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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	call_v	church_n	word_n	4,868	5	4.3217	4	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A40945	The Quakers plea with the bishops at their ecclesiastical courts, or, An answer of the people of God, reproachfully called Quakers, to the bill of presentment put against them into the bishops courts, for not coming to the church as is pretended whereby it may appear, that the Quakers, so called, do come to the church, both according to the Scriptures, and Common-prayer books account, and ought not in equity and reason to be presented, or punished for that, &c. / by Richard Farnsworth.	R. F. (Richard Farnworth), d. 1666.	1663 (1663)	Wing F499; ESTC R9314	16,422	24

THE QUAKERS PLEA WITH THE BISHOPS AT THEIR Ecclesiastical Courts OR An Answer of the People of God reproachfully called Quakers to the Bill of Presentment put against them into the Bishops Courts for not coming to the Church as is pretended Whereby it may appear that the Quakers so called do come to the Church both according to the Scriptures and Common-Prayer books account and ought not in equity and reason to be presented or punished for that c. By Richard Farnsworth LONDON Printed in the Year 1663. The Quakers Plea with the Bishops at their Ecclesiastical Courts c. VVHereas the People of God reproachfully called Quakers are presented to the Bishops as Offenders for not coming to the Church as is pretended Now if we can make it appear as we hope we can according to truth the Scripture Common-Prayer account that we are the onely people or of them that do come to the Church and Service of God then we ought in equity and reason to be cleared and clearly acquitted from those pretended offences and from all punishments due thereunto the case in controversie ought to be terminated and we to be acquitted and clearly discharged therefrom and our Accusers to be sharply reproved to the end and intent that they do so no more One main question or thing enquirable by the Bishops or their Officers of us at their Ecclesiastical Courts now in this age and time is Whether we come to the Church and Service of God or no In order to a full and satisfactory answer to the things in that case charged against us we ask What is it that you do really own to be or call and account the Church Whether the Church according to your own account be the Cathedrals and Parish Meeting-places because many in ignorance call them the Church And whether doth the Scriptures or Common-Prayer book account or declare Cathedrals or Parish Meeting-places to be the onely true Churches which we and all the people of God are enjoined to come unto in point of Religion and worship of God according to Gospel-order and practice of the people of God under that dispensation as left upon record in the holy Scriptures If in answer thereunto you say no then we further enquire Whether you would have us to own that to be the only true Church of Christ which is neither really owned or declared so to be either by the Scriptures or Common-Prayer-book And would you make us offenders when neither Scripture nor Common-Prayer-book maketh us so or would you punish us as offenders for not coming to that which in reallity is neither owned by the Scripture or Common-Prayer-book Is there any equity or reason for that Consider well of it and if upon serious consideration the witness of God in you answer the equitableness and justness of our innocent cause tel you by testifying to your consciences that there is neither equity nor reason to punish us as offenders for that which is neither owned by the Scripture or Common-Prayer-book because you profess them both as your rules in point of Religion and worship of God Then be advised and do not proceed against us in judgement when the witness of God in your own consciences answereth for us lest God the righteous Judge enter into judgement with you for so doing And if you be convinced and perswaded in your hearts and consciences that Cathedrals or Par sh-Meeting-places are not the onely true Church of Christ as well you may if you have any right understanding in the things of God according to Gospel dispensation because the Scriptures do declare the onely true Church to be the body of Christ and Christ to be the head of the Church which is his body as it is written and left upon Record in Scripture Ephes 1.22 23. And if you do believe that the Church is the body of Christ and that Christ is the head of his body the Church then you may well be convinced and perswaded or at least ought that Cathedrals or Parish Meeting-places are not the Church because Cathedrals and Parish-Meeting-places are not the body of Christ Christ so loved the Church that he gave himself for it that he might sanctifie and cleanse it and make it unto himself a glorious Church that it should be holy and without blemish Eph. 5.23 24 25 26 27. And also the Lord doth nourish and cherish the Church as it is written Eph. 5.28 29. But where is it written that Cathedrals and Parish-Meeting-places commonly called Parish churches are the body of Christ or that Christ is the Head of them or that Christ laid down his life for them or that they are nourished and cherishby the Lord as aforesaid If you say Cathedrals and Parish Meeting places commonly called Parishes are not the body of Christ therefore not the Church neither did Christ lay down his life for them neither are they nourished and cherished by the Lord as aforesaid therefore we do not account them the Church What then is it that you call and account the Church and require us to come unto which we are presented for not coming to if you say and confess that Cathedrals and Parish Meeting places commonly called Parish Churches is not the thing you require us to come unto because it is evident by the Scriptures and Common-prayer Book that Cathedrals and parish Meeting places are not the Church which is the body of Christ and nourished and cherished by the Lord as aforesaid We further ask What is the Church If you deny Cathedrals and parish-metting-places to be the Church as aforesaid are the ungodly people such as are not governed and sanctified by the Spirit of God though they may meet in Cathedrals and parish-meeting-places the Church which is the body of Christ subject unto Christ and as aforesaid And if you say No They who are not governed and sanctified by the Spirit of God are not true Members of the Church of God If so then may not we say That though we may not come to Cathedrals or parish meeting places commonly called parish churches nor meet in point of Religion and Worship of God with such people as are not governed sanctified by the Spirit of God it cannot properly be said that we do not come to the church neither ought we to be presented or punished for refusing to meet in point of Religion and Worship of God with them who are not governed and sanctified by the Spirit of the Lord though they may meet in Cathedrals or parish-meeting-places commonly called parish churches as aforesaid Concerning the Church what it is according to Scripture-account THe sanctified and beloved people of God are in Scripture accounted and declared to be the Church of God It is said in Eph. 5.25 Christ so loved the Church that he gave himself for it And in Eph. 5.1 2. it is said concerning the Saints Be ye therefore followens of God as dear children and walk in love even as Christ hath

loved us and hath given himself for us Christ so loved the Church that he gave himself for it Eph. 5.25 And Christ so loved us that he gave himself for us said the Saints and beloved people of God Eph. 5.1 2. Therefore the Saints and beloved people of God according both to the Scripture and our account are the Church as aforesaid And such we meet withal therefore we come to the Church But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness let it not be once named a mongst you as becometh Saints Eph. 5.3 Fornication and uncleanness are things not owned by the Church neither filthiness neither foolish talking nor jesting which are things not comely as it it is written Eph. 5.3 4. These things are cast out of the Church and are found amongst the unsanctified people who are not govemed and sanctified by the Spirit of God The Scriptures do own the Saints and beloved people of God to be the Church of God and we own them so to be Therefore with the Ser ptures we concur and agree 1 Thes 2.14 Acts 13.1 2 3. Matth. 18.15 16 17 Acts 20.28 Col. 1.24 25. Eph. 5.27 28 29 30 31.32 The Scripture saith That holiness becometh the House of the Lord for ever and we say the same therefore the Scriptures and we agree in one And the people of God in the New-Covenant are said to be the House of God Heb 3.5 6 therefore holiness beconieth them The Scrip ture saith That the Saints or people of God are the House and Houshold of God and we say the same therefore the Scriptures and we agree in one 1 Tim. 3.15 Eph. 2.19 20 21 22. The Church of God in the New Covenant and Gospel dispensation is the House of God and the people of God are the Church of God Therefore the people of God in the New Covenant and Gospel-dispensation are the House of God as may be read 1 Tim. 3.15 Eph. 5.23 24. Heb. 3.5 6. 1 Pet. 2.5 To meet in point of Religion and Worship of God with them who as dear children are followers of God Eph. 5.1 2. is to come to the Church and such we meet withall in point of Religion and Worship of God therefore we come to the Church according to the Scripture-account as aforesaid The Church according to the Scripture account is the Houshold of God and the Saints beloved people of God are the Houshold of God as may be read Eph. 2.19 20. Therefore the Saints and beloved people of God according to the Scripture account are the Church as foresaid To meet in point of Religion and Worship of God with the Houshold of God is to come to the Church according to the Scripture account and we meet in point of Religion and Worship of God with the Houshold of God therefore we come to the Church according to the Scripture account as aforesaid They who come to the Church according to the Scripture account ought not in equity and reason to be presented for not coming to the Church And we who are reproachfully called Quakers do come to the Church according to the Scripture account therefore we ought not to be presented or punished for not coming to the Church by them that own the Scriptures as their Rule in point of Religion there is neither Equity nor reason for it The Houshold of God which is the Church are builded upon the Foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone as may be seen Eph. 2.18 19 20. Then they who are builded upon the Foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone are the Church the Houshold of God And we who are reproached for the Name of Jesus and are built upon the Light and Power of God are built upon the Foundation of the Prophets and Apostles Christ Jesus himself being the chief Corner-stone We are of the Houshold and Family of God and do come to the Church according to the Scripture-account And by the Church we are neither presentable nor punishable for that They who are governed and sanctified by the Spirit of God are true Members of the Church of God 1 Cor. 1.2 Rom. 9. 1. And we witness on the behalf of the Lord and the Lords Spirit beareth witness on our behalf That we are governed and sanctified by the Spirit of God Rom. 8.14 15 16.17 Therefore we are true Members of the Church of God and are neither presentable nor punishable for not coming to the Church especially by them who own the government and sanctification of the Spirit in declaration though they seem to come far short thereof in life and conversation And if you say It 's true we come to the Church according to the Scripture acccount and you do not present us or go about to punish us for that but because we come not to the Church according to the Common Prayer-Book account Well Concerning the Church what it is according to the Common-Prayer-Book account IF it be granted that we who are reproachfully called Quakers do come to the Church according to the Scripture-account and are neither presentable nor punishable for that then therein we are cleared And if you say we are presented for not coming to the Church according to the account of the Common-Prayer-Book then if we can make it appear by the Common-Prayer that we come to the Church according to the account of the Common-Prayer as aforesaid then by your own rule and that according to Equity and Reason we ought to be clearly acquitted from the force of the aforesaid presentment and therefore discharged to all intents constructions and purposes whatsoever If you say yea then be men of your word and let your yea be yea by making good what you say and we shall proceed to prove the thing in hand or matter in question afore-mentioned that is Whether we come to the Church according to the Common-Prayer-Book account or not To the which we answer and say We do come to the Church according to the Common-Prayer-Book and are therefore neither presentable nor punishable for that but ought in equity and reason to be acquitted and clearly discharged therefrom as aforesaid And if you say it is not sufficiently proved by our affirmation aforesaid We say We do not say that which is false but regard our word and our yea is yea therefore you may believe it for a truth in what we have said but if you would have a further proof for the same we ask in order thereunto whether you own that only to be the Church which the Common-Prayer-Book owneth or declareth so to be If you say yea then stand to your word and be as you say and we shall give you a further proof to make good what we have said viz. That we come to the Church according to the account of the Common-Prayer-Book And if it be asked Who or what sort of people are owned by or declared in the Common-Prayer-book

darkness and not illuminated because you say Lighten our darkness we beseech thee O Lord And again in the Letany you say That it may please thee to illuminate all Bishops Pastors Ministers of the Church Are the Bishops Pastors and Ministers of the Church in darkness and not yet illuminated or doth God send forth Bishops Pastors and Ministers before illumination Because the Apostles and Ministers of Christ said We preach not our selves but Christ Jesus the Lord and our selves your servant for Jesus sake 2 Cor. 4 5 6.7 For God who commanded light to shine out of darkness hath shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ but we have this treasure in earthen ●essels that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us The Ministers of Christ were not in darkness but in the light and therefore illuminated and were sent to illuminate others or to turn them from darkness unto light they who by vertue of their preaching did turn people from darkness unto light they did convert people from their sinful ways and courses unto God by turning them from the power of Satan unto God and such were and are the true Ministers and Messengers of God That light which turn● people from the power of Satan unto God is a soul-converting light and they who in the power of that light and by vertue thereof do by their preaching turn people from darkness unto light they do convert them by their Ministry on the Lords behalf from their sinful ways and courses by turning them from the power of Satan unto God and such are the Ministers of Christ as aforesaid The light of Christ declared of in the Scripture and now owned and born witness of by the people of God called Quakers is that light which turns people from their sinful ways and courses unto God who believe in and obey the same Therefore that light is a soul-converting light as aforesaid And for owning holding forth and bearing witness of this light in principle doctrine and conversation have the people of God called Quakers met with great opposition and persecution And now this light is acknowledged by common confession therefore inasmuch as you own the light by common confession how can you in equity and reason raise opposition against us or present and punish us for owning in principle doctrine and conversation that which you confess unto and own in declaration It is said 3. Sunday after Easter in the Collect so called Almighty God which shewest to all men that be in error the light of thy truth to the intent that they may return into the way of righteousne●● And we say the same do you not herein with us agree in dec●●ration or are you nor in this principled for Quakers so called How then can you in equity and reason punish us for own in principle doctrine and conversation that which you yo●● selves own in declaration You say that Almighty God doth sh●● the light of his truth to all men that be in errour to the into that they may return into the way of righteousness Do you n●● here confess and acknowledge these six things 1 That God is the author of the light 2 That the light it self is a pure spiritual soul-saving justifying light in its own nature and poperty and also to them who believe in and obey the same 3 That the Act of discovery or manifestation of the Light is Gods own act 4 That the persons or parties to whom the Light is so discovered shewn or made manifest are all men without exception 5 That the state and condition wherein they are at the first discovery or manifestation of the Light unto them is whilst they are in errour and out of the way of the Lord. 6 That the intent of Gods act of discovery and manifestation of the Light unto them is that they may come out of errour the ways of unrighteousness into the way of righteousness peace and salvation which is the way of the Lord. If so do you not acknowledge and confess That all men are in errour and out of the way of the Lord until they believe in and receive the Light of the Lord to lead them therefrom and guide them unto God from whence the Light doth come That all men who believe in and receive the light of the Lord after discovery and manifestation thereof do come out of darkness errour and the ways of unrighteousness into the ways of righteousness peace and salvation which is the way of the Lord That the way from errour and heresie is the light which God discovers with an intent to lead all that believes in and obeys the same out of errour heresie into the way of righteousness the way of the Lord That the light of God guides men out of errour in point of salvation and worship of God and leads them unto God that believes in and receives the same according to the act of discovery and intent of God as aforesaid Then to reject the light of Gods truth after Gods act of discovery thereof by refusing denying to yield obedience thereunto is to reject God who is the author of the light and to reject Gods act of discovery of the light and also to reject Gods love held forth in the intent of the discovery thereof and such remains in errour and are out of the way of righteousness and very unfit to guide others into the ways of God who daily err and go astray therefrom themselves And how can any be competent Judges of errour who themselves are subject unto daily live in errour And if errour from the ways of God be an offence punishable by Law what Law is it punishable by and are not they daily punishable by the same Law who daily err and go astray from the ways of God and do daily offend against Gods holy Laws Forasmuch as you own in declaration many of those things which we own in life and conversation though you seem to come farr short of in conversation you ought not in equity or reason to punish us as offenders about matters of conscience in point of Religion worship of God but rather give us the right hand of fellowship and equal liberty with you in point of Religion and worship of God because we own in life and conversation many things which you own in declaration which we could be glad to behold and meet you in in life and conversation setting all your contradictions aside You own purity of heart in declaration and we own the same in principle and practice or life and conversation How can you be offended at us for holding forth purity of heart in conversation when you own the same in declaration where the Priest exhorts the people saying I pray and beseech you as many as be here present to accompany me with a pure heart saying after me and they must say

charity and if you yet want that excellent gift of charity because you pray for it and for the Spirit to pour it into your hearts what are your actions worth without charity your selves confess they are nothing worth without it then wait to receive the Spirit to pour forth that excellent gift of charity into your hearts And when you have received that gift you will not unworthily punish us or any of Gods people for matters of conscience in point of Religion and worship of God but will see it just that we have equal liberty and tolleration with you in point of Religion and worship of God And to that holy Spirit of God by which the whole body of the Church is governed and sanctified which doth cleanse the thoughts of the heart by its holy inspiration or operation and pour into the sanctified heart that most excellent gift of charity to that we can commit our innocent cause which will be for our vindication and justification If you were a pure-hearted people you would not cause us to suffer by you for the same that would be to contradict and oppose your own principles For a pure heart is a sanctified heart and doth not oppose it self in a sanctified people If you were governed and sanctified by the Spirit of God you would love us and be one with us in matters of conscience in point of Religion and worship of God because we own in principle and practice the government and sanctification of the Spirit of God and therefore we ought in equity and reason to be beloved of you and tollerated by you in matters of Religion and worship of God because you own that in declaration which we own in principle and practice or life and conversation And whereas you own the light of Gods truth in declaration to enlighten mens darkness or that men are enlightned by it whilst they are in darkness errour and the ways of unrighteousness to the end that they may come out of errour and the ways of unrighteousness into the ways of righteousness which is the way of the Lord and as aforesaid you own in declaration that which we own in principle doctrine and conversation who have believed in received and obeyed the light of Gods truth according to Gods act and intent of discovery and manifestation thereof and are by the light led out of darkness errour and the ways of unrighteousness into the way of the Lord as aforesaid therefore you ought to love us and let us have equal liberty and toleration with you in matters of Religion and worship of God and free us from the force of the aforesaid Presentment and stand up amongst men and Christians for the vindication and justification of the people of God called Quakers because you own in declaration purity of heart divine and spiritual teachings the government and sanctification of the spirit of God amongst the people of God the light of Gods truth also to guide men out of errour and the ways of unrighteousness into the way of righteousness peace and salvation and that it is a Christians duty by vertue of the grace of God received to cast away the works of darkness and put on the armour of light now in the time of this mortal life and that all vices are to be mortified and killed in the hearts of the people of God that by inspiration and operation of Gods holy Spirit the thoughts of mens hearts are to be cleansed to the end that they may perfectly love the Lord God and worthily magnifie his holy name that the people of God who have obtained repentance and received Gods holy Spirit are to live in continual holiness and godliness and by vertue of the Spirit of God received are impowered to pray and perform the things that are good acceptable and well pleasing to the Lord. That the people of God by the Spirit of God have a right judgment in all things And that the hearts of Gods people are cleansed sanctified by the Spirit of God And that God doth pour into sanctified hearts that most excellent gift of charity so that the love of God is shed abroad in the hearts of the people of God by the Spirit of God and much more All which are the known principles doctrine and practice of the people of God called Quakers And if you did but experimentally and really own and live in the same you and we should be one However inasmuch as you own in declaration that which we own in principle doctrine and practice or life and conversation you ought to love us as the people of God and free us from the force of the aforesaid Presentment to all intents constructions and purposes and let us have equal liberty and tolleration with you as aforesaid and to stand up for our vindication and justification amongst men and Christians Written about the middle of the ninth moneth 1662. Richard Farnsworth THE END