Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	word_n	worship_n	write_n	38	3	8.1154	4	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A30026	De Christiana libertate, or, Liberty of conscience upon it's [sic] true and proper grounds asserted & vindicated and the mischief of impositions amongst the people called Quakers made manifest : in two parts : the first proving that no prince nor state ought by force to compel men to any part of the doctrine, worship, or discipline of the Gospel, by a nameless, yet an approved author [i.e. Sir Charles Wolseley], &c. : the second shewing the inconsistency betwixt the church-government erected by G. Fox, &c., and that in the primitive times ... : to which is added, A word of advice to the Pencilvanians / by Francis Bugg.	Bugg, Francis, 1640-1724?; Wolseley, Charles, Sir, 1630?-1714. Liberty of conscience upon its true and proper grounds asserted and vindicated.; Wolseley, Charles, Sir, 1630?-1714. Liberty of conscience the magistrates interest.	1682 (1682)	Wing B5370; ESTC R14734	148,791	384

to discover it if he perceives such things entring the Church Answ That both the Reading of the Scriptures and the care of Religion belongs not to the Pasture of the Church ONLY But that every one that would be Saved ought to make deligent Search whether any Corruption be already or is for the Future like to be Introduced and this to be done no less carefully I hope I shall perform this Duty than if he was perswaded that all besides himself were asleep Now forasmuch as the Profit will be small If some private Man shall observe that an Errour is Introduced unless he discovers the said Errour and lays it open Address to Prot. p. 163. Read pages 93. 94. 95. 144. 146. 141. 142. c. Query IX Whether the Barbadoes Order upon Record which is To give up our whole Concern if required both Spiritual and Temporal to the Judgement of the Spirit of God in the Mens and Womens-Meetings See Babels-Builders p. 5. And the Isle of Elyes Orders upon Record in our Quarterly Book which says Thath for time to come no Friends may permit or suffer Marriages without the consent of Friends at two Mens and two Womens-Meetings being distinct and apart each from other Be not Innovations and the Setters of them up and confirming them Innovators and do they not do violence to our First Principles of Union Answ Yea Whosoever brings in or Sets up other Precepts Constitutions Orders and Practices in Point of Worship and would set up other Traditions than the Apostle delivered either by Word or Writing such are manifest to have the Spirit of Errour and are Innovators See Francis Howgil's Works p. 236. And that he begun to see the Evil Effects of Councils See his Works p. 534. where he quotes Dr. Paraeus Gregorius Theologus and Gregorius Nazianzenus c. Who complained of the Lordliness of the Ministers and Bishops and that seldom any Good came of Councils as he there at large sets forth c. George Fox See if thou hast not as much Need of a Battledoore as the Scholars and Professors had Who art as much Apostatized from they former Principles for Liberty of Conscience as the Scholars and Professors were from the single Language viz. Thee and Thou to a single Person And therefore to bring People to that which is not of Faith is to bring them into SIN to make Shipwrack of Faith and a Good Conscience Gosp Lib. p. 23. wrote 1668. by G. F. And in his several Papers given forth for detecting Deciet 't is thus said The Worlds Guide is without them in the Traditions and Precepts of men which lead from God p. 5. c. But now Conform to Hadenham Orders or Record him out of the Unity c. As at large in Cap. 3. These Orders were made the 1st of the 10th Month 1675. This I set here not to Adore Because I do well understand He that gave forth the Battledore Now brings Grapes of another Land Which Sower be because not free From Force and Impositions Although as yet he will not see Them like Old Romes Traditions These Queries or the Substance of them I sent to G. Whitehead but never received any Answer from him only there came an obscure Letter to my hands from R. R. but who it was or where he dwelt he did not acquaint me and whether the said Letter may be accounted any thing of an Answer or whether he doth not rather manifest the obscure Author to be a Man full of Contempt Scorn and Disdain and Abuse in that he calls and accounts me Conceited Befooled my Ignorance blinded Lyes perverse Lyer and yet doth not particular one Instance to prove me to be such an one c. I shall leave with the Impartial Reader to weigh and consider when he hath read the said Letter and my Answer to it a Coppy of both hereafter follow Francis Bugg I Know thy Name and Nature though not thy Person A mean Sight may discern it through thy own Spectacles plainly enough to be Abusive Vnworthy and Foolish though conceited in this Matter at present I could be glad to know 't were otherwise now so would others If not I believe G. W. will send thy Papers to the Quarterly Meeting who I believe will see and disown thy Abuse both of this Meeting at London particular Friends and themselves and especially the Truth wherein they are concerned and wherein they Labour and Travel though therein thou abusively comparest them to the Abuses of Bishops Orders Constitutions Decrees Cannons Cheating and other Terms I cannot now remember nor thou understand else thou wouldst write them in truer English and better sense This I mention to meet with and abate thy Concietedness to help thee with Spectacles to see how unfit thou art to undertake to be a Judge of Learning in that kind as well as to be a Judge of such Friends in Truth and such Meetings of Friends in an incomparably higher in imperiously and menacingly requiring them to advise and consent to the altering the Quarterly Meeting Book in your Parts as if thou hadst both this and that Meeting at thy Devotion either to bend to thy hand at thy pleasure or else to undo by thy Publication The Bishoprick thou speakest of and the Promotion aspired to by the Bryar and Thistle in Lebanon which can but prick and rake the Skin cannot destroy as it would that within and that Nature thou art in can but blister it for a time and must in the end be crushed So turn from it in time and signifie it to those thou hast wornged is my Advice to thee they Lyes and Revilings are not worth Answering to be like thee they are so gross vain Thy Queries differ in the Principle from which they proceed and the End to which they tend from the thou makest thy Answer from Friends and that which is defective in two Principal Causes is far from Good which is from intire Cause Conceit hath so blinded thee thou canst neither see Beginning nor End If I did not see thy perverse willful gross Lyes I should answer to thy Ignorance But thus much at present is meet thou shouldst know how it hath befooled thee From him that hath learned so much from the Truth though by thee despised and belyed R. R. For Francis Bugg The Queries are before and the Letters wrote by me and other Friends which I suppose he takes the Imperiousness and Menacing from shall follow after the Answer I sent him for which he accounts me so foolish befooled blinded my Ignorance not wrote in true English c. To which I refer the Reader First then my Answer I sent him Viz. F. Bugg his Answer to R. R's Letter R. R. I Have received a few Lines from thee bearing no Date nor yet acquainting me who thou art otherwise than by R. R. nor yet where thou dwellest by which I perceive thou lovest Obscurity If these Lines of mine chance to find thee out

Reasons are so home to the matter and such a Demonstration of Equity and Reason as one would think it were impossible for any Man and especially such who still seem to have R. Hubberthorn in Estimation to deny it yet being gone from the Tenderness that was in the Beginning are but like the Pharisees who in words would highly commend the Prophets garnish the Sepulcres of the Righteous who at the same time were devising how to Persecute the Blessed Messiah because he could not Conform to their Orders and Outward Observations c. Next I shall produce somewhat out of F. Howgil's Works in p. 614. 616. 617. 620. 625. 626. c. Whereby it will appear how his Testimony is contradicted by our late Proceedings in our Church-Government c. See Francis Howgil c. FAith is the Gift of God there are divers Degrees and Measures according to the Mind and good Pleasure of the Giver so he that hath received any Measure or Degree must not be excluded as having no Faith though he attains not to that Degree that some do enjoy and the Apostles Doctrine was That every one should be fully perswaded in his own Mind and if any were otherewise minded they were to be let alone until God revealed it to them And whatsoever PEOPLE or CHURCH though they claim Infallibility that teach a contrary Doctrine to this we have good reason to suspect IT to be that HASTY-DRIVING and OVER-DRIVING SPIRIT that would FORCE A FAITH where God hath not given it For we are the Elders of the Church and we say the Papists and others too like them have the INFALLIBLE SPIRIT and though we make Decrees contrary to what the Apostles made in their day yet none to question that the Church was but in its Infancy then as unwashed and unswadled and in Persecution but now She is grown up to a greater Stature and Power and endued with greater Priviledges And that say the Papists may be necessary now that was not necessary then c. And whosoever brings in Now mark Set up other Precepts Constitutions Orders Practices in Point of Worship And in Marriage and the Celebration thereof there is a point of Worship in Opposition and contrary to the Practices which were held forth in the Primitive Times and would set up other Traditions than the Apostles Delivered either by Word or Writing such are manifest to have the SPIRIT of ERROVR and are Innovators and Bringers in of other things as necessary in point of Worship amongst Christians which the Apostles and Ministers of Christ did not see necessary then and yet they wanted no part of the Council of God And furthermore they said We have the Mind of Christ and Christs Mind is not variable And speaking of the Spirit said It is that only sure Guide Iudge Way Rule in which there is certainly and Assurance of the Love of God to Mankind it is that by which the Deeds of the Flesh are mortified What shall I say but this Let all Flesh be confounded before it and all Deceit stop its Mouth and all the Sons of Men how before it all COVNCILS and CHVRCHES all RULERS and ELDERS all Reason and Comprehension all Words and Writings of Men yea of Holy Men. Observations From whence it may be observed that such as Set up other Orders Constitutions Traditions c. than the Apostles delivered either by Word or Writing are INNOVATORS and are manifest to have the Spirit of Errour and that G. F. G. W. and those of Party with them have so done is manifest from what is said in the 2d and 3d. Chapters or else I am under a great mistake so that W. R's Title of his Book The Christian-Quaker cannot be Blasphemy as C. Taylor falsly and wickedly says but both the Tile and the Book which answer the same will stand a Witness against them unless they repent and make void their Cannons Orders and Prescribed Rules and Platforms to be observed by the People and indispensibly obeyed under pain of being Recorded out of the Vnity c. I shall at present only add something of G. F. his Testimony in former times before those Orders had a Being which Testimony sufficiently thwars and contradicts their new Model of Church-Government and Proceedings thereupon and then shall finish this Chapter having elsewhere occasion to mention W. P's Address to Protestants c. Viz. Several Papers given forth for the spreading of Truth and Detecting Deceit by G. Fox Minister of the Eternal Word of God Pag. 5. The World is ruled by Outward Rules and all goeth from the Rule The Saints Rule is within them Christ who Ruleth over them is Head of the Body The Worlds Record is without them The Saints Record is within them the Spirit which God hath given unto them is their Record The Worlds Guide is without them in the Traditions and Precepts of Men which Lead from God The Saints Guide is within them to the Spirit c. All you Professors that read these things read your selves where you are whether you are within among the Saints or without among the World And Pag. 31. Query 44. What Scripture have you for sprinkling Infants and for the Word Sacrament and if no Scripture Whether it be not the Commands of Men taught for Doctrine Observations For my part I am at a stand to see how this Mans former Doctrine contradicts his present Practice and if W. R. calls him Apostate And Innovator as that he is manifest enough to be then he is angry and those of Party with him stigmatize and abuse W. R. instead of endeavouring to convince G. F. of the Errour of his way Nay some of them have said to me Admit all you say were true and that it were granted oo be as you seem to Suggest YET for you to Print and Publish these Things is great Wickedness To which I answer Nay If all we say be true touching your Innovations as that we stand ready to prove then I say That 't is no evil to discover such manifest Hypocrisy as you are guilty of What pretend one thing intend another as your Practice manifests Indeed were they not true then to publish such things would be great Wickedness But after all Endeavours privately used to bring you to a sense of these things and to intreat you and beg of you to make void your Anti-christian Cannons which limit People to a stinted Form and for Non-Submission must be put out of Fellowship as I have done for four Years together as my Letters from time to time which I have now made publick do abundantly manifest I say if after all these private Endeavours by my self and others by Letters to Quarterly Meetings to particular Friends to the Second-days Metting by way of Intercession for Peace-sake and that you would race out one Order one Cannon one Condemnation for Non-submission upon which I promised to cease all further Testimony against you whether by Print or otherwise in

appear both from the different station and posture those Kings were in from all Magistrates now and also from the different condition of the Church then and now and many circumstances peculiarly relating to both First The worship and policy of the Jews being in it self typical and representive of what was to come hereafter their Government was likewise so and in their Kings very eminently that David and Soloman did very plainly in the type represent the Kingly Dominion of Christ none will deny and 't is as plain that the very Throne of David it self upon which the succeeding Kings of Judah sate was likewise so there being that Prophesie long before That the Scepter should not depart from Judah until Shiloh came and therefore the Power David and Solomon and the succeeding Kings of Judah for amongst the Kings of Israel after Solomon we find not one concerned for the true Worship of God who were of the lineage of David exercised had a peculiarity in it that is not applicable to any Magistrate now Secondly God was pleased in those times upon all eminent occasions of reformation in his Worship and proceedings of that nature to send Prophets to declare his positive mind and to put an end to all doubts that could be about such things nay some of the Kings themselves were Prophets immediately inspired and did not only take care of the Worship established by Moses but did themselves by divine Authority bring in things of a new Institution into the Worship of God this David did and Solomon in bringing Musick into the Temple and setling the courses of the Priests and were divinely inspired to write part of the holy Scriptures No Magistrates now can pretend to any such power in themselves nor have they any such extraordinary direction to guide them but are punctualy obliged to whatever Christ hath revealed in the Gospel and therefore in this respect the Analogy no way holds good Thirdly The state of the Jewish Church and Common-wealth was such as wholly differed them from all others since that was a Church and a State in the very constitution of them mixed together none could be brought into one but he was a member of the other nor could a man be cast out of the Church but he was thereby cast out of the State to be out-lawed and excommunicated was there amongst the Jews the same thing Grotius expresseth it well At that time saith he the Wisdom in Divine and Humane Law was not divided and he proves it by this As the Magistrate did intermeddle in Church Affairs so the Priest did intermeddle in Cvil things For saith he the Priest was a Judge and did not only give Judgment in Sacred but in Civil Affairs being the best Interpreter of the whole Law And saith the same Grotius further That the Priest had Magistracy This alone may be proved in Deut. 17.8 That he is to dye who obeys not the Command of the Priest 'T is most clear also That Eli was chief Priest in Israel and chief Judge in Shiloe 'T is not any way to be avoided but that the Civil and Ecclesiastical Power lay then interchangeably mixed and with as equal reason may we bring Magistracy into the Ministerial Power of the Gospel from what the Priests then exercised and their example as to bring such a power in Religion into the Magistrates under the Gospel from the parallel of what those Kings did then Besides the Magistratical power was so absolutely necessary to the Jewish Church-Policy so mixed that it could not be upheld without it the very Municipal Law of the Nation was their Religion He that was chief in the State must needs be Head of the Church They were a Holy People living in a Holy Land appointed to Worship in one Holy City and in one Holy place of that City and to offer upon one Altar in that Holy place The Church of the Gospel is totally of another nature perfectly distinct from the civil State can well subsist without a relation to it and is no way intermixed in its Concerns with it And therefore to say all Magistrates now must do as those did that governed such a mixed complicated Church and State in one carries no proportion at all of reason or equity in it more then if a man should argue from a Par ratio that what Moses did at first amongst the Jews who was King in Jeshuron that Kings may now do amongst Christians under the Gospel Lastly What was then done was by Gods command and was in a way suitable to the frame and state of the Church the Jews were imbodied in and lay chiefly in bringing men from Idolatry to the Worship of the true God for in differences between Sect and Sect amongst themselves there was nothing that we find done at any time they continued till our Saviours time and putting such a kind of Worship in execution as lay in outward carnal Services and was in every minute particular exactly set down and determined First The state of the Gospel-Church now is wholly differing from what that was and is setled upon clear other grounds and principles Secondly Here is no command in the Gospel for the Magistrate to do any thing of that nature Thirdly Let it be granted as truth that in parity of reason because Magistrates were appointed to take care of Religion then they are to do so still it must of necessity be granted also that they must do it by the means appointed by Christ under the Gospel as they did heretofore by those God appointed under the Law It is an Inference very infirm That because the Kings of Israel and Judah compelled men by Gods own appointment to acknowledge the true God and forsake Idolatry therefore Magistrates now may not only without but against Christs commands and the whole tenor of the New Testament compel men to the Spiritual Belief and Worship of the Gospel The truth is the civil Power of the Magistrate is no means of Christs appointing for the carrying on of the Gospel the Gospel in the very nature of it carries an Antipathy in it to all outward force Instead of all the temporal promises and corporal punishments under the Law Christ makes this Declaration He that believes shall be saved and he that believes not shall be damned That 's the Language of the Gospel Christ sets Hell and Wrath to come before men and by his Spirit working upon and convincing the Conscience works more admirable effects upon men that way than all the outward punishments in the World could ever bring about The Word of Christ is quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged Sword and can divide between the Soul and the Spirit the Joynts and the Marrow and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the Heart We have in the Hebrews a very perfect account of Gods dealing with men under the Law and now under the Gospel and the plain difference in the manner of the one and

him and that the Author of the Accuser c. in Answer to W. R's Book may not say to me as he in pag. 86. Viz. Howbeit W. R. produceth not any now Prescriptions Methods Rules Orders and Forms of Church-Government Now saith the said Author of the Accuser c. Now he should have produced some new Orders and Forms of Church-Government Introduced amongst in since that time meaning the Year 1673. to prove his Charge of Apostacy and Innovation against G. F. and those he calls his Party c. And Pag. 133. We affirm that his meaning W. R. crying out Impositions Form of Church-Government Orders Prescriptions c. in general is no Answer nor any Proof of his Charge of Apostate and Innovator against us let him either specifie saith this notable as well as confident Author of the Accuser c. the Particulars thereof that he condemns us for as Apostates and that we practice as Church Discipline or else for ever be ashamed c. And Pag. 3. And what New and Unchristian Doctrines and Practices are they meaning G. F. and his Party fallen into we find no Proof nor Discovery thereof in all his Books c. And Pag. 128. of the said confident Author of the Accusers c. We do profess seriously a notable serious George if we may believe him we see no real Cause or valid Reason our Opposer meaning W. R. shews for the great Noyse and Rumble he makes about Outward Laws Prescriptions Orders Edicts or Decrees Outward Form of Government Apostacy Innovation Impositions Lording over Faith over Conscience c. whil'st he shews us no unjust no unlawful nor uncomly Order or Proceedings amongst us as a People nor yet gives us any Instances or Catologue of those Impositions Innovations New Doctrines or Practices brought in and received amongst us which are inconsistent with our First Testimony to the Light and Grace of God within and Teachings thereof c. I say things considered as practised amongst us I marvel that the said Author which is said to be G. Whitehead should have the Confidence thus to call for a Proof to call for a Catologue of the New Orders that are Introduced amongst us when he at the time of his Writing could not be ignorant of the Things complained of by W. R. who 't is probable thought there was no need to produce such Proof such a Catalogue and such manifest Instances to prove the same and that none would have the Confidence or rather Impudence to deny such Things as are every Month put in Practice amongst us But as I said that be may not say so to me I will bring him both Proof and President and if he will call them a Catologue he may But first the Confirmation of the Foundation of the Womens-Meetings Namely George Fox his Order above recited by a General Council held at London Anno 1675. Concerning Propounding Marriages London the 27th of 3d. Mon. 1675. IT is our Judgment that for better Satisfaction to all Parties that there may be due time for Inquiry of clearness of the Persons concerned it is convenient that Marriages be at twise propounded to the Meetings that are to take care therein both to the Mens and Womens Meetings where both are Established before they are accomplished and when Things are cleared that the Marriage be accomplished in a Grave and publick Assembly of Friends and Relations Observations And now set the Authority and Confirmation of the Womans Meetings and how G. F. his pretended Motion is corroborated and strengthed I am necessitated to transcribe more of the Transaction of this notable if not Universal Council than I am willing lest G. Whitchead should again call for a Proof or Catologue of their new stamped Government c. Concerning Mens and Womens-Meetings IT is our Judgment and Testimony in the Word of Gods Wisdom that the Rise and Practice Setting up and Establishment of Mens and Womens-Meetings in the Church of Christ in this our Day and Generation is according to the Mind and Counsel of God and done in the ordering and leading of his Eternal Spirit and that it is the Duty of all Friends and Brethren in the Power of God in all Places to be diligent therein and to incourage and further each other in that blessed Work and particularly that Friends and Brethren in their respective Countries incourage their Faithful grave Women in the Settlement of the said Meetings and if any professing Truth shall either directly or indirectly discountence a notable Warning and little obeyed except by G. F. his Men of War or weaken the Hands of either Man or Woman in the VVork and Service of the Lord let such be admonished according to the Order of the Gospel and if they receive it not but resist Counsel and persist in the work of Division we cannot but look upon them as therein not in Unity with the Church of Christ and Order of the Gospel Therefore let Friends go on in the Power of God and in that Work for Him his Truth and People and not to be swayed or hindred by them or their Opposition Observations Behold the difference between this Decree and the Letter of Advice and Counsel in the First Chapter of this Treatise that hath a particular relation to the Scripture and the Practice of the Holy Men recorded therein but this is wholly a stranger to any such Authority yet that was not proposed otherwise than Advice and Counsel and not as a Form or Rule to walk by notwithstanding there was so much in it to justifie the pressing of it both as being bottom'd on Scripture Authority and the Practice of the holy Men of God recorded in Scripture but this no relation to Scripture Authority Precept or President no relation to the Example of the holy Men of God recorded in Scripture nor any Command of God or Jesus Christ who is Head of the true Church and Lawgiver too but notwithstanding the Authors of this Decretal Order are peremptory and positive none must refuse a Complyance none must discountenance the Observatition of it directly or indirectly for if they do they are not to be lookt upon in Unity with the Church that is not to be lookt on as Christians and Members of Christs Church and so at once made Heathens by this new fashoned Edict But to make good Provision against any that shall yet dare to slight this new Model or new found Method of Church-Government or call in question their Power or Authority See what a strict and severe Admonition is uttered forth even as if it had come from the Popes Council of Jesuits and crafty Fryars I Know that some will be mighty angry and sore displeased with me for transcribing so much of their hidden Mysteries but in my apprehension there is no reason for it for if Womens-Meetings be of such Excellency and their Government and Jurisdiction so vertuous amiable as that whoever comply and yield obedience to them are in

Demonstration that Force and Imposition on Consciences is an Antichristian Practice and that an undisturbed Liberty of the Exercise of Conscience in Matters Spiritual is every Christians just Priviledge and Right where People live peaceably under the Outward Government which is one main thing intended by this Discourse as well as to discover that Hypocritical and two-fac'd Practice Viz. Of pleading to the Magistrate for Liberty of Conscience and at the same time are using and exercising all Force Rule Dominion and Authority they are capable to inflict upon their Discenting Brethren who cannot fall down and cry Hosannah to every Likeness lest the Accepting and Conforming to one needless Ceremony should be ground of Incouragement to the Ruling Party to Introduce another and so a numberless number until at length Rome may if possible be out done c. Zanchy in his Epi. to Q. Eliz. L. 1. C. 241 Non propter Vestes totum Corpus Ecclesiae Perdere Not to destroy the Body of the Church for Garments sake not to disturb the Peace of the Church by urging Indifferent Things Col. 245. c. VVilliam Tindall in his Answer to Sir Thomas Moor p. 258. of his Works thus saith But they which maliciously maintain Opinions against the Scripture or such as make no Matter unto the Scripture and Salvation that is in Christ whether they be true or no and for the Blind-Zeal of them make Sects breaking the Unity of Christs Church for whose sake they ought to suffer all things and rise against their Neighbour whom they ought to love as themselves Such Men I say are fallen from Christ and make an Idol of their Opinion Now this is a plain Conclusion that both they that trust in their own Works and they also that put Confidence in their own Opinions be fallen from Christ and Err from the way of Faith And saith he p. 174. Some Men will say The Pope hindeth them not they bind themselves I answer He that bindeth himself to the Pope and had rather have his Life and Soul Ruled by the Popes Will than by the Will of God and by the Popes Word than by the Word of God is a Fool and he that had rather be bound than free is not wise and he that will not abide in the Freedom wherein Christ hath set us is also mad And the reason that G. W's Learned Friend R. R. in his Post-script to the Babylonish-Opposer p. 15. He would seem to insinuate that this William Tindal yields the Women such Authority as may countenance the Proceedings of Womens-Meetings amongst us as Set up by G. F. and those of Party with him Viz. Once a Month about the tenth Hour distinct and apart from the Men to whose Assembly when so convened all that intend Marriage must go before them and present their intentions and stay a compleat Month and then go both of them before the said Womens-Meetings met as aforesaid to ask their Licence as in the Second and Third Chapters are at large set forth And if any will not so submit to their Authority and conform to their Jurisdiction then to Record them out of the Vnity c. I say lest his Insinuations should have such an Influence upon any of his credulous Readers and thereby be deluded I have traced him and in the Reading of William Tindals Works I have found him out and shall for the right Information of the Reader relate his Judgment in his own Words p. 252. Women be no meet Vessels to Rule or to Preach for both are forbidden them yet hath God indued them with his Spirit at sundry times Do not our Women Christen and Administer the Sacrament of Baptism in time of need might they not by as good Reason Preach also if necessity required if a Woman was driven into some Island where Christ was never Preached might she not there Preach Him if she had the Gift thereto Notwithstanding though God be under no Law and necessity Lawless yet be we under a Law and ought to preferr the Men before the Women and Age before Youth as nigh as we can for it is against the Law of Nature that Young-Men should Rule and as uncomly that Women should Rule the Men. And Pag. 313. Tells us what was the Service of Women in these words To be a Servant unto the poor People to dress their Meat wash their Cloaths to make their Beds and so forth and to wash Strangers Feet that come out of one Congregation unto another about Business and to do all manner of Service of Love unto their poor Brethren and Sisters c. I think I need not comment upon the difference in all respects betwixt what this worthy Man intended as by his words are manifest betwixt the Womens Services in those times and the usurped Authority and unlimited Power and Rule that G. F. and others have placed in the Womens-Meetings as that none must be permitted or suffered to Marry except they Conform c. So that the Quotation of R. R. this Learned Champion is as impertinent to his intended Purpose as the Quotations of G. F. in his little withdrawn and for Reasons enough Entituled A Book of Incouragement to all Womens-Meetings c. Which by W. R. is very fully answered in his Christian-Quaker Distinguished c. So that I need not further paraphrase thereupon but return to what was before me to wit to shew Testimonies against Imposing Conformity to the Traditions of Men c. Object But perhaps some may say There is being but a few of you in comparison of the Multitude that will not Conform for they can out Vote you three to one so that we are apt to think God will not suffer so many to Err or any more a Vniversal Apostacy Answ I will answer this Objection in the words of William Tindal because this notable Champion R. R. who for his Learning is admired by his Reverend Friend G. W. hath him in some Estimation c. See his Work p. 268. where he saith The Turks being in number five times more than we acknowledge One God and believe many things of God moved Only by the Authority of their Elders And the presuming that God will not let such a multitude Err so long time and yet they have Erred and been faithless these 800 years and the Jews believe this Day as much as ever the Carnal sort of them ever believed Moved also by the Authority of their Elders ONLY and think it is impossible for them to Err being Abrahams Seed and being the Children of them to whom the Promises of all that we believe was made and yet they have Erred and been faithless this 1500 years and we of like Blindness believe ONLY by the Authority of our Elders And of like Pride think that we cannot Err being such a multitude and yet we see how God in the Old-Testament did let the great multitude Err reserving always a little Flock to call the other back again and to