himself is of late fallen so that he must bear his own judgement and condemnation Thou art inexcusable O man whosoever thou art that judgest For wherein thou judgeth another thou condemnest thy self For thou that judgest dost the same things But we are sure that the judgement of God is according to Truth against them which commit such things Rom. 2.1.28 The Epistle with the following Marginal observations is here commended to the Conscience of the impartiaâ— reader London the 26th 3d month 1673. Dear Friends and Brethren THe Lord our God having by his Eternal Power raised up and preserved many faithful and living Witnesses of his blessed Truth until this Day both for the Conversion of many from Darkness to Light and for the building up Establishment and Comfort therein by his own Living Word of Life and Reconciliation And having also signally Blessed a a This was at the yearly or general Meeting which Meeting was then Approved by W. R. but now Smitten at by W. R. and the Members thereof as consisting of an uncertain Number of uncertain qualified Persons p. 1. p. 7. and yet in the same page undertakes to Assign some of the following Qualifications viz. False Accusers Men-pleasers and many of them Lovers of Preheminence and time Servers that take that as an opportunity to appear unto others that which they are not in themselves and do take upon them to call themselves a general Meeting See his Confusion and Self-contradiction both in word and practice this precious Opportunity of our assembling together with his glorious presence power and Majesty manifest amongst us which many were and are Eye witnesses of and in the unspeakable sense thereof many have been as melted and their hearts exceedingly broken and their souls overcome and deeply affected with Gods unspeakable goodness and power love and life so plentifully shed abroad amongst us and in our hearts in the sense whereof our hearts are open and affected towards you all even in the same dear and tender love and life that is abundantly shed forth unto us and from which our salutation is to all our dear Friends brethren and Sisters in this and other nations having the General State of the Churches and people of God opened unto us with a tender care upon our hearts and breathing of our souls that they all may grow prosper and be preserved in Unity Peace and good order that divine life and vertue may Reign and abundantly flow over and through all to the Replenishment and unspeakable comfort that you may keep out the Enemy in all his appearances that would make divisions and disturbances in the Churches for at this time the Enemie is busie and secretly at work for that end to make b b Note the end and occasion of this Epistle against the Rents and Divisions then on Foot and now Espoused by William Rogers to the Gratifying the Enemy and bringing the open Opposers and Adversaries of Truth over us formerly judged but now practised by Willam Rogers witness his whole Book made publick to the view of the World rents endeavouring thereby to bring the open opposers and adversaries of Truth over it is that strife division may be stirred amongst our selves that they desire and watch for and therefore where any are instruments thereof they serve not the Lord Iesus Christ but the Enemy c c Mark the very Character of William Rogers his Work and Spirit and his Judgment against all such as are Guilty of these things which now includes himself in chief Witness not only his Offence against such like Exhortations as excluding of Jealousies and having an Eye to the Brethren Preface p. 6. but also his own evil Surmizes and hard Speeches in this Book against many of these very Brethren with whom he joyned in the Epistle and many other faithful Labourers in the Lord's Work though most of them are not particularly Nominated whom he terms Up starts Innovaters Adherents to G. F. pag. 3. of his Preface Insinuating most grievous and faise Charges against them as the main Design of his Book rendring them Apostates false Accusers Imposers Persecutors Exercising Gentilian Lordship blind Obedience Setting up an outward Directory Orders Innovations Prescriptions Decrees and what not seeking thereby to Undermine and to beget a disesteem and slight of their Testimony See how this Man is now found in the very Practice of those things he once Condemn'd whereby out of his own Mouth he is Judged being like the Dog returned to the Vomit and the Sow that was Washed to her Wallowing in the Mire They that make divisions and cause offences contrary to the Gospel and that seek to sow discord amongst brethren are not only to be marked but the Lord will make them manifest and his power will bring them under and debase them as it hath done and will do that spirit that is guilty of jealousies Evil-surmisings whisperings and hard speeches against the brethren and faithful Labourers in the Lords work it is the accuser of the brethren that strikes at their Testimony and seeks to undermine to beget a disesteem and slight of them in it which adversary must be watch't against and forever cast down and out and we are assured from the Lord that all sowers of discord accusers of the faithful brethren slighters and undervaluers of their Testimony and gifts self-seekers Whisperers Back-biters and all self-willed and self-exalted spirits God will abase them his eternal power will work them under and all that which offends shall be removed Gods pure power is at work refining throughly purging his floor and sanctifying his Church and people that there may be no rent nor schism but that the Lord may be one and his name one amongst us and blessed are you that keep to your first love and retain your integrity to the end d d Had William Rogers been of this Spirit and continued we had never seen his contrary Work of Darkness and Confusion but this he is far from now having approved himself an utter Enemy Villifier and Opposer of Christ's Rule and Government in his Members insomuch that the very Term it self viz. Church-Government is become an Offence unto him as may appear in Divers parts of his Book particularly Pag. 45. of part the First Oh dear friends and brethren watch in the light against all the enemies wiles and pray for the peace of Ierusalem that she may be seen in her beauty and splendor or as a City without breaches that peace may remain within her walls and prosperity within her pallaces Oh! let it be the general care of all our brethren to whom the Lord hath committed an oversight in the Churches to keep things quiet and in good order by the power and wisdom of God who is not the Author of confusion but of peace and that the publick affairs of Truth be managed and carried on in the same power and wisdom which is pure and peaceable that all in Humility may
of those things that they testifie are commendable in the Church of God we are sorry that any weakness should appear in us to give occasion for such offence and as †How comes it to pass that there is now nothing in all this and that it is no better than a Rattle to please Children is not this manifest deceit and hypocrisie satisfaction to our brethren and the Church of God in general we do from the very bottom of our hearts condemn that spirit whether it hath appeared in us or any that hath given offence to the Church of God in general or that oppose the order of the Gospel or any faithful Brethren in the practice of those things they believe are their Duty This paper being sent to some Friends in divers parts of the Nation for the satisfaction of such to whom-the knowledge of the differences had come the end for which it was given forth J. S. and J. VV. were offended at it set themselves to extenuate or take off the weight of it not owning it according to the common acceptation of A condemnation of themselves therein confessing they owned the Paper but in another sence than against themselves Notwithstanding what it plainly imports and they knew the Brethren took it for and William Rogers who confessed he drew it for J. S. and J. W. Reported there was nothing in it and that the most innocent man amongst us might own it and never hurt himself and that it was no better than a Rattle to please Children implying those Friends and Brethren Assembled at Drawel he hath as before Recited out of his own Narative given such a Character of and these things we have proved already by sufficient Witnesses out of his own mouth instead of bringing forth Fruits of Peace and Humiliation the said J. S. and J. W. having dealt thus un-sincerely with the Brethren began a new Quarrel with them that were concerned in the hearing and declaring the judgment of the Spirit of Truth at Drawel concerning the differences c. calling their Account a lying Narrative and charging them with doing wickedly by them both by word and writing W. R. also joining with them who by this time began to be desperate and warmly to engage in their Quarrel and in defence of their pretended Innocency they set themselves to oppose and Exclaim against the proceedings of the Brethren at Drawel-Meeting with many opprobrious terms in perfect contraries to the Character W. R. had before given thereof all which things have been made appear at large And instead of breaking up their separate-Meeting or clearing themselves of them which is a publick Ensign of Division and Reproach to the Truth and instead of making void their Subscription tending to a separation both are continued with J. S. and J. W's names thereto whereby some have been encouraged in the Divisions and so far have they made void as to themselves the benefit of all the Transactions of that Meeting at Drawel And now because the Friends of Truth cannot be at Peace and Unity with them in their work of Separation and Division but keep the Spirit of sound judgment upon that dividing Spirit and are at a distance from them until they Repent and be Reconciled therefore are they disquieted And as for William Rogers their furious Warrier and whom they have permitted to fight their Battells for them against the Lamb's followers we have look'd upon him of late as A Man Tormented in Spirit under the disappointments he hath met with in his way on the one Hand Note his Articles have not only Demonstrated this to be his Design but his words also very frequently to be what he would have accomplished amongst us in not being able to Effect that Mischief of Division and Separation which both publickly and privately he hath Laboured to bring to pass in this City about those Men and on the other Hand finding the Cause of his Party whom under pretence of Crying down Man he hath industriously Laboured to Exalt Man or Men above as well as against their Brethren notwithstanding all his Endeavours Manifestly to Decline not only in the General but in the Consciences of some from amongst themselves as by divers Testimonies under many of their Hands shewing how they were Betrayed and Led aside from the Antient Unity to joyn in a Subscription of Party with J. Story and J. Wilkinson may be made appear And now as to the utmost Mischief W. R. is able to do he hath in the Bitterness and Envy of his Spirit and Power of Darkness with which of late he hath been Acting Printed his most scandalous and abusive Book which he had long threatned to bring forth and which is now come Abroad and so Wicked that we must needs say though we knew the Mans lofty Spirit and expected no other than bad from him yet we are sorry for his sake at what he hath brought forth it being so Monstrous and Confused and abundantly supplyed with most grievous Falsehood wicked Perversions and Mis-representations of many Faithful and Innocent Men who truly fear God though he hath for the most part omitted their Names which we take not to be out of any Favour or Kindness in him towards such but rather under Apprehension that the Eminency of divers of them together with the Credit of their Integrity in the Consciences of persons of all Qualities and Degrees would have but worsted and disserted his Cause and for as much as it is Evident to us that the Generallity of the People called Quakers in this Nation some few here and there in some Countries excepted are at Unity with those Brethren in their Testimony against this Spirit and Work of Division William Rogers is now principally concerned in and for which those Brethren are so villified and abused in William Rogers his Book we cannot but look upon such his Injuries and Reproaches to extend through them to the Body of the People called Quakers in this Nation and their Holy Profession thereby prostrated to the publick Ignominy and Contempt of the open and secret Enemies of the Truth who may be too apt to believe what he Writeth which being duely considered let all that have the Fear of God before their Eyes Judge whether the Man that is Guilty of these things can be rightly Esteemed a True Christian Quaker We having thus given a short but true Account of the Occasion Subject Proceedings and Continuance of the present Differences shall proceed to say something of William Rogers his late behaviour amongst us in this City His Qualifications with Respect to his Profession of being a True Christian Quaker is that we are concerned about and to lay him open as they have been plentifully Manifested to us by his behaviour of late Years amongst us in this City to our Great Grief and Exercise Know then that whatever William Rogers hath formerly been or whatever he is yet accounted to be by any that taketh part with
him hath made him as a Head Captain in this late work of Strife and Division from the Antient Unity and Fellowship in the Truth which the Lord through his Goodness and Mercy hath put a great stop unto and Hedged up their Way and is now causing the Rebellious Instruments thereof to Wither and Blast and become as Unsavory Salt fit for nothing but to be trodden under the Feet of Men. And for such who have any Tenderness and Sincerity remaining in them towards the Lord and his People such the Lord hath Gathered and is Gathering out from amongst them especially in some of the Northern Parts where this Division first Sprang and Arose We say whatever William Rogers may be accounted of by such as take part with him We whose Names are Subscribed to this small Treatise being his Neighbours have by frequent Experience known many times to our Grief and Sorrow and therefore in Truth and Righteousness and in Sincerity of Heart we declare that he is a Man of a Heady Willful high-Minded Unruly Passionate and Furious Spirit and therefore cannot be Justified For the Sway of his Fury shall be his Destruction if he Repent not We have known him upon frequent Occasions to be so very Extravagant with his Tongue as well as his Pen which we doubt not but in time will be undeniably Manifested in his Book insomuch that his many slanderous Assertions have long since been but of little Credit with us and therefore we conclude with the Apostle His Religion is vain and whatever his talk of Religion and Christianity is it is Manifest to us it consists more in his Head than in his Heart and so indeed is a Stranger to the Life of it he being alive in the contrary Nature And truely he hath long been a Burthen not only to us but as we have too much Cause to believe to some Hundreds in this City by his very rude and clamorous Behaviour at our Mens Meetings as well as publick Meetings wherein we account he hath been the chief Instrument of the great Disturbance and Disorder that hath been at sometimes therein Manifested though with no small Impudence he now makes mention of it in his Book without taking Shame to himself but Assigning to others what himself was Guilty of as one chief cause of the present Publishing the Things contained in his Book and having thus diligently both sought caused and took occasion he now vents the Bitterness that is in his Heart which we believe is Naucious and Offensive to them that truely Fear God amongst us We think it not necessary particularly here to Recite the many Abuses of his lavish Tongue together with his Frequent Rude Insolent and Imperious Behaviour at our Mens Meetings as the Natural Effects of those his Qualifications before Mentioned wherein and whereby he hath from time to time Industriously Laboured to cause a Separation amongst us Neither do we think it necessary at present to particularize his Profane Speaking concerning the Power of God no more than we have already done concerning his Horrible unsincere Dealing with the Brethren at Drawell both proved out of his own Mouth unless required thereto and the Reason why we so think it not necessary at Present is not only for that it would Render us much the Larger and the Credit of our Testimony not strictly Requiring it but because some of us have already both by Word and Writing Charged him home with divers of these things so that he is not Ignorant of them for which we could never have any Satisfaction either publick or private to this day in such Cases of Charge against him his way and manner hath been and we Judge it is according to his Principles To Refuse the Submitting such matters to the Hearing Judgement and Determination of Friends of the Meeting indefinitely Assembled in a Church-Way and Method as is Establish't amongst us for the strengthning the Good Reproof Discouragement of the Evil and loose Walkers But his Manner is in such Cases to urge The Choosing so many Men on each Part like as if the Case were about an Horse or Cow a subtle Method of his to shelter the Head of the Transgressor from the stroke of Righteous Judgement A practice he hath been of late too Eminently Guilty of in our Meetings to the Grief of the Upright For the Transgressor will be sure to Chuse such as are like himself and of party with him to stand by him to the Uttermost and this effects but Confusion Thus it appears it was not without Cause that William Rogers hath stood up so Zealously for Liberty and some of his Adherents against Monthly and Quarterly Meetings which called them in Question for their back-sliding seeing they if they should submit to such Meetings are likely to have their Fleshly Liberty Restrained or to be publickly Judged and Disowned for it and this is the Reason in the Ground and Bottom whatever contrary Pretences they make that W. R. c. are so disquieted of his Exclaiming in his book against the Godly Care and Zeal of the faithful under the black Characters of persecution imposition and the like These things considered we cannot but admire at the confidence of W. Rogers in the 27th page of his Preface wherein he saith He blesseth God that hath so preserved him by the Arm of his power as that none of his Opposers have so far as he knew laid any thing to his charge but for things wherein he hath acted though misrepresented by them to keep a Conscience void of offence towards God We whose names are hereunto subseribed having heard the foregoing relation of W. Rogers his being of a heady self-will'd unruly and passionate spirit of his Lavish and abusive tongue rude Carriage and behaviour in meetings of late years amongst us do hereby certifie that to our knowledge the Character given of him therein is true and that we also have many times to our great grief and exercise been eye and ear witnesses of his being notoriously guilty therein to the great shame of his profession witness our hands Dated in Bristol the 16th of the 6th Month 1681. Lawrence Steel John Moone John Bainton Henry Diddicott Paul Moone Charles Jones Samps Coysgarne John Cowlinge John Higgins John Barnes William Minor Peter Young James Sturridg Jun. William Rouch Thomas Bayley Richard Philips Here follows the Epistle before mentioned under W. Rogers Arther Eastmeads hands together with divers brethren who still keep their habitations in the Unity of the Spirit and power of God given forth from the yearly Meeting since the beginning of the Divisions in the North as W. Rogers confesseth by the date thereof in the second page of his preface and is a manifest Reproof to that Spirit of Strif and Division then at work as also a discovery against whom and what the instruments thereof did then and do still oppose themselves into the mischief of which spirit and work W. R.
how he is become Degenerated and found by his Writing and Opposition pulling down and Destroying what he once Built up What is the matter that he had so much Unity with George Fox and adhered to him in these things formerly and now so bitterly Smiteth and Inveighs against him Is he viz. George Fox a Changed Man No Thousands can Witness to the contrary whose Consciences he hath Answered and doth Answer in the Power and Wisdom of God and is A sweet Savour of Christ in them that are Saved and in them that Perish For the Apostle saith Vnto one We are the savour of Death unto Death and unto the other the Savour of Life unto Life 2 Cor. 2.15 16. or are the principal Matters of Fact which William Rogers alledgeth against him said to be of late Years since he so nighly owned him No no but many of them long before from which as also what he Chargeth him with of later Times he hath already Answered what seemed worth taking Notice of and Vindicated his Innocency and Manifested William Rogers his malicious Abuses of him that have been given Forth and Received in the Universal Spirit of Life and Vnity have their Service for God in subjection to his Light and Subservency to and in order to Answer the great Rule and Law of the Spirit of Life as proceeding from it And they that are Spiritual will acknowledge those things spoken or written from this Spirit and for this end to be the Requirings of the Lord and many in divers Places have Received Help and Encouragement from Him through those Helps and Governments that he hath Afforded in the Church the True and Living Body which we are Members of in which as all keep their Habitations there is a Sweetness Harmony of Life Vnity and Subjection one to a-another and a preserving one of another in the Lord. Yet every Man in his own proper Order for every Member of the body is not l l Note it is not Intended or Understood hereby That some of the Members of Christ's Body should be without his Divine Light in their own inward Parts for Christ the Head of the Body is One in the Male and in the Female as the Apostle saith who gives Light unto them all which as they abide in it gives them to see and have Unity one with another and with the Doctrine Counsel and Instruction which he Immediately opens gives forth in by his Faithful Servants in whom he more fully opens his Divine Counsel unto whom he hath committed a Dispensation of the Everlasting Gospel of Peace who faithfully Labour in the Life and Doctrine of Christianity and therein are good instrumental Helps in Government an Eye and yet each Member hath its proper place and Service and all in Subjection to the one Life Power and Head which is Christ it hath been observed by us that that Spirit which despiseth Government and Dominion and speaks Evil of Dignities is either a Singular or a Self-Righteous Self-Separating Spirit that would it self bear Rule and be Iudge over all which also Works to stumble and darken the simple or a Loose Disobedient Careless Spirit that would not be Reformed but altogether live at Ease in the Flesh and fleshly Liberty which the Power of God will Rebuke m m It had been well for W. R. if he ever had this Dominion that he had kept it for it is the same and no other that the Brethren seek and are Exercised in for no other End or Interest as they have Declared God is their Witness who knoweth the Secrets of all Hearts and will plead with W. R. in his Righteous Judgements for being found in the wrong Spirit that doth surmize or insinuate Jealousies to the contrary as these Lines Import but though he hath given us Dominion over that Spirit and its perverse Wayes which opposeth the Power and would work Division and lead into corrupt Liberty yet 't is no Dominion over your Faith that we seek but that we may be Helpers of your Ioy in the Lord and you as diligent Co-workers together in the Faith and Love of God wherein we may be all a mutual Comfort Ioy and Crown of Rejoycing one to another as having one Master and we all Brethren in Him who is the Lord of the Houshold and God of Glory whose Glorious presence is with us and it is a wrong Spirit that would surmise or insinuate Iealousies or beget prejudice against the Faithful Labourers in the Gospel and Helpers in Government to Mis-represent such as aiming at any other Ends and Interests than Christ's Interest and Government over all which God is Record we are clear from seeking or claiming at any other And in his n n How came W. R. by this Authority and Power to give Judgement against such Works and Workers and deny and quarrel with it now Is it not Manifest to be because he himself is fallen into the same Snare not only of being Secret but now as an open Enemy to the Truth and Heavenly Society therein And we are perswaded if he Repent not the time will come when he will find his own Judgement as it is already seen by the Faithful to be Verified in his own particular Authority and Power we stand Witnesses against that Spirit forever both in our open and secret Enemies which either Smites at our Heavenly Society or would break our Vnity with the Prince of Peace who is our Head and Lawgiver unto whom Thrones Dominions Principallities and Powers are jubject be Glory for ever unto whose Power and Government we commit you all and in true and endeared Love Rest Your Dear Brethren William Rogers Authur Eastmead William Penn James Hall George Coal Charles Marshal William Gibson John Moone John Langstaff Samuel Thornton Edward Brown James Claypoole Robert Barclay John Cox James Merrick Thomas Briggs Morgan Watkins John Rauce Charles Lloyd Richard Almond Robert Cary Thomas Green John Anderdon Alexander Parker John Whitehead William Brend John Bauldren Will. Fallowfield Samuel Cater James Adamson Stephen Crisp John Grave George Whitehead Jasper Batt Thomas Salthouse Samuel Wattson Luke Howard We desire the true Copies hereof may be Communicated to and Read in the several Quarterly Monethly and other Meetings of Friends and Brethren throughout England and elsewhere Now if it be queried How cometh it to pass that William Rogers is so Metamorphosed or Changed in a few Years as to appear thus in perfect Contradiction to himself in judgment about the same things either he must be in the right then and wrong now or contrarywise in the right now and wrong then The Answer according to the Witness of the Spirit of Truth in our hearts and experience we have had of him by his late Fruits that Evil viz. Pride and Envy hath altered his Understanding and Deceit beguil'd his Soul and Prejudice against the Lords Work and many of his faithful Labourers hath Eaten as a Canker
until the Love that was once raised in him came to be destroy'd And now his Soul is fill'd with Bitterness in which the Enmity lodgeth and though his pretences are high as all his Predecessors in this Work were in whom Satan was Transformed and wrought in a Mystery yet with the Light he is seen judged to be as they also were in the Mystery of Iniquity And what though in his fallen Wisdom which is Accurst he lifts up himself on High and would have the World believe as though God had raised him up as the great Reformer of our Age yet do we know and are assured with many hundreds more of the Flock and Family of God in this City and in the Counties adjacent to whom he is personally known That He is not of God for we have not only try'd his Spirit but his Works also have made him manifest And albeit he begins and makes use of these Words of Christ in his abusive Book As I hear I judg we know he is a man Uncircumcised in Heart and Ears and therefore his judgment is unjust he hath no right to take up the words of Christ apply them to himself for he hath judged many he hath never heard Christ said judge not according to outward Appearance but judge Righteous judgment But how void William Rogers is either of the true hearing or judgment hath been by his Un-Christian behaviour amongst us and by his manifold abuses in his Book grounded upon Reports and Conjectures of many innocent men and by his self Contradiction as by the foregoing Epistle is abundantly manifest And truly we are sorry for him that he should so backslide as he hath done and fall from the right way of the Lord and foot-steps of his Flock and Family which he once rejoyced in And it 's very remarkable to see how directly William Rogers hath troden in the same foot-steps with the several Apostates that have arisen up from among our selves in that like Saul against David he hath so malitiously level'd his Arrows and cast his Javlin against that one Man G. F. above all others loading him as hitherto hath been done with manifold Calumnies and Reproaches which the Lord hath and we doubt not but still will blast and make his Innocency to appear over all his wicked Designs to the confusion of his and Truths Adversaries whatsoever they are or may pretend to the contrary And the cause thereof we conclude to be from the Enmity of the wicked one the Son of Perdition that hath entred the heart of this man William Rogers as he hath other Instruments formerly where he sits and is Exalted in a high Profession to the end that he may the better deceive and draw from the Blessed Unity fellowship in the Truth and heavenly Guidance of the Light it self into a Selfish Disorderly Looss Libertine Spirit from God and unsubmission unsubjection one unto another according to the Gospel-Order in the Churches of Christ That by how much the more God hath made use of our dear Friend G. F. and honoured him with the first Message of the Light and Truth as reveal'd in our day and age whereby the Hearts of many Thousands have been gathered from the Evil of their wayes and converted unto God and remain living Witnesses of the Appearance Blessing and Presence of God with him and bear the Seal of his Ministry and continued faithfulness unto God therein who hath also indued him with Understanding and Wisdom in the openings of his Council wherein he hath been and is instrumental in the hand of the Lord For the settlement of good Order and Discipline in the Church of Christ as Helps and Governments for its Establishment and Comfort in him who is its sure Foundation and Rock forever By so much the more abundantly hath the Enemy wrought by his Instruments against that faithful Servant of the Lord viz. G. F. to hinder the Lords Work and to Obscure his blessed appearance in him and through him and among his Chosen People to their joy and Comfort in their Heavenly Society they are gathered into But the Lord hath hitherto blasted their Designs and made their Folly manifest as he doth and is doing at this day Blessed be his Name for ever We shall now proceed to take some notice of a few more passages in his Book and first that in the 2d and 3d. pages of his Preface wherein he saith That so great a Concern of Conscience lieth on many to encourage the publication of his Book as we can no longer forbear lest it should be reputed that the Doctrine and Life of Christianity were wholly extinct amongst the aforesaid People Here as in divers other places of his Book we cannot but Observe that he claims many to be concern'd in Conscience with him in the publishing thereof thereby magnifying his Number But who or where those many are we know not William Rogers might if he had pleas'd or may yet tell us by what Name they are call'd and we would have him know we expect it that so we may be able to satisfly our selves upon a due Consideration of their example in Life and Doctrine whether they are men more fitly qualified than himself for such an undertaking especially if any of them live in this City because upon enquiry hitherto we have not been able to find them out It seems to us if W. R. had so many bright and shining lights in the Doctrine and Life of Christianity above the rest of their Neighbours viz. the people call'd Quakers to whom it was become such a Concern of Conscience as he writes they should be as a City set on a hill and come forth and own it publickly in the face of all people but this we are doubtful is too plain and open for him to talk of many in the dark to father a work of darkness seems to carry more credit with it than to particularize a few as Rash Self-will'd and Injurious as himself that doth own it Alas Alas To what a height of Folly and Pinacle of Conceitedness is this man arriv'd The Prodigy of our Age as it should seem by his Book and Bullwork against Apostacy now shewing himself as an Ensign to the Nation lest it should be reputed that the Doctrine and Life of Christianity were wholly Extinct among the People call'd Quakers As to the Life of Christianity we have already manifested how much he is a stranger to it through his perverse Practices among us and corrupt Nature Ruling in him and consequently a very unfit man to be set up as so great a Reformer or to concern himself so much about the miscarriages of others as he accounts them Mat. 7.5 Thou Hypocrite first cast out the beam out of thine own Eye then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy Brothers Eye And as to the Doctrines of Christianity not to insist upon his saying and unsaying again viz. in that he hath
in the afore-recited Epistle to which his Name was And the reason of this Observation is because his Unchristian dealing with Robert Barclay and slender ground he had for his large Objections against some passages in his Book was so clearly Evidenced in the Consciences of many weighty Friends at London with whom he had a Meeting by consent Robert Barclay being present for the hearing and resolving his Objections which was effectually done and by his own Confession he most Christianly dealt with therein the Truths asserted by Robert Barclay were vindicated and cleared from the Misconstructions of William Rogers whereof some of us were both Eye and Ear Witnesses as at large appears as well by the Testimony of that Meeting subscribed by thirty seven Brethren as from VVilliam Rogers his Letter under his own hand-writing which he drew up as satisfaction for the wrong he had done Robert Barclay wherein William Rogers doth not only acknowledge That he hath not done according to Gospel order by Robert Barclay but was justly worthy of blame in what he did But also that he is perswaded that Robert Barclay is not principled as he and some others by some passages in his Book took him to be Notwithstanding all this William Rogers hath gone about in his Book to undo or unsay what he hath said in his Letter and to publish his Objections against his own meanings and misconstructions of what Robert Barclay hath written in his said Book like a man fighting with his own shadow thereby making void as much as in him lieth the determination of that Meeting reflecting on the Friends as guilty of signing an Unrighteous Paper What shall we say or think concerning this Man whom nothing will serve but to be sole Iudge and Vmpire in his own Cause and unless this be granted him he appears to us resolved to be Contentious though it be to his own Ruin The other thing we have to take notice of with Relation to VVilliam Rogers's Charges against G. F. is not only considering VVilliam Rogers a man of such a Temper as is before implyed to hear how little reason G. F. had to take notice of his pretended Dissatisfactions against him though indeed restlesness turmoile and enmity of Spirit against him manifest by his rude and un-christian method he hath taken too large here to recite but also as a Reproof to his false Insinuations against G. F. in his Book as though he shunned the Test and as being unwilling to submit to justice to manifest the contrary how G. F. called William Rogers to account at a Meeting here in Bristol for proof of divers Charges and Insinuations contain'd in a Letter under William Rogers his own hand against him and now made publick in William Rogers his Book and what the Result of the Meeting was as it appears by the following Certificate VVE under-written being at a Meeting at Richard Sneads the 15th of the 12th month 1677. to hear a Letter read that was writ by William Rogers to G. F. containing several Accusations Charges and Insinuations against him do hereby declare that it was read and that William Rogers own'd it and when he was call'd upon by G. F. William Penn George Whitehead Lawrence Steel William Gibson and others to prove his Accusations and Charges against G. F. and others he refused so to do and notwithstanding he was intreated and urged long thereto yet said it shall not be I will not proceed unless G. F. will under his hand Charge me and give me his Charge in Writing Thus he shuffled with the Meeting And though we told him that the Letter was his and consequently the Accusations and Charges were his and therefore that it lay at his Door to prove them yet he persisted Obstinately to give us no Proof and so went his way William Penn Charles Jones John Moone Richard Snead Richard Vickris James Merrick Charles Jones Jun. Peter Walter Stephen Smith Erasmus Dole c. These things consider'd and William Rogers his apparent shifting and shuffling herein Manifested What Reason had G. F. or any other to take any more Notice of his Letters than of Waste-Paper or to Regard his impertinent Rambling Clamours and Railing up and down in divers Parts of the Nation against him about Matters whereof he had already Clear'd himself in Writing and that whilst G. F. was far remote in the North and yet when he was near the City of London and William Rogers in the City he would not as we are credibly inform'd go to him We say What Reason had G. F. or others to Regard William Rogers in these practices any more than they would any other Apostates or open Adversaries What hopes could G. F. or any other have to satisfy such a Man whose Prejudice and Enmity was so great that he was in Travel to give Vent thereto and yet thus Manifestly depriv'd of common Modesty and Equity usual amongst Men in case of Difference insomuch that he either will not Acquiesce in the Determination of a Matter when Heard and given Judgement upon but instead thereof make it his business to inlarge his Abuses against the concern'd therein or otherwise shift and shuffle and at length utterly refuse to make proof of his Charges when call'd thereunto There is one thing more we cannot omit to make mention of viz. the manner of William Rogers his abusive Insinuations and Charges not only against many Eminent and Faithful Brethren but through them against the generality of the People call'd Quakers as Apostatized c. chiefly with Respect to the blessed Order and Government they are Exercised in and is Established among them viz. That it is most frequently to be observ'd in his Book that his Method is to draw positive and scandalous Conclusions and wicked Perversions from not only uncertain but most false Premises and Conjectures salving himself as well as he can with these and such like Expressions which are his usual best Reasons for his many foul Accusations against them viz. If Reports be true we take it to be thus we have cause to Believe I cannot but be full of Jealousies c. like the wicked that said Report and we will Report And after the Example of Thomas Hicks and John Faldo when by his Suppositions Jealousies Doubts Reports Meanings and Misconstructions he hath made up his Man of Straw as we may Term it or Apostate-Innovator and call'd him a Quaker he then bestirs himself and as yet retaining some Notions of Truth in his Head he doth bring them forth as Arguments to Fence with against his own Work whilst the Enemy of his Soul keeps him in Blindness that he cannot see himself to be the Man How much this is his manifest Practice throughout his whole Book and how wretchedly bad such Courses are is left to the impartial Reader to judge We having thus for the Truth 's sake discovered William Rogers his Spirit and Behaviour amongst us and something of his many Abuses in his Book more particularly with Relation to some Friends and Passages in this City we Commend what we have Written to the Witness of God in every Conscience not doubting but the judicious Reader when he hath duely weighed the Management of William Rogers with reference to the Matters herein treated of will see Cause as well from the Matters themselves as the slenderness of the Credit wherewith the Abuses therein manifested are attended both to detest and loath such extravagant Courses as he hath taken to Reproach the People call'd Quakers and their Holy Profession and to suspend his Belief of other things deliver'd in his Book against some particulars no less Injurious until time by some other Hands so Manifest them Richard Snead Charles Harford Richard Vickris Charles Jones THE END LONDON Printed for John Bringhurst Printer and Bookseller at the Sign of the Book in Grace-Church-Street near Cornhil 1681.
submit to Christs Rule and Government in a spirit of meekness condescension keep out all roughness harshness one towards another and all self rule and dominion that is not of the life but in the will of the flesh and let all this be kept down for ever and no strange fire be kindled among you nor in your meetings and elders and Overseers must not be e e This is the very Temper and Spirit he is fallen under as is already Observed at Large self willed nor soon angry nor given to haste or passion nor any shortness or britleness for such keep not in a sound mind nor in discerning either of true judgment or mercy which are both to be exercised among you as the spirit of life openeth to you the conditions and states to which they properly belong for as all looseness disorderly walking and scandalous conversations and practices must be severely reproved and judged out especially amongst them that are convinced of the precious Truth and the guilty to bear their own judgment and burthen so likewise mercy and forgiveness must be extended to such as having been over-taken with a fault comes to feel a true tenderness in their hearts through judgment and to receive counsel that they may be preserved in fear and watchfulness and let not Iudgments and Testimonies against miscarriages and offences be made f f If the Matters alledged in W. R. his Book against G. F. and others by Name were true How doth it agree with this Exhortation in making of them so publick as he hath done See how he condemns that in others which he alloweth in himself more publick than the miscarriages are to harden those that miscarry and give the adversaries of Truth advantage to throw dirt upon friends but be careful and tender for the truth and friends in that matter and endeavour to save the souls even of those that are tempted and drawn aside as also that private differences that may happen amongst any friends or brethren be ended by some few in the wisdom and counsel of God with as much privacy as may be without troubling or disturbing the publick meetings or Churches with them and without publick reflections upon persons where the difference or offence on either hand is not notorious or publickly manifest but best to be ended privately both for the preservation of them who are concerned therein and the preventing of such occasions as may either stumble the weak cause confusion or give the world occasion to g g It 's a very little matter what becomes of the Honour of Truth and the Holy Profession thereof with W. R. now who hath set himself in defiance of the Friends thereof under the Notion of Apostates and Innovators reproach friends and Truth And friends we do desire that all differences may be ended in the several Counties where they do arise and that the honour of God and the peace of the Church may be minded both by those who cause it to be defamed and those who are to determine and that none joyn with such a singular spirit as would lead him to be h h This W. R. is not a little guilty of in frequently Refusing to refer his Matters and Acquiesce in the Judgement of a free Meeting of Friends and when he hath upon Occasion agreed to such a Meeting he hath made it his business to Quarrel with the Judgement and Determination thereof as in the Case of Robert Barclay more particularly observed hereafter See his Back-slidings and Condemning himself now in that which he Allowed not formerly sole judge in his own cause but in the restoring and healing spirit of Christ both the offended and the offender may for the truths sake submit to the power of God in his people in those Citys place or Countrys with such friends as the parties concerned shall call to their Assistance And Friends let the Authority of Gods power heavenly and peaceable Wisdom be Eyed in all your Assemblies that the Government of the Truth and Righteousness may be Exalted over All that true Iudgement and Mercy may have the place And although a general Care be not laid upon i i This Testimony in behalf of the good Order and Government in the Church of Christ and G. F. as one more particularly Instrumental therein as that which Answered God's Witness in All compared with the Character of him and it in W. R. his Book would require large Observations to which we give general Reference but may instance a few Passages in pag. 45. of the first part he saith We are Jealous but who that we is he doth not say the Corruption Usurpation and Injustice may creep in by such who contend so much for Church-Government with Respect to outward Forms of Government since the Form some take to Govern is in some Respect worse than the Forms of divers Apostate Christians this is a wicked Abuse of many Faithful Friends concerned in his Charge in the said page every Member touching the good Order and Government in the Churches Affairs nor hath many Travessed therein yet the Lord hath said it more upon some in whom he hath opened Counsel for that End and particularly in our dear Brother God's Faithful Labourer G. F. for the Help of many And God hath in His Wisdome afforded those Helps and Governments in the Churches which are not to be Despised being in Subjection to Christ the one Head and Lawgiver Answering his Witness in all and so all necessary Counsel Admonitions or Testimonies k k How doth this agree with his Advice in the Epistle and What is the matter now Is the Constitution of the Government owned amongst the People called Quakers and the helps afforded thereby which he so much Commended formerly as having a Service in a Subtendency to the Light and as proceeding from it now become altered or ceased and worse than the Apostate Christians God forbid and Rebuke his lying Spirit what were those Dignities and Governments that W. R. with others gave such a Judgement upon the Despisers of but the same he now poureth out so much Contempt upon And is the Encouraging of the People of God to be Diligent and Faithful therein and to Judge all contrary exalted and opposing Spirits now become doting on outward Orders and a neglect of God's Teaching as he Insinuateth in his Preface pag. 30. or justly be termed Imposition Persecution or Setting up another thing than Christ Jesus to be King and Lawgiver no such matter It appears by this Epistle he thought it not so formerly or are the said Helps and Governments Christ hath so afforded in his Church as he confesseth become the promoting a Zealous Observation of other Men's Lines made ready to their Hands or the pretended Dictates of the Spirit through others or at best through that one Man George Fox as is Contained in pag. 40. of his Preface No sure the Change is in himself see his Prevarication and