hath opened that there is not any other way by which all things relating unto the Kingdom of God and Salvation of mankind comes to be revealed and this appears agrecable to the Scriptures of truth John 14.26 2 Cor. 4.2 3 4 5 6 7. 2 Tim. 3.15 16. We are now sensible that some who may peruse the foregoing Scriptures may be ready thus to say You seem to propound two ways by which the things appertaining to the Kingdom of God and Salvation of Mankind have been and are revealed viz. the Spirit of Truth or Appearance of Christ by his Light as One Way and the Scriptures of Truth as Another Way To this we answer The Way we propose is but One though the Manifestation thereof may seem various to Man viz. sometimes through Instruments and sometimes through Himself For though Paul wrote unto Timothy unto whom he was made an Instrument and therefore called him his Son telling him 2 Tim. 3.15 16. That the holy Scriptures were able to make him wise unto Salvation and that they were profitable for Doctrine for reproof for correction for instruction in righteousness yet 't is spoken with respect to those Scriptures that are given forth by inspiration of God and with this limitation viz. thorow the saith that is in Christ Jesus Whereon we observe that the Scriptures given forth by inspiration are but as an Instrument made serviceable to the Reader through the Spirit whereby faith in Christ comes to be raised even as a Man indued with the Spirit of God may in the hand of the Lord be an Instrument through sound Doctrine and wholsom exhortation to open the inward Eye of the Mind which hath been darkned and to awaken the Conscience which hath been defiled that so man may come to be renewed in the spirit of his Mind unto God through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and the Conscience purified from Dead Works through the blood of the Covenant to serve the Lord in Truth and Righteousness and therefore we reasonably conclude That there is but One way though various in Operation and Manifestation through which the Things appertaining to the Kingdom of God and Salvation of Mankind comes to be revealed which is by the powerful appearance of Christ by his spirit and light convicting the Conscience converting and renewing the Mind unto God sometimes through Scriptures given forth by inspiration sometimes through Man as an Instrument and sometimes by the appearance of the Spirit and Light in Man without the Assistance of such Instruments but yet the end of all is that faith in Christ may be raised wherein as the Evidence of things not seen by the Carnal Eye the Light of the Knowledge of the Glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ is beheld which is that Treasure whereof the Apostle spoke that is hid in our Earthen Vessels that the excellency of that Power might be of God and not of man These things being duly considered this Testimony doth naturally arise that neither the Scriptures of Truth nor any other writings whatsoever though given forth by the Spirit of God itself can properly be termed so profitable a Rule unto us as the Light and Spirit from which they were given forth and therefore the Eye of our Mind ought chiefly to be unto the Spiritual Appearance of Christ by his Light and Spirit in us as that Unerring Guide which never can be removed into a corner Besides we find the Scripture itself testifying That no Prophecy of the Scripture is of any Private interpretation 2 Pet. 1.20 that is it ought not to be interpreted but by the Holy Ghost through whose Motions 't was given forth for all other Interpretations may truly be termed Private From whence we observe that if the Prophecies in the Scriptures of Truth should be read unto us from Morning to Evening and from Evening to Morning again we might receive little Benefit or Profit thereby unless the Eye of our Mind come to be stayed in the Unchangeable Light and Spirit of God whereby the meaning of the spirit through them out of all Private Interpretations hath been and is signified unto Man CHAP. II. Touching the Light of Christ within and Exhortation to Obedience thereof THose Faithful Messengers of the Gospel of Christ whom the Lord in these latter daies sent forth for the gathering of the Nations unto the Faith and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ who is the Way the Truth and the Life that their souls might be saved in the Day of the Lord frequently sounded in our ears on this wise Turn in your minds unto the Light within meaning thereby the Light of Christ within which shews you that a Tye is not of the Truth and as through Faith you come to be Obedient unto the Light Within and that measure of Grace given by God and received by you so will you come to be made Partalters of that great Salvation This Doctrine was acceptable to many who in the Love of Truth received the joyful Sound thereof but unto others mean and despised who notwithstanding that Testimony accounted the Scriptures of Truth a More Sure Rule and Guide unto the Father The consideration whereof at this time hath been as an obligation to examine whether the aforesaid Doctrine so acceptable to some and despised by others be consonant to the Scriptures of Truth which task is the more freely undertaken because the aforesaid Doctrine hath become so great a stumbling block unto many as that they have thought it a sufficient evidence that the professors thereof have been out of the path of truth readily objecting on this wise Objection Do you not think that those Jews who crucified Christ acted not from the Light Within Since some of them at least verily thought they did God good service therein Having thus premised 't is now needful to examine what may be spoken from the Scriptures of Truth for the Light within and to turn in the Mind unto the same to obey it c. In order thereunto we find John the Evangelist thus testifying Joh. 1.4.9 In him meaning the Word which was God was Life and the Life was the Light of men That was the true Light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world I am the Light of the World John 8.12 he that followeth me shall not walk in Darkness but shall have the Light of Life Joh. 12.46 I am come a Light into the World that whosoever believeth in me should not abide in Darkness These Scriptures plainly shew that we are to believe in and follow Christ who is that Light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world Objection However some objecting may say What 's this to a Light Within 't is very plain that John the Evangelist meant nothing of a Light Within in your sense but of the Personal Appearance of Christ Without as that Word which was made Flesh and as Evidence produce what the same Evangelist saith Chap.
9th and 5th As long as I am in the World I am the Light of the World And Chap. 12.35 Yet a little while is the Light with you walk while you have the Light And ver the 36. While ye have the Light believe in the Light that ye may be the Children of the Light To this may be answered That these last recited Scriptures do in the most favourable construction on the objectors part intimate that Christ the Son of God while he was in the World was the Light of the World but doth not say that he is or would be no longer the light of the world Such a saying or sense would limit the Appearance of Light to that Body only and dispensation of time wherein the said Body appeared on Earth which is contradictory to the very words of the Evangelist before quoted viz. That was the true Light that lighteth every man that cometh into the World Which Scripture sentence relating to every man is so universal that it cannot but extend to those who never beheld the face of Jesus in his fleshly and Bodily Appearance nor yet came to be informed by any outward Instrument of his Doctrine though Partakers of his Light which therefore may properly be termed by such his Light within that is the Appearance of Christ by his Light shining in their hearts agreeable whereunto in effect we take the Testimonies of the Apostle to be viz. That which may be known of God Rom. 1.19 is manifest in them For God hath shewed it unto them Seeing you seek a proof of Christ speaking in me 2 Cor. 13.3 which Riches is Christ in you Col. 1.27 the hope of Glory Who shall descend into the deep that is Rom. 10.7 8. to bring Christ again from the dead but what saith it the Word is near thee even in thy mouth and in thy heart this is the word of faith which we preach And all this appears agreeable unto what the Prophet Isaiah hinted at who speaking of what should be in the last daies signified Isa 1.2 3 5. That the God of Jacob will teach us of his Ways and therefore said Oh house of Jacob come ye let us walk in the Light of the Lord which being compared with what the same Prophet said in relation to a people Isa 5â— â— In whose hearts was the law of the Lord and with what the Prophet Jeremiah saith I will put my law in their Inward Parts Jer. 31.33 34. and write it in their Hearts and they shall teach no more every man his Neighbour and every man his Brother saying Know the Lord for they shall all know me from the least of them to the greatest 'T is evident to us that this written Law in the Heart is that Light Within whereof the faithful Messengers of the Lord in our day have born witness unto and whereof the same Prophet gave testimony when he said as before O house of Jacob come ye let us walk in the Light of the Lord. Besides such a limitation as aforesaid would have a tendency to make void the virtue and efficacy of the blood of Christ who was offered up a sacrifice to take away the sins of many and on this score doth the author to the Hebrews testify Heb. 9.28 that unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without Sin unto Salvation which is a clear Evidence unto us that the benefit of the blood of Christ is not witnessed effectually in this our day but by those who having looked for his second appearance have received him in his Appearance this Appearance we take to be his Appearance by his light and spirit in the hearts of those who through faith in his blood have known their Consciences purified from Dead Works and so come to serve the living God in Truth and righteousness 'T is now to be considered Whether these words Turn in your Minds be agreeable to truth for that this kind of objection may be raised Objection Doth not this put the Creature upon Action in his own Self-will when as the Will of Man cannot bring forth that Birth unto which power is given to become the Sons of God For answer hereto 't is necessary to consider that the faithful Labourers in the Gospel of Christ commended their Exhortations and testimonies to the Consciences of the Hearers in the Sight of God and the reason doubtless was because there is a Capacity in Man which through the assistance of the Grace of God renders Man capable to do the will of God in righteousness unto life and those who are so acted cannot be said to be acted in the Self-will of Man And on the contrary the same Capacity letting in Tempration and joyning thereto renders Man a servant of Sin unto Death and being once so dead in Sin no redemption comes to be obtained but through Christ as the Apostle testifies Ephes 2.1 You hath he quickned that were dead in Trespasses and Sins These things considered 't is evident that through the Appearance of Christ those who have cast off the Old Man are become renewed in the Spirit of their Minds unto God and so have put on the New Man which after God is created in Righteousness and true holiness and therefore since there is such a capacity in man as aforesaid 't is agreeable to Truth to exhort the sons of men to turn in their Minds unto the appearance of Christ by his Light that through the Assistance thereof the will of God may be done in their earthen vessels The next thing to be considered is whether there is any weight in this objection Do you not think that the Jews who crucified Christ acted not from the light within since some of them at least thought they did God good service therein To this may be answered That the friends of Truth never preached up the Light Within but with respect to the Appearance of Christ by his Spirit as that Light Within intended by them and since Christ cannot be divided to act against himself therefore the Jews did not therein act from that Light Within unto which we have been directed From what then may the objector say did those of them act who verily thought they did God good service therein Ans Phil. 3.6 From Zeal without knowledge not having their Minds staid and ordered according to that universal Principle of Truth Acts 26.9 11. which if hearkned unto would teach all men to do as they would be done by in which zeal Paul verily thought in himself that he ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus and in that Self-thought being exceeding mad persecuted the Church of God consented to the death of the Saints and compelled them to Blaspheme but when the Lord was pleased to appear unto him and to make him a Minister of his everlasting Gospel he was sent unto the Gentiles to open their eyes that they might turn from
you went from before you separated Outwardly And this Spirit was afraid of being limited but it would limit the Universal Spirit both in Males and Females as your Fruit has manifested concerning the Practice of Womens-Meetings and Recording Condemnations and Admonishing Payers of Tythes and other Evils as your Books and Papers and Neighbours can testify But thou who hast said They must be left to themselves to Condemn this Year or the other c. this gives Liberty to the Flesh For whil'st it is to Day they must hear his Voice But John I savour thy Spirit and know that thy Words come from an Angry Disquieted Fretful Peevish Spirit And poor Men and People for my part I pitty you as knowing and seeing that you are out of the Life and are not in the Spirit that did first Convince you and so not in the First Love And if ever thou comest to the tender Spirit and Light of Christ in thy Heart thou wilt see all those your Books and Papers of Strife and your Separation is all for Condemnation with the Light of Christ and they are the Works of that Spirit that led thee into Death and Strife And now thou cryest What and Wherein and This and the Other But come in and look into thy self And I say again It is the same Spirit that led James Naylor and John Perrot and others and John Perrot cryed against Imposition as you do and against the Mens-Meetings as you do against the Womens Though I know James Naylor did for himself Condemn that Spirit that led into a Separation which had been well if you had done so too And his Resurrection is Recorded as well as his Condemnation But many of his People remain to this Day out and have been and are as much against Men and Womens-Meetings as you And so it is but the same Spirit still And James Naylor's Opposition did not consist only in Not Reproving his Company for the Titles they gave him but his Opposition stood several Years about other Matters and his People cryed against our Meetings and sought with all their Might to destroy them But the Lord's Power blasted them all that did not come in by Repentance and Judgment And thou further sayest Let James Naylor's not Reproving his Company be a Warning to me and bid'st me Reprove my Company when they give me Titles and Honour due to the Highest c. Poor Man Is here thy Envy broken out But What are the Titles and Who are them that have given them And When and Where And whereas thou sayest Lest they that love Preheminence and Rule out-live my Time and render my VVeakness to others John Who are those that love Preheminence And What is my VVeakness that they may render it Why didst thee not mention it in thy Paper But this is from a prejudiced malicious Spirit and not from the Light of Christ to render my Weakness c. when I am Dead and in my Grave turned to Dust Nay John that which thee strikes at and thy Company and all the Evil Spirits in the World have struck at and all the Apostates before thee shall never turn it to Dust neither shall you ever get it into the Dust Glory to the Everlasting God for ever For He that Over-comes shall go no more forth and shall never Perish and he that Believeth on the Son of God hath Everlasting Life But if this be the Way of thy Preaching that the Members of the Heavenly Body turn to Dust I fear thou hast begotten none to God but into a Profession that will turn to Dust like thy self and Dust is the Meat of this Spirit that I know For I am in a Life that is over that Spirit which neither Thee nor the World cannot touch And if thou comes to be as Judas and Betray the Truth to the Priests I know what thee and they can kill if God will suffer you But I do not fear it And I must tell thee it is the Spirit of Judas the Betrayer that is gone from Truth and now would betray others from the Heavenly Body in the Eternal Fellowship in the Eternal Head For That which is Earthly is Earthly and that which is Heavenly is Heavenly And thou bidst me Be Humble as a Member of the Heavenly Body under Christ the Head c. So thou tell'st me I am a Member of Christ the Heavenly Body yet thou sayest When I am turned to Dust and Dead Is this thy Doctrine Are the Members of the Heavenly Body turned to Dust and Dead This Doctrine surely proceeds from Darkness and not from the Light of Christ And Is it to this thou wouldst have me bow and be humbled to Nay John I need none of thy Ministry and it will do no good in the State thou stands in to any For it is an Angry Malicious Froward Spirit that has possest thee And further thou bid'st me Remember the Word to Moses with the Time and Place of his Death who Sanctified not God in the Sight of Israel his People What dost thou infer from thence John That I have not Sanctified God before his People So thou hast set me above a Common Member and put me into an Office then but Must that which Sanctifies God be turned to Dust I thought John thou hadst owned Christ to be the Sanctifyer of all who is Greater than Moses and the End of Moses But John Wherein have not I Sanctified the Lord What Liberty have I given to Sin or any that are Faithful that have not followed you in your Separation Have you not taken Offence against some of them that came to Admonish such as were not Faithful amongst you and called it Over-driving them yea such as have been moved by the Spirit of God And Was it not called Popery when some went to Admonish Preston Meeting when they did not stand stedfast to the Lord And How was the Lord sanctifyed amongst you then And How was the Lord sanctifyed amongst you concerning your Paying of Tythes or your Conniving at your Wives or others Paying for you Much of which I could write concerning such like Things but I shall forbear But when you were in Strife I would have had you come over to me that you might have been brought into Unity before your Separation but you refused Nevertheless if Thee and John Story bring your Eighty Subscribers and come to me I will shew you wherein you Writings and Actions are contrary to the Light of Christ Jesus and Spirit of God by which you were Covinced in the Beginning Which had you loved the Gospel of Peace you would have come to me before you had made such a Jumble with your strife up and down the Nation For I have heard by several Faithful Friends where you have sent your Papers to prejudiced Persons against Men and Womens-Meetings and Recording Commendations and other Friends Practices which has begotten a great Dislike in Friends concerning you For what hath this been
who indeed must be very Simple Foolish and Blockish if what G. F. hath written be taken by them either for a Pertinent Friendly or Christian Answer to so Seasonable Tender and Christian a Letter because the most Pertinent Matter offered by him as Answer thereto is this As to thy Fear of making Force in Religion there is nothing but what is Pure can come into it Alack for thee If thou wast in the Universal Spirit c. thou wouldst not make such a Noise about Imposition for indeed it is the very Spirit of Imposition in Thee and You that does not know what it would be at it self nor to what to bring others And much I could say as to that We now appeal to God's Witness in all Whether Men endued with that Wisdom which is from Above can be at Unity with such a Scossing Shaffling Impertinent Answer wherein doubtless there is not less than Three or Four Falshoods and Untruths in Two or Three Lines The First we take to be contained in these Words For indeed it 's the very Spirit of Imposition in thee The Second in these words That does not know what it would be at it self The Third in these words Nor to what to bring others And if what he hath written by way of Reflection in his Letter is written as grounded on John Wilkinson's Letter to him as it seems to be being Answer thereto then there seems a Fourth Untruth contained in these words Thou wouldst not make such a Noise about Imposition when as there is not one word about Imposition in all John Wilkinson's Letter Now as to John Wilkinson with respect to these Slanders we have this to say Our Experience tells us he is not of an Imposing Spirit unless Preaching the Word of Life and Commending it to the Conscience may be termed such which cannot be and hath approved himself wise in that Wisdom that is from Above and so knows what he would be at and unto what to bring others as his Doctrine and Conversation hath largely manifested amongst us 'T is to be observed that John Wilkinson in his aforesaid Letter on the Occasion of G. F's reflecting upon him John Story and others That they will become as bad as James Naylor and Muggleton c. If they give not over their Separation thus writes to G. F. If James Naylor's Opposition consisted in not Reproving his Company when they bowed to him and cryed Hosanna Let it be a Warning to thee and reprove thy Company when they give thee the Titles and Honour due to the Highest lest they that love Preheminence and Rule out-live thy time and render thy weakness to others as thou hast done his when thou art Dead and in thy Grave and turned to Dust therefore be humble as a Member of the Heavenly Body under Christ the Head On this occasion G. F. writes these following Sentences But this is from a prejudiced malicious Spirit and not from the Light of Christ to Render my Weakness when I am in my Grave turned to Dust c. Nay John that which thou strikest at and thy Company and all the evil Spirits in the VVorld have struck at and all the Apostates before thee shall never turn it to Dust But if this be the way of thy Preaching that the Members of the Heavenly Body turn to Dust I fear thou hast begotten none to God So thou tells me I am a Member of the Heavenly Body yet thou say'st when I am turned to Dust and Dead surely this Doctrine proceeds from Darkness and not from the Light of Christ And is it to this thou wouldst have me to bow and be humbled Nay John I need none of thy Ministry it is an Angry Malicious Froward Spirit that hath possest thee On these Sentences we thus Observe that they shew Malice Envy Perversion and Ignorance or Darkness By his own Rule his Prejudice and Malice appears in rendring James Naylors weakness and not only therein but in joyning John Wilkinson with All the Evil Spirits in the VVorld whose Doctrine Life and Conversation so far as ever we knew in all manner of Godliness and Honesty hath since his Convincement of Truth rendred him worthy of double Honour amongst many of his Brethren and his name G. F's Envy can never as we are perswaded blot out but rather gives an occasion to add to the Number of G. F's Transgressions and Errours which are so numerous on Record in ‖ Meaning the afore said Monuscript this Treatise as that could it be made appear that John Wilkinson was but Guilty of the one Half thereof we should be ashamed to own him until he had repented before the Lord But much more should we disown him if instead of Repenting in such a Case he should run at those as Evil Spirits that should for the Clearing of their Consciences spread his Errours before him which hath been G. F.'s common Practice and is now worthily Recorded as a Testimony against his Errours and Transgressions that the Simple-hearted may no longer be betrayed either by his Fair Speeches Threats or Frowns As to his treating on the word Dust by way of Reffection on John Wilkinsons Ministry and that from John Wilkinsons sound words the impartial Reader may easily discern his Perversion in concluding that John Wilkinson tells him he is a Member of the heavenly Body which doth not follow from John Wilkinson's Words Be humble as a Member of the heavenly Body no more than it follows that a Disciple of Christ is Christ because Luke tells us Whosoever will be a perfect Disciple shall be as his Master As to his Ignorance or Darkness 't is thus Manifested G. F's aforesaid Sentences cannot be a sound Answer to any thing writ by John Wilkinson which it ought to have been unless G. F. concludes that that Visible Body called George Fox shall not turn to Dust because John willinson writ not his Letter to G. F. with an intent that that outward Body called George Fox which must turn to Dust was not to be concerned therewith Moreover 't is to be observed what ever G. F's Judgment in that case be when he writ to John VVilkinson he was willing to keep it to himself because he doth not plainly acknowledge that his Body shall ever turn to Dust but positively saith That which John Wilkinson strikes at shall never turn it to Dust his meaning he best knows but yet this we know 't was needful enough to have explained his meaning because the Apostle tells us 1 Cor. 6.13 15 19. The body is not for Fornication Know ye not that your Bodies are the Members of Christ shall I then take the Members of Christ and make them the Members of an Harlot God forbid know you not that your Body is the Temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you whom you have of God and you are not your own And 2 Cor. 4.11 That the Life of Jesus might be made Manifest in your mortal Bodies We
like Women were recorded for their Wisdom and their Vertue c. he answered William Rogers thus I knew what I did I saw 't would be a Stumbling Block but there is something in it We cannot otherwise be perswaded but that he would then see that he is fallen from the Truth that the words reported to be spoken by J. Naylor when he said in Relation to his own falen state I am but the figure of another are now fulfilled in him Oh! that the Lord would change his Heart bring him to a true Sight of and sorrow for his sin as he did J. N. after his Fall and then we hope as he hath been an Offence unto the Church of God so the Lord will lay a Constraint upon him as he did upon James Naylor to travel amongst Friends whom he hath offended to clear the truth of that Scandal and Reproach which thorough him hath been brought upon it For 't is an Abomination before the Lord and at this day seasonably testified against by the Children of Light that G. F. should be an Occasion of so much Division Strife and Contention as hath been made in the Nation touching his Papers under a pretence That he hath been moved of God to give them forth that Friends might be supplied with Directions to keep all things clean and sweet amongst Friends meaning thereby amongst other things and that according to the Express words of his Papers That there should be no Backbiting Tale-bearing Judging one another and that evil reports should not be concealed but be followed until the Authors thereof be found c. and yet be the very Person that is notoriously guilty in all those things himself which would have been proved against him had he submitted to a Hearing as aforesaid But for as much as he hath refused to submit to such a Hearing though several Letters from Friends in Truth have been written unto him to entreat him thereto and in particular hath been treated withal by Daniel Smith of Malborrough to whom he gave this Answer he Judged 't would be a jangle as 't was at Bristol and so refused as by a Letter from the said Daniel Smith doth appear therefore we do at present refer for Proof of the Matters whereof we assert in this Paragraph that he is guilty to the last mentioned Manuscript and in particular to the 21st Section thereof which is ready for the perusal of Friends desiring to view the same William Rogers on behalf of himself and other Friends in truth concerned The SECOND PART OF THE Christian-Quaker Distinguished from the APOSTATE INNOVATOR WHEREIN DOCTRINES of TRUTH cleared from Objections are laid down agreeable to the Scripture of Truth given forth by Inspiration and according as they have been received and owned by the Children of Light or such amongst the People termed in Derision Quakers who have received from God Divine Understanding and kept their Place and Habitation in the Unchangeable Truth Also An APPENDIX detecting Charles Marshal and sixty five more as Unrighteous Judges in a Case pretended to relate to John Story and John Wilkinson two antient and honourable Labourers in the Gospel of Christ By WILLIAM ROGERS on behalf of himself and other Friends in Truth concerned 1 Cor. 3.11 For other Foundation can no Man lay than that which is already laid which is Christ Jesus 2 Tim. 4.3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound Doctrine but after their own Lusts shall they heap to themselves Teachers having itching ears LONDON PRINTED in the Year 1680. The Contents The INTRODUCTION WHerein is manifested that there is but one way whereby the Things appertaining to the Kingdom of God and Salvation of Mankind comes to be revealed though the Manifestation thereof may seem various Page 1. Chap. II. Touching the Light of Christ within and Exhortation to Obedience thereof Page 5. Chap. III. Touching Infallibility and Perfection Page 11. Chap. IV. Touching Wisdom and Knowledge Page 21. Chap. V. Touching Magistracy and Obedience thereunto Page 30. Chap. VI. Touching Respect of Persons plain Language disuse of the word Master unless by a Servant to his Master of Customes and Fashions of this World and of the Cross of Christ Page 33. Chap. VII Touching Swearing Page 37. Chap. VIII Touching Tithes Page 40. Chap. IX Touching Baptism Page 45. Chap. X. Touching the Supper of the Lord with his Disciples the Night before he was betrayed Page 51. Chap. XI Touching Justification and Salvation through Faith in Christ Page 61. An Appendix Containing an Answer given forth by some Friends of Bristol to a Paper Dated from Eilis Hooks his Chamber London the 12th of the 4th Month 1677. against John Story and John Wilkinson c. and subscribed by Charles Marshal of the County of Wilts and Sixty Five more together with some few Observations on part of a Reply thereto by Jasper Bat of the County of Sommerset and three others Page 72. The SECOND PART OF THE Christian-Quaker Distinguished from the APOSTATE and INNOVATOR c. CHAP I. The Introduction Wherein is manifested That there is but One Way whereby the things appertaining to the Kingdom of God and Salvation of Mankind come to be revealed though the Manifestation thereof may seem various IN the first part of the Christian-Quaker distinguish'd from the Apostate and Innovator Several Subjects are treated on relative to the Matter intended Viz. To manifest a part of those things touching which the Faithful were at Unity and by what Ways and Means that Unity came to be broken c. And now that every Reader who is desirous to be informed in these Dividing Times what those Children of Light unto whom the Lord hath revealed of the Mysteries of his Kingdom own with respect to the other Doctrines and Practices whereon little or no occasion is taken to treat in the First Part it is at this time upon us to add a farther Testimony to the Ancient Truth according as the Lord in his tender Mercy hath through the Appearance of his Son Christ by his Light or Manifestation of his Grace and Testimony of his Faithful Servants in the Scriptures of truth opened wherein our intent is not to treat largely on every Subject because the ensuing Discourse is chiefly to manifest What a remnant stand for who being faithful unto their first principle cannot in a temporizing spirit change their way The Desires and Breathings of our Souls unto God are that every Reader may be serious and unprejudiced in the perusal of this our Testimony and then we do not doubt but 't will be reaching unto the Consciences of such as that which is not inconsisting with the Testimonies given forth by Inspiration recorded in the Scriptures of Truth and spirit of God or Appearance of Christ by his Light which is that by which the Lord doth see and is seen in the Conscience wherewith every man coming into the world is lighted for that the Lord by his spirit
verse 64. But notwithstanding we would not be understood positively to affirm that Christ intended not a Baptism of Water Joh. 4.2 as needful to be administred by some by reason of the Weakness of the People for a season because 't is evident that not only Christ's disciples before he was Crucified when it appears not that they had any Power to baptise with the Spirit did baptise but also that some after that time of his being Crucified Act. 8.16 29 36 37. were baptised in the name of the Lord Jesus and yet they had not received the holy Ghost which being compared with what is written touching the Eunuch and Philip Act. 38.39 who by the Spirit was bid to Go near and Join himself to the Eunuch's Chariot doth clearly import that Water baptism was used as well after the Crucifying of Christ as before But whether by vertue of any command from Christ so to do is yet the question and uncertain from any positive Scripture However suppose that the Baptism of Water was the Baptism intended by Christ in the words Go teach all Nations baptising them c. it then seems naturally to follow that this was but a Confirmation of John's Ministry and that being a Legal Administration but for a season and not to the End of the World and was not that baptism wherewith John testified Luk. 25.49 Act. 1.4 Act. 2.4 Christ should baptise which was with the holy Ghost and with Fire especially if we do but consider that Christ was not yet ascended after which the promise of the Father was to be fulfilled viz. the pouering forth of the holy Ghost which undoubtedly was the Baptism of the Spirit and that every Baptism in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ was not that Baptism of the Spirit as is clearly signified Act. 8.15 16. Who when they were come down prayed for them that they might receive the holy Ghost for as yet he was faln on one of them only they were baptised in the Name of the Lord Jesus All which being duly weighed it 's rational to conclude that the Baptism of Water ought to end in time and that these words And lo I am with you unto the End of the World are no sufficient ground to believe that the Baptism of Water was thereby intended to continue as an Ordinance of God unto the dissolution of all things But could nor so much be said as already is to evidence that the continuance thereof to the End of the World was not the meaning of Christ unto his disciples yet it may be affirmed that the words themselves in the Greek Tongue if we compare Scripture with Scripture will not hold forth such an interpretation For the sentence And lo I am with you always unto the End of the VVorld is in Greek thus expressed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which may properly be rendred thus And lo I am with you every day unto the Consummation of the Age. This interpretation being compared with the words of Christ unto John when he being forbad by John to be baptised by him said Suffer it to be so now for thus it becometh us to fulfil all Righteousness clearly shews that Christ did not by that Commission intend a Continuation of that Administration unto the End of the World but rather that as other Shadows Types Figures and Patterns of Heavenly Things under the Law were to have an End in Time So the Baptism of Water being a Type of the Baptism by his Spirit was also to have an End in Time and this interpretation is clearly evidenced from the Scripture itself to be according to truth for we find the Author to the Hebrews thus testifying Heb. 9.24 25 26. Christ is not entred into the Holy Places made with Hands which are the Figures of the true but into Heaven itself now to appear in the Presence of God for us nor yet that he should offer himself often as the High Priest entereth into the Holy Place every year with Blood of others for then must he often have suffered since the Foundation of the World but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the Sacrifice of himself On this Scripture 't is thus observed that the time of Christ's appearing to put away Sin by the Sacrifice of himself is termed in the End of the VVorld and so translated from the Greek words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which may properly be translated in the consummation of Ages experience tells us as well as the signification of words that these words are not so intelligibly translated as they might since it now relates to time above sixteen hundred years past Now forasmuch as we find that in this sentence And lo I am with you alway unto the End of the World the same greek words are rendred to signifie the End of the World as is in the aforesaid quotation to the Hebrews which related to a time above sixteen hundred years past saving only that the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Matthew is the singular number and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the Hebrews the plural there is no reason to conclude that Christ's Commission to Baptise was intended to continue as an Ordinance under the Gospel-dispensation until the Consummation of all things And as a further Evidence that this interpretation is the very Truth 't is to be observed that the word World in this sentence before cited viz. Since the Foundation of the World is rendred in Greek not by the same words as the word World in the two other sentences are viz. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which may be truly rendred an Age or the time of a man's life but by the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which properly signifies the world viz. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Could no more be said to render Christ's words in Matthew not sufficient ground to practise Water-Baptism at this day as a Gospel-Ordinance it were sufficient to every impartial Reader unto whom God hath given Divine Understanding in relation to this matter But since we find that after Christ's Ascension it was used for a season we think it necessary to add that our faith is That the practice thereof was chiefly by way of Condescension to those who were VVeak and not easily brought off from the Observation of Outward Ordinances to have their Eye unto Christ Jesus the great Ordinance of God unto Salvation and this spirit of condescention seemed to be in Paul when he said 1 Cor. 9.20 21 22. Vnto the Jews I became as a Jew that I might gain the Jews to them that are under the Law as under the Law that I might gain them that are under the Law to them that are without Law as without Law being not without Law to God but under the Law to Christ that I might gain them that are without Law to the Weak I became as VVeak that I might gain the Weak I am made all things to
designed to be treated upon is the Government of Christ which we do not believe to be represented by visible persons certainly known by outward Names distinguish'd by outward marks and tokens and invested with Power from him to execute Outward Laws in an Outward Form of Government visible by our Carnal Eyes as aforesaid That the Government of Christ is an Inward Government is evident from the words of the Prophet Jeremiah Jer. 31.31 32 33. I will make a New Covenant with the house of Israel c. not according to the Covenant that I made with your Fathers but this shall be the Covenant that I will make c. After those days I will put my Law in their Inward Parts and write it in their Hearts and will be their God and they shall be my People and they shall teach no more every man his Neighbour and every man his Brother saying know the Lord for they shall all know me from the least of them to the greatest of them saith the Lord. This we believe was spoken with respect to the Reign of Christ by his Spirit in the Hearts of the Sons and Daughters of Men and clearly shews that the Laws of Christ's Government under the new Covenant are written in the Hearts of his People and therefore an Inward Government Objection But if any shall object That the words of the Prophet relate not to those who are of the Gentile Stock of which Stock according to the Flesh it may be said that we are We thereto say That the words of Paul do effectually answer that Objection Rom. 10.12 There is no difference between the Jew and the Gentile for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him Col. 3.9 10 11. Lie not one to another seeing that you have put off the Old Man with his deeds and have put on the New Man which is renewed in Knowledge after the Image of him that created him where there is neither Gentile nor Jew Circumcision nor Uncircumcision Barbarian Scythian Bond nor Free but Christ is all and in all Many other Scriptures both out of the Prophets and Apostles Writings might be quoted to evidence the matter intended We are yet sensible that this further Objection may be raised Viz. Objection That neither the words of the Prophet nor of the Apostle cited by us make mention of Government over Jew or Gentile but doth shew as from the scope of the Scripture appears that the Apostle so writ to convince the Jews of the difference between the Righteousness of the Law and that of Faith and to shew unto Believers whether Jews or Gentiles that though some might appear in a Voluntary Humility Worship Angels intrude into those things they had not seen and be vainly puffed up in their fleshly minds and not give all Obedience unto the Head Christ through whom alone there is an increase in the increases of God yet they were therein reproveable as not being risen with Christ and further also to shew that those who were dead with Christ from the Rudiments of the world ought not to be subject to nor yet to touch taste or handle such Ordinances as were after the Commandments and Doctrines of Men. To this Objection we answer That though the word Government is not expressly mentioned yet there are words in what is cited out of the Prophet Jeremiah importing the three material Objects of Government viz. A Lawgiver the Place where the Law is to be found written and the People for whom it is given Besides from these words of Paul viz. The same Lord over all a Governour is implied viz. Christ Jesus our Lord and so consequently a Government over that All. And from what hereafter follows it will appear that the End of this Government is to lead into all Truth Moreover it leades us to observe That there are divers true Marks whereby the Opposers of Christ's Government may be distinguisht First They are such as are in a Voluntary Humility Secondly Such as Worship Angels which may reasonably be taken to be a Worshipping of some Messengers whom God hath sent because the signification of the word Angel is a Messenger Thirdly Such as intrude into those things they have not seen Fourthly Such as are puft up in their fleshly minds Fifthly Such as give not all obedience unto the head Christ And lastly Such as are Subject to Ordinances after the Commandments and Doctrines of Men. And to be very plain for the clearing the Truth we must give this our Testimony that we are really perswaded from what our Eyes Ears have been witnesses that many of those amongst the People called Quakers who have Zealously contended for the Observation of Outward Rules and Orders given forth by One Man bear all the aforesaid Marks for whosoever they are that pretend Zeal to promote submit unto and exercise themselves in other mens lines made ready to their hands and that on a pretended religious score when thorow the word of true Faith they see it not their duty or if they shall pretend they do and thereupon strive to enforce others to submit thereto there being no ground from the Scripture of Truth or Light of Christ so to strive it naturaly follows that the aforesaid Marks accompany such and this we confidently aver that thorough the whole Scriptures of Truth there is not one word from whence we may rationally expect and that according to the meaning of the Spirit that Christ hath or will Commissionate any One Man or Men to prescribe Outward Rules and Orders relating to Faith or Discipline in the Church to be binding on the Consciences of the Subjects of his Kingdom whether they should see it to be their duty from the Law written in their hearts or no. Besides if we consider the nature of Christ's Kingdom and Government it will appear to be such unto which outward written Laws visible by our carnal eyes and to be executed by perishing objects according to an outward Magistratical or Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction are wholly unsutable becaus Christs Kingdom is not of this world but is an Everlasting Kingdom and therefore 't is said That of the encrease of his Government there shall be no end and though John in the Revelations Chap. 11. V. 15. gives this Testimony That there were great voices in heaven saying the Kingdoms of this World are become the Kingdomes of our Lord and of his Christ And he shall Reign forever and ever Isa 61.11 yet there is nothing said to signify that the manner of his Reign was or should be otherwise then as before is described Moreover if any Man or Men have or may pretend him or themselves to be such on Earth on whom the weight of Christs Government which is Spiritual is laid it is not like to have any Evidence in our Consciences First Not only because we find no such Prophecy or Promise in the Scriptures of Truth but also for that we rather find the contrary for
us an Answer by the bearer hereof who comes on purpose to bring this and to receive an Answer from thee We are Thy Friends Thomas Gouldney William Ford. William Rogers As before is hinted no Answer is yet come which is ground of Jealousie that G. F. is Author of the said abusive Letter To conclude My Desire now is That every thing herein Treated of may be weighed in the Ballance of the Sanctuary and then I doubt not but that it will appear unto every Understanding Impartial Reader that George For hath been acted by an Erroneous Spirit and been Guilty of many Things reproachful to the Truth for which he ought to Humble himself if peradventure he may be made Partaker of the Mercies of the Lord and then no question but God's peculiar People will have a Sense thereof But until he appear Humbled through That Repentance that 's never to be Repented of his State and Condition is to be lamented of And though 't is not in the Power of any Mortal Man or any Assembly of Men on Earth whatsoever to Excommunicate from amongst the true Members of Christ's Body a Servant of the Living God unto whom through the Obedience of Faith in Christ is given an Earnest of the Great Salvation Yet if any one so outwardly pretending hath acted Erroneously and hath concerned himself Against his Brother at so large a rate as cannot be vindicated unless that Rule which Almighty God as by a Finger from Heaven through his Son Christ Jesus hath laid down viz. By their Fruits ye shall know them be to be esteemed as voyd 't is most just and reasonable to declare That such an one hath cutt him off from being a Member of the Body of Christ by departing from the Rock Christ on which Preservation and Help is laid On this Score I am now concerned in my Conscience thus to declare and conclude That for sometimes past G. F. hath stood in a state of Separation from many of the Lord's People May the God of Heaven give him a true Sight and Sense thereof unto Repentance that so before his Body be turned to Dust from whence it came he may be restored into Fellowship with them again saith my Soul Bristol 1 st Day of the 8 th Moneth 1680. William Rogers THE END AN INDEX Of some of the Chief Matters Treated on A APostacy A Discovery of several things which may be justly termed the Fruits of Apostacy and Innovation and in particular that Iohn Wilkinson and Iohn Story have been Judged and Condemned by Persons that have not heard them speak for themselves as doth appear in an Answer given by Thomas Gouldeny William Forde and William Rogers to a Paper subscribed by Charles Marshall and Sixty-Five more dated at Ellis Hooks his Chamber London the 12 th of the 4 th Month 1677. 2 d. Part p. 72 to 84. Apostolick-Order of the Church of Christ Robert Barclay asserts is Establish't amongst the People called Quakers and by the Scope of his Book of Government his Meaning is with respect to Outward Orders his Sense therein disproved 3 d. Part p. 23 to 33. Authority of the Church in Robert Barclay's Sense 3 d. Part p. 54. The Apostles assumed not Authority to give a Decisive Judgment in a Religious Conscientious Case without being chosen by the Parties differing and then they gave their Judgment according to the Faith both of Jew and Gentile unto whom it did relate 3 d. Part p. 65 66. See Church-Government B BAptisme of Water was the Ministration of Iohn not to continue to the End of the World 2 d. Part p. 45 to 50. The One Baptisme spoken of by Paul was the Baptisme of the Spirit 2 d. Part p. 50. Believers in Robert Barclay's Sense are bound by the positive Sentence and Decision of the Church in Matters of Conscience 3 d. Part p. 54. His Sense and Reasons examined and refuted 3 d. Part p. 54 to 61. Believers in opposite Practices and yet the Christian-Bond of their Fellowship not broken 3 d. Part p. 56. See Isaac Penington's Testimony touching that Authority which Christ excluded out of his Church 3 d. Part p. 89 to 98. This Sentence viz. We must believe as the Church believes Published by one called a Quaker examined and the Truth cleared from such Constructions as may be erroneously imported from thence 3 d. Part p. 73 74. See 1 st Part p. 23 to 27. C CHarity An Objection grounded thereon in favour of our Opposers Answered shewing Fruits of Weakness Presumption Danger of going beyond ones Gift excluding Reason eyeing Man and Things without instead of our inward Teacher The Reason why the Word of Life becomes to some the Savour of Death 1 st Part p. 17 to 22. Charles Marshall a Subscriber with Thirty-Six more of an Unrighteous Paper on the hearing of a Debate between Robert Barclay and William Rogers 3 d. Part p. 128 129. Observations thereon manifesting their Error and Partiality 3 d. Part p. 137 to 140. Christ by his Spirit a Law-giver like unto Moses 3 d. Part p. 9 10. Church-Government Our Sense of our Opposers Meaning touching Church-Government our Denyal of that Meaning and that no just Pretence be under the Notion of Church-Government to claim a Power over Property and Conscience The Doctrine of Robert Barclay importing Power over Property and Conscience refuted and our Sense touching the Method of deciding Controversies laid down An Objection Answered whereby 't is plain that Acceptable Obedience carryes with it Conviction of Conscience and that Christ encouraged not his Disciples to be Rulers over each other 1 st Part p. 44 to 61. See the 3 d. Part p. 35 to 41. Divers Sentences cited out of Robert Barclay's Book of Government importing an Approbation of such a Form of Outward Church-Government by some of the People called Quakers over others so termed wherein they undertake to Teach Traditions Exercise an Authority to Ordain Appoint Command and Rule over others whose Duty in Robert Barclay's Sense 't is to submit and that there lyes an Obligation on such as are gathered to Reverence Honour and Obey such as are set over them 3 d. Part p. 44 45. The said Sentences examined and that which is taken to be his Sense on the Scriptures quoted demonstrated to be a Perversion and that the words Order Rule Command Govern Government Traditions c. will not in the Apostles Sense import an Obligation on any Christian Believer to act any thing relating to Faith or Discipline on a Religious Score whereof by the Grace of God or Light in the Conscience he is not perswaded to be his Duty 3 d. Part p. 46 to 52. Christian-Quaker What he standeth for 1 st Part p. 27 to 30. Command Who are deemed by our Opposers to have Power to Command Ordain and Appoint 1 st Part p. 6 7 8. See Church-Government Confidence The Qualifications of such as abound in Confidence without either Knowledge or Zeal 1 st Part p. 76.