Answ We truly and dearly own the Scriptures or Book called the Bible but the words contained in that Book are not all of equal Authority one with another See thy own Testimony concerning the Scriptures or Bible which is as followeth The Scriptures are not God Christ nor the Spirit but Laws and Doctrines Histories and Reports given by the Inspiration of God I say The words which God spake unto Man saying Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine Heart and thy Neighbour as thy self Were and Are of greater Authority than those words which as History or Relation declare of the Wars and Battels of the Jews and other such Historical Matters and of greater Authority to and among Christians than those words that related to Circumcision the Blood of Bulls Goats and Rams and the Ashes of an Heifer c. these being Shadows and to pass away And the words of Christ who said to his Disciples I am the Vine ye are the Branches as the Branches cannot bring forth Fruit except they abide in the Vine no more can ye except ye abide in me And without me ye can do nothing My Flesh is Meat indeed and my Blood is Drink indeed Except ye eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and drink his Blood ye have no Life in you These words are of greater Authority than the Relation or Histories of the Apostles outward Travel by Sea or Land and they are of greater Authority than those words that speak of Paul's Cloak that he left at Troas mentioned in 2 Tim. 4.13 and all other such Historical Matters The People called Quakers do prefer and esteem the Book called the Bible or Holy Scriptures above any outward Writing or Book extant upon the Earth because of the Verity and Plenty of deep heavenly Sayings uttered by God unto Moses and the Prophets through the several Ages of the World and particularly and eminently through the heavenly Man Christ Jesus who was anointed with the Oyl of Gladness above his Fellows and filled with the Spirit without measure Nevertheless we do affirm that the Spirit of God in this Age hath moved several of us to write Books which have been Instrumental in his Hand for Good unto many with respect to their Immortal Souls God the Holy One changeth not neither is he to be limited and all our Books and Writings are not of equal Authority one with another some treat of our inward Experience of the Work of God in which are contained words that do direct Man and Woman to the Manifestation of the Spirit of God which is given them to profit withal to the Grace of God which brings Salvation to the Light wherewith Christ lighteth every one that comes into the World Some others of our Books do treat of our Sufferings and outward Exercises c. which though all of them be true yet some are of greater weight than others And Destruction comes upon People because they do not believe in and obey the Light Grace and Spirit of God which he hath given them to lead them out of Sin into all Truth Those who read our Writings without Prejudice may receive Good thereby as by Instruments which God makes use of and such who do so they will return the Glory to God as we do And those who read our Books in Envy and Malice the Murdering Spirit blinds their Minds and God doth condemn such And for J. C's saying He proved by Arguments the Scriptures rightly to be called by this Title The word of God Here the Reader hath no more but his say so which I deny to be any proof at all neither did he prove it but in this also is a Lyar. J. C. saith The Quakers acknowledge the Scriptures to be the Words of God by their own Confession every Scripture Word is God's Word Reply This is a dark Consequence J. C. hath drawn Though we own God's Words in the Scriptures to be his Words yet this doth not follow that we own every word in the Scripture to be God's Word For in the Scriptures there are words of the Serpent who is called the Devil and Satan words of wicked Men as well as God's words and words of good Men And hath not J. Cheyney here manifested his Falshood Let the Reader judge J. C. further saith R. H. in the Dispute denyed all Scripture to be given by Inspiration of God and would read the words 2 Tim. 3.16 All Scripture given by Inspiration of God is profitable leaving out Is c. Reply J. C. himself grants the word is not to be expressed in the Original Text but that the Original Text is read thus All Scripture given by Inspiration of God c. the word is not being expressed why then should R. H. be blamed for reading it according to the Original Text which was before the English Copy or Translation Yet there is extant some old English Bibles in which this Scripture is thus read All Scripture given by Inspiration of God is profitable c. And the word is and also the Conjunction and about which J. C. quarrels so much are left out But it seems J. C. will rather skirmish with his own Shadow than have nothing to do For what he grants to be true R. H. must if he can reach it be stigmatized as some Blasphemer But this way of skirmishing will never hurt R. H. nor stain his Reputation amongst good Men. R. H. acknowledged and doth acknowledge All Scripture given by Inspiration of God to be profitable c. But J. C. is Angry with him because he will not say All Scripture is given by Inspiration of God though he grants the word is not to be expressed in the Original Text therefore R. H's Reading is true And that all Scripture which is as much as to say All Writing is given by Inspiration of God I think J. C. himself If considerate will not assert for All Writing contains or comprehends every Writing that is written not only in the Scriptures of Truth the Books of the Prophets Evangelists the Epistles of the Apostles and other Writings of Truth extant but all other Writings extant of what matter or subject soever they treat If J. Chayney grants this that all Writing viz. all Books of what nature or kind soever that are written printed and published to the World are not given by Inspiration of God as sure he will then he grants all Scripture is not given by Inspiration of God for All Scripture comprehends all Writing and all Writing includes all Books that are written and all Books that are written are not profitable to the Man of God for Doctrine c. Then he must needs grant the Apostles Meaning was according to the Original Text with which the old English Bibles agree to wit All Scripture given by Inspiration of God is profitable c. This sense the Original Text will bear without any wrong to the Truth or the Apostle who spoke it forth To this the Apostle
no wonder for though it be not very long since he turned Parson and crept in among the Chemmarims or Men of the Back Robe for formerly he he was a Justice's Clerk and thirsted eagerly after the Quakers Money but as yet I hear not that he returned them their Money again yet in this short time he hath defiled his own Nest charged his Brethren with Vile Hypocrisie stiled them Hypocritical Ministers yet of himself saith I am the most Rude and Vnskilful of all thy Ministers Hath he not marked his own Nose What constrained him to Pray Hypocritically Dissemble with God and Lye to the Almighty Not the Truth for there is no Lye of it not the Spirit of Truth for that leadeth into all Truth He hath been acted by another spirit Well he is seen by many to be what he is an Hypocrite And whereas he saith Many will not endure such Preachers as he I add No doubt But from henceforth some that have heard him and approved of him being simply betrayed by him now seeing him will hear him no more but quite turn their Backs on that Rude Distracted Hypocritical Dissembling Lying Minister all which his own Confession proves him to be also a Base Wicked Confused Blaspheming Priest all which his own Works prove him to be Now if any moderate Enquirer shall ask a Reason Why I heap these things upon him I answer I am only an Instrument in the Lord's Hand and the God of Heaven is pouring Contempt upon him he hath lift up himself and not by the Lord and therefore the Lord is casting him down For the Truth 's sake and for the sake of the Simple-hearted where this may come have I collected these passages out of his Works giving the Title of the Book and Page in which whoso desires may in his Books read them more at large Many gross things I have pass'd by in his Books especially Quakerism subverted as also in his Skirmish the latter being fully answered already It is for Truth 's sake and the sake of People's Souls which are misguided that thus far I have run through his dirty Channel what I have written I commend to every Man's Conscience in the light of God who am Truth 's Friend and the Soul's Friend but an Enemy to that which misguided Roger Haydock A HYPOCRITE UNVAILED AND A BLASPHEMER Made Manifest Being an Examination of Iohn Cheyney's False Relation of his Dispute with the Quakers at Arley-Hall in Cheshire the 23d of the 11th Month called January 1699. Published in his Book Entituled A Warning to Souls c. Wherein John Cheyney's Lyes and Slanders are Detected his Hypocrisie is Unvailed his Confusion and Blasphemy is Manifested which he hath Published in his foresaid Book That the Simple-hearted People may see John Cheyney the pretended Gospel-Minister is No Minister of Jesus Christ By a Disciple of Christ Roger Haydock Isa 28.15 We have made Lyes our Refuge and under Falshood have we hid our selves Verse 17. The Hail shall sweep away the Refuge of Lyes and the Waters shall over-flow the biding-place Obad. 1.3 The Pride of thine Heart hath deceived thee Rev. 13.6 He opened his Mouth in Blasphemy against God to Blaspheme his Name his Tabernacle and them that dwelt in Heaven A HYPOCRITE Unvailed AND A BLASPHEMER Made Manifest c. IT is not a Narrative of the Dispute I had with John Cheyney at Arley-Hall in Cheshire upon the 23d Day of the 11th Month last past that in this Treatise I am purposed to give for that would require an impartial Reiteration and faithful Relation of all that was spoken on both parts which Task I am unwilling to undertake First Because I have not John Cheyney's Crutch which he leaned upon at the said Dispute I mean his Notes which he Disputed by he may well bear the Repetition of his own Expression published to the World in his Sermons of Hypocrisie p. 203 204. where he saith Such as do use Notes in publick it is but as a Lame Man that makes use of a Crutch or as a Weak-sighted Man of Spectacles And that he made use of his Notes in that Publick Dispute it was evident to some Hundreds of People which Notes I having not cannot relate every thing that was spoken by J. C. in his assaying to prove his false Charges Secondly Because something of what the Lord gave me that day to speak in defence of the Truth is not now in my Remembrance it being some Months since the Dispute and I had not Notes to Dispute by like J. C. neither did I put Pen to Paper concerning it or premeditate before hand what to say that not being Truth 's Way nor according to Christ's Command but expresly contrary Mat. 10.19 20. Take no thought how or what ye shall speak for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak For it is not ye that speak but the Spirit of the Father which speaketh in you But I was resigned in the Will of God and stood in his Counsel and it was given me of God whose Presence was that day with me who blessed my Undertaking concerning that Dispute to him alone be the Praise what to speak in Defence of the Truth whereby the Truth was cleared the People called Quakers and their Religion defended from John Cheyney's wicked Charges against both and J. C. proved a Lyar and a Deceiver Something of what was spoken-by-me which had then its Service is not now in my Remembrance so as to give a particular Account of every word I then spoke Therefore it 's not a Narrative of the Dispute I intend but an Examination of J. C's false Relation given concerning the said Dispute is chiefly hereby intended in order to detect his Lyes that the Truth may appear in which Examination I shall relate something of what was spoken and for clearing things to the Reader shall further declare my fence as the Lord opens things in me But before I come to Examine J. C's Relation of the Dispute at Arley I must intreat the Reader 's patience by the way to go along with me in the Examination of J. C's Account given of a Dispute at Croton in Cheshire between Mr. B. Minister of Wareham and Roger Haydock a Quaker I think it expedient for the opening the Matter to give the Reader a brief Relation how this Dispute was occasioned that it may appear I did not Challenge a Dispute with this Mr. B. as J. C. calls him whose Name is John Barber a thing I am clear of though of late I have been twice concerned in Disputation yet as Defendant through the daring Challenges the Priests have given amongst whom this J. C. of all others hath exceeded of which something more hereafter About the middle of the 4th Month 1676. I was in Cheshire at a Meeting of God's People at a place called Kingsley where there were some People lately Convinced of the Truth some of which were Parishioners and had
comes to the Father but by him In the same Way and by the same Rule viz. the Spirit in and by which they walked who had not the Scriptures walked they who gave forth the Scriptures not only before they gave forth the Scriptures but afterwards in the same Way and by the same Rule have they walked do and shall they walk who have come do or shall come to live the Life the Scriptures declare of and not one of these who lives the Life the Scriptures testifie of make the Scriptures void as J. C. falsly suggesteth who thereby hath manifested his Ignorance both of the Scriptures and of the Power of God being one of those unlearned who wrests the Scriptures to their own Destruction 2 Pet. 3.16 And for his saying The Scriptures were proved the Rule it is false For the Spirit was proved the Rule and yet the Scriptures not made void J. C. in page 10 11. to prove W. P. and R. H. confute themselves and so saith he down goes the whole Body of Quakerism affirms That Saving and Historical Faith are not two Faiths but one entire saving Faith Historical and Saving Faith are not opposite where-ever there is Saving Faith there is Historical and the Rule is one and the same There is the same Law and Rule to wicked Men as to godly Men the same Scripture which breeds Historical Faith breedeth Saving Faith but neither one nor the other without the Spirit of God Reply Now if this Tale he true that Historical Faith and Saving Faith are not two Faiths nor opposite but one Faith and that upon this point Down must go the whole Body of Quakerism Then I argue thus He that hath Historical Faith hath Saving Faith if they be one as J. C. says they are and not opposite then there is no difference betwixt a Dead Faith and a Living Faith a Faith without Works and a Faith that hath Works J. C. saith They are not two nor opposite where-ever saith he there is Saving Faith there is Historical and the Rule is one and the same Is it not as broad as long where-ever then there is Historical Faith there is Saving Faith for saith J. C. They are not two Faiths nor opposite but one Faith and the Rule is one and the same But doth not this contradict the Scripture and give the Apostle James the Lye Who saith Thou believest that there is one God thou dost well the Devils also believe and tremble But wilt thou know O vain Man that Faith without Works is dead James 2.19 20. What saith J. C Historical Faith and Saving Faith are not two Faiths nor opposite but one Faith What is this but to say the Faith of vain and wicked Men and the Belief of Devils and the Faith of God's Elect are not opposite not two Faiths but one Faith J. C's assertion plainly holds forth this Doctrine That there is no difference nor opposition between Historical Faith and Saving Faith Faith without Works and Faith which hath Works Dead Faith and living Faith the Faith of Wicked Men and the Faith of God's Elect. I will not say J. C. is a Ranter in Practice But let the Reader judge whether J. C. be not a Ranter in Principle For J. C. cannot deny but that Devils and wicked Men believe there is a God and that the belief of Devils and wicked Men is not saving and that wicked Men whose Faith is not saving but vain believe the History of the Scriptures Now whether the historical Faith of vain and wicked Men and the saving Faith of God's Elect be not opposite be not two Faiths but one entire saving Faith let Truth in all People judge Likewise observe how grosly J. C. contradicts himself for he says Neither the one nor the other doth the Scriptures breed without the Spirit of God If they be one and another they are two if they be two J. C. gives himself the Lye who before said They were not two but one and he makes God's Spirit the Author of them both And again he saith The Spirit in both concurreth and maketh use of the Scriptures in this he concludes them to be two for J. C. saith In both that is in both Faiths Historical and Saving Again J. C. saith Saving and Historical Faith are not two Faiths are not opposite Now the Verb are is plural and speaks of more then one So all along though J. C. deny them to be two he concludes them to be two Faiths and wofully contradicts himself and instead of throwing down the whole Body of Quakerism is sadly confounded Historical Faith is one thing the Drunkard Lyar Whoremonger Deceiver may have it or he that hath made shipwrack of that Faith which is saving and of a good Conscience may yet have historical Faith that is he may acknowledge there is a God But Saving Faith is another thing this Faith all Men have not 2 Thess 3.2 but God visits all with his Spirit and Power in order to give saving Faith but many resist the Visitation of God and perish in their Gain saying the Destruction of all such is of themselves and the Lord God is Clear Of historical Faith the History may be a Rule but of saving Faith the Mystery is a Rule The Spirit gives saving Faith and the Spirit is the Rule of it and this will stand over the Head of J. C. and his Ranting Principle And in his bold attempt he hath neither hurt W. P. nor R. H. nor the Quakers but has manifested his Distraction and given himself the Down-fall and his Confusion is laid open that the Reader if unprejudiced may see what an Unskilful Confounded Babylonish Builder J. C. is J. C. saith pag. 15. The Quakers prefer their own Writings above the Scriptures and call their own Writings by this Title The Word of God This was another thing asserted by J. C. at the Dispute to prove the Quakers Religion against the Scriptures Reply I answered at the Dispute and again say The Charge is false the Quakers do not prefer their Writings above the Scriptures of Truth nor call them The Word of God neither did any place in their Books which he read and were owned nor Quotation which he hath given in his Relation prove any such thing I owned and we own and dearly esteem the Scriptures of Truth Friendly Reader This false and malicious Charge of John Cheyney's is lately clearly answered by William Gibson in his before-mentioned Book entituled The Life of God which is the Light and Salvation of Men Exalted which Answer take as followeth By which thou mayest see clearly that the People called Quakers do not prefer their own Writings above the Scriptures Concerning the Holy Scriptures or Bible and concerning the Quakers Books JOhn Cheney in thy 8th and 9th page of thy Premonition to thy Sermons of Hypocrisie thou chargest the People called Quakers That they esteem their Books and Writings to be of Equal Authority with the Scriptures or Bible
Certificate or Complaint from the Right Worshipful John Wainwright Doctor of Law Vicar General and Official Principal to the Right Reverend Father in God John Lord Bishop of Chester to Christopher Bannestree and Henry Houghton Esqs and other his Majesty's Justices of the Peace of the said County directed wherein it was declared That one Roger Haydock of Coppal in the County aforesaid had contemned and disobeyed the Process of the Ecclesiastical Court by not appearing at Days and Times appointed him to answer Ralph Briddock Clerk Doctor of Divinity of a certain Cause of Tithes depending in the said Court The said Christopher Bannestre and Henry Houghton by Warrant under their Hands and Seals did Apprehend or Take or cause to be Apprehended and Taken the Body of the said Roger Haydock and committed the same to Prison viz. to the common Goal of Lancaster there to remain until he had given sufficient Surety for his due Obedience of the Process Proceedings Decrees and Sentences of the Ecclesiastical Court according to a certain Act of Parliament in that behalf made and provided And whereas afterwards the said Roger Haydock appealed to the said Consistory Court at York from the said Decree of Certifying him the said Roger Haydock to his Majesty's Justices of Peace aforesaid and complained of the Injustice Nullity and Invalidity of the said Decree and alledged he was never cited nor any lawful Certificate thereof made By vertue of which Appeal and the Admission of the same the Force and Effect of the said Decree was suspended to the Intent the said Roger Haydock might be free from all Constraint and have free Liberty and Power to Prosecute his Appeal The said Consistory Court at York did will and require the Justices aforesaid to set at Liberty the Body of the said Roger Haydock during the dependance of the said Cause in the said Court which was done accordingly And whereas afterwards the Court rightly proceeding in the said Cause of Appeal decreed the said Roger Haydock to be cited personally to appear in the said Court at a certain time and place assigned him to take and undergo his personal Oath commonly called Juramentum de malitio Committando in the said Cause and issued a Citation under the Seal of the said Court in that behalf by vertue whereof he was cited and for his Contempt and Contumacy in not appearing in the said Court at the time and place assigned him according to the Tenor of the said Citation was by the said Court propounded Contumacious and for his Contumacy in not appearing nor presenting the said Appeal by such ways and means as the Law in that behalf provides the said party appealed was desired to be dismissed from the said Appeal and the said Roger Haydock was desired to be certified to his Majesties Justices of the Peace aforesaid as by the Acts and Records of the Consistory Court aforesaid and the said Warrant and discharge in that behalf made reference being thereto had more fully and at large it appears All which the Consistory Court of York doth Certifie Inform and Signifie unto us and do require our Aid and Assistance to order and reform him the said Roger Haydock for his Contempt and Contumacy aforesaid according to the Tenor and Effect of the above-mentioned Act of Parliament made in the 27th Year of the Reign of King Henry the 8th of famous Memory containing an order for payment of Tithes We therefore in Obedience to the said Significavit and Pursuance to the said Act of Parliament do straitly Charge and Command you That you or some of you do forthwith upon receipt hereof take the Body of him the said Roger Haydock and him convey or cause to be conveyed to his Majesties common Goal at Lancaster there to remain without Bail or Mainprize until he shall find sufficient Surety to be bound by Recognizance to the Use of our Soveraign Lord the King to give due Obedience to the Process Proceedings Decrees and Sentences of the Consistory Court of York made against him as aforesaid fail not herein at your Perils Given under our Hands and Seals the 8th day of May Anno Reg. Dom. Car. Secund. Anglia c. xxvii Annoque Dom. 1675. Roger Bradshave Nicholas Penington To all Mayors Bailiffs Constables sub-Constables and to all other his Majesty's Sworn Officers but more especially to the Constables of Coppal and every of Them These Roger Haydock Heskin Fell and Alice Haydock 's Letter to the Bishop of Chester Unto thee who subscribes thy Name Ralph Chester there is a few Words upon our Minds to impart which are as followeth Friend BY thy Letter to the Jaylor and also by an Information from thee to the Judge at the last Assizes in order to Confine me with some other of my Friends to the common Goal here at Lancaster We whose names are hereunto subscribed do understand that we are Prisoners at thy Suit having so been for the space of twenty Months and upwards for the accomplishing whereof thou say'st it hath cost thee 30 l. Now Friend in a plain Stile for I may not give thee any flattering Titles not having so learned of Christ but in words of Truth and Soberness unto thee who art called a Bishop it is with me to write and that upon good Ground as also having sufficient Reasons inducing me thereunto Love to God and love to thy Soul and that my Conscience may be Clear and that by way of Query leaving it to thy serious Consideration and to the Witness of God in thy Conscience to give an Answer thereunto Whether it was not an Unchristian Act of thee to cause us to be cast into Prison for no other cause but that we who own Christ Jesus to be come who is our Priest and the Bishop of our Souls who oversees us and takes care for us and gives us freely without Money and without Price and because we cannot destroy our Faith in him nor lay waste our Testimony concerning his Coming and the free Teachings of his Spirit could not with a safe Conscience and therefore refused to pay thee Tithes knowing of a Truth that the Levitical Priesthood to which Tithes were due is changed and that Christ Jesus who is made a Priest not after the Law of a carnal Commandment but after the Power of an endless Life A Priest for ever after the Order of Melchisedeck hath disannulled the Commandment as is clear from Hebrews 7 And whether thy writing to the Jaylor and incensing the Judge against us not only to infringe our Liberty but if possible deprive us of Life also be not very Unchristian Whether did ever Christ give ye any such Command that said Freely ye have received freely give Or the Apostles shew thee any such Example who said We Covet no Man's Silver Gold nor Apparel Or whether thou that hast taken upon thee the Office of a Bishop which the Apostle Paul said was a good Work be in the Practice of those things which
aright to my benefit satisfaction and comfort He was a Skilful Labourer in God's Vineyard knowing as well how to refresh water and gather in due season as to prune and keep up the Fence He was a Skilful and Valiant Soldier of the Lamb in Innocency shooting God's Arrows aright against Babylon and his Bow abode in its Strength He was not afraid of the Archers that shot at him having on the Shield of Faith which repelled their envious Darts His Fighting was not with Carnal but Spiritual Weapons under the Banner of Christ his Captain which is Universal Love in which Love he was rooted and grounded and flourished like a fresh and fruitful Tree more and more to the end of his time I was with him at a Meeting the day next before his Sickness began being but three days before his departure in which Meeting the Lord's Wisdom and Power in a great measure appeared with him opening many excellent things by him and his Service therein was great treating very fully and clearly of the sundry Dispensations of God towards Mankind in the several Ages of the World according to the several States and Conditions thereof in order that Mankind that had been in a lost and estranged Estate in Transgression might come again to be reconciled unto and acquainted with God their Creator and with him enjoy Everlasting Peace and Happiness Shewing also That God who at sundry times and in divers manners by his Angels and Prophets spoke unto Mankind formerly hath in these last days spoken to his People by his Son whom he hath appointed Heir of all things by whom also he made the World who in the fulness of time came in the Body prepared for him Born of the Virgin Mary in which he spoke and did many excellent things and suffered many things yea even unto Death leaving to all that should believe in him an Example that they should follow his steps who laid down his Life for their Reconciliation to God and Redemption from all Iniquity And also according to the Scriptures he very clearly and largely declared and testified That the largest clearest and most general and excellent Dispensation of God's Love in his Son Christ Jesus is as it was in the Apostles time in this our Age and Generation in and by the Light and Spirit of Christ manifested in and unto his People who walk in Faithfulness and Obedience thereunto to which he Exhorted all and the Praise and Glory of all he ascribed to God whose Honour he sought and not his own The substance of which sound Declaration and living Testimony by the Lord's Power that attended it was so Imprinted in my Mind and Memory that day that I believe I shall never forget it So the Lord who had made him comely both outwardly and inwardly and adorned him with a meek low and quiet Spirit and with Wisdom clearly to discern the deep things of God in a great measure and to divide the Word of Truth aright in tender Love and sound Judgment was with him to the end of his time and when he had accomplished his great Service which the Lord called him unto and accompanied him in and blessed with success to the good of many he having fought the good Fight and kept the Faith and finished his Course laid down his Head in Peace and Died in the Lord the righteous Judge whose Cross in his time he having cheerfully born now enjoyeth the Crown of Everlasting Life and Righteousness and being at rest from his Labours his Works follow him and the Testimony of his Works Writings and Services may be of Benefit and Service in the Generations to come and his sweet Memorial will Live with the Just for ever He Departed the 11th Day of the 3d Month 1696. Henry Mollineux Given forth the 19th of the 8th Month 1697. Christopher Winn 's Testimony concerning Dear Roger Haydock Deceased AS touching this my dearly beloved Friend I cannot easily be silent but express something in Testimony concerning him for a three fold Reason First Because the Lord made him an Instrument to Preach the Word by which my hard and unbelieving Heart was reached and tender'd for although I had heard the Truth preached before by some Friends yet it was no more than a Wonder to me remaining still in gainsaying until it pleased God by his Ministry to open my Heart to receive the Word spoken by him by his explaination of that Prayer our Lord taught his Disciples and shewing who had right to call God Father was I convinced at which I often marvelled remembring my Zeal in my young Years for the repeating of it according to Tradition yet so it seemed good to the All wise God in whom I have believed and do reverently Bless his Name for sending his Messenger of Glad-tidings to Proclaim the acceptable Day and Preach the Gospel for which at that time he suffer'd Bonds and Imprisonment having only obtained Liberty for a little season which he bestowed in visiting the Churches I am through Mercy amongst others a Seal of his Ministry which he was careful as well as prudent to adorn in Conversation using sometimes in familiar Discourse to say He that Preaches abroad let him Preach at home He was self-denying for the Truth 's sake he was always in a Care and often in Admonition lest any should dishonour the Truth by out-going or disorderly walking whose Expression sometimes was To Walk in Truth was better than to Talk of it Secondly Because of my knowledge of him after my Convincement it falling to my lot of later time to be a Member of that particular Meeting he belonged to in which time he shewed that in him had God settled a Care as well to Build up in the Faith as to beget to it helpful to further and promote Vertue in us all and in no wise Censorious as to the Testimony of young Friends nor frowning whether they appeared before or after him Yea further without boasting I may say he was a Man greatly fearing the Lord apt to Teach prudent to Advise as well as able to do it I observed in difficult matters few too hard for him but by that Wisdom that was in him he had strength to go thâ—ow it So that his Death was a Surprisal as well as a felt and known Loss to the Churches amongst whom he frequently conversed and because thereof was their Hearts affected with Sorrow It may appear by his Journal he made use of his time leaving Wife and Children and Temporal Affairs to visit the Churches in these and other Nations My Third and Last Reason that hath been a motive to give this brief Relation is That near and true Respect I bore towards him in his Service amongst us in so much that with a tendered Mind I now remember him and a sence of his Spirit my Heart tenders And though to him to Dye is Gain yet to us Loss But who may say to God What dost Thou Or Why is it
Thus But rather strengthen our selves in the Lord that we may according to our Membership be more capable to serve the Lord and his People as we had him and others for Examples it was a Portion of the Lord's Spirit that made him a Worthy in Israel that hath made me at this time thus Testifie of him so that I can say He being Dead yet speaketh God by his goodness grant to raise many such helps in Israel to the dignifying of his Name which this our dear deceased Friend sought Since I have known Truth above twenty Years and observed the Conversation of such as were in Christ before me I have beheld few if any more remote from self-Praise or Exaltation I believe while in this Tabernacle I shall not forget his Advice to me the first opportunity I had with him after I was convinced by him viz. Not to Attribute any thing to Man but give God the Glory and with what Reverence and Gravity these things were expressed his Humility at that time reached the better part in me and I hope will remain as a Nail fastned in a sure Place My Prayer to the Lord is that he may raise many such Ministers in his now Israel to the furtherance of his Name Truth and Holiness and that many may be willing as he was to spend and be spent to go to and fro that Knowledge may be increased What I have already testified of this my Father and Friend for in his Bonds he begat me hath eased my Spirit I loved him dearly in his Life and no less at his Death whose Savour reached to People of all sorts and his Death lamented I was several times with him in his Sickness and was concerned in Mind to go down a little before his Departure so that with many good Friends I was present and saw him put off this outward Tabernacle though to our Sorrow yet in a full perswasion that he died the Death of the Righteous prepared for that future felicity which a numberless Number is following after which neither Hell nor Death Beast or false Prophet shall be able to hinder Amen Amen Although I could further Amplify and Enlarge this my Testimony yet shall desist with Real and Ardent Desires to the Lord that he may order our Conversation aright and that all that names the Name of Jesus may depart from Iniquity and be sanctified to reign with the Righteous World without End Christopher Winn. Penkâ—th near Warrington in Lancashire the 3d of the 3d Month 1697. William Ellis's Testimony concerning dear Friend Roger Haydock I Have much in my Heart concerning our dear Friend Roger Haydock tho' I cannot express to the full what I know of him but however I shall say the less not questioning but that there are Testimonies in the Hearts of many Friends to his Worth and Faithfulness and Service in the Blessed and Holy Truth wherein we have believed and felt the Blessed Effects of our Faith to the great Comfort and Consolation of our Souls It was about twenty one Years the last 3d Month since I was Convinced of the Blessed Truth And though I have since that day had many Instructors in Christ yet I have not many Fathers for in Christ Jesus was I begotten by him through the Gospel and the Operation of the Holy Spirit which did Effectually open a door of Entrance in my Heart as it opened a door of Utterance unto him It was at a Meeting at Bradley near Skipton in Yorkshire where he declared the Day of God which was broken forth in this Age in great Splendor to Enlighten Mankind he spoke many things which reached the States of many in that day alluding from the State of Israel of old who passed through the Sea and saw the wondrous Works which the Lord wrought for their Deliverance yet some forgot him and made themselves Idols of their Jewels and Earings saying These be thy Gods O Israel who brought thee out of the Land of Egypt and then sat down to Eat and Drink and rose to Play With many more precious Words wherewith he did sound forth the glorious Gospel I was abundantly satisfied that day with what I had felt and heard So I took heed unto the Word in my Heart unto which I had been directed by him and it grew and Increased and my Faith Increased and I became according to my small Measure obedient thereunto and my Soul was in love with the Truth and the Followers thereof especially with him who had been the Instrument of publishing the same to me his Feet was indeed beautiful unto me and I could say in Truth Blessed be him that Cometh in the Name of the Lord I saw his Zeal and was sensible of the Sincerity of his Heart and Endeavours in his Life-time to promote to his utmost the great Name of God And when through Providence I came to be more Intimately Acquainted with him I was confirmed in my sense of him and his Love to God and Zeal for the Truth and have in many private Opportunities with him been abundantly satisfied in the sweet Society and Fellowship we have injoyed together and I am fully perswaded that his Root was in the Truth and that he was sensible that the Root bore him and he grew therein and laboured much to bring People to be established upon the Sure Rock Christ Jesus the Root of Life upon which the True Church is Built And I know his Labours in that Respect was great and the Lord saw his Faithfulness and poured out upon him the Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding and of a sound Mind to promote Good Discipline and Comely Order in his Church that She might be like the True Church of Old which John spoke of under the Similitude of A Woman who was clothed with the Sun and had the Moon under her Feet Which Glory did far Excel the Glory that attended Solomon in his best State for the sake of which the Queen of the South came far and was overcome with the Sight thereof Thus did he Labour and Travel in his Day spending himself that the Church might be adorned with the Comely Attire and Ornaments of the Holy Spirit and that the Name of the Lord Jesus her Head might spread to the Ends of the Earth Blessed be the great God of Heaven and Earth that raised up him and many more who could hold the Sword and be Expert in the War like the Cant. 3.7 8. Threescore Valiant Men of Israel who kept the Bed of Solomon Or like the Judges 20.15 16. Men of Benjamin who could Sling to an Hairs Breadth and not miss The Lord Raise up more such Faithful Labourers in his Vineyard and give them Wisdom and Zeal to Train up those who shall believe in the Truth in sound Discipline as well as in Word and Doctrine that he may Restore unto the Churc◠〈◊〉 1.26 Judges as at the First and 〈◊〉 as at the Beginning that Men may call them The City of
Word of Eternal Life of which this our faithful Friend was a Minister to which work the Lord by his Grace had called him and he freely gave up and devoted himself to that Service for which the Lord had well fitted and qualified him and made him of great Ability through the Spirit giving him sound Knowledge and deep Discerning to find out the Mysterious Workings of the Enemy of Mankind so that he was very skillful to divide the Word of Truth aright And at that time there was great Service to be done for the Lord for then many had tender Desires after the Knowledge of God and were Seeking and Enquiring after the way of Truth which leadeth to Eternal Life and to such he was an Helper and faithful Instructor in the Lord Jesus and being zealously Careful that he might compleat the Work and Service that the Lord had called him unto and promote the Interest and Honour of God and be Instrumental for the good of many of the Children of Men He went under a great Concern and Exercise of Spirit through great Travels Sufferings and Labour of Body preaching the Gospel of Christ freely that many might be turned to God and gain the Knowledge of him and be gathered into the one Fold and Pasture of Eternal Life out of the By-Ways and Dark Paths and Vain Religions of the worldly-minded and so might know a coming out of Darkness and a walking in the true Light and way of Life and Righteousness that they might please their Creator and answer the end of his Love revealed in his Son and manifested in the Light And the Lord who imployed him in his Service blessed his endeavours therein for many received his Testimony and thereby were turned from Darkness to Light and out of the Paths of Error into the Way of Righteousness His Labours and Travels are in part declared by his Journal which sheweth his Travels in several Countries and Nations and sometimes amongst People of a strange Language A blessed work he went through in faithfulness unto the End He was a great Helper and of great Service in the Church of Christ and his Labours and Ministry therein were very successful he was often prevalent to end Differences and Discord where the Enemy had sown any amongst Brethren His Doctrine received of the Lord was sound and deep Matters were often opened by him and it was his delight to do Service for God and to help the good Work forward in any he being earnestly concerned that all that knew God might Glorifie him as God And the Lord blessed him whilst here with such Mercies as appertain to the making of a Man's Life Comfortable in this World which the Lord saw no doubt he was worthy of who richlâ— recompenseth all those that Love him and Seek his Honour and the Welfare of his Church as this our faithful Friend did and his Memorial will be long upon the Earth amongst the Generations of the Righteous I might write much concerning him and his Vertuous Life which was Comely and Honourable and of a loving and friendly Behaviour amongst Men His Company was Pleasant and Profitable and many were sorry to part with him But though his Removal hence be a loss to many yet I am well assured that he hath gained thereby and is in the enjoyment of Peace and of an endless Treasure in Heaven amongst the number of the Blessed with Christ in his Kingdom and being at rest from his Labours his Works follow him And it is my earnest desire that we who are left behind which is but for a little space may so improve our Time and Gifts that in the end we may have a Share of the same Reward that is laid up for all the Faithful James Laithwait A Brief Account c. An EPISTLE to FRIENDS of Blackrod Meeting IN Love unfained do I Salute you and in the Fear of God Exhort you to Faithfulness and in the Word of the Lord Counsel you To be Watchful in your Meetings that the weighty Work and Service of God which he hath concerned you in be not slighted by any of you through Unfaithfulness and want of Watchfulness Friends The Seed which God hath sown is good if you be watchful it will grow and prosper and cover the Ground and the Earth will be blessed But if you sleep the Enemy will sow Tares which will grow up with it and choke it so the Ground that affords them nourishment will be cursed This is the Word of Truth unto you so as in Love to the Seed which is good and in Bowels of Compassion to your Immortal Souls which are of great Price in the sight of God desiring the Seed's Prosperity and your Souls Good in the sense of its Suffering and of the Deprivation of God's Love unto you who in this Incumbent Duty of Watchfulness have been negligent it hath been upon me many times in the Motion of God's Spirit to Reprove your Negligence and likewise Exhort and Admonish you to Faithfulness in that Duty whilst conversant with you even so since remote from you outwardly separated and under Bonds restrained the sence of the Non-performance of that so weighty a Duty on your behalf who are herein concerned whereby God's Righteous Soul hath been vexed and the Spirit of the Upright and Sincere-hearted to God amongst you have been made sad hath sometimes come before me to my grief and yet remaineth in my view to the saddening of my Spirit who am truly a well-wisher of Zion and one though outwardly confined yet travels for the Prosperity of Jerusalem in Spirit which is at liberty which Man cannot confine Therefore it entered my Heart in the Word of Truth to signifie God's Counsel unto you That ye be watchful that the good Seed which God hath sown may grow deeply having depth of Earth even room in the honest Heart that it may bring forth in some Thirty in some Sixty in some an Hundred fold but in all of you some to his Praise lest the Enemy sow his Seed and it grow and the Ground be nigh unto cursing whose end is to be burned And Friends another word hath often run thorough me when present with you That you Love one another and the same word is in me though I be from you whereby I know the Cause yet remains in you And truly I may take up a Lamentation for you who are concerned who will not be counselled How often hath the Lord striven with you How often hath his Word been spoken unto you And how often hath his Servants laboured amongst you And do you yet live in Strife and Contention Truly I am sorry for you and that the precious Truth is dishonoured by you it is a grief upon my Spirit and upon the Spirits of the Upright-hearted among you If therefore you have an Ear to hear hear put away Strife Envy and Contention and labour a Reconciliation in the Love if so be the Lord's Anger may be appealed
which is kindled against you because of these things and you perish not in his hot Displeasure And Friends You who are Called and Chosen and Faithful for a Remnant of such I know there is amongst you who keep your Garments unspotted of the World answering the Pure in all Dwell you in the Feeling of the weighty Life which hath seasoned you that in it you may Read me Feel me and Embrace me in the Arm of my Father's Love even as you are Read Felt and Embraced that tho' outwardly separated yet in that Inseparable Bond of Unity in which we are One and our place One even with the Son to behold his Glory we may lie down together and Solace our selves together in the Overcoming of our Father's Love whose Care is over us and whose Love flows towards us To whom be Glory for Ever and Ever Your Brother in true Love R. Haydock Lancaster-Castle the 2d of the 8th Month 1674. THE SKIRMISHER CONFOUNDED Being a Collection of several Passages taken out of some Books of John Cheyney's who stiles himself The Author of the Skirmish upon Quakerism In which is the Baseness Wickedness Contradictions Lyes Hypocrisie Unbelief Confusion and Blasphemy of that Skirmishing Priest Discovered and He Laid Open to the View of every one who shall read with a Single Eye Collected by a Friend to the Truth and a Well-wisher to the Souls of all People ROGER HAYDOCK Isa 54.17 No Weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper and every Tongue that shall rise up in judgment against thee thou shalt condemn This is the Heritage of the Servants of the Lord and their Righteousness is of me saith the Lord. Psalm 7.15 He made a Pit and digged it and is fallen into the Ditch which he made London Printed and Sold by T. Sowle 1699. THE SKIRMISHER Confounded c. JOhn Cheyney in his Book entituled A Call to Prayer c. in the Preface to the Reader saith thus I would be loth to fasten any Error upon any Person which I can perceive him not to hold and I would Candidly Interpret all Words so far as I can with Conscience and Justice to the Truth The next Page of the same Preface to the Reader thus I do not know 〈◊〉 by their Opinion of the Light within Devils and Damned Souls may be saved In his Book entituled The Skirmish c. p. 4. Penn 's Position doth justifie the Irish Rebellion the French Massacre the Marian Persecution the Ten Persecutions of the Primitive Churches the Gun-Powder Treason P. 13. of the same Book I would be glad to make the best I can of your Position Auimadversion Can there be greater Baseness than under pretence of Candor to be thus Absurd Is it not great wickedness in this Skirmisher to make such Ungodly Consequences of so Harmless a Position and yet afterwards say He would be glad to make the best he can of it Here followeth the PRIEST's Contradictions John Cheyney The Skirmisher against OR fighting John Cheyney Himself Assertion 1. CAll to Prayer p. 117. I dar◠say let the Light within alone and say nothing to it and it shall never move any Quaker or ungodly Soul to pray till Death or the Flames of Hell shall awake them 2. P. 119. A Quaker or any other may live a secure Flesh-pleasing Life all his Days and never have one effectual Motion to Prayer if he be ruled by the Light within 3. P. 119. The Quakers could hardly devise a more sin-pleasing Doctrine than never to pray without a Motion from the Light within 4. P. 109. Their grand Principle of the Light within is not consistent with Right Prayer 5. P. 76. The Spirit of God is a Spirit of Supplication he commands and moves to Prayer p. 20. The Spirit doth intercede in us we could do nothing without the special Help of God's Spirit without the special Help of God's Spirit we can do no Spiritual Work 6. Quakerism Subverted p. 18. The Light within tells me there is a God 7. Skirmish p. 13. The Light within which should be Man's Guide takes part with the Flesh and Satan against God 8. Call to Pray p. 111. They are no People of Prayer and make no use of Prayer P. 101. A Prayerless People of a Prayerless Religion Prayerless Pretenders to Holiness 9. Skirmish p. 13. If the Scriptures go farewell God and Christ and Heaven and all Law and Rule 10. O Lord thou know'st that I am what I profess my self to be Thy Servant sincere and upright John Cheyney Contradiction 1. CAll to Prayer p. 119. For though the Light may move yet it will be but a weak Motion and the Motion of the Darkness or Fleshly Part will overcome 2. P. 119. That which should Move them to Prayer the Light within is over-powered by the Darkness 3. P. 118. I 'll tell thee what keeps me from Prayer when my Conscience and the Light within moves me to Prayer my Sloth and Laziness my Deadness want of Life and Hunger and Spirit in my Soul 4. P. 3 4. Right Prayer is not meer Words nor a meer Work of Nature nor bare Humane Industry and Striving without the special Grace and Concurrence of God 5. P. 115. Their great Assertion that Prayer is not to be done without the Motion of the Light within some have confessed they never Prayed without the Motion from the Spirit of God P. 98. You need no Motion of the Spirit to tell you when to feed and cloath your Bodies but you need a Motion from the Spirit to put you upon to dress and feed your Souls 6. P. 101. Trust not that blind deceitful Guide within you the Light within you left it lead you into Everlasting Darkness 7. P. 61. When God and Conscience have called to this Duty a lazy carcarnal self 〈…〉 Mind has kept us away 8. P. 114. If Report be true when they do Pray for I have heard and believe that sometimes they Pray 9. P. 62. Must a hungry Man need a Scripture to tell him how often he must Eat No more doth a hungry Soul need a Scripture to tell him how often he must Pray Besides these Contradictions out of his Books I shall add one more out of two Manuscripts written with his own Hand which I think he will not deny and I am certain in this he hath no cause to blame the Printer as sometime he did but if he denies it I can both produce and prove it 10. Given forth by a weak Believing Christian and Disobedient Servant of Christ John Cheyney I shall here set down some of his Confessions to the Light Grace and Spirit of God and then discover his Lyes c. Pag. 120. THE Light then prevails Habitually and there is a kind of continual Exercise of the Soul by Internal Prayer Pag. 122. The Soul and Heart of Prayer is within seen to God Pag. 4. There is a great deal of Praying outwardly which is not right and sincere Praying outwardly Balling
noted down and kept since the Dispute in which I have been as short as I well could 〈◊〉 and that the Reader may also perceive the Dis-ingenuity of J. C. who would have his Reader to believe That many Quakers spoke besides R. H. and yet on the other side none spoke but J. B. and that until J. B. gave him leave to manage an Argument he was silent which was utterly false Now I shall examine J. C's Account of this Dispute which is as followeth That J. B. giving him leave to manage an Argument for proof That the Spirit by which the Quakers are acted is not the Spirit of God that 〈◊〉 upon J. B. to prove Reply John Cheyney hath clipped the Charge the Charge was and that which lay upon J. B. to prove That the Light and Spirit the Quakers are led by and direct People to is the Spirit of Antichrist This being the Charge iâ— appears by John Cheyney's account That John Barber had not proved his Charge but it lay upon him to prove The wrong J. C. hath done us 〈◊〉 this◠〈◊〉 clipping the Charge But to bring them 〈◊〉 near together The Quakers are led by the same 〈◊〉 by which they are acted and to the same Spirit by which they are led they direct People This then says J. C. as stating J. B's Charge The Quakers are not acted by the Spirit of God then not led by the Spirit of God then direct not People to the Spirit of God therefore that the Spirit the Quakers are acted by led by direct People to is the Spirit of Antichrist This then lay upon J. B. to prove viz. his Charge and having stated it upon J. B. at the latter end of the Dispute and since laid it in writing before him that his Charge was false and in a few lines cleared the People called Quakers of it I shall at present acquiesce in J. C's grant that it lay upon J. B. to prove and shall now examine what he hath done in proof thereof J. C. tells his Reader He propounded an Argument That the Quakers deny the faithful Ministers of Jesus Christ and his Holy Ordinances and so we not acted by the Spirit of God Answ If propounding of an Argument were proof that the Argument propounded were true then J. C. hath done something in telling his Reader He propounded an Argument to prove the Quakers are not acted by the Spirit of God But if propounding of an Argument be not proof as sure it is not that the Argument propounded is true then J. C. hath done nothing as to proof in telling his Reader He propounded an Argument to prove the Quakers are not acted by the Spirit of God so his Argument ends in nothing But J. C. tells his Reader He proved the Ministers whom the Quakers do utterly condemn and separate from to be Christ's Faithful Ministers by this Argument They teach sound Doctrine lead Godly Lives are duly Called to the Ministry have their Call and Commission from Christ and he Seals and Confirms their Ministry with the Conversion of Souls And if his Reader will but take his word for it he says He made evident all these Particulars and took off all their Cavils and Exceptions And yet further if his word may but find credit with his Reader In the judgment of all equal Hearers and Standers-by the Quakers were clearly overthrown Answ If J. C's telling his Reader â—e proof that those Ministers the Quakers separate from are Christ's Faithful Ministers or if his saying be made evident All those particulars which was his Argument That they teach sound Doctrine lead godly Lives were duly called to the Ministry had their Call and Commission from Christ and that he seals their Ministry with the Conversion of Souls were full proof or any proof at all against the Quakers then in the judgment of J. C. his Reader might acquiesce That the Quakers were overthrown But if J. C's telling his Reader He proved and saying He made all those Particulars evident not shewing in the least wherein be neither full proof nor any proof at all as sure it is not then in the Eye of any Impartial Reader the Quakers cannot be overthrown This Reader is the substance of what J. C. hath done to prove what lay upon J. B. to prove First He propounded an Argument Secondly he saith He proved it Thirdly he saith He made evident all those Particulars But what wise Man will believe him Lastly he saith The Quakers were overthrown if thou canst credit him but whether thou canst or no this is all the proof thou must have for he quickly tells thee He will forbear to make farther mention of this Dispute Well what J. C. confessed lay upon John Barber to prove lies still upon J. B. to prove for all that J. C. hath either said or done and not only upon J. B. but upon J. C. and who by thinking to taâ—e the Thorn out of J. B's Heeâ— hath struck one full as deep in his own His proprounded Argument signifies nothing but to discover his Folly his saying He proved it is a meet Say-so and no more for he proved no more than J. B. proved and that was just nothing at all With Conversion of Souls of which J. C. boasts so much it was not confirmed that Day That J. C. was Victor and the Quakers Overthrown but on the contrary Truth that Day gaining and the Priests â—ing and that none of the meanest or weakest of their Hearers in the account of some of them in whom God's Witness being reached that Day since separated from them and joyned to the Quakers through believing in the Light wherein Fellowship with God is and with the Brethren also Therefore J. C. is a Lyâ— who says The Quakers were overthrown And although upon the fore recited Particulars I was not principally engaged with J. C. but rather my Friend Alexander Lawrence the matter being taken from J. B. and me yet I give Testimony 〈◊〉 my Testimony is true having the Evidence of God's Spirit with me That J. C. thereby to assume a Glory of a Conquest to himself hath Lyed wickedly in saying He proved his Argument and that the Quakers were clearly overthrown Therefore let his Iniquity stop his Mouth and shame come over him and let his Lyes perish that Truth may stand over his Head and take place with all Impartial Readers Since J. C. hath at least charged us to be revolted from the true Ministers and I may also say At the most but charged us for he hath proved no such thing I might write pretty largely to manifest That neither he nor any of his Brethren the Priests from whom we have turned away are faithful Ministers of Jesus Christ neither are truly called to the Ministry nor have Commission from Christ But because it is only the Examination of this Account concerning that Dispute at Croton I here intend and finding no Tract of his further to prove that he and his
is resisting the Holy Ghost Holy Spirit as they did called a Sect and no doubt but the Apostles were accounted Sect-Masters by J. C.'s Predecessors as well as R. H. is stilled a Sect-Master by him for the Truth 's sake which prospers and prevails R. H. can bear it and J. C. hath discovered Himself and manifested his Folly But perhaps he thinks whatever he says or writes whether Slander Lye or Scoff his Coat will bear him out but if so his thoughts will deceive him for there are many will not so take things upon trust neither from him nor any of his Brethren either because of their Black Coat or White Coat but him will reprehend and judge for his Slanders Lyes and Scoffing Sure I may say a lying spirit hath entered him and acts him and it is against that spirit my controversie is I have Love and Good will to the Creature for the Scriptures were that day owned by us in their place as they have ever been by us since we were a People to God's Praise J. C. had Will enough to have proved all he hath said but he wanted Power Truth being stronger than all Neither had he so much Skill as Baseness nor Honesty as Impudence He laboured by indirect means to accomplish his wicked End but fell short and instead of Glory reaped Shame And why may I not use his own Expression published to the World only instead of the word Foes put in Opponent and say In this J. C. came poorly off as when he prayed his Opponent being too hard for him There were several that Day his Baseness and Wickedness being discovered and laid open cried against him and one called aloud unto him and openly asserted J. C. to be a Lyar and offered to prove it to his Face and said He was No Quaker But when J. C. had produced the Baptist's Book which he would have made the People to have believed was one of our Books out of which he brought a Quotation I asked to see the Book he refused I pressed again to see it not so much questioning the Book as that he had wronged the words in reading them he again refused I promised if he would let me have our Friend 's Bood to read the Quotation my self I would do the like for him with any Book I produced if requested when he saw I would not be satisfied but pressed still to see the Book then he confessed It was the Baptists Book and impudently asserted the Quotation was right and that they had truly stated our Friends Assertion But his dis-ingenuity thereby appear'd he being laid open and many saw him baffled in his Undertaking He also gave other Forged Quotations which he would have had the People believe were our Friends Assertions yet all would not avail to prove the Quakers Religion was against the Scriptures A Second Branch of the afore-cited Charge which in order to prove he asserted That the Quakers made the Scriptures useless and utterly void alledging That if the Scriptures were not the Rule of Faith they were useless and utterly void quoting the Second of Timothy 3.16 To which I replied I deny the Quakers do make void the Scriptures but that they own them I affirm and that they are profitable to the Man of god But there is no Man of God without God's Spirit it is the Spirit of God that makes a Man of God and it is the Spirit of God which was the Rule to the Man of God before the Scriptures were written and that which was the Rule to the Man of God is the Rule to the Man of God that which gives Faith is the Rule of Faith and that is the Spirit of God which gave Faith and was the Rule of Faith before the Scriptures were written Yet this makes not the Scriptures useless for the Man of God who walks according to this Rule the Spirit lives the Life the Scriptures declare of And to such a Man the Scriptures are profitable though he cannot set the Scriptures above the Spirit which gave them forth yet owning them in their place hath a more real esteem for the Scriptures than that Man who cries them up for his Rule yet walks contrary thereunto and short of the Life the Scriptures testifie of John Cheyney saith in the same Page R. H. would not say that the Scriptures were no Rule at all But he affirmed that they were not the Rule Reply This grant of J. C's proveth I did not make the Scriptures useless and void I asserted as before That the Spirit is the Rule of Doctrinal Saving Faith for that which is more universal than the Scriptures which was the Rule of Faith before and ever since the Scriptures were written to wit of saving Faith is the Spirit which gave Faith and ruled it and gives Faith and rules it for what it was it is and what it is it will for ever remain because unchangeable And I further add That that which the Saints walked in was their Rule and that was the Spirit Gal. 5.16 Walk in the Spirit c. Yet is not the Scriptures made void but fulfilled This is but a false Suggestion of J. C. That Scriptures are either the Rule or useless for he that walks in Spirit comes in measure to know the Scriptures fulfilled It is the Spirit of God which gives saving Knowledge and that which gives saving Knowledge is the saving Rule One to all God's People throughout all Ages of the World since Adam was created his Rule before he fell his Rule as he came up again in the same Life from which he fell Enoch's Rule in which he walked with God before the Scriptures were written the Prophets Rule who spake forth Scriptures by God's Spirit who were Prophets before the Scriptures they spoke forth by God's Spirit were written the Evangelists Rule who set forth a Declaration of those things which were most surely believed amongst them having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first Luke 1.1 3. Mark they had perfect understanding of all things they writ before they writ them the Apostles Rule who were Apostles before their Epistles were written the Rule of all the Holy Men of God since the Apostles days for there is no Holy Man of God without God's Spirit He that hath not the Spirit of God is none of his Rom. 8.9 He that hath the Spirit is to walk in it Gal. 5.16 25. He that walks in the Spirit it is his Rule he asketh Counsel of God as by Vrim and Thummim hath an answer from God takes Counsel of God and is covered with a Covering of God's Spirit such have comfort in reading the Scriptures being come in measure to the fulfilling of them in measure witnessing what their Elder Brethren the Prophets and Apostles declared of their Experiences as they did tread in their Foot-steps for One is the Way for the Righteous in all Ages Christ the Way the Truth and the Life John 14.6 No Man
many of the seven Charges in his recited Paper of Charge he assayed to prove which were only two the other five he makes no mention of in his Relation neither at that time would he assay the Proof thereof though he had promised to prove every one of them But he vainly supposing my Charge against him viz. That he was a Lyar and a Deceiver could not be proved he was very urgent with me to prove my Charge against him and vehemently called out for proof thereof and would not assay further to prove the remaining part of his Charges before I had proved my Charge I hearing this the Zeal of the Lord being upon me it was in my Heart forthwith to prove my Charge against him which I did to the full as in the further Examination of the remaining part of his Relation I shall clearly manifest J. C. in pag. 16 saith All that ever he had to say was from a Passage or two in my Book of Quakerism Subverted and a few words in my Book of Prayer pag. 141. Reply This is a notorious Lye and he that publisheth it is a notorious Lyar for before I had produced either of his Books we had discoursed some Hours and gone through what I have already examined of the Dispute in which no Man of Candor can possibly judge but that I spoke something in Defence of the Truth the Quakers and their Religion in order to clear them and prove J. C. a Lyar. J. C. himself in Contradiction to himself in his Relation confesseth I said something and something of what I said he hath written which gives himself the Lye and likewise something that he saith I said which I am sure I never spoke as I have cleared before all which was before his Books were brought forth And yet he is not ashamed to say All that ever I had to say was from some Passages in his Books Sure if a Catalogue of this Man's Lyes and Slanders were taken I am satisfied from my own Observation of his Books and Papers they would fill up some Sheets of Paper for many Pages in his Pamphlets are stuffed with them I know J. C. was much concerned whilst I was speaking in looking up his Notes and receiving Papers from the Hands of some one or other of his Abettors and it was observed by many that he took little notice of what I said or replyed little directly to it but disputed by his Notes and when his Notes were gone through he had done Yet sure if he heeded not he could do no less than hear that I spoke something before his Books were produced though not in favour to his Cause therefore I have ground to believe that what he heard and took notice of he hath wilfully omitted to relate But to the Passages in his Books J. C. relates That in his Book Quakerism subverted he saith If the Light within be altogether blameless the Quakers are in the right And else-where in the same Book There is something of God in every Man and something of Satan and the Flesh But saith he if by something of God he thinks I mean a Measure or Part of God's Essence or Being I renounce any such Exposition as Blasphemy Reply 'T is right J. C. saith in pag. 31. of his Book entituled Quakerism subverted If this be true that the Light within by the Quakers owned promoted and asserted to be the Life of God and by J. C. no where confuted which is the Light of Men John 1.4 with which every Man is enlightned as J. C. hath asserted pag. 21. of the same Book be utterly blameless the Quakers are in the right and all that he hath written against them falls to the Ground and he will confess himself utterly defeated and to have lost the Day And in p. 27 28. of the same Book he saith In every Man there is something of God something of Satan Flesh and Spirit Light and Darkness Mark Reader J. C. hath not confuted our Assertion That the Life of God is the Light of Men c. but hath affirmed That the Light within is the Light wherewith Jesus Christ the true Light enlightneth every Man that cometh into the World pag. 21. as aforesaid which Light within he saith is something of God Spirit Light Now God is a Spirit John 4.24 God is Light 1 John 1.5 Observe he doth not say something of God's or that may be called his but something of God Light Spirit which something of God being Light and Spirit must it not needs be something of God's Essence or Being whose Essence or Being is Light Life and Spirit For it cannot be the entire Fulness that is in every Man and therefore must it not needs be something of the Fulness a Manifestation of the Spirit according to the Scripture 1 Cor. 12.7 Col. 2.9 For in him dwelleth all the Fulness of the God-head Bodily John 1.16 Of his Fulness have we all received and Grace for Grace But though J. C. hath asserted something in every Man yet before he will grant it to be any thing of God's Essence or Being fearing the Consequence to wit his Overthrow and that he should be utterly defeated and lose the day he will deny God to be Omnipresent and count it Blasphemy to assert that there is any thing of God's Essence or Being in Man But if this were Blasphemy to assert then were J. C. guilty For that he may appear the same contradictory J. C. though in pag. 16 and 17. he counts it Blasphemy to affirm that there is any thing of God's Essence or Being in Man yet in pag. 4. of the same Book viz. A Warning to Souls he affirms That God's Essence and Essential Presence is every where and I am sure in Man for he is somewhere therefore God's Essence is in Man according to J. C's Assertion and if so whether measurably or in Fulness viz. something of the Essence of God or the whole Fulness of God whom the Heaven of Heavens cannot contain let the Reader judge But I deny it to be Blasphemy to say That something of God's Essence is in Man and affirm it to be Blasphemy to deny any thing of God's Essence to be in Man of which J. C. is guilty and yet affirms God's Essence and Essential Presence to be every where which is flat Contradiction to himself for God is an infinite Spirit whose Presence fills Heaven and Earth who is exempted from no place but is present every where therefore in Man his holy Spirit in Man his Essence or Being in Man his Light and Life in Man which is holy and blameless for ever according to Scriptures 1 Cor. 3.16 Mat. 10.20 James 1.13 and never consented to Sin therefore all that J. C. hath writ against it viz. the Life of God which is the Light of Men John 1.4 and the Quakers the Friends of it by his own grant falls to the Ground and he is utterly defeated and so was at the
Christian Husbands and Wives are to walk c In the same page That they quite Subvert all the Rules of Duty between Ministers and People c. In the same page That they pluck down Prayer Root and Branch In the same page That by the Quakers Doctrine we may all pray none or pray Curses and Blasphemies In page 22. again That the Quakers Religion doth pluck up by the Roots all the Doctrines and Rules of Knowledge Worship and Obedience touching God c. In page 13. That the Quakers say Every Man may make as good if not a better Bible than this we have In page 17. That the Quakers are guilty of affirming The Light in every Man to be a part of God as a drop of Water fetch'd from the Ocean is part of it In page 23. That there are no People do more Oppose and Subvert the Spirit than the Quakers In the same page That if the Quakers should practise their own Doctrine they would pass all that ever have been before them in Wickedness All these are gross Lyes and wicked Slanders whereof the Quakers and their Religion are clear And that no Lye may remain upon the Truth the Light and Children thereof I add That the Light of Christ within Man wherewith Christ the true Light lighteth every Man is the Life of the Word the Light of Men John 1.4 The Spirit of God given to instruct them Neh. 9.20 Ezek. 36.27 The Manifestation of which Spirit is given to every Man to profit withal 1 Cor. 12.7 The Spirit of Truth which proceedeth from the Father John 15.26 Reproves the World of Sin John 15.8 And maketh manifest all things that are reproved Ephes 5.13 For that is the Spirit of Truth which reproveth and convinceth of Sin and the Spirit of Truth is the Spirit of Christ for Christ is the Truth John 14.6 And the Spirit of Christ is the Spirit of God for the Son and the Father are One John 10.30 5.18 to 27. One Lord one God and Father of all Ephes 4.5 6. Christ and God is Light John 1.4 9. 8.12 9.5 1 John 1.5 The Lord our God is one Lord Deut. 6.4 God is a Spirit John 4.24 The Lord is that Spirit which giveth Life 2 Cor. 3.6 17. The changing of Man from Death to Life is by the Spirit of the Lord 2 Cor. 3.18 I the Lord search the Heart and try the Reins even to give every Man according to his ways and according to the fruit of his doing Jer. 17.10 The Spirit saith I am he which searcheth the Reins and Hearts and I will give unto every one of you according to your Works Rev. 2.23 The Spirit searcheth all things 1 Cor. 2.10 Hereby it is evident the Spirit of God is one with God and Christ and so God Infinite Omnipresent who is One Lord and his Name One Zach 14.9 who sees all things there is nothing hid or can be hid from God's Spirit all things being known and seen by the Spirit of God Man's Thoughts are shewed and told by it and whatsoever thing is reproved it sheweth and maketh manifest And that which makes manifest is Light Eph. 5.13 Well then the Spirit of Truth is the Light of Christ within Man which makes manifest and sheweth whatsoever thing is reproved by it which declareth to Man the Thoughts of his Heart and giveth to every Man according to his Works which reproveth and convinceth Man of Sin and leads into all Truth in which we called Quakers have believed and walk in even in the Light and Spirit of God and Christ and so witness the Blood of Jesus Christ cleansing us from all Sin and the Light and Spirit of Christ leading us on together into all Truth in which blessed Light we have Fellowship with God who is Light and one with another 1 John 1.5.7 And so are of that pure Religion which is undefiled before God and unspotted of the World James 1.27 This blessed Light or Spirit of Christ within leads us to do unto all Men that which is right in the sight of God and all of us that walk in in it walk according to the Precepts Doctrines and Commands of God contained in the Scriptures and witness in measure the fulfilling of what is therein written for our Learning that the Man of God may be Perfect c. And the keeping of the great Commandment which is Love So then this blessed Light or Spirit of Christ within born witness to and walked in by us called Quakers which indeed is both our Rule and Way doth lead and guide us not to oppose God's Spirit for then we should oppose our Rule and Way which is the Spirit of God nor to pluck up by the Roots all the Doctrines Precepts and Commands of Knowledge Worship and Obedience touching God contained in the Scriptures of Truth as J. C. hath slandered us but to live and walk therein and up thereunto and manifest both our Love and Honour to the Spirit of God and Esteem for the Scriptures of Truth in living that Holy Life the Scriptures declare of and the Spirit of God commands which Holy Life lived by us through the Spirit fulfils and justifies the Scriptures of Truth and exalts and glorifies the Spirit of God over all for God alone is worthy for ever and ever Neither doth the Light and Spirit of Christ wherein the Quakers walk and by which they are led and taught lead them to teach Treason and Rebellion which J. C. most wickedly hath charged the Quakers withal but the Light teacheth and leadeth them to live peaceably and quietly under the Government where they are placed and to seek the good of all Men to Pray for Kings and them which are in Authority that under their Government they might live in all Godliness and Honesty a Quiet and Peaceable Life to Exhort one another to Love and good Works and to teach Fidelity and Obedience to the Governments and Governours appointed by God that both Magistrates and their Governments may be submitted unto and obeyed by all People that there-under live by doing or suffering what cannot for Conscience sake God-ward be done and that whoever may answer the King and his Government in suffering for Conscience God-wards not to seek Revenge nor the Hurt of the King or his Government but to leave Judgment to God alone who disposeth of Kingdoms and Thrones Government and Kings at his pleasure and to Pray to God to perswade the Hearts of Kings to fear him to be Encouragers of Piety and Godliness but to Discourage all Wickedness and to Honour Christ the Lord the true Light over all who purgeth the Conscience from dead Works and fills it with the Mystery of the living Faith that over Conscience Christ may only Rule and Govern whose Right it is that in so doing their Government may be blessed to their Comfort and the Benefit of the People and the Honour and Glory of God who is King of Kings and
Lord of Lords the Almighty God blessed over all for ever and for evermore So then the Quakers ever were and are clear from teaching Rebellion or Treason against the King or his Government And is it not plain their Principle and Practice is to do good unto all Men whether Rulers or Ruled as much as in them lieth And is it not plain that J. C. who thus wickedly slanders and belyes the Quakers is a Man of that spirit who would drink up the Quakers Blood and remove them out of the King's Government if it were but in his Power But Limits are set for the proud Waves and the high Thoughts of the Hypocrites shall perish and they that walk in the Light shall be saved and all their Goings established The Light and Spirit of Christ wherein the Quakers walk by which they are taught and led leads and teaches them to fulfil the fifth Commandment by giving Honour to Parents in the Lord and obeying them in all things that is well-pleasing to the Lord in which they feel the Promise of God Eternal Life and so they make not void the fifth Commandment as J. C. wickedly saith Neither doth the Light and Spirit of Christ wherein the Quakers walk by which they are taught and led teach them to abolish the Scriptures nor subvert the Rule of Duty between Masters and Servants between Husbands and Wives between Parents and Children between Ministers and People as J. C. hath slandered the Quakers But the Light leads and teaches the Quakers to live the Life the Scriptures declare of to the fulfilling of them and to inform Masters and Servants Husbands and Wives Parents and Children Ministers and People of the Rule of their Duty to God and one another by turning their Minds from Darkness to Light that God placing his Fear in their Hearts and ordering them all by his Light and Spirit in their inward Parts they might all know the Rule of their Duty and walk in it one towards another and so exalt it by walking in it and living the Life of it before one another and to exhort them that are turned to the Light to walk in it and do their Duty to God and one another fully that the Life of Love and Purity may shine through them all over all to the Glory of God And therein to wit the Light and Spirit of Christ Masters walking will forbear threatning their Servants and do unto them that which is just and equal knowing their Master is Christ with whom there is no Injustice nor Oppression Servants therein walking will be obedient to their Masters in all things not with Eye-service as Men-pleasers but as the Servants of Christ doing the Will of God in singleness of Heart knowing that of the Lord they shall receive the Reward of the Inheritance Peace with God Husbands therein walking will love their Wives as their own Body for he that loveth his Wife loveth himself Wives therein walking will submit themselves unto their Husbands and to them be subject as it is comely in the Lord And both Husbands and Wives will then live together in Love as they are Heixs together of the Grace of Life 1 Pet. 3.7 Parents therein walking will not provoke their Children to Wrath but bring them up in the Nurture and Admonition of the Lord. Children therein walking will obey their Parents in all things that is well-pleasing to the Lord. Ministers therein walking every one as they have received the Gift from God will minister and speak as the Oracle of God that God in all things may be glorified and be blameless and pure holy Ministers of Christ without Rebuke shining as Lights in the World People therein walking will be at Peace among themselves and patient towards all Men and have the Ministers of Christ in Esteem and Love for their Work 's sake who admonish and labour in the Power of God amongst them and declare the Word of Truth to them over whom they have a Care and Oversight in the Lord being of that Faith which gives Victory over the World the end of whose Conversation is Eternal Life So then in the Light and Spirit of Christ all that believe and walk perform their Duty to God to one another and to all People and honour and exalt the Everlasting Rule in living a Life unspotted of the World and so of God are abundantly blessed Neither doth the Light and Spirit of Christ wherein the Quakers walk and by which they are taught and led lead and teach them to pluck down Prayer Root and Branch or pray none at all or to pray Curses and Blasphemies as J. C. wickedly slanders them But it viz. the Light leads and teaches the Quakers to pray to God aright to pray in the Holy Ghost for of themselves they know not how to pray as they ought to pray but the Spirit it self maketh request for them according to the Will of God and they do pray to God in Spirit and with an Understanding and God who is Light who is a Spirit hears them and answers their Prayers and is a Father unto them and daily gives them that thing which is convenient and feeds them with the Bread of Life which is their Meat indeed whereby they are strengthned to perform in all things the Will of God and renews their Love and Obedience to God the earnest of whose Spirit is in their Hearts assuring them of an Inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ for the full enjoyment and possession of which they daily pray to God in his Spirit to preserve them and keep them worthy to the end that they may fully inherit that Crown of Glory which God in his appointed time will put upon all them that sincerely and fully love him And so Prayer by the Quakers Doctrine and also by their Practice is to God to be put up and offered in the Spirit of God by all that truly fear God and the Rule of that Prayer which God hears and answers is God's Spirit and in the Spirit of God the Rule all that pray to God bless God and speak well of his Name and exalt God the Light the true Light Lord of all over all and finds with God Acceptance and are of God blessed with Eternal Life Neither doth the Light and Spirit of Christ wherein the Quakers walk and by which they are led and taught lead and teach the Quakers to say Every Man may make as good if not a better Bible than this we have or affirm The Light in every Man to be a part of God as a Drop of Water fetcht from the Ocean is part of it as J. C. falsly accuseth them but the Light leads and teaches Quakers to say The Light in every Man wherewith Christ hath enlightned all Men is the Life of the Word the Spirit of God and Christ proceeding from God of God's Essence not divided from God as a Drop of Water may be from the Ocean For the Essence and God-head cannot be
am compelled to pray Hypocritically and Dissemble with God and utter Untruths unto him I shall not be able to cover or conceal my Wickedness from the World if I get to Heaven it must be by this Trade of Begging Here observe Dissembling with God and uttering Untruths unto him praying Hypocritically Luke-warm Prayers Distraction in Prayer Compelling himself to Pray that he might conceal his Wickedness from the World hath been J. C's Practice whereby it is apparent J. C. was not partaker of the Spirit of Holiness nor acted by it in such services but is of another spirit than the Spirit of God That the Quakers mortally hate J. C. is a false slander for the Light in which the Quakers have believed and walk hath taught them to have true Love to God and good Will to all Men but to oppose wicked spirits and deny all Wickedness Now that spirit whereby J. C. hath been acted in Dissembling with God and uttering Untruths unto him in Dissembling with God and uttering Untruths unto him in belying the Light and the Children of it together with their pure and undefiled Religion in Blaspheming the Light of Christ the Spirit of God calling it Diana Dagon a Dumb Idol comparing it to a Drunken Coash-man c. is a wicked spirit which together with J. C's Wickedness viz. his Lyes Slanders Hpocrisie Confusion Blasphemy c. The Fruits thereof the Light which shineth in Man hath shined in and through the Quakers the Children of Light plentifully to discover and â—lay them open to the Readers view which wicked Spirit together with its Fruits the Quakers are Enemies to and perfected ly hate And that many of J. C's own Way who agree with him in Opinion Hate him is no new thing for formerly the Lord set the Enemies of his People one against another and one helped to destroy another 2 Chron. 20.22 23. And the Lord is the same who for his Israel's sake is dashing the Potsherds of the Earth one against another and hath appeared and is appearing against this J. C. who hath hardened his Heart as Pharaoh and the Egyptians hardened their Hearts and set himself against the Light and Children of Light to close again the Flood which hath been divided by the mighty Power of God for the Children of Light to pass through and overwhelm J. C. that as he doth appear to many to be a Minister of Death he may likewise so appear to all People For the Truth 's sake that no Lye may rest upon it and for the sakes of the simple-hearted where this may come is this written that such who can see may see that John Cheyney's Tongue hath risen up in Judgment against Israel and God hath confounded him And what I have written I do do commend to every Man's Conscience in the sight of God And concerning this J. C. do thus conclude That in him these Scriptures are fulfilled Psal 7.15.16 He made a Pit and digged it and is fallen into the Ditch which he made his Mischief shall return upon his own Head And to God who is on our side who hath taken the Wicked in his own Craftiness and fettered him in his own Net my Soul ascribes all the Praise to whom be Glory for ever and ever A Salutation to Friends of the Men and Womens Meetings DEarly beloved Friends Brethren and Sisters with whom my Soul hath precious Unity in the Seed of God and pure Fellowship in the Life of Righteousness unto you all beloved of God and right well beloved of my Soul In the abiding Love of God am I your dear Brother in the Tribulation and Patience of the Lamb in Life drawn forth to write unto you and express something of that Life and Love that is upon my Heart in a living as well as fresh remembrance of you to whom I give the endeared and truly cordial Salutation of right brotherly Love My very Heart is knit to you and in Spirit I am present with you beholding your comely Order I am verily refreshed in your Life and abundantly comforted in abiding Love my Soul honours you in the Lord you Elders of Israel and for your Humility my spirit saith That you are worthy of Praise Your Condescention one unto another in the Truth and to the Truth in whomsoever it appeared your giving way hath been and is clear demonstration to me you have sought Truth 's Honour and not your own and therefore my Soul praises God let it be so for ever the greatest amongst you serving the least the younger submitting to the elder submitting also one unto another Indeed your remembrance hath lived much upon me since I parted with you and Breathings to the God of my Life have run thorough me for your preservation and increase in Unity with the Lord God and one another And my dearly beloved a consideration of your preferring one another in the Truth whereby the Truth hath gained the Preheminence hath even melted my Heart into tenderness of Spirit I have said Let it be so for ever Of a truth I can say to the Praise of God who hath honoured you The good Order of the Gospel is amongst you and where ever yet I have Travelled and what Methods soever I have veiwed in the midst of all I on your behalf have blessed God for his Wisdom wherewith he hath endowed you I hope finding you praise worthy without offence I may speak thus much of you I can bear my Reccord you having Wisdom have done justly and having Mercy obtained have Mercy shewed and that which is a Pearl indeed you have walked humbly with your God If I may live again to see you and in a measure of the fulness of the Gospel come unto you in the full performance of the same Duty let my Soul find you In the mean while dearly beloved in humility dwell and the Grace and Peace of God be daily multiplied upon you and let your fervent breathings and earning desires be for one another and in a tender healing Spirit be you always found and evermore live together in Love and for me your younger Brother who am outwardly separated from you and bound in Spirit for Travel in the labour of the Gospel Let your breathings in Life to the God of Life be That God will be pleased to give me a door of Utterance and prosper the work in his hand He hath called and yet is calling into to the Praise of his own Glory Dear Friends a long Epistle I intend not you are Elders ruling well to whom double honour for the Works sake I can freely give Having eased my Heart a little not questioning but to be rightly understood by you and in Life's Record more fully so be read by you My Life greets you all together and my Soul salutes you one by one with a Kiss of Love the God of Israel overshadow you with his Glory for ever My dear Companion salutes you all And by this you may know that in a few
Steward to his Brother Lane ss FOr as much as Roger Haydock Heskin Fell of Copply and Thomas Catterall Gent. within the Parish of Standish within the County aforesaid and Diocess of Chester have disobeyed and contemned the Process of the Ecclesiastical Court by not appearing at Days and Times appointed to answer in a Case depending in the said Court These are therefore in his Majesty's Name straitly to Charge and Command you and every of you forthwith upon receipt hereof to Apprehend and Take the Bodies of them the said Roger Haydock Heskin Fell and Thomas Catterall and bring them forthwith before us or the one of us or any other of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace within this County to find sufficient Sureties for their and every of their due Obedience to the Process Proceedings Decrees or Sentences of the Ecclesiastical Court And if they or any of them should resuse so to do That then you forthwith Convey him or them so refusing to the common Goal at Lancaster there to remain until him or them shall willingly do the same See you fail not herein at you Peril Given under our Hands and Seals at Eccleston the 21st day of March Anno Dom. 1674. Christopher Bannestre Henry Houghton In like manner was the Proceedings against Heskin Fell of Coppal Linnen-Weaver He was Apprehended the 7th of the 3d Month committed to the Goal remained Prisoner until the 12th of the 11th Month released as before The pretended Cause was about 1 s. 8 d. for Hen Hay House c. for about three Years This Thomas Catterall was no Friend It is supposed he paid what they demanded The said R. H. and H. F. belong to Blackrod-Meeting Coppul the 28th day of the 1st Month 1675. The Warrant was directed To all Mayors Bayliffs Constables Sub-constables but more especially To the Constables of Coppul Roger Haydock and Heskin Fell 's Letter to the Judge concerning their Sufferings Friend LEt not the plainness of our Stile in this our Address unto thee turn away thy Ear from hearing our just Complaint but be pleased at least to view and according to the perswasion of thy own Heart to do to us the Justice which the Law will afford us We hope as sitting in the place of Judicature thou hast not only Power but likewise a Mind to Right the Wronged and Relieve the Oppressed if Innocent which makes us having some experience of thy Clemency the more freely to lay the Nakedness of our Case before thee hoping thou wilt candidly interpret our words having an eye to the merit of our Cause We have been Prisoners at this Castle about twenty Months for refusing to take an Oath called Juramentum de maâ—itiâ— non Committando in the Consistory Court at York which Oath we are informed though tendered by an Ecclesiastical Judge is neither Matrimonial nor Testamentary but contrary to a Statute made in the 13th Year of the Reign of the King that now is which Statute doth prohibit Bishops Chancellors and all other Ecclesiastical Ministers and Officers to Administer the Oath Ex Officio or any other c. Be pleas'd therefore to consider that the dammage we have sustained in being hindred in the prosecution of our Appeal to York from the unjust proceedings in the Consistory Court of Chester hath not been small being as we are informed Illegally forestalled and prevented by the said Oath but we leave it to thy Judicious Censure as also our Imprisonment for twenty Months or upward instead of having Right done us for our nine Months Imprisonment before the admittance of our said Appeal which hath been no small Charge and Loss unto us and upon consideration thereof we hope thou wilt see we have just ground to lay our suffering Condition before thee and to make our Grievancs known unto thee not that we seek Revenge but that our future Liberty is desired having confidence in thee that if proceeding against us be as Illegal as we are informed and have here hinted by thee our Liberty will be granted Be pleased also to view over the inclosed being a Copy of our Answer tendered to the Chancellor at York whereby thou may'st further inspect into the cause of our Sufferings and how that thus far we have suffered Innocently So having simply and in short laid our Condition before thee we leave it with thee subscribing our Names hereunto Prisoners at Lancaster-Castle Roger Haydock Heskin Fell. A Copy of my Answer tendered to the Chancellor in the Consistory Court at York the 23 d of the 2 d Month called April WHereas I am required to take the Oath called Juramentum de malitio non Committando the Substance of which I understand is to Swear that in my Appealing to York I have done nothing out of Malice c. I Answer It is several Years since I could Swear at all Swearing being expresly contrary to Christ's Command who said Swear not at all But my Yea hath been Yea and Nay Nay according to Christ's Doctrine Let your Yea be Yea and Nay Nay But I can very freely speak the Truth and if I say Nay to or deny the Truth or Yea affirming that for Truth which is a Lye I desire the same Penalty may be laid upon me which is due to them that forswear themselves I therefore affirm I have done nothing out of Malice to Ralph Briddock in Appealing to you nor is there any Malice in my Heart against him The cause why I Appealed was That I who had suffered nine Months Imprisonment in Lancaster Goal for disobeying as saith the words of my Mittimus the Process of the Ecclesiastical Court of Chester might come to Trial that the Truth might appear I knowing my self to be clear for I never saw not had knowledge of any Process And that I might be quit of the Injury done me by Ralph Briddock who sued and imprisoned me because another Man would not pay Tithes can the like be parallell'd I having no Corn of my own nor any liable within his Precincts And also of the Injustice done me by the Illegal proceedings of the Bishop's Court at Chester who decreed me guilty of Contumacy wherein I had not offended as was clear by the Records of that Court whereupon my Appeal was admitted This was the very cause of my Appealing and therefore I do defire Justice at your hands which if you do refuse to do me I Appeal to the Righteous Judge the Lord of Heaven and Earth to plead my Innocent Cause And so I rest a Friend to Truth and a Well wisher to the Souls of all People Roger Haydock Justice Bradshaw and Penington 's Warrant of Commitment Lanc. ss WHereas we whose names are subscribed two of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace within the said County the one of us being of the Quorum having received a Certificate under the Seal of the Consistory Court of York bearing date the 23d of April 1675 declaring unto us that whereas by vertue of a certain Information
a weighty Sense of his Service to spring among us Many were convinced by him We have not heard of any of his Travels but some became Seals of his Ministry in all this as he did so do we attribute the Glory to God whose chosen Vessel he was Thirdly As this our said Friend was called to Believe and to Receive a part of the Ministry so did he joyfully embrace Sufferings as a part of his Calling and on the account thereof we several of us having been his fellow-Prisoners can with much certainty Testifie that he never turned his back or gave ground to Truth 's Adversaries in his Testimony but chearfully suffered Bonds as well as Spoil of Goods as the Lord permitted him to be tryed therein We can further add that all his Sufferings he underwent with great Simplicity as well as Patience the Lord's hand alone without Carnal Contrivance being truly regarded eyed and depended on for his Enlargement so that he was made to Triumph in the Lord for his Deliverance Fourthly The next part in which he was evidently manifested to us to be a Workman who needed not to be ashamed was his singular Care and watchfulness over the Flock of God amongst whom he was not only a good Apostle a Minister of the Spirit but a careful Over-seer an Instrument to Prune Dress Fence in and keep Clean that the Church of God might be kept in its Beauty and wear its own Livery even even the White-Linnen without Spot or Wrinkle We are truly sensible his Care and Labour tended to this He was a very seasonable and constant Attender of these our Meetings as well as others oftentimes was he opened amongst us in a short Testimony in God's Wisdom suitable to the occasion Cautious that neither he nor any amongst us might obstruct the Days Service by enlarging therein Weighty and Clear he was in handling the Concerns of Truth yea studious to propagate its Interest with all his Strength very Zealous that nothing might remain in the Churches either to be a stumbling-Block or occasion our Posterity to enquire why these things were left All Superfluities of Meats Drinks Apparel and Furniture as well as Feastings at Births Marriages and Burials and other needless worldly Customs he lived to see put a stop to and which he in the Lord's hand was made an Instrument to effect He would with Gravity Clearness and Plainness go through weighty matters and in handling was very Righteous for though he was of an humble Condescention to hear the mind of the least Member yet would he not submit the justness of a Matter or lessen his Judgment or the Stroak of Truth upon it for the Interest of either Friend or Brother and as ready he was to submit himself where he either mis-apprehended or was mis-informed In this manner we cannot forbear to tell it was he conversant amongst us a good help in Government for which sake we truly honoured him and on behalf of the Concern the Lord had laid upon him relating to the Discipline of the Church we can say to the Praise of God that what he recommended to Friends Practice in places abroad as he fell in their Monthly and Quarterly-Meetings not taking effect to be complyed with in his Life-time hath since his departure from us been put in Practice by them and a Benefit found thereby so that being Dead he yet Spâ—aketh his Life and Spirit Bent and Inclination have still their Motion in the Minds of many Much more might be truly said to the Praise of that Vertue that dwelt richly in him but our design was Brevity in this Undertaking and our only Aim therein the Exaltation of that Grace by which he was what he was to God his Church and People Lastly As to his Death It was sudden and surprizing to us in that not above three Days before it he seemed in full Strength both of Body and Mind and bare amongst us a living Testimony to that Universal Grace and Sufficiency of it by which we were called and in which all have Life Salvation and Peace and exhorted Friends to avoid every thing that would gender to Bondage c. The Day following he fell Sick as was supposed of a malignant Fever which continued violent upon him for about two days and a half and then dyed in the Presence of many Friends His Body was accompanied by a great number to Friends Grave-Yard in Penketh after the interring of the Corps was a very large Meeting many more than the Meeting-House could contain several Testimonies were born and a solid Weight of Divine Goodness over-shadowed the Meeting so that we may say Precious in the Eyes of the Lord is the Death of his Saints And now tho' our loss of so faithful a Friend and Fellow labourer cannot but affect us very nearly yet in this we are satisfied that in the good Pleasure of God he is taken from us And tho' he might according to the Course of Nature have lived many more Years yet as to his Growth and Ripeness we can say of him He died in a good Old Age having lived to behold his Ministry and Services crowned with the Conversion of many to the Faith and Establishment therein And we are under a full satisfaction that his Rest is glorious amongst his Fathers even faithful Abraham Isaac and Jacob and the Followers of the Lamb there to Sing Praises to God on high who is Worthy for ever and ever Given forth from our Mens-Meeting at Hartshaw the 18th of the third Month 1697. Signed on behalf of the Meeting by Richard Cuttan William Barns George Burch Joshua Crosby John Bispham Robert Tompson Robert Haydock James Laithwait Henry Mollineux John Burch Joseph Coppock John Johnson Richard Tarbuck Gilbert Thompson A few Lines by way of Testimony from Friends in Cheshire concerning Dear Roger Haydock Deceased THough we believe that many Testimonies will be given from several Faithful Friends concerning that good Man yet we that have reaped so great a Benefit from his Labours in Testimonies and other ways cannot keep wholly Silent concerning him For soon after he had received a Gift for the Ministry he found himself concern'd to visit This County and where in his first appearance he was very gladly received for he proved very Serviceable to many that waited for the Redemption of Zion and greatly helpful in strengthening and incouraging those whose Faces were turned thither-ward Thus meeting with so pleasing a Reception in his early Visits found himself ingaged to come often amongst us and he greatly grew and was filled with the Life and Power of God and his Service was much inlarged and very many were awakened that had fallen asleep in a kind of Self-security who were ready to cry out What shall we do to be saved For they were prick'd to the very Heart So prevalent was his Testimony so powerful was Truth And indeed several were Convinced and with great gladness received the Testimony of the Word of
Life who with those many more that were greatly supported and strengthened by his Labours as Living Epistles can set to their Seals to the Truth of his Apostleship Now our County being thus alarmed and stirred up and the beauty of many pleasant Pictures fading and Truth prospering and inlarging it self in many places The Men of the Long Robe begun to be angry for now some Member or Members withdrew from their Assemblies and joyned themselves to the poor despised Quakers This so inraged them that they made their Pulpits ring with the Noise of the Danger of the Growth and Infection of Quakerism and Exhibited their Black Charges against us and our Principles at random to frighten poor People from receiving the Truth of God Some of which being taken notice of occasioned several Publick Disputes in this County And in Vindicating of our Holy Profession against these our Opposers this our Friend of whom we are writing did more particularly appear And truly the Lord's Presence and Power appeared with and so enabled him that he not only clear'd up those Truths clouded through their Envy but so manifestly returned their Charges upon themselves that some were Convinced by those opportunities and several Confirmed In all which he behaved himself as a Man for God The Remembrance whereof is very sweet to many of us to this moment And indeed all along to his end he forgot not his Fatherly Care over us so that above many others we are really indebted to his Memory who hath been greatly Serviceable to us and hath done Valiantly His Travels have been considerable in this and foreign Nations of which we might inlarge but shall leave it to other Pens as also to speak of his Parts and Accomplishments which were very considerable And not to be tedious shall only add He Lived well and so he Died and his Work being finished was taken from us in the strength of his Age of whom the World was not worthy And was attended to his Grave by some Hundreds and many good and publick Testimonies were born to the Praise of that Power that had raised him up to be so serviceable to the Churches of Christ to the great Comfort of those many Mourners present at his Interment and he being Dead yet Speaketh Sign'd at our Quarterly-Meeting at Nulon-juxta Middlewich the 14th of September 1697 on the behalf of the Friends of this County By us Thomas Welch Sen. John Crosbey Thomas Rowland Richard Yarwood William Janney John Kennerly John Bradley John Bancroft Ralph Brock Thomas Buckley John Hobson Henry Murrey Joseph Maddock John Finnerley John Lamb Thomas Hyld Thomas Pott John Walker John Hough Shadrach Welch William Harrison John Merrick William Crames John Jarvis Thomas Butter Samuel Traford Thomas Welch Jun. Joseph Towers Peter Pricksley John Lorrance William Hancock Richard Davis Jacob Lawrance Hugh Buttler Esther Hall Mary Gandy Mary Hall Mary Bangs Eliz. Maddock Elinor Hyde Hannah Ashton Eliz. Williamson Elin Fornelly Ann Welch Mary Merrick Esther Crosbey Rachel Butter Rebekah Traford Ann Davis Katharine Lamb Martha Lamb Samuel Rilence Joseph Endon Hugh Burgis Tho. Williamson Roger Roe John Dutton William Hyde Richard Parkey Henry Maddock Benjamin Bangs Mary Peacock Maible Hancock Rebekah Pritchley Tabitha Ardern Rebekah Backley Ann Eaton Eliz. Ashbrook Eliz. Lawrance Martha Broadhurst Eleanor Cooke Esther Merrick Nehemy Bradley Hann. Littlemore Mary Worthington Margaret Garsell Elizabeth Welch Alice Rowland The Testimony of Thomas Camm concerning our dear Deceased Brother and Servant of the Lord Jesus Christ Roger Haydock IT is such as Die in the Lord who are Blessed being gathered to their Eternal Rest with the Spirits of Just Men made perfect and freed from Tears and Sorrows and manifold Sufferings Travels and Labours and whose Works follow them whose Names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life amongst the Living and is a sweet Savour and blessed Memorial to after-Ages And though we that are yet left behind may have loss in that they are outwardly removed from us yet ought therein to be content since it 's the good pleasure of the Almighty and the great Gain of them who are swallowed up in the Joy of the Lord unspeakable of which number it 's my present Sense and Testimony our dear Friend and Brother R. H. is one and has finished his Course here with Joy who in his day was a Man of God a faithful Man for the promoting the Interest of God his Truth and Righteousness given up to spend and be spent in the Service of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ in all Faithfulness and Sincerity as well as plentifully Furnished thereto by him that hath the Infinite Treasures of Wisdom and Divine Knowledge and gives freely thereof to the Humble and Sincere in Heart and richly was this dear Man of God furnished for the Work of the Ministry which he was called to and found Faithful in for many Years to the finishing of his Course here and a Blessed Effect his Living and Powerful Ministry had upon the Hearts of many not only in turning them to the Lord's Way and Truth but also in Confirming Building up and Establishing many therein Being one of those Scribes commended by our Lord who are well instructed unto the Kingdom of Heaven and bringeth forth out of his Treasure things New and Old for the Instruction and Building up others many in this Nation and many others where he Travelled can Testifie and bear Witness unto Who are the Living Seals of his Ministry having good cause with thankful Hearts to bless the Lord on the behalf thereof It 's not with me to inlarge into the particular Travels and Labours of this Faithful Servant of the Lord in this and several other Nations supposing that may be the Work of others But as I well knew him and had an intimate and inward Acquaintance with him from the time that it pleased the great God of Eternal Glory to call sanctifie fit and furnish him to the Work of the Ministry which is most of Thirty Years by our often and frequent Travels together in that Work and Service in most parts of this Nation So that which I have in short to say and testifie herein with respect to God's Glory Service of his Truth and People and Discharge of Duty to and on the account of so Dear so Faithful and so greatly Beloved a Friend Brother and Companion is from Tried and long Experience and certain Knowledge as I felt it to spring and live upon my Mind in that Love and Life in which my Heart was firmly United to him as was Jonathan's to David Very shortly after I had the Heavy Tidings and Sorrowful Account of his being taken out of the Body and so removed from us as to outward Appearance under which Exercise I could not but mourn and say Ah my Brother I have a Loss of thee the Flock and Family of God has a Loss of thee and other Worthies at this time removed The Lord be intreated to