness and thy Kingdom is Established in Peace and the Encrease thereof is without End These and many more have been given him which I do not understand that he disowned or testified against but rather owned and approved of them as it seems to appear by his causing or at least suffering those Expressions c. to be Communicated to others See also a Blasphemous and Idolatrous Letter in p. 7 of 5th BABELS c. Now these have been covered Justified or excused but others that conscientiously dissent from their Ceremonies they are persecuted with Rigour and false Accusations Oh Was ever greater Partiality and respect of Persons from such high Pretenders to Christianity And if Trees may be known by their Fruits these are evil Ones Therefore dear Friends be separate from these unclean things for such Principles and Practices are Babylons Brats who is to be made naked to the shame of her Lovers and happy shall those be who dash them against the Stones but wo to them that give suck to and nourish them Think me not your Enemy because I deal plainly with you for it is in Love to Truth and abhorrence of Imposition unlimited Power Implicit blind and unacceptable Obedience I desire the Lord to give you to know what is his good and acceptable Will Recommending you to the Spirit of Grace in your own Hearts whereby you may be preserved blameless in this crooked Generation To God only be Glory and Eternal Honour for ever FINIS