of the Scriptures and of what I have writ and what his Name is to And to prove what he seems to hold forth against George Fox he saith I find no where that ever the Apostle forbad Circumcision in the same case in which he practised it Answer It s to be admired what this Man would fetch up or frame matter of to smite with though thereby he demonstrates sometimes his own folly for we say where doth George Fox say that the Apostle did so Nay we do affirm that George Fox doth plainly shew that the Apostle did not forbid Circumcision on the same Account or in the same case in which he practised it and so for William Rogers to say he finds it so no where is the same and no otherwise then what George Fox saith wherein then is George Fox's Ignorance of Scriptures and what his Name is to c If William Rogers knew rightly what himself says he might see how he runs himself into Confusion and makes himself Work with his own Shaddow George Fox intimates that the case in which the Apostle practised Circumcision and tenderly bore it for a season was because of the hardness of the Hearts of some in the days of the Churches infancy and gathering to God that could not easily be brought off from Circumcision and least his very much pressing the unnecessariness of it might have hardened some that used it against the Truth and because also of the tenderness of some others that had made some Conscience of it in Zeal though without knowledge as some of the Jews were said to have therefore also did he forbear and some little practise it and bid the believing Jews in the day of that weakness amongst them to be cautious of judging one another therein and in Meats and Drinks and the like These were the Cases in which the Apostle practised Circumcision and bore with the tenderly weak in those matters And the other case in which the Apostle judgeth them in it was as George Fox says when some who were come to see the nothingness of Circumcision and observing of Days and the like with respect to a Gospel Dispensatiou and Salvation by Christ Jesus and not of Works c. and afterwards turned thither again pretending it to be their principle and make a Sect of it Then the Apostle expressly forbad it saying If you be Circumcised Christ shall prosit you nothing and he said also And now after you have known God or rather are known of God how turn you back agaid into these Beggarly Rudiments the observing of Days and the like It is one thing we say in the Infancy of Truth not to see ones way out of the practice of some things Erroneous and an Exercise of Conscience may be in relation thereunto In which case great forbearance and render dealing with such in the Spirit of Meekness is profitable It s another cause when after Convincement and an understanding be given of the evil and unprofitableness of some thing in order to Life and Peace and yet to stand in the Observation of those things or being once redeemed therefrom to turn back thither again and say it s their Principle and make a Sect of it in this case Truths Authority comes to be exercised and the Judgment thereof placed And this is the substance of what George Fox intimates touching this matter which William Rogers makes so much quarrelling about And had the case on William Rogers John Story and John Wilkinson their Account in Relation to Church Care Government and Order therein which all this ado hath been made against by them been the case of tenderness or want of seeing the necessity thereof because of the Infancy as to Truth that they might have been in and that they had been tender in their Spirits under a fear to have offended the Lord his Church and People undet a mistake in themselves that Simplicity would have been Jealous of then would they not have wanted all possible forbearance every way to have done them good but this was not their case in any respect as their Testimonies and Works demonstrate They were not the Weak in their own Eyes for when they were in the first Love they were not ignorant of the necessity of Church Care Order and Government amongst Gods People in this Gospel day Witness William Rogers Subscription amongst many Brethren to a Paper for the promoting the same and encouraging Friends therein inserted in the first part of this Treatise and John Story his hand amongst the Brethren also on the same Score John Wilkinson owning the Papers given forth by George Fox as Directions touching the same as very good and useful to be practised They were not humble and passive in the day when they begun to stumble thereat and turned back therefrom to indulge a wrong Spirit in a fleshly ease in themselves and such as hung upon them or were gratified thereby much need not be said here what is already inserted in this is sufficient to satisfie touching this matter and William Rogers's Book also fully demonstrates what obstructions he lays in the way of it and what contempt he puts upon the care in the Church of God used amongst the faithful that all this cluttering Work hath been made by them against in a word they are manifested to be such as are gone back again from their first Love and Aeal for Truth and the Power thereof and the concerns of the Churches Advantage and Peace is not of weight upon them but the old liberty in the fleshly part is that they would be indulged in wherein Antient Testimonies for the Truth comes to be departed from to the dishonour of Truth and the holy way of God to the Grief of God's People who keeps faithful to him and this is the case that the Truth cannot allow any such in but the Judgment thereof in the Spirit of Jesus wherein Authority and Rule stands is placed there But again to the matter we were upon Let us see from what touching George Fox's instancing Pauls sometimes using and allowing Circumcision and in some cases judging it William Rogers fetcheth his smiting blows against him for that 's the Work he is concerned in William Rogers infers from this and saith It appears that the actings in some things according to ones Principle in matters of Conscience were condemnable when the practising things not according to ones Principle in matters of Conscience might be justifiable in George Fox ' s 〈◊〉 or some of party with him Answer we say this is a gross Perversion of George Foxs's Words and a false Application from the Apostles Practice and George Fox's instance nor any way deducible there-from And we require William Roger if he can to make it out that ever George Fox or any of them that are of his Spirit and in Fellowship with him ever justified any in the practice of things against their Consciences or disallowed any thing practised by any who acted
over-shaddowing them to the encrease of Life and Faithfulness to God amongst them Love encreases and Life springs in the Assemblies of the Righteous a People saved by the Lord and all srinking creeping hidden Works of Darkness are judged down the snare 〈◊〉 laid therein being seen Deliverance is wrought to Gods praise and his Peoples joy and this is the effect God hath wrought to our Advantage glory to his Eternal name for evermore Secondly Through the workings of the Spirit that prevails on them whose Habitation is not in the Lord the Negligent the Careless the Rebellious that dwell in the dry Land and have wanted the vertuous Life of God through unbelief into whom Looseness is entered and the Works of the Flesh wrought antient Testimonies for God let fall by them to Truths dispraise and the wounding the Hearts of the Innocent whose Testimony abides sure and through whose unfaithfulness Afflictions are added to the Bonds of the Upright to God to the Churches Grief they having turned the many visitations of Gods Love behind the Back and grown worse and worse such as these comes to be shaken off and the Camp cleansed of them and they manifested to all and that they who are approved may be made manifest a Separation being wrought between them that truly serve the Lord and them that serve him not betwixt them that live in the Antient Power and in Life and Faithfulness glorifies the same and them that talk only of the Light and inward guidance of the Spirit of Jesus and yet in Works deny him Let but the Reader and the Innocent wait a little in the patience and you shall see the end of this Spirits Work to its utter Reproach its Memorial shall rot and never rise again Thirdly That although this appearing Difference amongst us may and hath caused a Flutter amongst the Gazers and Wonderers that would not believe and for the present might put a little discouragement for a time upon the unestablished in God and obstruct a little the gathering unto us such as the Lord will deliver and shall be saved and what an expectation hath there been through this occasion in our publick Enemies that have watched for it of our disadvantage thereby in the way of Truth if not our Ruin yet it were well if such would take notice that notwithstanding the worst of this Spirit 's Work how the Lord hath Blessed his People in every place even where the greatest Blunder hath been with the more Zeal and Integrity for him and that more is added to us since that day then for many Years before And lastly That which we observe and it were well if notice of it were truely taken this talk of Difference amongst us which we do affirm is not in the Camp of God but a Testimony is born by us against the Backslided and Apostate it doth tend to the hardning of a disobedient and gainsaying People that would not receive the Testimony of the Light and Life of Christ Jesus to believe in him for Salvation but have turned the visitations of Gods love behind their backs in their rebellion against the Lord and the Spirit of his Grace to their greater ruin and the more speedy execution thereof if in time they repent not and it were well if such yet would fear Almighty God and be subject to the Truth before it be too late to find Mercy In our Advice to the Reader and Introduction to the ensuing matter of what is before us to concern our selves with we cannot but first take notice that some may say If it were true that the Author af the aforesaid Book and those he seems so much to standby are in a backsliding state and seperated from you whom you seem to disown as out of fellowship with you What is the meaning of all this Writing against George Fox so vehemently and more principally then any others together with others also whom by name he makes mention of And what is the truth of the matters and things laid to his and others charge which if true bespeaks a backsliding in him and others he speaks of as well as in them you declare against Answer As for George Fox we say and Testifie that as he was an Instrument in Gods hand through the Demonstration of the Spirit being a Minister of the new Testament the everlasting Gospel through whom many were turned from Darkness to Light to behold the Glory of the everlasting Day and the Faces of many Thousands have been truely and livingly set Sion-wards and their Feet established in the way thither Let William Rogers say and do his worst he is one who hath kept his Integrity to the Lord and is honorable in Gods power amongst the Children of the Light that keep their habitation in it an Elder that hath ruled well and is worthy of honour for the gift of Gods sake that he hath been faithful in the concern of and is the same with an encrease of Life and pure Wisdom that ever he was notwithstanding the fury of wicked and lying Tongues And as it was in Christ and the Apostles days because of the testifying against the World by him and his Desciples that their deeds were evil the World hated them above all the Jews stumbled at him because of his Testimony against the Adulterous profession of the chiefest of them and their Righteousness which it was said must be exceeded or no coming into Gods Kingdom for which cause also they hated him and put him to Death The first and most Glorious appearance of the breaking forth of the more clearer Day after an Apostatized state was ever resisted with great Indignation by them upon whom the Apostacy from the Life and Power of God had prevailed and the publishers of the same Testimony from God the most hated and persecuted with the cry of Help Men and Brethren and withal the fury and might imaginable to obstruct the breakings forth thereof This Generation hath not forgot that in a resolved combined Covenant made with Death was the Testimony resisted that this Servant of the eternal God bore against the Sin self Righteousness and false Judgment that a wicked and a pervers Generation lived in and under the profession of to the total stopping and crushing of it by all means Imaginable if they could or that could be contrived and far contrary to the work of a professing Gospel Ministry and dispensation of a Gospel day to the shame of such as were the contrivers thereof and stirrers up of Persecution therefore It may be remembered what such an one he was rendered to be even as the worst of Men and yet nothing could be laid to his charge save for his crying against Sin c. and keeping a good Conscience to God recommending his Testimony to the Witness of God in all Consciences in the patience that possessed the Soul the Lyes the false Aspersions Calumnies and Reproaches raised against him and cast upon him with rage and fury and
not ashamed to call it an Idle Vain Testimony in the Name of the Lord. And yet in another place of the Narrative and other of their Writings they of this Spirit said John Story and John Wilkinson must be left to Act as their Lord and Master shall lead them And yet would not allow Elizabeth Sturridge to clear her Conscience as her Lord and Master might require her Doth not this manifest a partial and byassed Spirit in judging thus partially as he hath done And yet contrary to their former Judgment as some of them of that Spirit have said to wit That we must not judge of Spiritual things And how answers this also that which they say That all must be left to the Witness of God in themselves And from what 〈◊〉 do we say doth that Jealousie and Fear arise of having the Meeting entertained with Testimonies being the same also with that which made all the Bawling in the Meeting at Bristol when Friends were waiting upon the Lord for the Testimony of Life to arise amongst them that William Rogers said His Soul abominated such 〈◊〉 which was to wait to see if any thing might arise in any to Write to John Story about the reconciling the sad Differences risen as the Certificate imports Is not this the Spirit that 's gone from the Truth and likes not sound Judgment being gone from the Command of God Cain after he had done evil concerning his Brothers Blood his countenance fell and he thought that every one that met him would slay him But it is not so with the Righteous for they are bold and makes no such provision for the Flesh And is not William Rogers's Testimony more Idle and Impertinent and John Story' s also and John Wilkinson then Hers was who saith God hath raised them up to stand in the Gap and yet are opening Gaps for the Loose and Fleshly to enter in at out of the Way of Truth and their Testimony for it to wit William Rogers's making away part of his Estate from the Spoylers and says It s his Principle and John Story creeping in suffering times and John Wilkinson standing to justifie it and what an idle Testimony was that in John Story that condemned Friends Soundings and making an noise in Heart-Melody to God in their Meetings whilst others were Preaching or Praying and said He had born his Testimony against it and he would do it and bring it down or leave Preaching And was not John Wilkinson's Testimony Idle and Prophane and charged it upon the Lord too that said God will break us when we were in the exercise of Truth according to Gospel Order and yet it fell on the neck of his own Spirit for many not long after broke off from them and came away with joy Again in the Narrative it is said by them That from henceforth there may be no occasion to say that they are Men of Strife c. We say Would they be look'd upon not to be Men of Strife we can confidently say that William Rogers's work of spreading abroad this Narrative and others his contentious Papers sufficiently gives himself the lye if he say so and the Fruits of John Story and John Wilkinson and their Company in their Subscriptions and Separation and Contentious Work sufficiently manifests that they are not Men of Peace We further observe that it is said in the Narrative That the consideration of the present Differences amongst Friends and the sence they have that the Name of the Lord is dishonoured amongst the Heathen who at this Day may clap their Hands for joy and cry Ha! Ha! They say They have cause to enter into the House of Mourning rather then Joy In Answer we say it may be seen what a deceitful Spirit this is thus to pretend and use a deal of smooth Words in Hypocrisie that have no Answer in the Consciences of the Faithful to God For hath not John Story and John Wilkinson and other Partakers with them in this contentious VVork been the only cause of dishonour to the peaceable Truth and the Name of God Doth not the Separation and such work of Strife and VVrangling as is brought forth amongst them and William Rogers's sending abroad his contentious Papers up and down the Nation contrary to Covenant and Agreement made and signed testifie of what Spirits they are Their Resistance to the tender Advise and Judgment of the most of Friends in the Nation sheweth them to have a stubborn Heart far from the House of Mourning VVhat Kindness and Care hath been extended and used towards this People VVhat tender Entreaties have been made to them to be reconciled to God and the Brethren and to come off from the Separation And John Story and John Wilkinson have been desired that they would be instrumental in breaking up the Separate Meeting or testifie against it and yet with an imperious Spirit do they despise and resist all and this Hyprocrisie atop of all causes the Lord the more to abominate their doings Hath William Rogers forgot the Crys and Tears to the Lord for them at the Draw-well when he and they stood in that heardness of Heart that many were made to admire Let them say what they will the House of Mourning they are Strangers too yet the Day of it will come from the Lord God who sees their VVorks and will judge accordingly for neither their Spirit nor their VVorks do answer the Light of Christ nor the Grace of God that hath followed them and the Strife that is begun and which they still maintain shall be laid at their Doors let them look to it as they will answer the Lord in the great Day VVe observe also that William Rogers in the Narrative recites two Questions that were put to the Brethren at Draw-well by John Wilkinson and John Story to be resolved although we shall not concern our selves here much to give any Answer to them then what was delivered amongst the Brethren then yet we desire that the said Queries may be compared with the Paper of Prescriptions subscribed by John Story and John Wilkinson and them of the Separation The first Question Whether or no we and all Gods People ought not to be left in all matters of Faith and Discipline c. to the manifestation of Gods Spirit and Truth in our Hearts to Speak and Act therein as we are thereby Instructed and Perswaded and not otherwise The Answer was given Affirmatively viz. They Ought And our Sence and Judgment in the Truth closed therewith as that which we stand for and have maintained against every contrary appearance And yet John Story and John Wilkinson in their Paper of Subscription the foundation of the Separation in the North say together with others of the Separation That none of their own Country or of other Countries must sit amongst them to concern themselves in the Business of their County although it be about matters relating to Discipline but their chosen Men to whom they give
gnashing of Teeth for grief they are far beyond expression To a gainsaying Rebellious Spirit the Testimony of Light that condemns for Sin is an hateful thing and the Ministers of Antichrist have bent themselves against it and against them the Testimony is born by And seeing that Early of this our day it was first and principally born by him how could he escape the wrath of Man that produceth evil things and avoid the fury of it Nay this was his Lot with others of Gods faithful Servants whom God hath upheld and delivered through all and he hath seen the travel of his Soul and the fruit of his labour into his bosome manifold in recompence for all to his hearts Joy whatever the worst of Men imagine against him The same enmity lodgeth still and venteth it self again and again through any new occasion given to it or that it can get hold of in the wilful resisters of our principle and lifes appearance and in all them that Backslides therefrom and enters again into the old Cainisn Murthering Spirit that crucifies the Lord of Life again and would put him to open shame Never a publick opposing Apostate from the life of Truth that hath risen up in Judgment against it since we have been a People but in the old Enmity of the cursed Serpents Image he hath run against George Fox Oh it s admirable to us and renders William Rogers in this cursed work of his to be a Man running on to Ruin that he does not take notice and that with Terror of the breakings forth of the eminent hand of the Lord against such to their misery and shame that thus tempts the Lord to deal with him as hath been dealt with his predecessors gone before whose footsteps he follows with all the haste and fury he can appear in let him take heed though his presumption be great in defying the Work of God in his Servants let him vapour with the Bulk of the Weapon his ungodly Book he hath formed in his stout and ambitious mind the Lord is risen to dash in peices and is upon the Throne who with the Antient though dispised Instrument of simplicity and the naked truth which he hath in his Hand will wound the head and glory of this uncircumcised One to its utter Ruin and the perpetual reproach of all them that lean upon it the Mouth of the Lord of hosts hath spoken it and it shall surely come to pass And as to the particular matters of Accusations by William Rogers cast upon George Fox we do testifie and in the Truth affirm and can commit the same to the tryal of the righteous principle of God and equal Law of doing as one would be done by that if many of the matters in charge against him were true which we believe are malicious and false the malice the rancour of his Spirit that appears in his perverting George Fox his words his misconstruing and putting his own corrupt sence upon them disingeniously and unlike a Man and then placing a Judgment thereupon his disorderly bringing them forth having not first examined the truth of matters and dealt with him face to face as in the sequel of our matter may be manifested he hath not done His publishing in Print and exposing the same to publick view by sale or allowing thereof in Shops so that it is come to the view of the great enemies of Truth and us and the applications he puts upon our tender care in the Church of God as Antichristian and Rome-like with the invectives and malicious Smitings he can invent renders him plainly to be an Apostate from Truth an enemy to God and the Principle we have believed in an accuser of the Brethren not fit for Christian Society but to be rejected as reproachful thereto and left to the righteous God of Heaven and Earth to reward him according to his works Friendly Reader our Testimony is for the sake of that principle of Light and Life in Christ Jesus our Lord and Law-giver in which we have believed and are bold to Testifie to and stand in the vindication of against all the opposers thereof as that which is our life and the comfort of our days through the Salvation that we have known thereby wherein we have peace and for the sake whereof reproaches are not hard for us to bear and for the removing of the Stumbling-blocks out of the way thereof that if it were possible all Men might walk therein and find mercy We say in a godly concern that lies upon us we intend through Gods assistance a little to discover the Face and Image of a Ungodly Backsliding Separate dividing Spirit by rending off the covering it hath got upon its head to hide its nakedness and shame withal in the departing of those it hath prevailed upon from the living God from the way of Truth and from the unity of the Brethren to the casting off the Subjection to Gods power which they once knew and unto which also Obedience should be given and giving way to a corrupt mind in themselves and to a false Liberty that Truth leads not to have set themselves being of that sort that loves not found Judgment against the rule and government of Christ Jesus whose right it is in the Spirits of their own minds and against the Discipline of the Church of God according to Gospel-order and the practice of the Church in the Apostles dayes and thereby encouraging a loose and licentious Spirit in others that would draw back into the liberty of the flesh again to satisfie the Lusts thereof and thereby bring a reproach upon that eternal name in which we have believed and testified Salvation to be thereby as if it were not Sufficient to compleat the work thereof by us expected and waited for which we Testifie against whoever otherwise say Reader If thou dost but duely consider as before the Lord of William Rogers's Book thou mayest easily see whatever he pretends to its liberty for the Flesh that the design of him and others in this their work tends to and for that cause is it that the Churches care is undervalued by them despised and maliciously reproached under the denomination of over-driving imposing lording over Mens Consciences setting up in the Church another Government then that of the Spirit which we testifie to be false and a malicious smiting accounting the wholsome directions according to Gospel-Order taken notice of and practized amongst us that in all things we may be of good report the bringing in of Ceremonies Mens Prescriptions and the like thereby to put a dis-esteem upon them in the minds of such as are unto liberty in the flesh inclined whence the opposition hath sprung and the dividing Spirit has sought to prevail to the exercise of rhe true and upright to God and the Churches grief the looseness also of this Spirit and its design to gratifie the Flesh which produceth contempt and opposition to the Churches care that the Author to
done in Order and that nothing may be lacking amongst his People that may shew forth his Praise that so a sweet Savour may be kept amongst all as the Ornament of the Gospel received and believed in Can it be a Repute to him thus to clamour against the Order and Discipline thereof under this Government and the good and wholsom Directions that appertain to it 〈◊〉 against a People once he was in Society with Zealous in the Matter thereof for a time whom he doth not charge with Apostacy though that 's the Character he is pleased to give us on the account of being departed from the Truth or on any other account but for the Discipline and Government we have amongst us And on that account also would he render us to have lost the 〈◊〉 of Christianity which all his works relates to For he gives not any Account what Principles of Truth we are gone from or wherein we have left the Doctrine 〈◊〉 Christ but retracting again or contradicting himself sayes We differ not about the Kernel but the Shell and John Wilkinson sayes God hath manifested to him that the Caufe is not in the principles of truth nor in the Doctrine of Christ nor any practice that the Truth in the Members of the Heavenly Body leadeth into If William Rogers would have convicted the family he hath set himself against in his 〈◊〉 work of being Apostates and Innovators c. he should not have steered this Course of Inveighing against the Discipline and Order of the Church of God being Justified therein as a commendable and comely thing which hath a sweet Savour in many Consciences even of those that are not of Proffession with us who cannot but see what 〈◊〉 work he hath made about it which declares him to be a man of a loose spirit and that likes not the Inspection nor Judgment of the naked truth Surely it had been more honourable for him to have let alone this clamo ring against us as Apostates c. till he had first convicted us of being gone 〈◊〉 the Power and life of our Principle or from the Doctrine of Christ for there the Apostacy enters But John Wilkinson and he has 〈◊〉 us of that in express words And the Testimony we have in many consciences that the Antient 〈◊〉 Power attends us in our Assemblies to the breaking of many Hearts and the gathering unto him in whom Salvation is known 〈◊〉 as shall be saved confirms this matter on our behalf And if they were not blind they might see 〈◊〉 Barrenness and Deadness attends the Testimonies and Concerns of them of this Spirit and how many scatter and fall away from them several wayes and the most of them that keep to them are but such as are a Reproach to Truth mark the end of them I say could William Rogers have convinced the world where he publisheth the Characterizing of us Apostaces and the like that we had lost our first Love and 〈◊〉 to our Antient Testimony for God and were departed from the Faith and our Zeal for God to satisfie the Flesh and that they were the entire and Faithful to him and the Life of Righteonsness Then had he done something in relation to that which he hath undertaken to do But the Lord will stop him therein and he shall not perfect that which he hath Attempted when he hath done his worst but Truth shall Florish over all when his Name shall be Reproachful every-where But let us go on and consider farther on what occasion we may suppose William Rogers Adventures to lay that infamous charge of Apostates at our doors seeing it 's granted that wee keep to the Principles of Truth and are in the 〈◊〉 of Christ and are in the practice of things that the 〈◊〉 leads 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 that Discipline and Order of Truth in the Church of God the Government thereof and Judgement therein which we maintain and are in the practice 〈◊〉 and in 〈◊〉 thereunto is Justified and commendable in the sigh of God and amongst them that believe according to Christ's Command and the 〈◊〉 Care and Practice in the Church of God and on that account it 's in vain for 〈◊〉 to Charge us with Apostacy if he think that any that fears God will stand by him therein And we take notice also William Rogers seems Doubtful in his own mind what Repute he shall gain to himself on the account of making so much ado against Church-Government lest he should be palpably thereby discovered to all to be a man of too loose a Spirit and pleading for the Liberty of the flesh and thereby throw dirt in his own face which he would cast at others to his reproach And therefore in the very height of his exclaiming against Order and Government wherein he is very abusive and wicked he Retracts again as a Smitten man and grants the Matter that he makes all this stirr in Opposition to See his 1 st Part page 43. and page 52 see also his 3 d Part page 19. And for a more clear manifesting of his Confusion and Contradictions about this Matter of Church-Government we refer the Reader we say again to the Anfwer to William Rogers Subscribed by Ellis Hookes c. He seems doubtful also what the Matter of his exclaiming against Church-Government we stand to maintain as consistent with the Doctrine of Christ and the Apostles practice will make for him on the account of proving us Apostates and Innovators c. And therefore to another shift he betakes himself that is to say to exclaim against the Discipline used amongst us and calling it George Fox's Form of Government 〈◊〉 making also an outragious Clamour against the Directions the Rules the Advice and Counsel given relating to Discipline and Order amongst us calling them Dictates of fallible men Mens Prescriptions Laws and Edicts other mens Lines made ready to our hands Innovations George Fox's Orders c. He is very extravagant also in his Reflections upon our Mens Meetings our Quarterly and our Yearly Meetings manifested at large and spoke to in the aforesaid Answer Subscribed by Ellis Hookes c. In Answer also whereunto we are led to the first particular head formerly made mention of a little to be spoken to that the honest unprejudiced and impartial Reader may consider and Judge whether with respect to what the Church of God directeth to in this our day amongst us and we are in the Practice of in the Discipline thereof William Rogers our and the Church's Adversary hath any cause to render us in Print Apostates from our first Principle and so from God and to leave the Infamous Badg thereof upon us to Posterity as much as in him lies The First Particular thing made Mention of to be spoken to and plainly proved in the First Part of the Antichristian Treachery Discovered and It 's Way Blockt up Viz. That the Care of the Church of God in this our Day amongst the Children of the
was the backsliding sort with grief concerned seeing their Spirit Judged and the way of it like to be blocked up Now was the time of their looking about and to speak after the manner of men to their Arms they betook them John Story making his boast what he could do when he put on his Sword in opposition to Church Care the Inspection the Discipline and the Judgment thereof for that was it that alone was in their way and now John Story and John Wilkinson buckled them to it and as leading men assumed a contest against the Faithful on behalf of the withering backsliding sort which the Lord did not bless them in but withdrew by little and little till he left them as to the 〈◊〉 Power and their Hosues desolate It cannot be expressed what work they begun to make and appear in against the Exercises that the upright were concerned in in the Church of God what finding fault therewith its admirable to think what Obstructions they lay in our way and instead of being 〈◊〉 and Governments amongst us became our Burden and 〈◊〉 Our Monthly and Quarterly Meetings was that which was their Grief and the very name of them therefore dispised 〈◊〉 Story calling them Courts and 〈◊〉 and our General Meeting the higher Court of Judicature to make the 〈◊〉 as being grieved therewith as that which was 〈◊〉 ready in their way to inspect miscarriage in Doctrine and Life and upon an orderly proceeding to 〈◊〉 Judgment thereupon this could not be digested of their foul corrupted Stomach of which the Hony-Comb is loathed They rendred our Meetings on 〈◊〉 wise for Friends concerns Formal and not Gospel-like and moved that we should not keep them so constantly but as occasion offered and if this loose Spirit had prevailed there when should an occasion have been seen and made use of let the upright Judge they 〈◊〉 not allow that Marriages should be twice published or 〈◊〉 of in our Meetings unless there happened to be occasion before the accomplishment thereof which sor clearness sake the Church of God judgeth a 〈◊〉 thing They allowed the accomplishment of a Marriage upon 〈◊〉 first times proposing it which within 〈◊〉 days was efsected and yet they were signified to that the Man was not clear of another Woman to whom he had promised Marriage and they were desired by many Friends to put a stop to that till things were clear on the 〈◊〉 account but they took no notice thereof They disliked our Womens Meetings and spoke 〈◊〉 of them though contrary to many of their own Subscriptions once as afterwards may be spoken to and would never allow Marriages to come before them which we account a decent thing that every one Male and Female who have received of the good Spirit may keep in the exercise of it to a profiting 〈◊〉 in their place in Gods House They would not allow that the Church of God should be concerned with any of the weaker sort when Temptations had prevailed upon them to draw back the Testimony for Truth once born but would have those things left to the publick Preaching or any ones particular motion They would not have any made mention of in the Church though in subjection to Gods Power for any such affair contrary to the Churches antient practice who said It seemed good to the holy Ghost and us to send chosen men c In a word to slubber over things and indulge Deceit was their design as their practice and their degeneration from 〈◊〉 Life and Testimonies demonstrates They would not admit of the recording Scandalous and Reproachful Transgressions of any and the Judgment of Truth upon them though with the Repentance of such as had found a place for it John Wilkinson alledging That it tended to render 〈◊〉 maen an Apostate in his day and an Knave to Posterity contrary to the sence of the holy men of God who gave forth the Scriptures and have recorded Noah David 〈◊〉 and Peter their Weaknesses and others with their acknowledgment thereof with Grief and their Repentance also who stand not recorded as Knaves to Prosperity nor is the Record 〈◊〉 to Truths dispraise but tends to 〈◊〉 the Righteousness of God in his Judgments and Mercies for the furtherance of the Gospel and the work of God among all both in our Day and in Generations to come and John Wilkinson yet in Contradiction again and Confusion 〈◊〉 like up and down off and on expresseth himself thus after his denial allowing it again saying He would have the Condemnation to go no further then 〈◊〉 Knowledge of the Transgression nor the Record of it to remain any longer then the Memory of the Offence Thus he confutes his own assertion in his denial in saying It renders a man a Knave to Posterity But we looking over this as the product of his inconsiderate haste in venting such Confusion and granting the other which indeed we do and is that 〈◊〉 we aim at We ask How will John Wilkinson without a Record of the Transgression Condemnation Repentance c. keep the knowledge of the Judgment and Repentance to go as far as the knowledge of the Offence or the memory of the one out-live the memory of the other when as the Envious one on the one hand will not cease to keep in remembrance that which may 〈◊〉 the Truth but to have that alive which may clear the Truth and give God the Praise will be his Grief and his utmost endeavours will be to obstruct the same let the Wise Judge whose work this Spirit of theirs is concerned in A large Catalogue might be here inserted of the contentious Works by them of this seperate Spirit wrought amongst us animated and strengthened by John Story and John Wilkinson as our Quarterly Meeting from sad experience 〈◊〉 Testifie an account whereof we have in readiness at large to publish as occasion may be seen plainly demonstrating the Slight the Contempt and Dis-esteem of that Gospel care we were concerned in for Truths Praise which produced in them the great Opposition that was made to our tender justifiable practice therein which occasioned great Content and Satisfaction to the loose backsliding sort from the holy Way and 〈◊〉 of God and the great sadness of Heart to the Innocent amongst us on theirs and the Truths account Resolved they seemed to be not to 〈◊〉 to the wholsom practices we were concerned in according to the example of the most of the Churches of Christ throughout the whole Nation and if they could not with open Face and with the Instruments they made use of stop our way but that Truths care Inspectision and sound Judgment must be placed in the Order and Discipline thereof and that they could by no means obstruct the same because of that Eternal Power that accompanied Friends care and courage therein to the causing of them when they could not prevail on that wise with conquest over it to bethink them how to betake themselves to
and came no more But for their occasional Meetings were designed and took one with all expedition wherein they made a disposal of Friends Monies in some of their hands without our Meetings privity or consent One other after a while we heard of in which they did admit the aforementioned Marriage to be accomplished within ten days after its being at all proposed and yet were told That the Man was under a promise of Marriage with another Woman which under several of our hands we did 〈◊〉 unto them That the Woman did so affirm desiring a respite in the case of their allowing the same till she had right done unto her but no notice was taken of that Peradventure they were afraid that Wickedness had been committed or might be in the mean time if any longer delay was made as one of the principal of them alledged and put the Query on the Meetings agreement according to an established order amongst Friends That Marriages should come twice to be examined and searched into in relation to clearness every way before they were allowed to be compleated saying in opposition to the order in that case What if Wickedness were committed in the mean time Mark the Spirit of which they are and when their occasional Meetings are and what concernes they have therein its best known to themselves we hear little of them This we have understood that what Books or Papers they have any way tending to Division and Strise in opposition to Church Order and Care they are diligent in handing them forth amongst the loose sort and William Rogers's Book in Print they busie themselves withal and most of them we perceive have each of them one and indeed they had need to do so to get them off the first Promoters hands for we hear not of a man in all these parts but them of party with John Story and John Wilkinson that will be at cost to buy one yet they are so kind open in this concern it were well if they had but an open mind to promote the pure Truth that they dispirce them either on Gift or Love to any of Truth 's open Enemies that will but hold out an hand for them as we understand and do in a great measure perfectly know it but if they think that best let them hold on we cannot kelp it neither are we troubled with respect to our own peace And what they intend to do let them do it quickly for their time grows short Vengeance is the Lords that takes notice of these things and he will repay it We have given a brief account with respect to what might be said touching the same of some of the Exercises that the Church of God in Westmerland met withal through the dividing Spirit that John Story and John Wilkinson were principally concerned in the work of in opposition to the Brethrens care therein by reason of which Spirit many Grievances were sustained by us to the grief of the Righteous Souls of all the sincere to God and to the breach of the Churches Peace And that which hath been said already concerning the same mostly relates to the time wherein the aforesaid Exercises and Troubles occasioned through the aforesaid Persons and them of party with them was most what the particular concern of Gods People of the Monthly and Quarterly Meeting in Westmerland aforesaid during the time of the aforesaid Persons continuing with us in those Meetings and upon the occasion of their breaking off from us into their separate Meeting amongst themselves upon out ward visible concerns with a touch of something done by them at such a Meeting after they had set it up And what the Churches of God any way in the South met withal where John Story' s and John Wilkinson's Travils have been we shall leave to what the Brethren in those parts have upon them to speak And from what hath been said we shall leave the Reader to Judge who they are that have been drawn back into the Apostate state and have declined their first Love to the ancient Truth and care for Gods Glory and who they are that may be justly called the true Christian Ouakers that retains the Life and Kernel of Christianity and keeps to the Exercise of the Power in the Churches concerns and who they are that have great swelling Words and fair Pretences of keeping to the ancient way of Truth and yet in Works deny it and as every one hath a sence thereof so let them speak VVe shall now also give a short Relation of the tender concern of the Church of God in these parts in true Love on the account of the aforesaid Persons in covering their Weaknesses for their reputes sake really desiring their deliverance therefrom 〈◊〉 any hopes remained with us Also we shall manifest the orderly and brotherly dealings with them all along since the Temptation was laid before them whilst it was only our concern with respect to dealings with them together with some Exercises and Travils that many dear Brethren of the Churches of God in other parts of the Nation sustained and were concerned in for the recovery of them if they had not hardened themselves against all as followeth It was not only our frqeuent course in the time of our Exercises with them after they began to set themselves against several Practices used amongst us to signifie our discontent for their so doing because of the obstruction they laid in our way in the service of Truth desiring their for bearance on that wise and compliance with us in the Churches concerns and God is our Witness it was in true respect in which we could have preferred them as such whom we once accounted our ancient Brethren their weaknesses we could have hid and looked over for their sakes and the Churches Peace and in that Exercise we have gone from our Meetings many of us very frequently with sorrowful bowed down Hearts considering what hurt to many simple Minds who had eyed them for their Gifts sake the prevailing of that Spirit over them would produce what dammage it would be to their own Souls to the loosing their Crown and perpetual Peace what a Feast it would be to our open Enemies and an occasion for them to clap their hands for Joy to hear of Divisions amongst us what a grateful thing it would be to the loose and earthly minded amongst us to the hardening of them against the Reproofs and Judgments of the Church of God in their Exercises in the affairs thereof and what a weakening of the feeble Knees of such as in a measure of true Love to God and his Truth were steping into the way thereof all these things and many more with sadness of heart entered our thoughts and consideration in many crys to God to block up the way of this dividing and soul devouring Spirit yea often we admired how Blindness entered them that they did not see how the Loose and Disobedient hung upon them for shelter
John Wilkinson amongst our selves only to see if vve could yet so order the Business by information to such as vvere out of the vvay that if possible an end of all Differences whatsoever amongst us might be made without any further trouble to the Churches and if at that Meeting there was not a determination concluded amongst us we might afterwards appoint another Meeting for the same end and take to our assistance therein some faithful Brethren of other Countries that matters might be heard before them who had personally been uuconcerned with the Exercise amongst us and this they judged might be orderly and seasonable because that they of us who where not of party with John Story and John Wilkinson c. were rendred in many parts of the Nation by their means to be in the wrong and condemnable and not they A Meeting amongst our selves was first agreed upon to be at the Draw-Well in Sedbergh Yorkshire at the House of John Blaykling and Friends being come together and the Meeting set after a while John Story and some of party with him asked What we had in Writing against him and John Wilkinson it was replyed That it was not our desire or purpose to exhibite matters of charge one against another in Writing if it could be avoided for we desired no memorial of any thing of that tendency to remain we were there met amicably as became Gods People to discourse of matters in which we were not at one amongst our selves by reason of which grievous Exercises and Divisions had been amongst us to the grief of the Innocent and Upright to God and we desired that things might be fairly spoken of that so we might come through Gods help to have a right understanding of one another that if possible the occasion of Differences might be removed and the ancient Unity might arise again and remain with us to our Comfort and Truths Praise But notwithstanding they said That they would not concern themselves with any discourse of that nature with us unless every thing to be discoursed upon were put in Writing We shewed our dislike thereof at present and desired that we might speak of things to see what could be done on that wise first and then if nothing were done this way as to satisfaction to us against the next Meeting it might be considered upon vvhich method to take or Words to that purpose But the conclusion on their parts vvas no discourse to be unless vvhat vve had to say against them vvere put in Writing We instanced some things that vve vvere dissatisfied vvith vvhich they had spoken in opposition to the Churches Concerns in the order thereof vvhich had been a great block in our vvay in the Work of God such and such passages had happened concerning them and such things done by them as vvas the Churches Grief and occasioned the breach of its Peace but nothing vvould they concern themselves vvith because they vvere not put in Writing only in some casual discourse amongst us at that time such Words came from them as gave great dissatisfaction to many there to the breaking their Hearts into Tears through a Testimony from God against them they reflected upon our Meetings to be Formal and not Gospel-like being constantly kept in the freedom of Gods Truth to be ready to attend Friends Concerns vvhen or of vvhat sort soever they might be they called our Practices therein Ceremonies brought into the Churches as they have often called them Mens Prescriptions other mens Lines made ready to our Hands Dictates of fallible men and the like And when all was done nothing did appear to us and many more there present of tender inclination in them to Reconciliation and Peace in any Gospel-Way and so we seeing clearly that they were resolved in relation to hearing of Matters to have all written down that must be spoken to We let them know that according to our Brethrens desire another Meeting was intended by us to be had with them with the assistance of some other Brethren of other Countries with us and then although it should be our last expedient we intended God willing to write down several things with respect to the Opposition made by them in the Church of God to the Order and Practice used amongst us therein and this was the issue of that days Meeting and let the Upright and the Lovers of Peace amongst Gods People consider whether this Spirit of theirs which is acted on this wise be that which is pure peaceable and easie to be entreated which through the Exercise of our next Meeting in relation to them and their work will be more plainly discerned a faithful account whereof we intend through Gods help to give At our next Quarterly Meeting in Kendal Friends being met there and in the sence and weight of the Truth amongst other things in persuance of the aforesaid desire of our Brethren at London was another Meeting agreed upon to be had with John Story and John Wilkinson and some Friends of other adjacent Countries who were nominated by the agreement of the Meeting and some were ordered to send word to the said Friends desiring them as they felt freedom in the Lord to come to be assisting to us The Meeting was appointed to be at a place called Pow-Bank in Westmerland the 24th Day of the 5th Month 1675. of which Meeting John Story and John Wilkinson they not being with us by the order of the Quarterly Meeting were to have notice as in the aforesaid Epistle from Lo don was desired and during the time before the said Meeting it was given out by them after they had notice of it That they did not intend to come at any more Meetings on that Occasion The certainty of their resolve not being known or if they had in their haste said so seeing it had been better to have judged that rashness then to have stood in it John Blaykling wrote a particular Letter to them desiring them upon several Considerations and Accounts to be there John Blaykling's Letter is as followeth Friends and Brethren THe Meeting agreed upon at the last Quarterly Meeting upon the account of the unhappy Difference amongst us although I heard that you had sufficient notice thereof yet I perceiving you had little purpose to observe although agreed upon according to our Brethrens desire at London in manner and form according to our sence of their Letter in that case to us and according to the order of Truth and you having notice given thereof accordingly and the election made of undetected Men amongst us and several others of our unconcerned Brethren wherefore I could see no justifiable Plea you could have in the sight of God and Friends to absent your selves Wherefore it was upon me to get Joseph Baynes to come over to one of you to advise you to take into consideration in self-denial what you do in this case least you render your selves to all the Brethren more and more otherwise then I
have desired you should have done to your further disparagement and great loss it is upon me once more to let you know that it seems strange to me that it should be so upon you being as you may remember at the last Meeting we had I told you seeing no other means would do we must now be constrained to bring things to open view against you which I desired we never might have been caused to have done if it could have been avoided and should be our last shift I told you also that all that ever you have by any of us been charged with would be proved against you and you have altogether accused us both before that Meeting and since for not doing so wherefore now in our own defence and in the defence of Truth 's Testimony at this Meeting you may expect sufficient proof of such things as I know the Brethren will be sorrowful for upon your accounts considering the honorable esteem we have 〈◊〉 of you unless you can pretty much clear your selves and as I judge that which will be your strongest plea in your defence in the case will be to make out that against us or others of the Brethren which in many Expressions and Passages that have come from you in opposition to Friends holy Care and Exercise you have pointed at to wit our imposing things in the will of man which undoubtedly in the straitness and opposition of you Spirits you have rendered us to be in both hereaways and in many parts of the Nation which charge if you can make good against us then you may be some little more excusable though not one fold of many sufficiently in what you have done which said Charge against us and the Unity of the Brethren hath such a reflection upon us and hath jumbled the Minds of the Weak to the Churches great Trouble breach of its Peace that it is expected you should appear to make it good against us if you can which if so that it can be proved against us we shall willingly acknowledge if required and no occasion of Discord shall remain upon our part otherwise and that which I doubt not but we shall be able to do through Gods help we may clear our selves of all such Aspersions in the sight of the Lord and before our dear Brethren to Truth 's Satisfaction and in the Unity of Gods Life we may stand to go on in our Exercise for God against whatever may oppose the same wherefore Friends in true love I would have you to mind things and consider what you do in these cases for undoubtedly the God of Heaven is at work to carry on his own Cause in Righteousness who will be found too strong for all that lifts up a hand against him and the Unity of his own Life I am thus far clear in the Lords sight concerning you remaining still Your Friend in singleness of Heart John Blaykling The Meeting gathered at Pow-Bank aforesaid and many good Friends there with them also of other Countries agreed upon to be with us as the Lord made way John Wilkinson and John Story came not but only sent a Paper of slight and disregard of Friends weighty concern in relation thereunto alledging That at the Meeting at Draw-Well we had no matter in charge against them in Writing which in Truth and Righteousness was no plea for their absenting now because we told them how unwilling we were to appear on that wise if it could be avoided and an end put to things without it but seeing they said they would not take any notice of any thing we would say unless it were writ we told them then before the breaking up of the Meeting that we would do it at our next Meeting which we were to have with them by the advise of our Brethren seeing nothing would be effected there that day we told them also we did believe forty matters would be brought against them to manifest their Opposition and John Story replyed You must prove them it was answered he need not question that for it was so intended and several things we told them then by word of Mouth when together in order to the proof that should be made thereof They alledged also in the said Paper That they told us at that Meeting that they intended to meet no more about such matters the truth of which we own not for we cannot hear that any one of all the Meeting heard any such Words amongst us and if any thing of that nature was spoken vve believe it vvas privately to some after the Meeting broke up upon their jealousie hovv things vvould go All vvhich signifies nothing but meer Deceipt and an absolute unvvillingness to come to Tryal at all as aftervvards vvill be more clearly manifested alledging also That if they had been clear of the purpose of giving no more Meetings they did not find themselves obliged to take notice of our summoning of them who were both Accusers and Witnesses and chose the Judges Which is all impertinent and silly Discourse seeing the Persons chosen vvere chosen by the agreement of the Quarterly Meeting long before they separated from us and they might have been there as usually they vvere vvont to do if they had not at that time absented on purpose and vvhat vve did vvas also in persuance of the Brethrens request from London and to object against the Witnesses vvas not only 〈◊〉 as amongst men but also frivolous inconsistant with Truth 's Power and order thereof as also insufficient in the sight thereof to ground a plea upon for their contemptuously absenting themselves and thereby avoid the Tryal and Judgment as probably they expected it might do in that it vvas the Cause of Almighty God the King of Heaven and his Subjects Peace hovvever right or vvrong it served them to absent upon But to proceed the Exercise that the Friends chosen for to hear and examine matters in order to give their Sence and Judgment as they found the Case had that day and the day following at Milnethorpe a Meeting being there appointed for that end we shall refer the knowledge thereof to what hereafter follows as an abstract taken out of the former part of their own Paper to which their Sence and Judgment is 〈◊〉 The Friends of Westmerland according to what was intimated at Draw-Well asoresaid and in persuance of Friends advice from London as also what John Story and John Wilkinson called for at the said Meeting had there fairly writ down several matters in charge against them which they gave to the Friends there which notwithstanding the two John's abstance in contempt of the Churches Order and Care they the aforesaid Friends chosen by the Quarterly Meeting could not but take notice of it being the general concern of the Church of God taking notice also what proof could be made thereof which said matters alledged in charge related to prove viz. First That John Story and John Wilkinson had opposed our
Monthly and Quarterly Meetings with reflecting words against them calling them Courts and Sessions and of our Citing into them and the like Secondly That they had discouraged Friends Testimonies against Tyshes with reflecting opposite loose Words Thirdly That they had opposed reflected upon and greatly discouraged Womens Meetings Fourthly That they had opposed recording Condemnations upon scandalous loose Practices in such as professed the Truth Fifthly That they had discouraged and weakned Friends in their Stability in the time of Persecution and had justified leaving their Houses and going into private places in the time thereof to keep their Meetings Sixthly That they had disorderly and irreverently judged Friends tender Exercises in breaking forth in Mellodious Singings and Soundings to Gods praise in their Meetings under the exercise of the power which breaks and fills the Heart out of the abundance whereof breaks forth Sighs and Groans and Spiritual Songs as the Lord is pleased to exercise them that waits upon him The Reader may observe that in the former part of the aforesaid Paper it is expressed That John Story and John Wilkinson not being there viz. at the said Meeting at Pow-Bank the Friends were enclined as also desired to hear what was writ in relation to charge against them which being 〈◊〉 and though good proof was made thereof accordingly yet they were 〈◊〉 to see John Story and John Wilkinson Face to Face before they gave their Judgment thereupon wherefore they took the pains that Night to go to find out John Story at Kendal six Miles off and perswaded him to go to John Wilkinson's House next Morning which accordingly he did where they meeting with them both together told them that they had heard read several matters alledged in charge against them relating to Friends disatisfaction desired them to go along with them to the Meeting at Milnethorpe which was that Day appointed again on purpose to hear what they had to say in their own Defence or to alledge against any proof made of things or against the Witnesses in order to any thing acted by them or any other Friends that might occasion their Discontent or Opposition as the charges seemed to import or words to that purpose but they refused to go on that score they proffered only to refer the hearing of the matter to two men chosen by each Party one and that in relation to that they might have a Coppy of the Charges but Friends seeing that it was not only a disorderly thing in them to absent themselves from the aforesaid Meeting appointed by the Quarterly Meeting but also to make such a motion as that in opposition to Friends care and endeavours amongst them for Peace as their travels and seeking of them did imply Friends refused as in all reason they ought to have done to take any notice thereof yet told them They should have a Coppy of the Charges at the Meeting if they would go if when they were read they desired the same to make their defence the better and they should have time also if there was need for it But go they would not as they had resolved and said That they would come at no more Meetings upon such matters But poor men they forgot that or else mattered not what they had said on that wise for they offered to refer the matter to two c. which is not Truth-like Orderly or Discreet in the case of Gods Truth many Brethrens Testimony and Concern and the Churches Peace The Friends proffered to read them the matters in charge against them if they pleased as in the aforesaid Paper is expressed but they refused to hear the same Now let all sober and discreet men that fear God consider what this Spirit is whether it be not the same as was said of it before not Pure not Peaceable nor easie to be Entreated but Wilful Stubborn and leading to Strife and to work Distractions in the Church of God it is evidently seen to have had a design But blessed be the Lord its way is blockt up it hath done its worst there it s turned out now too amongst the Gainsayers to get an entrance amongst them that are in the Unbelief and Rebellious to the Truth 's Life and there it makes a Clutter and Noise as the Wind which the Lord weighs as a little thing and its passing away that Truth may Reign and take the Dominion over all for evermore Here follows that part of the Paper given forth at Milnerhorp in relation to the opposite Spirit against Friends Practices in the Church of God which demonstrates the sence of the aforesaid Brethren viz. After all which Travel and Labour in the Love of God for no other end but that Differences might be ended Unity and Peace come into lived in we having used all endeavours that was in our power at this time to enform our selves of the truth of things relating to these Differences as before Written we judge it our Duty that in defence of our godly Order and holy Practices which by the Power of God we are led into owned and justified in to give our Judgment upon such Words and Passages as hath been charged upon the abovesaid John Story and John Wilkinson and evidenced before us by many Witnesses that whether from them or any other such have proceeded it is clear that they cannot come from any Spirit or Mind but such as is in real opposition to the Spirit of Truth and Power of God in his People in this Age manifested by which we have been led into the heavenly and holy Order of the blessed Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ and to bear a faithful Testimony unto him and of his coming and appearance to end all Types and Shadows and also into such Practices as is according to the Example of those good Men that were before us for we find that it expressly strikes against us in the ground in our godly order and proceedings which is for no other end but for the putting forward and keeping up of Rightcousness and a holy and unspotted Life amongst us and the maintaining of our Testimony without Violation as we received it from God in the beginning and this may all understand that do but read the Charges as they were evidenced unto us how that they tend to the weakening of Friends Faith in their Testimony against Tythes which by the Faithful hath been born from the beginning for which many have suffered deeply even unto Death and also what opposition doth appear against recording of Confessions and 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 and Transgressions which is no other but according to the former example of them that gave forth the Scriptures and how such Words and Passages doth shew forth opposition and a contrary mind to Gods Faithful Children in that profitable practice and godly order of Mens and Womens Meetings as now according to the Wisdom and in the Power of God is set up amongst us for the advancing of the honour of the
heavenly Truth of God in which we have believed which Words and Passages doth also tend to the weakening Friends in keeping up their Testimony according to the nobility of the heavenly Truth of God which we have received in which our Faith stands in that honourable practice of our open and publick Meetings in times of Persecutions as at other times as also to the quenching and stopping of such holy Breathings Groanings and Living Sounds which may arise and pass through one while another is Praying Preaching or Prophecying which is not inconsistant with the Truth but in unity with those that act therein and therefore in the love of God we entreat and beseech all Friends to beware of that Spirit where-ever it is that doth bring forth such things either in Words or Actions as have this tendency in them so much to undervalue and overthrow our heavenly Testimony that we have to bear for him and for the appearance of his blessed Son in our Age by which the evil one labours to weaken the hands of Gods faithful Witnesses that so he might bring back again into an Apostacy from the nobility of that Life by which all the Faithful must be upheld in their living Testimony for God which he hath raised them up unto as also the obstructing of the Lords faithful Children in their holy Zeal for God in the performance of their duty in the Mens and Womens Meetings and to the discouragment of any to be concerned therein which are for no other end but for putting forward and propagating of Truth Righteousness Mercy and Justice amongst us that so as the Lord hath called us to shew forth his Praise in all things we may endeavour the promotion of that which rends unto the same and surely we can say with the rest of the Faithful That the holy God doth own us with his Presence to our great Refreshment and Confirmation in this our holy Practice and heavenly Order and therefore we cannot but in the Power of God place Judgement upon the Head of that Spirit where and however it doth appear that would put stumbling Blocks in the way of Gods People to cause any to stumble or to weaken their Faith in those things that tends both to their comfort and growth and the Unity and the edification of the true Body and so as such who have had experience of the evil tendency of this Spirit and the sad effects it hath brought forth in all its appearances to the overthrowing of the Faith of some and to the making of Rents and Divisions in the Body we desire that all may keep to the Power of the Lord God who will preserve in the Unity of the Spirit and Bond of Peace where the Body will edifie it self in Love that there may be always a building up in the most holy Faith which Faith will forever give us the Victory over the World in which our Testimony standing we shall not be overcome So with our Love to you all we remain Your Friends and Brethren in the holy fellowship of the Gospel Milnethorpe the 24th of the 5th Month 1675. John Burnyeat Richard Robinson Robert Lodge John Grove and the rest It may be observed also that besides some Letters tending to Peace that George Fox writ to them from Swarthmoore where he was about this time weak in Body he sent to them also to desire them to come over to him there for he had a desiro to speak with them about the matter of Difference amongst Friends in Westmerland he was neither of ability to come to them nor to the Meeting at Pow-Bank but they did not take any notice thereof nor went to him though we are fully satisfied that what he did was in his tender care for their Preservation and the Churches Peace but this William Rogers our present Adversary accounts in George Fox Ambition in his sending for them but where the Stoutness and Ambition was its easily seen for the time was when they would have gone much further when they were Poor and Low in their own Eyes but now being Full and Rich in their own Esteem thinking they want for nothing will not step out of their way nor turn aside for Truth nor the unity therein because of the Ambition they are filled with and therefore will the Lord scatter them with all the Imaginations of their corrupt Hearts And instead of giving the Friends a Meeting as aforesaid they put an evading slighty Answer to the Charges against them and sent it abroad amongst those they hoped to make of party with them which with a large Answer thereunto is ready to be seen when a further occasion by William Rogers or any of them is given And not withstanding all this care and tender respect used and reached out towards them they still heardened their Hearts against the Lord and the fellowship of Brethren in the Churches concerns stuck to the loose and unfaithful ones as was said before and grew more and more opposite to Friends in their Exercise for Truth and sit in the Confederacy that was hatched amongst themselves and the design laid to break off from Friends into an open Seperation they betook themselves and up and down the Nation was the cry amongst those of party with them from an unchristian mis-representing of things by them here in the North That a Judgment was out against them without hearing upon the evidence of Persons being both the Accusers and Witnesses of which as the matter is in short truly stated according to the Circumstances relating to it we desire the honest and impartial Reader to judge Whether the Persons before mentioned are justified in the sight of God the order of the Gospel and amongst Gods People according to the rule of Truth in the aforesaid matter and transactions relating to them Or whether they are manifested by their doings to have the pure peaceable Spirit that is easily entreated and that they have upon them any design for the Churches Peace Or whether they are not the Self-Willed the Heady and High-Minded who have the Form of Words only without the Power that unites and knits together and whether to work Distractions in the peaceable Family of God their design be not laid And whether their plea for their not receiving dear Brethrens Advice and Care over them and orderly proceedings to have done them right every way if they could have manifested the contrary and their obstinately absenting themselves from the Meeting aforesaid on any such account be not a very ridiculous thing amongst men and not worth taking notice of For it is according to our Judgment that the just Law of Nature and Nations that gives an 〈◊〉 priviledge to be heard before Judgment be given if he will accept of it upon notice given according to the rule of it is contemned by an obstinate wilful and on purpose absenting himself and the want of his privile 〈◊〉 thereby of being heard is his own default and not imputable to
it upon Record and publish it to the whole World such they say are living Testimonies and they own them and can with Joy receive such into Fellowship again but they say they trample upon all Inventions as 〈◊〉 upon the Earth Answer First take notice here is Order and Care visible amongst them which overturns all their clamoring Work against Order and Government in the Church And Secondly here is Condemnations to be Recorded to Prosperity to testifie of Gods Judgments and Mercies and to clear the Truth c. which grants the matter against themselves and their trampling upon Records on that account as the Dung upon the Earth Yet we ask them What shall become of the Scandal to Truth in that matter till such Repentance be wrought or such a Requiring felt suppose it never be as many are never Renewed by Repentance John Wilkinson Preacht that we must wait two Years nay if it be seven Years as hath been Testified by Ear-Witnesses expecting such a State again in order to the matter but not a Word of allowance of any Paper to be received from the Party if he feel it on him under Judgment to go forth to clear the Truth nor of the Church doing any thing if the Party will do nothing Let all consider what regard to Truths sweet Savour and Repute remains among them who would leave such scandalous things upon the Family of God Uncondemned But we say What do they as to Practice in this matter How many of them that justified flying from their Meeting Houses in time of 〈◊〉 or of them that let fall their Testimony against the Anrichristian Yoke of Tythes or of the Drunkards or Swearers whom they listed into their consederate Work and Subscription against the allowed Practices of the Church of God in our Quarterly Meetings and thereby would have limitted the Church of God as said before by their Orders and Prescriptions Which of them we say for we have heard of none in true Brokenness and Repentance have given forth such living Testimonies of the Lords Judgments and Mercies to be 〈◊〉 on Record for clearing of the Truth before they entered into that Fellowship with them again in subscribing with them And when did John Scorife who became so hatefully Scandalous to the grievous reproach of Truth in the sorrow of his Heart give forth such a living Testimony against himself and his reproachful Work and leave a Paper thereof on Record notwithstanding all the care they say they have on that wise besore they allowed him to be a Subscriber amongst them against the Fellowship of dear Brethren in the Service of Truth and before he became a Fellow-Traveller with one of them in the concern of Preaching and Praying to their shame It s a wonder they are not ashamed to cry against Church Order at this rate and yet confess they have Order amongst them but of what sort it is let it be considered John Wilkinson also says They would not have Condemnation go further then the knowledg of the Offence nor be remembred af er the Lord hath remitted We say so too But how shall this be done without keeping a Record For the Man of Sin that pleads for an hold for it term of Life will not loose the remembrance of the Transgressions of such as have struck at his Kingdom in Doctrine and Life must the Church of God then follow with the Condemnation thereof and with the Testimony of Gods Judgments and Mercies to the Penitent only in loose Papers that may be soon torn or lost and if the Transgressions must not be remembred after the Lord remits and a Testimony be out accordingly how is it then that William Rogers like-minded with them and a Leader publisheth Solomon 〈◊〉 Weaknefs far and near and leaves a Record thereof to Prosterity in his Printed Book after that Solomon did acknowledge his mistake in one Circumstance of the matter and shewed his sorrow for it as he manifested in a Letter under his own Hand to John Story on that wise long before William Rogers published the same if here be not grosse Darkness and heaps of Confusion manifested we know none But to go on they tell us what their Order and Practice is about Marriages who are offended at us in that we would have all to publish their intentions of Marriage twice in our Men Womens Meetings whether there be occasion seen at present or not before they be allowed to be accomplished which they call a new Invention we have found or the Inventions of others we follow We say 〈◊〉 Their telling us that they have an order in this case signifies that they have such a thing among them then contradictory to all the noise they make against Orders c. But we will take notice of their Order and see if they practice according to their own Rule in this matter They say If two come before them to propose Marriage Examination is made as to clearness from all other Persons and if consent of Parents be in the case c. And they say If they declare themselves clear and none hath ought justly to object c. Yet a little respite was to be meaning before the accomplishment that Friends might enquire whether things were so or no But there is not a word thus far of bringing the matter again to another Meeting for they say If nothing appeared to obstruct then it was orderly to be accomplished But they say If either Parents or Relations or any other Man or Woman had any reasonable Objection whereby to obstruct them then they were not to proceed till the Objection was cleared Look their Book before mentioned if any question be made of the Truth of this which is the very substance of the whole matter in relation thereunto First We say here is not a word of coming twice unless there be occasion and if any then in that little respect which they say they cause before the Accomplishment have any thing justly to object we ask to whom must the Objection be made or who that 's hasty in such a matter will take notice of such an Objection being they are not ordered to forbear till another Meeting and when the other Meeting will be who knows because their Meetings as they have often declared are to be only upon occasion And what a 〈◊〉 and cumber will there be about the matter of any ones Objection whether it be a just Objection or no and whether a sufficient Objection or Occasion to call their occasional Meeting upon what Distraction and Confusion is this not like Gospel Order though such they confess they have we are bold to declare But what did they practice in the Case of Thomas Wilson who is since come off from them to his Comfort and we do not upbraid him with it having acknowledged his Weakness in that and other matters He had been concerned with another Woman of whom he was not clear when he proposed his Marriage before
Brethren Judge Had you not an equal priviledge in and use thereof whilst you kept in Unity with us c Are you not broken off and separated from us and your Seperation judged by many faithful Brethren as many of you know Are you owned of any one Church of God in the whole Nation in this your Seperation c Is it a just thing in you thus to foment Strife in standing by and encouraging a Separation by such Demands Have you not in Gods sight and according to equity forfeited your former right in the Churches Priviledges by separating from her Might not the worst of Hereticks and Apostates from God the False Church that may keep up Meetings make the same demand as you do because that once they had been concerned in the true Church Affairs Were it a just thing in them to say Let the Churches Books in which the weighty Concerns of Truth were Recorded be where we may have the use of them as well as you What an Expedient were this to prevent the great Inconveniences you talk of Is it a right thing that Apostates and Hereticks should be concerned in and privie to the true Church Cocerns we would know what 〈◊〉 would acrew to the Church thereby as to let in such Defilements and 〈◊〉 things upon her or what Inconveniences are they you talk on may be avoided by this your Expedient as you call it we can truly say they 〈◊〉 Blessed that keeps their Garments clear from the Defilements of this dividing Spirit and their Advantage in the Lord is great by reason thereof and we 〈◊〉 you the 〈◊〉 are great you are run into you are catch'd in a Snare the more you strugle the faster your Feet are hel'd it were well for you to be still and so you may get out again least you perish 〈◊〉 evermore And as to your demand which you call Just in a few Words we tell you we deny it to be so 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 we countenance your division thus we say as we said before to you the 〈◊〉 Church is but one led by one Spirit its Unity stands in the Power that knits 〈◊〉 and is honour in unity it cannot be divided its Covering is without 〈◊〉 or Rent no division can be admitted of in it either are we broken off and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 share in the Churches Priviledges and if you judge so of us why do you 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 us plainly that we may plead that with you and if you had demanded things on that account and could prove it against us then your demands of the Books from us were just and otherwise you may as well say nothing or 〈◊〉 its you that are broken off from us and this is plainly evident by your 〈◊〉 from us and the Testimony of many faithful 〈◊〉 is and hath been against you and not one of the Church of Christ in the whole Nation do 〈◊〉 you in this your Work nor any of them that will own you in this your Demands But you say We grant you to have right in the Books why because we say if you bring us a Bill of what Mony you laid out for them or your share came to you should have it repaid we say what right soever we have granted you in that it had been more commendable for you as Men to have made that your demand then to have demanded the use of the Books c. to be abused by that Spirit as 〈◊〉 they were or if you say we grant you a continuing right in them by this our profer you are under a mistake and do abuse our good will to you if you say we grant you a Title in profering you Coppys of the Record of any Birth or Marriage if you desired it In this also you wrong the Case and abuse us to strengthen your Cause by and neither of both wil answer the thing you aim at or justify your Demands that no Age past that we know of can paralel and succeeding Ages wil be ashamed of it In their Paper they have very abusively clamored against us in saying we retain their just Right from them To which we answer thus We challing the Right to them and use of them in the Churches Right assembling together monthly and quarterly as our Words plainly imparts for the Service of Truth and for which Services in such Assemblies they were with an unanimous Consent procured and for the said Use and none other are they stil kept And notwithstanding this in that we cannot grant you the use of them at your Will in your Separation and Strife you exclaim and say by the same Rule and in as much Justice we may take away any other thing due to you if we can but secure it into our Possession To which we also said Is not this great Darkness c. Have you not only lost the sence of the Churches Priviledges and Power over Dissenters c. But your Words savers of great Prejudice and Envy and want of common reason c. Dare you say when you consider again That we as the quarterly Meeting in the Sense that our Words and Actions carries along with them have no more right to keep the said Books having the Possession of them for the Uses aforesaid from you so separated and broken from us and out of Unity with us then to keep any other thing justly due to you if we had but the Possession of it c. We do commit the Judgment in this case to that in all Consciences as such an absurd thing as no more need be said to it by us And as for the great Injustice you say we do you in not answering your Demand We say notwithstanding your reproachful Words we are not ashamed of the Proposals tendered you in this matter and are willing to refer it to the Consideration of the most antient and faithful Brethren to judg of And if these things will not satisfy you it 's a Shame to trouble us any more with your Papers we shall take little notice of them for the streess of the matter lies 〈◊〉 The Right you quarrel about is in the particular Church of Christ in Westmerland assembling Monthly and Quarterly for the publick Service of Truth as cannot justly be 〈◊〉 if you say they belong to you as the Church tho in the Separation we 〈◊〉 it who shall hear and give Judgment in the case of Difference in any particular Church but the Spirt of the Lord in the grave and faithful Members of the Churches general Assemblies for the general Service of Truth and Concerns of the whole Body and this we have lovingly profered you which argues no Guilt upon our Spirits but this you dare not submit to but in a Disrespect in a slightful scornful manner puts it off not Truth like c. It 's a shameful thing even amongst Men to cry out of Injustice and yet will not come to Tryal in God's Way Christ said if thy Brother trespass againct thee
and what Dishonesty it manifests in him to require George Fox to procure him so many fair Copies of his Rejoynder to go abroad in which he saith he hath detected him of Lies and Forgery c. when he hath not for ought we know sent forth one of the Answers thereunto nor put it in his Book which in Conscience he ought to have done having the Opportunity for it that the Judgment given by the impartial Reader might not be upon the hearing of the one Party which otherwise must of necessity be if any concern himself therewith seeing William Rogers hath printed his Rejoynder and not the Answer to it and where also the Apostacy is entering and upon whom it prevails apace unavoidably A little time with what hath been said will declare a great Clamour hath been made and abominable Abuse put upon George Fox in relation to this Matter and many have taken hold thereof and upbraided him and Truth on that Score and hardens themselves thereby in their prejudiced and surmizing Minds which we should be glad were removed therefore have we been the longer on this Point which the Reader is desired to excuse The next thing we take notice of relating to William Rogers's smiting Accusations against George Fox is out of the 4 th part of his Book called the Christian Quaker c. which he saith in the Title Page thereof is chiefly to discover That George Fox hath been erroniously concerned in the Difference amongst the People called Quakers c. In his 〈◊〉 Part of the Christian Quaker c. pag. 7th I shall now proceed saith he to lay down a few of those things which are in some measure an Evidence to me that my aforesaid Sence is true c. First I take notice of Seven Questions propounded to John Wilkinson by Robert Barrow and others c. Who said they were desired by George Fox so to do In answer whereunto we say That we who were concerned to deliver a tender Paper to John Wilkinson which came from George Fox an antient in the Truth and one whom God according to John Wilkinson's Confession had made an Instrument to publish the Word of 〈◊〉 unto him and many thousands more to the turning of them to God from Sin and the Snares of Death do testify That we had an eternal 〈◊〉 of the Power of the Holy God with us therein in a Testimony also to the same Power which had moved in George Fox as an Elder in the Truth and one whose Care was over the Church concerning him And as a Father would have done to his Child overtaken with Weakness as John Wilkinson of a certain Truth was in relation to his inner Man who in the antient Bowels of Life that was reached unto him therein having heard as the Apostle said of the Divisions occasioned by him and John Story as also of several Words and Passages spoken and done by him relating thereunto desired to be informed whether it was so yea or nay as to those things concerning him that in the tender Care Advice and Councel of a Father he might have been dealt withal We say God was with us of a truth when we were with him on that account which broke many of our Hearts in which we desired that he would be coole and quiet in his Spirit that we might speak of things as became Brethren But instead thereof he obstinately resisted our tender Advice to him and brake forth into a perverse froward Frame of Spirit to our Grief and Sorrow and hardened himself against us and our tender Care concerning him God knows and in a pitious Passion went away from us in a sliting manner with contemptible Words in his Mouth saying He would stand upon his own Leggs and not be beholden to us for our Crutches We are bold to affirm that the Spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ was not with him in that Concern but a stubborn Self-Will which he hath given up himself to serve and which grew upon him after that Day to the marring the Image which in measure he once bore And we do testify in the unity of the Power if these were our last Words for which Account must be given That George Fox and we were justified before the Lord and in our own Consciences in the matter thereof and we have our Peace and Reward when John Wilkinson's Obstinacy and Ambition will be his Burthen and Torment in the Day of God And William Rogers's Perversion in a prejudiced Minde of George Fox's sincere Intent and Fatherly Exercise in the matter of those Questions put to him on that wise toucheth him not his Life is over it and William Rogers's Sence touching him and his Judgment upon him and us we tread upon for God never made that Spirit that William Rogers manifestly bears as his Book and Work demonstrates judge over the Heritage of God the Judgment shall return on himself again from the just God which he will one Day finde heavy upon him to bear And all John Wilkinson's shifting evading Answers and William Rogers his paraphrasing thereupon and drawing his 〈◊〉 upon Matters on both sides in that wicked Minde he hath will not 〈◊〉 them in that Day To this Testimony we set our Hands in the Power of that Life that was with us to our Reward and Peace Thomas Lowes Robert Widder John Blaykling Robert Barrow with several more The like clamorous Work William Rogers makes against George Fox for that he desired to be satisfied of several things from John Stories own Mouth that he had heard of him manifestly rendring him in Opposition to the Life of God breaking forth in his People according to the dispensation of his Grace suitable to the State of such as waits upon the Lord whose Care for Truth Gods Glory and the good of his People many Thousands have Experience of in Gods Power and are Witnesses thereunto And we do affirm in the Faith we have in God That if John Story had in a tender broken Frame in subjection to Gods Power in himself given a naked Account of these Matters and things proposed to him and had acknowledged his Weakness wherein he was overcome in the Concern he had appeared in relating thereunto it had been his Gain and his great Advantage in God the Days he had to live for the Visitation of God was upon him that day But instead thereof in a stubborne and perverse Spirit he despised the same and hardness of Heart the more prevailed over him to his great Disgrace as by the Evasions and mental Reserves in his Answers thereunto he hath appeared in he plainly demonstrates to such as were Eye and Ear Witnesses against him to the Truth of those Matters chargeable upon him which he hath made a slighty Denyal of And the more William Rogers appears in his Vindication in relation to those things that many are sufficiently able to detect him of the greater will his Burthen be and in the Account to be given
III. Opposition to the Recording of Condemnations IV. Their discouraging the antient Testimonies against Ty hes V. Their judging 〈◊〉 Singings and Soundings c. And First Their Opposition to Monthly and Quarterly Meetings c. To which they say That they do approve of Monthly and Quarterly Meetings for the necessary Service of the Truth c. Answer Then why did John Wilkinson say It was more Gospel-like to have these Meetings as there was Occasion and not so formally And why did John Story in contempt call such our Meetings Courts and Sessions and our general Meeting the High Court of Judicature and in disdain spoke of citing into our Courts such as did 〈◊〉 c These things were proved against them at Drawell to the stopping of their Mouths And why then did they of the Separation in Westmerland according to the revolting Paper of Subscription withdraw from our said Meetings and contemn the very Name of our Quarterly Meetings And why did they meet but now and then when they had a mind without any Regard toour monthly or quarterly Meetings These things are so true against the 〈◊〉 that we are perswaded they have not the Force to deny them And how durst John Story and John Wilkinson say as in the Presence of Almighty God That it becomes them to be in Unity with their Brethren in the Serviees thereof When as such the aforesaid Slight and 〈◊〉 was put upon them during the time of their being with us and seeing their Separation from them out of the Unity is continued by them unto this Day Secondly They say as to Womens Meetings That though they see no Necessity for them in the Country but as much as to say in the Cities there may as they have sometimes confessed yet they say it s not agreeable with the Line of Truth to oppose others in those Meetings Answer 〈◊〉 then were they called by them an Idol and a new Invention and a Ceremony Why did John Wilkinson ask Margaret Fox what Ground they had to observe things imposed upon them in the Will of 〈◊〉 meaning the Women Meetings although he himself had once subscribed a Paper for the Incouragement of them as is before inserted And why did John Story say He would have been in the River to the Middle before he had subscribed such a Paper And why did they say That such Meetings would cause Women to usurp Authority over their Husbands These things and others such like were proved against them at Drawell And why did they of Party with them say The Women were more fit to wash the Dishes And such like contemptible Terms they put upon them And seeing they say Although they see no need of bringing Marriages before the Womens Meetings yet they ought not to oppose others who are conscientious therein Why then did they and those of Party with them upon the Occasions of some bringing their Marriages before the Mens Meetings being desired to lay them before the Women say What need is there for that Saying also Are all Marriages that have not been before the Womens Meetings imperfect or must they be married over again This Dissembling the just God abhors Thirdly As to Condemnations they say as inserted in William Rogers Book Part 4. page 39. That although it be according to their inward Sence that there is no need of such Records to Posterity c. Yet say they that this our inward Sence may be no straitness to others c. Ans. Then why would John Wilkinson say in a Straitness in such Cases which we use for the clearing of the precious Truth That such Recording renders a Man a Knave to Posterity And why did John Story move to alter our Meeting-Books and to put all Papers of Condemnation out of them And after John Story had been so concern'd one of the Preachers amongst them of that Party who had been married with a Priest tore his Condemnation out of the Book Was not this as great an Obstruction with respect to those Records as possibly could have been These things also were possitively proved against them at the aforesaid Meeting at Drawell before many Brethren Fourthly As to Discouragement of the Testimony against Tythes they say It was never on their Hearts to speak any Words relating thereunto Ans. Then why did John Wilkinson and John Story put a clear stop to the Exercise amongst Friends relating to an Help and Incouragement in the matter thereof And John Story in a quarterly Meeting did bring in an Instance That some faithful Men in the Truth had paid them all their 〈◊〉 and said They never saw Evil in so doing and that they had paid them and would pay them Was not this enough to discourage the Testimony and weaken Friends in the Sufferings that attends the same Fifthly As to their judging Groanings Sighings and Soundings which was charged against them William Rogers inserts their Paper in which they say That they are only against them where they proceed from deceitful Spirits and not the other c. Ans. Why then did John Story judg by some Words he spoke during the same such Exercises which in Gods heavenly Power broke forth in a Meeting where the Presence of the Lord was felt to the breaking of many Hearts and the Spirit of Life sprung up in the Meeting amongst many tender People And being spoken to and asked why he would discourage such melodious Exercises as the Lord was pleased to concern some in did say That whosoever did sing sound or make a Noise whilst another was preaching or praying it was Confusion and Disorder and it was a Spirit of Division that led them to it and that he had born his Testimony against it and he would do it and bring it down or leave Preaching And why did he compare it to the Catter-wauling of Cats or Belching of Calves or at least as he himself confest spoke in derision we say 〈◊〉 some that did so compare it These things we do declare were proved against them at Drawwell aforesaid to their Shame and Confusion before many Brethren according to the Testimony born there and the Relation given by Friends of the Passages in the said Meeting and the Sence and Judgment of Gods People 〈◊〉 upon them on the hearing and trying the matters relating thereunto Now this we observe that some may object and say That although John Story and John Wilkinson had been thus concerned formerly before the said Meeting had with them at Drawwell for their Restoration sake into Unity with their 〈◊〉 again in the Spirit of Life and into a clearer Vnderstanding then formerly they were 〈◊〉 in which State such and such opposite loose Words might come from them or such Opposition 〈◊〉 have been made by them Yet may it be said they may now be of a better mind and that what they now declare seemes to be consistent with your Practice and they also gave forth a Paper some may say against themselves acknowledging
their Weakness in some Measure c. so that then Why are they not since received into Unity and the 〈◊〉 and Division put an end to In Answer whereunto we say If their Hearts had been upright to God in what they declared and if they had continued in a tender fear and submission and in a disconcern with respect to any discouragement to others in the Exercises accounted needfull in the Churches and if they had broke off the separate Meeting and joyned with the Church of God in their Monthly and Quarterly Meetings in the service of Truth as their Words did there import an inclination to do in several of the a foresaid matters as they acknowledged their duty to do it had been well with them and many more at this Day on the account of the Life 〈◊〉 Truth it had been also the 〈◊〉 Joy on their behalf and their Gladness 〈◊〉 the sake of the Churches Peace which would greatly have been gained thereby besides the occasion that hath been given by the contrary to the Enemies of Truth to speak 〈◊〉 of the way thereof But we desire that all may consider either what abominable 〈◊〉 was in the matter of these smooth and glosie Words or else how little notice they took to answer in Practice in what they seemed to affirm For 〈◊〉 hstanding this John Wilkinson encouraged the Separation he being principally concerned amongst them and a Leader thereof 〈◊〉 when in the Country 〈◊〉 the most part amongst them John Wilkinson also denyed to one of us that they had condemned any thing or that they knew of any thing acted or spoken by 〈◊〉 worthy of Condemnation He writ into the South in a contempt of the Travels at Drawell against the 〈◊〉 Concern there He called the Relation a lying Narative as said before and their 〈◊〉 of seeming acknowledgement William Rogers called it but a Rattle to please Children withal They in the North John Wilkinson being one of them became 〈◊〉 Opposite and 〈◊〉 then before they writ a Remonstrance to the Monthly Quarterly and Yearly Meetings in which they Condemned them all to be gone from the Antient Principle and as if themselves alone were 〈◊〉 that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the Antient way of Life And therefore say they were they called Separates by them of the Meeting they writ to c. So that we say that with Guile and 〈◊〉 they have carried on the Design contrived amongst them and their Posterity hath been accordingly for their way is blockt up and they can proceed no further the Snare is broken and Deliverance wrought to many innocent Ones that might have been betrayed into the 〈◊〉 they 〈◊〉 and fall on every side and their Calamity hastens on which they will not see nor be able to avoid and what advantage these things afford to William Rogers's Design of proving those two men with them of Party with them the Christian Quakers and all the whole Family besides those scattered ones Apostates from God and such as in whom the Life of Christianity is extinct we desire the Reader to consider and what ground William Rogers hath to render George Fox erroniously concerned in the aforesaid Difference because that in the Word of the Lord God he sent to them to call in their 〈◊〉 wicked Papers of Strife and tending to work the 〈◊〉 they could devise thereby we see not William Rogers in his smiting Work against George Fox in his fourth Part page 27. saith That what ever was pretended to be John Story 's and John Wilkinsons failings yet nothing would give George Fox satisfaction but submission to him and his Orders c. Because saith he in his Letter last mentioned he writes of them and says 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 To all which we Answer let the Reader consider whether William Rogers doth not befool himself in raking up in an evil mind that watcheth for Evil such a sorry proof as this whereby to render George Fox an Apostate or one erroniously concerned in the aforesaid Difference that would make an Accusation against him on the score of George Fox's desiring to see John Wilkinson and John Story when by reason of the Weakness of Body that he was under for several Weeks together 〈◊〉 able to walk to the Door and therefore sent for them if that by any means he could instrumentally in Gods Hand have perswaded them to 〈◊〉 their striving contentious Work whereby they had occasioned Trouble in the Church of Christ which was his sorrow for its Peace sake and sor the sake of the Innocent Lambs of God that were hurt thereby and whether it did argue a Stout Lordly Spirit in George Fox that would have submission to him as William Rogers renders him to have who innocently and in self-denial came so far under that wrong Sprit as to desire them to come over to him who could not go to them because of his aforesaid Weakness or whether it was not a Lordly Stubborn and Selfwilled Spirit in them who when in good heath and ability of 〈◊〉 would not so much as travel a few Miles to Visit him when also they were tenderly desired that they would do it and without any respect also to that Eternal Power wherein George Fox hath been an Instrument to gather many 〈◊〉 them from the ways of Perdition into the knowledge of the way that Leads to Life and Peace forever to which also John Wilkinson himself as said before did confess and whether William Rogers doth not rake up any thing that he can any way through perverting and deducing falce Inserences to make up some matter against him to smite withal let the unprejudiced observe Further we observe how William Rogers picks something here and there out of the Charges against John Story and John Wilkinson and out of our Reply to their Answer thereunto alledging that there is no matter of evil Fact therein whereby to slander and asperse Robert Barrow and others concerned in the Exercise relating thereunto and by the said aspersions cast on them would maliciously stretch the same to Accusations against George Fox relating to his Charge against him of being one erroneously concerned in the aforesaid Difference Because saith he it s not like that Robert Barrow and them would do any thing on that wise without George Fox ' s consent or to that purpose Answ. We say first If George Fox had been privy to Robert Barrow's and 〈◊〉 aforesaid their Concern and had been an encourager thereof and that to have done so were matter of Evil and Condemnable which we deny and William Rogers hath yet to prove yet were it uncharitable and untruth-like in him to charge George Fox therewith from his own supposition that Robert Barrow and the rest would not be so concerned without his consent Now we say Where is the Life of Christianity Where is the Love that thinks
judged as a malicious perverter of George Fox's sincere Intent in the aforesaid Directions and his drawing his false 〈◊〉 there from tending to make People believe that George Fox's Directions were 〈◊〉 forth with Severity to be urged upon People as he hath often said and as William Rogers hath Suggested and Printed that George Fox's 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 are urged to be Practiced before Conviction and before they 〈◊〉 it their duty to observe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 we say William Rogers his Inserting John Story' s Words on that wise as it tends to a malicious Charge against George Fox its false and abusive as we have often 〈◊〉 for George Fox's Testimony for Truth and his Directions in relation to Church 〈◊〉 and Government have ever been commended to the 〈◊〉 leaving the Issue to the Lord alone and to his Faithful Witness in all and the Faithful to God do receive the same with Gladness as that which answers their Consciences with Satisfaction in the performance whereof as they have felt it their Duty they have found the Presence and Blessings of God with them We say again it is the Fruit of a dark Spirit and imports great Confusion as the reply at large manifests to make this jumbling Work about a clear and plain Truth which would darken Knowledg How can George Fox in the Spirit of the Lord Jesus or any other Instrument in the Lords hand be moved to give forth any Directions or Advice to the Church to be observed and put in practice but there is a necessity thereof and so consequently to be practised amongst Gods People in his leading Grace And what is that Severity they are offended with and thus clamour against Is it any thing else but the laying things home upon the Consciences of them who make mention of Gods Name What other Severity have we used or ever appeared in When William Rogers Prints again let him tell us if ever George Fox or any of us were otherwise concerned in the matter of the Directions which John Wilkinson once confessed to but in commending them to the Conscience and to be led in the Practice thereof by Gods leading Grace as their Duty and if any in a wrong fleshly mind resist the same to declare Dis-union with such as not worthy of that Fellowship which the Faithful are in as William Rogers in his Christian Quaker hath confessed may be done Paul charged before God and the Elect Angels to observe the things he had directed to in the Spirit which he knew would attend them who were innocent in the Practice of those things which he was moved to lay before them But let us ask William Rogers or any of Party with him Do they think that George Fox was moved of God to give forth things to be practiced in the Churches in the Spirit of Truth that fleshly minds should be justified in Gods sight in putting a 〈◊〉 thereupon as John Story did as the Fruit of his dark Mind in any smooth ungodly pretence whatsoever And shall any be Blessed in saying That George Fox only recommended these things to our Consciences to be practiced as we saw need and that we see no need of Womens Meetings or of Monthly and Quarterly Meetings so constant as both John Story and John Wilkinson have said And we see no need of keeping our Meetings in our Houses when twenty Pound Fine is imposed on them that do so We see no need of such Inspection or such Strictness with respect to the bringing of Marriages twice to the Meetings unless there be 〈◊〉 apparent Cause Under these pretences hath Disobedience been sheltered and Loosness nursed up and Weakness prevailed in the time of Persecution and on the score of other antient Testimonies sor God And we testifie that the great ground of Dis-satisfaction about Church Care which John Story and others of Party with him wofully fell into and the great cause of all the Contention which hath been made by them spoken of and which William Rogers says George Fox hath been erroneously concerned in and whom he and John Wilkinson would charge to be the occasion of was the Churches practising in the Life of God those things that were commended to the honest Hearted according to the Directions given forth by George Fox and other Brethren on which occasion the Unfaithfulness of many came to be searched into and found out and judged in the power of the pure Truth which they liked not they could easily have born the reading of them and their being commended to Friends Consciences so that the Practice might have been suspended and not come into but room left for their loose Minds and backsliding Work for John Wilkinson said Thas those things which George Fox 〈◊〉 commended to the Churches were necessary and good things But when Friends desired that all might be found in the Practice thereof and accordingly were concerned and their flying in Suffering times and their backfliding from other Testimonies once born for the precious Truth coming to be spoken to that Judgment might be felt thereupon then John Wilkinson struck in with John Story and others of the same Spirit and of the loose sort and hath continued since in the Opposition and Strife which led into the Separation in which they are unto this Day Divers other smiting Reflections against George Fox William Rogers appears in in his tedious Observations on John Story and John Wilkinson their Answers with his deducted Inferences from George Fox's Words and sincere demeanure in the Church of Christ which he would draw his Accusations from which are not worth the Trouble that we might put our selves and the Reader unto if we should take notice of every circumstance thereof the which we intend not in this place seeing the most that he hath said or can say in his own defence and on the behalf of them of party with him is insufficient whereby to acquit him and them of the Charge that we are bold to stand to against them of Opposition and labouring to work strife amongst Gods People which all who have seen his Book and what hath been said in Answer to it and have a true sence of his Spirit and Work may easily see as insufficient also to detect George Fox of being erroneously 〈◊〉 in the aforesaid Difference as he very abusively hath accused him of and Condemns him and others of the Brethren for their appearing in Judgment against the Spirit that John Story and John Wilkinson have been led by William Rogers goes on and Inserts an Epistle of George Fox's occasioned through an Objection he frames up Object Thy whole Discourse seems to carry a kind of an Edge against the Spirit that of late Years had acted through George Fox 〈◊〉 whom its certainly known from his Writings yet extant that he hath thus Advised Take heed of Judging one another and Judge not one another I command 〈◊〉 in the Presence of the Lord neither lay open one anothers Weaknesses behind one 〈◊〉 Backs
he had wrought Dissatisfaction and Strife in the Church of Christ heading and standing by a Contentious Party with him and leading them into a Separation from the ancient Fellowship in the Truth and Services relating to it and an acknowledgment of the wrong which he had done to the Truth and Gods People we expected and the Spirit that led him to it to be Condemned by him this the Lord and the Truth first looked for from him as we told them And also we say William Rogers hath dealt very Disingeniously with us in his Printing thus to our Defamation in that he hath not also Printed the Reasons we gave him and them why we could not take any notice of Advice or Councel from him or of his Expedients for Uniting c. in the Capacity he stood We asked him that brought the Paper into our Quarterly Meeting whether it was directed to the Meeting from John Story or whether it was a Testimony from John Story of Judgment against himself for the abusive Work he had made amongst us of neither of which any account could be given us which if it had we should readily have received and embraced the same but otherwise we could not do it for the order of Truths sake he being a man that had run himself out of the Unity of Brethren and disconcerned himself in the Church Affairs and the Judgment of Truth through the Brethren being gone out against him and he continuing in the Separation and Strife still we say and we appeal to Gods faithful Witness what notice could we take of any Papers from John Story unless it were to acknowledg his runnings out and condemning himself therefore that so he himself might come again into Unity with us which we truly desired and then we should be glad of his Advice and Proposals in the Spirit of Truth for the helping back again of such as he had helpt to lead 〈◊〉 and thus we proposed to him as most proper for his Concern with much more in the Love of God and Sincerity of Soul being desirous with all our Hearts to receive him and them in again at the right Door that so we might have been comforted in our Souls therein which we have at large to shew in the Copy of a Paper sent from our Meeting to him and them as 〈◊〉 in Manuscript for what further occasion may be seen for it After all this nothing could we hear of from John Story or any of that Party of any submission in him to the Order and Judgment of Truth but in obstinacy of 〈◊〉 in Contention and Separation growing worse and worse he continued for all his smooth deceitful Words and Work that we have had too much of to our Grief Notwithstanding a Meeting was appointed amongst us in relation to the tender hearted amongst them of the Separation in whom the Witness and Life of God was not yet Slain to be at the House of Thomas Camm desiring and word sent them accordingly that all those who had any sence of their Weakness on the account of the asoresaid Division and Separation and were willing to ackowledg the same might come unto it and giving the Brethren that satisfaction as the Truth did expect we should be glad thereof and receive them in amongst us with Joy and if they pleased to bring John Story' s Paper thither for their satisfaction probably we should be willing to have it read but none of the Stout or Stuborn of them came nor any such Paper heard we of however God was with us and our Labour was not in Vain in the Lord for several of the Upright amongst them who loved Righteousness in Heart and Soul came to see from whence they were fallen and returned to their first Love and have done their first Works and the Lord hath Healed them to their Hearts Comfort and the Churches Joy giving God the Praise who is worthy Here follows a Paper given forth by them that came off from them of the Separation To the faithful Flock of God the Children of Light every where the dear and tender Salutation of your Friends whose Names are here unto Subscribed your little Brethren through the Redeeming Hand of the Lord most dearly reacheth you SIgnifying that we are given to understand that there are Copies of a Paper formerly subscribed by many professing the Truth in this our County of Westmerland 〈◊〉 and spread up and down the South and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 England and what farther we know not directly opposire to the Exercise of the Church of God in its tender Care in these Parts upon which said Paper was grounded the unchristian and disorderly 〈◊〉 from the ancient 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Exercise and Service of Truth faithfully continued amongst them to Truth 's great Blemish principally occasioned by John Story and John Wilkinson and some other chief Abetters thereof and Pertakers with them And whereas we also understand that all the Names which at the first were inserted in the said Paper of Subscription do continue thereat as if no Testimonies had been given against the same by any of the said Subscribers that thereby the Leaders in that said Work of Separation and Strife might hold their Interest in the Minds of such as are led away by the same Spirit to persecute the design and Work thereof And in as much as our Names were once put to the said Paper and thereby were Encouragers of them that were the Fomenters and Upholders of that Spirits Work which we now see would have laid waste the Heritage of God if it could have prevailed we are heartily sorry that ever we should be any encouragement thereof or that ever our Names should be put thereunto And as formerly several of us have given forth Papers to the same effect to follow the said subscribed Paper we do now from the bottom of our Hearts and with one Heart and Soul condemn that Spirit that led us thereunto which was the very same Spirit that led some of us to leave our Houses in the Worship of God in the time of Persecution and to meet together in private hidden Places to our shame which thing also we do really judge together with a Paper given 〈◊〉 in vindication thereof and the aforesaid Paper of Subscription against the Brethren of the Monthly and Quarterly Meeting and Exercise thereof we do bear our Testimony against as Inconsistant with the Honour of the Naked Truth and Order of the Gospel in the Power of God and the Unity of dear Brethren having a true sence of what evil report it hath been and what hurt we our selves incurred thereby together with many simple Ones who were offended and 〈◊〉 by it and what Exercise Gods faithful People have met withal by reason thereof and we desire that our Names may be rased out of the said Paper where-ever it may be met withal and that where this our Paper and Testimony may come Copies of it may be sent abroad where any occasion
George Fox with Lyes for saying That in his Queries he charges him and for that end would limit his saying I firmly believe thou George Fox art the Man that hast been Guilty of all these things to the matter of Charge contained in the Paragraph distinct from the Queries and that his Confusion and Inconsistancy with himself touching this matter may more plainly appear let it be observed that in the Paragraph he saith There are Eyes that see and do perceive c. and have confidence to stand in the Gap against such as cry against Flyers in the time of Persecution and yet are Flyers at such times themselves Read the Seventh Query and see if it be not the same with this Accusation in the Paragraph which he saith 〈◊〉 firmly believes George Fox hath been Guilty of The 〈◊〉 of that Query is in express words thus viz. Then when Persecutors come to shift out of the Meeting whereby both Body and Estate may be saved as thou hast done And yet for George Fox to call this a Charge he says is a Lye one of the Thirteen Lyes he charges him with In the Paragraph he saith That prompt the Poor to offer up their All and yet advise the Rich to secure theirs he saith there he firmly believes George Fox to be the Man that is guilty of all these things of which this is one And in his third Query he saith Art not thou sensible that thou art the Man that hast advised the Rich to secure their Worldly Estate that so the Persecutors might not become Sporlers thereof Is not 〈◊〉 a down-right Charge being the same with that in the Paragraph that his positive Judgment against George Fox relates to and yet hath the Impudence to charge George Fox with a Lye one of the Thirteen for saying It 〈◊〉 that thy Queries are Charges against me In the Paragraph he saith That blame others for securing their Goods from the 〈◊〉 and yet secure their own of this he saith he firmly believes that George Fox is Guilty Read his tenth Query viz. That is attended on like an Earthly Prince and yet hath Twelve or Thirteen Hundred Pounds well secured with the encrease thereof for many Years if any be out of the reach of the Spoylers Is not this Query proved a down-right Charge manifested to his shame though he hath the face to charge George Fox with a Lye on this score also In the fifth Query William Rogers speaketh of some that had secured their Estates from the Spoylers for their Families that would not have departed said he from their Testimony in Meetings c. although saith he thou speaking of George Fox hast been a Shrinker This is surely a Charge and yet he hath the confidence to charge George Fox with a Lye for saying That the Queries seemed to be Charges against him Much more might be observed out of the Queries and Rejoynder whereby to prove William Rogers's Queries down right Charges against George Fox and also to manifest what an hardened disparate State the Man is grown into that so little regards what he says or whereof he affirms wronging himself on this wise by charging Lyes on his own Head to bespatter others though Innocent withal And if the whole matter with respect to the Queries and Rejoynder were but circumspectly looked into about this matter of proving the Queries Charges besides the manifest tendency of his whole Design evidently demonstrating the same his own Words duly taken notice of and expressly set down would much what prove the whole Matter and bring the Thirteen Lyes back again upon his own Head which he in a wicked abusive manner chargeth upon another and spreadeth abroad by his Papers and Printed Book amongst such as Truths Integrity would be ashamed of So then to conclude this matter this we say from what as may be gathered from his Writing that the Intent of the Mans Heart hath been and continues the same as his Printing demonstrateth to Charge and Impeach openly and affirmatively only so far as he had any hopes to make proof thereof and yet in his false and malicious design of Accusation and Charge against George Fox he hath been so implacable and hath lusted so thereafter that he hath not been content in the matter of charging with what he thought he might prove but adventured implicitly in the matter thereof by way of Query to engage himself therein so 〈◊〉 as under any pretence he could stretch the Line of Reflection upon him as to Charge on this wise resolving to prove what he could upon the Debate if put to 〈◊〉 and wherein he might fall short cover himself with the Fig-leafe which the just God will rend off of saying He only asked the Question We observe that William Rogers denies that those Words in the Conclusion of his Paragraph 〈◊〉 amount to Charge the Words are I firmly believe thou art the Man that hast been Guilty of all these things He proves his denial thus To Believe and to Charge are two distinct things saith he a Man may believe a Charge and yet have no hand in giving the Charge but a Man cannot honestly Charge and pretend he doth not believe the Charge Answ. The Reader may take notice how he Confounds himself hath abused the noble parts which the Lord gave him as a Man He denies that his Words amount to a Charge though he confesses that he believes George Fox is guilty c. Because saith he a Man may believe a Charge and yet not give the Charge But we say William Rogers hath not only confessed that the Charges against George Fox are true as he firmly believes but he hath given them forth in Manuscript and spread them abroad through the Nation he hath given out the Charges against him also in Print to stand on Record to Posterity to his Disgrace so far as in his Power he can do it and therefore he doth Charge according to his own Explanation and that after the most wicked absurd manner in many respects had William Rogers heard Charges only and believed them too and had not been such a publisher of them but had brotherly treated George Fox about the same then indeed he might the better have stood in his own vindication of being no Charger or that what he had said on the account of what he heard and believed did not amount to Charge but poor Man he hath not been of such a Spirit it were well if he could yet see himself that if possible he might find Mercy for that he hath charged expressly in his Paper of Queries and in the very Queries themselves its evident from the very Words summed up out of his own Paper as we have said before being the very same with the Catalogue of Charges summed up in the Paragraph all which he concludes positively that he firmly believes that George Fox is guilty of And seeing that in several Places of his Rejoynder thereby to make George Fox's
the second Beast that comes out of the Earth and leadeth thither again they that Runs may see it it bewrayeth it self in all its undertakings and 〈◊〉 on its own Ruin Blessed are they who fear God and love his Appearance And as for that Reflection which R. W. casteth upon George Fox upon the Occasion of James Nayler's fall he cautioning John Story and John Wilkinson lest they should become as bad as the old Apostates before them their Examples Instancing amongst others James Nayler's darkened and hardned State by reason of which he became the Grief of many and a great Stumbling Block in the way of Truth to the hurting of many simple Ones and the utter undoing of some to the causing the Name of the Lord to be evil spoken of by such as became hardened thereby William Rogers would make an Accusation against George Fox on this score because James Nayler came to be restored again Surely it may be said there is much more Malice then Matter in this against George Fox who did no otherwise in this case then the holy Men of God have done who gave forth the Scriptures who have left on Record Noah's David's Manasse's Peter's Fallings to be a Caution to others and James Nayler's and others fall and cause of Reproach to Truth in this our day is William Rogers and John Story' s and John Wilkinson's Example and if they were not hardened they might see it and take heed lest at last it come to be with them as it happened to most of other Apostates to their Total Ruin and James Nayler's Restoration was the joy of the Faithful to God and so would the Restoration of them be which hath been truely sought for And thus much concerning William Rogers Catalogue of his thirteen Queries manifested to be smiting Accusations and so his Thirteen Lyes which he would have detected George Fox of are wiped away the reward of the Slanderous wicked Work he hath had in hand on that score to turn back upon his own Head And that they are False and Malicious it s plainly demonstrated to every Eye that 's single to God without prejudice or watching for evil against the Innocent that may have occasion to inspect the same together with George Fox's Answer thereunto in which he hath denyed them all as False and Malicious and not touching him to which Answer William Rogers undertaking to Rejoyn in order to prove the Accusations alledged by him falls totally short in the matter thereof and all his Evasions Pervertings and drawing his false Inferences upon George Fox's innocent and plain Words doth not serve his turn in the sight of the upright to God to make out any matter of Fact against him as the Answer to his Rejoynder here inserted plainly demonstrateth and so leaves William Rogers detected as a Treacherous Man to his Principle and his first love to Truth and the unity of Brethren a false malicious Accuser of the Innocent a shame to Christianity and not fit for human Societies whom the Lord will recken with for all in a day that hasteneth on which he cannot evade But to go on it may be noted that William Rogers is not satisfied with his Thirteen Queries and smiting Accusations against G. Fox but raising up more matter on the same score goes on and says Now I take notice of what George Fox sayes to my Query Note It s inserted in his Paper of smiting Queries which George Fox gave Answer to viz. Whether thou George Fox didst not advise Nathaniel Cripps to buy off his Tythes both of Priest and Impropriator if thou deny it I will undertake to prove it or bring it under the hand of Nathaniel Cripps that thou so did Answer This is an high charge as the rest were it s expected that William Rogers make good proof thereof more especially seeing that contrary to all Gospel Order he hath been concerned in the publication thereof as said before The Reader may take notice that William Rogers for proof of this smiting charge repeats some part of George Fox's Answer which he thinks may most help his Design in this matters viz. But for him to turn this and say I advised him to buy his Tythes he doth me a great deal of wrong and so might have been sparing to have 〈◊〉 me And what can William Rogers make of this for its a flat denial of the Charge and if there were but an opportunity to look over George Fox's Answer which demonstrates the sincere Exercise no way condemnable that he had with Nathaniel Cripps touching this matter it might be plainly seen that he was as clear of any matter of evil fact in the matter of this Charge as a Sucking Child which said Answer William Rogers detects not any further then the following Words by him recited out of George Fox's Answer thereunto may viz. In the Morning when I was in the Chamber I saw this Spirit made some like Devils that they mattered not what they said to blemish the Reputation of them that sought their good both Spiritually and Temporally William Rogers to prove his Charge against George Fox maliciously from these Words infers thus It may be reasonably said He supposed that George Fox for the temporal good of Nathaniel Cripps might Advise him to buy his Tythes Now consider is this manner of Work any way beseeming a Christian Spirit or is this sufficient proof to detect an Elder upon but however it helps to manifest William Rogers's Spirit who it seems would measure others by himself as if it were good Advice to Advise Friends to buy off their Tythes to avoid Sufferings thereby like the Advice he gave himself to save his Goods from the Spoilers by selling them or making them over to his Servants If William Rogers think that with respect to ones Temporal Good this kind of Counsel were best to be given and taken George Fox is not of such a Mind or Spirit and if William Rogers were not full of Perjudice and watching for Evil that blinds his Eye and eats out the good in him he might see by George Fox's Epistle to Friends by way of Query That to be Faithful to God and to trust him with our All is the best way to do well with respect to Temporal things as to Blessings from God therein and a sincere upright Man would have said on George Fox's Account considering his Spirit and Testimony born and his usual Exhortation accordingly That for the good will he bore to Nathaniel Cripps both Spiritually and Temporally its probable he would Advise him to be Faithful to Truth and his Testimony therein and trust God with all that love which thinks no Evil would have made this Construction of George Fox's Words to him It s plain William Rogers hath yet done nothing with respect to prove the Charge against George Fox alledged on this score he hath only thereby manifested his own folly and what Spirit he is of And when William Rogers hath said all
Church of Christ in opposition to the Life of Truth and the Unity of dear Brethren and W. R. also might easily have seen his mistake in giving G. F. the Character of the greatest Flyer in time of Persecution that ever he knew if he do but compare him with J. S. and them of party with him of the Meeting he belonged to there hath been enough amongst them to stop his Mouth with and go no further against him touching this matter and let all William Rogers Certifiers and indeed Accusers they may be reasonably called be asked whether ever any of them spake to George Fox about this matter they charge him with or ever to his Face shewed any dislike of his so leaving the Meeting as they are pleased to assert saying That they believe he left the Meeting that he might not be taken Prisoner that day We never heard of any such orderly proceedings amongst them the Lord in the sight of that in their Consciences will plead with them for such Work as this we desire they might be forgiven and things not laid to their Charge as their desert hath surely been William Rogers makes an Accusation against George Fox also by a smiting Query concerning a Meeting at Ringwood which George Fox was at many Years ago charging him about his flying there and undertakes here to concern himself with it that he may find Work for his smiting Tongue which Accusation being denyed by George Fox in relation to any evil fact done by him touching the same and William Rogers expected to have made sufficient proof thereof which in his Rejoynder he hath not done there being also a Certificate from the Friends of the said Meeting fully demonstrating George Fox's clearness against William Rogers's abusive Charge satisfactory to all the honest hearted Friends to Truth who have inspected the same we shall not therefore much concern our selves therewith 〈◊〉 this may be very reasonably observed that notwithstanding the Certificate from the Friends of the aforesaid Meeting to the clearing of George Fox and William Rogers totally deficient in the matter of proof against him but that he can as he is wont say If Reports be true yet the unplacableness of the Mans Spirit is such that he hath undertaken by perverting George Fox's Words and misconstruing the candid sence of George Fox's relation touching the same to make Deductions therefrom which neither the scope of the Words themselves 〈◊〉 any thing relating thereunto under any Christian and Charitable Constructions in 〈◊〉 and Truth can be deduced We should be glad that the honest hearted had the opportunity of reading over G. Fox's Answer in Manuscript to William Rogers's 〈◊〉 Queries and the Certificate from the aforesaid Meeting touching this matter of Charge about Ringwood Meeting and then to observe the Work William Rogers hath made about the same by his perverting and 〈◊〉 inferring therefrom It may be easily seen from whence he is and whither he goes what his Motion and Center is and by the Work he hath had in Hand many will be made to say from the sence they shall have of him and his VVork That 〈◊〉 hard for Record or Age to find an 〈◊〉 to him The Reader may remember that at the beginning of his Paper of Smiting Queries and Charges William Rogers alledged against George Fox thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Query of George Fox Whether he doth 〈◊〉 that when the Souldiers 〈◊〉 other Persecutors come to a Meeting in or 〈◊〉 London at a certain time 〈◊〉 he was there he did not go out of the Meeting and 〈◊〉 himself to an upper Room or 〈◊〉 for so I have been 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he 〈◊〉 by 〈◊〉 Person of known Credit who was at the Meeting This is the substance of the Charge Answer It may be observed here is an 〈◊〉 relating to high Charge against George Fox before one single Witness he pretends to no more contrary to the Apostles Directions which manifesteth him to be of another Spirit then the Apostle had as well as disorderly 〈◊〉 not having first dealt privately with him George Fox also denieth the same as a 〈◊〉 Charge which being matter of high Accusation as William Rogers 〈◊〉 Queries may be in all reasonableness William Rogers ought to have proved it against him or have acknowledged his Spirit wrong in so doing but we find not in all his Rejoynder any proof made thereof nor any Certificate produced from that Person of known Credit as W. R. said of him to make good this smiting Charge We refer the Reader touching this matter also to G. Fox's Reply in Manuscript to William Rogers's smiting Queries for satisfaction This also manifesteth upon the whole matter relating to Charge against George Fox for flying in time of Persecution that the Charge is not only malicious but false and most unchristianly abusive arising out of the wicked prejudice of his Spirit from whence all this bad Stuff hath come in the Face of Meetings Country and Nation thus impudently to impeach an Elder contrary to Gospel Order the Rule of Christianity yea and of human common Societies in opposition to the Sence and Testimony of many Faithful Undetected Impartial Grave and Sober Friends of Gods Truth who in one Heart and Conscience stand up in Evidence for George Fox's clearness in the matter of the Charge against him over William Rogers's Head and Work together with all his prejudiced incompetent Certifiers and Witnesses and it is our firm belief that in the sight of all sober People who have seen and tasted his doings that he stands detected as a false Accuser of our Brethren and one that hath set himself we cannot but often say to work Mischief in the Church of God if possibly he can do it which will be his Burden one day very heavy to bear And his unchristian Constructions which in his jealous Mind he makes from which his perverse Deductions are drawn upon the honest Relations aforesaid by George Fox given and upon the Testimonies of Faithful Men on his account we tread under our Feet as the Works of Darkness and Death it self as to the Life of God and the first Love as by his paraphrasing scurrilous Language in his Discourse is clearly seen William Rogers further goes on to manifest how he seeks occasion against George Fox and saith in his Rejoynder That George Fox informs him that some said his Papers were not worth Answering And seeing George Fox saith he hath acted contrary to their sence What is become of their Unity now and whether this doth not shew their Confusion and the rather because George Fox saith Thy Charges being 〈◊〉 and Malicious I take the 〈◊〉 notice of them And further saith he I take notice that this is one sign that the Word of the Lord in John Wilkinson is fulfilling Answer Whether this be not sorry Work let him bethink himself and then speak he surely loves to be busie one way or other when such poor drudgery Work as this he is glad to
Government of Christ Jesus and gives several Instances of what he hath done whereby to demonstrate the same One whereof was his Narrative as he called it concerning a Meeting which George Fox Willian Pen George Whitehead and others had at the City of Bristol with him and several others of the Principal of them of that Spirit Which said Narrative was subscribed by him and William Ford. And to manifest that the aforesaid William Rogers is not a Man of such a Spirit as can stand in the Spirit of Jesus in the Vindication of the Rule and Government of Christ in the Church of God or be any Help or Comfort to Gods People therein but an Enemy thereto and that all his boasting on that wise is but a meer flourish of his vain and corrupt Mind and not worth taking notice of We think meet to insert here some Observations formerly made on the aforesaid Narrative given forth by William Rogers and William Ford at Bristol as aforesaid which was given forth in Manuscript in Answer to his aforesaid Rejoynder Out of which Narrative or Relation of his touching the said Meeting we find several things worth observing manifesting his base unworthy Spirit which we have given a brief yet true account of from his own Words there inserted whereby to manifest of what Spirit this William Rogers is and whether he can be judged to be a Man that can be any Instrument in promoting the Kingdom of Christ Jesus or be any Credit to the Holy Truth or Comfort to Gods People who keep their ancient Integrity to the Lord or whether he be not clearly discovered to be one that in a backsliding state from Truths Life is an upholder of and contender for the Kingdom of Antichrist the Old Serpent the Lyer from the beginning and as a Man given up to a reprobate Mind many times not taking notice as may be reasonably observed of what he says or whereof he affirms and hath run himself to that disparagement both as a Man and as a Christian that doubtless about things relating to the Truth and the Principle he hath been a Professor of he hath rendered himself such an one as that little credit can be given to him or notice taken of what he may affirm manifested as well by his late Queries the Answer thereto his Reply and what hath been thereunto writ so also by what hereafter follows touching the aforesaid Relation In the beginning whereof it is thus expressed by him and William Ford viz. A Brief Relation of some Passages happening amongst the People called Quakers of the City of Bristol since the late coming of George Fox George Whitehead and VVilliam Penn with divers others of the City of Bristol and chiefly for the sakes of those who hearing the various reports thereof are desirous to know the substance of Material Passages To which we say Let them that love the Truth consider whether the Words of this Prologue to his following matter viz. Passages happening amongst the People called Quakers do not much manifest that the following Relation should either come from one not rightly affected with those Peoples Principles or out of Fellowship with them or at least Dedicated to such as are not Friends thereto And whether matters therein contained be communicable to such from any prosessing Truth let the wise in Heart judge and that William Rogers's Heart was not right to God in this undertaking is manifested clearly to all who fear the Lord and love his appearance who may come to have a knowledge of these matters Now it may be observed in the first place touching William Rogers's Narrative that at the said Meeting which the Persons above mentioned had with William Rogers William Ford and divers others of that Party at Bristol aforesaid that several Propositions were agreed upon as we observe out of his Narrative between William Penn on the one Party and William Rogers on the other on the behalf of themselves and others concerned relating to the Order of the said Meeting and the matters to be debated c. and were Signed by William Rogers and William Penn and several others The first Proposition is thus viz. It is agreed upon by the Persons above mentioned That each may have a Scribe to take all the Passages in the Conferrence which to them severally shall seem meet and that before any matter be left or new matter begun all that each Party hath thought fit to be written be first read if any thing be defective amended and finally agreed upon by both Persons to be a true Record or Memorial of the Conferrence or if any thing be written or expressed short or besides the meaning of the Speaker that the said Speaker have Liberty to correct the said Expression Secondly That whatever be agreed upon to be Recorded shall be at the end of every Meeting Subscribed by both Parties and by at least six credible Persons on each side c. This we take notice was in order to a Narrative to be given forth by a 〈◊〉 Agreement of them concerned on both sides as the said Proposition at large doth demonstrate The sixth and last Proposition was That the said Agreement was to be written in the Head of the Narrative to be made in pursuance of the Agreement William Penn in behalf of himself and other Friends concerned and William Rogers in behalf of himself and other Friends concerned Thus far of what William Rogers hath set down in his Narrative Yet the Reader may observe that contrary to the said Agreement William Rogers hath given forth this Narrative of his stiled as aforesaid containing seven or eight Sheets of Paper without the knowledge or consent of William Penn and before it was either read before the People concerned or the six Friends Hands on each side put to it according to the Agreement or without the Persons seeing or hearing his own Words to have corrected if any occasion had been before they had been published or before he signified to William 〈◊〉 for ought we have ever heard that he intended to give forth any such Narrative as he hath done contrary to Covenant as before the Lord and his own Conscience he knows and yet William Rogers and William Ford who also subscribed the said Narrative would not be accounted Agreement or Covenant Breakers but says of what dangerous Consequence it may be to call such Men as them Covenant Breakers as may be seen in a Letter sent from William Rogers to George Fox given him by George Mansergh who had a Copy of it also himself as he confessed Now whether they be not such with respect to God and the concerns of Truth the most weightiest matters let common Men judge as also the wise in Heart speak Neither hath William Rogers written the Agreement in the Head of the Narrative according to the sixth Proposition signed by himself and William Pen so in this also he hath broken the Covenant made amongst them And if he say
Power and if any do they are usurpers of Authority they say yea it was moved also by them That no Ministers of Truth should be any of those chosen Men only they come in afterwards with a proviso That if any had a Message from God to deliver amongst them they must declare their Message and withdraw Now let the wise in Heart see What Darkness and Contradiction is this For doth this Proposition and Practice of theirs answer their Conclusion in this Cuestion That all must be left to the manifestation of Gods Spirit and Truth in their own Hearts to Speak and Act therein as ' they are Instructed and Perswaded that would thus limit the Spirit of the 〈◊〉 in his People by shuting out such as might be moved of the Lord to come and sit amongst them to be concerned as the Lord might instruct them And how doth this answer the Liberty and Motion upon Peoples Consciences they so much cry for And how doth this answer those Words in the Narrative That John Story must be left to Act as his Lord and Master should 〈◊〉 him And yet John Story and John Wilkinson by their Order and Prescription will not allow others the like priviledge but says That none must came and sit amongst their chosen Men but such as they have chosen and to whom they have given Power although their Lord and Master by his Spirit should lead them Is not here exercising Lordship over Mens Consciences to purpose even over the Heritage of God And is not this Order and Prescription of theirs which they would have had Gods People to have submitted to worse then the Worlds Courts either such as are called Spiritual or any of the 〈◊〉 Courts or Sessions The second Question proposed at Draw-well aforesaid inserted in William Rogers's Narrative is as followeth viz. Since there are diversities of Talents and Gifts 〈◊〉 ven by the Spirit of God and received by Men whether the judgment of Truth given forth through a part of the Members of Christs Body can become any bond upon any other part of the same Body further then their Vnderstands are enlightened thereby This Question was answered in the Negative and in the Spirit of Truth we have Unity therewith but we do further affirm that whatsoever is given forth in the Judgment of Truth and from the Gift of the Spirit by any of the Members of the Body of Christ that the rest of the Members of the same Body which keep their Eye in Christ their Head have Unity in the Spirit of Christ therewith and if any slight thereof or opposition thereunto do arise in any Members of the 〈◊〉 it is because they are become benumbed Members and have lost the spiritual lively sence of the Truth in themselves and are become thereby Strangers to the mind of God communicated to such as keeps alive in the Body to be distributed by such as Instruments in his Hand for the good of the Body as the Lord sees meet But how doth this Question of theirs answer their Order and Prescription subscribed by them that would have all to submit to what they give out as their Judgment and Order to be condescended to and covenanted in or else they would withdraw from such as would not and do their business themselves amongst their chosen Men and the Order such as would limit the 〈◊〉 of the Lord in the Members of Christs Body and to cause subjection to such their Inventions as Christianity would be ashamed of And yet these are the Men that cry against Orders and for Liberty but that it is the Order of the Gospel the Power of God that they cry against not loving sound Judgment and that the Liberty they would be at and which they are 〈◊〉 after is the Liberty of the Flesh its clear to all that love Righteousness and trace the Path that this unclean Spirit of theirs is treading in Here was no allowing the Tryal of their Prescription and Order by the Spirit of the Lord nor time given to those they presented their Propositions to to have their Understands enlightened touching their Order but a full and positive Conclusion was determined by them on this wise If they were not closed with and covenanted withal they would without any more ado with-draw and accordingly they did and some of them do continue in the Separation to this Day What horrible Confusion Contradiction and Hypocrisie is this In crying against Orders and none scarce ever heard of like theirs and to cry for Liberty of Conscience and yet would exercise Lordship over Mens Consciences on this wise It s a shame for any professing Truth and the Spirit of the Lord to touch with such a Spirit as this Much more might be observed upon William Rogers's Narrative whereby to manifest his Contradiction and the dishonest unchristian yea inhumane Work he hath made in the matter of his relation of the Passages which he saith happened at Bristol at the Meeting aforesaid and how opposite to the Covenants and Agreements subscribed by himself he hath concerned himself therein as cannot but be taken notice of by the Impartial Reader as ridiculous and below morral Honesty and how he together with John Story and John Wilkinson do render themselves inconsistant with themselves in crying out against Orders and outward Ordinances which they say Have been the cause of all the Differences and yet the Order and Prescription that they made and presented to be submitted to being denyed by the Brethren who kept to the Order of the Gospel in the Power of God occasioned the further manifestation of their own disorderly Spirit of Strife which led them into a Separation from the ancient Unity and Bond of Peace to the working Truth 's Blemish and the breach of the Churches Peace to their shame We say much more might be taken notice of as to this matter but that as to the substance of the most material things touched upon in the Narrative it hath been already Satisfactorily writ to by the several Parties principally concerned therein viz. one part thereof by George Fox and another part by Robert Barclay as also considerably spoken to by the Brethren at Bristol and that part of it that concerns the Brethren in Westmoreland answered by them viz. about some of the Articles alledged in charge against John Story and John Wilkinson which William Rogers by his perversions and unfairly dealing therewith would annihilate as relating to matter of Charge against them whose craft in taking out pieces here and there in the Charges and the Reply to John Story and John Wllkinson their Answer and his leaving out the most material Words being discovered in the sight of the single-hearted to God we say they are found still detected of opposition to Church Care and Disesteem of Gospel Order and in a Backsliding state in themselves discouraging the Antient Testimony for Truth in others that the Articles in charge principally against them relate to Unto which
for the last Words he heard him speak were not sensible neither do we preceive during the time that his Understanding and his Speech continued with him that ever he demonsttated the least sence of Remorse or Repentance for the great Damage he had brought upon Truth Dishonour to our Holy Profession and Grief and Trouble to the Church of God but rather Dyed in the hardness of his Heart as appeared by his Presumption to say That he died in the Favour of God and Peace with all Men when it was manifest 〈◊〉 his own Words that it was false in part at least for when he gave order about his Burial he charged that Thomas Camm should not be invited to his Burial yea so far was he from being in Peace with the said Thomas Camm that when his Brother Charles Story desired him to put such things out of his 〈◊〉 praying him that he would suffer him the said Charles to invite Thomas Camm to his Burial he would by no means be perswaded so neither Thomas Camm his Wife nor any of his Family were Invited to the said Burial although Thomas Camm's near Neighbours that were Unbelievers and not of John Story' s Kindred were Invited to it Nay moreover scarce any one of Preston Meeting to which he formerly belonged and died within the compass thereof were Invited to his Burial except those of the Separation notwithstanding they invited the People of the World Friends Neighbours and left them out by all which it is evident that his pretending to die in peace with all Men was untrue and only a false pretence and his Heart being so hardened to assert such untruths how should he die in the Favour of the Lord let the understanding and wise in Heart judge But as he had in the time of his Life since he fell from Truth been the greatest Agent in the Hand of the Adversary in Sowing the evil Seeds of Strife Division and Separation and also the most Industrious to keep those in the Separation that he had led thereinto so was he not wanting as appears to confirm his Proselites at his Death by telling them That he died in the Favour of God and Peace with all Men yet notwithstanding all the subtil Sleights and cunning Craft of deceived Men the Lord hath confounded this Spirit of Strife and Separation and many of those who have been most eminently concerned in promoting its Interest and Work the Lord hath removed out of the way by Death therefore it were well if those that are yet left alive would fear and dread before him and none of them any longer be so hardy as to tempt the Lord lest his overflowing scourge sweep them away and they perish in his Wrath forever The 6th of the 3d Month 1682. William Walker Joseph Gregge Richard Sill Junior Here followeth a short Testimony for the Truth and against the envious Spirit of William Rogers given forth by an Antient Friend in Westmoreland whose name is Thomas Atkinson IN or about the Year 1652. It pleased the Lord God to raise up the seed of Life in some of his Servants in this Nation of England and called those and sent them abroad as Lambs amongst Wolves into this World by the same Spirit and Power by which he chose and sent the Apostles in the Primitive Times And the first that was so sent in our Age and Generation and appeared amongst us in the Demonstration of the Spirit with the joyfull Message of Life and Salvation in this Country of Westmoreland was George Fox who being raised from Death to Life I bear Record was anointed of God to Preach and publish glad tidings of Peace Life and Eternal Salvation in the name of Christ Jesus to lost Man and many in this County did gladly receive his Message and Testimony at that time and did joyn with it some of whom the Lord made Ministers of the Everlasting Truth early of the day as Gervis Benson John Camm John Audland Francis Howgil Edward Burrow with some others whose outward Bodies are laid in the Dust yet their Memorial lives and remains with us a sweet savour to God and will do to Ages and Generations to come for their Faithfulness and Works sake with many more who are yet alive in the Body to bear a faithful Testimony to Truths praise and the Comfort of the Flock of God And seeing that this true and faithful Servant of the Lord George Fox the first Publisher of Truth in our Age in this and many other Counties and places through this Nation yet remains in the Body and a Record living upon my my Soul and Spirit of his faithfulness to the Testimony born by him who in the hand of the Lord was made Instrumental to the turning me many Thousands more to the Lord as also of 〈◊〉 care over the Flock of God that they all might be established in the Truth and present Grace of God revealed in which he is a sweet favour to God and his Witness in all Hearts in which Work and service his Labours Watchings Travels and Sufferings have exceeded many if not all others both in this Nation and in many places beyond the Seas for the space of about Thirty Years and God hath blessed him in his Labours so that he hath seen the travel of his Soul in a great measure answered many Thousands being gathered to and established upon the Everlasting Foundation Christ Jesus that stands sure for ever I say this Record living upon my Soul and Spirit a concern of Conscience remained with me to bear a Testimony for the Lord his Truth and this dear Servant George Fox whom we count worthy of double Honour for his Work and Service sake as an Instrument and Servant in the Hand of Christ our Lord and also a Testimony lives with me in the behalf of Thousands of Faithful Friends and Brethren against that turbulent and wicked Spirit in William Rogers and others who came out with us and partaked of the Grace of God with us but have turned their Backs of it who have in their Printed Books and Papers gone about to calumniate him and bespatter his Innocent Life and Testimony for God that thereby they might make him a Sacrifice to the fury of the Wicked and we do in Gods presence testifie that its the same Spirit under another similitude or transformation that hath all along persecuted him for his Work and Testimonies sake by 〈◊〉 he hath often been cast into Prison cruelly used in nasty Holes grosly aspersed with being a Papist a Jesuit and Blasphemer and what not that 's bad and wicked Now peruse William Rogers's Book and compare his Work and Language with this of the common Enemies of Truth and they will bespeak themselves to be the children of one Father Satan the old Persecutor of the Saints and Accuser of Brethren which the Lord will cast out in his hot displeasure So let William Rogers and all other Opposers and Gainsayers be warned before
remember and my Answer in Sincerity implies the same that in 〈◊〉 Brotherly Discourse which George Fox and I had in the time of such his Weakness when I was with him one time I speaking of the Exercise the Church of God had in 〈◊〉 with them of the opposite contending Spirit against Church Care and Gospel Order and telling him that some of them had given out reflecting seornful Words against him on the occasion of his not being constantly at the Meeting and had rendered him to have lost his condition as to Truth c. And that they had presented the same to some that were more Honest and Simple then the rest to the hurting of them and to make the Care in the Church of God more contemptible which George Fox had been an Instrument in Gods Hand on the account of and yet neither John Story nor John Wilkinson would come to see him in that State although he had been to their own acknowledgement as a Father to them and many more nor any of them that so wickedly represented him behind his Back would so much as come to see how the matter was but in a base mind that watcheth for Evil smote against him behind his Back which the Lord will avenge Whercupon for the sake of the Simple and for the bringing Shame and Confusion on the other sort and for the sake of the Church of God in general it was desired in secret Cries to God that the Lord might if it was his Will again enable him so with Bodily strength as that the Innocent tender Lambs of God might enjoy his Bodily presence with them as formerly they were wont to do to their Refreshment and Comfort and the Lord blessed be his name heard his Cries and the Groans of the Righteous in that matter to the enlargement of the Churches comfort and great advantage thereby whatever William Rogers and they of that Spirit say in contempt thereof and during his exercise of Bodily weakness at that time I was with him one day in his Chamber during the Meeting in a lower Room and I do affirm if these were my last Words that the Power and glorious Presence of the eternal God was with us to the breaking of my Heart and an Exercise of travel in Spirit was upon him on the account of the Church of God in general its Unity and Peace and with respect to the Backsliding sort of John Storys Spirit that the Lord might forgive them and restore them into the first love and living sence again and if this be the recompence that they render the Lord and him for the Labour of love in long suffering and patience on this wise used towards them I am satisfied that he is truly content and that their Reproaches are not grievous to him in the love of God who hath enabled him to endure all for his and his Peoples sake whose reward is with him and none can take it away And I do declare in the presence of the God of Heaven before whom I stand 〈◊〉 on this 〈◊〉 was the concern bet wixt him and me in Relation to this matter on the score whereof William Rogers thus wickedly appears with his siniting Charges against him which touch him not neither doth it hurt my Life nor my Peace with God whatever William Rogers doth suggest or bring forth against me touching this matter and I do appeal to that in all Consciences whether William Rogers's 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 against George Fox in which also he hath made me concerned 〈◊〉 the same be not false and maliciously alledged against him without any 〈◊〉 Ground seeing that George Fox's Weakness was such as many will evidence if occasion were as that he was as likely in a short time to be taken out of the Body as otherwise and so faint often in his Spirit by reason thereof that the 〈◊〉 Breath of People near him he could very 〈◊〉 endure or what 〈◊〉 William Rogers hath so basely to smite him in his Queries with his 〈◊〉 and And 's or 〈◊〉 John Blaykling hath contradicted himself on this occasion and 〈◊〉 his confusion or that John 〈◊〉 's 〈◊〉 is any way fulfilled hereby the wise to God may consider And as to the latter part of the Charge in William Rogers's two Queries on this occasion viz. Wouldst not thou have accounted this in another the Fruit of a Carless Negligent Libertine dark Spirit that was departed or departing from the Truth Implicitly charging him thereby to be of such a Spirit In the answer thereunto it is denied that this state is applicable to George Fox as Thousands can testifie it is required also that the Man may come forth that can 〈◊〉 charge him ever to have been of such a Spirit from his Childhood nay let his Dilligence in the service of Truth ever since the Lord made him a Minister of it and in all self-denial his exposing of himself in his Testimony therein to the Displeasure of the whole World great and small Professors and Profain testifie to his readiness to Work and Labour in the Gospel let the many Reproaches Buffettings Knockings-down for Dead Stripes and Imprisonments in Dungcons and nasty Places and yet never shrinking nor growing weary of his Exercise notwithstanding all that his Travellings on 〈◊〉 and lyings out of door in the Night-time whilest the Lord was pleased so to concern him let his Travels beyond the Seas in many Countries and Islands yea even of late Years since Bodily Exercise in Pain and Weakness took hold upon him make William Rogers or any that takes his part ashamed to lay a Slothful Negligent Libertine dark Spirit to his Charge Yea let that in the Consciences of all the honest Hearted to God that have known him and his Spirit testifie and give a Record for his care in the Church of God Instrumentally in Gods Hand with many other dear Brethren in the settling the Churches and Family of God under a wholsom Discipline and Order wherein the Faithful have been comforted and made each others Help and Blessing in the Lord who is worthy of the Praise yea blessed be the Lord many have good cause to say for the Instruments that he was pleased to raise up for the publishing the glad tidings of the Gospel-day and for their Faithfulness according to their places the Lord hath set them in as the Elders that rule well and are accounted worthy of Honour yea that Honour which is Eternal that God gives and covers his People withal as it was said in the Scriptures of Truth He that Honoureth me him will I Honour and again This Honour hath all his Saints to bind Kings in Chains and Nobles in Fetters of Iron but saith he I will not give my Glory to another I will not give it to Graven Images Surely if the Lord be pleased to Honour his on this wise and give them his Glory it is not displeasing in the Lords sight to restifie on Gods behalf accordingly but this Honour
me many Months before and then I ask him whether he can say that it was any thing but a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Spirit in him that seeks occasion against the Innocent to render 〈◊〉 Paper a false Certificate on the score thereof with many other abusive 〈◊〉 upon me in Print to Posterity and whether he hath done in this case as he would have been done by For I know he is a Man of that understanding as to see and acknowledge that where a Word in a sentence happens accidentally to be on the account of 〈◊〉 or the like that causeth the sentence to carry another signification then the scope of the 〈◊〉 Discourse relates to or where the Speaker or Writer doth signifie that the 〈◊〉 or the intent of his mind therein was not according to the signification of the said Word but otherwise as he then expresseth himself Such an one on such an occasion according to Scripture Rule and the Charity that is to be extended to all is not to be made an Offender and a clear occasion William Rogers had given him by the scope I say of my whole Paper relating to that matter to know my mind therein as also I cannot but believe but that my Answer to this Charge he had received before he needed to have 〈◊〉 this matter in Charge against me in Print and yet for all this he hath made me and Published me to the whole World an Offender for a Word yea I may say for a Letter which is so far from the rule of Christianity Civil Society and Honesty amongst morral Men that its an absurd 〈◊〉 thing for a Man of his supposed Parts and very nausious in the sight of wise and 〈◊〉 Men. And further I may tell William Rogers that had he been a Charitable 〈◊〉 Man and not one that watched for an occasion for Evil or had he exercised the Parts which God gave him as a Man he might easily have gathered that seeing my Name was at the Conclusion of the said Certificate or Testimony then those Words from which he grounds the Charge were not properly like to be mine neither indeed were they any of them nor are they in the first Copy nor in any Copy that came from me but had been put in by the 〈◊〉 without my knowledge in that Copy which it seems came to him which I cannot but say was a little weakly placed there by whom I know not in 〈◊〉 much 〈◊〉 that the Letter 〈◊〉 is at the end of the word Aspertion which should not have been upon which occasion William Rogers very 〈◊〉 with respect to the material 〈◊〉 appertaining to the Case and unmanly hath done concerning me for as I had no Hand in that Word so 〈◊〉 had I any thoughts as my Paper demonstrateth to concern my self in any 〈◊〉 in relation to the clearing 〈◊〉 Fox from the Aspersions cast upon him any further then what the clearing of him from that charge and 〈◊〉 alledged against him might tend as to the invalidating of all 〈◊〉 rest which I must 〈◊〉 and as I believe many will conclude that it greatly tendeth unto And 〈◊〉 to speak as charitably of the Transcribet as in 〈◊〉 we ought to do I say that the little Prologue prefixed to my Paper by him might be very 〈◊〉 done and not worthy of any such occasion to be taken on the Score thereof for to 〈◊〉 at the beginning of the matter being annexed to another's Matter or Discourse was very properly to be done whereby more Intelligibly to distinguish between them for the Words expressed taken in the most charitable sence might not import that it was intended thereby to clear George Fox of all c. but that they tended to clear George Fox of the Aspersions cast against him that the following matter related to so all things every way considered in that Love that thinks no Evil it s clearly seen that for 〈◊〉 of matter William Rogers in the malice of his Mind catcheth at any thing to keep his restless turbulent discomposed smiting Spirit at Work with thereby manifesting that he runs himself into great mistakes touching the same not only perverting thereby the thing he aims at but gives occasion through that means to manifest his 〈◊〉 the more Several other abusive reflections William Rogers hath cast upon me in his Rejoynder or Answer to my Certificate about the matter in charge against George Fox spoken to in the Answer to his Rejoynder which touch me not nor do they hurt my Life and Peace with God viz. That I am puft up with Spiritual Pride my Zeal turned into Envy my Wisdom into Folly whereby I am now become as heretofore in another case relating to John Story so dexterous in giving forth a false Certificate Answer This is my Comfort in the midst of all God hath not made William Rogers Judge over me though he would intrude into the Prerogative of 〈◊〉 Jesus and take upon him that which the Lord hath not given him therefore never reacheth my Life and if for my Testimony for God and his Antient Truth and the Fellowship of Brethren and my Zeal for the propagating the Government of the Spirit and Gospel Order in Gods visible Family and for my tender concern in the holy Exercise thereof I am become 〈◊〉 I am resolved in the Strength of the Eternal God to keep fast my stedfastness therein to the end of my Days that I may lay down my Life in Peace although for my so doing I shall become more vile yet and I am livingly satisfied that all his and others Reproaches which the Lord suffers to be my lot tends to my Advantage in God and the knowledge of Truth and no way lessens my repute in the Hearts of Gods faithful People and let William Rogers and those of the 〈◊〉 Company do their worst the Burden in the end shall be their own And as for that smiting Charge of my giving forth false Certificates against John Story There is none I testifie that I have been concerned in in relation to him but the Substance thereof shall be stood to when William Rogers or any of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 lets me see what they are and undertakes to convict me thereof 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 William Rogers mentions none here I take no notice of it any 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to manifest his unchristian Spirit that watcheth for Evil and smiteth 〈◊〉 the Back neither do I believe will it be of any credit with them that fear the 〈◊〉 and love Righteousness and desire to do unto all as they would be done 〈◊〉 And William Rogers hath no good cause to Impeach me thus with respect to John Story for many are Witnesses what Kindness and good-will I did bear with respect to his 〈◊〉 good and keeping his antient Repute in Truth amongst Gods People and that I stood by him in his Weakness so far as any way 〈◊〉 I could in excusing of him until he became my Shame through turning his Back of the Lords Kindness and the Brethrens too and became hardned in Evil till the Lord gave him up to a Reprobate Mind And I bless God that the good-will I bore to John Story and my care whilest his Day lasted and my Testimony born against a 〈◊〉 sort the reward thereof is returned into my Bosom having cleared my Conscience every way thus far concerning him and he rest of them let them consider of it in time as they will Answer the same 〈◊〉 the Lord in the great Day John Blaykling THE END Which wrong Spirit will never give them to see their duty nor lead them into it Printed by John Bring 〈◊〉 These Accusations are 〈◊〉 and his Eyes were evil John Story said He would have his Hand Cut off before he would take his Name from off the Paper for Separation This he said to R. B.
Meetings their Society their Care therein over each other their Discipline their Order their Practice of Uisiting the Fatherless and Widows and their care that every ones Testimony may stand true and faithful and they steadfast in it and to keep themselves unspotted of the World This can never be will the Sober and Conscientious say the Spirit of Christ thus to Rend and Tear and Bespatter his Brethren and the Society of which he was crying out an Apostacy and bringing in mens Laws Prescriptions and Imposing and Lording it over mens Consciences and a forcing of a blind obedience and an Implicit Faith and 〈◊〉 like and yet confess they differ from him and he from them but about the Shell and not the Kernel and his Correspondent J. Wilkinson whom he applauds as none to 〈◊〉 him that he hear s of in Doctrine and Life sayes God hath revealed it to him that the difference is not about the principles of Truth nor in Christ's Doctrines nor in any practice which the Truth in the members of the Heavenly body leadeth into c. But only in some Forms and Methods relating to Discipline c. mark then What! are we the same in the Principles of Truth are we the same in Christ's Doctrine are we in the Practice of what Truth leads the Members of the Heavenly Body into Then wherein are we Apostates And why are we rendred such as in whom the Life of Christianity is wholy extinct Will not all the unprejudiced who understand things say that his spirit is Naughty and Wicked and he the Apostate he would charge others wirh and envies the Integrity of the Faithful that keep their first love and in it their Care for Gods Glory It 's meer Malice that is in his heart that hath blinded his Eye and led him into the confusion his Book is stuft with of which much we might manifest at large obvious to all the Sincere where the knowledge of things may come but to take up our time with that it is not upon us much at this time his Inconsistency with himself and his applauded Friends his Contradictions and the meer Confusion he hath run himself into under the darkness that he is Surprised with as a Judgement and his Just desert upon him amongst the wicked whose candle is to be put out being plainly demonstrated and brought to view in the Treatise being an answer to W. Rogers's Book called The Accuser of our Brethren cast down unto which we refer the Reader and to T. Elwoods Antidote c. W. Rogers hath not only as to us it appears missed his aim with respect to repute as a Christian or as one in whom the life of Christianity is not extinct being in his work reproachful in all Christian Societies as out of the Order and rule thereof in this his clamorous Work But in our Sense as a man he is become a Spectacle for reproach amongst all sober unprejudiced People let his Book with the Answer to it be soberly viewed and this Query will arise in the hearts of sober People What is this man that is of that Confidence as to assume an engagement against the Lord and his People to excommunicate to curse and to bring to Ruin if he could such as have stood the many Onsets they have met with many wayes through Professors and Prophane yea Principalities and Powers What doth he think to do with this his Babylonish confused broken Instrument he hath framed in his malitious outragious bespattering work of Printing publishing and spreading abroad the same pretending to have it brought forth on the behalf of his Brethren as well as himself who as he 〈◊〉 had a concern of Conscience upon them for his so doing And yet not one will appear in any Nobility as men to stand by it that can be heard of but what they do it 's done in a hidden creeping manner as the works of darkness are wrought And the darts that are shot thereby we say touch not our Life for the Armour of the Lord's sake we are furnished with But they turn back again upon their own heads And it will prove unto them although they have confidently leaned upon it as the broken Reed of Egypt the Splinters whereof will pierce their hands and be their Torment incurably if they repent not It may be further said What is become of W. Rogers's parts as a Man that his presumptuous confident undertaking on this wise promiseth or where was that considerate Weightiness of Spirit that necessarily should attend him and becomes a man of that reputation as his undervaluing others without respect to Parentage and Birth should have declared himself to be furnished with as also with respect to the Occupation or Calling he is of Viz. a Merchant as he calls himself and applauds himself thereby in his publishing the Meanest of the Occupation of others he would defame as hereafter shall be made appear Many may say Doth this kind of work tend to his Praise thus to heap up Confusion and publish the same to his own shame to accuse to slander and defame with all the malice and Venom that through his Pervertings and Inferences he can stretch matters to to make accusations thereof as much as possible under any colour he can devise and then place his own Judgment thereupon and makes a flutter therewith like children that play with their own shadows And as to many charges and Accusations he brings they are upon no better Evidence then If Reports be true poor William for so he is although he be full and rich in his own Esteem since he went from the Light and the peaceable meek Spirit he hath marred his repute in the eye of God and God's People and brought Disgrace and shame on himself amongst men yea common and civil Societies are ashamed of his Work as a Nauseous thing let him go on if nothing will be a warning to him and doe what he hath to do for his day is almost over it were well if Repentance he could yet find Now to proceed further in relation to the matter of this high and horrid charge against us we mean the Family and body of that people that have believed and are in Union in Christ amongst whom we are bold to appear whom W. R. hath presumed to impeach as Apostates from God for we dare presume to say according to our belief from good observation that there is but very few that ever was in any measure of us that are of party with him and seeing he hath granted that the difference is not about the 〈◊〉 but the Shell and John Wilkinson says God hath manifested to him that the Difference is not in principles of Truth nor in the Doctrine of Christ nor in any practice that the Truth in the Members of the Heavenly Body leadeth into as in a Letter from him to George Fox is plainly in those very words inserted And seeing the state of Apostaey is truly applicable to
such as goes from the Power of God and from the Life and Kernel of Truth and to none other as in the Scripture-Sense it is clear and as later experiences also have demonstrated and to apply that State to such as have the Kernel of Christianity and are in the Truth in the Doctrine of Christ and in the Practice of things that the Truth in the members of the Heavenly Body leadeth into is 〈◊〉 Confusion a false Application and a ridiculous thing amongst all sober Conscientious People and renders the asserters ' thereof in a state of Distraction as to the Knowledge of God ready to be cast aside not worth the taking notice of What further need were there may many say of any further Proof of the matter against him and them of party with him as to the trampling upon this false and malicious charge but hold him to his and John Wilkinson's grant concerning us and then see how he 'l prove the accusation against us Unless we are willing to give them leave to retract what they have confessed Which seeing we see not that he is willing to call back his charge for the further manifesting his confusion his folly his malice and his envy and for the Vindication of our Innocent Life and care in the Church of God which Grieves the Backsliding sort we are inclined to do And shall proceed to examine farther what is the matter on the Churches account or what hath he against us for which he thus renders us in Print and leaves it on record to posterity that we are Apostates Innovators and such as in whom the life of Christianity is extinct and Intruders into the Government that belongs to Christ Imposers bringer's in of mens Prescriptions with what Inveterateness he can in the height of Malice appear in In order to which we say thus it may be observed through his whole book what work he makes against the Order and Discipline used and practised amongst us in the Church of God under the exercise of the Spirit which God hath given us a knowledge of and a Portion in and we Testifie that none other Government but that of the Spirit of our Lord Jesus do we as the Children of God maintain and stand in the vindication of to which subjection we owe for Conscience sake and under which we desire and are concerned as Instruments in Gods hand to be helps in Government in the Church to the keeping down that which would not be subject to Truth That so in all things we may be decent lovely and of good report keeping ourselves unspotted of the World according to that holy Profession we have maintained and confessed to before all It 's admirable to take notice what ado he makes against Discipline and Order in the Church and what contemptible Terms he puts upon the Directions and Instructions Justifiable and commendable therein to be get a disesteem thereof in the minds of people let but his book be perused through it will manifest it together with what is observed out of it by the Authors of the Accuser of our Brethren 〈◊〉 down Subscribed by Ellis Hookes c. therein Inserted and fully spoken to Demonstrably so that much here on that wise need not be inserted reference being had unto the a foresaid Treatise because whereof we shall much what pass by the trouble of recollecting the same or much concerning our selves therewith It 's obvious to all what down-right slighting he is in and what Inveighing he makes against any concern on that wise in the Church of God under a Gospel-Dispensation in many parts of his Book there is scarcely one Page without reflections on that wise See Page the 4 th in the first part of his Book Whosoever should endeavour by Outward Ways and Means to establish an outward Government outward Laws Rules and Orders c. under the Notion or pretence of Christ's Government would be found Invaders of Christ's Prerogative And in page 43. of his first part he says And if we do but consider how fruitless in days and years past as well as in this present Age all mens outward endeavours have been under the notion of Church-Government to preserve in any true Real and Heavenly Society c. and from thence places upon all concerns on that wise the badge of Apostacy Thus he manifests his slight of the Care of Gods people in the Church with respect to the outward exercises we should appear in for God and our mutual help comfort edification and building up one another and to render the same the more contemptible and useless he brings in a false Instance from the Apostate State that the Churches in days past according to what John saw coming over them fell into who lost the Power and only kept the Form in which all their endeavours could not be successful to preserve in Love nor any Christian heavenly Society and as this is not only an unchristian Comparison and a Reflection also upon the Primitive Care and Endeavours on that wise before the Apostacy was which the Churches were zealous in and God blessed their Endeavours in that day but also it is inserted here by our Adversary and the Adversary to the Churches Life and Peace in a Contempt of that good Order Discipline and Care used amongst us in the Spirit of Truth for Gods Glory and one anothers comfort in the Fellowship of the Gospel in which is peace and thereby doth he plainly demonstrate that the Tendency of his Spirit is to Emmulation and 〈◊〉 and the 〈◊〉 loose of a corrupt mind that is gratified therewith So that it may be concluded that Church-Government in the Spirit under which there is a godly care for one another in Righteousness and a tender Inspection in relation to it and sound 〈◊〉 to the limiting of the Flesh that likes not subje ction to Truth is that which is in his way and the great occasion of the Discontent of his Mind as the like also we have met withal from them of his Spirit and Party with him in the North which through sad experience we have had a certain Knowledge of and are able to demonstrate as in the sequel of our discourse God willing in Sincerity we purpose to do And on this score has the discomposure grown in the mind of William Rogers under which he hath vented the heat and rancour of his Spirit in opposition to Church-order and Discipline and his contempt of the good and wholsom Directions observed and used amongst us called by him Mens Prescriptions other mens Lines made ready to our hands Dictates of Fallible Men Dutward Rules Orders and the like under which discomposure of Spirit he hath run himself into grievous Mistakes and Contradictions in relation to Government and 〈◊〉 Directions and Rules observable and practicable therein and not like a man of his parts as he would be rendred nor like a man stedfast in the good understanding God gives but very brokenly and under