for she comes down from above ready prepared of God for all that is fit to enter therein Man's Work ceaseth here for he can add nothing to her Beauty and Perfection Martha's over Carefulness ends here and Mary's better part is enjoyed that can never be taken away and as Man's over-carefulness is over here so fear is at an end for as there is no Night here so her Gates stand open by Day for the good to enter therein whilst that which is not good cannot The true Church is here indeed but not yet referable to any Society with respect to outward Rules and therefore ought to be waited for by all Again he tells us Page 4. To plead being left to the Grace of God against Vnity is to abuse the very Plea c. Answer The drift of this Argument is like the rest to gain a presumptive dependance upon Men either for their greater number or for some external consideration or other without 〈◊〉 regard to Conviction or Perswasion 't is true to plead this against our Understanding is an abuse of the Plea and is little better than Heresie but none can be an Heretick that truly fears God therefore to plead this against this or that thing brought in by this or that Man or by this or that Assembly that we believe is wrong is so far from abusing the Plea that it may be a true using of it therefore before the Plea is proved abused he must prove the things brought in to concern the Essence of true Religion or those that bring them in to be infallible that so we may have something that is certain to depend on for as that is a-wanting Truth is to seek till this be done he doth nothing but beg the Question we are satisfied and that he knows it Page the 4th he saith I must say unto thee Friend what if thou wilt not be left unto the Grace and Spirit of God in thy self c. Answ We answer readily then such do the thing that is extreamly evil but on the other hand what if they are left with the Grace and Spirit of God which they may or at least some for any thing that he hath said What Care has he taken What Remedy has he provided that true liberty and freedom of Speech may be maintained Not a word of that which as it shews he has not asserted the Truth for that has no respect to Persons but allows equal liberty to all so it discovers him partially devoted in this business He cannot but know equal liberty is absolutely necessary in Truths Government as also the want of it hath ruined most of Christian Societies before us and as we have heretofore impeached the Building of others as not good where that was awanting allowing it at that time as a main Pillar of our Building if discontinued our Building that was true will not only fall down but then what is set up will be worse than what has been before us by how much we did begin better Again in the same Page he asketh If he may not exhort to the practice of what he is moved to press to the practice of c. If not he saith Thou art the Imposer by restraining me from my Christian liberty and not only so but away goeth Preaching and with it the Scripture that are both appointed of God for Exhortation Râ—proof and Instruction Answer We are as much for saving of the Scripture as he is and for saving of all that is good therefore we grant he may exhort to what he believes he is moved to press to the practice of and thus having agreed with him to save true liberty and all that is good we hope he will accord with us to shut all out that is not good therefore we say though we have granted this liberty as above it 's not our Duty to obey him because he says it but because we know or at least are perswaded that what he says is true for he may be mistaken and moved to what is wrong as well as to what is right for any thing that we know and the same that may be said to him is true to every one and all Men in the things of God Again in the same Page he Questions But are there not various Measures diversities of Gifts and several Offices in the Body To this he answers Yea and then questions But therefore are not the Members of one Mind and Judgment in common and universal Matters relating to the Church of God Answer There is not much doubt in this when truly understood but we are to mind that we be not deceived and imposed upon as to what is or ought to be accounted common and universal Matters By common and universal Matters we understand and we hope according to Truth that is what has been commonly and universally received and not new and novel things that have not been so received for all new things that have not been so received they must stay that bring them in whatever they are till they come in as the former did to wit by Conviction or at least by Perswasion before they can be truly said to be common and universal Matters and in the mean time observe this of Conviction and Perswasion preceding Conformity hath been a common and universal matter or thing because commonly and universally received among us as a great Truth we believing no true Building could be or stand without it therefore let us mind we leave not common and universal Matter and old Truths too for new Notions for if we must receive new things for common and universal Matters because some that bring them in call them so would have them so or at best believe they should be so we do not only go from this old received Truth Conviction and Perswasion the main Pillar of every true Building but then what is it that may not be obtruded This would bring us to rest upon Opinion and what is uncertain then what is more contrary to Truth and the whole tendency of his Discourse seems to this purpose on which account many excellent Truths are mis-applied Page the 5th he tells us What comes from the Light Life and Spirit in one is the same in Truth and Vnity to the rest as if it rise in themselves this is seen he saith in our Assemblies every day c. Answer The Design of this Argument is to gain a dependance upon the teachings of God by Instruments equal at least to the teaching of God immediately by his Spirit in our own Hearts but how plausible soever this is 't is not according to the Truth as 't is in Jesus for though there is no contrariety in the Spirit of God so no contradiction in the Spirit teaching being all for one and the same end to wit the good of Man by the Salvation of his Soul yet betwixt God's teaching by Instruments and teaching immediately by his Spirit in our own Hearts there is this distinction
of God in my self should I not be left to act according as I am free and perswaded in my own mind in the things that relate to God least looking upon my self as obliged by what is revealed unto another though it be not revealed unto me I should be led out of my own measure and act upon another motion and offer a blind sacrifice to God To which he answers thus Answ This is true in a sense that is if thou art such an one that canst do nothing against the Truth but for the Truth then thou may'st safely be left to thy freedom in the things of God and the reason is plain because thy freedom stands in the perfect Law of Liberty in the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus and in the Truth which is Christ Jesus which makes thee free indeed that is perfectly free from all that is bad and perfectly free to all that is holy just lovely comly and of good report But if thou plead thy freedom against such things yea obstructest and slightest such good wholsom and requisite things thy freedom is naught dark perverse and out of Truth and against the perfect Law of Love and Liberty Answer That this question above is weighty is clear for the whole controversie seems included in it for where the gift of God is received to profit withall they have liberty and freedom to chuse or refuse things according as they are perswaded or they have not and all this is included in the question whereupon according to truth if his design had been to assert it the Question ought to have been effectually answered and all the parts of it freely and fairly discussed that Persons might have known their true Liberty with respect to Church-communion according to his Title Page But on the contrary in our Judgment the Answer if worthy of that name is slight and evasive no way deserving to be reputed or accepted as a true Answer to this weighty Question For Observe the Question is Whether freedom and liberty do not extend further than outward things that is whether it do not reach to the things of God where the gift of God is received according to the Question which being set down above Verbatim we allways refer to in this matter both to avoid mistake and repetition To this observe we find no direct Answer neither directly affirming or denying the Question what 's there 't is true implies a grant but not to the purpose and it seems rather to take the Question to be an Assertion than a Question in our Judgment for it follows thus that this Question is true in a sense which to us is neither clear nor very proper a Question in some sort being a matter undetermined till affirmed or denied And thus at first we see the Question is rather avoided than answered for what cause we shall enquire afterward And in the mean time seeing his Answer takes the Question to be an Assertion to humor it we are content the Question be affirmed and turned into a position to see then if we can speed any better And it will follow thus or to this effect That true liberty and freedom doth extend further than outward things as what I shall Eat and when c. for it reacheth to the things of God to all that have received the gift of God to profit withall for such as they do adhere to it have liberty and freedom in the fear of God to chuse what they believe and are perswaded is good and to refuse and let alone what they believe and are perswaded is not good nor can they act upon another's motion whilst they want a sense of it in their own mind by the gift of God given them to profit withall but offer a blind Sacrifice to God Here we hope we have kept close to the true sense of the Question if affirmed however we are content to abide by the genuine sense of it according to Truth To this observe he answers this Assertion or Question is true in a sense and that is he saith If thou be such an one as is perfectly free to all good and perfectly free from all evil then thou may'st be safely left to thy freedom To find whether this Answer be full or nay to the Question we offer either this Question if affirmed is true in a larger sense than he has granted or it s but true in this sense If true in a larger sense it follows if his aim and design as he says was to assert the truth he has missed his mark For to assert the truth is so comprehensive a term as to take in the direct Answer to this weighty Question But if but true in this sense that he hath laid down then it follows because I am not arrived at this Perfection he speaks of that is to be perfectly free from all that is bad and perfectly free to all that is good as Above though I may have received the gift of God for that end and do adhere to it and am travailing for it yet I am not to be left to my freedom and liberty in the things of God to act as I am perswaded Now if I must not act as I am perswaded then I must act as others are perswaded and how I can so act and not offer a blind Sacrifice to God he hath not so much as attempted to shew which discovers his Answer deficient if his design was good Again either he believes his Answer is full to the Question or he believes and knows it is not If he believes and knows it is not full then must he not only not have asserted the Truth as above but also be conscious wherefore he did it not and we conceive that must either be because he wanted Ability or otherwise because he wanted Truth in his way which we shall examin by and by And in the mean time if he believed this was a full answer to the question when affirmed then we must assert he was under a great mistake for the Question affirmed as above is certainly not only true in a part or in a sense as he is pleased to say but it is true in every part true in the whole and every sense that a Position can be true in nay it is so far true that if it can be wrong at all 't is only in a sense and that is only when mis-applied But the Mis-application of this weighty Question when affirmed doth observe neither destroy it in it self nor in the least take away the true use and therefore we believe where the gift of God is received to profit withall and truly adhered too there must be a liberty to chuse and refuse things according as such are perswaded even from the Babe in Christ to the strong Man and so to all States Nor do we hereby exclude External Counsel and Advice but still it must accord and agree with the gift of God received or 't is not
otherwise not He Quest Page 6 and 7. But the Members of Christ's Church in the Primitives had different apprehension as the Apostle and the People gathered by them To this he answers Pray let me know who they were and in what cases the Person was Paul and Peter and those Christians that differed about Meats Answer As to that difference betwixt Paul and Peter we believe it was more the Author 's own stating than any bodies else except some might bring it to beat down that over-value which Men are ready to take to themselves because of their Eldership or Priority considering that here an elder Apostle was corrected by a younger though the best of it is he bore it well for any thing that we hear As to that of Meats it is true 't is an instance of weakness but that doth not conclude them weak that made the Objection but rather strong that was contented to be accounted weak rather than you should be unquiet but whether weak or strong seeing we are sure there are some that is conscienciously dissatisfied you ought to hear or forbear and so avoid or provide for the cure of Dissatisfaction and Division But to that of Meats he has unfairly avoided the weight of the Objection by omitting days 't is true he has an c. but his Answer is as foreign to it as if no such thing had been As to Meats he pleased to say It did not concern Church-Communion but was private and personal Freedom and centered here as what I will eat and when as a Man having power over his own Appetite when 't is plain from Scripture they were not free but bound on the account of Conscience however we hope he will not say they observed days too under the same notion but if he will to make way for blind Obedience who can help it However 't is plain from Rom. 14. that the Church at Rome or some eminently concerned therein took things under another notion tho' wrong too as all have been since that have made circumstantial things Terms of Communion or how comes it that the Apostle bids them receive such By which 't is plain either that such had been rejected or could not be received on those Terms so that the Objection if fairly stated is valid and thus far to the case in hand as to prove various Practices in such things tollerated by an Apostle though contrary to a Churches mind or some eminently concerned therein and if various Practices then in Circumstantials why not now To say those then did not concern Church-Communion but those now do is to make the Church now or some eminently concerned therein the Author of Schism or Dissatisfaction as she or they was then the only difference that we can find they could not then be admitted because they stuck too much to Circumstantials and now some are thrust out or rejected because they cannot receive such like things But that we may accept of those things in question whatever they are he tells us They are not Jewish Rites doth it therefore follow they are no Rites or because not Jewish Rites they ought to be accepted as Christian Rites But further as he tells us they are not Jewish Rites so he tells us nor shadowy Ceremonies doth he mean they are no shadowy Ceremonies because not Jewish or because in Christ's Government at last there is none Therefore he would not have those received as such but if not shadowy Ceremonies pray let us know what they are For if not ceremonial or circumstantial they must be essential and if not shadowy they must be substance cannot Men be true Christians without them or cannot Mens Lives and Conversations be such as adorn the Gospel if they want them If not we must confess they are essential otherwise they are but ceremonial or circumstantial when all is done Again will those things he speaks of lead into all Truth those that observe them or at best but into some things that is true If into all Truth then we must acknowledge they 're substance but if but into some things that is true they 're but shadowy We find the great hurt and mischief among Christians is a mistake conceiving because Christ came to end the shadowy ceremonies of the first Covenant to the Jews therefore as there should be none in Christ's Government so there is none and so under this mistake contend for such Rules and Forms as they have not as shadows but as essential things while the contrary is plain for the best of outward Means Rules and Forms as they direct unto God's worship and unto Communion and Fellowship with him are but shadows for they must be substance or shadow as above if substance they lead into all Truth if shadows but into some things that is true The substance is God's Holy Spirit that only and alone guides into all Truth the outward rule the shadow in Christ there is no shadow and therefore all that are in him though they may do the same thing the shadow leads to yet they do it not by an outward Rule but by his immediate Government they do it naturally by participating of the Divine Nature Christ being truly not only the object of their mind but the whole Government of the Mind and Soul is immediately upon his Shoulder one Spirit with him by being joyned to him where every Addition is fulfilled for Righteousness sake but such as are under the shadow though Christ be their end yet the shadow is the object of their Mind thinking to find Christ in this or that Duty or serve him in this or that thing and though every thing that is observed for a good end is serviceable if that end be looked for through the use of the outward things but if a sitting down in the outward Court then it will not only be a shadow but become a vail and a snare as well as the abuse of Moses Law did unto the Jews Page the 9th he saith 'T is true the People of God ought to be left to the guidance of the Spirit of God in themselves c. Answ This is as fair as a Man can say but hitherto through-out his Book what he gives with one Hand he takes away with the other for he proceeds and says For this to be so applied as to disregard the Preachings and Writings of Christ's inlightned Servants because by them properly applied to the Preaching and Writing of false Prophets and Seducers will by no means follow Answer We are of his mind in this and do say so too but this is but a beging of the Question who are those Servants and what are those Writings that are true that are rejected We grant readily to apply this and such like sayings as this That I must mind the Spirit of God in my self c. only because others have applied them or against such as we believe are Christ's inlightned Servants in the things that we believe they are inlightned in
the only guide into all Truth be discouraged so early and freedom of Speech taken away what may we think the next Age may do when we consider there was not yet any Christian Society but did at long run decline its Integrity in which danger we seem as well as any that did go before us And his own words to us seems to import as much for he brings the young convinced to be in most danger and for whom those requisite things seems mostly alledged to be serviceable is this because the Truth grows old that outward things are joyned with it to assist it nay sure then it must be because there seems a decrease and if the young convinced seems in this great danger whilst the old are living what must they do when they are gone beside if not an increase there will be a decrease Well since there is danger to go backward from the Truth in the Mind and Love of God in the Heart either into the World or into Form without Power and Life why should not liberty of Speech be allowed to all yea to such as think themselves the Church For if not suffered now because you think you are right they will not be allowed when there is need because they are wrong especially having your early Example to plead and thus may Truth 's Testimony suffer in the future by the cause which you now have given wherefore we think since you seem to make so much Povision for future time you ought in this more especially to have set Posterity a good President by your Moderation and Forbearance why may not you be cautioned to beware of Formality We would gladly have a satisfying reason for this while we consider all before us have failed â—â—re and what can you say more in our day than others before us could in their time Have you received more then more is required Have you any thing but what you have received Must not the Rooâ— bear yoâ— and not you the Root Must particular Persons by our own Rule be humble and low and think others better than themselves and must not Churches as they relate to Assembâ—â—â—â— read in the same book for they are made of the same Menâ— Are they holier for being assembled or because the greater number then let them be more humble too We believe it is as much the duty of Assemblies as of Individuals for at best you know but in part and there is yet that to know which you do not and God is no more bound to many than he is to one as the Wind blows where it listeth so may God speak or appear by whom he pleases Pray let us know why Truth 's Testimonies may not be allowed and pass currant where the Life and Conversation is suitable is it because you are the greater number or because there is some among this greater number that is infallible and then have received the whole Counsel of God that nothing can be true but what such allow of and all must be so that they approve Not the first surely for Truth never prospered in the World while that was to be Truth concluded by the greater number besides 't is from hence that the Whore takes her power and strength so that it s not less than a scandal to speak of it in the case but if the latter we must confess 't is rare if true because without President or Example but on the contrary that many have pretended as high things and yet have been wrong is no news why then should not you fear that while you think you stand least you fall For we believe you cannot make it appear that any pretended such high things but they failed So that by all we can find you seem in more danger than safety and consequently more occasion to bear if not receive those Testimonies than reject them under the notion of loose Pleas. Perhaps you will say that those that use those Pleas are wrong and therefore the Testimonies are false and wrong as used against you but those that use them will tell you that they really concern you and that they are for your good to regard them and indeed are so for any thing that we can find that you have said or done but if some have been wrong must all be condemned for that Will that make you right We doubt not but you say they are wrong if so it must be manifest in their Lives and Conversation or not If manifest in their Lives and Conversations place your Judgment upon what is evil and spare not for there it will stand for we plead not for evil in any but for what is good but let that which is true live you know where the Heart believeth to Righteousness the Mouth must confess unto Salvation so where the Spirit of Truth is owned and known the guide into all Truth such may truly hold forth those Testimonies which belong unto it yea for those Testimonies of Truth ought to live as outward Monuments of it through all Generations But if no evil manifest in their Conversation nay perhaps instead of finding any evil there their Lives and Conversations may be as good as yours and such as adorns the Gospel against which Scripture saith there is no Law will you then make Laws against such as God has made none What will you do now Will you say they are still wrong though you have nothing against their Lives and Conversations nor yet against any principle or essential thing they hold and that because of that wrong those Testimonies of Truth which they use are wrong and false For he saith Page 9. That a saying may be false or true according to the subject or matter it is applied too but that we believe is a mistake for we think Truth 's Testimonies are not false because some may mis-apply them For instance this Testimony that the Spirit of Truth is guide into all Truth is always true however mis-applied to illustrate it in lower things as Meat Drink and Cloathing then what is more abused or mis-applied are they wrong or false because some abuse them No such matter no more do we think Truth 's Testimonies false because some abuse them Will you then abuse and discourage those Testimonies because you think those are wrong that use them though nothing that is immoral or evil in it self can be proved against them We think you cannot do this in the best sense but do evil that good may come of it and though that may be a Maxim in a false Church we believe 't is none in a true are they wrong still in your thought then 't is what you cannot right without doing wrong your selves Now if you cannot right a thing without doing wrong is it not your place to suffer Nay is it not your Duty And if the advice to the Church of Philadelphia was thought on in this case it might help to support However we know our Saviour overcame by suffering and
AN ANSWER TO Several Material Passages IN A BOOK Published some time since by W.P. ENTITULED A Brief Examination and State of Liberty spiritual both with respect to Persons in their private Capacity and in their Church-Society and Communion c. By J. H. London Printed in the Year 1691. THE PREFACE TO THE READER FRIENDS YOV being esteemed such as profess the Spirit of Truth the guide into all Truth having met with this Book Entituled A brief Examination and state of Liberty spiritual both with respect to Persons in their private Capacity and in their Church Society and Communion and finding the Author tells us his aim was to assert Truth detect Error and point at some Shoals and Sands that some have too boldly run upon c. Noting the great difference among Friends touching the latter we could do no less than give it a serious Perusal in which we found instead of asserting the Truth freely detecting Error fairly or pointing at any dangerous Sand or Shoal certainly the tendency of our Author's Discourse was rather to remove those true Marks we had then otherwise by endeavouring to bring in a Blind Obedience and an Implicit Faith to what he calls the Church which seems rather implied too than fairly set forth that we can find On this account considering how easie 't is for many on a Religious score to take things for granted from Persons valued on that account rather than give themselves the trouble of tryal by a true search according to the due weight of the Matter We say considering the danger of this we could do no less than take notice of several parts of the said Book desiring they may be well weighed and considered by such as believe the Spirit of Truth is that only guide into all Truth How far we was obliged to do this at present by an immediate Motion from God we shall not now determine nor Impose upon any for as we find the name of the Lord in this case is almost become as a Reproach being so often used of late to so little purpose so we would not administer further Occasion in that respect to those that are without to speak evil of the way of Truth because of some difference among such as profess it nor would we peremptorily impose upon our Brethren who professing the same Principles of Truth may pretend to the like Certainty for avoiding those things we chuse rather to commend whâ—t we have to say to the witness of God in every mind that being the likeliest way to make room for Truth and as soft words are said to pacifie Wrath so are they most like to be heard at this time 'T is true we have delivered our Judgment plainly that the Tendency and Import of our Author's Discourse was and is to bring in blind Obedience c. which as it leads from the Truth so it is wrong in it self and as every wrong is managed knowingly or otherwise thro' some mistake if wrong is carried on knowingly 't is evil or wicked because designed but from this censure we may in Charity excuse our Author believing him both a better Man and more a Christian but if not designed it must be carried on and managed through some mistake and so we would have what is said in the following Discourse to be understood But then some may inquire how our Author could be mistaken being Master of such great Abilities to which we answer easily through the mysterious working of the Enemy in the likeness of Truth nor need this seem strange to any if they consider how many have been deceived thereby both great and small and some at times hurried into things grosly evil as killing their fellow Creatures and yet at the same time think they did God Service c. How much more easie is it for Persons to be deceived by the Enemy in things that appear like good The likeness of good and of Truth is that which the evil one takes up to keep his place and save his Life when he can keep no longer in the polluted State for being a Spirit he can turn into any likeness and through the over-valuing of outward thing 's on a Religious score has the Enemy slipped undiscovered into all Forms of Religion that have been in the World and thereby kept alive his Kingdom in the Wrath Enmity hard Speeches Hatred and Vncharitableness that have been kept up among the various Professors of it Therefore that great Mystery of Iniquity stands in the likeness of Truth for if there was nothing like Truth that is not Truth there could be no Vncharitableness among such as in any measure fear God for as then there would be nothing but good and Evil so such as loved the Good as they would deny the Evil they would own the good to the least degree of its appearance knowing that as the Root of all Evil was but one so the Root of all good was but one But now besides what is evil and good as coming from each respective Root there is a third thing as we may say that stands betwixt them The outward appearance resembles good to a great degree but the Root is of the same Nature with the Evil having only changed his appearance and though good may sometimes be witnessed here as there is any thing of Sincerity in the Mind yet the Root of Evil not being removed away the covering of the Soul in the best sense is but as the linnen and woolen Garment forbid to be worn under the Law On this account it is as needful to know the Enemy cast out of our Hearts as he appears like good as it was to know him cast out as he appeared as Evil for as where the latter is not known there wants the form of Truth so where the former is not witnessed there wants the power of it It is here that he deceives poor Man sitting as God in the Temple of God and therefore till he is cast out we cannot know our Names truly to be written in the Lamb's Book of Life In this is the Victory not only over Sin but over Satan for when he can keep no longer in the polluted State nor deceive by the likeness of good then can he deceive no more This we must hope and look for and the Turnings and overturnings in Profession of Religion since the stirring of God by his Spirit to Reformation do shew that he is on his way to reign whose Right it is a But to our Time this Likeness of Truth this Enemy as God sitting in the Temple of God c. hath not been cast out nor could in any Reformation because all-a-long some outward Ceremoniel or shadowy things was joyned with the Spirit of Truth as essential to Salvation True Religion and the Government of Christ But as the Enemy can go into any outward Form or Thing therefore he could not be cast forth whilst those outward Things were overvalued but whether such have acted against
matter prove it Observe do not we set up the Body of our Community to determine the matter and what difference betwixt that and resolving matters of Faith by the majority of Voices For is not the Body taken for the greater number and then is it not the same thing when truly applied and if this be true is it not much worse in us by how much we begun better O that it could be considered For otherwise we believe at last it will not only be found wrong but that 't is but a few that manage this Mystery in comparison to the greater number though they may be supported by their compliance but as we can truly say Father forgive them they know not what they do we are not without hope but seeing we have observed that Christians and Christianity was always disadvantanged by those Pleas for Unity when put in practice of which we have had the Experience from others and now have it among our selves if we could heed to improve the occasion and that is to put in practice among our selves that good advice we have given to others to wit to make nothing Terms of Communion but essential things to which purpose that Book styled An Address to Protestants is so full to the matter that if more can be said no more need if the Advice there were but effectually taken by our selves of which to be sure there 's most need that so at least if we cannot mend others we might prove the truth of our Advice by amending our selves till then those excellent Precepts want Examples and all know they 're more prevailing therefore let us begin to set that great and glorious Example which as yet the World never knew We forbear to transcribe any part of the Book considering it's great applause and late Writing We hope it should not yet be forgotten However it may be reviewed to corroborate the Memory and then there can want nothing that we know of but Self-application In the mean time since 't is matter of Fact that Christians never thrived on a true Christian account where those Pleas for Unity have been put in practice relating to ceremonial circumstantial and shadowy things do not object that was only as carried on to violence for we say the ground of all Evil is first in the Mind and from a straitness there and therefore they that omit nothing of that power they have who can believe if such had more they would imploy it better Self-denial and Forbearance is the best demonstration of a Christian frame of Spirit for Christ did not come to take away the greater Evils only but the lesser also yea even the ground of all strife that is Evil. Therefore let us alter our course and take other but better measures have Christians and Christianity as truly such almost been extinguished in the World by seeking an Unity in Opinion Let us seek it in Essentials and then the work is done among us at least to peace and then to be sure we shall promote according to our power what the World stands need of as well as to wait that a true Figure of the Universal Church of which Christ is the true Head may be advanced among our selves and as this is truly set up and promoted all difference dies that 's evil among such as truly fear God then what remains will be of no more Evil than the various forms and colours of Flowers in Gardens if not of much more service that true Philosophers Stone being known to turn all the Metals into pure Gold Do we think we have been the most true that have been since the Apostacy which perhaps we have as to Notion and Profession of the things of God Then let us endeavour to promote what is more true What can hinder the putting this in practice but the Devil by the likeness of Truth perswading this was to give liberty to Evil And therefore to prevent that they set up their own Works whereby instead of leaving People to come in at the right Door they do but make them formal We must confess this cannot be fully known till God discover it and therefore we must wait in Patience for God's time but 't is a mistake to think this is to give liberty to Evil while our end we are sure bears witness to the contrary But to answer all the Objections that may be made as it would take up now too much time so perhaps we may not know all that may be advanced so we shall omit that till we are better informed of them as also till more sitting Opportunity do occur In the mean time we desire those things may be taken in the best sense but if otherwise we hope we shall not altogether be unprovided We know 't is writ They shall come from the West North East and South to sit down with Abraham Isaac and Jacob in the Kingdom Those certainly was not of one external Form and Order as to ceremonial and shadowy things yet we find they agree but perhaps some will say this is in Heaven well what then Must they not agree on Earth that must agree in Heaven Shall not God's Will be done on Earth as 't is in Heaven How else shall the Governments of this World become the Kingdom of Christ but as the Peace of the one becomes the Peace of the other and as the Government of that becomes the Government of this For is not Christ the Head of all that is good from the least breathing to the fullest perfection And doth not he own all that 's of his own begetting every where according to the degree of Knowledge revealed Can any thing that 's good in a spiritual sense be received but as it comes down from above And as Christ owns all that is good shall not we own it Doth not he gather all the good together in one even himself Doth he gather all universally in every Nation that fears him and work Righteousness without respect to shadowy things c. wherein they may differ for those he hath left unmeasured on purpose that they might not hinder Doth he do this in every Nation and shall not he do it in one Nation Doth he do this in general and shall he not do it in a Family Yes surely he will in his own appointed time 'T is true he proceeds by weight and measure nor can we hasten his Work yet certainly we may wait for it in a true Christian Moderation and Patience desiring the Lord Jesus may come and if he please quickly to gather the Minds and Spirits of all that fear him in any measure into his Name that is but one then would Sion become our Solemnity and Jerusalem a City sought out and not forsaken even the Praile of the whole Earth not that which is below for she is in Bondage with her Children but that which is from above the Mother of all that is born free which is not of Man's Contrivance Work or Workmanship
or referred too all his work had been to no purpose grant that and no hopes of conforming before Conviction from hence 't is plain 't is Form and not Power and Life that is so strenuously endeavoured to be set up But the sense and consequence of his Argument sets Fellowship up instead of Truth for we can find no difference by his Argument betwixt saying They that go out of the Truth go out of the Light and they that go out of Fellowship go out of the Light but as the word Fellowship is set up for Truth we must inquire what must be understood by it for it cannot stand of it self Therefore to make it intelligible in the best sense we must joyn to it what he calls the Church and then that Church must relate to People and at last we judge it must relate to those Orders Rules and Forms that are set up by this Church for the difference begun there and therefore the Fellowship seems to stand there and then according to the Consequence of his reasoning in our Judgment his Position must be read thus or to this effect They that go out of Fellowship with this Church in these circumstantial or ceremonial things which she set up to be observed they go out of the Light that God dwells in Now if this be true the contrary Position is as true That they that walk in Fellowship with this Church in the things she sets up to be observed they abide in the Light that God dwells in Upon the whole 't is necessary to know whether all this be true or nay if not necessary a bare Conformity will serve and they that can believe this Doctrin have no more to do but to mind to keep in Fellowship with this Church in the things she set up to be observed and what may confirm such in it is his Position That they that go out of Fellowship go out of the Light for if this be certain the contrary is as certain That they that keep in Fellowship abide in the Light but if needful to know the truth of those things beyond a bare Conformity Belief or Report as most sure it is for if we must be led by this Church and she be wrong and that not known our Damage is irreparable but if she is right 't is as necessary to know that as it was the other otherwise we may be wrong whilst she may be right Now whether she is right or wrong can only be truly known by coming sincerely to the Spirit of Truth in our own Hearts and there waiting to know what is right and what is wrong for that way only can we be gathered into the Truth and kept out of what is wrong therefore we must affirm 't is absolutely necessary for every one to come to the Spirit of Truth for themselves for he that knoweth not the Truth in himself can never know it in another as he ought to know it nor can he value the Truth in another that doth not first love and value it in himself by which 't is plain 't is God that adds to the true Church and not Man though we do not deny any means that God may make use of but as they all direct to him so they all end in him for Righteousness sake to them that truly believe But to come to his Argument again which is that 't is easie to conclude That those that go out of Fellowship go out of the Light to which we say as easie as it is 't is not safe so to conclude upon this Argument the Word Fellowship being dubious and uncertain as above because those that did go out of Fellowship with the Apostles did go out of the Light therefore those that go out of Fellowship or differ with this or that Assembly in this or that ceremonial or shadowy thing go out of the Light is no good Argument being still but a begging of the Question what is this but to over-value our selves and bear witness of our selves as others before us have done endeavouring to set our Post by the Apostles which we cannot And if we could the work would not follow God hath designed which is to go forward but instead of that there would be a declining seeing 't is plain as the Apostle and these then were most eminent so there was a declining until the true Church did go into the Wilderness nor can the work succeed better whilst those that go before are to be relled on in the things of God or whilst they look for it betwixt the Apostles time and the Church going into the Wildernss the inquiry was what the Apostle did thinking by doing what they did to meet with the same Life and Power or at least by doing such things to find acceptance with God but when that was missed and Life could not be found nor Satisfaction in observing of outward things then was the true Church allured by the Lord into the Wilderness state wherein nothing could serve to satisfie the Immortal Soul but what came immediately from God and then such God visited by his Holy Spirit according to their state and his time and so from step to step till he came to us to whom we believe he hath appeared more clearly than to any since the Apostacy and as we have seen that Christ must be the beloved of the Soul before we could by his Holy Spirit be led out of the Wilderness so it must be a true dependance upon him that can only perfect that Work begun according to his own will and as we believe there is to be no end of the increase of his Government now begun we are to consider there is some alteration in the work it then decreased it must now increase and if it must increase we may well consider as God is Infinite and Eternal he hath still more Wisdom Power and Glory to reveal and as we think of this and consider that we are but come to the beginning of this glorious Day we should be so far from thinking our selves the greatest as we should think our selves the least for this only fits Men to know more this is that which makes the Elders low and little in their own eyes and then always ready to throw down their Crowns at the feet of Jesus let him appear when how and where he pleases Thus there must be a looking forward and not backward for the mind of Christ This hath yet never been truly known in any Reformation for instead of waiting truly upon him that stired in their minds and shewed them things that was true and did appear to them in the use of outward things whilst their mind was sincere to him we say instead of waiting upon him to compleat and fulfil those Additions that might be serviceable for a time they depended too much on outward Things and limited him by those Forms that he had appeared in and herein the Elders in every breaking forth of God since the Apostacy
have not been the least to blame and the same Rocks or like them on which they were split is our danger wherefore we should not think by what we know to measure what is to come or that the form that is now set up is that which the People of God for the future are to be found in for as that may and certainly will make us miss of the appearance of the Lord that is still to come so do we hereby limit the Holy one as much as is in our power and such may as justly be reproved as they was of old to whom the Lord said by his Prophet Heaven is my Throne and the Earth is my Footstool where is the House that you will build for me or where is the place of my Rest Page 6. he asketh If there be not a Christian Body and whether this Body hath not a Head and whether Christ be not this Head and whether this Head be without Eyes Ears Smell and Taste and this Body without Sense and Feeling if not whether this Head beareth smelleth seeth tasteth differingly and contrary to it self and whether this Body hath a contrary feeling at the same time about the same thing and if it be true that the Church of Christ redeemed by his most precious Blood to live to him see with the same Eye hear with the same Ear speak with the same Mouth live by the same Breath and are led by the same Spirit where is this Disagreement Contrariety or dissent about the things of his Church We shall subjoin part of Page 8 and consider them together They that have Christ for their head have one Counceller they disagree not in their Judgments in things relating to Christ and good of his Church they have one and the same guide c. Now to every Member is a Measure of the same Spirit given to profit with uâ— and though every Member is not an Eye nor an Ear nor a Mouth yet every Member hath unity with the Eye with the Ear and with the Mouth in their proper and respective Acts and they one with another The Eye sees for the Mouth and the Mouth speaks for the Eye and the Ear hears for both c. it must be granted that there are helps in the Church as well as that there is a Church at all and the holy Ghost has compared those helps to several Members and Senses of a Man's Body as an Eye an Hand a Foot Hearing Smelling c. all then cannot be the Eye neither can all be the Hand for then they would confound their Offices and if I will not comply with him that is made an Eye because I am not that Eye or an Hand because I am not that Member my self nor a Party to the Action or Performance of that Member I resist the Lord though under pretence of resisting Man for the Lord's Sake c. with much more to the same purpose Answ The most of all this is in the way of queries but in short something or nothing must be intended by them if nothing they 're vain and to no purpose if something 't is plain 't is to gain a dependance upon what he calls the Church and that he makes infallible as she relates to Men that she must relate to Men is clear the difference being betwixt Men and Men that he intends her infallible is also clear if he writes his Mind for as he makes no provision in all his Book to the contrary by allowing Conviction to preceed Conformity to her Orders so also he seems to make her immediately joyned to Christ for her Head as the natural Body is joyned to the natural Head to speak a little to all this which might be subjects of many and large Discourses first it doth not seem to hang well together in the first part he tells us this Church hears with the same Ear sees with the same Eye and speaks with the same Mouth in the latter part that Members of this Church except he means another Church are made an Ear an Eye a Hand c. as may be seen plainly above is not this inconsistent In the first they all seem to hear for themselves c. in the latter some hear immediately and some secondarily the first hear immediately not only for themselves but for others also the second hear only for themselves by others is this to hear with the same Ear see with the same Eye we doubt not but if it be to say no more to this we desire it may be better explained In the mean time as to the Church that is perfectly redeemed by the most precious Blood of Christ to be Bone of his Bone and Flesh of his Flesh and so united to him as the natural Body is to the natural Head we grant it may be said in a good sense that she sees with the same Eye c. but this is that Church that is hid from the World as Christ is hid from the World yet he knows who are his and they know him and his Voice All should travel for this and not fit down contented in any thing till they know the white Stone where the new name is writ that none can know so well as them that have it and though the Bride the Lamb's Wife in this sense is making her self ready to do the Father's Will yet we find not that this Church hath shewed her self unto the World or that she may thus shew her self we cannot determine for her Life is hid with Christ in God but if she have or may be known by any infallible Character that so what is or may be said of this Church that is truly in God in which there is neither spot nor wrinkle may be truly applied to any visible Society let him then set her forth as a City on a Hill that she may not be hid which he ought to do if there must be that dependance which his Writings imply And then let us know what Member is this Eye that we must see by and what Member is this Ear that we must hear by and what Member is this Mouth that we must speak by in those things that relate to Christ and his Church that so we may not be imposed upon by such as may pretend to be that Eye that Ear and Mouth and are not for if this be the Ordinance of God it both may and ought to be done for God yet never designed an end with respect to Man but he discovered the means Therefore let us have what is certain or we cannot have Truth Will he have us to depend and not certainly tell us what on He doth not intend that sure for that would be to bring in as great a Chimera on a Religious score as we have ever heard of when this is considered if this can be done that is insisted on above let it be done that so difference may come to an end but if this cannot be done then that we may
all Truth and gave this for a reason as it was an inward and hidden Rule if allowed sufficient as Independent to any outward Rule then it opened a way for the Worlds Libertines to plead the light within for their excesses and thus though they owned the light within and Spirit of God in a sense yet they set up the Scriptures as superiour and guide unto it and do not you in effect the same thing For though you do not set up the Scriptures yet both by the management of things and the tendency of our Author's discourse you set up the Church as a Rule and Guide to the Spirit and Light within and what difference is there seeing both have equally been misapplied by the cunning crafty reasonings of Men Now consider is there any cause for all this noise save your Brethren pleading the light within against your forcing new things upon them 'T is true he saith This Plea is a Deviation from the ancient Testimony but how doth he prove it For forcing circumstantial ceremonial or shadowy things is of the same nature with the imposing of such like things by others the difference of the the thing or Persons do not alter the nature of Imposition Imposition is Imposition still so that if you impose it will be the same thing and you must either impose or not if you deny that you impose why are not you quiet But if you own that you do impose to us you justifie their Pleas against you to be short you must bring those things in about which the difference is either as Terms of Communion or not if you did not bring them in as Terms of Communion then why do you criminate your Brethren as evil doers whilst you have nothing against them but refusing compliance with your Opinions As this shews the want of Charity so 't is no proof that your cause is good but as you bring them in as Terms of Communion whilst they are no essential things you must be wrong whether the things be wrong or nay for if brought in as Terms of Communion whether right or wrong they must be received Therefore as the liberty of choice is taken away our Understanding is superfluous such service indeed may be blind or worse but can never be reasonable This appears as an excess in you and as every excess is a wrong for which you must plead the light within or some other thing if some other thing pray let us know what it is in the mean time as this is a wrong must it not be opposed by such as see it a wrong by setting the measure of Understanding God has given against this wrong how else shall wrong now or any for the future be redressed If this be what our Author terms Confusion and setting measure against measure are not you first in the matter by administring the occasion setting your measure not only against but over your Brethren For in the Truth to us it doth not appear but your Brethren have as much power to refuse things as you can have to impose and where the power 〈◊〉 equal the difference about Opinions in circumstantials ought to be discontinued by those that gave the occasion for we are sure it is more according to Truth for you to omit the doing of what you may believe is good in this sense than for others to receive what they believe is wrong it will not be your calling them requisite things that can give you any Authority for ceremonials or circumstantials will still be such when you have said and done what you can But if this be Babel indeed a Term of his own starting are not you the Master Work-men in this building the cause for which the Language is divided And then is not there a plain parallel betwixt your work and that in the Land of Shiner They were there of one Language while they journyed and till they began to build their end was Preservation as well as yours but as they took their own Counsel and not the Lord's he divided their Language not for their hurt but that they might be stopped which otherwise they would not in that fruitless labour that as it could never be perfected so it could not answer the end designed And like to this was not we of one language whilst we truly travelled for the true rest of the Soul to wit Union and Communion with God in that holy Spirit of his Son Christ Jesus But when we found Shinar a Plain and took up our dwelling there in the likeness of Truth then did not we as others before us begin to build and bring in the Brick instead of the true Stone and Slime instead of the true Mortar proper Materials indeed for a great Building and yet but the product of Man's reason and though our end was Preservation yet forasmuch as those Materials that makes this our Building cannot regenerate the Soul nor make the Mind holy and as over-valued hath stopped our Travel and Journeying the Lord has looked down to behold our work and because it cannot answer the end designed and we would not be stopped otherwise has he not as of old and often since divided our language not for our hurt but for our good if we could but make the true use of it which is to cease our Building our Works and so return to him that did begin to work in us by his holy Spirit for he only can perfect it and restore to us not only one language but the pure language which can never be done any other way for no hopes of doing it by our strength and work for that caused the division that way we may become a Sect but can never be born of God's universal Spirit where that one Original language is known to which all that fear God must at last be gathered till this is known as there has been turnings and overturnings on this account so it must still continue till he come to rule whose right it is We wish in the love of God it could be truly weighed and considered before it be too late And in the mean time for you to call such Pleas as those leave me to the Grace of God and to the Spirit of Truth loose Pleas together with several such like mentioned in his Book we must say we look upon it as of dangerous consequence what though some may abuse them will you take them away and with them freedom of Speech 〈◊〉 you demolish those Fortifications that the Truth hath reared against Imposition Innovation and in some sort provided against an Apostacy This appears to us the fore-runner of a Retreat as others before us have done who begun with the Spirit but after sought to be made perfect by some outward way or thing For if such Pleas and Testimonies of truth as these that nothing is a Duty but what we are perswaded on and that we ought to be left to the Grace of God because the Spirit of Truth is
as Churches their Power being all alike If then some distinct Assembly it must be such an one to speak modestly as is superiour to all the rest according to Constitution and then what comes not in this way can have no shadow of any Authority for force or pressure of new things beyond satisfaction and freedom but such a Church cannot be but either by a civil Compact or by a divine Institution The first is not agreeable with the Truth for we cannot delegate or give power to any to make Rules or Laws to guide us or oblige us in spiritual Matters because we cannot be bound by any thing but the Truth and we must know it such before we can be bound by it therefore no such Compact or Agreement can be because liberty reserved and our power given away are inconsistent But if the latter that some one Assembly according to divine Institution is superiour to all the rest who can make circumstantial or shadowy things Terms of Communion 'T is necessary we should know that Assembly as well also that their Authority is divine if we must rest upon their Determinations without Trial in these matters c. But this we think we cannot know but by a divine way and that then must be either by a divine sense in our own minds or by the Authority of Truth which such bring to convince in both cases we conceive our Understanding is concerned in our Obedience and Duty but neither of those ways are known to us at present therefore till set forth to press Obedience under the notion of a divine Institution implies a kind of Contradiction being in effect to say we are to go out of the Truth to serve it for to go into uncertainty is not to serve the Truth if it be not to go out of the Truth directly thus by all our endeavour in searching into the matter we cannot find according to the Principles of truth that Conformity is to go before Conviction however not before Perswasion And yet we say for Peace sake and that nothing might be hindered that is good as also that true liberty may be preserved any Particular or any Assembly of the Community may offer what is new if they sincerely believe it good and serviceable without breach of Unity or at least of Communion but we cannot find to the bringing of new things in as matters of Faith or Terms of Communion that any Assembly have any more power than a particular Person and if mistaken we would very gladly be better informed and therefore till that be done we believe to press new things as matters of Faith or Terms of Communion to dissatisfaction and indeavouring to get such things strengthened by geting the majority of Voices either directly or indirectly is a going out of Truth to make Parties And this being done how easie is it for Men to be hurried into that Uncharity as not to dispence with those Dissenters which themselves have made without Characters of Indignity as publick marks of Dis-favour as though the thing was out of doubt Truth because the most are for it We shall endeavour to bring this long business to this short issue either such as believe the Spirit of Truth is the only guide into all Truth have liberty and freedom to judge of what they are to receive or they have not if they have not power and liberty to judge of what they are to receive and practice as matters of Faith c. then the power over them is uncountable and such must submit to their Determinations not because they know or are perswaded they are true but because those that have this power over them say they are true if this be not Usurpation exercising Lordship and Dominion as well as the bringing in blind Obedience and the begetting into an Implicite Faith we desire it may be fairly demonstrated to be according to Truth this cannot fairly be denied because we believe the Truth will stand the Test and be willing to come to the Tryal we know that which is false will not indeed because it cannot therefore we are fully perswaded where any is offended at this fair and free Inquiry for satisfaction 't is a sign if not an infallible one that such are faulty But on the other hand if we have liberty and freedom to judge of what we are to receive and practice as matter of Faith on terms of Communion that so our Religion and Duty may be according to our Understanding and Judgment then we may dissent as well as assent to things proposed or brought in according as things or occasion may fall out and this without fear or hazard of being proclaimed Delinquents for Nonconformity not only with respect to our private Sentiments or Opinions for that we might do in Turky or at Rome but with respect to those of the same Communion that would bring new things in to be observed otherwise we have neither true liberty nor freedom The Result is if there be a power over us that can bring in new things as matter of Faith and terms of Communion let it be fairly set forth and proved according to truth but if we have power and liberty to judge of what we are to receive then allow it freely that dissatisfaction and difference may come to an end To this we think can be but one Objection and that is that such as are dissatisfied are not conscientious which we confess is an old Objection but yet not more old than evil and never was to seek to abuse others by such as over-valued themselves 't is time therefore it were removed being as well unchristian uncharitable as unrighteous to criminate Perfons before any thing that 's evil or immoral can be justly proved against them and such practices have always been so far from making difference less as they made them greater for instead of restoring the Path of Peace and Truth to dwell in they always laid a sure foundation both for dissatisfaction and at last for division seeing every one that is truly conscientious have not far to go for an unerring Evidence to reverse so erronious a Judgment Those are some of those many things that we are dissatisfied with in his Book and we can say on a conscientious account either then from a true Understanding or from some misapprehension of the matter in both cases we conceive we should be relieved according to Truth And as our Author is great in the Reputation of Men we expect and also hope he will be great as a Christian too which is to submit unto the Truth where-ever it appears concerned by amending what is amiss whether it be with respect to himself or it be in our mis-understanding so far as lieth in his power and that he may proceed chearfully in this undertaking we are content to say we know but in part and indeed we think but in a little part too nor dare we think our selves so perfect but what we have writ may be objected against by such as will cavil on divers accounts Perhaps some may say it wants Method may be some may say there 's seeming Contradiction or 't is full of Tautologies nay perhaps some fault may be found as to the matter for we confess and think that the day will still grow more clear and then shadows will still be less However as we are sure our end is good there can be nothing done against us in the same mind that can hurt or be of evil Consequence for varieties of Understanding that stands in the fear of God and are managed in his love may be some cause that more light is afforded but however we make our advice to others in the first place a caution to our selves to be always ready to hear and mind what when and how the Lord is pleased to speak or appear for we do not already count our selves perfect yet one thing we do forget what is behind and presses hard after the Mark that stands before and think those that do not so seems not apt for the Kingdom of God for the mind of Christ must be sought for forward and not back to his former appearances and thus in part we know what we are but what we shall be we do not fully know but as the living hopes remain in the mind such truly wait for his appearing which as they cannot miss of his coming so shall they see him as he is and be purified by him that is pure for he was is and is to come Lastly we must confess we do believe our Author might be really troubled touching our Differences as Israel was about Ruben when he built his Altar but we believe also he did not inquire the matter out fully as they did which if he had we are fit to think we should have found as few Objections in this Book as in his other Writings or had he considered of what of this nature was as we were informed communicated to him some time since then perhaps had been no occasion for this however we hope shall be always as ready to confess unto a Truth as to oppose an Error In the mean time we conclude truly desiring the good of Mankind in general but especially of them that have in any measure believed or confessed that the Spirit of Truth or Light within that comes from God is the only guide into all Truth for those we are the more concerned not only because they are nearer to us by Profession but also because they have received more and so have more to give an account of therefore we do earnestly desire such may not sit down in a Notion or Profession of so holy a Principle and thereby take the name of the Lord in vain but by a true Travel in their own Hearts and Minds with God's holy Spirit may come to prove the Truth of what is professed then will they be established as Mount Sion indeed that never can be removed The END