our Discipline even soon after his coming among us and having prepared a Draught of his own and the same not finding the expected Reception he seem'd disgusted since He hath often quarrell'd with us about Confessions declaring That he knew none given forth by the body of Friends to his Satisfaction and often charg'd most of us of being unsound in the Faith We have offered in several Meetings for his satisfaction and to prevent strife among us for preserving the Peace of the Church to deliver a Confession of our Christian Faith in the words of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ the Author of the Christian Faith and in the word of the Apostles Disciples his faithful Followers or we would declare our belief in Testimonies of our antient Friends and faithful Brethren who were generally received by us or we would concur agree upon a Confession and have it transmitted to the Approbation of the Yearly Meeting here or the Yearly Meeting at London yâ—a it was offered unto him at the same time that a Confession concerning the 〈◊〉 matter in Controversiâ— should â—e given out of a Book of his own but alâ— waâ— slighted aâ— insufficient The Lord knows the trouble which we have â—ad with this 〈◊〉 Member and the openness of our hearts and well wishes towards him notwithstanding his rage and violence against 〈◊〉 and of the endeavours of many in this place to have gain'd upon him by a friendly converse and by other means not inconsiderable to a â—â—otherly freedom but one labour hither to seems to be aâ— water spilâ— upon the ground And 〈◊〉 Meeting having Tenderly and Orderly dealt wit◠〈…〉 for his abusive Language and â—â—sorderly Behaviour he hath 〈◊〉 slighted 〈◊〉 Applications of gâ—iâ—ing him to a sence of his ill Treatmentâ— aâ—â— Miscarriages but in 〈…〉 mâ—â—ner said to the Friends appointed by the Meeting to admonish him 〈…〉 Judgment of the meeting under his 〈…〉 and hath of late set up a seperate Meeting 〈◊〉 where he hath like an open Opposer not only reviled several Friends by exposing â—heir Religions Reputations in mixâ— Auditories of some hundreds endeavouring to render them Friends here by the Press and otherways a scorn to the Prophane the Song of the Drunkards but he hath traduced villified our worthy traveling Friends J D. and T. W. in their Powerful and savoury Ministry whose service is not only here but in most Meetings in England Scotland and Ireland well known to have a seal in the hearts of many thousands of the Israel of God he hath hath also within a few weeks appeared in opposition as it were to the Body of Friends by putting on his Hat when our well received and recommended Friend J. Dickenson was at Prayer that in a Meeting of near a thousand Friends others so going out of the Meeting to the great disquiet thereof to the drawing some scores into the same Opposition with him by his ill Example and he thus persisting in his repeated oppositions hard speeches and continued seperation labouring like an unwearied Adversary to widen the Breach made by him so abusing some of the neighbouring Meetings by being as yet under that cover of being owned by us We are hereby brought under a Religious constraint and to prevent other Meetings of being further injur'd by him to give forth this Testimony strained as it were from us by his many violent Provocations viz. That we cannot own him in such ungodly Speeches and disorderly Behaviour or in his seperate Meetings and that we disown the same as proceeding from a wrong Spirit which brings into Disorder inwardly and leâ—d into distraction and confusion outwardly and until he condemn and decline the same we cannot receive him in his publick Ministry and would have him cease to offer his Gift as such among us or else-where among Friends till he be reconciled to his offended Brethren And as to those few of our Brethren in the Gift of the Ministry who aâ—e gone out with G. Keith into his uncharitable dividing Spirit the miserable effects whereof many of uâ— have sufficiently known in Old England and other parts our Judgment is That whilst they continue such they become unqualified to the Work of the Gospel as degenerating thereby from the Guidance of Gods blessed peaceable Spirit in their hearts from whence proceeds the effectual New Testament Ministry and being turned â—rom the peaceable Fruits thereof are gone to Vncharity and Contention And now all you who have walked in fellowship and communion with us and are drawn aside through inconsideration oâ— otherwise into this 〈◊〉 of Seperation and Prejudice against our Meetings orderly established and wherein we have been often and mutually refresh't together we cannot but in the fear of God and in love to your Souls admonish you also of the Insecurity of your present estate and that therein we cannot have Vnity with you and unless you return from under that Spirit Dryness and Barrenness from the Lord wilâ— be your Reward And so â—ear Friends we exhort you all to behave your selves in the Spirit of meekness peaceâ—ble Truth upon all occasions but more especially upon any discourse or conference with any of them who are discontented among you or started aside fâ—om you and avoid all Heats Contentions in matters of Faith and Worship and let not the Salt of the Covenant be wanting in your words and actions for thereby the Savour oâ— your Conversation will reach the Witness of God in them The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all Amen Given forth by the Meeting of Publick Friends in Philadelphia the 20th of the 4th Month 1692. Samuell Jenings John Delavall William Yardly Joseph Kerckbridge Walter Faucet Hugh Roberts Robert Owen William Walker John Lynam George Gray John Symcock Griffith Owen John Bown Henry Wilâ—is Paul Saunders John Blunston William Cooper Thomas Thaâ—kray William Byles Thomas Lloyd John Williford Nicholas VValln VVilliam VVatson George Maris Thomas Ducket Joshua Fearne Evan Morris Richard VValter Here follows Two Answers to the said Judgments To all faithful Friends in Pennsilvania East and West-Jarsey and to all every where else in all parts of the VVorld to whose hands this may come The Salutation of Love WE in behalf of our selves and many Brethren who are falsly called the Seperate Meeting at Philadelphia having taken into our serious and weighty Consideration three several Papers given forth by them of the opposite side who have opposâ—d us and continue to oppose us in our present Testimony to the Truth of Christ and his blessed Gospel Doctrine viz. The first given forth by the Monthly Meeting of the opposite side the 20 of 3d Month 1â—92 wherein they clear T. Fitzwater of his falsly accusing G. K. for denying the sufficiency of the Light saying expresly in their said Paper That foâ—r credible VVitnesses giving their Testimony that they heard G. K. say he did not believe the
Light was sufficient without some-what else the meeting saw no reason to give Judgment against T. Fitzwater in tâ—is particular the said Thomas condemning the rash spirit that he spoke these words in though the Charge in it self was true And G. K. having both at a Quarterly and Monthly Meeting proceeding sufficiently proved which was confessed by T. Lloyd as the Mouth of these Meetings that by that some-what else G. K. had frequently declared he did not mean humane Learning nor the Scriptures nor outward preaching altho' the Scriptures and outward 〈◊〉 arâ— Instrumental in Gods ordinary way of working together with 〈◊〉 inward operation of the spirit to mens salvation as absolutely necessary but the Man Christ Jesus and what he did and suffered for us on Earth and what he now doth for 〈◊〉 in Heaven the fullness that dwelleth in him By which it plainly appeareth the said Monthly Meeting hath excluded the Man Christ Jesus our blessed Mediator Saviour from having any 〈◊〉 concern in our Salvation and therefore we do unanimously with one heart judge condemn their false Judgment in claming Tho Fitzwater that hath this tendency not only to condemn G. K. for his 〈◊〉 Christian Doctrine 〈◊〉 is a plain denyal of the Man Christ Jesus the great Merits Vaâ—â—s 〈◊〉 of his Sufferings Death Resurrection 〈◊〉 Asseâ—â—â—on and his Mediation for us in Heaven aâ— which are somewhat else thâ—n the People called Quakers commonly understand by the â—â—ght to wit the Light in every mans Conscience And by this rash aâ—d inconsiderate Act of their Monthly Meeting proceeding from great Ignorance Error and Vnbelief in them they have sufficiently declared themselves to be no true Believers in the Man Christ Jesus and therefore 〈◊〉 Christians for this cause we cannot own them to be our Christian 〈◊〉 nor joyn with them in any Religious VVorship until theâ— condemn themselves for the said Act and give us some evidence of their unâ—â—â—â—â— Repentanos and sincere Faith by their open Confession and Declaraâ—â—â—â— of the Truth of Christ which now they have denyed The second Paper is given forth by a Meeting of these called Friends of the Ministry signed by Sam. Jenings as â— lâ—â—k of the said Meeâ—ing wherein they give too partial and defective Judgment against VVilliam Stockdale not blaming him for any Offence to God or Christ nor convicting him for his sin of Blasphemy whereof he was guilty in charging G.K. for preaching Two Christs because he preach'd Faith in Christ within and in Christ without us wherein he plainly denyed Faith in Christ without us that we judge Blasphemy against the Son of Man Also the said Meeting hath falsly judged and blamed G. K. for calling W. S. An Ignorant Heathen for seeing he denyed Faith in Christ without us we judge it was his proper Name and he was not worthy to be accounted in the Truth having discovered his so great Ignorance and Unbelief in one of the great Fundamentals of the Christian Faith Also they falsly accuse G. K. for not giving W. S. Gospel Order whereas upon due examination we find that he had given him sufficient Gospel Order The third Paper is signed by Samuell Jenings John Simcock Thomas Lloyd and others in Number 28 all pretended Preachers wherein they have passed a most false Judgment against G. K. for his sound Christian Doctrine and Godly Zeal in sharply reproving gross Anti-Christian Errors that he had detected them guilty of partly by the Open Confession of some and partly by the Coâ—â—iâ—aâ—ce of others and seeking to cloak and cover and defend the Guilty and the said three Papers and the matter contained in them being sufficiently answered in a late Book called The Plea of the Innocent c. which we having read and well considered do approve of and allow to be given forth by our unanimous Consent and Approbation the particular things in matter of Fact therein contained being all known to some of us and the most principal to most of us And we of this Meeting deliver it as our unanimous Judgment that all these who have given judgment in the said three Papers above-mentioned have given a false judgment in them against the Truth and against G. K. and his Friends joyned with him in this Testimony And we do declare against their false Judgment and say That G. K. and other Friends of the Ministry joyned with him in this Testimony ought not to forbear the Exercise oâ— their Ministerial Gift that God hath given them notwithstanding the â—â—lâ—e Judgment of false Brethren that have joyned together in a Faction against him and his faithful Brethren but that he and his faithful Brethren of the Ministry ought to be encouraged and received by all faithful Friends every where in the use and exercise of their Ministerial Gifts which we are perswaded they still have and the use and exercise thereof will tend to the Glory of God the Prosperity of Truth and Salvation of Souls And we also deliver it as our unanimous Judgment that all these 28 Persons that have signed that false Judgment against G.K. his Friends ought not to be owned nor countenanced in their preaching or praying but denyed and all others that justifie them until they condemn themselves for their said false and rash Judgment against G. K. and his Brethren and until they give some publick and open Confession and Declaration that they are sound in the Faith of Christ they having given sufficient cause to us to conclude That at present they have not the sound Faith of Christ. And tho' we have just cause to blame them for condemning us without all Hearing and Trial yet they have no cause to blame us because we have oft â—ought and requested a Meeting with them to have things of Difference fairly debated and tried but could never obtain it and they having new made publick their false Judgment against us in three several Papers we are concerned for the Defence of Truth and our Repâ—tation both as Men and Christians to give forth this publick Testimony against them and to recommend it to all faithâ—uâ— Friends to consider and examine by the Spirit of Truth and let both their publick Papers and ours be impartially weighed in the Ballance of Truth in order to which we are willing that all their papers be printed as well as ours that have been published on both sides that so the impartial Readers may have a fair Opportunity to judge of both Given forth at our Meeting at the House of Phillip James in Philadelphia the 3â— oâ— 5th month 1692. in behalf of many of our Brethren both in Town and Country who are one with us in this Testimony though not now present Richard Dâ—ngworth Joan Wells Phillip James Henry Furnis James Sâ—attick James Choper sen William Davis Robert Wallis James Poulter Nicholas Fierce Thomas Budd Joâ—n Barclay William Bradford James Câ—â—per jun. John Poâ—tus John M' Câ—â—â—â— James Chick John Bartram Abel
are false but prove them to be so and bring things to the Light and let not Christs words be fullfilled on you viz. You hate the Light because your deeds are Evil c. Say not that we are bold and daring thus to Challenge you for it s not wrâ—t in a presumptuous Spirit as relying on our own Strength or Parts but on the Lord alone on whom is our Dependance and who knows the Innocency of our Cause and therefore we are not afraid to bring it to the Test but willing to appear openly as hitherto we have done in Print and not as your Practice is to report false things secretly abroad which we know not whom to fasten upon but what we publish in Print remains to be the Authors whether true or false if false why don't you refute it the Press is free and open for you aâ— for any But the matter in 〈◊〉 Printed Books is true and stands over your Heads and which you will never be able to Râ—â—â—te But next let us enquire what have you condemned G. K. 〈◊〉 some of you say Partly for matter of Doctrine and partly for hard Words But as for Doctrine you have not mentioned what it is and as for the hard Names you mention it is made appear in The Plea of the Innocent c. that they were justly given by G. K. to them that deserved the same But have his Opposers given no hard Names no unjust and false Reflections yea many But why only then must G. K. be condemned and not they also who have given hard words and false Names to G. K. When G. K. complained against them for not giving Judgment against W. Stockdale's Blasphemy Samuell Jenings could excuse it by bringing the Example and Practice of worldly Courts saying George thou hast reviled thy Brethren and in Courts we allow of Discount So that according to S. Jenings W. Stockdale's Blasphemy must be discounted against G. K's Reviling his Brethren as they account it but can never prove But if Discount be allowable in this case why are not G. K's hard words discounted against those that have been given to him so far as they will reach And that it may appear what hard Names have been given we think fit here to mention viz. They say G. K. has called them 1. Fools 2. Ignorant Heathens 3. Infidells 4. Silly Souls 5. Lyars 6. Hereticks 7. Rotten Ranters 8. Muggletonians They of the other side have called G. K. 1. Brat of Babylon 2. Accuser of the Brethren 3. Apostate 4. Worse than Prophane 5. A Troubler of the Church 6. A Person that no one could have Difference with but he was in danger of the Life of his Soul 7. A Preacher of two Christs 8. A Teller of an Old St Andrews Story 9. Pope 10. Father Confessor 11. Lyar 12. Devil 13 Muggletonian 14. Compared him to a Wolf Tyger c. 15 One that alwayes endeavoured to keep down the Power of Truth 16. A more vexatious Adversary than Hicks Faldo Scanderet or the worst of Enemies 17. One that is fallen upon the soaring Mountains c. 18. 〈◊〉 a man slain 19. Become Treacherous to the Spouse of his Youth 20. Fallen 〈◊〉 his first Love 21. Gone into a Spirit of Enmity Wrath Self-Exaltation Contention c. 22. Foaming out his own Shame 23. A Person without the Fear of God before his Eyes 24. Leting loose the Reins to an Extravagant Tongueâ— 25. Broken out into many Vngodly Speeches Ratling Accusations Paâ—â—onate Threatenings being Cruel c. like an Vnwearied Adversary With many more that can be proved Now let the Impartial Reader judge which have exceeded in hard Words and whether they are not very partial to pass by all that hath been said against G. K. and condemn him for what he hath spoke in iâ—s right-place as is made appear in the Book called The Plea of the Innocent And yet when G. K. was the Complainer for many Months for Justice to be done to Truth they could plead for Discount and put Blasphemy against Christ Jesus in the Ballance against Reflections upon themselves and yet now will not disount for hard words And aâ—so they have judged a whole Meeting without ever admonishing of them If this be not Partiality Injustice and Unrighteous Judgment tell us what is And clear your selves of these things if you can Signed by us in behalf of the rest of our Friends by order of our Meeting the 18th of the 5 Month 1692. Thomas Budd Richard Hilliard John Haâ—t Thomas Paschall William Bradford James Cooper Elizabeth Keith THE END Books to be Sold by William Bradford in Philadelphia 1692. The Christian Faith of the People called Quakers in Rhode-Island 4 d. A Catechism for Children and Youth and such others as need to be instructed in the first Principles of the Christian Religion By G. K. Pr. 6 d. A Testimony concerning the Resurrection of the Dead Day of Judgment and Christs last Coming Appearing without uâ— By G. K. 3 d. Truth and Innocency defended against Calumny Defamation in a late Report concerning the Revolution of Humane Souls c. G. K. 5 d. Some Causes and Reasons of the late Seperation that hath come to pass here at Philadelphia Shewing That G. K's Opposers were the Cause of the said Breach and Seperation and most properly are the seperate Meeting Together with an account of the sincere Christian Faith of G. K. and his Friends Price 9 d. The Plea of the Innocent against the False Judgment of the Guilty being a Vindication of G Keith his Friends from the false Judgment Calumnies and Defamations of S. Jenings J. Simcock T. Lloyd and others being in Number Twenty Eight Price 6 d. A Vision concerning Seperation among Friends in Old England By G. F. A faithful Warning and Exhortation to Friends to beware of seducing Spirits By S. Crisp 6 d. Aâ— Appeal from the Twenty Eight Judges to the Spirit of Truth and true Judgment in all faithfull Friends called Quakers A true Coppy of three Judgments given forth by a Party of men called Quakers at Philadelphia against G. Keith c. With two Answers to the same New Husbandry to New-England or an Experienced way to raise Quick Hedges and Clover Grass and the way to make Syder Note That in some of Printed Copies of the Appeal from the twenty eight Judges c. there happen'd an Error in the Postscript which pray amend viz. line 1. for Anthony Morris read Sam. Richardson And whereas it is reported That the Printer being a favourer of G. K. he will not print for any other which is the reason that the other Party appear not in Print as well as G K. These are to signifie that the Printer hath not yet refused to print any thing for either Party and also signifies that he doth not refuse but is Willing and ready to print any thing for the future that G. K's Opposers shall bring to him
Noble Joseph VValker Thomus Paschall Richard Hâ—â—liard William Watte Anthony Stâ—â—ges Ralph VVard Thomas Pâ—â—â—t Joâ—n Gâ—aâ—â—â—â—â— Peter Chamberlain An Expostulation with Samuell Jenings Thomas Lloyd and the rest of the twenty eight Unjust Judges and Signers of the Paper of Condemnation against G. K. his Friends And Complain for a Publick Hearing and Tryal before all Impartial People WHereas Samuell Jenings Thomas Lloyd and others being in Number 28 have published a Paper against G. K. the rest of his Brethren whâ— are joyned with him in this Testimony for the Lord Jesus against whom they prophecy That Dryness and Barrenness from the Lord will be their Reward We having read and considered the said Judgment do testifie against it as an unjust and unrighteous Act but that which aggravates the Crime against them is that they say This Meeting having tenderly and orderly dealt with him c. when they know in their Consciences they dealt 10. with G. K. nâ—r never sent for him to their said Meeting but tryed and judged him altogether in his absence wherein they have done worse than the Baptists did in the case of Tho. Hicks for when Friends appealed to the People call'd Baptists â—oâ—â—â—â—â—ice against T. Hicks they took their time appointed a Meeting and 3 or 4 days before the said Meeting sent Letters to G. W. and W. P's Houses to give them notice to be at the Meeting but they being so far from home that theâ— could not have timely notice it was reckon'd great Injustice for them â—o proceed and try Friends and T. Hâ—cks in their absence and upon Complaint they give another Meeting But T. Lloyd S. Jenings and the rest are so far short of the Justice of the Baptists that they never so much as acquainted G. K. of their Meetingâ— or intent to proceed against him nor never sent for him that we can understand only W Byles came to G. K's house and asked for him his Wife told he was from home and she expected him the next Morning but they told nothing of their business with him but in all haste proceeded to judge him in his absence before he came home Is this your orderly dealing with him Is this your Justice Is this your Christ an tenderness your Charity your bearing with him in a Christian Spirit for shame cease thus proceeding or you will â—e a stink in the Nostrils of the Nations where it shall be told What! pretend to Christianity fall short of Heathen Justice John 7.50 51 Acts 25.16 17 Did the Baptists do unfair in proceeding to try Friends in their absence Then much more you for they gave some Notice before of their intending to Try Tho. Hicks but you never so much as told G. K. of your so Meeting Wherefore allow us so much Justice as the Baptists did to have another Meeting publickly to try G. K. where all People may be present that are willing to come and whereof G. K. may have timely notice and liberty to plead his own Cause and let all Impartial People judge through Gods Assistance we shall make it appear that your said Judgment is unjust G. K. not worthy of Condemnation Was there ever such an Act done in any Christian Society before to condemn a man without ever hearing of him or suffering him to speak for himself Surely its far short of any worldly Court where the party shall have timely notice to prepare for his his Tryaâ—â—nd liberty to plead his own cause in the face of the Country and where his Accusers are not allowed to sit and give Judgment against him But so it is that these Unjust Unrighteous Judges have proceeded to try judge and publish their Judgment against G. K. without ever hearing of him when it s well known the most of them were his great Opposers They might be sure this way to condemn him when only a Faction of them get togeâ—her and accuse him and he nor any for him be present to speak for him But that which still hightens the Crime of Tho. Lloyd Sam Jenings and the rest of the 28 Unjust Judges is that they of the Ministry should give such a false Judgment and then impose it on all the Meetings in these 3 Provinces when most of the Friends thereof are great strangers to the Matter in Controversie not knowing which Party is in the Right but they must take said Judgment upon Trust from them without enquiring into the Cause and Verity thereof and where they think their said Judgment will not readily be swallowed down they will follow it from Meeting to Meeting cloathed with their Magistratical Robes and if any Friends show their dislike of having it imposed on them without their own consent and consideration of the matter presently threaten to bind them to the good Behaviour and to the Peace and call out for a Constable thereby endeavouring to trample us down by their Magistratical Power Authority as Samuell Jenings Sam. Richardson Thomas Lloyd John Delavall and Anthony Morris did lately at a Monthly Meeting near Frankford as is well known to many Oh! 〈◊〉 whither do you think these things will run will it not give People just cause to say â—he Quaâ—ers are turned Persecutors But our Trust and Confidence is in the Lord alone who hitherto has pleaded the Cause of the Innocent and carried his People through all the Powers Oppositions that have hitherto 〈◊〉 up against them in all Ages and we doubt not but he will do the same for us as we keep faithful to him and to the Guidance of his holy Spirit Light and Life in our hearts But are these your Proceedings Christian or Protestant-likeâ— or do they not raâ—â—er relish of Rank Pâ—pery for the â—ergâ— oâ— them oâ— the Ministry to impose their 〈◊〉 the People without 〈◊〉 enquiring 〈◊〉 the matter Is 〈…〉 Obedience Is not this believing as the Church believes in order to bringâ— in Ignorance the Mother of Devotian Oh! who but ignorants and blind men but can see these things And yet now will ye stand in them O ye Vnjust Judges will ye not be willing to answer our just Complaint for a Hearing Will you come short of the Justice of the Baptists who admitted of another Meeting for a Hearing But perhaps you will say The Act of that Meeting was Infallible being made up of such a Body of the Ministry as Arthur Cook said lately in the House of G. â— That a Yearly Meeting could not Err But we desire to hope that som of you will better consider of it answer our just Complaint and no lurk in holes and corners but come openly and defend your selves and repent of the Error and false Doctrine you have run into and let a time and place be appointed agreed on by both Parties for a Publick Hearing If you have Truth and Justice on your side come forth and let it appear before the World and say not that such and such things