eminent amongst the said People and therein laid down many Particulars relating to Doctrine Discipline and Practice Printed Written Publish'd and Acted which we were perswaded were Erroneous and ought to have been Testified against And therefore did propose unto them to joyn with us to give Testimony against such Things if in their Consciences they were satisfied so to do as one proper Expedient for the Removing Stumbling-Blocks out of the Way as by the said Letter Dated Bristol the 22th of the 2d Moneth 1679. may more largely appear unto any of the said People who may desire of me to peruse the same In the aforesaid Letter we did advise That the Manuscript made mention of was prepared and that the Contents thereof were as is already cited But forasmuch as no Answer came from the Parties written unto before the General-Meeting and that the Matter treated on was not with an Intent that it should be kept private in the Breasts of those to whom 't was written but be communicated to the Body of the People called Quakers therefore we sent the aforesaid Letter unto the General-Meeting next following for the same End as we did unto those Three Persons to whom we first writ giving a Cover thereto in these following Words Only 't is to be noted that a Blank thus is left instead of the Name of a Person for the Reasons hereafter mentioned Bristol the 4 th of the 4 th Moneth 1679. Friends THe Inclosed being Two Sheets and a Part of a Sheet is a Copy of what was sent unto the 11th of the last Month to be Communicated unto the rest unto whom 't was directed and is now sent unto you with request That it may be read amongst you for this end that when it is so read you may if free in Spirit declare your Approbation that it may be read in all Mens and Womens-Meetings of Friends Whatever your Thoughts may be touching the Inclosed yet know this that it was neither given forth nor yet is now recommended to you but upon very Serious Consideration and Concern of Conscience And therefore t is now requested that you will Seriously and Conscientiously weigh the Matter that so neither your Tongues nor Pens may be so Exercised on this Occasion as that you may for the future see Cause to Repent the same One of us viz. William Rogers intended to have come up to the General-Meeting not only to recommend the Inclosed to be read amongst you but also to have offered unto you that the Manuscript whereof it makes mention might be read in the General-Meeting if you would assent thereto But some Emergent Occasion which he hath Communicated to his Correspondent James Claypoole under whose Cover this goes hath obstructed that And therefore 't is now proposed unto you That before it be made publick amongst all Friends you may appoint a Meeting as General as you please to have it first Read and if you think so to do this now informs you that 't will be assented unto provided you appoint the Place of Reading the same to be either in the County of Wilts or City of Bristol before the last Day of this instant Moneth But if that Time and Place please you not and yet are willing to have the Hearing thereof 't is now desired that you will be pleased to signify so much and make your Desires known to our selves Directed to William Rogers in Bristol And we doubt not but you shall have such an Answer as may answer the Truth in all The End wherefore this is now proposed is because You and other Friends as well as They unto whom we first writ if you shall not be at Unity with us may have Opportunity to clear your selves unto and concerning us before the said Manuscript become publick amongst all Friends And if the Word of Truth shall be in your Mouths we doubt not but 't will have Place with all concerned in preparing the said Manuscript But if in the Word of Truth you and others shall have nought to say against the Matter contained therein then let all such for the future be wary of Rash and Unjust Censures lest they should be found Fighters against the Lord. 'T is desired that an Answer may be given hereto and left with James Claypoole by the 16th Instant at farthest to be sent unto us Directed to William Rogers Merchant in Bristol We are Your Friends William Rogers William Forde This Letter wherein the Former was inclosed was delivered Sealed in the General Meeting by James Claypoole who according to my Request there declared That it came to him under Cover from me with Direction to be delivered Sealed in the aforesaid Meeting James Claypoole having thus Faithfully discharged the Trust reposed in him 't was then committed to Six Persons to Unseal and Peruse and Report the Contents to the Meeting who thereupon made this ensuing Report only 't is to be observed that instead of the Names of Three Persons where of George Fox was one in one Place and of One Person in another a Blank is left The Letter delivered Sealed to the General-Meeting and so delivered to us to Peruse contains a Copy of one lately directed to and Signed by him William Rogers c. bearing Date the 22th of the 2d Moneth and sent the 11th of the 3d. Moneth to And our Iudgment is That it should be left to them to Answer as they find Freedom in Truth and that the General-Meeting ought not to be concerned with it seeing they have not refused to Answer nor had convenient Time or Opportunity thereto neither jointly nor severally The aforesaid Report Occasions me to make these ensuing Observations First That the rest of the General Meeters who are kept ignorant of any Letter directed to them were therein deceived Secondly That Wrong was done to the Persons concerned in writing to the General Meeting because their Minds were not Communicated unto those unto whom they writ Thirdly That the Generality of Friends in the Nation might deem it Injurious to them because the said Letter was of a General Tendency with respect to Friends and Affairs relating to them This Proceeding encreased the Jealousies of many Friends that a Spirit of Partiality seeking to exercise a Gentilian sort of Lordship was entring some under the Profession of Truth and that the Door was so shut against some others besides my self as that those things which become our Burthens must not be represented to those whom we were concerned to advise thereof or to treat withal in a christian-Christian-Spirit that so some Expedient agreeable to the Truth might be found to remove our Burthens and so if possible prevent the Publication in Print of the Manuscript prepared in which the Names of several Hundreds on each part concerned in the Division were mentioned But yet the Noise of Printing had this Service seveveral Friends from divers Parts of the Nation came to the City of Bristol being the Place as before is noted that one
now Query of G. F. whether these Bodies which the Apostle Paul termed the Members of Christ's Body were not the same in which the Holy Ghost dwells and the Life of Jesus was manifested And if so then according to the Apostles Doctrine Mortal and convertible unto Dust And whether or no an exclusion of all mortal Bodses whatsoever from being concerned as Members of the Church which is Christs Body be not the very ready way whereby all Liberty and Looseness that 's pleasing to the mortal Body may be Indulged and Nourished And not only so but whether the Men and VVomens Meetings will not Fall of Course and so no such Places where those who as George Fox saith are Heires of the Power may go to in Order to the taking of their Possessions as George Foxe's Language in his aforesaid Letter is 'T is further to be observed that G. F. hath not yet done with these VVords turned to Dust but proceeding asketh John Wilkinson this Question Must that which Sanctifieth God be turned to Dust I thought John thou hadst owned Christ to be the Sanctifier of all who is greater than Moses and the End of Moses but John wherein have not I Sanctified the Lord To this we Answer If G. F. who is a Mortal Man was capable to Sanctify the Lord as in his own Sense by his following VVords he seemes to be why doth he so impertinently let his Pen run by way of Reflection on John Wilkinson for using Scripture-Language so seasonable and so pertinent as he did Doubtless the Reason was a Fretful Peevish Angry Spirit then possest G. F. So that we may in his own Language used in his Letter to John VVilkinson say to him 'T is a Spirit that doth not know what it would be at it self but if G. F. had not been Capable to sanctify the Lord he is Manifested a Scoffer to ask the afore-said Question viz. But John wherein have not I Sanctified the Lord However let his Mind Sense Meaning or End in so Querying be what it will we shall undertake to give thereto this Answer viz. G. F. hath not Sanctified the Lord in writing his Book of VVomens Meetings which consists of Ninety Six Pages in Octavo and in all the Book throughout we do not find above half a side and that also scattered here and there that treats of that Service for which the Meetings of VVomen were chiefly understood to be held and that the Drift and Scope of the rest of the Book seems to be chiefly for Proof of Womens Offering Sacrifices Preaching Teaching Exhorting Admonishing Prophesying Governing Judging Singing Dancing Playing upon Musick and that Micah's Mother an Idolatrous VVoman spoken of Judges 17th was a Vertuous one and that the Assemblies of the Women did continue amongst the Jewes till they went into Transgression but yet Quotes for Proof of the last Assertion only 2 Kings 23. which mentions nothing to his purpose of VVomens Meetings more than that good King Josiah broke down the Houses of the Sodomites that were in the House of the Lord where the VVomen wove Hangings for the Groves which good King Josiah burnt Neither do we believe that he hath Sanctified the Lord in Accusing John VVilkinson and John Story for Tyth-Payers or Conniving at others Paying for them as in his aforesaid Letter he as we take it doth though they are therein esteemed to be greatly Abused and Mis-represented and we never understood it could be proved against them But that which aggravates G. F's Sin is That he hath been guilty of Advising Two Persons to buy their Tythes which is equal to a Continual Payment viz. Nathaniel Crips of the County of Glocester for one and Robert Arch living but a few Miles from the said Crips for another as they are ready to testify unto any Enquiring Reader and as in the Twenty-First Section of ‖ Note 'T is the Second Part of the Manuscript first mentioned in the Preface to the First Part. this Second Part by their Testimonies appears G. F. tells John Wilkinson thus But that whereby you may come into Unity it must be in the unlimited Power and Spirit and Light that did first Convince you and brought you into Unity and meeting without Prescription of your Elders or Deacons or your Members So your way to come into Unity is to come to the Light and Spirit that did first Convince you and judge and condemn this Spirit that hath led you into Separation with all its Works since and then in that Spirit there is no fear of Imposition And in another Place of the said Letter G. F. saith I told you That if you did not come to that which did first Convince you and bring all others whom you had drawn into a Separation with you to condemn it the Blood of all them would be required at your Hands And that was and is the Word of Truth to you and will stand and is sealed These Sentences of G. F. do lead us unto these necessary Observations First That the Way to come into Unity is to come to the Unlimited Spirit and Light that did first Convince them and bring them into Unity had G. F. ended his Method for Unity here he would have said that which would have Answered Gods Witness in our Consciences but though he talks of coming to the Unlimitted Spirit yet his following Language seemes a Design so far as he is Capable to limit the Spirit by adding these Words viz. and Judge and Condemn this Spirit that hath led you into a Separation with all its Works since by which Comparing his said Words with his aforesaid Letter to John Wilkinson and John Story dated the 23 d. of the 8 th Moneth 76. we take him to mean all those Dapers given forth since the Outward Separation which being without any Exception and Compared with the Matters occasioning the said Outward Separation seems to Import that in G. F's Sense the Antient Friends of Truth must of necessity be departed from the Light and Spirit if they cannot Conform to some Outward Methods in relation to the Management of some outward Affaires that some of his troublesome Party would Impose on the Chosen Friends for the outward Services of Truth Oh Grosse Darkness But that which seems to manifest his Darkness yet more gross is this his Letter to John Wilkinson Informs us That such meaning as his Words to us Import such with whom he is at Unity need no Outward Prescriptions that is written with the Spirit of God in one anothers Hearts to gather them withal On this we observe that unless another thing preserves those who are gathered than that which gathered them there is then no need of Outward Prescriptions for those that are gathered unto whom only the Government contended for reacheth and if so which in Truth cannot be denyed why must these Antient Friends who have been Convinced by the Light and Spirit of God be Reckoned had and such whom God will Blast
Persons Dictator thereof we writ unto thee desiring thee to acquaint us if thou couldst who it was that wrote such a Letter or a Letter to the like Import and whether thou didst know of any thing acted by us or either of us according as in the said Copy was mentioned telling thee also that Truth seeks no Corners But notwithstanding the aforementioued four Letters on the aforesaid Occasion yet nothing is come to this Day to either of our hands as Answer from thee so far as I know which considering how forward thou hast been in other Cases to answer in thy Vindication it s to me a Demonstration that thy Guilt is such as that no Answer in Truth can render thee an Innocent Man This is not all the Abuse which thou hast offered to me as well as to the Truth it self But thou hast farther and that at a large rate too persisted by thy Lyes Slanders c. to gainsay the Truth as I have sufficiently manifested in my rejoinder which thou hast not yet Answered so far as ever I understood to thy Reply and John Blackings Postscript which was written in Answer to what I writ unto thee dated the 20th of the 7th Month grounded on thy sending Queries to be read in our Mens Meeting in Bristol and not only so but thy Agents have been very busy to publish thy foresaid Reply into divers parts of the Nation to the corrupting the Minds of many who give Credit thereto all which being in much seriousness of Spirit weighed by me encreaseth the Concern of Conscience on me to wipe away thy Refuge of Lies by detecting thee in Print if by any reasonable means the Door may be open so to do for thy manifold Abuses of me unless some other Expedient agreeable to the Truth may be found to satisfy my Conscience touching which I hope I shall forever have an Ear open to any one that may speak unto me in the Word of Truth And thus I am concerned the more for that I have been by several Friends from divers Countryes and Places called upon to Vindicate the Truth as well as my self against thy Reproach However I doubt not but I may yet forbear to Print against thee if per the next Post after thy receipt hereof thou give me that satisfaction as is proposed in mine above cited of the 11th of the 11th Mounth 1678. and acknowledge the Errours Lyes Slanders and Forgery c. whereof I have detected thee in my aforesaid Rejoynder sent unto thee several moneths past with direction that it may be read amongst Friends as publickly as thy false Scandalls have extended or otherwise if thou shalt pretend that thou art not convinced of being guilty of Lyes c. if thou furnish me before the General Meeting with such a number of fair Copies in Manuscript of my Rejoynder as may be sufficient to Inform all such of the Truth as have been mis-informed by thy Fallacious Reply and give thy Directions that it may be read in the General and other Mens Meetings it may be for ought I yet know a consideration to me to forbear For my desire is not to discover thy Errours and Evil Practices further than amongst those who Profess the Truth if by any meanes posible I can and yet so clear my Conscience as that they may have a Proper Looking-Glass to behold thee in as thou art and ought to be seen If thou condescendest to what is last proposed it may also be ground of Hope that thou wilt condescend to give Satisfaction for other thy Miscarriages And of this I desire to hear from thee by a Letter to be directed to James Claypoole under thy Cover desiring him to send it unto me If thou answer not my Request I then think it needful to inform thee that my self and others may then have no ground of Hope that thou wilt give us Satisfaction for other thy Offences committed against thy Brethren to the Dishonour of God and his Truth which the Friends thereof profess and so my Concern will then be not only to detect thee for such thy Errours and evil Practices which thou hast occasionally committed with respect to me but forasmuch as I am fully satisfyed in my Conscience on such grounds as I think not my self oblieged to reiterate that thou hast been one chief Instrument or at least an Abetter of such as have whereby Note This Letter is intended to be spread abroad amongst Friends and the Reason wherefore I Insert these general Reflections without particular Evidence is chiefly to become a Remembrance unto Friends that they may consider whether they have not been Witnesses that my Sense is true for I know there are many amongst us who if Occasion required are ready to give the like Testimony I certainly know the particular evidences hereof producible are so many as might fill a large Volume and for that reason also improper on this Occasion a biting and devouring Spirit is entered some amongst the Flock and that Heaps of unsound and aiery Teachers that appear amongst us as if they were sent to call for Fire from Heaven receive Life from thee and thereby are emboldned to entertain the Congregation with Empty and Idle vain Discourses to the obstructing of such as I firmly believe have the Word of God to deliver in the demonstration of the Power and Spirit and therefore my Concern hath been to treat on several Particulars which have been as so many several Steps by which Divisions have ascended to the Height they now are at To send the Copy thereof is unreasonable because thou mayst when I have so done take no more notice thereof than thou hast of the four forementioned Letters However lest thou should now imagine that I will act against thee in a secret underly way and to prevent thee from running into further Errour by such evil Suggestions from thy Imaginations as heretofore with Relation to me thou hast done I think meet to signify unto thee the Matters whereon I have treated in that Manuscript prepared by me for the PRESS unless my Conscience can be otherwise satisfyed in Relation to thee wherein I doubt not but to every Impartial Reader there will appear matter whereby thou wilt be manifested guilty of many Evil Practices and Errours for which thou ought to give Satisfaction both to Particular Persons whom thou hast wronged as well as to the Church of God in General In the said Manuscript I treat on the seven Queries sent unto John Wilkinson the sixteen Queries sent unto John Story making Observations on Proceedings thereon and which had Relation thereto I also take notice of two of thy Letters to John Wilkinson and John Story and of several of mine to thee and of John Story 's Letter to the two Meetings in the North the Dissatisfaction relating to thee at Bristol thy Queries read at Bristol and other things relating thereto I now come to take Notice that John Blaickling in his Postscript to
their Hunting Biting Devouring Spirit nor yet Weary themselves for meer Vanity lest the Eternal Decree of God should be sealed against them to their Destruction for ever more To conclude this first part we have yet to add that since 't is signified that the forty four Articles before cited relate to Church-Government and that we say they were drawn up against two Antient and Honourable Friends in the Truth viz. John Story and John Wilkinson we think it proper to cite one Passage as an evidence thereof out of the 4th Section of the Second part of the Historicall Manuscript Mentioned in the Preface to the Reader with the omission onely of the Names of Persons for the Reasons already given in the said Preface The Passage is as Followeth Before we shall make any Observation on the aforesaid Articles or Preamble thereto 't is needfull to Inform the Reader that nine Persons Concerned in Exhibiting the said Forty Four Articles against the two Friends spoken of before thus Declare concerning them in a Letter to nine others Chosen by the Accusers to be Judges over them viz. And Friends it is not any Personall Trespass against any of us that we Charge them with nor any Particular Concern of our own as Men that we are in the Defence but the Cause of Almighty God and in the sense of the Wrong they have done to him but yet notwithstanding in the same Letter they say that they have born a dear Love and Honourable respect unto them in the Holy Truth comparing his with what is Written in the third Article of the 44 Articles before cited viz. Slighting the Heavenly Motion on George Fox his Spirit in that Case in the Unity Pretiously felt and closed with meaning the Rule or Form of Church-Government set forth by George Fox pretending the motion of the Spirit as by the said Article appears 't is evident to us that in their sense a slighting of George Fox Rules Methods and Orders with Respect to Church-Government is a slighting of the Cause of God And though 't is said in the Unity Preciously felt and closed with yet that is Notoriously Erroneous if thereby is meant in the Unity of all Friends for that some of his Papers and Prescriptions in many Parts of the Nation amongst Friends have been little taken notice of as is well Known to us and credibly reported by many Moreover 't is evident to us that some have had so great esteem for the Prescriptions or Papers given forth by him as that they have concluded it to be no less than the Fruit of Confusion and Darkness to Believe that what he hath given forth was not intended by him to be urged with Severity which is no other than an inforcing and this doth thus appear John Story One of those two Brethren Articled against as aforesaid in their Answer to the said Forty Four Articles took occasion to give his sense touching such things which George Fox had given forth on this wise viz. That he did not Believe that George Fox intended any such thing that they Meaning his Papers Directed to the Churches should with Severity be urged upon any of Gods Faithfull People but as Instructions or Directions Commended them to the Churches Leaving the Effect thereof to God and his Leading Grace in his People to make use thereof as he should manifest a need of such Direction Counsel or Advice To this sense Robert Barrow and eight Persons Part of those who were Concerned in Exhibiting the said Forty Four Articles Replied a part whereof was on this wise Truly thy Darkness and Blindness is easy to be felt and they must be very dim of Sight that see thee not oh the confusion thy Dark Spirit is in To this we say This Answer seems so very Dark as if Blindness were the Lot of their Inheritance who so writ forwe well remember that the Testimonies of our ancient brethren who were skil'd in gathering and carefull not to scatter the Flock did not encourage any to follow any Outward Directions whatsoever without an inward Conviction from the Leadings of Gods All-sufficient Grace Freely given to Profit withall of the needfulness of the Direction Counsel or Advice contain'd therein and Why But Because an Observance not grounded on their Sufficiency of Gods Leading Grace in our selves of Outward Instructions or Directions in this Gospel Day may find no more Acceptance with the Lord of Life who is now to be worshiped obeyed and reverenced not otherwise than in and by the Spirit and Light thorough which he doth appear in Man than an offering of the Halt and the Blind which was forbidden in the time of the Law for a Sacrifice might and this our sense may well be vindicated from such like Testimonies as these frequently utter'd by our antient Brethren We Preach not our selves Let not your dependency be on us we are not neither desire to be Lords over your Consciences you ought to Be lieve for your selves and see for your selves and therefore we Counsel you to draw Water out of your own wells let it be your own and not anothers We now appeal to Gods Witness in all Consciences how this Kind of Language and Discourse can agree with such as render it the Fruit of Confusion and Darkness not to believe that the Outward Instructions or Directions of G. F. amongst the People called Quakers were Intended to be Urged with severity upon Gods Faithfull People Besides that which seemes to aggravate the Darkness is this That the Faithful must have Outward Precepts Directions or Instructions Imposed upon them Had the sense of those whose sense we cannot own been only with relation to the Unfaithfull it might have seem'd a little better The Consideration of these things is great cause of lamentation and mourning especially when we Consider that we have no Ground to believe either from the Scriptures of Truth given forth by Inspiration or from the Light of Christ in our Consciences that any man according to the motion of Gods Spirit in this Gospel-Day ought to take upon him the giving forth any Outward Rules or Prescriptions relating to Faith or Discipline in the Church with an intent that they should become a Bond upon others to submit thereto further than from a recommendation unto the Conscience a service may be seen therein according to the measure of Light given from him who is the fullness but whether this our sense is not by many others besides the aforesaid nine Persons amongst the People called Quakers slightly esteemed and a combined sort of Submission contrived as we suppose by a few though entered into by many at this Day we shall leave it to the unprejudiced understanding Reader to Judge on mature Consideration of what yet Follows Some few yeares past many Friends in the County of Westmoreland having been a long time burthened in monethly and quarterly Meetings by such as endeavoured to introduce the practice of some things under the Notion of Church-Government
like Women were recorded for their Wisdom and their Vertue c. he answered William Rogers thus I knew what I did I saw 't would be a Stumbling Block but there is something in it We cannot otherwise be perswaded but that he would then see that he is fallen from the Truth that the words reported to be spoken by J. Naylor when he said in Relation to his own falen state I am but the figure of another are now fulfilled in him Oh! that the Lord would change his Heart bring him to a true Sight of and sorrow for his sin as he did J. N. after his Fall and then we hope as he hath been an Offence unto the Church of God so the Lord will lay a Constraint upon him as he did upon James Naylor to travel amongst Friends whom he hath offended to clear the truth of that Scandal and Reproach which thorough him hath been brought upon it For 't is an Abomination before the Lord and at this day seasonably testified against by the Children of Light that G. F. should be an Occasion of so much Division Strife and Contention as hath been made in the Nation touching his Papers under a pretence That he hath been moved of God to give them forth that Friends might be supplied with Directions to keep all things clean and sweet amongst Friends meaning thereby amongst other things and that according to the Express words of his Papers That there should be no Backbiting Tale-bearing Judging one another and that evil reports should not be concealed but be followed until the Authors thereof be found c. and yet be the very Person that is notoriously guilty in all those things himself which would have been proved against him had he submitted to a Hearing as aforesaid But for as much as he hath refused to submit to such a Hearing though several Letters from Friends in Truth have been written unto him to entreat him thereto and in particular hath been treated withal by Daniel Smith of Malborrough to whom he gave this Answer he Judged 't would be a jangle as 't was at Bristol and so refused as by a Letter from the said Daniel Smith doth appear therefore we do at present refer for Proof of the Matters whereof we assert in this Paragraph that he is guilty to the last mentioned Manuscript and in particular to the 21st Section thereof which is ready for the perusal of Friends desiring to view the same William Rogers on behalf of himself and other Friends in truth concerned The SECOND PART OF THE Christian-Quaker Distinguished from the APOSTATE INNOVATOR WHEREIN DOCTRINES of TRUTH cleared from Objections are laid down agreeable to the Scripture of Truth given forth by Inspiration and according as they have been received and owned by the Children of Light or such amongst the People termed in Derision Quakers who have received from God Divine Understanding and kept their Place and Habitation in the Unchangeable Truth Also An APPENDIX detecting Charles Marshal and sixty five more as Unrighteous Judges in a Case pretended to relate to John Story and John Wilkinson two antient and honourable Labourers in the Gospel of Christ By WILLIAM ROGERS on behalf of himself and other Friends in Truth concerned 1 Cor. 3.11 For other Foundation can no Man lay than that which is already laid which is Christ Jesus 2 Tim. 4.3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound Doctrine but after their own Lusts shall they heap to themselves Teachers having itching ears LONDON PRINTED in the Year 1680. The Contents The INTRODUCTION WHerein is manifested that there is but one way whereby the Things appertaining to the Kingdom of God and Salvation of Mankind comes to be revealed though the Manifestation thereof may seem various Page 1. Chap. II. Touching the Light of Christ within and Exhortation to Obedience thereof Page 5. Chap. III. Touching Infallibility and Perfection Page 11. Chap. IV. Touching Wisdom and Knowledge Page 21. Chap. V. Touching Magistracy and Obedience thereunto Page 30. Chap. VI. Touching Respect of Persons plain Language disuse of the word Master unless by a Servant to his Master of Customes and Fashions of this World and of the Cross of Christ Page 33. Chap. VII Touching Swearing Page 37. Chap. VIII Touching Tithes Page 40. Chap. IX Touching Baptism Page 45. Chap. X. Touching the Supper of the Lord with his Disciples the Night before he was betrayed Page 51. Chap. XI Touching Justification and Salvation through Faith in Christ Page 61. An Appendix Containing an Answer given forth by some Friends of Bristol to a Paper Dated from Eilis Hooks his Chamber London the 12th of the 4th Month 1677. against John Story and John Wilkinson c. and subscribed by Charles Marshal of the County of Wilts and Sixty Five more together with some few Observations on part of a Reply thereto by Jasper Bat of the County of Sommerset and three others Page 72. The SECOND PART OF THE Christian-Quaker Distinguished from the APOSTATE and INNOVATOR c. CHAP I. The Introduction Wherein is manifested That there is but One Way whereby the things appertaining to the Kingdom of God and Salvation of Mankind come to be revealed though the Manifestation thereof may seem various IN the first part of the Christian-Quaker distinguish'd from the Apostate and Innovator Several Subjects are treated on relative to the Matter intended Viz. To manifest a part of those things touching which the Faithful were at Unity and by what Ways and Means that Unity came to be broken c. And now that every Reader who is desirous to be informed in these Dividing Times what those Children of Light unto whom the Lord hath revealed of the Mysteries of his Kingdom own with respect to the other Doctrines and Practices whereon little or no occasion is taken to treat in the First Part it is at this time upon us to add a farther Testimony to the Ancient Truth according as the Lord in his tender Mercy hath through the Appearance of his Son Christ by his Light or Manifestation of his Grace and Testimony of his Faithful Servants in the Scriptures of truth opened wherein our intent is not to treat largely on every Subject because the ensuing Discourse is chiefly to manifest What a remnant stand for who being faithful unto their first principle cannot in a temporizing spirit change their way The Desires and Breathings of our Souls unto God are that every Reader may be serious and unprejudiced in the perusal of this our Testimony and then we do not doubt but 't will be reaching unto the Consciences of such as that which is not inconsisting with the Testimonies given forth by Inspiration recorded in the Scriptures of Truth and spirit of God or Appearance of Christ by his Light which is that by which the Lord doth see and is seen in the Conscience wherewith every man coming into the world is lighted for that the Lord by his spirit
hath opened that there is not any other way by which all things relating unto the Kingdom of God and Salvation of mankind comes to be revealed and this appears agrecable to the Scriptures of truth John 14.26 2 Cor. 4.2 3 4 5 6 7. 2 Tim. 3.15 16. We are now sensible that some who may peruse the foregoing Scriptures may be ready thus to say You seem to propound two ways by which the things appertaining to the Kingdom of God and Salvation of Mankind have been and are revealed viz. the Spirit of Truth or Appearance of Christ by his Light as One Way and the Scriptures of Truth as Another Way To this we answer The Way we propose is but One though the Manifestation thereof may seem various to Man viz. sometimes through Instruments and sometimes through Himself For though Paul wrote unto Timothy unto whom he was made an Instrument and therefore called him his Son telling him 2 Tim. 3.15 16. That the holy Scriptures were able to make him wise unto Salvation and that they were profitable for Doctrine for reproof for correction for instruction in righteousness yet 't is spoken with respect to those Scriptures that are given forth by inspiration of God and with this limitation viz. thorow the saith that is in Christ Jesus Whereon we observe that the Scriptures given forth by inspiration are but as an Instrument made serviceable to the Reader through the Spirit whereby faith in Christ comes to be raised even as a Man indued with the Spirit of God may in the hand of the Lord be an Instrument through sound Doctrine and wholsom exhortation to open the inward Eye of the Mind which hath been darkned and to awaken the Conscience which hath been defiled that so man may come to be renewed in the spirit of his Mind unto God through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and the Conscience purified from Dead Works through the blood of the Covenant to serve the Lord in Truth and Righteousness and therefore we reasonably conclude That there is but One way though various in Operation and Manifestation through which the Things appertaining to the Kingdom of God and Salvation of Mankind comes to be revealed which is by the powerful appearance of Christ by his spirit and light convicting the Conscience converting and renewing the Mind unto God sometimes through Scriptures given forth by inspiration sometimes through Man as an Instrument and sometimes by the appearance of the Spirit and Light in Man without the Assistance of such Instruments but yet the end of all is that faith in Christ may be raised wherein as the Evidence of things not seen by the Carnal Eye the Light of the Knowledge of the Glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ is beheld which is that Treasure whereof the Apostle spoke that is hid in our Earthen Vessels that the excellency of that Power might be of God and not of man These things being duly considered this Testimony doth naturally arise that neither the Scriptures of Truth nor any other writings whatsoever though given forth by the Spirit of God itself can properly be termed so profitable a Rule unto us as the Light and Spirit from which they were given forth and therefore the Eye of our Mind ought chiefly to be unto the Spiritual Appearance of Christ by his Light and Spirit in us as that Unerring Guide which never can be removed into a corner Besides we find the Scripture itself testifying That no Prophecy of the Scripture is of any Private interpretation 2 Pet. 1.20 that is it ought not to be interpreted but by the Holy Ghost through whose Motions 't was given forth for all other Interpretations may truly be termed Private From whence we observe that if the Prophecies in the Scriptures of Truth should be read unto us from Morning to Evening and from Evening to Morning again we might receive little Benefit or Profit thereby unless the Eye of our Mind come to be stayed in the Unchangeable Light and Spirit of God whereby the meaning of the spirit through them out of all Private Interpretations hath been and is signified unto Man CHAP. II. Touching the Light of Christ within and Exhortation to Obedience thereof THose Faithful Messengers of the Gospel of Christ whom the Lord in these latter daies sent forth for the gathering of the Nations unto the Faith and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ who is the Way the Truth and the Life that their souls might be saved in the Day of the Lord frequently sounded in our ears on this wise Turn in your minds unto the Light within meaning thereby the Light of Christ within which shews you that a Tye is not of the Truth and as through Faith you come to be Obedient unto the Light Within and that measure of Grace given by God and received by you so will you come to be made Partalters of that great Salvation This Doctrine was acceptable to many who in the Love of Truth received the joyful Sound thereof but unto others mean and despised who notwithstanding that Testimony accounted the Scriptures of Truth a More Sure Rule and Guide unto the Father The consideration whereof at this time hath been as an obligation to examine whether the aforesaid Doctrine so acceptable to some and despised by others be consonant to the Scriptures of Truth which task is the more freely undertaken because the aforesaid Doctrine hath become so great a stumbling block unto many as that they have thought it a sufficient evidence that the professors thereof have been out of the path of truth readily objecting on this wise Objection Do you not think that those Jews who crucified Christ acted not from the Light Within Since some of them at least verily thought they did God good service therein Having thus premised 't is now needful to examine what may be spoken from the Scriptures of Truth for the Light within and to turn in the Mind unto the same to obey it c. In order thereunto we find John the Evangelist thus testifying Joh. 1.4.9 In him meaning the Word which was God was Life and the Life was the Light of men That was the true Light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world I am the Light of the World John 8.12 he that followeth me shall not walk in Darkness but shall have the Light of Life Joh. 12.46 I am come a Light into the World that whosoever believeth in me should not abide in Darkness These Scriptures plainly shew that we are to believe in and follow Christ who is that Light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world Objection However some objecting may say What 's this to a Light Within 't is very plain that John the Evangelist meant nothing of a Light Within in your sense but of the Personal Appearance of Christ Without as that Word which was made Flesh and as Evidence produce what the same Evangelist saith Chap.
far the Citation out of the afore-said Manuscript And now to return again to the Consideration of the Matter contained in the afore-said Queries 'T is evident that granting the Answers of John Wilkinson and John Story to be true it renders them Innocent Men so far as related to the Matters queried And yet 't is too plain to me that this gave not G. F. Satisfaction to which I intend to speak more particularly here after And forasmuch as it could not be Just according to his own Rule who hath often exhorted Friends To follow Reports until the Author was found to conceal the Informers had the Answers of John Wilkinson and John Story given him satisfaction then I query Whether 't was not much more unjust to Conceal them when the Answers gave not Satisfaction especially since John Wilkinson testifieth That he writ to those who pretended G. F. desired an Answer to the Queries to desire G. F. to give the Names of the Informers with the witnesses That now which satisfies me that the Answers gave not Satisfaction is this Robert Barrow and others concerned at the Request of G. F. with John Wilkinson and John Story touching the said Queries were amongst other Subscribers to the Forty-Four Articles of Accusation drawn up against John Wilkinson and John Story either jointly or severally wherein the Matters queried were reduced into Articles of Accusation And not only so but were concerned in writing a Letter unto others touching this Business wherein they gave this Description of Iohn Wilkinson and Iohn Story viz. And Friends it is not any Personal Trespass against any of us that we charge them with nor any Particular Concern of our own as Men that we are in the Defence of But the Cause of Almighty God and in the Sense of the Wrong they have done to him But yet notwithstanding from the same Letter they say They have born a Dear Love and Honourable Respect unto them in the Holy Truth Comparing this with what is written in the Third Article of the Forty-Four Articles before-cited viz. Slighting the Heavenly Motion on G. F's Spirit in that Case in the Unity preciously felt and closed with meaning the Rule or Form of Church-Government set Forth by G. F. as by the said Article appears 't is to me evident that in the Sense of all who are Espousers of those Articles a Slighting of G. F's Outward Rules Methods and Orders with Respect to Church-Government amongst the People called Quakers is a Slighting of the Cause of God I now appeal to all such as are not ignorant of that Respect that is given by Robert Barrow c. unto G. F. whether 't is Rational to suppose that Robert Barrow c. would have concerned themselves in Subscribing and Abetting such Articles as related to the said Queries without his Approbation or Permission Besides I well remember that in a Reply made by Robert Barrow and others to John Wilkinson and John Story their Answer to the Forty-Four Articles afore-said John Story is accounted a Man of a Dark Spirit and in Confusion because he did not believe That what was given forth by G. F. was by him intended to be urged with Severity upon any of God's Faithful People but as Instructions and Directions commended to the Churches c. Which being disliked by many Friends unto whom the Knowledge thereof came I was the more concerned to query of G. F. when I had Opportunity Whether he owned that Sense given of John Story on that Occasion And thereupon being in his House at Swarthmore before the Meeting at Drawell occasioned by the said Differences in the North I spoke to him of it which occasioned him to call for the Answer wherein I affirmed it was And when the Passage relating thereto was produced I also well remember that he spoke not one word to Condemn the same nor yet to manifest the least Disapprobation thereof Which seriously pondering many Months after on Receipt of a Letter Received from him Dated the 14 th of the 11 th M on 1676. and comparing it with something written therein which within a few Lines herein after will be Cited I thought it a sufficient Demonstration that Whatever was pretended to be John Wilkinson's and John Story 's Failing yet nothing would give Satisfaction but Submission to him and his Outward Orders Prescriptions or Rules whether led thereinto by the Grace of God or no. Object Why dost thou speak of Submission to him Would not a Submission to his Outward Orders c have given Satisfaction I answer I am not satisfied it would because G. F. in his Letter last mentioned thus writes of them I tell thee Them that thou calls Accused are not Right for had they been Right and in the Light and Power of God as at the first they would have come to me when I sent for them Which seems not to me to be like unto the Language of that Good Shepherd who was Principled to leave the Ninety-Nine and seek after the One that which was lost After the Receipt of the Seven Queries by John Wilkinson he writes to John Blaikling and the rest to shew unto them the Inconveniency of his Answering such Questions whose Tendency were to gender Strife who not taking Warning thereby and still pressing for an Answer John Wilkinson at length Answers them the Substance whereof is before Cited And after that saith That he was Moved of the Lord a second time to write unto those who concerned themselves about the said Queries advising them to call in their Papers and tell how far they had been spread Warning them in the Word of the Lord that came unto him the 20 th Day of the 6 th M on 1675. to Repent and Turn from their Proceedings and leave God's People to the Order of his Gospel and Command and that if they would not then the Lord himself would break them and turn them one against another about their Orders But yet they desisted not I am now sensible that some who may industriously indeavour to clear G. F. from what is from the fore-going Lines justly as I take it laid at his Door in relation to the said Queries proposed to John Wilkinson and John Story may thus say We are not satisfied from all thou yet hast signified that G. F. was an Abetter of Robert Barrow and those others who concerned themselves about the afore-said Queries and Proceedings therein and we believe if G. F. should be Interrogated touching it that he would disown that it was done by his Authority or Approbation For the sakes of such I desire them seriously to consider the Observations which I make on these following Words mentioned in a Post-script to a Certificate writ by John Blaikling owne was one of those concerned with Robert Barrow touching the Queries and Proceedings thereon in favour of G. F. cited toward the latter-End of the Fifth Part of the Christian-Quaker viz. What do you think to do with your vainly Attempting
the Gospel of Peace and in the Wisdom that is peaceable you would have sought the Peace or come to me as I desired You before these things broke out as I said before but you are of a High Lofty Spirit which those Vertues are over it and they and the Truth remain in themselves and amongst them that have right to them but they have little place in You till you come to that which will bring you to Condemn all the contrary For though you think you may get ease by Scribling and Writing but that will not ease you for what you Sow that you must Reap for had they had place in You you would have been preserved in Peace My love is to all that fear God and retain their First Simplicity in the Humility the Foundation of God that stands sure My writing so largely has been for the sake of the Simple which Thou mayst Communicate to them that they may Hear Fear and Consider The 16 th of the 10 th M on 1676. George Fox Though the above-written Answer given by G. F. to John Wilkinson be in it self very remote from a Pertinent Answer to John Wilkinson's last recited Letter and cannot but be very obvious to many without Observations and Answers to any Part thereof Yet for the sakes of some that may be more Weak we think it needful to make some few Observations and short Reply unto some Part thereof The Purport of John Wilkinson's Letter we take to be chiefly that G. F. might manifest Two Things viz. First Wherein John Wilkinson John Story and such as G. F. might account their Company were separated from the Light of Christ within the Doctrine of Truth or had builded again the Things which they once destroyed Secondly That G. F. might clear himself that he approves of no Force about Religion but the Force and Effect of the Word delivered G. F's chief Matter as we take it produced against them is this How is the Lord sanctifyed amongst you concerning your Paying of Tythes or your Conniving at your Wives or others Paying for you This amounts to a plain Accusation against John Wilkinson others amongst whom it may reasonably be taken that he means John Story for one Tythe-Payers either by themselves directly or else by their Conniving at others Paying for them 'T is no marvel that G. F. is so generally Reputed amongst Friends far and near to report that John Story and John Wilkinson are Tythe-Payers since he hath written with Relation to John Wilkinson c. touching Tythe as afore-said But though he hath so done yet 't is a notorious Falshood and Untruth for John Wilkinson hath not only been a great Sufferer for Tythes but also was never known to evade his Testimony in the least or that his Wife or any for him ever paid * We are now sensible the Reader may be ready to query Whether there be no Pretence to render John Wilkinson a Tythe-Payer To this we answer We never understood any other Pretence that such as have Accused him thereof have made when narrowly examined but this viz. That he payeth Tythe-Male-Silver and whether that can he such a just Occasion as to render him a Tythe-Payer by which he is taken to be a Man that hath no Testimony against Tythes as a Maintenance for the Priests we shall leave to the Consciences of Vnprejudiced Readers when they have in the Light of Christ throughly weighed the ‖ Note The said Testimony is in this Treatise already Cited Testimony of John Wilkinson John Story Recorded in the Fourth Section of this Second Part of * Meaning the aforesaid Manuscript mentioned in the Preface to the First Part of the Christian-Quaker this Treatise and compared the same with this ensuing Testimony given under the Hand of John Wilkinson in relation to the Payment of Tythe-Male-Silver his Tythes And as to John Story he never was in a Capacity to bear any Testimony therein being a Single Man not managing any Estate in his Possession more than by Declaration against that Oppression AS to Tythe-Male-Silver payable by me John Wilkinson I say That I pay Two Shillings Seven Pence yearly termed on my Deed Tythe-Male-Silver and that the same I alwayes paid ever since I enjoyed my Land and that the said Sum is under Fine as the rest of the Rent to the King is And this Fine hath been enjoyned on the Possessor in former Deeds and that on the Death of a Tenant the next Taker is Finable for the same And I never did understand that there ever was any Deed of Purchase of Tythes for the Lands I enjoy nor yet that the afore-said Sum of Two Shillings Seven Pence was ever paid in lieu of Tythes nor that any Friend accounted me an Offender for paying the same until of late But though this be the State of my Case yet I know others of my Neighbours possessing Lands of another Hold are lyable to pay a small Sum termed Tythe-Male-Silver or Composition-Money and in Default of Payment are lyable to Tythe in kind and such have Deeds of Purchase for Tythe wherein such Composition-Money is expressed But that is not my Case Witness my Hand this 3d. of the 12th Month 1678. John Wilkinson which he hath often done and in particular both of them gave in a Testimony in Writing of their Clearness in that Particular both as to Judgment and Practice And yet notwithstanding this Falshood hath undoubtedly been a great Means by which G. F. hath obtained many Proselytes on his Side to oppose John Wilkinson and John Story as Tythe-Payers and so Consequently Apostates and Dark Spirits The Lord rebuke that Evil Spirit that hath entred the Leader of many People to cause them through the Belief of Lyes to err And as to G. F's so frequent telling them That they are Separated from the Inward Light and Spirit c. that falls of it self being proved by no Convincing Instance greater than this his Saying viz. If not you would have been at Unity with me as at first And whereas G. F. tells John Wilkinson That he is of an Angry Disquieted Froward Peevish Pretful Malicious High ‖ Note As to the words High and Lofty Spirit with Application to John Wilkinson by G. F. we think it needful to give a Character of John Wilkinson and likewise of G. F. according to their Deserts and leave it to the Consciences of Impartial Readers to consider which of them deserves to be termed of a High and Losty Spirit John Wilkinson when he was first Convinc'd of Truth had an Estate of Tenant-Right Land valued between Fifteen and Twenty Pounds per Annum and ever since at Times and Seasons when he is at Home exercises himself in Bodily Labour sometimes at Plow and sometimes otherwise He also hath ever since kept his Family to labour and so hath Lived handsomly according to the manner of his Country upon his Estate which he hath kept in his own Hand
unless they call in all their Papers which were chiefly given forth to Vindicate themselves as not departed from the Truth though they could not be subject to Impositions or Prescriptions of others G. F's Confusion doth not End here but is further Manifested in these Words viz. without Prescriptions of your Elders because 't was his own Counsel at the beginning of Mens Meetings to choose particular Persons for that service agreeable to which Advice the Elders he now strikes at were Chosen and yet in a scoffing manner reflects on the Words Chosen Men and on the departure of others when their Message is told and as if that very Order were worse than any Assizes Sessions and Courts As to the departure of others immediately after their Message is told we are perswaded was never proposed by those called Separate whil'st any coming thither had any Concern upon them as matter proper for the Meeting to take notice of nor yet to Exclude any Friends that were free to stay after they had delivered their Message For which Perswasion sufficient ground is given unto us from the writing of those called Separatists in the 11th Section of this ‖ Meaning the Second Part of the aforesaid Manuscript second Part in these words viz. We indeed Declare and Testify that our Sense and Meaning in what we proposed formerly to Reunite the Meetings was not to hinder any Friends of staying in the Meetings who behaved themselves Men of Peace as we Testified unto them in our Reply to their Answer to our Proposals but such as inclined to cause Offences with rash Censures and false Judgments which hath made and will make Divisions contrary to the Doctrine we have Learned If they had Objected against any thing in Love which we proposed and with respect to the Honour of Truth given us any Reason of its inconveniency if we could not have Convinced them of the Inconveniency thereof with Weightier Reasons we should readily have Consented unto them We now desire the impartial Reader seriously to Consider whether our Perswasion aforesaid is not on sufficient Ground And if so then 't is plain G. F. Reflects on his own Church-Order as his Term is as worse than any Courts Assizes or Sessions by which we may in his own Language to John Wilkinson say That he knows not what he would be at if his Words and Writings may be taken to be his Real meaning at all times but as to that we have no cause so to Conclude because we from this and other his Words Writings and Actions are sufficiently satisfied that he Concludes all wrong and gone from the Light and Spirit that are not at Unity with what he saith Acteth and bringeth forth though it be ever so Repugnant to Truth and grounded on ever so false a Report and Scandal And so though he talks of the Unlimited Spirit yet we are perswaded he would Limit every one to be subject to his Spirit and that if they have not Faith therein they are wrong and in a separate Spirit from the Light and Spirit by which they were first Convinc'd And on this Foot we do not question but he concludes every one Wrong that Conscientiously may ask him any Questions for their Information or Satisfaction touching him concluding that it doth spring from a Jealous Spirit that ought not to be satisfied The last thing we think meet to take notice of in his aforesaid Letter is this he Repeats John Wilkinson's Words thus And whereas thou speakest of a new Way and a new Form and carryed on with Church-Authority c. And then in part of his Answer thus saith for I know no new Way nor new Form carried on with Church-Authority as thou reproachfully sayest but hear thou hast manifested thy separate Spirit and Mind This manifests unto us that G. F. to use his own Language doth so Jumble that he knows not what he would be at for Men and Womens Meetings are and as we take it in his Sense accounted the Church and what they carry on is accounted to be carryed on by the Power whereof G. F. accounts them Heirs which is the Authority of the Church That now this Church have introduced New Forms or else G. F. hath introduced New Forms amongst them which they as a Church and under the Pretence of Authority do bring forth we are satisfied is as certainly known to G. F. as G. F. is known to any one And therefore his Denyal that he knows of no New Form carryed on with Church-Authority is taken by us to be an absolute Quibble Shift or Shuffle if not a plain down-right Falshood and Untruth Having thus observed on G. F's Letter as afore-said we desire the Reader seriously to weigh in the Light of Christ Jesus the Observations made thereon and then we doubt not but every such Reaer will have this Answer in his own Breast That what G. F. hath written by way of Reply to John Wilkinson could not be given forth from the Spirit of the Lord which cannot Lye but is rather the Fruit either of Ignorance Pride Scorn and Disdain in the best Sense 'T is a common and tude Saying Prids oft times goes before a Fall That G. F. is Fallen is manifestly proved in ‖ Note 'T is meant of the Manuscript first mentioned in the Preface to the First Part. this Treatise if being guilty of Error and Matters of Eyil Fact may be accounted sufficient Proof And that he hath been of so Proud a Spirit as to expect a sort of Reverence and Submission to him which the Truth could not own we doubt not May the Lord open his Eyes to behold his Errors and give him Repentance that so in a Sense thereof he may Confess to the Glory of God and Rejoycing of his Faithful and Antient Friends Though G. F. in his before-cited Answer unto John Wilkinson seems to take Notice of the Receipt but of One Letter yet so it was that John Wilkinson for the further clearing of his Conscience writ another Letter unto G. F. suddenly after whose Copy now followeth George Fox WIth the Truth of God in my Heart I have of late been greatly concerned in the Remembrance of thee in whom God appeared in the Beginning of the Day of Life and reached unto us with his Word who gave us Faith to believe and to receive thy Testimony thou gave of his Light in our Hearts which gathered us into Vnity with him and one with another and made us of the Church of the First-Born or of the First Fruits unto God continuing many Years in Love and Good-Will one to another But of late Dayes the Concord we once had seems much to be broken and many Instruments whom God hath wrought by and in great Love have laboured together but of late time have greatly Iarred And the Cause God hath manifested to me That it is not in Principles of Truth nor in Christ's Doctrine nor in any Practice which Truth in the Members
though the Apostle thus exhorted Little Children keep your selves from Idols yet thy Book touching Womens-Meetings c. very Scandalous to the Truth and worthy in several Particulars to be Judged and Condemned informs us as if Micah's Mother spoken of Judges 17. when she gave Money to make a Graven Image to be Worshipped was a Virtuous Woman for touching her thou hast thus written And Was not Micah's Mother a Virtuous Woman Read Judges 17. and see what she said to her Son And in a few Lines after thou thus testifyes These and such like Women are Recorded to Posterity for their Wisdom and Virtue See thy Book Pag. 43 44. Thirdly Though there are Endeavours to send Papers to and fro to bespatter John Story for going out of a Meeting when the Persecutors came yet I know that thou thy self hast been found in the like Action and if Reports be true the frequentest of any Man that ever I heard called by the Name of a Quaker And 't is to me a broad Signe that this would not have been omitted as a grand Article against him amongst others at Drawel hadst not thou been Guilty in the like Case Fourthly That though John Wilkinson and John Story are persecuted by such unto whom thy Papers seem a Strength because they will not Condemn themselves Yet I never heard that thou as yet hast ever given forth any Paper of Condemnation for the Errors thou hast Committed in writing the Book about Womens Meeeting c. or any thing else Though I cannot believe but that thou art Conscious to thy self that Truth is scandalized thereby unless so great Imagination hath entred thee as to conclude That all thy Words Writings and Actions are Right because they are brought forth through thy Earthly Vessel And to speak plain I must tell thee Thou art not free from giving Occasion to be Jealous that thou dost so conclude Else when I treated thee about the Business of Micha's Mother Why didst thou tell me as thou then didst viz. That thou knewest what thou didst and that Thou sawest 't would be a Stumbling-Block But rather on the Sight of thy Mistake have ingeniously confest the same for 't is an Abominable thing in thee or any Man knowingly to put Stumbling-Blocks in the Way of God's People And know this from me thou wilt never be able to wipe away the Reproach that lyes upon thee for writing that Book until thou Condemn and Judge thy self for many things therein contained And to be yet more plain When I do consider that the Reputation and Respect that hath been given unto thee by many if not most of those who in the Parts here-a-way were first convinced of Truth did first spring from the Testimony we had concerning thee from the Mouths of those whom we believed the Lord and not Thou sent forth to gather us it seems a very strange Thing and the Badge of a grand Apostacy That any of the surviving Remnant of those Antient Labourers being as sound in Doctrine and Principle and as blameless in their outward Lives and Conversation as in the Beginning and thereby manifesting themselves Stayed in the Unchangeable Truth should be Persecuted and rendred Offenders for that which Truth declares to be no Offence and yet thou so far from being a Reproof thereto that 't is evident to me from my Discourse had with thee at Swarthmore and other things that thou art become a Strength to them Hast thou forgotten that Truth was Preach't in the Beginning under the Name of the Vnchangeable Truth And Is the Day now come that a Remnant of the Antient Stock who bore the Brunt and Heat of the Day must now be Persecuted whenas I am satisfyed if they could but now run with others to Change their Way they might yet be esteemed Good Friends Hast thou forgotten how often the Testimony of the Ancient Brethren were on this wise We Preach not our selves look not unto us but unto the Appearance of Christ in your selves And yet one Cause Assigned by thee that John VVilkinson and John Story are wrong is their not Coming to thee and by the sixty six Subscribers at Ellis Hook's Chamber in London their not Coming to Them Truly those who have received their Ministry from God are not to run hither and thither at thy Call or any man's Call whatsoever though I do know thou hast in a Letter written to me Assigned their not coming to Thee when thou send'st for them to be as a Proof that they were not Right nor in the Light and Power of God But by what Authority or according to what Principle of Truth Men called of God into the Work of the Ministry must be declared to be not right nor in the Light and Power of God because they come not to Thee when thou sendest for them I understand not for thou in thy best Estate wast but a Member of the Christ of God unto whom we are all to come when he calls And if any shall Affirm that thou hast and dost retain thy place yet in that Case Thou canst be but a fellow-servant accountable unto the Christ of God as every Member of the Body whereof Christ is Head is Hast thou forgotten how Thou hast Testified against James Naylor's Spirit whose great fall was his owning or at least not Reproving the Women when they Cryed with a Carnal Tongue Hosanna to him And hast Thou no Sense that its gross Ignorance and thick Darkness for any to look upon Thee as that Prophet whom the Lord by his Servant Moses Prophesied he would raise up like unto him whom the People are to hear in all things I cannot believe thou art Ignorant that such there are who so Look on thee and I never understood thou becamest a Reproof to this Spirit Hast thou no Sense that the same Spirit of Ignorance hath and can look upon that abominable Quotation touching Micahs Mother as well enough which where-ever it is doth undoubtedly Spring from this that 't is George's giving forth and so there must be something in it And hast Thou not been desired to Clear things of this Nature and to be a Reproof to such Ignorance and Darkness which tends to lead us into Egypt again I am the man who have Cause to be Jealous that there are some who look upon others either Apostatizing from the Truth or standing in slippery Places when they find not a more than ordinary Respect for thee I will not say an Hosanna in their Breasts as the Women had in their Mouths for James Naylor and therefore I cannot but say it might well become thee by a plain Testimony to Clear things of this Nature Many for Truth 's sake and out of an indeared Respect for thee in particular and a Hope that these little Differences amongst Friends might pass over and that thou wouldest use the Interest thou hast in the Hearts of the Professors of Truth to quell those many little Commotions which seemed some
Moneths and Years past but as sparks of Fire have born in a Spirit of Patience yet now since it is evident that Ignorance Envy and Zeal without Knowledge Joyn Hands together to make War against Gods Servants and that thy Papers seem a Strength thereto therefore is the Zeal of the Lord of Hosts kindled to War in Righteousness against that Ungodly Insinuating Spirit that makes it its business to bespatter John Story and John Wilkinson whereby the Simple-hearted may be in danger to be turned out of the Way 'T is unnatural amongst the Heathen for the Father to pierce and Wound his Children Oh Friend Consider of that If thou art the Head and chief Promoter of this War against the Antient Brethren appear like a Man of War open-faced and if thou art not Remove the Jealousies that have entred the Breasts of many concerning thee which I know not how may be better done than by a plain and Candid Answer to this and the last Letter I writ thee which I was constrained to write to Clear my Conscience but thy not Answering my last Letter shews plainly to me that thou canst not in Truth so Answer as to keep thy self from coming under the just Censure of Truth for several Things which I therein say are reported concerning thee I know are True And if such things are Crimes in others How comes it to pass that the like are not Crimes when committed by thee And therefore since such things have been accounted by those whom thy Papers seem a Strength to as Crimes I cannot tell how thou canst shew thy self at Unity with them or they with thee till by thine or their Repentance and Condemnation ye become Reconciled For otherwise either they will shew themselves Wrong or thou wilt appear as if in thy own Sense Thou wert Exempted from the Stroke of that Justice which in the same Case is prescribed for others And truly Friend 't is much taken notice of that All Reasoning and All Wisdom is preach't against of late Who would but think that such Men esteem all sorts of Ignorance and Unreasonableness to be Vertue For my part I measure not so yet this measure I take That when I find such an one to use Wisdom and Reason to evidence a Good Cause I cannot but conclude Such an ones Cause is stark Nought when his best Argument to evidence it to be Good is to cry out against All Wisdom and All Reasoning Such an Argument I have not known to convince Men of Conscience and Wisdom though some such have or may be of whom Solomon thus speaks How long ye Simple Ones will ye love Simplicity and Fools hate Knowledge Turn ye at my Reproof One other Shift I have of late also observed as a Practice to manifest a Bad Cause to be Good viz. To get a Multitude of Hands to vilify Antient Brethren when not heard to speak for themselves as that Paper signed by Sixty-Six Persons at Ellis Hook's Chamber against John Wilkinson and Jonn Story doth evidence For 't is not Reasonable to conclude 'T was given forth with respect to any Offence but such as hath been committed since the Meeting at Drawel because they have been once Condemned already for the Things there treated on And therefore I cannot but say Here the Arm of Flesh and Egyptian Darkness meet together and the Lord hath a Controversy with those who are guilty hereof and the Blood of the Deceived thereby may be required at their Hands Oh! This Sin cryes aloud in the Ears of the Lord of Hosts thus to endeavour the Defamation of God's Servants under fair plausible Pretences of Love and Brokenness or such like when so much Gall and Bitterness of Spirit appears in the Bottom that Men of Understanding and Conscience cannot joyn thereto To be short Things are brought to that pass amongst us that those who contend for the Antient Principles of Truth and to walk according to the Measure of Grace received are now accounted Bad Spirits by such whom thy Papers seem a Strength to though the Cause thereof is nothing but Matters relating to their Consciences and not any thing of Evil Conversation By which 't is easily to be discerned that Darkness is over-shadowing again and the Glorious Light vailing And though 't is said by some That the Simple-honest-hearted Joyn in and so makes as if the rest were but Chaff that are in the Jealousies and the Reasonings and the Wisdom I have this Faith That there are Hundreds of God's Antient Flock who have retained their First Love are those they call the Chaff and many of those who are accounted the Wheat are such Chaff-Spirited People who had they not Outward Props to lean upon and Outward Persons to have an Eye unto and Outward Papers wherein they think their Cause is pleaded would quickly lose their Confidence being Built upon the Foundation that is Sandy and not on the Christ of God for were their Faith in Him their Faith would not stand in Man or Men And this with many with whom Right Reason takes place and the Wisdom from Above is known is plainly discerned Outward Forms and Precedents eyeing others under the Notion of the Brethren is so much discours't on of late by some ignorant Persons that 't is but too evident that the great Difference amongst Friends is about Outward Things and Ceremonies wherein some appear like People contending about the Shell and lose the Kirnel Which occasions me to tell thee That when I have heard thee Preach against Austin the Monk's bringing into England a Snap-Sack of Ceremonies which I have at many Meetings heard from thee I then little thought I should ever see the Day wherein thou shouldst appear a Countenancer of such who fall out with Antient Friends about Outward Orders and Prescriptions but rather would have appeared a Strength to such who contend that their Order for Gospel-Discipline ought to spring from Truth within themselves For that was the undoubted Sense of those Honourable Brethren who knew a Travel of Spirit for the Gathering of those who in the Beginning of this latter Day were gathered as a sort of First Fruits unto God though some others coming in at the Eleventh Hour of the Day and seeming as Countenanced by thee appear of another Language I have this further to add That if thou wouldst be acquitted in the Breasts of all Friends As a Man that art not a Countenancer of such Contentious-Spirited Men ' that appear as the Beginners and Carriers on of this War 't is needful for thee to satisfy Friends whether thou dost own all the Forty-Four Articles drawn up against John Wilkinson and John Story Thy Example of sending thy Questions abroad to be ask't of other Friends manifests that 't is reasonable in another Friend to expect an Answer from Thee But yet I have sufficient Cause to doubt thou wilt not be so plain as to Answer the Question because I cannot believe but that thy Understanding
F. against William Rogers and vilified him to one not related to the people called Quakers taking no care first to speak with him to know what he could say for himself neither hath G. F. cleared himself from being the Author of that scandalous Paper before cited subscribed S. H. though by a Letter written to him the 11th of the 11th Mo. 1678 by Thomas Gouldney William Ford and William Rogers they manifested their jealousie that he was not unacquainted with the Person that writ it and so desired him to advise who it was if he knew saying Truth sought no Corners Thus far the citation out of the aforesaid Manuscript 'T is now worthy the Reader 's notice that G. F. hath written nothing thereto in Answer to this day but hath given a further Occasion of jealousie that he was the very Dictator thereof because it appears that he writ unto John Story with relation to me very much after the same manner and in the same Language mentioned in part of the before cited Letter subscribed S. H. That the Reader 's judgment may be free I think it necessary to insert the very words written to John Story touching me which are as followeth ANd also I do hear that a Book or Narrative is made of our Meeting which we had at Bristol when I was there last and spread up and down Westmoreland Cumberland Yorkshire and the South amongst prejudiced People which was utterly contrary to the Agreement then that no Papers should go forth without the knowledge or consent of both Parties which Agreement was taken down in writing as there at Bristol may be seen and therefore this Practise to the contrary is below Common Moral Men and not for the Society of civil People short of Christianity c. This their Work bespeaks their Spirit A Truce-breaking Spirit a Covenant-breaking Spirit and not to be Credited c. short of Christianity and below some Priests to spread such things behind our Backs in a secret underly way which doth clearly manifest it is not the Spirit of Christ nor Honesty amongst men Thus far G. F. to John Story At the penning of this unrighteous Reproach I cannot but call to remembrance that there have been of G. F's Party who have propesied Withering in Basquet and Store upon me and all that joyn unto that Spirit as the term was 't is well if G. F. hath not spread his ungodly Reproaches against me undeservedly that so thereby my Name and Reputation may be defam'd as a Proper Expedient to bring a withering on my Outward Estate I confess 't is a very likely Expedient if my Commerce were only amongst such as are ready to give Credit to G. F's Scandalous Reproach before cited written unto Joan Hily concerning me in one Letter which seems to be on the same foot as his writing unto John Story as aforesaid is Were his Character concerning me and those whom he accounts concerned in spreading the Narrative made mention of justly applied to me I should then blame no man refusing on that foot to commerce or trade with me And if so be his unjust reproach should have such an Influence as that all should refuse Commerce with me what might become of Me my Wife and Children whom 't is well known I have hitherto comfortably maintained by my Industry as a Merchant and been able to be assisting unto others in my generation May the God of heaven abate the pride of G. F's lofty Spirit that he may cease to make Lyes and Scandalous Reproaches as well as a False Certificate of which more anon his Refuge and Defence For I affirm in the presence of the Almighty God they are Sins whereof he is guilty and in this treatise effectually demonstrated if the Papers spread abroad in his Name and annexed thereto are to be credited as coming with approbation from him which to me is past question being handed by those that are great Espousers of his Actions and Opposers of John VVilkinson and John Story And now forasmuch as I have occasion to know from the words of G. F's Mouth that he accounted me Blame-worthy or Reproveable for securing a part of my Estate though for my Wife and Children out of the Hands of the Spoilers which at length gave me occasion to prove G. F. guilty in a thing of the same Nature which he condemned as hereafter will appear I therefore think needful in order thereto to cite a part of the 15th Section of the 2d part of the before-cited Manuscript which now follows The Reader may now take notice that since the time William Rogers hath been so much concerned in the matters relating to this Controversie Persecution arose at the Meeting whereto he belongs in Glocester-shire viz. Olvestone and to prevent the Informers who raised the Persecution for no other end but to Enrich themselves as is notoriously manifested from making a Prey upon all his moveable Goods in that Place he secured a part thereof which lay without Doors having unsecured Within and Without to the value of about three hundred pounds which lay Subject to the Spoilers at the place of his Residence that so none should suffer either for him or his family On this occasion Reports suddenly spread abroad that William Rogers had now Manifested himself of what Spirit he was of and was so improved by his Enemies under the Name of Friends that he would not suffer a Groat and that others were fined for him if not paid Fines for him which was very false for that he affirms the Fines laid on him exceed ninety if not an hundred pounds and that a part thereof is levyed on his Goods without Doors and never returned but sold away to an Enemy to Friends This we thought Necessary to insert because we do not doubt but that the Cause of Truth hath suffered through the Belief of Lying Reports relating to him for when a Mare of twelve pounds value was distrained from him 't was suddenly Reported that he caused his man to buy her again which was utterly false for that the Mare was sold by the Distrainer to an Enemy to Friends and Truth that kept the Mare for his own Use On this Occasion we think meet to recite a Paper given forth by G. F. touching securing of Worldly Estate in time of Persecution together with an Answer thereto by William Rogers London 4th Mon. 1678. Friends ALL you that do make away or over your Estates to the World or your Servant for fear of the Spoilers in time of Persecution for the sake of Christ and his Gospel and the Worship of God First do not you Distrust and Despair of God Almighty his Protecting and Delivering you with his Almighty Power Secondly Are you sensible that the Earth is the Lord's and the Fulness thereof is the Lord's and that he giveth the Encrease and that how that he may Try you whether your Minds are in the Creatures or with him the Creator And whether is it not
but I testifie in the sight of the Lord that thou saidst Master Story I take such a one to be my Wife and I take such a one to be my Husband and eat Bread and drink Wine go together like Whores and Rogues Thou saist I have laid my foundation with Tyes but I have laid it with the Light within thou spakest at Richard Martin 's house there was Richard Martin Christopher Taylor and others Mary Beal AT Baldock in the County of Hartford George Fox said There came a couple to a Meeting to be married where Iohn Story was present and the man said Mr. Story Mr. Story putting off his Hat and when they had done they had Wine and Cakes and the Man put off his Hat again and said here 's to you Mr. Story Witness Thomas Moss of Baldock aforesaid It now remains that we inform the Reader what John Story said to the matter of Charge contained in Henry Sweeting's Certificate which is as followeth and as it was taken out of a Letter written by John Story unto a Friend of Truth as to the Report the Inclosed carries I know nothing of it no more than a Child Vnborn and in the presence of Almighty God I do deny any such thing was done where I was present or that I ever heard of any such thing done any where under the Profession of Truth And as to that which they call a Separate Meeting in Westmoreland to manage Church affairs I never was at any of them to this day neither was I of Counsel with them about any Business they transacted in those Meetings to this day I have acquainted them with it they also deny they know any such thing and do deny the abominable practices of all Rogues and Whores in the World These are not the first Lyes George Fox hath reported both against my self and the Meeting they call Separate He hath not given us Ground of late years to expect any Right of Justice from him Thus far John Story on this Occasion We now think it needful to take notice that G. F. in his lines to John Story before-cited seems to import that John Story did not act as a Moral Civil Honest Man short of Humanity to spread the Paper of Henry Sweeting before he sent to him to have known the Truth of it whether John Story did so or no he best knows yet hence we may reasonably take Occasion to query What became of George Fox's Humanity Civility Morality and Honesty when he spread William Rogers his Name up and down the Nation for a Breaker of his Covenant under hand upon the bare Report of others that he had sent abroad a Narrative and therein broke Covenant before he sent to him to have known the Truth thereof if G. F. hath a Conscience to evade an Answer hereunto because he will not fairly as in truth he ought to do acknowledge that if the import of his own words may be taken to be sound he is thereby detectable of a practice neither Humane Civil Moral or Honest Then we further query Whether 't was not abominable Wickedness for him to render William Rogers a Breaker of his Agreement that was written down at Bristol by which he is rendred a Breaker of his Covenant under hand upon Report that a Narrative of Passages at the Meetings at Bristol were spread whenas he neither pretended to be informed what particular Matters were contained in those Papers nor yet to which of the Meetings they did relate for touching some Meetings there was no agreement made under-hand as to their Order though there was to some other but yet not one word of Covenant or Agreement that any person should be obliged not to send abroad a Narrative whether it might relate to all any or either of the Meetings and so consequently his rendring William Rogers to be a Breaker of his Covenant c. is certainly far short of Civility Humanity Morality and Common Honesty if G. F's Rule be good And now that the Reader may have a view of the very words written by G. F. unto John Story in relation to G. F's aforesaid Charge against William Rogers for Breach of Agreement we think meet to add the copy thereof which now followeth ANd also I do hear that a Book or a Narrative is made of our Meeting which we had at Bristol when I was there last and spread up and down Westmoreland Cumberland Yorkshire and the South amongst prejudiced people which was utterly contrary to the Agreement then That no Paper should go forth without the knowledge and Consent of both Parties which Agreement was taken down in writing as there at Bristol may be seen and therefore this Practice to the contrary is below Common Moral Men and not for the Society of Civil People short of Christianity c. This their Work bespeaks their Spirit a truce-breaking Spirit a Covenant-breaking Spirit and not to be credited c. short of Christianity and below some Priests to spread such things behind our backs in a secret underly way which doth clearly manifest is not the Spirit of Christ nor Honesty amongst men We desire the Reader to compare the above-cited lines written by G. F. to John Story with a Letter subscribed by a nameless Author S. H. already cited in this Treatise and so leave such who have Salt in themselves to savour withal to consider whether or no it be not rational to suppose that G. F. was the dictator of that Wicked False Charging Scandalous Letter signed S. H. especially since Thomas Gouldney William Rogers and William Ford on a Jealousie that G. Fox was the Author thereof writ unto him as is subscribed but received no Answer from him to this day Bristol the 11th of the 11th Month. 1679. G. F. G. F. A Letter whereof the above written is a copy came several Weeks past to our hands but being dated from no place nor yet signed any otherwise than S. H. we could not tell unto whom to send Answer We have sufficient Cause of Jealousie that thou art neither unacquainted with the Matter therein contained nor yet the Party that writ it and therefore we desire thee to acquaint us if thou canst who it was that wrote such a Letter or a Letter to the like import but if thou shalt pretend thou canst not then we desire thee to acquaint us Whether thou dost know of any thing acted by us or either of us according as in the above copy is mentioned to render us or either of us Covenant-Breakers as in the above Copy exprest The Reason why we thus desire of thee is this 't is commonly reported that thou hast thus rendred us and in particular to Joan Hily thou hast written of William Rogers c. as a person concerned in sending abroad a kind of a Narrative in the Nation c. contrary to their order Friends Agreement c. George Truth seeks no corners we desire thee to be Plain-hearted and send
Part p. 7 8. See also the 3 d. Part p. 7 8. The General-Assembly of the Cburch of the First-Born 3 d. Part p. 74 78. Members of Christ's Body not certainly describable by Outward Marks and Tokens Outward Orders insufficient for their Conservation 3 d. Part p. 57 58. No Member of the Church of Christ one more than another is exempted from being lyable to err pag. 75 76 77 78. N Â O OBedience What kind of Obedience finds Acceptance what not 3 d. Part p. 26 33. See Church-Government Though the Obedience of Christ made many Righteous yet 't is no Proof that any were or can be made Partakers of that Righteousness whil'st Sin reigns in the Mortal Body 2 d. Part p. 67 68. Opposers From an Objection raised Occasion is taken to shew the Difference between Us and our Opposers though our Language relating to Principle and Practice in some things agree 1 st Part p. 30 31. Order of the Gospel is the Power of God and cannot be Establish't by Man 3 d. Part p. 25. Outward Orders The Establishers thereof under the Notion of Christ's Government Invaders of Christ's Prerogative 1 st Part p. 4. Reasons given why they are unsuitable to be accounted a Part of Christ's Government 3 d. prt p. 6 7 8 9 11 23 24. See 1 st Part p 6 7 8. See Church-Government P PErfection Every Gift of God is Perfect No such Perfect State attainable wherein 't is not needful for Man to Watch 2 d. Part p. 14. A Cessation from Sin attainable 2 d. Part p. 14 15 16 19 20. Persecution An Objection touching Securing Outward Estate in Time of Persecution Christ's Words to Peter and Saul's Action of saving Agag being instanced is Answered 1 st Part p. 30 to 36. Plain-Language On what Ground used 2 d. Part p. 34. Power of Decision of Differences by Robert Barclay's Words imports a Jurisdiction in such as he accounts the Church over Property 3. Part p. 35. Observations on the said Sence shewing the Inconsistency thereof with Truth 3 d. Part p. 35 to 41. Power to Bind and Loose is not from Christ's Words so far as from the Scripture we learn pleaded by the Apostles or any Assembly under the Notion of Christ's Church 3 d. Part p. 66 67. Principles Reputed by Robert Barclay the Bond by which we became Centered into One Body meaning Christ's Body the Church 3 d. Part p. 54. His Assertion and Argument refuted p. 54 to 59. The like he saith touching Practices and Doctrines p. 54. Professors of Christianity How they come to disagree touching some Religious Matters whenas whil'st they keep to Scripture-Language they agree in Principles termed Fundamental that are relative to the Matter wherein they differ 2 d. Part p. 69 70. Prophet Raised like unto Moses is Christ Jesus and no other is owned by us like unto Moses under the Second Covenant but Christ Jesus 1 st Part p. 10 11. Q Â R REign of Christ is by his Spirit in the Heart 3 d. Part p. 4. Robert Barclay An Answer to his Book of Government manifesting Erroneous Doctrines held forth by him 3 d. Part p. 15 to 88. The Chief Matters discours'd of in the said Answer p. 19 20 21 22 23. Robert Barclay's Postscript to the said Book by way of Epistle to Friends wherein he affirms That he never found Occasion to Repent or Retract any thing from the Matter and Principles there asserted by him And further also That though the Things chiefly scrupled at are as he saith cleared by Will m. Rogers his own Letter yet that all may be satisfyed by having them from his own Hand he was free to Write his Postscript William Rogers his Observations adjoyned to the said Postscript shew First That Robert Barclay Justifies his Book Secondly That the pretended Letter of William Rogers is by Robert Barclay acknowledged to contain Robert Barclay's Sence and Explication of the Matters scrupled in his Book Thirdly That his Postscript was writ that all might have his Sence of the Matters chiefly scrupled under his own Hand according to the Explications given in William Rogers his pretended Letter Fourthly That notwithstanding all this the Explications in the said Letter are not to be found in his Book nor yet all of them in his Postscript neither doth his Postscript and Book agree nor yet either of Them with Truth in many Things 3 d. Part p. 99 to 124. Rule See Church-Government S SAlvation of Mankind See Kingdom of God and Justification Sathan The Qualifications of such whom Sathan hath made use of to rend and divide the Church of Christ viz. such as have Zeal without Knowledge such as have Knowledge without Zeal and others that have abounded in Confidence without either Knowledge or Zeal 1 st Part p. 69 to 78. Schismes The Ground thereof and some Marks by which 't is known 3 d. Part p. 41 42. Scriptures may be an Instrument through the Spirit whereby Faith in Christ may be attained unto 2 d. Part p. 3 4. And albeit they have been owned by Us and our Antient Friends to be a Rule yet we have not owned them to be the Infallible Rule but instead thereof the Spirit And yet they have been of late streined by Robert Barclay to make them the Rule to rule over our Brethren p. 48 49 50 51. See Church-Government Sentences or Degrees of any Assembly though pretending themselves the Church in Matters relating to Conscience no Bond upon Believers without inward Conviction 3 d. Part p. 58 61 62. See Believers Sin See Perfection Spirit What is meant by this kind of our Opposer's Language viz. Dark Leaven'd Rending Dividing Separate Spirit 1 st Part p. 6. Spiritual Matters Cognizable by the Government held forth by Robert Barclay 3 d. Part p. 53. Swearing under the Gospel-Dispensation not Lawful in any Case 2 d. Part 37 38 39. Submission to any Assembly that in any tollerable Supposition may be termed the Church of Christ is so pleaded for by Robert Barclay as that Want of Sight shall not excuse being Guilty of Disobeying God 3 d. Pare p. 69. That Sence refuted his Perversion of the Scriptures cited discovered 3 d. Part p. 69 to 80. Supper of the Lord the Night before he was Betrayed p. 51. The Doctrine of Christ at that Supper Owned p. 51 52. Scripture reputed to relate to that Practice Explained p. 52 to 61. T TEstimonies In what Case these words Let th'Testimonies of Friends arise have been notoriously abused 1 st Part p. 18 19. Traditions See Church-Government Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil cannot properly be a Comparison to represent Knowledge that is Devilish or the Thing that is Evil 2 d. Part p. 28 29. Tythes no Gospel-Maintenance to a Gospel-Ministry 2 d. Part p. 40 to 44. U VNity Divers Things laid down wherein the Faithful were at Unity 1 st Part p. 2 3 4. In what Sence the Apostle exhorted thereto 1 st Part p. 36 37. Inconveniences attending this Doctrine no Unity but in Conformity 1 st Part p. 72 73. An Universal Establish't Unity with respect to Faith and Discipline relating to Believers in Christ by Outward Instruments is inconsisting with Gospel-Liberty 3 d. Part p. 82 to 86. See Believers The Mark of a Member of Christ's Church in Unity with the Body is an Inward Invisible Mark 3 d. Part p. 83 84. W VVArs not Lawful to be entred into by Us to work our own Deliverance from under Oppressive Laws and Magistrates 2 d. Part p. 30 31 32. Weak Believers may be Received to doubtful Disputations by assigning the Decision of Controversy to the Church since Contention may arise who or where they are 3 d. Part p. 59 60. Wisdom from Above and that which is not from Above is deseribed Wisdom which we have as Creatures is not that Wisdom which by the Apostle is termed Sensual and Devilish but is given us of God 2 d. Part p. 21 to 25. Women having received a Revelation to Utter in the Church may Speak Unruly Disorderly Women may be warned to be Silent even as it is their Duty so to be in the Church 3 d. Part p. 52. Works What sort are Necessary to Salvation and what not Works spoken of by the Apostle James are the same sort of Works spoken of by the Apostle Paul 2 d. Part p. 16 17 18 19. Writings for Publick View By whom Approved or else not to be Printed 3 d. Part p. 29 30 Reasons against the Method of such Approbation and Limitation 3 d. Part p. 29 30 31 32. X Â Y Â Z ZEal without Knowledge Some Parts of the Fruit thereof described 1 st Part pag. 70 71 72 73. Zeal according to Knowledge accepted by God 1 st Part p. 70. A Part of the Qualifications of such as are endued with it 1 st Part p. 77. THE Postscript following the Preface is added to clear the Truth as well as my self from this pretended Argument against my Printing viz. That I came up to London to read a Charge behind George Fox 's Back and That though I pretended a Readiness to Meet him I had no Desire thereto Which gives me Occasion to lay down several Observations and Reasons invalidating the pretended Argument together with a Letter written by Me to James Claypoole and Three other Friends in London to cover a Remonstrance to the Friends of London All on purpose that they might use their Interest to cause George Fox to submit to a Hearing that so if possible some Expedient might have been found to satisfy my Conscience otherwise than by Printing Which I acquainted them of as well as George Fox and that I intended to proceed therein unless so much Notice should be taken of my Call for Justice against the Reproachful Actions and Trespasses of George Fox as that he might be brought to a Hearing before Friends to the end that if Guilty he might give Satisfaction if not he might be Quitted There are also signified in the said Postscript several Things which are clear Evidences that George Fox would not assent to any Meeting for the aforesaid End Which coming to my Knowledge I was then free of all Concern to sollicite him more either by Word or Writing for a Meeting and had no further Bond upon me to forbear proceeding to Print as Expeditious as I could William Rogers