Authority or Invading Christs Prerogative and bringing in of mens Edicts Laws and Prescriptions and mens Inventions c. VVhat an Invention was this against the Prerogative of Christ Jesus by his Spirit in the Saints that none must sit or act in or about the Church affairs but their chosen men to whom they have given Power May not William Rogers be ashamed of clamouring so much against Church Government and applaud John Story and John Wilkinson at such an high rate when he considers what a Paper of Proposals Resolves and Covenants for Rule and Government John Story and John Wilkingson have subscribed and very probably invented and framed it up ready for the Subscription and upon not being closed with in the Bargain they would have made with us would Excommunicate us as not worthy of their Society and from whom they would with-draw and do their Business amongst themselves VVill not John Wilkinson and John Story blame their Correspondent and Agent in their VVork for manifesting in Print such a Paper as this destructive to the whole design he hath taken in hand and to the undermining the whole Fabrick of the Cause that he hath espoused to himself on their behalf For who can observe these things and not conclude that William Rogers must either let his work and design of Judging and Inveighing against Church Government quite fall or else judge John Story and John Wilkinson and all them of that Party in the North who subscribed the said Paper to be the Apostates also amongst them he brands with it on the account of Order and Discipline in the Church and no other thing and then who will William Rogers have to stand by him but Apostates Innovators and the like What Confusion is here and Inconsistencies with themselves amongst them it makes their work 〈◊〉 to all that takes notice of it But as to the matter before us in short to bargain with them on these terms it was far from us neither had their Company of late amongst us been so comfortable to us their contentious work was such that had their terms been far below that hight of Imposition they appeared in and Lording over the Consciences of the Upright yea the very Spirit of God as 〈◊〉 it was Their Spirit was such in the ground from whence this work sprung that no bargain we could be enclined to make with it So that our Answer was a positive denial on any such termes as those proposed by them as in a Paper given forth by us on the account of many particulars in theirs expressed is inserted at large ready for the service that it may be of if any desire to see it or if occasion be for publishing the same with many more in readiness by us relating to the Strife and Troubles they have occasioned in the Church of God during our many Exercises on this wise which will be their Burden one day And to further this contentious Work and seperate Design John Story' s great work when in the North was and much of his time taken up in going too and again from House to House to proselite to his Faction amongst such as he had hopes to get any entrance upon buzing into Peoples Minds the danger which the Churches were entering into on the account of our Church Government and Gospel Order for nothing else he had to accuse us of the danger of it he represented to such as were infected with a dislike thereof and enclined to reject it and like the unskilful Physicians of no value applyed deceitfully to work 〈◊〉 Gangreen to utter Ruin Had he been a man zealous in the matter of it as Paul was in his day and the Faithful still are and that he had seen some too eager in the concern of it then a word on that wise in Gods Name had been aptly spoken as the Aples of Gold spoken of in Pictures of Silver but he was not of that Spirit neither was it the Upright and the Entire to God that he dealt with in such a concern for they saw his Snare and in vain would he have laid it in their sight it was the profidious the looser sort he generally dealt with others would not take any notice of him he brought into our Meetings for the Contentions sake he was entered into such as had never appeared in the matter of Truth 's concerns to speak of in all their days before the Shrinkers in the suffering times the Tyth-payers were fit for his Faction they hung upon him as their God and the Artist for their concern cunning and nimble hath he been in the matter of the War and seperate Work he hath been in hand with but there is an Eye that hath seen him Poor John whether can he go for help or who can appear to do him good Many Hearts fail them and escape for their Lives and the Champion he hath had dependance upon and hath done what in him lay and as much as one could do with such a Spirit as he is of he Reels and Staggers and as a drunken man jumbles himself with his offs and on s one while yea and then nay the Contradictions the Impertinences the Inconsistances with himself and with them that have trusted their Cause in his hand that his Book abounds with manifested at large in Ellis Hook's on behalf of the 〈◊〉 days Morning Meeting in London demonstrates the Confusion the Lord suffers them to run into so that their way is block up let them struggle and 〈◊〉 whilst they have Breath backward must their Spirit and Work go into the Pit again from whence it came the Lord of Hosts that 's Israels God will work it down and none shall hinder We may tell the Reader that its true they got a List in the North to make a shew and clutter withal at a distance whence Trees look like Men for their confederate work to appear as popular as they could but were they searched into and known what they are many of them are such as their Cause would be disparaged by and none that truly love God and Sion's Welfare would 〈◊〉 to have any such concerned in the defence thereof to appear with them There are many come off from them that have condemned the work thereof and declares That the Paper they grounded their separate design upon scarcely any of them 〈◊〉 heard or read or 〈◊〉 privy to the matter of it but a few got it drawn and Agents they had to get it subscribed here and there mostly upon the 〈◊〉 that J. Story and J. Wilkinson and others had done it as hereafter may appear and of what pitious sort many of the Subscribers and some few others that joyns to them are since those whom God hath redeemed from amongst them came off as occasion may be seen an account thereof is ready to be given But to go on upon our denial to submit to their Terms they being as much as their word in that matter they with-drew
settled down again in their minds 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 things were to go on to be heard and examined in order to Judgment on 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 matter and then to speak any more of 〈◊〉 and nine was at an end but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was to be the Brethrens the Church of God their assembled in the universal Spirit in which we are one through Christ Jesus who keeps their parts 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Where the good Understanding is received 〈◊〉 Judgment is given which 〈◊〉 sure the matters in charge alledged being 〈◊〉 through that day and 〈◊〉 two next days also and spoken to on all hands 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was seen and as 〈◊〉 required in order to proof on the one hand and liberty of desence on the other for the 〈◊〉 up of 〈◊〉 to the Impartial 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and let it be remembred the days we have to Live and let 〈◊〉 memorial thereof never Rot when this Generation is 〈◊〉 for the Praise of the 〈◊〉 God for ever and the 〈◊〉 of his precious Truth and the value of the 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 and the Comfort enjoyed therein for the cause whereof the Lord the God of the Spirits of all Flesh unto whom Reign and Dominion belongs forever did 〈◊〉 appear amongst us in those four days Exercise in relation to the work in hand and determined the matter depending amongst us in the Hearts and 〈◊〉 of the unright to him to their Comfort It cannot be forgot what 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 and rowling Bowels broke forth in those days Travels with 〈◊〉 to the 〈◊〉 the Wounded and the Scattered Ones who were once in Unity with the Lambs in the safe Fold for the healing recovering and gathering back again of them that they might find Pasture and feed therein and lie down with them the Power and Life that sprung up on this wise melted the Hearts of the Sincere with Joy in the sence of Gods preserving hand over them yet to their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the pity of their Souls in relation to them that had been hurt by a wrong Spirit for there did not appear in them that bowedness of Soul nor heart 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as with respect to the offence to God and his People that they had given through the Distractions they had wrought in the Church of God was desired and expected from them yet such was the wonderful melting Glory of Israel's God amongst us that at last John Story and John Wilkinson were a little bowed down in their Spirits to the causing of them in some measure to see their Weakness and make some acknowledgment thereof as in a Paper given forth by them and here inserted doth appear viz. We are sencible that in the hour of Temptation that hath appeared through us which hath given occasion of offence to the Charches of God unto whom the knowledg of the Northern Differences are come and since the inward sence of our Brethren who we are sencible have a travel on their 〈◊〉 for the 〈◊〉 of Peace and Unity in the Church of God concerning 〈◊〉 is such that Jealousies have entered us and that we have been at 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in things tending to oppose Friends in the practice of those things 〈◊〉 they 〈◊〉 are commendable in the Church of God We are sorry that any 〈◊〉 should appear in us to give occasion for any such Offence and as satisfaction to our travelling Brethren and the Church of God in general we do from the very 〈◊〉 of our Hearts condemn that very Spirit whether it hath appeared in us or any that hath given offence to the Church of God in general and that opposes the order of the Gospel or any faithful Brethren in the practice of those things they believe are their Duty John Story John Wilkinson This was publickly owned by the said John Story and John Wilkinson in the 〈◊〉 Meeting at Draw-well in Sedbergh After Friends unwearied Travels in the Love of God that 〈◊〉 all things and is not easily provoked but keeps in the Patience and 〈◊〉 not in which they were concerned the foregoing submission to Gods Power and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sence concerning them was all 〈◊〉 John Story and John Wilkinson were at 〈◊〉 inclined to demonstrate which said acknowledgment of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 had 〈◊〉 surprised with and their Condemnation of themselves because thereof Friends for their 〈◊〉 were in some 〈◊〉 glad of hoping that afterwards they vvould 〈◊〉 see hovv a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 had 〈◊〉 over them in which 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Work had broken forth through them and that in time they would more manifest the same to Friends more full content and upon the product of all those four days concern on the morrow after Friends being again come together that they might demonstrate to all the honest hearted how things were in relation to the whole matter many of them that had heard of the aforesaid Divisions being under a concern and therefore desirous to hear what might be the Issue of this Meeting they unaminously agreed together William Rogers being gone and came no more to draw up this following Relation for Friends to make use of in the Wisdom of God as they saw meet viz. Dear Friends and Brethren In the universal Spirit of Life and Truth which from the God of Heaven is richly poured forth upon us and by which we have been quickned into a lively sence and hope and peaceable Fellowship is the endeared Greeting and Salutation of our pure and servent Love unto you all Whereas a long and lamentable Difference hath depended between several Antient Friends of the Quarterly Meeting of Westmerland on the one part and John Story and John Wilkinson of that County on the other part and that the said Division hath done great Mischief amongst the Friends of God in several parts of this Nation by filling their Minds with unprofitable Surmizings and dangerous Jelousies tending to absolute Rents and Divisions as too palpably appeareth in Westmerland to be the product thereof And after that the endeavours of the faithful Friends of the Quarterly Meeting of those parts both within themselves and by calling in to their assistance several faithful Men of adjacent Countries proved not so effectual as was desired by reason of the said John Story' s and John Welkinsons absenting themselves though in much tenderness sought to and entreated to appear by those chosen Brethren for the Churches Peace sake and their own real good in the Lord and though their refusal to meet those Brethren and denial of their Authority to examine the matter in difference and theirs that nominated and chose them to wit the faithful Friends of the Quarterly Meeting yet out of a deep sence of the Burden of honest Friends in those parts by reason of the Division and forefeeing the ill consequence to the Church of God of leaving such an example uncensured they passed a general Judgment upon that Spirit which led into Division and Separation leaving the said John Story and John Wilkinson to clear themselves if they could of such matters of fact as
before the Lord he will be the more unable to appear when all his daubing and slubbering-over 〈◊〉 and covering such guileful Work as John Story and John Wilkinson for several Years were concerned will not be to his Repute amongst the Innocent to God nor hide the Head of an opposite contentious Spirit under which John Story and John Wilkinson were brought in Subjection and notwithstanding the evading deceitful Answers John Story had made to those things queried of him whether they were true concerning him or no several of them 〈◊〉 to matters of Faith which he hath denyed he stands convicted of as 〈◊〉 at large in the Reply in Manuscript to their Answer to the Articles in 〈◊〉 alledged against them which they never yet made Answer unto And 〈◊〉 was also proved at the Meeting at Drawell before many Brethren against 〈◊〉 which Reply is ready by us for the Service that it may be allotted for And further we say we are willing to put it to the Evidence of Gods Witness in all Consciences to declare if these fatherly and brotherly Exercises upon George Fox and others thus concerned on John Story and John Wilkinson their Behalf do declare them Apostates for the Life of God or the Occasioners of the Strise and Division in the North Or that George Fox hath been as William Rogers abusively renders erroniously concerned in the matter thereof And further William Rogers says 〈◊〉 appears that George Fox hath been principally concerned in the aforesaid Difference because in a 〈◊〉 writ by John Blaykling Note That the said Postscript was writ by John Blaykling and annexed to a Reply to a salfe 〈◊〉 smiting Accusation exhibited by William Rogers against George Fox in which he would unjustly have brought John Blaykling as a Witness for him against George Fox which John Blaykling solemnly denying queried of William Rogers if that was the 〈◊〉 they were put to to make good John Wilkinson's lying Prophesy viz. That God would break us because of the Testimony born against their opposite Spirit as to set us at Variance one against another if they could from which Passage in the 〈◊〉 William Rogers saith John 〈◊〉 who appeared in the 44 Articles against John Story and John Wilkinson rechoned George Fox one of those unto whom John Wilkinson's 〈◊〉 reached and therefore by Consequence he argues that George Fox was principally concerned in the Difference To all which we answer thus There hath been an eternal Sence in George Fox John Blaykling and Thousands more of a wrong contentious dividing Spirit entering John Story and John Wilkinson tending to divide and scatter the Lambs of God And that George Fox and many 〈◊〉 have been concerned in Care over and Regard to them In which many Exhortations and Cautions hath been given and laid before them many tender Papers writ to them by George Fox and John Blaykling and others yea Councel from God ministred to them by many dear Brethren whilest the Day of their Visitation continued unto them and the Lord waited to have healed them Many Reproofs have been upon them for their disorderly contentious Work in many Exercises and Concerns relating to them and orderly Dealings have been with them and upon their not hearing the Judgment of the eternal Truth through Gods People placed upon them satisfactory to the Life and eternal Sence of George Fox and of the Church of God every where who have been concerned in the Knowledg and Exercise thereof We 〈◊〉 not ashamed with respect to the tender brotherly Dealings with them as before is 〈◊〉 nor of the Testimony that has been born against them and that stands over the head of the Spirit they have been led and acted by to the Churches Grief and the Breach of its Peace On this wise we have been concerned in relation to this Spirit and its dividing Work and have been unanimously knit together in such our Concern in the Fellowship of Gods Power in which we are one in the Service of Truth for the Churches Peace against every Appearance to the contrary And God hath blessed us therein with an Increase of Life and 〈◊〉 to the establishing the Feet of the Innocent in God in the Mountain of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 House on the top of all the Hills and mountanous Imaginations that 〈◊〉 Rogers hath a spired unto in his ambitious Mind and proud Attempts 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 eternal God with the Stone cut out of the Mountain without Hands is 〈◊〉 at and will dash in pieces and be the Confusion of all them who take 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 him And the Prophesie vainly and blasphemoufly delivered by John Wilkinson against the Innocent and upright to God will be found true as daily Experience manifests upon themselves whose Breach and downfal perpetually cometh on apace and there is none found able to deliver And as for the Matters in charge against John Story and John Wilkinson alledged in Writing on the 〈◊〉 aforesaid they who were concerned in the Exercise thereof are vindicated by the Witness of the Eternal God in their own Consciences and justified before many Faithful Brethren And the matters thereof was sufficiently proved at Drawel against 〈◊〉 in the order of Truth and presence of the Almighty God whose righteous Judgment accordingly stands upon the Head of them being convicted thereof which shall never fall to the Ground and this 〈◊〉 Work which William Rogers hath made in this matter against George Fox 〈◊〉 him not For God we say again hath not made William Rogers Judg over him And we do affirm That if George Fox be detectable in the matter of the 〈◊〉 which John Story and John Wilkinson have occasioned in the Church of Christ then was the Prophets of the Lord detectable in the matter of Israel's 〈◊〉 from God who were sent early and late in the Lords willingness to heal them to forwarn them of the Evil that would come upon them if they repented not The like Testimony whereof in relation to John Story and John Wilkinson and the backsliding sort George Fox and many more of Gods People and Messengers of Truth in the Dominion of Gods Power have been concerned in in a Warning to them from the Lord by reason whereof God and his People are clear of them Let those of them unto whom God as yet giveth time look to it as they will answer him in the dreadful Day In his Fourth Part page 36. and so on William Rogers surther goes on in the matter of charging George Fox with an erroneous Concern in the Difference amongst the Quakers in the North implying thereby That John Story and John Wilkinson have been falsly reputed the principal Occasioners thereof c. For which cause William Rogers hath inserted a Paper given forth by them and 〈◊〉 he saith at the Meeting at Drawell as their Judgment in relation to the Five Heads that the 44 Articles alledged there against them related to viz. I Their Opposition to Monthly and Quarterly Meetings II. Opposition to Womens Meetings
pound might descend to him as his Birth-right when as Simplicity will conclude his words could have no such tendency in them nor bear any such Construction as this he nakedly saying I might have had something that descended to me as my Birth-right this could not imply much nor shew forth any ambition in him as William Rogers would charge him with And when he cannot avenge himself by bluring his Repute as a Christian he bends himself to abase him as a Man by undervaluing the parentage he sprung of speaking hightly and scornfully of his Kindred and falsely too For we are satisfied that for all his sleight of his Relations c. that his Parents lived comfortably and commendably too amongst Men in the Tabernacle God gave them to reside in and left to each of their Children something to live upon when the Lord took them and they were never a shame one to another Ask William Rogers to stop his boasting Mind whether some of his best and nearest Relations be not a shamed of him and have turned their Backs of him as the Lord doth the Rebellious not expecting a Blessing for him The Occupation also and 〈◊〉 calling he had in which as we well understand he was a good savour amongst People that 〈◊〉 God William Rogers speaks sleightly of it but in Discretion he might have been sparing in that for concerning his Descent and Relations George Fox hath not concerned himself therewith William Rogers might have be-thought himself of what 〈◊〉 some of them were he knows best in relation to that matter himself he might have forborn also on this wise for his Companions John Story 's sake whom he so highly applauds who was no less respected of Gods People for all that whilest he kept to Gods Power Oh the shame the Man exposes himself unto and the Madness that he is detested of by which he makes himself ridiculous amongst Men and so makes People call to memory what W R's Relations were for if he himself were not a puffed up Fool he would be ashamed to upbraid any one about Relations we are perswaded many of his own Adherents cannot but dislike his work it gains no Repute to them nor Credit to their Cause they have in hand having no better Spirit to mannage their Design then such as this William Rogers Reflects upon George Fox for not labouring with his Hands as he says the primitive Apostles did or otherwise being Industrious in some outward calling whilest Ability and Leisure would permit that the Gospel of Christ might not be chargeable These are his words in the fifth part of his Christian Quaker c. page 49 Implicitly charging him thereby as his work is We say let the man come forth that can lay Idleness or Sloth to his charge and prove it against him William Rogers's Aspersion toucheth him not the calling that he was of as a Man he was diligent in from his Youth we are bold to say whilest leisure permitted let this stop William Rogers's Mouth yea after the Lord made him in measure a Minister of the everlasting Truth we are able to Evidence the same against William Rogers false charge till the Lord brought him more to serve the Gospel and the concern thereof became his Work and might not serve Tables and for the sake whereof let the daily Exercise he hath had upon him his many unwearied Travels his Imprisonments in Dungeons and nasty Places his tedious and long Journeys beyond the Seas watchings and lying out of doors in the Night season make William Rogers Blush to charge him with being not Industrious when Health and Oppertunity served him and his Travels of late Years since bodily Weakness attended him and much what upon his own charge Testifies to his Zeal for the Gospel and Care over the Churches of Christ and clears the matter against all that William Rogers or any whosoever with respect to Sloth or making the Gospel chargeable would lay to his charge It were well if William Rogers could justly say that John Story whom he speaks so highly of as none to exceed John Wilkinson and him in Doctrine and life that ever he heard of in true diligence with respect to Testimony and Service for Truth which he had committed to his Charge had cleared his Conscience in Gods Sight as George Fox hath done or that he had kept the like Record and Interest in the Hearts of Gods Faithful Children as George Fox at this Day pretionsly retains then would John Story never have been such an Exercise and occasion of Grief in the Church of Christ as he and William Rogers have been in heading a Separate Faction and backsliding sort that a Spirit of strife and separation hath prevailed upon and then would their account have been more easie to have been given in the Day of the Great God when the Books will be opened and things laid to Charge and the Lord will reckon with William Rogers sor his hard speeches and the evil Deeds he hath done against the Lord and his Faithful People Our Hearts tremble to think of that Day with respect to them of that Spirit for the sad work they have made as Thousands of the Children of God know and their own Consciences too although William Rogers desperately hardens over all yet Vengeance is the Lords and in the end he will repay It had been well for William Rogers that he had forborn this Work long ago it weighs him down and will be his Torment too hard to endure and for all William Rogers's reflecting on this 〈◊〉 upon George Fox let him bring forth the Man that will say that George Fox hath made the Gospel charge able to him let him bring an Account thereof and he shall have repayed double William Rogers goes on and says It hath been reported that John Story was Judged by George Fox or by some of his party for giving his Mother the Rent of his Land that was given him and said he should have kept it to have born a Testimony against Tythes 〈◊〉 and he says also Whether it ought not as well to have been George Fox's duty to have kept his that descended to him by Birth-right to have kept up his Testimony against Tythes as well as John Story In Answer we say as to the first part of the Charge against George Fox or them 〈◊〉 party with him relating to John Story that William Rogers brings no Proof or Certificate from any concerning that which he would charge upon George Fox or those others he speaks of that John Story should be blamed by for giving his Mother the Rent of the Land that was his or that John Story did give it to her which when William Rogers doth we shall further concern our selves in Relation thereunto neither did we ever hear of any such thing and George Fox doth deny it and therefore it is a false charge that shall lye as his door amongst the rest but this we have heard that the same
Church of Christ in opposition to the Life of Truth and the Unity of dear Brethren and W. R. also might easily have seen his mistake in giving G. F. the Character of the greatest Flyer in time of Persecution that ever he knew if he do but compare him with J. S. and them of party with him of the Meeting he belonged to there hath been enough amongst them to stop his Mouth with and go no further against him touching this matter and let all William Rogers Certifiers and indeed Accusers they may be reasonably called be asked whether ever any of them spake to George Fox about this matter they charge him with or ever to his Face shewed any dislike of his so leaving the Meeting as they are pleased to assert saying That they believe he left the Meeting that he might not be taken Prisoner that day We never heard of any such orderly proceedings amongst them the Lord in the sight of that in their Consciences will plead with them for such Work as this we desire they might be forgiven and things not laid to their Charge as their desert hath surely been William Rogers makes an Accusation against George Fox also by a smiting Query concerning a Meeting at Ringwood which George Fox was at many Years ago charging him about his flying there and undertakes here to concern himself with it that he may find Work for his smiting Tongue which Accusation being denyed by George Fox in relation to any evil fact done by him touching the same and William Rogers expected to have made sufficient proof thereof which in his Rejoynder he hath not done there being also a Certificate from the Friends of the said Meeting fully demonstrating George Fox's clearness against William Rogers's abusive Charge satisfactory to all the honest hearted Friends to Truth who have inspected the same we shall not therefore much concern our selves therewith 〈◊〉 this may be very reasonably observed that notwithstanding the Certificate from the Friends of the aforesaid Meeting to the clearing of George Fox and William Rogers totally deficient in the matter of proof against him but that he can as he is wont say If Reports be true yet the unplacableness of the Mans Spirit is such that he hath undertaken by perverting George Fox's Words and misconstruing the candid sence of George Fox's relation touching the same to make Deductions therefrom which neither the scope of the Words themselves 〈◊〉 any thing relating thereunto under any Christian and Charitable Constructions in 〈◊〉 and Truth can be deduced We should be glad that the honest hearted had the opportunity of reading over G. Fox's Answer in Manuscript to William Rogers's 〈◊〉 Queries and the Certificate from the aforesaid Meeting touching this matter of Charge about Ringwood Meeting and then to observe the Work William Rogers hath made about the same by his perverting and 〈◊〉 inferring therefrom It may be easily seen from whence he is and whither he goes what his Motion and Center is and by the Work he hath had in Hand many will be made to say from the sence they shall have of him and his VVork That 〈◊〉 hard for Record or Age to find an 〈◊〉 to him The Reader may remember that at the beginning of his Paper of Smiting Queries and Charges William Rogers alledged against George Fox thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Query of George Fox Whether he doth 〈◊〉 that when the Souldiers 〈◊〉 other Persecutors come to a Meeting in or 〈◊〉 London at a certain time 〈◊〉 he was there he did not go out of the Meeting and 〈◊〉 himself to an upper Room or 〈◊〉 for so I have been 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he 〈◊〉 by 〈◊〉 Person of known Credit who was at the Meeting This is the substance of the Charge Answer It may be observed here is an 〈◊〉 relating to high Charge against George Fox before one single Witness he pretends to no more contrary to the Apostles Directions which manifesteth him to be of another Spirit then the Apostle had as well as disorderly 〈◊〉 not having first dealt privately with him George Fox also denieth the same as a 〈◊〉 Charge which being matter of high Accusation as William Rogers 〈◊〉 Queries may be in all reasonableness William Rogers ought to have proved it against him or have acknowledged his Spirit wrong in so doing but we find not in all his Rejoynder any proof made thereof nor any Certificate produced from that Person of known Credit as W. R. said of him to make good this smiting Charge We refer the Reader touching this matter also to G. Fox's Reply in Manuscript to William Rogers's smiting Queries for satisfaction This also manifesteth upon the whole matter relating to Charge against George Fox for flying in time of Persecution that the Charge is not only malicious but false and most unchristianly abusive arising out of the wicked prejudice of his Spirit from whence all this bad Stuff hath come in the Face of Meetings Country and Nation thus impudently to impeach an Elder contrary to Gospel Order the Rule of Christianity yea and of human common Societies in opposition to the Sence and Testimony of many Faithful Undetected Impartial Grave and Sober Friends of Gods Truth who in one Heart and Conscience stand up in Evidence for George Fox's clearness in the matter of the Charge against him over William Rogers's Head and Work together with all his prejudiced incompetent Certifiers and Witnesses and it is our firm belief that in the sight of all sober People who have seen and tasted his doings that he stands detected as a false Accuser of our Brethren and one that hath set himself we cannot but often say to work Mischief in the Church of God if possibly he can do it which will be his Burden one day very heavy to bear And his unchristian Constructions which in his jealous Mind he makes from which his perverse Deductions are drawn upon the honest Relations aforesaid by George Fox given and upon the Testimonies of Faithful Men on his account we tread under our Feet as the Works of Darkness and Death it self as to the Life of God and the first Love as by his paraphrasing scurrilous Language in his Discourse is clearly seen William Rogers further goes on to manifest how he seeks occasion against George Fox and saith in his Rejoynder That George Fox informs him that some said his Papers were not worth Answering And seeing George Fox saith he hath acted contrary to their sence What is become of their Unity now and whether this doth not shew their Confusion and the rather because George Fox saith Thy Charges being 〈◊〉 and Malicious I take the 〈◊〉 notice of them And further saith he I take notice that this is one sign that the Word of the Lord in John Wilkinson is fulfilling Answer Whether this be not sorry Work let him bethink himself and then speak he surely loves to be busie one way or other when such poor drudgery Work as this he is glad to
pretend to that they are gone from that they may the more cunningly deceive and lead back into a corrupt Fleshly Liberty again to satisfie the Lusts of it that 's the center it tends to and when it hath tired it self out there will its end be Impartial Reader When thou hast with an unprejudiced mind in sincerity of Heart looked over and weighed this William Rogers his Work the Champion of the backslided Ones and the Enemy to the Churches Peace and looks upon the Engine he would perfect his Work by thou mayest easily see of what Spirit he is and what his Work tends to and escape the Snare he would take thee in It s a false Spirit in which he would betray his Brother even unto Death its malicious bending it self with false Accusations and lying Slanders to defame such as have kept their Garments clean and whose Integrity is approved in Gods sight and in many Consciences its wicked in bringing the same to publick view having for the most part little evidence of any sort to produce but If Reports be true it s a treacherous Spirit that talks of the Light and would seem to vindicate Truth 's Principles with such a false malicious slanderous wicked Work as his Book is stuffed with and with seeming Imbraces and standing for the Truth and the appearance of it betrays it and would deliver it up and the servants of it into the hands of Sinners It s a false libertine Spirit tending to Ranterism that inveighs against Friends tender care in the Church of God according to Gospel Order and vilifies with slanderous reproachful terms the Government of the Power and Discipline therein Established in Gods visible Family terming it the bringing into the Churches Mens Prescriptions and lording it over Mens Consciences the introducing of the Apostacy again c. All which in Subjection to Gods Power we abominate and turn it back upon its own Head to receive the stroke of the Eternal God which will fall upon the Abbetters of this Spirit if in time they repent not as a burden too heavy to bear They of that Spirit also cry against the seasonable Exhortations and Reproofs of them whom God is pleased to concern on this wise as Imposing Over-driving and the like they are letting loose and gratifying a fleshly mind and to indulge the same claiming a right in a wrong spirit to be left to inward freedom till they see the Lords requirings or that it is their duty so to do This sort of abominable Work is clearly manifested to be the tendency of William Rogers's Spirit as his own Book demonstrates cleared to the understandings of the unprejudiced and honest Hearted to God and by the Answer thereunto called The Accuser of our Brethren cast down c. Subscribed by Ellis Hook in the name of the second Day of the Weeks Morning Meeting in London may be plainly seen That which demonstrates also the 〈◊〉 creeping Work of this Spirit is that although William Rogers in his Title Page pretends his Book to come forth in the 〈◊〉 of himself and many of his Brethren The Question being often put as Hundreds will Witness and required of him or any to Answer to Who would stand by it Or say they had Unity with its coming forth in Print We cannot yet find the Man that declares he owns it or that will say I am one that will stand by it And yet a creeping sort of Men backsliden of a certain Truth from God and turned from the Truth and work the Works of Darkness hands it out amongst the loose sort of Professors of Truth and many other as the 〈◊〉 serves them notwithstanding known Enemies to the Life of God and the Testimony of Truth and despisers of such as have received the same and holds their Integrity in it Reader It may be cause of Wonder that this People that came out together in the Light and Unity of the one Spirit and have stood together with Hand and Shoulder against the many Heads and Horns that have pushed at them and who have been struck at more or less under every Government that hath been since they were a People and none has been able to break them but all has tended to their Encrease and Stability in the way they have been led into and walked in that such should now when their outward Ease comes to be enlarged fall at Odds and Difference amongst themselves apparently as some may expect to the great damage if not the Ruin of them In the first place we would have all to know and take notice that in the Light and Life of Truth our antient Unity stands and in it all are established who keep Entire and Faithful to it In it we are the same in Love in Fellowship through the eternal Power against which the Gates of Hell shall not prevail that ever we were our Life grows in God our Testimony stands we are on our way the Lord is before us and there 's none shall be able to pluck us out of his Hand our Faces are still Sion wards and our Confidence through the Eternal Power that 's inlarged amongst us to have our Residence there in that good Land which God hath given us to taste the Fruits of and the earnest blessed be God we have with us of that Inheritance that never hath an end and we are comforted in our way who keep to Truths Life and if any turn out to the right Hand or to the left it s their own fault and will be their own loss the Lord will be clear and his People clear having discharged our Duty thus far concerning them It s confessed to the grief of our Souls there are a few that came out with us by an Eternal Arm that have not eyed the Lord and his Power for Safety but are gone out from us having betrayed the Life in which they were with us and are become not of us As it was said They went out from us because they were not of us for if they had been of us no doubt they would have continued with us It may in truth be told you that have read William Rogers's Book for your Satisfaction if you desire it what sort of Professors of Truth this Evil and Mischief of being led back again from the conduct of Gods Power to covet the Flesh-Pots of Aegypt's Land and satisfie the Lusts of a corrupt mind in opposition to the Churches Care in this Gospel day hath befallen First They are such as although the Openings of life and the hidden Wisdom of the pure God were in some measure Revealed in some of them and although in some measure they might have partaken of the Ministry of Christ Jesus as Judas did amongst the Twelve yet not giving God the praise nor singly attributing the Glory to him that Worthy deckt themselves therewith as it was of old the Lord said I gave them of my Jewels and they deckt themselves therewith c. So
John Wilkinson amongst our selves only to see if vve could yet so order the Business by information to such as vvere out of the vvay that if possible an end of all Differences whatsoever amongst us might be made without any further trouble to the Churches and if at that Meeting there was not a determination concluded amongst us we might afterwards appoint another Meeting for the same end and take to our assistance therein some faithful Brethren of other Countries that matters might be heard before them who had personally been uuconcerned with the Exercise amongst us and this they judged might be orderly and seasonable because that they of us who where not of party with John Story and John Wilkinson c. were rendred in many parts of the Nation by their means to be in the wrong and condemnable and not they A Meeting amongst our selves was first agreed upon to be at the Draw-Well in Sedbergh Yorkshire at the House of John Blaykling and Friends being come together and the Meeting set after a while John Story and some of party with him asked What we had in Writing against him and John Wilkinson it was replyed That it was not our desire or purpose to exhibite matters of charge one against another in Writing if it could be avoided for we desired no memorial of any thing of that tendency to remain we were there met amicably as became Gods People to discourse of matters in which we were not at one amongst our selves by reason of which grievous Exercises and Divisions had been amongst us to the grief of the Innocent and Upright to God and we desired that things might be fairly spoken of that so we might come through Gods help to have a right understanding of one another that if possible the occasion of Differences might be removed and the ancient Unity might arise again and remain with us to our Comfort and Truths Praise But notwithstanding they said That they would not concern themselves with any discourse of that nature with us unless every thing to be discoursed upon were put in Writing We shewed our dislike thereof at present and desired that we might speak of things to see what could be done on that wise first and then if nothing were done this way as to satisfaction to us against the next Meeting it might be considered upon vvhich method to take or Words to that purpose But the conclusion on their parts vvas no discourse to be unless vvhat vve had to say against them vvere put in Writing We instanced some things that vve vvere dissatisfied vvith vvhich they had spoken in opposition to the Churches Concerns in the order thereof vvhich had been a great block in our vvay in the Work of God such and such passages had happened concerning them and such things done by them as vvas the Churches Grief and occasioned the breach of its Peace but nothing vvould they concern themselves vvith because they vvere not put in Writing only in some casual discourse amongst us at that time such Words came from them as gave great dissatisfaction to many there to the breaking their Hearts into Tears through a Testimony from God against them they reflected upon our Meetings to be Formal and not Gospel-like being constantly kept in the freedom of Gods Truth to be ready to attend Friends Concerns vvhen or of vvhat sort soever they might be they called our Practices therein Ceremonies brought into the Churches as they have often called them Mens Prescriptions other mens Lines made ready to our Hands Dictates of fallible men and the like And when all was done nothing did appear to us and many more there present of tender inclination in them to Reconciliation and Peace in any Gospel-Way and so we seeing clearly that they were resolved in relation to hearing of Matters to have all written down that must be spoken to We let them know that according to our Brethrens desire another Meeting was intended by us to be had with them with the assistance of some other Brethren of other Countries with us and then although it should be our last expedient we intended God willing to write down several things with respect to the Opposition made by them in the Church of God to the Order and Practice used amongst us therein and this was the issue of that days Meeting and let the Upright and the Lovers of Peace amongst Gods People consider whether this Spirit of theirs which is acted on this wise be that which is pure peaceable and easie to be entreated which through the Exercise of our next Meeting in relation to them and their work will be more plainly discerned a faithful account whereof we intend through Gods help to give At our next Quarterly Meeting in Kendal Friends being met there and in the sence and weight of the Truth amongst other things in persuance of the aforesaid desire of our Brethren at London was another Meeting agreed upon to be had with John Story and John Wilkinson and some Friends of other adjacent Countries who were nominated by the agreement of the Meeting and some were ordered to send word to the said Friends desiring them as they felt freedom in the Lord to come to be assisting to us The Meeting was appointed to be at a place called Pow-Bank in Westmerland the 24th Day of the 5th Month 1675. of which Meeting John Story and John Wilkinson they not being with us by the order of the Quarterly Meeting were to have notice as in the aforesaid Epistle from Lo don was desired and during the time before the said Meeting it was given out by them after they had notice of it That they did not intend to come at any more Meetings on that Occasion The certainty of their resolve not being known or if they had in their haste said so seeing it had been better to have judged that rashness then to have stood in it John Blaykling wrote a particular Letter to them desiring them upon several Considerations and Accounts to be there John Blaykling's Letter is as followeth Friends and Brethren THe Meeting agreed upon at the last Quarterly Meeting upon the account of the unhappy Difference amongst us although I heard that you had sufficient notice thereof yet I perceiving you had little purpose to observe although agreed upon according to our Brethrens desire at London in manner and form according to our sence of their Letter in that case to us and according to the order of Truth and you having notice given thereof accordingly and the election made of undetected Men amongst us and several others of our unconcerned Brethren wherefore I could see no justifiable Plea you could have in the sight of God and Friends to absent your selves Wherefore it was upon me to get Joseph Baynes to come over to one of you to advise you to take into consideration in self-denial what you do in this case least you render your selves to all the Brethren more and more otherwise then I
and this Separation will apparently wither and come to nought And we must tell you that some of us hoped and expected that ere this you would in the Fear and Dread of the Lord have born a publick Testimony against that Spirit of Division and Meeting of Seperation in those Parts And we are livingly assured in the heavenly Counsel of God that is now with us that in all places where any hurt hath come and entered by this Spirit through you the Lord first requireth this at your Hands and in the Name Power and 〈◊〉 of the God of Truth and Peace we are constrained to press you to be first reconciled to your Brethren and in your Spirits and Practices be united to the Church of Christ before you offer your Gift or excercise your selves in publick Testimony among Gods People and so no more leave that Country in 〈◊〉 and Seperation for otherwise the Breach will become wider and you more discover your selves to be of that Spirit which would augment Contest and Division which we desire that God in Mercy may deliver you from for against that Spirit the sharp Sword of the Lord is drawn and thus far have we cleared our Consciences in his sight and presence whose ancient Power gloriously springs and reigns amongst us Eternal Praises to his his Name forever George Whitehead Iohn Burnyeate William Gibson Robert Lodge Alexander Parker Thomas Taylor Iohn Bowren Iohn Tiffen William Penn. We whose Names are here under Written being at London at this Yearly Meeting having heard the above written Letter twice read at a second days Meeting in the City being the 22d of the 3d Month 1676. do hereby declare that it contains the real sence of our Hearts as was expressed by several Testimonies there given to that purpose from Gods Truth in many of us and therefore are in unity with it Pattrick Livingstone George Hutchinson Richard Pinder Hector Allen William Fallowfield Samuel Cater Iasper Batt Samuel Thornton Thomas Cooke Iohn Lanstaffe Edward Edwards Iames Claypoole Brayan Doyley William Peacke Richard Webster Francis Moore Iames Parke Richard Samble William Mead Leonard Fell Stephen Smith Iames Sikes Charles Floyd Daniel Smith Thomas Salthouse Stephen Crisp Anthony Thompkins Iohn Haywood Ellis Hooks Authur Cotton Let God be witness this Day betwixt the Church of God and these two Men and them of Party with them whether in the tender Love of God and of dear Brethren they have not been delt withal in Compassionateness through great long Suffering and Patience beseeching them in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ and Gods manifold Mercies and Forbearances towards them that they would be reconciled to God that they might find acceptance with him as that which was a Soul Concern yea the concern of eternal Recompence World without end and that which hath been testified in many Labours and Travels Night and Day on their accounts and how unwilling Friends were that they should be rejected and cast aside and their Names blotted out from the remembrance of the Righteous and out of the Number of the Worthies of Israel whom the Lord Blesseth and makes as Saviours on Mount Sion to his Eternal Praise and the Comfort of the Church of Christ and the Peace of the Immortal Soul forever So that we have a Record from God upon our Spirits in true satisfaction that we have discharged a good Conscience in the Lords sight with respect to them and that if any of them Perish it shall lie at their Doors the Lord is clear and his People thus far clear let them look to it as they will answer at the dreadful Day Yet after all these Labours and Travels in the Love of God and Spirit of Grace and Supplication towards and in behalf of them they still continued in the Alienation from Truths Life in their separate contentious Work and the more the Lord and his People strove with them the more obstinate and hardned they grew and where the Apostacy which William Rogers is pleased to charge us with will be seen to center a little time will declare further So it was that as the evil Men and Seducers that grows worse and worse they put on resolution and Courage to stand it out John Story betook himself into the South-West to keep the Design on Foot there and to muster up all whom he could draw after him with the Pollicy and Might he had he set himself William Rogers ratled about with a dishonest Narrative that he himself had drawn up of the Transactions of the Meeting at Draw-well as his prejudiced jealous Mind acted him and sent it abroad up and down the Country where any would take notice of it took off the beliefe or hopes where any in kindness to John Story and John Wilkinson had been begot of any submission given by them or any real acknowledgement made by them there notwithstanding the paper they had given forth and at that time under an exercise if they had stood to it which William Rogers set at naught accounting it but a Rattle to please Children with John Wilkinson also as he had before denied that they had Condemned any thing writ to some of the Brethren at London very comtemptibly in a slight of all their Love Labours and Travels concerning them in the North inveighing against the Relation given and subscribed there of matters transacted amongst us and the product thereof calling it a lying Narrative c. And that Courage they took to themselves and cambined Resolution to stand to their Work that he together with about eleaven more subcribed a Book written by them and sent it abroad in Manuscript up down the Nation amongst those that had entertained Jealousies and let in Prejudice against the Antient Brethren who kept true to God and had let in Murmuring and Discontent against the Order and Discipline used in the Church of Christ. The said Book called or at least rendred to be their Remonstrance or Declaration pretending therein to stand to the antient Principle of Truth and Faith therein as also speaking of certain Practices used amongst them Directed to Monthly Quarterly Yearly and Second Days Meetings in a bold and open Contest with the whole Church of God throughout the whole Nation in which they possitively declare themselves and those of party with them to be that part of the whole Family of the Children of Light that keeps their antient Integrity and Stability in the Truth and for that cause say they are they called by the rest Separates meaning by the Monthly Quarterly Yearly and Second Days Meetings they are also bold to say that we that is to say all those that are in faithfulness to God careful with respect to Church Order and the Discipline thereof unto which the aforesaid Meetings relate and not of party with them are departed from our first Principle of Light and Life in Christ Jesus and setting up Forms and outward Methods in the Church and the like And for no
them upon which proposal a Letter was sent from the Meeting which the Woman belonged to signifyng that he was not clear of her neither did the Woman give him up to marry another Friends also of the Meeting he belonged to gave notice thereof to some of them before whom the Marriage was proposed and desired them to put a stop to it till matters were cleared concerning the other VVoman and that Objection removed and that the VVoman might have right done her which made complaint They were so far from being answerable in Practice to what they presumed to say is their Order that there was no notice taken of it at all with respect to respite after Friends had sent them that notice but within a few days the Marriage was accomplished Let the sober Reader consider whether these doings be Gospel-like and whether such work as this doth bespeak a People faithful to God according to their first love and care for Truth and the sweet Savour of it and whether it bespeak solidity and weight in and about the things of God to make such a noise against Church order which is practised amongst the Faithful and for which cause William Rogers proclaims the Children of God Aposlates to Prosterity in a Printed Publick Record and John Wilkinson signifies no disowning of it and his Abettors in these Parts spreads them abroad and yet confesses to Order declares what Order they have among themselves least they should be rendred Loose and Careless with respect to Truth and yet when their Orders in the practick part of them comes to be search'd into what sorry VVork they make which indeed cannot but in the Eye of the Simple the Honest and VVise in God render them not only Obnoxious to the Order and Discipline in the Power used in the Church of God amongst us but also a sort of People that through their jumbling wrangling VVork they have had in hand have lost not only the Savour of Truth but even a great part of those parts as Men which the Lord endued some of them with and for the clearing up of these matters a little spoken to and several more relating to them and their Practice now a days we refer the Reader to our Answer in Manuscript to the aforesaid Book Subscribed by Edward Burrow Richard Stephenson John Wilkinson and several more The Title of our said Answer is called The Answer to the Remonstrance of them of the Seperation in the North. And further it may be observed That as a People resolved to stand by themselves they continued meeting together now and then as they had occasion and kept their Meeting at an House which Friends of the Quarterly Meeting had withdrawn from a long time before partly on the account of the disorderly walking of him that lived therein And that confidence they had in the matter thereof that they sent to our Quarterly Meeting claming an equal right with us to our Quarterly Meeting Books of account of the Transactings of the Affairs of the Church from time to time together with the Records of our Births Marriages and Burials and by vertue of their pretended Title claimed liberty to an equal use thereof as well as we from time to time as they might have occasion and for that end demanded that the aforesaid Books might be brought to and kept at the House where they kept their Meeting that Friends had withdrawn from long before they parted from us on the occasion of his disorderly walking Yet well enough still for their Fellowship in that Spirit they are gone into Friends gave them a plain and sober Answer in a measure of denial of their Proposal as stated desiring them to condemn the wrong Spirit that had led them away from the Brethren and break off from the Separation and their Meeting in it and in that which was good associate again with Friends from whom they were goue then would the joynt Right and Priviledge therein be enjoyed amongst us But this gave them no Satisfaction but a more peremptory demand they then made signified in a Letter to us Subscribed by John Wilkinson William Cartmell Richard Stephenson William Chambers Thomas Hodson and the rest to the number of Thirteen in which several reproachful Terms given to our Quarterly Meeting is inserted As if the Name of it must be bowed to and on that account seek Preheminence over the Brethren and 〈◊〉 their just right from them c. with much of that Nature and at last comes to an expedient as they call it to avoid greater Inconveniences as they say viz. If we will be pleased to re deliver the Books to John Airey from whence they 〈◊〉 taken c. Note that 's the Man whose House Friends left as to the Meeting and took away the Books also for he was a Man Scandalous to Truth in his Conversation That say they we may have the use of them as well as your selves and for which end they were purchased c. The Reader may take notice that upon the first demand of the Books when we denyed them an equal use of them being the Churches Records which they were gone from we told them if they would not be pleased to condemn their absenting in a tender mind and come again in the true Love if they would be pleased to send us a Bill of what they had laid out on the account of them or what Charge had been contracted on them by reason of any Record therein they should have it returned to them again and if they pleased to have a Copy of any or all the Records therein of Births Marriages and Burials that appertained to any of them they should have a Copy thereof given them but these things would not give them content but the asore-mentioned Paper they sent into our Quarterly Meeting without any Name or Hand to it which we returned again without taking any more notice of it then having such a knowledge thereof as that we perceived it was the same that afterwards they sent to us Subscribed as aforesaid An Answer whereunto we returned to them from our Quarterly Meeting the 〈◊〉 of the 7th Month 1676. and because of the grievous out-cry they made against us of Injustice after a very abusive clamorous manner who are not negligent in spreading abroad Papers of that tendency we think good here to insert some part of our said Answer to their demand about the Books that the Reader may be in a better Capacity to judge of this matter in relation to us We having answered several abusive Speeches and Reflections cast upon our Monthly and Quarterly Meetings in their aforesaid Paper of Demand in our Answer we insert their demand 〈◊〉 That Churches Books of Records should remain at the aforesaid John Airey ' s 〈◊〉 from which Friends had withdrawn because of the Scandal he had brought to Truth To which our Answer is thus Whether this be a just demand let the Witness for God and all Faithful
c. at last tell it to the Church This is such a clear Case that even Children in the Truth are not Strangers to it If we have done you Wrong why do you not tell it to the Church according to Christs Rule but exclaims thus and nothing will satisfy you but your own Demands in your own Case c. We tell you for Conscience Sake the Authority of Gods Power and the true Churches Right we cannot do it we cannot give away its Priviledg at the request of a dissenting Spirit This is our Answer and is the second or third time we have told you so if this will not satisfy you tell it to the Church if the Spirit of Jesus be in you and give over this wrangling If the Church judg us in this matter and we hear it not let us bear the Burthen of the Wrong done unto you there you may have Right done unto you This we grant you for your Satisfaction and to remove the Prejudice you have begot in some of the simple-minded against us through your crying Injustice which is very abusive seeing you will not come to Tryal c. And if none of these Proposals will finde an Entrance upon you and work in you Satisfaction then will it be plainly manifest to all that knows these things that you are not onely separated from us in the Exercise of Truth 's publick Concern but also gon from the Nobility of the Power some of you were once honourable in in the Day whereof this detestable Work would have been cause of Lamentation to you and the Advice and Unity of Brethren precious in your Eye which you now detest and for your reflecting Postscript in which you shew a Discontent that we returned to you your unsubscribed Paper You may say we delt sivily with you that did not return it with the Name of idam flet that the Author therof were either ashamed of or timerous to stand by and doth argue a secret Guilt upon the Spirits of such as were principally concerned in it and good Cause had we to desire to know whose they were as thereby manifested to be the great Fomentors of the woful Strife and Division you are entered into and the principal Leaders of the Separation you persist in that such may be marked and taken heed of by the simple amongst you and by all every where that loves Sion s Peace and its Welfare in the Lord whose Blessing will attend such for ever more c. From our quarterly Meeting the sixth of the Eighth Month. Thomas Pearson Thomas Langhorn John Blayklinge Joseph Baines and Thirty more on behalf of the said Meeting It may be observed that the aforesaid Paper being delivered to them they returned no Answer to it to this day neither heard we any more of that 〈◊〉 Work they had before made about the demanding the Books as aforesaid 〈◊〉 for the Reasons we gave them as expressed so that what they do with respect to Business or when they keep their 〈◊〉 we are Strangers to them and with respect to our Meetings we can say of a Truth the Glory of Israel's God is with us and the shout of aking and in Dominion through God's Eternal Power our Life reigns over all dissenting backsliding 〈◊〉 and evil surmising Spirits and the Works thereof and in the Exercise of the Spirit in our men and womens Meetings a Care is amongst us for God's Glory and one anothers Advantage and Comfort to the Joy and rejoycing of our Hearts in the Unity of that Life and Fellowship of that blessed Spirit in which our Hearts are made right glad and have cause to bless the Lord the Days we have to live and now having cleared our Consciences in the Lord's Sight thus far concerning them of the separating wrong Spirit who will not hear and return to God that they may finde Mercy we are in perfect Peace in the Spirit of our Minds And they being gon out from us because they are not of us c. their Contentious troublesom Spirit and their Strife we being quit of the Children of God the Church of the First born injoys their Peace sitting under their Vines and Figtrees in that sweet Repose that does our 〈◊〉 good and with respect to the Churches Concerns and Care in the Exercise and Practice therein we do injoy that inward Satisfaction and that outward Quiet and Peace that we have long waited for Glory to God on high for ever more Several of the Innocent that loves Righteousness and waits for God's Salvation comes off again from that Spirits Work and from touching any more in the Defilements of it acknowledging the Weakness they gave up themselves into in which they became the Churches Grief and in a signal Testimony of their Repentance condemned the Spirit that betrayed them and the Fellowship of the Spirit with God's People are come again to injoy to their unspeakable 〈◊〉 and Joy beyond what can be uttered Our Meetings are become quiet and we are unanimously and 〈◊〉 Sociable in our Work the rending troublesom Spirit being gon out never to return And if any who have been of it should desire to come again it must be through Judgment and the Spirit of burning through which whosoever of them draws near again it will be our Joy and the Answer of our Souls Desires and that 's the Exercise we are now concerned in in relation to them being thus far Clear in the Lord's Sight Little more Occasion on the account of the outward Concerns of the Church of Christ have Friends with them but that as to Meetings on the account of Worship They of the Separation and other Friends continued yet together Friends 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all the Bowels that possiblely could be on the account of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gods People Ministers and Messengers of 〈◊〉 out 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 had it on their Spirits to visit the Church of God in 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 Advice to all and in a Reproof upon the Spirit of 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Advice to them in a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the antient 〈◊〉 and the comfortable Society and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 therein 〈◊〉 hearty 〈◊〉 for reuniting 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 several wholsome Admonitions Counsel and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by such as came amongst us besides the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 yet 〈◊〉 with us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Parts concerning them Several printed Books came amongst us in relation to the matter occacioning the starting aside in Vindication of 〈◊〉 Care and Government amongst Gods People for the 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 of the 〈◊〉 and tender of them that were led aside particularly Roburt 〈◊〉 Book of Government and Georg Fox's Book in 〈◊〉 to Womens Meetings in order to the 〈◊〉 of their Service in the Church of Christ in the Capacity under which they 〈◊〉 having 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 Spirit in which to be prositable as the Lord should instruct 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 of the Gospel of Christ
〈◊〉 thereof For notwithstanding our Friends withdrawing from their Huses aforesaid yet they were so far from hindering or forbiding them to come to their Houses whose Dores are open to all that they had Word several times sent them of Meetings when some of our travelling Friends came amongst us And this is the Work of John Wilkinson and them of that Party with him and on this wise with Witchery have they gon about to further their Design which the Lord will break in pieces It 's already begun let them look about them that they may escape the Wrath and perpetual Reproach that 's coming upon them let the Patient wait but a little and they shall see the end thereof The Relation at large we have by us with many Hands at it ready for a surther Service as Occasion may require however from what hath been said touching this matter it may be easily seen whether John Wilkinson be not a principal Leader in this contending separate Work and what treacherous lying Reports is 〈◊〉 abroad by him and others of that Party to work in the Mindes of People a 〈◊〉 of Friend's Exercise in the Church of Christ according to the Discipline and Order thereof And whether William Rogers in his applauding such so 〈◊〉 and none to exceed them in Doctrine and Life that ever he hear'd of is not very much under a great Mistake let the Reader consider when such Work as this is acted by them However this we can truly say these things have greatly wrought the Churches Peace and Quietness and now we are become very Peaceable in our monthly and quarterly Meetings they of the dividing contentious opposit Spirit having left us and the Power and Glory of God overshadowing our Meetings and those Blessings 〈◊〉 on high we are daily made so to enjoy 〈◊〉 our Labours and Work that a true Delight in God and his pure Truth springs up amongst the Faithful and Amiable and Sweet Our Society is without the least appearance of any Jarr or Division amongst us and our Meetings on the account of the Worship of God Friends are truly comforted in in the sence of a daily Increase in the Power and Dominion of God So that Friends Testimonies for the antient Truth are sweet and easy to many notwithstanding what is suffered therefore and several are added to us from off the barren Mountains and gathered home to the true Sheeperd who leads his Flock into green Pastures by the Pooles of Water to our Hearts Comfort and the Glory of him who is worthy for evermore And this we have to say upon the whole matter in relation to the many grievous and sore Exercises that we meet withal for several Years through the occasion of this dividing separate Spirit which had 〈◊〉 the Churches Sorrow and the Breach of its Peace The Lord hath turned the same to our great advantage many ways as hath been demonstrated and livingly felt to the great Joy and Comfort of our Souls that into an holy retirement of the antient Power by which we were first a People all the Innocent to God are brought that thither all might be scattered that had any depending upon any other thing and the Salvation which God revealed in antient days is become precious indeed and which livingly springs to the establishing of all whose dependency wait on him in those antient Testimonies which the Lord hath called us to bear for his Name-Sake so that Peace is become our Portion and the Blessing of God our great Reward And with respect to any publick appearance of opposition by them of that sort as to concern themselves on that wife in our Exercises for Truth the Glory of God in the Order Discipline used amongst us Friends are become here-a ways in the North much what quit of it for they begun to see it was in vain for them to resist and strive with that which they say was too strong for them and their Spirits fainted through the dread of the Eternal God they were in war with and their Hearts failing them in the day of Battel and having much what now given up the management as was said before of the Work and the Design in hand to them of that party with them in the Southern parts with whom John Story much what did remain some cluttering work William Rogers and some of party with him made in those parts but principly he was the man took the matter into his concern and a deal of stir with writing and such like wrangling work he made in some of Friends Meetings and others sent Papers to London and into the North against the Testimony given at Ellis Hooks's Chamber made mention of before with many scornful Terms and malitious Smitings ready also to be produced and many more such-like with Answers and Rejoynders as occasion was which to speak of and insert at 〈◊〉 is not much upon us as not altogether necessary with respect to our concern for that which hath been already said about matters of that nature may be we judg sufficient in the Eye Heart of the Upright to God to leave William Rogers and them of party with him convicted of the matter alledged in charge against them with respect to manisest Opposition to Church Care amongst Gods People and the Order Government of Jesus Christ instrumentally in the Family he hath made choice of to be Glorified amongst during the Tabernacle which God hath given And this we can say and evidence according to Truth that grievous Work William Rogers and his Abettors made against God's innocent harmless People in the South with bawling cluttering Work such as we have met withal in the North The Relation whereof we shall mostly leave to our Brethren in those Parts as they see an Occasion for it In the mean time this may be noted that when they had done all they could both in North and South to beget a Dis-esteem of Friends Care under the Government of Jesus in the Church and Family of God and thereby thinking to obstruct the Order Rule and Judgment thereof and to leave themselves thereby at Liberty in the Flesh and at ease that the Stroak of Gods Truth should not come upon them which is seen to be that Spirits Design they have been acted by Yet all would not do for they were in War with that which was too strong for 〈◊〉 the Glory of God 〈◊〉 over the Darkness they were strugling in and the Church of Christ continued in its antient Glory and beautified she became in the Hearts of Thousands through the Care and Labour the Travel the many Exercises in all Diligence Meekness and Patience used and born in the Concerns and Work thereof and many became more and more established in the Sence thereof even the more that the wrong Spirit and them of it set themselves against it and Fear and Jealousy of the success of their Work no doubt surprized them because of the 〈◊〉 Glory that attended
the one when the Lords secret Hand smote the Hearts of the other so that to another kinde of working in the fame Spirit they betook themselves as 〈◊〉 shall be made appear But first we defire that on the Consideration of what hath been said at large and yet things but hinted at with respect to the multitude of Exercises that have been met withal in relation to the Sorrows Grievances various Troubles and great Afflictions that hath attended the peaceable People of God these several Years through the Spirit of Opposition 〈◊〉 and Mischief that hath wrought amongst them by a sort that hath been acted thereby having let in an evil Heart of Unbelief in departing from Gods eternal Power and with respect to the Care long-Suffering Forbearance and great Patience that hath been used towards them with Exhortations Cautions Counsel and Advice in the day of their declining Age and with Reproofs of Instruction and the pure Judgment that hath been ministred in unto them with Line upon Line Precept upon Precept here a little and there a little as it was in the Prophets days in the case of the rebellious and backsliding People We say it s our Desire that these things being tenderly weighed in sincerity of Heart amongst all where-ever this may come and Occasion may be given to inspect the same may speak whether William Rogers whom we are 〈◊〉 with have justifiable Cause to render this Family in the Church of God and tenderly bowed down and broken with respect to them of his Party whilst a Door was seen to be set open to them the Apostates from God and such as in whom the Doctrin and Life of Christianity is extent and to publish the same in Print and leave the infamous Badg thereof upon us to Posterity or that the Witness of God in all your Consciences do not testify that he is a man of a corrupt Minde and hath set himself to work Mischief amongst the People he was once in Unity with and to work Destractions amongst them and expose a People more justified in Gods sight and amongst the honest hearted than 〈◊〉 to as much Infamy and Disgrace as he can any way do and to bring an Odium upon their Principle and Practice as much as in him lies and that he appears to be in the Enmity of his Minde against them he hath turned his Back of and the just Principle also in himself that would rejoyce to see Evil of any sort befall them and therefore hath set himself to render them the worst 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 devise we leave it also for them to judge whether the Apostate and turning back from the Doctrine and Life of Christianity be not truly applicable to him and them of that Party with him which in the Sequil of this our Concern we shall further demonstrate as the Lord shall be pleased to give us Leave Now to go on and that which is before us further to do is to manifest What other Course William Rogers hath betaken himself unto in the matter of his proving this People whose Testimony and Practice stands to maintain that 〈◊〉 a Gospel Dispensation through Gods invisible Power Church Order and Government visiblely and instrumentally is justificable and commendable amongst Gods People during their Abode in this World as a visible Family to shew forth Gods Praise The Course he takes to effect this matter if he could is to asperse and caluminate with malitious Accusations with all the Eagerness he can devise and work himself into such as the Lord hath been pleased to make most instrumental in the matter of setling the Churches in the aforesaid Order of the Gospel and Government of Christ Jesus many whom he names not yet palpably known to many of Gods People who they are he smites at and several whom he by Name makes mention of and for the cause of his looking upon them to be such as there are no Hopes of any Recovery for meaning out of the apostate State he declares and publishes in Print they are gone into and particularly George Fox he hath very abusively and not like a Christian or a sober Man inveighed against and cast very odious Aspersions upon him to his 〈◊〉 as he intends thereby and indeed if true did very much leave him under the aforesaid Character that he hath given him and many Thousands more It is our Purpose God willing to insert herein the principal Accusations which in his printed Book he hath published against George Fox and to demonstrate by Answer thereunto to all conscientious sober People the Fallacy thereof together with his ungodly perverting George Fox his honest and Christian Sence and Intents in relation to Matters and Words upon which William Rogers grounds his Accusation which his aforesaid Sence and sineere Intents in any charitable and Christian Construction is naturally deducible from 〈◊〉 Fox's Words and Exercises 〈◊〉 thereunto from which William Rogers having perverted them draws his 〈◊〉 Inference whereupon he often makes an Occasion against him It may be observed also how unbrotherly and unchristianly he hath appeared in the matter of the aforesaid Charging of him contrary to all Gospel-Order for the most part and the rule of all profest Christian Societies yea beyond all Bounds of humane Sobriety and Moderation so that if he could but get any colourable Occasion from whence to ground his open and implicit Reflections and malicious smiting Charges against him that as much as in him lies he may bring a Defamation upon his Christian Repute and also a Blemish upon him as a Man thereby also to invalidate the Esteem that remains in the Hearts and Consciences of many Thousands of Gods faithful People of the Christian Care that lives upon his Heart in an innocent Life in relation to Church Government and Order and Discipline thereof setled amongit Gods People in this Gospel Day It is also with us to manifest what malicious smiting Accusations he hath cast upon several others of our Friends that tenderly and yet in a godly Zeal for God the ancient Truth and Unity for Brethren have stood in the Vindication and in behalf of the Government of Christ Jesus instrumentally and visibly amongst Gods People relating to the Tabernacle in which we have a Day therein to shew forth the Glory and Praise of him that created us against the ungodly Workings of a wrong Spirit in Opposition 〈◊〉 And more particularly have shamefully abused 〈◊〉 of our Brethren in the North on the account thereof In relation to which also through Gods Help we doubt not but give the unprejudiced Reader that Satisfaction by a plain and honest Relation of Matters which he grounds his Accusations upon that an Understanding will be opened in them rightly to judge and testify that there is abundantly more Malice against the Particulars he is set against in his Clamouring Work than any real Matter upon which to ground the base Reflections and abusive Accusations that he hath treated them with which declares
and what Dishonesty it manifests in him to require George Fox to procure him so many fair Copies of his Rejoynder to go abroad in which he saith he hath detected him of Lies and Forgery c. when he hath not for ought we know sent forth one of the Answers thereunto nor put it in his Book which in Conscience he ought to have done having the Opportunity for it that the Judgment given by the impartial Reader might not be upon the hearing of the one Party which otherwise must of necessity be if any concern himself therewith seeing William Rogers hath printed his Rejoynder and not the Answer to it and where also the Apostacy is entering and upon whom it prevails apace unavoidably A little time with what hath been said will declare a great Clamour hath been made and abominable Abuse put upon George Fox in relation to this Matter and many have taken hold thereof and upbraided him and Truth on that Score and hardens themselves thereby in their prejudiced and surmizing Minds which we should be glad were removed therefore have we been the longer on this Point which the Reader is desired to excuse The next thing we take notice of relating to William Rogers's smiting Accusations against George Fox is out of the 4 th part of his Book called the Christian Quaker c. which he saith in the Title Page thereof is chiefly to discover That George Fox hath been erroniously concerned in the Difference amongst the People called Quakers c. In his 〈◊〉 Part of the Christian Quaker c. pag. 7th I shall now proceed saith he to lay down a few of those things which are in some measure an Evidence to me that my aforesaid Sence is true c. First I take notice of Seven Questions propounded to John Wilkinson by Robert Barrow and others c. Who said they were desired by George Fox so to do In answer whereunto we say That we who were concerned to deliver a tender Paper to John Wilkinson which came from George Fox an antient in the Truth and one whom God according to John Wilkinson's Confession had made an Instrument to publish the Word of 〈◊〉 unto him and many thousands more to the turning of them to God from Sin and the Snares of Death do testify That we had an eternal 〈◊〉 of the Power of the Holy God with us therein in a Testimony also to the same Power which had moved in George Fox as an Elder in the Truth and one whose Care was over the Church concerning him And as a Father would have done to his Child overtaken with Weakness as John Wilkinson of a certain Truth was in relation to his inner Man who in the antient Bowels of Life that was reached unto him therein having heard as the Apostle said of the Divisions occasioned by him and John Story as also of several Words and Passages spoken and done by him relating thereunto desired to be informed whether it was so yea or nay as to those things concerning him that in the tender Care Advice and Councel of a Father he might have been dealt withal We say God was with us of a truth when we were with him on that account which broke many of our Hearts in which we desired that he would be coole and quiet in his Spirit that we might speak of things as became Brethren But instead thereof he obstinately resisted our tender Advice to him and brake forth into a perverse froward Frame of Spirit to our Grief and Sorrow and hardened himself against us and our tender Care concerning him God knows and in a pitious Passion went away from us in a sliting manner with contemptible Words in his Mouth saying He would stand upon his own Leggs and not be beholden to us for our Crutches We are bold to affirm that the Spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ was not with him in that Concern but a stubborn Self-Will which he hath given up himself to serve and which grew upon him after that Day to the marring the Image which in measure he once bore And we do testify in the unity of the Power if these were our last Words for which Account must be given That George Fox and we were justified before the Lord and in our own Consciences in the matter thereof and we have our Peace and Reward when John Wilkinson's Obstinacy and Ambition will be his Burthen and Torment in the Day of God And William Rogers's Perversion in a prejudiced Minde of George Fox's sincere Intent and Fatherly Exercise in the matter of those Questions put to him on that wise toucheth him not his Life is over it and William Rogers's Sence touching him and his Judgment upon him and us we tread upon for God never made that Spirit that William Rogers manifestly bears as his Book and Work demonstrates judge over the Heritage of God the Judgment shall return on himself again from the just God which he will one Day finde heavy upon him to bear And all John Wilkinson's shifting evading Answers and William Rogers his paraphrasing thereupon and drawing his 〈◊〉 upon Matters on both sides in that wicked Minde he hath will not 〈◊〉 them in that Day To this Testimony we set our Hands in the Power of that Life that was with us to our Reward and Peace Thomas Lowes Robert Widder John Blaykling Robert Barrow with several more The like clamorous Work William Rogers makes against George Fox for that he desired to be satisfied of several things from John Stories own Mouth that he had heard of him manifestly rendring him in Opposition to the Life of God breaking forth in his People according to the dispensation of his Grace suitable to the State of such as waits upon the Lord whose Care for Truth Gods Glory and the good of his People many Thousands have Experience of in Gods Power and are Witnesses thereunto And we do affirm in the Faith we have in God That if John Story had in a tender broken Frame in subjection to Gods Power in himself given a naked Account of these Matters and things proposed to him and had acknowledged his Weakness wherein he was overcome in the Concern he had appeared in relating thereunto it had been his Gain and his great Advantage in God the Days he had to live for the Visitation of God was upon him that day But instead thereof in a stubborne and perverse Spirit he despised the same and hardness of Heart the more prevailed over him to his great Disgrace as by the Evasions and mental Reserves in his Answers thereunto he hath appeared in he plainly demonstrates to such as were Eye and Ear Witnesses against him to the Truth of those Matters chargeable upon him which he hath made a slighty Denyal of And the more William Rogers appears in his Vindication in relation to those things that many are sufficiently able to detect him of the greater will his Burthen be and in the Account to be given
no Ill Where is the Charity without which all that 's done is accursed before the Lord in this Work of his William Rogers hath clearly manifested himself void thereof and to be one that watcheth for Evil to smite withal and when he wants matter of Fact against him he strikes at brings Accusations upon this Evidence If Reports be true or its likely so But let us see what the matter is on the account of the Charge that Robert Barrow and others have alledged against John Story and John Wilkinson that hath no matter of evil Fact in it and therefore Robert Barrow and others are Condemnable and consequently George Fox as concerned therein as William Rogers upon his unchristian supposition concludes The first Charge William Rogers inserts for that end out of the forty four Articles alledged against them is thus John Story speaking amongst many Friends of the danger of Forms because of the consequences thereof said That amongst the Christians of Old the Differences that did arise were about Froms which William Rogers saith seemeth to have no matter of evil Fact in it Answ. First We say the Words there are not stated as they were given in Evidence nor according to the first Copy but the Words were That great Differences did arise among the Christians about Forms And Secondly We say that although the Words be true in themselves and that they differed about Forms yet they were not seasonably spoken nor from a right Spirit by John Story as the scope of the Words in the Charge and the Reply inserted demonstrates We prove it thus Friends were in the Exercise of Church Care and Gospel Order in the Discipline in the Church of Christ Friends were zealous therein in opposition to a loose Spirit that did not like the Inspection nor Judgment thereof and it was an evil thing in John Story and matter of Fact chargeable upon him to lay stumbling blocks in the way thereof by presenting the danger of Forms and at this season and on such an occasion to tell of evil Consequence to arise out of the Order of the Gospel settled amongst us and on the account of the Government of Christ Jesus instrumentally in the Church for thereby he gratified a wrong Rebellious Mind and Evil Heart of 〈◊〉 against that justifiable Practice of the Faithful and upon which occasion all the loose sort stuck to him and became of Party with them and cryed against George Fox's Orders and against our Meetings as Formal and not Gospel-like c. And we do affirm that the ground of the Apostacy and Difference about Forms amongst the Christians of Old was the departing from the Power and Life of Truth and from their first Love and Care for God in which Church Government and Discipline was settled in Gods Visible Family 〈◊〉 an outward visible appearance as in the Apostles days from which Power and Faith they being departed the Form which the Life brought forth and they had been Blessed in only remained and then they strove about Methods and outward Forms having nothing else left where the Apostate Christians at this day are and are in their lo here 's and lo there 's and this Form and the other Form without the Life and Power where the Forcing and Compulsion stands that is Accursed before the Lord. But to come to the Matter we say because that in the Apostate State there hath been a false Church and a false Government and Rule exercising Lordship over the Conscience which is come up since the Apostles Days Must there therefore in the true Church come up again out of the Wilderness leaning on the Breasts of her Beloved be no visible Government in subjection to the Power and subservient thereunto Must there be no visible Form or outward Exercise relating to it no Order no Rule or Directions received or practiced therein but the tenderly concerned in it must be run upon as Apostates and Innovators and bringers in of a new Form of Government and of Impositions and Dictates of Fallible Men c. Oh abominable Wickedness that tends to Liberty in the Flesh and a leading back again into Death and the paths thereof Was it justifiable in John Story in this day of the true Churches concern on this wise to go creeping up and down from place to place and sometimes more openly buzing into the minds of the weak and carnal sort an opposition thereunto and telling People of the danger of Forms and the consequences of them to draw from subjection to Gods Power and into a contempt of the Church Care in the Gospel Day and Power thereof We say this was John Story' s Work as the scope of those Articles that belong to this Head tends to prove the same against him and if William Rogers had been sincere in the matter of his inserting the aforesaid Articles and the Reply to their Answer he might have manifested the same as clear as the Sun at Noon-Day to which Articles we refer the Reader together with the Reply at large to their Answer thereunto which we have in Manuscript ready to be produced if any do desire a sight thereof Now what Repute doth William Rogers gain to himself in the matter of his charging the Faithful for their Care in the Church of God or what Credit doth he bring to John Story that gives us cause to Publish on this wise his contentious opposite Work against the Life and Practice of the pure Religion which hath been the greatest part of his Concern these many Years or is Robert Barrow and others detectable on the score of the aforesaid Article against John Story or wherein is George Fox detectable of being an Apostate or one 〈◊〉 concerned in the Difference or wherein yet is he manifested to be one that would have all to submit to him as William Rogers maliciously would render him therefore brings up whatever he can get any way to detect him 〈◊〉 through perverting or 〈◊〉 inferring from his sincere and upright Intents Labour and Work in the Church of God let the Reader consider One other thing we take notice William Rogers hath taken out of the Reply to John Story and John Wilkinson their Answer to the Charges against them and in his Book hath Inserted the same to bring an Aspersion upon Robert Barrow and others concerned therein as also upon George Fox in that it relates to him against whom William Rogers principally in this and other things Smites William Rogers says John Story is accounted a man of a dark Spirit and in Confusion 〈◊〉 he did not believe that what was given forth by George Fox was by him intended to be urged with Severity upon any of Gods Faithful People but as Instructions and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the Churches 〈◊〉 This is a wrong stating of the Matter and thereby made a malicious 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 against Robert Barrow and others First we say John Story is not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Spirit for his so saying but he is
of the Lords Power that reached them on this wise George Fox Testified to and that there was a Spark of Life kindled in them the Charitable Christian Reader we are satisfied will confess to to the Praise of the rich Grace of God and to mind all of the manifestation of it in themselves according to the measure thereof to be 〈◊〉 therewith whilst they have a day given them to Labour in and if Micha and his Mother had been faithful to what was then made manifest in them in that dark 〈◊〉 Day the sparke of Life kindled in them God would have blown upon to a further clearing of them in the knowledge of him from whom Life Springs However this Testifies to the reaching forth of the Grace of God to all and of the sufficiency of it to work Vertue in the Souls of all in every Age and Day that have a regard unto it And this was that which George Fox Testified to that William Rogers hath made such cluttering Work about as also concerning the Woman of Tekoa and other Quotations not worth taking notice of here which is further spoken to by our Friend R. R. in the short Treatise called Some Ingredients against the Venome in William Rogers ' s Book To which we refer the Reader and very largely also are they spoken to in a Treatise in Manuscript given forth by G. W. to be seen if further occasion require And wherefore George Fox should be by William Rogers and others of his 〈◊〉 Party for this cause so run upon we see not and slanderously treated by them up and down the Nation Broyling themselves therewith these two or three Years and at last William Rogers to put that in Print to Posterity which hath in Manuscript formerly been spoken to and cleared to the understanding of the Innocent to God But the Lord suffers this to be that his Folly and Envy may be the more manifested to all that take notice thereof 〈◊〉 an Holy man of God makes mention of 〈◊〉 Faith the Harlot into whose House the Spies went and were preserved in Joshuas Days This is recorded in the Praise of God and that Faith which God gives and the touchings of his Power upon the greatest Sinners as he pleaseth to do Had William Rogers had the Spirit of Jesus and that Mind that Paul was of he would not have made such a bauling Work against George Fox for the concern he had upon him in making mention of the Work which God wrought upon this Idolatrous Woman Micah's Mother and the Confession she made to Almighty God for the Work God had effected upon her Son who confessed and restored the Money Stolen by him neither would he have recorded the same in Print to George Fox's Disgrace if it would effect the same nor to the slighting the Grace and Power of God in Micha and his Mother as he hath abusively done Mention is made of Marcus Aurelius Ant. one of the Roman Antichristian Emperors during the time of the Roman Monarchy and in the time of the Ten Persecutions raised against the Christians who upon an Advantage that he received through the Prayers of the Christians as he himself confessed in a Victory against his Enemies by 〈◊〉 of whom he was in Distress was made to confess to their God mention is made of him to have said That they Prayed to a God that they carried about with them in their Consciences and that eternal Power that accompanied them he acknowledged also which had that virtuous opperation upon him though an Heathen Man that he caused an Edict to go forth on the behalf of the Christians whereupon the Persecution they were Afflicted under ceased and so the People of God enjoyed their outward Peace Why should William Rogers 〈◊〉 offended at the Grace and Power of God upon any God is pleased to touch therewith and what a Spirit is it that reflects upon and abuses such as makes mention of the Lords doings on this wise the honest hearted may easily see William Rogers further in his Historical Relation touching the Division in Westmerland to cast Aspertions upon the Church of God there 〈◊〉 the matter also to an Accusation against George Fox saith thus in the 4 th Part of the Christian Quaker c. Page 107. The Fire of Contention encreasing and it being rumored that there 〈◊〉 a Separate Meeting in the North John Story writes to the two Meetings in the North viz. that called Separate and that called Quarterly as he saith proposing 〈◊〉 of re-uniting c. But he saith Robert Barrow and Fifteen others Condemned John Story' s Proposition unheard This also is thus hinted because I doubt not saith he but that it may come to the view of Robert Barrow who if he please may thereupon take occasion to signifie to me that George Fox was not concerned in that Counsel 〈◊〉 Answer In the first place we Answer to the latter part of William Rogers's Reflections touching this matter and that which he would desireably make an Accusation of against George Fox as being privy in Counsel to the aforesaid matter and we 〈◊〉 that the honest hearted may take notice of the mans prejudice watching for Evil and seeking occasion against George Fox whom he is ever smiting at and when he wants matter to ground an 〈◊〉 upon begs a Question to advantage the Design he hath in hand And we say if what the Friends in Westmerland had done in the matter of John Story' s Paper had been matter of evil Fact why should William Rogers in an evil and jealous mind without the Charity that thinks no Evil labour to have the Innocent brought under the Guilt thereof and for satisfaction to the Innocent and the more to manifest William Rogers's uncharitable jealous Heart we do testifie that George Fox had no hand at all in the concern we had upon us with others of our Brethren touching that matter we desire William Rogers may be the more Charitable and Prudent hereafter But to come to the matter touching the Meetings Concern on the account of John Story' s Proposals as expedients for Peace as William Rogers terms them William Rogers has dealt very unfairly and unchristianly with us First in not stating the Case aright in that he gives no account of the Reasons we made mention of given to him and others wherefore we could not take any notice of any Proposals sent by him for uniting the two aforesaid Meetings in the Captivity he then stood as we fairly signified unto him and them of Party with him at Bristol with them also of the Separation here in the North in a Paper sent to them which might have stopped all their Mouths until they had detected the said Reasons as insufficient for our denial which they never yet have done And Secondly we say he abuses us in saying That we Judged the Paper unheard for we Judged not the Matter contained in John Story' s aforesaid Paper but the Spirit in which
in which he said he had detected him of Lyes and Forgery c. As he is pleased to require or else threatned that he would Print against him c. Of this we have formerly hinted and have manifested also the naughtiness yea the deceit of his Spirit touching this matter for long before his said Book was in Print did William Rogers's Wife intimate to John Blaykling the receit of an Answer thereunto and some discourse we understand they had concerning it and yet the Man's dishonesty hath been 〈◊〉 that he hath Printed his Rejoynder in which he saith He hath detected George Fox of Lyes c. But not any thing of the Answer to it to the clearing of George Fox hath he taken notice of Wherefore for the Clearing of George Fox of the Accusations by William Rogers laid against him in his Paper of smiting Queries as also in his Rejoynder to George Fox's Reply and John Blayklings Postscript we shall as the Lord enables insert 〈◊〉 some part of George Fox's Reply and the aforesaid 〈◊〉 annexed to it as also something of William Rogers's Rejoynder with the Answer to it and leave the whole Matter to the Upright Unprejudiced Sincere-Hearted to judge thereof We shall not trouble the Reader with inserting in this place William Rogers's Smiting Queries Relating to Accusation and high Charge against George Fox because we have occasion in the Answer to his Rejoynder to make mention thereof and in order insert the same which the Reader may turn to and take notice of to help his understanding concerning this present Discourse which by the way we have occasion to handle before we come to the Charges themselves William Rogers in his said Paper of Smiting Queries tending to Charge against George Fox and Read in a publick Meeting at Bristol against him by 〈◊〉 on the occasion of the aforesaid General Epistle relating to Exhortation and Advice to Friends to be Faithful to God in their Testimony for Truth in time of Persecution he saith thus viz. As to the Exhortation it is in it self Good but would much better become the Mouth of George Fox if when the Persecutors came up one pair of Stairs in our Meeting-Room in Broad-meade whilst he was Speaking he had not been of such a Spirit which some may call Distrusting and Despairing as on a sudden to step down and hasten out at a back pair of Stairs as he once did of which mine Eyes with many more were Witnesses Besides saith he I Query of George Fox ' Whether he doth not remember that when the Souldiers or some other Persecutors came unto a Meeting in or near London at a certain time when he was there he did not go out of the Meeting c For so saith he I have been informed by a Person of known Credit and Reput then present at the Meeting c. And if Reports be true saith he this is but a very little of what might be at large manifested to prove George Fox one of the greatest Flyers in time of Persecution that ever I knew professing Truth c. Now as to this matter let the Sober-minded consider and speak whether this be Christian and orderly dealing with an Elder thus to Impeach in a Publick Meeting and so highly to Charge upon such slender Evidence as this vis If Reports be true c. Wherein doth William Rogers manifest the Life of Christianity 〈◊〉 remain with him when such shameful disorderly Work proceeds from him contrary to the Command of Christ and the Apostolical Practice Where was the private dealing with him in the first place betwixt them two George Fox as we understand knew nothing of this charging of him till several Weeks after Where was William Rogers's care according to the Apostles Advice not to receive an Accusation against an Elder but before Two or Three Witnesses who receives an Accusation against George Fox and Publisheth the same by a Smiting Query behind his Back in an open Meeting from the report of one Man and never privately asked him as we are well satisfied whether it was so or no but publisheth him in the aforesaid Meeting yea in Manuscript up and down the Nation and in Print to Posterity on the Evidence of If Reports be true to be one of the greatest Flyers in the time of Persecution that ever he knew professing the Truth c He goes on further and saith If any of you unto whom these 〈◊〉 may come may think that this my sence of George Fox be not true I desire such for the Truths sake to use their endeavours that George Fox may Answer these following Queries The Queries we say we shall insert in their place as they come to be Answered on the occasion of his Rejoynder to George Foxs's Reply to his Smiting Queries part of which Reply together with his Rejoynder and the Answer to it 〈◊〉 given forth we say we shall hereafter insert with some more Addition as cause may seem meet Unto which Queries of William Rogers in way of Smiting Accusations we say George Fox gives a sincere plain and tender Answer to the Satisfaction of the 〈◊〉 to God who have seen the Queries and the Reply thereunto which Reply in Manuscript we have by us to produce if any should desire the same and this we Testifie in relation to the Queries and the Reply to them that the wickedness manifested on the one Hand yea the palpable malicious disorderly proceedings on the Account thereof to wit by William Rogers being such in the matter thereof and the plain humble broken and self 〈◊〉 Demeanour demonstrated on the other Hand doth so clearly discover in the Eyes of the Upright to God the Spirit from whence the proceedings have been in relation thereunto That if little else 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 said but the Tryal thereof only committed to 〈◊〉 in all 〈◊〉 from what may be 〈◊〉 and observed out of the Smiting Queries and Reply thereunto on the score 〈◊〉 that sufficient satisfaction would arise in the 〈◊〉 of all 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 who may have occasion to inspect the same 〈◊〉 to ground the same determination thereupon In George Fox's aforesaid Reply to 〈◊〉 Rogers's Queries and smiting Charges against him which he denies 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 against his salse and malicious Doings on the account thereof letting William Rogers also see how he had confessed that the 〈◊〉 General 〈◊〉 to Friends or Paper that he was so offended at was a good Exhortation in it self asking him also why then he did not take more tender notice of it but brake forth so out-ragiously against it and him also by reason thereof telling him also that he had given forth many Queries concerning him but they appeared to be Charges against him c. as in the aforesaid Reply may be seen Unto which Reply William Rogers Rejoyns in Answer thereunto in which he saith thus For as much as George Fox hath laid down two false Assertions upon which saith he he hath builded all or
the rest doth that he may charge George Fox with a Lye on that score eight times over as he hath done now it is clear in the sight of the Upright-Hearted that may have occasion to see the aforesaid Epistle that the tendency of it is to Reproof to Exhortation and Caution instrumentally in Gods hand for the helping 〈◊〉 the Man of God in his perfect State and the Innocent Minded are bettered thereby though the Rebellious dvvell in a dry Land and knovv not vvhen good cometh and if William Rogers had been of a good Spirit he vvould not have been otherwise Minded and it is too probable that this scraffling he hath made about this matter hath been only to get advantage thereby and as he would mis-construe George Fox's plain Words let him take heed that he does not pervert his own sence and wrong his Conscience touching the same which the Lord will take notice of when he reckons with him for all and his charging George Fox with telling a Lye eight times over about this matter will not help in that Day nor will it gain him any repute amongst Sober Unprejudiced Men during the 〈◊〉 God hath given him to bear unto whom we commit the determination of this matter Whether George Fox on this occasion doth deserve to be rendered such a one as William Rogers hath rendred him with many base and unchristian Expressions as in his Book may be seen and whether his observation on William Rogers's Paper do deserve to be called a False Assertion and he a Lyer because thereof and whether these doings be consistant with the first Love and Life of Truth that he with John Story and John Wilkinson have so much pretended too reckoning all but those of party with themselves to be the Apostates and the like we can leave this matter we say to such to judg of and to that in all Conseiences to which we commit our cause And as concerning the other Observation that George Fox makes on William Rogers's Queries to wit It appears thy Queries are Charges against me which William Rogers calls a False Assertion and on the score thereof with the other before mentioned and spoken too William Rogers reckons all or most part of George Fox's Answer to his Queries Impertinent Idle and Nauseous Discourse Answ. Who that truly fears God and hath the good understanding can believe that William Rogers had any other Design in 〈◊〉 bringing sorth of the aforesaid Queries but 〈◊〉 to accuse and abusively in a revengful mind to Charge If it be but considered that upon the 〈◊〉 of George Fox's Epistle by way of Query to Friends 〈◊〉 Friends to take 〈◊〉 of distrusting the Lord in the time of 〈◊〉 so as to make a way their Estates 〈◊〉 avoiding Sufferings thereby and the rather because some antiently prosessing the 〈◊〉 were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for such a thing and William Rogers in his own Heart knowing himself 〈◊〉 that matter presently to fall to work so extravigantly as he hath done 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Considering also the manner of William Rogers's bringing the same to 〈◊〉 view causing them to be Read in the Mens-Meeting before ever George Fox received them or had been dealt withal according to Gospel Order and 〈◊〉 of high Charges against him sent into Westmoreland amongst them of the Separation before they came into his Hands scattered up and down amongst the Discontented and Loose sort who have watched for Evil against the care in the Church of God and against George Fox for its sake and all these things transacted by him and them of Party with him before George Fox could get any 〈◊〉 to clear himself thereof by any defence he could any way make in the capacity he stood and now to publish the same in Print to be left to posterity against him and never taking notice of the Reply given to his Rejoynder though 〈◊〉 Rogers was in a Capacity so to have done if he had not on purpose evaded the 〈◊〉 his 〈◊〉 speaking of the receit thereof long before his Book was at the Press as before is evidently proved 〈◊〉 as clear as the Sun at noon day is to our visible Eyes that it s no other Spirit then that which would have aspersed him and made him as Contemptible as he could any way do or durst presume upon and several things in the said Paper are as fully laid to his Charge as could be spoken by Words and although several things 〈◊〉 are delivered by him in a Dialogueing manner in that also it is the same in the Ground and a false Spirit to the Life of Jesus it sprung from that hunted 〈◊〉 his precious Life his peace with God and repute amongst Gods People Let him say what he will to cover the Head of his treacherous Spirit so shall it be laid to his Charge and he must bear the Burden of it in the day in which the Lord pleads with him unto whom Vengence belongs If it had not been the Spirit that hunted after the Life of Jesus and therefore 〈◊〉 occasion against 〈◊〉 and dispised the Gospel of Christ he would have had regard to Gospel Order and given him that in the first place and according to Pauls Advice have received no Accusation against him but before Two or Three Witnesses after a Christian and Gospel manner and have given him the priviledg of an Elder as becomes the gospel-Gospel-Day but he has Received Printed and Published against him upon the Evidence of If Reports be true or I firmly belive c. They that run may Read and Fathom his Spirit and what his purpose was and is in all his Design his Works manifest him to all that are single to God and have occasion to trace his Doings Its a shame to Christianity for him to say 〈◊〉 to Charge and that at an high rate too was not in his Eyes and but for advantage sake against him as he thought that he might charge him with 〈◊〉 Lyes all at once for saying It appears thy Queries are 〈◊〉 against me It s probable he would have stood to all and faced it out had 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in part feared his Proof in the matters thereof And we say again If to 〈◊〉 was not upon his Spirit in this undertaking why did he once say If thou 〈◊〉 it I will 〈◊〉 proof thereof or Words to that purpose And why did he say to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with many more were Witnesses And why did he say I 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 art the Man that hath 〈◊〉 Guilty of all these 〈◊〉 c But William Rogers says That 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 matter in a distinct Paragraph after he 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and therefore charges George Fox with utterring Thirteen Lyes because he says to William Rogers Thou 〈◊〉 many Queries but it appears they are Charges against me We desire the Reader to consider whether this be not Unchristian and Undecent treating of an Elder as also Indiscreet and full of Confusion he charges
Observations on the Queries a false Assertion and thereby to make him a Lyer Thirteen times over he says He did not intend the Queries to be Charges The most of what we can reasonably say on his behalf touching this matter is that peradventure he did not think so plainly to have declared them Charges least he should fail in the proof thereof it being a desparate adventure but that the tendency thereof was high Charges and that after a very absurd and unbrotherly manner it s very plain and safe to assert and the Words themselves demonstrates the same so that he might see if he were not wilfully Blind that his Tongue and Pen bewrayes him William Rogers in his fourth Query implicitly chargeth George Fox That he appears in his Epistle which he calls reflecting Queries to be a Man with two Faces Now we desire that William Rogers and them of Party with him may examine whether he be not the Man that hath appeared with two Faces in so highly now applauding John Story as not one equal to him in Doctrine and Conversation excepting John Wilkinson that ever he heard of and in espousing his Quarrel in opposition to Church Care and leading a separate Party in that Design and let his Conscience speak whether or no he hath thus vehemently stood by him therein from any real sence of John Stories Uprightness to God in this his undertaking or from any liking of or unity with his Preaching and let him be asked whether he did not reckon it once to be an empty burdensome dead thing like the Priests Doctrine and whether he said not that he would Preach them all to Death or the like If he remember not this or would make a forget of it we can help his Memory therein and so with respect to his praising of John Story now and standing by him on this wise we would have him consider whether he hath not been a double minded Man and that his undertaking in this Contentious Design against the Churches Care and Peace thereof hath not really been to gratifie a fleshly declining Spirit in himself from Truths Life in which also he 〈◊〉 his Contempt and Dis-esteem of yea his Malice and Enmity against George Fox who hath kept his first Love and Care for Gods Glory whose Person William Rogers runs upon and his Repute too both as a Man and Christian with lying Charges and false Accusations as all or most of the Apostates from Truth have done ever since we have been a People and if William Rogers would but consider the woful end of the most of such he might have great cause thereby to Fear and Repent that he might find Mercy and not perish for evermore We further take notice that George Fox blaming William Rogers for causing so many Smiting Queries and false Accusations to be read against him in a publick Mens-Meeting behind his back when he was nigh Two Hundred Miles off as unbeseeming Truth George Fox knowing of no such thing intended against him seeing also they of Party with him would not allow Thomas Camm to read a Paper concerning John Wilkinson relating to prove him to his Face an encourager of Loose and Wicked Persons c. In a Meeting appointed for that end and John Wilkinson there present To which William Rogers saith This if far remote from his purpose c. The Reader may consider how foolish William Rogers renders himself besides very Partial and Dishonest in this matter Will he justifie his causing to be read such malicious Charges against George Fox behind his Back in the Mens-Meeting where not a Man present would say he owned the reading of it George Fox not being there to make his Defence neither knowing any thing of the matter intended against him for the space of three Weeks time after by any Account from him or from any other by his Order and yet will seem to stand by those that would not allow Thomas Camm to read a Paper relating to make good somthing against John Wilkinson in a Meeting appointed for that very end and John Wilkinson there present We say that the remoteness that is in these Cases which is not a little tendeth to William Rogers his great shame with respect to the matter he hath had in hand Again William Rogers being told by George Fox of his unchristian and disorderly dealing with him about the Matter of causing those smiting Queries to be read against him c. Bray Doiley also speaking with William Rogers about the same disorderly Work William Rogers told Bray Doyley That he had sent them to George Fox three Weeks before they were read in the aforesaid Meeting And yet William Rogers denies this and sayes It s probable he might say it was writ three Weeks before c. In Answer we say It may be noted First William Rogers denies not but that it was read in the Mens-Meeting after the manner aforesaid which is base and unchristian doings And Secondly That it was read long before it came to George Fox's Hands its clear William Rogers's Letter to George Fox being a cover to the aforesaid Paper of Queries bearing Date Bristol the very same day that the Smiting Reflections and Falsly accusing Paper were read against him in the Meeting at Bristol Thirdly It may be noted what an Abominable Lye William Rogers asserts in denying that he said that he had sent the Paper of Queries to George Fox three Weeks before for Bray 〈◊〉 as by his Letter appears doth not only assert the Truth of William Rogers's saying so to him but Richard Snead writing to George Fox about the reading of that Paper in their Meeting against him saith thus I forbear to send thee a Coppy of it for William Rogers told Bray Doyley the next day after it was read that he had seni thee a Coppy of it three Weeks before Charles 〈◊〉 Junior also in a Letter to George Fox signifies thus The Coppy of the Letter read in the Mens-Meetings I had sent thee but that William Rogers told me Yesterday that he had sent thee a Coppy of it three Week before Now if this be not treacherous dissmbleing Work the Just God and the Upright may judg and what will be the end of this Lying Spirits Work a little time will more manifest He saith It s a lye to say that he said he had sent it three Weeks before it was read c. When there are Two or Three antient Upright Men in Truth Men of known credit and repute to restifie the same against him the Letter that came with the Paper inclosed in it bears date the 21st of the 8th Month 1678. And Charles Jones's Letter beareth date the 23th of the 8th Month 1678. And the day before was the day when William Rogers said to him and also to Bray Doyley that he had sent the Paper three Weeks before Such a Spirit as this God cannot bless neither can it ever do any good for God his Truth or People
rendered themselves to be out of the Doctrine of Christ Obstructers yea Despisers of Gospel Order and the Rule of common Societies Accusers of the Innocent Parties with William Rogers in his malicious Work in criminating on this wise and their Evidence if any material had been therein not to be regarded by Men fearing God Lovers of the Christian Religion and the Society of Brethren in the Spirit of Truth and that their Works cannot but be despised and cast out as the unsavoury Salt good for nothing but to be trodden under Foot of Men. And to that in all Consciences we can appeal where these things may come to be taken notice of whether it be not clearly demonstrated as the Sun that shineth at noon Day that this Work of William Rogers's hath proceeded from meer Malice seeking occasion against the Faithful whose Testimony stands and lives against his and his Abettors backsliding State at which they freet and fume and tugs to and fro and fastens themselves the more thereby to their greater Shame and Reproach in the pit of Infamy and Disgrace which they would have had others cast into And for a further manifestation of the fallacious Work of William Rogers and those of party with him as their Words demonstrate which have bew rayed them in this concern relating to George Fox his leaving the Meeting at Broad-Mead in the City of Bristol after the manner that they would charge him with We think meet to Insert here the substance of a Certificate given forth on the aforesaid occasion by Twenty eight Persons and Friends to Truth in the City of Bristol several of whom some of us knows to be Persons of grave and solid Deportment Men of good report in Truth and of a good conversation and repute 〈◊〉 all sober Men whom although William Rogers in his Paraphrasing 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 their said Certificate doth most abusively below the Spirit of a Man render them we are satisfied it shall stand touching this matter of William Rogers's 〈◊〉 Charge by all we can any way observe an Evidence for George Fox's 〈◊〉 therein in the Consciences of all the Faithful to God every where who comes to have the knowledge thereof with the 〈◊〉 that relate to it The Charge was thus If when the Persecutors came up one pair of Stairs whilest George Fox's was speaking he had not been of such a Spirit which some may call 〈◊〉 and despairing as on a 〈◊〉 to step down and hasten out of the Meeting at a back pair of Stairs which he once did of which mine Eyes with many more were Witnesses The Substance of the Answer of the aforesaid Friends is to this effect viz. WE have this to say who were generally all of us at all or most of the Meetings which George Fox was at there That we never 〈◊〉 or can remember that any Persecutors did come up the Stairs whilest George Fox was speaking so as to occasion the ceasing of his Testimony on that aocount And for a further confirmation of George Fox's clearness against this malicious Charge they add viz. And this Testimony for him we have in our Hearts as a Man remote in Spirit and Example from any such Practice of flying in time of Persecution though now charged therewith by Apostates c. And this we though fit to insert as Persons concerned 〈◊〉 the vindication of our dear Friend G. F's Innocency in this Case according to the best of our knowledge and remembrance who neversaw any just occasion for such a Charge as W. R. hath aspersed him with c. Now we leave this matter before the honest Hearted where this may come to 〈◊〉 whether George Fox himself having denyed the Charge as false and malicious we havenot much more ground on George Fox his Account touching this matter to give credit to Charles Hartford Charles Jones and Richard Snead and the twenty five Persons more of known Credit and Repute and Men of 〈◊〉 Spirits and tender with respect to Truth and the fellowship therein amongst Brethren who understanding that William Rogers had given out a Charge on this wise amongst many others against George Fox and had in Manuscript sent it abroad up and down the Nation had a concern of Spirit in the Vindication of Truth on their own free accord to give forth the relation aforesaid then to give credit to these few Certifiers on William Rogers's account against an Elder in Truth unheard and behind his back Who also have given Judgement against him and thereby manifested themselves to be Parties in the Design Printed as a Record to Posterity from their own particulat belief in a Criminal matter of such a tendency as this appears to be And shall leave to the Righteous God to clear the Innocent in all Hearts and that the Guilty and Blood Suckers of the Lambs of Jesus may be manifested to all that the Lambs may be aware thereof And for a further manifestation of George Fox's Innocency touching the charge of flying in the time of Persecution we 〈◊〉 the reader to George Fox's tender and simple Relation there in his Answer to William Rogers smiting 〈◊〉 and should be glad that all the tender Hearted who are void of Prejudice had 〈◊〉 oppertunity to look over the same believing that the tenderness of the Mans 〈◊〉 in the Life of God is such that it might be able to convince all Gainsayers yet such hath been the wickedness of William Rogers's Spirit in his paraphrasing thereupon to help his Work thereby that he hath taken hold of pieces thereof here and there that he could any way bend to the Advantage of his so charging and the rest of the Words that might make out George Fox's Innoceney touching the matter them he for the most part quite leaves out all which to insert together with what might be said to his pervertions and ungoodly deductions therefore in his Rejoynder would trouble the Reader with more then in Conscience we are bound to do or then there is any occasion for either with respect to the clearing this reproached and approved faithful Servant of God and for Jesus sake to every little one George Fox from the wicked Accusations alledged against him touching this matter together with the rest spoken to or as any way needful to manifest William Rogers's evil Mind for they are dark who see him not having occasion to be concerned with him Yet we desire to be born a little in giving the Reader a short account of some Passages that George Fox met withal that Morning before he came to the Meeting that the Charge against him relateth to which William Rogers in his Rejoynder denieth not one Word of as to the substance thereof yet how therein by his perverting and drawing ungodly Inferences therefrom how he makes that plain and honest Relation to look it would make ones Heart to tremble only in a few Words by the way whereby to remove the dubiousness that seems to lie in the following
Case that William Rogers would make a Charge upon against George Fox William Rogers saith That George Fox in an Answer to him saith I remember I was sitting in a Meeting at Bristol when another was speaking the Souldiers came and took him away and I kept the Meeting afterwards And yet saith he George Fox saith There came no Souldiers nor Officers into the Meeting whilst I was there nor any before or after that Day William Rogers makes a great ado about this and says He that runs may 〈◊〉 that in some cases George Fox matters not what he saith Now we say to remove this Ambiguity and also to manifest William Rogers's watching for occasion in which into Confusion and Mistakes he runs himself It may be noted that these two Relations appertain to two several distinct Meetings at one of which when the Officers came in Alexander Parker was speaking and they took him away c. And at the other into which no Officers came when George Fox came in Margaret Thomas was speaking and afterwards ceasing George Fox kept the Meeting as it was said in quietness till the end of it which Meeting the aforesaid charge of flying we perceive relates to these two distinct Meetings and Occasions may be easily observed out of George Fox's two former Answers which William Rogers but for his haste and lusting to Envy might have seen and thereby had occasion to have covered his bussing distracted Spirit if William Rogers deny this it may be further cleared as occasion may be seen And now touching George Fox's coming to Bristol to the Meeting on the Account whereof William Rogers lays his Charge against him George Fox saith I lay at Edward Pyot's House a little way out of the City and that Morning several Friends came from Bristol and desired me not to come to the Meeting that day for the Souldiers intended to come and said also What were they if they were taken it were no great Matter but they would not have me to come except I were 〈◊〉 moved I reserved my mind to my self and bid them go away and did not say I would or I would not but aferward I said to Edward Pyot I would go to the Meeting and one should stay to go with me through the Fields and he said His Son Edward should go with me So walking through the Fields I met Dennis 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Dennis Hollister said What would I go into the Mouth of the Beast and Thomas Goldney Smiled at me I bid them walk by because many People were walking there Afterwards I met George Bishop who said What would I go into the Mouth of the Dragon Note these were the most eminent Friends in the City in many respects I bid him also walk by and they did all they could to stop me so I went on and passed into the Meeting and 〈◊〉 Thomas as aforesaid was speaking but had soon done c. and a Pretious Glorious Meeting we had and when I was clear meaning in Testimony I was moved to Pray and when I had done and step down two or three steps I was moved to turn back again and stood up and told them Now they might see that there was a God in Israel that could deliver and so I stept down to go away and Friends began to busle out and I said Why did they busle and make that throng and George Bishop said It was time to break up the Meeting and so I came down the Stairs and there was neither Souldiers nor other Officers that I see or heard of that day nor none such like and many Friends and People were in the Street when I came out Now this plain and honest Relation as in Christian Charity we look upon it to be being considered upon which William Rogers also contradicteth not though he labours abusively to mar the Face thereof we say again by leaving out many of George Fox's Words in his reciting thereof and so making his own Construction thereupon and thence most inhumanly infers we desire it may be observed whether it may not be reasonably concluded that the Charge W. R. hath framed up is not only absolutely false as the foregoing Certificate under the hands of so many honest impartial Friends manifold over-ballancing what W. Rogers's indiscreet smiting and accusing Certifiers have said doth demonstrate but that also the Charge is notoriously wicked with respect to the Circumstances observeable upon the Exercise that George Fox had amongst Friends that day touching this matter as his tender Relation doth declare signifying how he was wrought upon to have kept him from the Meeting that day by some of the most eminent Friends then amongst them and several more and yet notwithstanding all in that he did go signifies that he was of such a Spirit as contemned the least shrinking in Suffering times although William Rogers this grand Accuser of the Brethren is basely Guilty in that matter as he hath confessed by making away his personal Estate that the Spoilers might not come thereat And what silly Malicious Work this appears to be seeing Thomas Goldney's Wife a principal Friend at that day together with Mary North who probably might be privy to these Transactions that she may asperse the Innocent if she could any way do it thus bewrays her own Husband's weakness with the rest of them on this wise And if these before made mention of had prevailed upon George Fox to have got him that day to have stayed from the Meeting as they laboured to do what Work would they have made of it its easie to see And let it be considered whether this case in relation to George Fox's supposed Weakness in Suffering times and yet not proved can in any respect be comparable to John Story' s leaving the Meeting to the grief of Friends when Souldiers were at the Door ready to break in and hid himself in an upper Room tell the Souldiers were gone and took some Prisoners with them and in leading a simple People by his example and allowance thereof into holes and hidden places upon the Commons in Suffering times which hath been to the grief of the said Meeting as many of them have since confessed and condemned the same although John Story and some more justified it And although William Rogers is not a shamed but hath the impudence to charge George Fox upon the Evidence of If reports be true to be the greatest flyer in time of 〈◊〉 that ever he heard of professing Truth and being charged as a false Accuser touching this matter what pittiful proof he yet brings never a Testimony in evidence answerable to the Charge more like Malicious smiting then any solid proof of the matter neither is the Evidence valuable in the sight of the upright to God with respect to the Certifiers themselves being manifested to be of the prejudiced contentions Company Parties with W. R. and the rest of the factious sort that have occasioned Discord and Trouble in the
of the Scriptures and of what I have writ and what his Name is to And to prove what he seems to hold forth against George Fox he saith I find no where that ever the Apostle forbad Circumcision in the same case in which he practised it Answer It s to be admired what this Man would fetch up or frame matter of to smite with though thereby he demonstrates sometimes his own folly for we say where doth George Fox say that the Apostle did so Nay we do affirm that George Fox doth plainly shew that the Apostle did not forbid Circumcision on the same Account or in the same case in which he practised it and so for William Rogers to say he finds it so no where is the same and no otherwise then what George Fox saith wherein then is George Fox's Ignorance of Scriptures and what his Name is to c If William Rogers knew rightly what himself says he might see how he runs himself into Confusion and makes himself Work with his own Shaddow George Fox intimates that the case in which the Apostle practised Circumcision and tenderly bore it for a season was because of the hardness of the Hearts of some in the days of the Churches infancy and gathering to God that could not easily be brought off from Circumcision and least his very much pressing the unnecessariness of it might have hardened some that used it against the Truth and because also of the tenderness of some others that had made some Conscience of it in Zeal though without knowledge as some of the Jews were said to have therefore also did he forbear and some little practise it and bid the believing Jews in the day of that weakness amongst them to be cautious of judging one another therein and in Meats and Drinks and the like These were the Cases in which the Apostle practised Circumcision and bore with the tenderly weak in those matters And the other case in which the Apostle judgeth them in it was as George Fox says when some who were come to see the nothingness of Circumcision and observing of Days and the like with respect to a Gospel Dispensatiou and Salvation by Christ Jesus and not of Works c. and afterwards turned thither again pretending it to be their principle and make a Sect of it Then the Apostle expressly forbad it saying If you be Circumcised Christ shall prosit you nothing and he said also And now after you have known God or rather are known of God how turn you back agaid into these Beggarly Rudiments the observing of Days and the like It is one thing we say in the Infancy of Truth not to see ones way out of the practice of some things Erroneous and an Exercise of Conscience may be in relation thereunto In which case great forbearance and render dealing with such in the Spirit of Meekness is profitable It s another cause when after Convincement and an understanding be given of the evil and unprofitableness of some thing in order to Life and Peace and yet to stand in the Observation of those things or being once redeemed therefrom to turn back thither again and say it s their Principle and make a Sect of it in this case Truths Authority comes to be exercised and the Judgment thereof placed And this is the substance of what George Fox intimates touching this matter which William Rogers makes so much quarrelling about And had the case on William Rogers John Story and John Wilkinson their Account in Relation to Church Care Government and Order therein which all this ado hath been made against by them been the case of tenderness or want of seeing the necessity thereof because of the Infancy as to Truth that they might have been in and that they had been tender in their Spirits under a fear to have offended the Lord his Church and People undet a mistake in themselves that Simplicity would have been Jealous of then would they not have wanted all possible forbearance every way to have done them good but this was not their case in any respect as their Testimonies and Works demonstrate They were not the Weak in their own Eyes for when they were in the first Love they were not ignorant of the necessity of Church Care Order and Government amongst Gods People in this Gospel day Witness William Rogers Subscription amongst many Brethren to a Paper for the promoting the same and encouraging Friends therein inserted in the first part of this Treatise and John Story his hand amongst the Brethren also on the same Score John Wilkinson owning the Papers given forth by George Fox as Directions touching the same as very good and useful to be practised They were not humble and passive in the day when they begun to stumble thereat and turned back therefrom to indulge a wrong Spirit in a fleshly ease in themselves and such as hung upon them or were gratified thereby much need not be said here what is already inserted in this is sufficient to satisfie touching this matter and William Rogers's Book also fully demonstrates what obstructions he lays in the way of it and what contempt he puts upon the care in the Church of God used amongst the faithful that all this cluttering Work hath been made by them against in a word they are manifested to be such as are gone back again from their first Love and Aeal for Truth and the Power thereof and the concerns of the Churches Advantage and Peace is not of weight upon them but the old liberty in the fleshly part is that they would be indulged in wherein Antient Testimonies for the Truth comes to be departed from to the dishonour of Truth and the holy way of God to the Grief of God's People who keeps faithful to him and this is the case that the Truth cannot allow any such in but the Judgment thereof in the Spirit of Jesus wherein Authority and Rule stands is placed there But again to the matter we were upon Let us see from what touching George Fox's instancing Pauls sometimes using and allowing Circumcision and in some cases judging it William Rogers fetcheth his smiting blows against him for that 's the Work he is concerned in William Rogers infers from this and saith It appears that the actings in some things according to ones Principle in matters of Conscience were condemnable when the practising things not according to ones Principle in matters of Conscience might be justifiable in George Fox ' s 〈◊〉 or some of party with him Answer we say this is a gross Perversion of George Foxs's Words and a false Application from the Apostles Practice and George Fox's instance nor any way deducible there-from And we require William Roger if he can to make it out that ever George Fox or any of them that are of his Spirit and in Fellowship with him ever justified any in the practice of things against their Consciences or disallowed any thing practised by any who acted
the pure Truth and One that would expose the Heritage of God whom he is gone from to Persecution and what not if the Lord were not in his way to block him up whose Impudence hath been such in raking up false and slanderous Accusations bringing them sorth contrary to all Gospel Order and Rules of Christianity or Common Societies as hath 〈◊〉 plainly demonstrated against a People he hath been in Unity with as the like of him hath scarcely been ever heard of in Age or Day And as upon a deliberate weighing of matters and things relating to him and the Work he hath in Hand the Honest Unprejudiced Sincere-Hearted exercised in a Christian Spirit comes to find things before the Lord and their own Consciences let them speak and give their Judgment upon the whole Matter and it is our sincere disire in that Love that 's born by us to all Men that the Consideration and Sence of this Spirits Work may cause many to fear and beware lest the like Temptation should overtake them to their perpetual Ruin World without end And forasmuch as that William Rogers in the last Lines of his aforesaid Rejoynder which he often Mentions in the first part of his Christian Quaker intimates that He together with John Story and John Wilkinson and their separating Party reckons themselves to be the Heritage of God and that they cannot leave the way of the Spirit of Life wherein they have begun in expectation to be made perfect through Conformity to outward Ordinances knowing that those who have begun in the Spirit cannot be made perfect in the Flesh We think meet for the further satisfaction of the Honest Unprejudiced People as formerly we hinted to insert here a Letter which during the time of the great exercise that the Church of God met withal through the dividing seperate Spirit that William Rogers John Story and John Wilkinson gave themselves up to serve to the Churches grief was subscribed by four Men of Chippingham in Wilshire one of whom as we understanding is a Preacher amongst the aforesaid turbulent sort of Professors of Truth in the said Country and John Story' s great Correspondents and Abettors in the confederate contentious Work which said Letter was directed and sent to one Jeofery Bullock of Sudberry in Suffolke whose horrid Tenets and Practices Discovering the Wickedness of his Spirit being manifested by some few Quotations out of one of his Books Printed and spread abroad by Apostates together with the aforesaid letter subscribed by those of Chippingham and sent to him whereby it will be plainly demonstrated to all the honest Hearted that the aforesaid William Rogers and them of party with him are in a backslided State and are not such as they would have themselves rendred to be viz. such as have begun in the Spirit and look not to be made perfect by the Flesh or that they are the Heritage of God or a People that keeps to their First Principle and the way of the Spirit of Life to be made perfect therein as they would be looked upon to be rendring others to be departed there from and to be such as would be made perfect through outward Ordinances c. The Reader may take notice that this Jeofery Bullock is one that Apostatized from the Truth several Years ago and became an open Opposer of Friends in their Meetings Friends gave forth a Paper of Judgment against him several Years since for denying That Christ that dyed at Jerusalem to be the Judge and Saviour In his Book also Entituled Antichrist's Transformations discovered c. These following Assertions are laid down First That the Woman is the Soul Heart and Mind of every visible Man 〈◊〉 It is said therein That there is an Iavisible Woman which God did make and place in every visible Man Thirdly It is said in his Book That its plain in Scripture that there are two Christs Fourthly Ieofery 〈◊〉 querieth What is the Fruit of the Tree of Knowledge and he again gives the Answer in his Book saying It is the Scriptures Fifthly He saith in his Book It was the Man in the Mistery that dyed which was one with the Mistery which was the Christ of God he saith Sixthly Again he saith in his Book It was the Womans part that died which was the Soul and Body for he says Eve was in the 〈◊〉 thus far Ieofery Bullock We say What Horrible Darkness Blasphemy and Confusion is this Now here followeth the aforementioned Letter sent to him Friend Jeofery Bullock Chippingham the 4th of 4th month 1679. FRiends here have seen two Books of thine one Entituled One blow more at Antichrist another Entitled which several Friends have good Unity with But here are also a Company of called Friends which are very much for Foxmans Order which may be called Mens Invention that do make it their Work to 〈◊〉 and Calumniate all them as do not conform thereunto some of which thee and 〈◊〉 of which we are perswaded in our Hearts are the Servants of the Living God amongst whom thou hast a share of being Vilified to be a bad Man although to us it 's no manner of Invitation for us to give credit thereunto but rather to the contrary as well knowing it is one of their stratagems they always use by them they cannot proselite to their faction but as it was once said And my Soul enter not thou into their secrets If thou please to send a few Lines direct it to William Dyer we shall take it very friendll only for a little Satisfaction Barnadiston and another have been here and besides their envious Darts flyes very secretly and swiftly Also if thou please to send half a Dozen of thy Books and deliver them to William Wescott at the Green Man without Aldgate and take Mony of him for them and the Charge of them putting it to John Jones's Account and advise William Wescott to send to him They say of thee that none of thy Neighbours Friends or others can speak well of thee I have forgot the Title of the other Book which defect I believe thou canst make out William Dyer John Jones William Jones Francis Browne It may be noted that since Jeofery Bullock hath received this Letter above written he was so lifted up that he should be so much taken notice of that he hath shewed the Letter to some of the Worlds People and by that means Friends came to get a Copy of it These are of the sort that promote John Story' s and John Wilkinson's Interest in that County of Wilts where their Travels have been and are they that cry down Man and yet what sorry Men even one of the worst of Apostates they set up and are glad of him to side with them in their backsliding and opposite Work against the Truth which manifests plainly of what sort they are and what their Spirit is The Reader also may remember what a boast William Rogers hath made of his standing for the