so that nothing can be justly charged against them that is apparently Wicked and Gross yet in the mean time their Hearts not right nor â—ound before the Lord something that is â—bominable offensive and grievous to his Holy â—pirit Thus hath it been with many of the seperate party is secretly lodg'd â—nd privately enterâ—ain'd as their beloved Delila which at â—ast may be breaks forth into some Extravagancy or other I say one as a Hypocrite may be thus dressed up with a specious shew and fair cover appear so and so Yea and for their interest sake Conform to that which is good and praise-worthy and which in its self is commendable and laudible but in the bottom rotten and deceitful yet though these do so it will not follow in good reason that those who are truly and inwardly sanctified cleansed and purified in their Conscience from dead works and whose Hearts are Sincere Honest and Upright should not so and so appear as to the outward in an holy harmless Life and innocent Conversation and also in a Conformity and Submission to that which is Orderly and Decent and to be subject to follow that which is convenient needful and profitable amongst a People no more then that 's true though as the common Proverb is It is not all Gold that glisters And as we say All are not in the Possession of what they are in the Profession of Yet is there no true Gold that glisters And surely those who do possess of the living Vertue of Truth and are faithful to the Lord they are ingaged publickly to appear in Profession of and Confession to the same In the beginning of the Preface page 7 F. B. says The main thing intended by this Discourse is to shew the Mischief of Impositions on tender Consciences in matters Spiritual c. Thus he insinuates as a false charge upon the whole Body of our Friends to be guilty of which indeed is their main principal Basis or ground from whence doth proceed all their fierce violent Clashings bitter and malicious Invectives base and unchristian Reflections viz. Their Imaginary formed and groundless supposition and envious suspicion That we endeavoured to compel and force tender Consciences in matters Spiritual to be conform'd and in subjection to that contrary to the perswasion of their minds and Light of Christ in their Consciences this is easily disprov'd and has been fully confuted by many living Testimonies that we have given forth on this account both by word and writing and for a further confirmation thereof thus do I affirm on the behalf of all my dear Friends who are thus abused by these foul perverse and scoffing Spirits That the Almighty God the searcher of Hearts and tryer of Reins he knows we never endeavoured nor designed to compel any to subject in a Conformity to that which we know was both just and reasonable who were not fully satisfied in their own Consciences and not freedom and clearness in their minds thereto For they who received Truth in the love thereof and continue in subjection to it the power and force of it will inable and make them willing to obey the voice of God immediately in their own Hearts and in the Mouths of his Servants which Voice of God calls unto Holiness without which none shall see him and there being an aptness or proneness in many after they are reached to by the Lord to neglect that Duty he requires of them therefore in his tender Love hath he given Gifts for the work of the Ministry for the perfecting of the Saints for the Edifying of the Body till we all come in the Vnity of the Faith into a perfect Man unto the measure of his Stature of the fulness of Christ Eph. 4.8 c. And well said the Apostle Peter Yea I think it meet as long as I am in this Tabernacle to stir you up or to stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance that we may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the Holy Prophets and of the Commandement of us the Apostles of the Lord and Saviour knowing this first that there shall come in the last days scoffers walking after their own Lusts 2 Pet. 1.15.3.1 2. c. Which also was practised by the Apostles in Exhortation Admonition Counsel Reproof and Condemnation as the Spirit of Truth Directed them and according to the several states of People to whom they Ministered by Word or Epistle And Reader it is well known that any who were really scrupulous from a true tenderness of their Spirits careful or fearful to do any thing but what they found to be their Duty and in the Light of Christ Jesus did see they were called to be obedient to the same over these we have been very tender and have encouraged and counselled them Singlely to wait upon the Lord for a sight and sense from him by the in shinings of his pure Light of that which they ought to do and if we could inform their understandings and in the good hand of the Lord be instrumental to clear their Judgments by opening to them the profit and great advantage reaped by those who have found it their place to be in Unity with their Brethren in a Christian Condescention to those things that are decent orderly and profitable in the Church of Christ that we have endeavoured to do and blessed be the Lord our labour of Love and pains therein hath proved successful and many have been helped thereby to see through the Mysterious wiles and subtle workings of the Enemy both immediately and instrumentally So thou mayst be assured we never pleaded for a conformity or submission of any to the Christian Order and wholesome Discipline amongst us but as they came to be Convinced in their own Consciences and well perswaded in themselves from a clear and sensible Conviction That it was their bounden duty so to do And therefore I say and thou mayst see that this Authors false Charge with all the rest of his confederacy in all their lying Clamours proceed from a base perverse Spirit that does surmise to People that we were bringing in an implicit Faith and blind Obedience by forcing a Conformity before Conviction which is opposed by us with our utmost endeavours and is of the Devil the Father of lyes who is the original Author of all this mischievous dark work of Separation c. and makes use of those his wicked Agents to defend the same under the specious pretence of Liberty of Conscience Liberty of Conscience and influences them to defame the Lords faithful and innocent Servants by malicious abusive Reflections and false Insinuations to amuse People as if the end of all their labours and travels in the Service of Truth for the preservation of Gods Heritage were to bring them into a Vniformity of such and such Canons Decrees and Orders that tended to an Apostacy Imposition and what â—ot Now I hope Reader thou wilt plainly see that the
her Husband that we may hear both parties And if he make a matter of Conscience of this to let the Meeting hear what she saith but we must take his word without hearing the Woman what she says and if he be ashamed of her to appear before the Meetings together is not this wilfulness We have no Unity with such If a Man should come to one of our Meetings and say I would take such a mans daughter to Wife you will impose upon us that we must have Unity with it and he will not bring the Woman with him nor Relations that we may have satisfaction from their mouths or by a Certificate and hear what they say to it such Marriages we can have no Unity with And if W. R. F. B. and T. C. that was married with a Priest can nurse up such we say we have no Fellowship nor Unity with them as be not decent civil modest and of good report for we would have the satisfaction of the Man and Woman and their Relations also that all things may be done decently and in good Order that no Man or Woman or Relations may be wronged for our God is a God of Order and not of Confusion Now Reader thou may'st easily discern whether we or they be the Imposers and Innovators F. B. and W. R's new Order Traditions Prescriptions Impositions and Innovations is that J. A. or another Man must tell his intention of Marriage without the Woman being there to know her mind and this is their new Way new Order and new Method And this was J. H's way at the Peel and the Woman M. P. was not there who when she heard of it she utterly denied him And another in Kent did so foolishly declare he pretended to take a Woman not present there which grieved her sore when she heard of it And so by this new Order Prescription and Innovation which F. B. and W. R. would impose on us to have Unity with Women may be greatly wronged and their Relations abused by every bad loose Man and make people believe that their consent is to it when it is not and so be scandalized and offended therefore to prevent which we do judg that in the Wisdom of God the Man and Woman ought both to come together when they lay their intentions of Marriage before a Meeting and their Relations to be satisfied and if they live far off beyond Sea or in another County then to have a Certificate from them that they are satisfied And this I understand hath been our Friends practice before thee F. B. came amongst us and will remain I doubt not when thou art gone Other particulars I would mention whereby it may be justly repelled upon W. R. F. B. c. that they are the Innovators and Imposers but what I have set down already may serve as a sufficient proof at present In pag. 74. there are some Queries strange sort of ones as I have read viz. Whether Christ Jesus the true God and eternal life in whom the fulness of the God-head dwelt bodâ—ly be the Head of the true Church Or whether George Fox who is but a Man unto whom the Spirit is given but by measure be head thereof His second Query is an Answer to the first and the third to the second c. I wonder much F. B. has shewn so much discretion and civility as to confess but I believe he cannot otherways do that we acknowledg Christ Jesus to be both the Head Ruler and Lawgiver of the true Church But then in his Fifth Query he seems to boast greatly and brag at a high rate as if forsooth poor Man he had gained all how wise is a fool in his own vain conceit what his empty noddle or brain doth apprehend that he judges none can disprove If you say that Christ nor his Apostles left neither command example nor president for Womens Meetings c. then I query further of you the said Imposers where had you your power or from whence had you your Authority to institute such a way of Government in the Church by Women or other ways containing such Rites and Ceremonies and in whose name do you compel to an Vniformity and Conformity thereto What I have formerly said in Chap. 4 may be enough to answer the foresaid Query but in short I say again from the Lord God of Heaven and Earth his People have received power and therewith are they endued to perform those Holy Christian Practices in their Men and Womens Meetings and thereby are they invested with Authority and Dominion to stand up as Noble Witnesses for the Standard of Righteousness against all opposition and by how much the more we are saithful and singly resigned in a holy Zeal and due diligence to attend and wait upon the Lord in our Meetings to perform that which tends to his Glory and the good of one another c. by so much the more doth he countenance us with his divine comfortable presence and therefore we are not careful nor need we be troubled what unruly disorderly loose ranting Spirits such as are given to a Fleshly liberty and wanton mind say to the contrary question or condemn us therefore And I may say as an encouragement to you that are faithful to the Lord in your services both in your Men and Womens Meetings as the holy Apostle said in his day to the Philippians Whatsoever things are true whatsoever things are honest whatsoever things are just whatsoever things are pure whatsoever things are lovely whatsoever things are of good report if there be any vertue and if there be any praise think on these things and not onely so but those things says he which ye have both learned and received and heard and seen in me do and the God of peace shall be with you Phil. 4.8 9. And Francis that 's an absolute plain forgery to imply by way of Query taking it for granted that it were really so in whose Name do we compel to a Conformity c. For we do deny it as feigned and false and many living powerful Testimonies arise in the hearts of Gods Children against this wicked malicious abusive Spirit that would defame us by falsly suggesting we did compel force and drive People nolens volens against the perswasion of their own minds whether they will or not comply they must We never endeavoured such driving forward work to bring any to an uniformity and subjection to that which we know of certain to be according to the mind of God and the counsel of his eternal Spirit consentaneous or correspondent to the Principles of Truth or the true Christian Religion and no ways repugnant to but congruous with the sentiments of sound Reason c. and it s our desire that every one should be fully perswaded in their own minds and we direct them to wait upon the Lord that he may reveal that to them which would tend to his glory and their good and I know
thee Francis Bugg alas how hast thou betrayed thy great weakness folly and envy had it not been farr better for thee thou hadst never set Pen to Paper in bringing forth such a wicked piece of work hast thou not clearly evinced there how aptly thy name answers to thy crooked perverse nature and thy devlish venomous disposition the enemy hath wrought in thee for thou hast done what thou could to wound hurt and spoil not only the good name and reputation of particular persons but hast endeavoured with all thy strength and policy to bring a lash and blur upon many thousands of faithfull Friends however all thy Malicious smitings in the dark and thy open notorious abuses and scandalous reflections will be in vain and return as a weighty load upon thy own head for I know that the Innocency and uprightness of the one with the honest circumspect conversation of the other will out-live confute and disprove all thine and the rest of that hellish Combination your forged callumnies and lying stories and all your malicious insinuations and false suggestions shall but redown to your own utter ruine and everlasting shame perpetual defamation and eternal Confusion if you repent not but stoutly persevere and obstinately continue in this wilfull wicked work of opposition to and separation from the Lord and his People and be of such who have sold themselves to do wickedly and so devoted to the Devils service to be his Vassals Slaves and subjects Oh! for shame for shame that ever it should thus befall any who have made profession of Gods Truth and confession also to the Testimony thereof through many sufferings and hardships and yet to become the absolute greatest enemy to the Profession and Progress of it which I am perswaded had more gloriously shined and that more universally in the Nations had not these Clouds of Division and separation loosness indifferency and dishonest conversation of many convinced of and who have appeared for the same come over to Ecclipse the Splendor of this glorious day but I know in due time the Sun of Righteousness will so arise and shine in that brightness and Glory as that all these Mists and Clouds shall be dispelled and scattered And therefore this is that which is weighty upon my spirit in the Powerfull Name of the Dreadfull God of Heaven and Earth to warn you all to cease from the evil of your doings and O return return so long as it may please the Lord to strive in you by his Holy gentle spirit and bow every one to his righteous Judgments in your hearts to destroy that wicked perveâ—se opposing and separating Spirit that 's prevailed upon you and remember what the Apostle said that is very weighty For if God spared not the Angels that Sinned but cast them down to Hell and delivered them into Chains of Darkness and spared not the old World and turned the Cities of Sodom and Gomorah into Ashes and in his Exhortation to the Hebrews 10 25. Says Not forsaking the assembling of our selves together as the manner of some is For observe well what follows Oh! how near and close a Sentence is it IF WE SIN WILFULLY after that we have received the knowledge of the Truth there remaineth no more Sacrifice for Sins but a certain fearfull looking for of Judgment and fiery Indignation which shall devour the adversaries Oh! dread fear and stand in awe of the living Almighty God who is a consuming fire to all the workers of iniquity and who knoweth how to deliver the Godly out of Temptations and to reserve the unjust unto the day of Judgment but chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and dispise Government who are Presumptuous self-will'd they are not affraid to speak evil of Dignities mark these sayings And let me tell you plainly that for all your fair specious pretences Plausible Eloquent Orations smooth speeches cunningly contrived your great and high Notions glorious-like appearances and Mysterious Transformations may be as an Angel of light or like unto a lamb covered with a profession of Truth it self and Preach up the words and Principles thereof in the manly part and with the Wisdom from below that 's your beloved darling endeavours thereby to catch the affectionate itching part of simple People and such as are but young raw and unsettled in their minds For all this know as certain and which I am constrained in the holy fear of God to forwarn you off You that are the workers of iniquity however you may cover and hide your selves for a time from the Eye of Mortals if you dye as thus you have lived in opposing the Work of Truth in separation from the Lord and his People you I say shall be eternally excluded and forever shut out from entering into the Pure everlasting Kingdom of Eternal Glory rest and Felicity and the Lord Jesus will no more acknowledge you than he did those that though you as they did Cry Lord Lord have we not Eaten and Drunken in thy presence have we not Prophesied in thy Name and cast out Devils and done many wonderfull works yet you shall meet with the same dreadfull Sentence depart from me I know you not for all your fair Plea ye workers of iniquity Wherefore this is a seasonable warning to all you gain-sayers who are in the work of Corah in the Devils work of Division opposition of tearing rending and devouring of disorder and confusion and innovation who are become mockers scoffers and abusers of the Lords work and his Innocent People and that in a higher Degree than any of your former Predecessors if you come not sadly to mourn deeply to lament for and unfeignedly to repent of the same a most terrible heavy stroke and dreadfull cup of weighty vengeance shall be your Portion from the terrible hand of the mighty Pure God of righteousness the just Judg of Heaven and Earth who shall reward every man according to his works This from the Lord I lay before you receive or reject it as you please however I shall enjoy Peace with him in clearing my Conscience to you and discharging my Duty before him and so shall be clear of your Blood who sincerely wisheth and earnestly Prayeth for the Recovery of backsliders and Restoration of all such whose gracious day of Visitation is not quite expired By one that heartily prays for the daily increase of the Peace of Jerusalem and the prosperity of Sion and for the Advancement of Holy Jesus over all throughout all the Earth R. Sandilands Postscript FRANCIS BUGG I desire to advertise thee that what I have now wrote in Answer to thy Book was in the First place with a regard to the clearing of my Conscience inthe sight of God as a Testimony against Malicious Opposers and crued Hard-hearted Apostates and in the Second place it was with a true desire and real intent of mind for thine and others good if perhaps thou maist be thereby perswaded
been betrayed by their reasonings and consultings with that deceitful cursed Spirit of Separation and the Lord has blessed our endeavours therein and our earnest Cry to him That none may be lost but the Son of Perdition such who are simply and ignorantly betrayed I hope may be restored into Unity with God and his People as many are who have true honesty or rather an honest right ground remaining in them But for those who have sinned wilfully as the Author to the Hebrews writes after they have received the knowledg of the truth there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins but a fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation which shall devour the adversaries and so goes on and gives the reasons and concludes with a severe sentence It 's a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Living God who is a consuming Fire Heb. 10.26 27. For such who speaks lies in hypocrisie having their Consciences seared with a hot Iron whose hearts are quite hardned and become twice dead plucked up by the roots whose day of visitation is expired by their reiterated abominable provocations and rebellion I fear such are hardned to destruction and judicially sealed up to damnation And Thirdly There is a notorious Lie For when any difference arises amongst us there is a free Conference and sober Debating thereof admited to reconcile and resolve the same so that he lies in saying That both by our practice and advice it 's stiffly denied In pag. 101. Come give us Chapter and verse for your Womens Meeting distinct from the Men to be constantly set up unless a litle n = * When that comes we have seen by many observable Instances how these Separates have crept into holes of the Earth to save themselves from Persecution much like to the Flies when it 's warm Weather they vex both Men and Beasts but hardly to be seen when Winter comes cold weather intervene Monthly about the 10th hour to get a litle stock we suppose thou meanest speaking to G. F. a lttle money for certain select uses it being a more private way than the Bason and Platter c. We say to thee F. Bugg and all Professors by way of retortion Come give us expresly Chapter and verse for Mens meeting together to take care of the poor Widows and Fatherless at such a place in such a Month and of such an hour of the day as thou puttest us upon proof concerning Womens Meetings in pag. 101. Couldst thou bring Chap. and verse in express terms for the proof of the former which thou allowest of to be Lawful as with respect to place Month and hour of the Day Query And ought not then the Men to meet together to discharge the foresaid Christian Duties unless thou canst bring expresly Chap. and verse to prove their practice therein as with respect to place month and hour If thou say Nay Then has not this a tendency to overthrow Mens Meetings as well as the Womens Meetings Though we know in the holy Scriptures of truth there is plentiful encouragment for both Men and Women to serve God and each other in love and faithfulness and though divers Circumstances relative to Men and Womens Meetings as day hour month and place cannot be proved from express words of Scripture yet the Meeting of Men and Women and their appointing in the wisdom of God day hour month and place is not contrary to the Scriptures For now any rational person may conceive that it were grosly absurd and irrational to affirm that every good act or thing done which cannot be proved by express plain Scripture words without any sound inference and true consequence is therefore contrary to Scriptures Consider this seriously and in the coolness and calmness of thy mind and I hope thou willt not be so stout in opposing Womens Meetings as thou hast been and likewise I desire thee and the rest of thy brethren in mischief to consider what the wise man expresses in Ecclesiasticus A Back-biting Tongue hath cast out vertuous women and deprived them of their labours who so hearkneth unto it shall never find rest and never dwell quietly Eccl. 28.15 16. And to compleat thy Draught of Mockery maliciously and unseemly abusing that worthy ancient Labourer of the Gospel G. F. by thy proposing a Battledore and in thy flouting airy mind sets within it the form of Spectacles in pag. 163. thereby to beget a light wanton mind in the People and so makes but thy self a Mocking stock or the foolish like to thy self to deride thee and the sober to distaste and disdain thy scurrilous base unworthy doings May not I now say unto thee for these and many more of thy unchristian defamations malicious suggestions and inhuhumane reflections as Paul said to Elimas Art not like to him in his wicked work Hast not thou by this Devilish piece of treachery withstood the Lord and his Servants and thereby endeavoured to turn away many from the faith of Gods elect Thou enemy of all righteousness thou Child of the Devil O full of all subtilty wilt thou not cease to pervert the right wayes of the Lord And now behold the hand of the Lord is against thee and if thou humble not thy self speedily under the same most lamentable shall thy state be when thou must bid an everlasting Adieu to all thy comforts pleasures and riches thou enjoyest in this life God grant thou mayest find a place for repentance CHAP. VI. IN pag. 63. F. B. inserts an Order recorded in the Quarterly Meeting Book in the Isle of Ely which I leave to those particularly concerned to take notice of but supposing that they had done amiss which I do not grant pray tell me what reason or justice is it as amongst men that a whole Nation or Body of People should be charged so and so with the fault of a particular County or any one Quarterly Meeting Most part of this Chapter relates to particular Persons to answer if they find it worthy the pains But he makes such a bustle and noise about J. A's Marriage its meet something should be particularly hinted at as concerning the same Our Friends for Conscience sake could not own nor countenance J. A's Marriage which he would impose on us to own without the Womans appearing whom he intended to take And is this W. R's and F. B's Conscience that we must own J. A's Marraige to a Woman that comes not with him to the Mens Meeting to declare her mind for we know our Womens Meetings they are against and disregard And we must declare its a matter of Conscience to us in the Case of J. A. or any other for him to come to our Meeting and tell us that he intends to take his House-keeper to be his Wife and we desire him to bring her to our Mens Meeting to hear what she says to it And he says He is not free to bring her to declare that she intends to take him to be
lying slanders cast upon us that we did so and so without regard either to God or Men. And further Such also will condemn thee Francis and thy adherents who in your hasty forward and rash minds cannot wait in the patience to have your matters done in that orderly discreet way and method amongst the Lords people And this brings before me and which I cannot well omit but take notice how impudently thou insinuates and slily infers That the way Friends take were an easie way and more pleasing to the flesh and is most taking and drawing after them the greatest number I speak of them that profess the Truth see pag. 83. Now let but any rational and judicious person consider in the first place Whether that way is more easie and pleasing to the flesh which leads people to a weighty serious deliberation of such a great solemn Concern as Marriage is and so after their ponderous considerations to propose it before Meetings of Friends both of Men and Womens and so to be satisfied in patience and submission of mind with the ordering hand of God as they have Unity therewith and gives way to be accomplished which sometimes as occasion presents as circumstances stand and need is may be pretty long betwixt the proposal and accomplishment this I know has been so far from being an easie way and more pleasing to the flesh that on the contrary to several it hath proved a very unpleasant hard and difficult exercise to come before our publick Meetings so often in the way and order of Truth and it has been in the cross to their own wills and they have got good by it both outwardly and inwardly though for the present time it might seem tedious and grievous to some And next consider Reader Whether this way of Marriage be not indeed an easie and more pleasing to the flesh for a man after that his affections are drawn out towards a woman immediately to give Friends a kind of a general slight notice thereof may be after your publick Meetings and tell them he intends to take such a woman to be his wife and so whether they have the consent of Friends and their Unity therewith or not they are resolved and in their minds fixed to go on and so in their own wills and at their own time out of the fear of God and the good order of Truth begins and ends their matter And because several disorderly hasty forward spirits could not have Friends at all to countenance them they have run to the Priest and been married by him and become either on the one hand loose yea and more wicked and extravagant in their debauched conversations than they were formerly before they were convinced of the Truth or made profession thereof or on the other hand from the pride and prejudice of their minds turned disaffected and so joyned to the discontented opposite party and as this was the very rise or original cause viz. either pride and prejudice in some or looseness and libertinism in others that hath brought forth this cursed work of separation from and opposition to the Lord and his people and which at last leads into Ranterism yea Atheism and all mannet of prophanity so it s the very same this day that draws so many to joyn with these Separatists and become their proselites either such I say as are from pride and prejudice disaffected and discontented or are inclinable to looseness wantonness and false liberty and so such grow weary of the Cross and cannot nor delight not to walk longer in the strait and narrow way of holiness that alone leads to everlasting life Thus that proverb is fulfilled as to them The Dog is turned to his own vomit again and the Sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire CHAP. VIII AS concerning the V. and VI Chapters wherein he inserts the Opinion of several of the Clergy both Bishops and Ministers and shews the judgment of ancient Protestants and Martyrs against Impositions and forcing a Conformity to Mens Traditions not grounded on Scripture Authority c. We are not at all concerned with the wrong abusive application of these and divers other good testimonies of those worthy men the great tendency of all which both what 's cited by F. B. and also much more could be produced was to testifie against the Romish Antichristian Tyranny of Imposing upon Tender Consciences to be subject to their Superstition and Idolatry and of persecuting and inflicting Temporal or Bodily Punishments upon such as could not comply nor bow to them therein See R. B's Anarchy of the Ranters c. that opens this very clearly For though we do say and always have declared that forced Imposition of Consciences is an Antichristian Abominable and Unreasonable Practice Yet we also affirm according to the Scriptures of Truth The true Church is to exert that Power and Authority with which she is invested and to improve that Priviledge God Almighty has bestowed upon her in those Admonitions Reproofs c. this in short being more largely treated of by T. Ellwood see his VI. Chap. in his Antidote c. and other Friends and also I direct thee to peruse W. Gibson's General Epistle for the preservation and increase of Charity and Unity amongst the Professors of Christ Jesus c. lately Printed and Sold by John Bringhurst But to return to the Matter in hand Thou maist observe the height of Wickedness Baseness and Malice in the Superlative Degree in F. B. falsly insinuating in p. 115. in his ungodly lying pretended Discovery of that Hypocritical and two-fold Practice Viz. Of pleadâ—ng 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 dissenting Brethren thou shewest thy self here a to be an impudent lyar that I must needs tell thee by the way who cannot fall down and cry Hosannah to every likeness and here thou art an insolent Scoffer lest the accepting and conforming to one needless Ceremony should be ground of encouragement to the Ruling Party to introduce another and so a numberless number until at length Rome may if possible be out-done c. Reader I cannot but signifie to thee that we are not unsensible what the main Design is of all this sad grievous work of Unchristian Defamations base lying Reflections and groundless Suggestions as if we were endeavouring to impose upon tender Consciences and so to Persecuâ—â— such as will not Conform and be in Vniformity this I say is the very Work of the Devil to expose an innocent harmlesâ— People to the hard Censures severâ—â— Thoughts and strange Apprehensions oâ— them and not only so but to be an occasion of ambage to the cruel maliciouâ— Persecutors both to harden them iâ— their work and also to instigate others whose inclination leads them not thereto So thou maist easily discern what is thâ— tendency of this devilish Work of Opposition to
your own Making of your own Framing a Child of your own Brain must be your Darling And so make to your selves a Graven Image This is not true of the people called Quakers but of thy self and such as thou art XII P. 115 116. he saith To discover that Hypocritical and Two-faced 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 Brethren who cannot fall down and cry HOSANNA to every Likeness c. How loathsome is F.B. heaping up such a Dunghil of lyes XIII And p. 150 151 152 153. In a Letter of his to G.W. he thus saith It is reported that Nicholas Lucas told thee THOU WENTEST UP AND DOWN TO CHEAT THE COUNTRY I reckon he meant not of Money but the people of their Liberty they have right to Truly thy Behaviour hath manifested the Truth of his words in a great measure as I am abbe to make appear not only by thy Advice in Huntingtonshire but also by thy Erronious Doctrine amongst us c. Exercise Dominion Gentile like over your Brethren as if you were resolved to turn Monopolizers and Ingrossers of all Power Rule and Dominion over Consciences into your hands Oh! the Discord Contention and Debate which entered and doth daily increase by reason of the Ceremonies and your forced Conformity to them and the chief cause hereof lies at your Doors See the Certificate from Friends of Huntingtonshire inserted p. 90. which sufficiently detects his Abuses and Defamations against G. W. XIV And in p. 164. he thus insinuates viz. Whereby we thwart and contradict our avowed Principles and so are building again the thing we once destroyed and cryed out against condemning in others the things we allow in our selves Through which Practices a man may discern without a pair of Spectacles ERROUR and SUPERSTITION coming in apace LIMPING upon the old Crutches of IMPLICITE FAITH and BLIND OBEDIENCE What are those he thus accuseth The people called Quakers are not chargeable herewith XV. And in page 159. he thus insinuates When do any that write or dispute to defend our way of Worship write and speak like Fools except they can neither write nor speak otherwise and why do you cry out against Wisdom upon every accasion as if Ignorance were become our only Darling This is an abominable abuse we cry out against no Wisdom but corrupt fleshly earthly sensual devilish Wisdom XVI P. 163. George Fox See if thou hast not as much need of a battledore as the Schollars and Professors had n = * A Gross Lye who art as much APOSTATIZED from thy former Principles for liberty of Conscience as the Schollars and Professors were from the single Language viz. THEE and THOU to a single person And a little after he brings in this abusive lye and wicked Insinuation in rhime viz. This I set here not to Adore Because I do well understand He that gave forth the battle-dore 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 Think'st to scare us out of our good Order with thy Goggle-eyed Image of Jealousie which if thou didst see through thy own Spectacles might affright thee out of thy shallow Conceits An ugly Spectacle For Rogers Crisp Pennyman Bullock and Bugg Dark Devil-driven Dungy-gods desp rately lug That are ty'd to the tail of their separate Schism Pap-Lihertin-Heathen-Juda-Athe-ism XVII And pag. 178. Speaking of Richard Richardson he thus Scossingly insinuates viz. If R. R. hath no better Logick he need not be admired by G. W. in print for his great Learning See R. R. Ingredients against the Venom in W. R s. Book Printed for John Bringhurst nor perhaps had not only he hath found out some History or Popish Author This is a lye for there are many Protestant Authors which say There were Deaconnesses as well as Deacons which were helpful to G. W. in his preaching and disputing for Womens Meetings lately in Huntingtonshire and elsewhere where he took too much upon him behaved himself more like a Lordly Bishop or Popish Prelate than an humble Minister of Christ This is confuted before XVIII Pa 195. And now I shall turn to the Bishops of the Protestant-Churches and do not question but shall make it appear that they their Power considered and that the Laws are on their sides are more moderate and use not that Severity to the Members of their Church although they are severe enough too that George Fox and those of party with him use to the poor QUAKERS if they chance to transgress their Traditions c. These are false and proofless insinuations XIX And in p. 200. They do not only testify against that BAD SPIRIT as they account it but HIM ALSO viz the MAN ALSO Oh! that we could but say TAKE HIM GOALER and that effectually A wicked Lye and base Insinuation XX. And in p. 291. he hath this abusive Scoff viz. For which very piece of Service Stamp and Probatum est I think that very Meeting deserves a TRIPPLE CROWN For this thou F. B. deserves to be reputed a Scornfull Lying Informer XXI Page 208. And now may they the Presbyterians say to G. F. What hadst thou rather that B. Clark and J. Bringhurst should sell Papists Books Play Books Jesting Books nay Books rather than that Book of W.R. What Papists books are these Prophane books we own not mark that and then brings in this lye for the reason of their not Selling it because it Discovers the Naked Truth of their NEW MODEL OF CHURCH GOVERNMENT But J. B. gives a Conscientious Reason to the Reader at the beginning of Chr. Taylors Epistle of Caution c. why he could not fell them And we testifie against Play-books Jesting-books Popish-books and disown the selling of them as we do the selling W. R's and thine for they are all from one spirit only yours the most malicious and less to be born because of your hypocritical pretended Friendship See Psalm 55.12 13. CHAP. X. IN this following Chapter I shall insert what the sense of J. S. and J. W. is concerning Womens-meetings and also what T. C. sayes in his Babels part 1st page 9. with a paper subscribed by Iohn Wilkinson and others of his party approving of and unanimously consenting to the Epistle of G. F. which F. B. terms his new order which was wrote about the year 1671 for womens Meetings all which contradicts F. B. in his violent Rage and most furious Clashings against Womens Meetings as the understanding impartial Reader may readily perceive by his perusing of the same First John Wilkinson's and John Story 's Sense concerning Womens Meetings As we do approve of Monthly and Quarterly meetings for the necessary service of the Truth some say that as these or any other meetings of Friends in Truth
shall be continued to answer those services we believe that as it now is it also will become our duty to be at unity with our brethren in the service thereof and though one of us viz. J. Wilkinson did condiscend to subscribe a paper for the erecting a womans meeting in the Country to answer the ends proposed in the paper which he testifies he then did in singleness of heart for unitys sake yet according to that inward sence we now have there appears to us no absolute necessity to continue Womens meetings in the Country distinct and separate from the men and therefore do conscientiously forbear to assent or incourage to lay the Intentions of Marriage before them yet that inward sence and heavenly understanding we receive from God hath and yet doth confirm us in this Judgment that it 's not agreeable with the line of Truth to oppose others in the Exercise and appointed service of the said Meetings as heretofore and yet setled and agreed upon who being conscious therein are otherwise minded than we are if any of our words actions have any tendency to oppose c. which we are not conscious of but if we were we would readily confess we say the Truth in us would have condemned it even as it now doth and if it shall please the Lord to manifest unto us a service in those Meetings in the Country as well as Citys the same integrity towards God which hath dwelt with us this many years past we believe will become a Bond on us to joyn Hand and Heart with others our Brethren and Sisters therein but till then our desires are that they may not become an occasion of straitness of Spirit each towards others but that embracing the wholesome Council of the Apostle in another case If in any thing ye are otherwise minded wait till God reveal it we may walk together in pure undefiled love of our God which thinketh no Evill This I have from T. C's Book called Several Testimonys concerning Liberty of Conscience page 23. the same also is set down at large in W. R's Book 4 part page 37. which we suppose he has abbreviated out of it Secondly But that which more closely contradicts F. B. hear what T. C. his Brother in Iniquity saith in the 9'th page of his Babels part 1st Now those they term STUBBORN are not against Men and Womens Meetings but differ about the form and power thereof they are only against Women having Meetings apart from the men when they have no business requires it not against them in Citys Great Towns and Places where they live near together occasions require but where they live remote from each other and have no Business also the form of Marriages c. for these persons who they say are against Meetings do and are willing to use them on necessary occasions this is the great State of the Difference and Case of those Persons G. F. c. terms Apostates bad Spirits c. and G.F. c. say The Universal Spirit cannot receive that Thus far T. C. fairly grants from which 1st observe They declare or T. C. on their behalf that they are not against Men and Womens Meetings and that they are only against Womens Meetings apart from the Men when they have no business which grants they are for them when they have business even to be apart from the Men though they say there is no Precept President nor Command for them in Scriptures and who should be the most proper Judges of the Business I hope they 'l grant that those who are most immediately concerned to do the business must judge when they have business c. Secondly They declare or T. C. for them that they are not against Womens Meetings distinct or apart from the Men in City's Great Towns and Places and yet Cry out against without distinction scoffing at them and calling them a Dead Lifeless Image and comparing them to the Rood of Grace so called c. that F. B. saith would smile when a good gift was given it c. Thirdly They are only against Womens Meetings where they live remote from each other have no business but if they have business then they may meet He doth not say they must bring Chapter and Verse for their meeting at the tenth hour of the day to get a little stock c. no no if they have but business they may meet saith T. C. though there is neither Precept President nor Command for them I will dispense with that in Cities great Towns and places nay in Counties too if they have business and then I hope if there be need they 'l grant they may meet when they be found in the practice of communicating and doing good which the Apostle saith is that Sacrifice wherewith the Lord is well pleased as also to visit and communicate where need is the Fatherless and the Widow and not be like to those the Apostle mentions If a Brother or Sister be naked and destitute of dayly food and one of you say unto them depart in peace be you warmed and filled notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needfull to the body Ja. 2 16. And if they have a stock for these Christian Charitable Uses it matters not what the Devil envious or hard-hearted men women may say that may have of this Worlds goods and yet suffer your Brothers and Sisters or the poor Fatherless and distressed to want for these Cannot truly say with good Job 31.16 17. vers If I have withheld the poor from their desire or have Caused the Eyes of the Widow to fail or have eaten my morsell alone and the Fatherless have not eaten thereof If I have seen any perish for want of Cloathing or any poor without Covering If his loines have not blessed me and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my sheep c. Then let my arm fall from my shoulder-blade and mine arm be broken from the bone So by what T. C. writes it is over and over granted that the women may meet apart from the men So that one may tell F. B. that T. C. whose Babells he quotes grants what he spends many pages against And Prints a foolish nonsensical Ballad of scorn against to which is added many verses that were not in the former and this saith T. C. is the great part of the difference and the case of those persons G. F. terms Apostates c. viz. in short that they are only for womens meetings when there is business and necessary occasions c. Well if they can produce when or where any women had their meeting and no business nor necessary occasion let them and then prove that its a Crime at such times to wait upon the Lord in his Spirit and fear to receive of his Divine Counsel and Wisdom by which they may be acted and guided to the praise of his Grace to shew forth the vertues of him
flesh through much wantonness While they promise them liberty they themselves are servants of corruption For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than after they had known it to turn from the holy Commandment delivered unto them but 't is happened according to the true Proverb the Dog hath turned to his own vomit again and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire 2 Pet. 2. Every one of these passages are so Correspondent with and agreeable to the practices and wayes of this dividing opposite party who have seperated themselves from our blessed unity First as with respect to the good Spirit of God in their own particulars and next which of necessity and so naturally follows as to fellowship concord and Communion with his People and methinks one neer parallel and a more close comparison could not be drawn as to every circumstance betwixt those in the Apostles time and those in ours it is so apparent that people of small understanding may readily observe the same And it s my firm Faith and certain perswasion that as on the one hand they are daily discovering their own shame by their uncivil defamations abominable lyes and malicious suggestions so on the otherhand shall their folly thereby be the more laid open For as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses So do these also resist the Truth but saith he they shall n = * Obs In Gods appointed time all the resiâ—â—ers and Rebellers are stopped in their envy and malice against his People proceed no further why so the reason is clear as followes for their folly shall be made manyfest to whom not only to a few or a little remnant who from that inward sense and true discerning the Lord hath indewed them with do see and have seen when first they began their wicked work of separation and before it was so notorious as it is now but unto all men as theirs was Now to return unto that which was most weighty in my view having made some little digression seeing it hath thus sadly befallen such who have not kept their habitation in the Truth by reason of their woful departure from that due constant subjection of their Spirits thereunto having also the advantage of observing the Rock they have split upon and as this F. B. saies in his word of advice to the Pennsylvanians in his last Chap. such a slender pitiful dry one as it is and indeed I think better could not be well expected from him for as I remember the substance of what he saies that's worth observing much like to the dead professors strain keep the Scripture in esteem amongst you c. But never so much as a syllable of the antient Principle of Truth viz. To mind the light of Christ you may perceive what hath been one Impediment to the increase of love and Charity which Blessed be the Lord God of Eternal Glory plentifully abounds amongst Friends in Scotland Ireland other places where this opposite dividing party hath not gain'd any Interest among them and so in most Counties of this Nation of England where it hath not prevailed there is great amity blessed unity sweet concord Peace Heavenly harmony daily increases amongst them O Blessings and glory and Honour unto the Lord our God for ever for the same Therefore my tender Counsel and brotherly advice in the love of our Lord Jesus unto you all is be very Careful that at all times above all things whatsoever and on all occasions you may be found in that holy Reverend subjection of your Spirits to the blessed Divine power of the living God that hath reached unto you and by which you are Called to be his holy pure People and then in this holy frame I do right well know shall you be kept neer unto and in unity with himself and in concord and fellowship one with another in the unity of his Spirit and in the bond of peace bundled up in the bundle of everlasting Life and so thereby shall you be preserved from that rending tearing and devouring Spirit and the same God of blessings who as he hath graciously attended you here in your various exercises will also favourably accompany and be present with you his faithful honest right-hearted ones in all your several services for the advancement of his glorious work even the Salvation of Souls the promotion of the pure name and the exaltation of the glorious fame of holy Jesus amongst the Heathen and all the World over And our Confidence is that notwithstanding of the great fury and wrath of the Devil the implacable malice and envy of his cursed agents against the Lord his faithful Children yet I am fully perswaded Truth innocency shall over all prevail as John saw and said behold a white horse and he that sate on him had a bow and a Crown was given unto him and he went Conquering and to Conquer So I recommend you all to the saving Word of Gods Grace that by it you may be guided and under the safe conduct thereof preserved to the End of all those various Changes Tryals and troubles here that you may finish your time and testimony and lay down your heads in peace and in the close of all return to your God and my God the Father of Spirits from whence we came with all the Heavenly Host Laud and Extol his holy worthy Name with everlasting Songs of pure thanksgivings and living praises and so receive the product of all your labours and excercises in the Lord even the immortal Crown of eternal Glory and perpetual Renown is the sincere supplication of my Soul for you all as for my self and who earnestly prayes for the establishment preservation of all the Lords people upon the everlasting Rock that unchangeable Foundation against which the Gates of Hell cannot prevail The Conclusion AND now Francis Bugg I think I have done with thy book and spent more time then I Judge it either deserved or I designed in answer thereunto and indeed never expected to have been concerned with thee or any upon this Account in publick especially I being altogether a Stranger to unacquainted with thee and therefore assure thy self what I have written or may yet say unto thee and others of thy Adherents is not from any Rancour Heat or Prejudice but really from that good-will true tender love and earnest desire which the Lord hath begot in my soul for the eternal welfare and happiness of all the Sons and Daughters of Men but more singularly for the restoration of such whom God in any measure hath visited with his Glorious Blessed Day and reached unto by his everlasting pure power and thereby has tendered their Spirits and broken their Hearts and given unto them a feeling and sence of that Precious divine life the constant enjoyment of which is above and beyond all what this fading transitory World can afford But what shall I say unto