UNIVERSITY
OF PITTSBURGH LIBRARY
Dar . Rm . BX773O
1783
THIS BOOK PRESENTED BY
Friend's Historical Librar:t of Swarthmcre College
' ^ %^
^
/■
y 1
t H RB E
TREATISES,
7
IN WHICH
Irhe Fundamental Pringiple-, Doctrines, Worship, Ministry and Discipline of the People called
QUAKERS,
ARE PLAINLY DECLARED.
T H E F I R S T,
By WILLIAM PEN N, in England;
The SECOND,
iy ROBERT BARCLAY, in Scotland;
I
The third,
By JOSEPH PIKE, in Ireland.
JV I L M I N ChT 0 N, Rc-printed by JAMES ADAMS,
MjDCCjLXXXIII,
A BRIEF
account'
O F T H E^
Rise and Progress
Of the People called •
0 U A K E R S,
I N W K I C H
Their Fundamental Principle y DoBrines^ Worjloipl Miniflry and Difcipli/ie^ are plainly declared.
With a Summary RELATION
Of the Former Dlfpenfations of G o d in the World, by Way of IntroduBion.
|
As |
tikknown, and yet well known, 2 Cor. vi. |
.9, |
|
|
The Seventh Edition, |
|||
|
By |
WILLIAM PEN N. |
\ |
|
W I L M I N G 1^0 N, Re-printcd by JAMES ADAMS,
M,DCC,LXXXIII.
■'^^
■,.■^
^^rr
A N
E P I STL ^
TO THE
RE A D E
E A D E R, this following Accoimf of the People called ^inkers, &c. was wrote in the Fear and Love of God : Pirfl, As a ftanding Tef- tiniony to that ever blefied Truth, in the inv^ard Parts, with which God, in my youthful Time, vifited my Soul, and for the Senfe and Love of which I was made willingj in no ordinary Way, to relinquifli the Honours and Interefts of the World. Secondly^ As a Teftimony for that defpifed People, that God has in His great Mercy gathered and united by His own blefied Spirit in the holy ProfefTion of it; whole Fellowfhip I value above all Worldly Greatnefs. 'Thirdly ^ In Love and Honour to the Memory of that worthy Servant of God, George Fox^ the firft Inftrument thereof", and there- fore ftiled by me The great and blejjed Apolile of our Day, As this gave Bii'th to what is here prefented to thy View, in the firft Edition of it, by way of 'Preface to Qeorge Foxs excellent Journal y (o, the CQufideration pf the prefent Ufefulnefs of the following Account of the People called ^lakerSy (by Reafon of the unjuftRefleftiop.s of fome Ad-.
ver&ries
An Epiftle to the Reader. ^ verfarics that once walked under the Profeffion "^ of Friejids) and the Exhortations that conclude it, prevailed with me to confent that it fhould be repubhfhed in a fmaller Volume; knowing alio full well that great Books, efpecially in thefe Days, grqw burthenfome, both to the Pockets and Minds of too many*; and that there are not a few that defire (fo it be at an eafy Rate) to be in- formed about this People, that have been fo much every whei^e fpoken againft : But bleffed be the God and Father of our Lord Jefus Chrid, at is upon no worfe Grounds than it w^as faid of old Time, of the primitive Chrijli'ans', as I hope will appear to every iober and confiderate Reader. Our Bufinefs, after all the ill Ufage we have met with, being the Re^Jities of Religion, an effectual Change before our laft and great Change : That all may come to an inward fenfible and experimental Knowledge of God, through the ' Conviftions - and Operations of the Light and Spirit of Chrifl in themfelves ; the fufficient and blefled Means given to all, that thereby all may come favingly to know the only true God, and Jefus Chrift whom He hath fent, to enlighten, and redeem the World : Which Knowledge is indeed eternal L//^— And that thou, Reader, may'fl obtain it, is the earnefl Defire of him that is ever
Thine in fo good a Work,
William Penn*
A 3 THE
THE
O N T E N T S
C H A P. I.
Containing a brief Account of divers Difpen-. fations of God in the Worldy till the T^-imc He was plea fed to raife this defpifed People, called. Q«|kers. j^ ■
CHAP, 11.
Of the Rife of this People, their fundamental Principle ^W Doctrine, and Praftice, n^ twelve Points refidting from it \ their Progrefs and Suffer- ings : An Expoftulation with.^x\^zxA thereupon.
^ /A
CHAP. III.
Of the Qualifications of their Miniftry* £fc' ''i.'en Marks that it is Chriftian. ^.^ ^/
•. '
'•'• CHAP. IV.
Of the Difcipline and Practice of this People, cU a Religious Society. The Church Power /%
ow?i
The Contents,
"^hw7t and exercifcy ' and that 'which they reje3 and condemn : With the Method of their Proceedings a-, gainjl erring and diforderly Perfons^^ \4^*
CHAP, V.
Of the firft Inftrument or Perfon by ijohom God *ivas pleafed to gather this People- into the Way they frofefs. His Name George Fox ; his many excel- lent Salifications \ Jhewing a divijie^ and not an^ human Power to have been their Original in him. His "Troubles and Sufferings both from without and w^l^in. His End ajid Triumph.. -- c§,
CHAP. VI.
Containif^g five feveral Exhortations. ^Flr/l, Ge-v neral, remindi?ig this People of their primitive Inte^ grity and Simplicity, Secondly, in Particular, , T!o the^ Miniftry. Thirdly^ I'o the Young Convinced. — Fourthly^ To the Children of Friends. Fifthly^ To thofe that are yet Strangers to this People aiid Way 'y to whom this Book ( and that it was. Pre- face to in its firft Edition ) may come. All the fe- ver a I B^hortations accommodated to their fever al States' \md Conditions y that all may anjwer the End: of God'j Glory and their own Salvation* y7£
A
A
Brief A C C O U N T, ^c.
CHAP. I.
Containing a brief Account of^&sitx^ Difpenfations- of Go Ti in the V/orld^ to the Time He was pleafed- to raifethis defpifed People, called Quakers.
DIVERS have been the Difpenfations of God fince the Creation of the World unto the Sons of Men 5 but the great End of all of them has been the Renown of His own excellent Naine ift the Creation and Rejloration of Man : Man, the Em-^ blem of Himfelf, as a God on Earth, and the Glo- ry of all His Works. The World began with Innocency : AH was then good that the good God had made : And as He bleffid the Works of His Hands, fo their Natures and Harmony magnified Him their Creator. Then the Mornii^g Stars fang together for Joy, and all Parts of His Works laid Amen to His La\v. Not a Jarr in the whole Frame^ but Man in Paradife, the Eeafts in the Field, the Fowl in the Air, the Fifh in the Sea, the Lights in the Heavens, the 7n:its ot the Earth , yea, the Air, the Earth, •the Wa- ter and Fire worfliipped, prailed and exalted His Power, Wifdom and Goodnejs. O holy Sabbath, Q holy Day to the Lord !
But this happy State lafted not long : For Man,
the
S T'he Rife an^ Trogrefi
pthe Crown and Glory of the Whole, bemg tempt-? ed to afpire above his Place, unhappily yielded a- gainft Command and Duty, as v«/ell as Intereft: and Felicity, and fo fell belovy it.; loft the divine Image, the Wifdom, Pow^er and Purity he vvas made in. By v^^hich, being no longer fit for Pa- radife, he was expelled that Garden of God, hi^ -proper D^'elling ^nd Refidence, and was driven out, as a poor Vagabond, from the Prefence of the Lord, to wander in the Earth, the Habitation of Beafts.
Yet God that made him had Pity on him 5 for He feeing Man was deceived, and that it was not of Malice, or an original Frefumption in him, but through the Subtiity of the Serpent (who had firfl fallen from his own State, anfi by the Mediation of the Woman, Man's own Nature and Com- panion, whom the Serpent had firft deluded) iu His infinite Goodnefs and Wifdom provided a Way to repair the Breach, recover the Lois, and reftore fallen Man again by a 7iobler and more exceU knt Adam, promifed to be born of a Woman 3 that as by Means of a Woman the evil One had prevail- ed upon Man, by a Woman alfo He fhould come into the World, who would prevail againft him and briiife his Head, and deliver Man from his Pow- er : And which, in a fignal Mannef, by the Dif- penfation of the Son of God in the Flefh, in the Fijlncfs of Time, was perfonally and fully accom- plifhed by Him, and in Him, as Man's Saviour and Redeemer.
But His Power was not limited, in the Mani- feftation of it, to that Time; for both before and iince His blelTed Manifeftation in the Flefh, He has
been
Of tide People called Qcr akers. 3
been the Light and Life, the Rock and Strengihy of ^ all that ever feared God : Was prefent with them in their Temptations, followed them in their Tra- vels and AftlictiQns, and fupported and carried them through and over the Difficiilties that have attended them in their earthly Pilgrimage. By this fij^^/'s Heart excelled Cainz, and Seth obtain- ed tl^ Pre-eminence, and E^toch vvalked with God, It was thi^ that ftrove with the old World, and which they rebelled againft, and vy^hich fan6lified and inftrucled Noah to Salvation.
But the outward Difpenfation that followed the benighted State of Man, after his Fall, efpecial- ly among tl.e Patriarchs, was generally that of Angels ; as the Scriptures of the Old Teftament do in many Places exprefs, as to Abraharn, Jacobs &c. The next was that of the Law by Mofes^. which was alfo delivered by Angels, as the Apoftle tells us.> This Difpenfation was much outward, ancj fuited to a low and fervile State ; called there- fore by the Apoftle Paul, that of a School-mafler^ which was to point out and prepare that People to look and long for the Messiah, who would deli- ver them from the Servitude of a ceremonious and imperfeft Difpenf^ipn, by knowing , the Realities of thofc myfterious Reprefentations in themfelves. In this Time the Law was written on Stone, the Temple built with liands, attended with an outward Prieflhood and external Rites and Ceremonies, that were SMdows of the good- Ibpjgs that were to come, and were only to ferve till: the Seed came, or the more excellent and general Manifeftation of Chrift, to whom was the Pro- n/ife, and to all Men only in Him, in whom it
was
4 7he Rife and Progrefs
was Tea and Amen^ even Life from Deaths Immor^ iality and Eternal Life,
This the Prophets torefaw, and comforted the . behevmg Jews in the Certainty of it 5 which was: the Top of the Mofnical Difpenfation, which ended in Johns Miniftry, tlie Fore-runner of tho Meffiah, as Johns was finifhed in Him, tlBfc'uU ' nefsofall. And then God, that at fundry "Sfnes, and in divers Manners had fpokeii to the Fathers by His Servants the Prophets, fpoke to Men by His Son Chrift Jefas, who is Heir of all 'Things^ being the Gofpel-Day, which is the Difpenfation oi Son-Chip ', bringing in thereby a nearer Tefta- ment, 'and a better Hope; even the Beginning of the Glory of the latter Days,^ and of the Reftitu- tion of all Things ; yea, the Refioration oj the King--: domunto Ifrael.
Now the Spirit, that was more fparingly com- municated in former Difpenfations, began to be poured forth upon all Flejhy according to. the Pro- phet Joel \ and the Light thatJJnnedin Darhiefs^ or but dimly before, the mofl: gracious God caufed to fhi?2e out of Darknefs and the Day-ftar began to arife in the Hearts of Believers, giving unto them the Knowledge of God in the Face (or Appear-^ ance) of His Son Chrift Jefus.
Now the Poor in Spirit^ the Meek^ the true Mourn-^ ers, the Hungry and Thirfly after Right eoiifiiefs, the Peace-tnakers, the Pure in Hearty the Mercifid and Perfecuted, came more efpecially in Remembrance before the Lord, and were fought out and blefled by him, Ifrael' s true Shepherd, Old Jerufalem with her Children grew out of Date, and xht New Jeru- falem into Requeft, the Mother of the Sons of the
Gofpel-
Of the People called Quakers. 5
tiofpel-Day. Wherefore no more at Old Jerufa- lem^ nor at the Mountain of Samaria^ will God be worfliipped above other Places ^ for, behold. He is, by His own Son, declared and preached a Spi- rit, and^ that He will be known as fuch, and wor- fliipped in the Spirit and in the Truth ! He will now irome nearer than of old Time, and he will ijDrite His Law in the Hearty and put His Fear andSpi^ rit in the ifiward Parts, according to His Promife. Then Signs, Types and Shadows flew away, the Day having difcovered their Infufficiency in not reach- ing to the Injide of the Cup, to the cleanjing of the Confcience ; and all Elementary Services were expir- ed in and by Him that is the Subftance of all. And to this great and blefTed End of the Dif- penfation of the Son of God, did the Apoftles tefti- fy, whom He had chofen and artointed by His Spirit, to turn the ^eii'S from their Prejudice and Superftition, and the Gentiles froin their Va- nity and Idolatry, to Chrift's Light and Spirit that fliined in them ; that they might be quickned from the Sins and Trefpafles in which they were? dead, to ferve the living God, in the Newnefs of the Spirit of Life, and walk as Children of the Light, and of the Day, even the Day oijiolinefs : For fuch put on Chrift, the Light of the World, and make no more P^-oviJion for the FleJJ?, to fulfil the -Lulls thereof. So that the Lights Spirit ^nd Grace,, that come by Chrifl, and appear in Man, were that divi?2e Principle, the Apoftles miniftred from^ and turned People's Minds unto, and in which they gathered and built up the Churches of Chrifl in their Day. For which Caufe they advife them not to quench the Spirit^ but to wait for the Spirit y
a?id
6 7he Rife aiid Progrefs
and [peak by the Spirit^ and pray by the Spirit^ and walk in the Spirit too, as that which approved them, the truly begotten Children of God ; lorn not of Flejld and Bloody or oj the Will of Man, but oj the Will of God ; by doing His Will, and denying their own 5 by drinking of Chrift's' Cup, and being bap- tized with His Baptifm bf Self-denial ; the ^Way and Path that all the Heirs of Life have ever trod to Bleflednefs. But alas ! even in the Apoftles Days, thofe bright Stars of the firft Magnitude of the Gofpel Light, fome Clouds foretelling an Eclipfe of this primitive Glory, began to appear, and levcral of them gave early Caution of it to the Chriflians of their Time, that even then there was, and yet would be more and more, a falling away from the Power of Godlinefs, and the Pu- rity of that fpirituai Difpenfation, by fuch as iought to make a Jair Shew in the Flejh^ with whom the Offence of the Crofs ceafed. Yet with this comfortable Conclufion, that they, law be- yond it a more glorious Time than ever to the true Church, Their Sight was true^ and what they foretold to the Churches, gathered by them in the Name and Power of Jefus, came to pafs : For Chri/lians degenerated apace into OiitJjdeSy as Days and Meats y and divers other ^.'eremonies. And v/hich ,was worle, they fell into Strife and Content tion about them ; feparating one from another, then eiivyingy and, as they had Power, petfecuting one another to the Shame and Scandal of their common Chriliianity^ and grievous^ Stumbling and Offence of the Heathen \ among whom the Lord had fo long and fo marvelloufly preferved them. And having got at lafl the Worldly Power into their Hands, by Kings and Emperors embrac-
ing
of the People called Quakers. 7
mgtht Chrifiian Profeflion, they changed, what they could, the Kingdom of Chrift, ivhich is not of this World, into a Worldly Pvingdom ; or at leaft ftiled the Worldly Kingdom, that was 'in 'theii"- Hands, the Kingdom of Chrift, and fo thtj became TVorldk, and not true Chriliians. Then human Inventions and Novelties^ both in Do6lrine and Worfhip, crouded faft into the Church; a Door opened thereunto, by theGrofs- nefs and Carnality that appeared then among the GeneraHty of Chriflians^ who had long fince left the, Guidance of God's meek and Heavenly Spi- rit, and given themfelves up to Superllition^ Will-- Worjhip, and voluntary Humility. And as Super-, ftition is blind, fo it is heady and furious, for all niuft ftoop to its blind and boundlefs Zeal or pe- rifh by it : In the Name of the Spirit^ perfecuting the very A}:>pearance-^of the Spirit of God in o- \ thers, and oppofing that in others, which they reiifled in themlelves, viz. T'he Lights Grace and Spirit of the Lord Jefus Chrift ; but always un- der the Notion of Innovation, Ilerefy^ Schifm^ or fome fuch plaufible Na?ne. Though Chriflianity allows ot no Name, oir Pretence whatever, for perfecuting of any Man for Matters of mere Rc-^ ligion, being in its very Nature, meek, gejitle and forbearing \ and confifts of Faith, Hope and Cha- rity, which no Periecutor can have, ' whilft he re- mains a Perfecutor ; in that a Man cannot be- lieve well, or hope Vv'^11, or have a charitable or tender Regard to another, whilft he would vio- late his Mind, or perfecute his Body, for Matters of Faith or Worftiip towards his God.
Thus the falfe Churchy fprang up, and mount- ed
8 The Rife and Progrefs
ed the Chair : But though flie loft her Nature^ fhe would needs keep her good Name of the Lamb's Bride^ the true Church and Mother of the Faithful : Conftraining all to receive her Mark, ei- ther in their Forehead or Right Hand ; that is, pub- lickly or privately. But indeed and in Truth fhe was My/iery Baby/on, the Mother of Harlots ^'^ Mother of thofe that, with all their Show and Outfide of Re- ligion^ were adulterated and gone from the Spirit ^ Nature and Life of Chrift, and grown Vain^ Woj^ld- iy^ Ambitious^ Covetous^ Cruel^ &c. which are the JFruits of the Flefh, and not of the Spirit.
Now it was, that the true Church fled Into the Wiidernefs^ that is, from Super flition and Violence y to a retired^ folitaryy and lojiely State ; hidden, and as it were, out of Sight of Meny though not out of the World. Which fhows that her wonted Vifibility was not eflential to the Being of a true Church in the Judgment of the Holy Gho/i -, fhe being as true a Church in the Wildernefsy though not as ^oifible and luflrious[ as when Jhe %vas in her former Splendor of Projeffion. In this State many Attempts fhe made to return, but the Waters were yet too high, and her Way blocked up, and many of her excellent Children, in feveral Nations and Centuries, fell by the Cruelty of Superftition, becaufe they would not Jail from their Faithfulnefs to the Truth,
The laft Age did fet lome Steps towards. It, both as to Do^rinCy Worfhip^ and PraBice, But Pradlice quickly failed ; for Wickednefs flow'd in a littlc'Time, as well among the Profejfors ot the Reformation^ as thofe they reformed from ; fo that by the Fruits ot Converfation they were
not
Qfthe People called Qv^AK^-Rsl 9
hot to be diftlnguifhed. And the Children of the Reformers, if not the Reformers themfelves, betook themfclves, very early, to Earthly Policy and Powe?\ to uphold and carry on their Refor- mation that had been begun with fplritual Wea- pons ; which I have often thought, has been one of the greateft Reafons the Reformation made ho better Prcgrefs, as to the Life and ^oiil of || Religion, For whiift the Reformers \vere lowly" and fpiritually Minded, and trufted in God, look'd to Him, and lived in His Fear, and con- fulted not with Flefli and Blood, nor fought Deliverance in their own Way, there were dai- ly added to the Church fuch as, one might reafonably fay, fhould be faved : For they were not fo careful to be fafe from Perfecution, as to be faithful and inoffehfive imder it : Being more concerned to Ipread the Truth by their Faith and Patience in 'Tribiihtion, than to get the Worldly Power out ot their Hands that inflicted thofe Sufferings upon them : And it will be well if the Lord fuffer them not to fall, by' the very- fame Way they took to ftand. {
In Doiirine they were in feme Things fhort ; in other Things, to avoid one Extream, they ran into another : And for Worfiip^ there was for the Generality, more of Man in it than of God. They owned the 5/>/r//, Infpiration and Revelation indeed, and grounded their Separa-, tion and Reformation upon the Senfe and Un- derftanding they received from it, in the Read- ing of the Scriptures ot Truth. And this was their Plea, the Scripture is the T'ext^ the Spirit the Interpreter^ and that to every one for himfelf, — -
B Bm
i
I <y ^he Rife and Progrefs
But yet there was too much of human Inven** iBon, Tradition and Art, that remained both in praying and preaching; and of Worldly Autho- rity and Worldly Greatnefs in their Minifters -, efpecially in this Kingdom, Swede?!, Denmark^ and fome Parts of German)\ God was therefore pleafed in FjUgland to fhift us from Veffel to Velfel : And the next Remove humbled the Mini- ftry, fo that they were more ftric\ in preaching, devout in praying, and zealous for keeping the Lord's Day, and catechifmg of Children and Ser^ vants, and repeating at Home in their FamiUes, what they had heard in publick. Btit even as thefe grew into Power, they v/ere not only for whipping fome out, but others into the Temple : And they appeared 7^igid in their Spirits^ rather than fevcre in their Lives, and more for a Par- ty than for Piety : Which brought forth ano- ther People, that were yet more retired and fe- le6h
They would not communicate at large, or in common with others ; but formed Churches a- mong themfelves of fuch as, could give, fome Ac- count of their Converfion, at leaft, of very pro- mifmg Experiences, of the Work of God's Grace upon their Hearts ; and under mutual Agree- ments and Covenants of Fellowfliip, they kept together. Thefe People were fomewhat of a fofter Temper, and feemed to recommend Reli- gion by the jCharms of its Love, Mercy and Goodnels, rather than by the Terrors of its Judg- ments and Punifhments ; by which the former Party would have awed People into Religion.
They alio allowed greater Liberty to prophecy
than
Of the People called Quakers. I i
than tbofe before them ; for they admitted any Member to fpeak or pray, as well as their Fail tor, whom they always chofe, and not the civil Magiftrate. If fuch found any Thing preffing upon-them to either Duty, even without the Dip tincfion of Clergy -or Laity, Perfons ©f any Trade had their Liberty, be it never fo low and me^ chanical But, alas! even theie People fuffered^ great Lofs : For tailing of Worldly Empire, and^ the Favour of Princes, and the Gain that enfued, they degenerated but too much. For though they had cried down National Churches and . Miniftry, and Maintenance too, fome of them when it was their own Turn to be tried, fell un- der the Weight of Worldly Honour and Advan- tage, got into profitable Parfonages too much, and outlived and contradifted their own Prin- ciples : And, which was yet worfe, turned, fome of them, abjhhite Perfecutors of other Men for God's Sake, that but fo lately came themfelves out of the Furnace i which drove many a Step farther, and that was into the Water : Another Baptifrriy as believing they were not fcripturally baptized ;^ and hoping to find that Prefence and Power of God in lubmitting to this Watry Ordinance, which they defired and wanted.
Thefe People alfo made Profeffion of negleB- hig, if n^t renouncing and cen faring, not only the ^'>^\#/y, but Vfe of all human Learning, as to the Mi?2iflry', and all other Qualifications to it, befides the Helps and Gifts of the Spirit of God, and tliofe natural and common to Men. And for a Time they feemed hke John of old, a burning and a fnning Light to other Societies*
B 2 They
x^ Tthe Rife dnd Progrefs
/ They were very diligent, plain and ferious^ flrong in Scripture and bold in Profeffion -, bear- ing much Reproach and Contradiftion. But that which others fell by^ proved their Snare. For Worldly Power fpoiled them too ; who had enough of it to try them \vhat they would do if they had more : And they refted alfo . too ^ much upon their Watry Difpenfation, inftead of paffing, on more fully to that of 'the Fire -axidi Holy Ghoft, which was His Baptifm who came with a Fan in his Fland^ that He might thoroughly (and uot in Part only) purge his Floor ^ and take away the Drofs and the Tm of his People^ and make a Man finer than Gold,_ Withal they grew high, rough and ielf-righteous ; oppofing farther At- tamment : Too much forgetting the Day of their Infancy and Littlenefs, which gave them fome- thing of a real Beauty ; infomuch that many left thein, and all vifible Churches and Societies, and v\^andered up and down, as Sheep without a Shepherd^ and as Doves without their Mates ^ feeking their Beloved, but could not find Him (as their Souls defired to know Him) whom their Souls loved above their chiefefi Joy.
Thefe People were called Seekers by fome, and the Family of Love by others ; becaufe as they came to the Knowledge of one another, they fometimes met together, not formally! to pray or preach at appointed Times or Places, in their ovv^n Wills, as in Times paft they were accuftom- ed to do ; but waited together in Silence -, and as any Thing rofe in any one of their Minds that they thought favoured of a divine ^ Springs they fometimes fpoke. But fo it was, that Ibme of
them
Of the People called Quakers. 13
ihein not keeping in Hufjiility, and in the Fear of God, after the Abundance of Revelation, were exalted abo've Mcafure , and for \¥ant of ftaying their Minds in an humble Dependence upon. Hini that opened their Underilandings, to fee great Things, in his L^ic, they ran out in their own Imaginations, and mixing them with thofe divine Openings, brought forth a monftrous Birth, to the Scandal of thofe that feared God, and waited daily in the Temple, not made with Hands, for the Confolation of Ifrael \ the Jew inv/ard, and Circumcifion in Spirit.
This People obtained the Name of Ranters^ from their extravagant Difcourfes and Prafticqs. For they interpreted Chrift's fulfilling of the Law for us, to be a difcharging of us from, any .Ob- ligation and Duty the Lav/ required of us, inftead of the Condemnatiort of the Law for^Sins' pafi, upon Fa^th and Repentance : And that now it was no Sin to do that which before it was a Sin to commit y the flavifh Fear of the Law being ta^. ken off by Chrift, and all Things good that Man did, if he did but do them with the Mind and Perfuafion that it v/as lb. Infomuch that -divers, fell into grofs and enormous Practices ; pretendr-. ing in Excufe thereof, that they coyld, without E-. viU commit the fame Aft v/hich vs^as iS^;in ano^. . ther to doj thereby diftinguifliing between the ASicn and the Evil of it, ^by the Direftioii of . the Mind, ,and Litention in the doing of 'it:. Wiiich was to make Sin fuper-abound by th^ j^ hoimdi figs jof Grace y and to turn from the Grace of God into Wantonnefe, a fecurer Way of ^'fih-- ng than before : As if Chrift came not'^to fave
B 3 13;S:
14 The Rife and Progrels
i^s from our Sins, but in our Sins ; not to take away Sin, but that we might fin more freely at His Coft, and with lefs Danger to ourfelves. I fay, this enlnared divers, and brought them, to an litter and lamentable Lofs as to their eternal State; and they grew very troublefome to the better Sort of People, and furnifhed the Loofer with an Oc- cafion to prophane.
CHAP. II.
Of the Rife of this PEOPLE, their fundamental Principle, and Doclrine, and Practice, in Twelve Points refulting from it : TZWr Progrefs and Suf- ferings: An ExpoHulation with England thereupon.
IT was about that very Time, as you may fee in George Fox s Annals, that the eternal, wife and good God, was pleafed in His infinite' Love to honour and vifit this benighted and beivildred Na^ tion, with His glorious Day-fpringfrom on high ; yea, with a moft fure and certain Sound of the JVord of Light and Life, through the Teftimony of a chofen Veffel, to an efFeclual and blefTed Purpofe, can many Thoufands fay, Glory be to the 'Name oj the , Lord for ever.
For as it reached the Confcience, and broke the Heart, and brought many to a Senfe and Search, * fo that which People had been vainly feeking iivith^ out, with much Pains and Cofl, they by this Mi-' niftry, found within, v/here it was they wanted what they fought for, viz. The right Way to Peace TDith God. For they were direfted to the Light
of-
Of the People called Quakers. i^
of Jefus Chrift within them^ as the Seed and Leaven of the Kingdom of God ; near all, becaule i?i alf, and God's T'alentto all : A faithful and true JVitnejSy and jiifi Monitor in every Bofom, The Gift and Grace of God, to Life and Salvation, that appears to all though few regard it. This the traditional CbrHlian, conceited of hirnlelf, and ftrong in his -own Will and P^ighteoufnefs, overcome with ^//W Zeal and Pajjion^ either delpifed as a low and com- mon Thing, or oppoled as a Ncvilty., under many hard Names, and opprobrious Terms, denying in his ignorant and angry Mind, any frefh Manifef- tations of God's Povver and Spirit in Man, in thefe Days, tho' never more -needed to make true Chriltiaits, Not unlike thofe Jews of old, that re- jefted the Son of God, at the very fame Time that they bhndly profeffed ta wait for the Mefiiah to come; becaufe, alas! he appeared not am.ong them according to their carnal Mind and Expeftation.
This brought forth many abufive Books, which filled the greater Sort v/lth Envy^ and lelier with Rage ; and made the Way and Progrefs of this blelfed Tejftimony Uraight and narrow indeed to thofe that received it. HQwever^ God owned His own Work, and this Teftimony did effe&ually reach, gather, comfort and eftablilh the Weary and Heavy Laden, the Hungry and ThirUy, the Poor and Needy, the Mournful and Sick, of many Maladies, that had fpent all upon Phyficians of no Value, and waited for Relief from Heaven ;■ Help only from above : Seeing, upon a ferious Trial of all Things, nothing elfe would do but Chrift H'nnfelf -^ tht Light of His Countenance, a Touch of His Gar- ment^ and Help from His Hand-, who a/r^i/ the poor
B 4. Woman's
'i 6 7he Rife ajid Progrefs
Woman's IiTue, raifedt\\tCentiirio7is Servant, the Widow's Son, the Riders Daughter, and Peter s Mother : And Uke her, they no fooner felt His Power and Efficacy upon their Souls, but they gave up to obey Him in a Teflinjony to His Power ; and that with rejigned Wills and faithful Hearts, thro' all Mockings, ContradiBions^ Confifcations^ Beat- ings, Prifo72s, and many other Jeopardies that at- tended them for His bleffed Name's Sake.
And truly they were very many, and very great f fothat in allhuman Probability they muft havebeea fwallowed up quick of the proud and boifterous Waves that fwelied and beat againft them, but that the God of all their tender Mercies was with them ill His glorious Authority 3 lo that the Hills often fled, and the Mountains melted before tha Power that filled them; working mightily for them, as well as in them, one ever following the other. By which they faw plainly, to their ex- ceeding great Confirmation and Comfort,^ that all ^Things were poffible with Him with whom they had to do. And that- the more that which God required feemed to crofs Man's Wifdom, and ex- pofe them to Man's Wrath, the more God appear- ed to help and carry them through all to His Glory.
Infomuch, that if ever any People could fay ia Truth, Thou art our Sun and our Shield, our Rock and Sandluary ; and by Thee we hti\f^ leaped over a Wall, and by Thee we have runjhrough a Troop, and by thee we have put put the Armies of the Aliens to flight, thefe People had a Right to fay it. Afid as God had delivered their Souls of the wearifom Burdens of Sin and Vanity, and enriched their Po- verty of Spirit, and fatisiieH their great Hunger
Of the People called Qoakers. 27
and Thirft after eternal Righteoufnefs, and filled them with the good Things of His own Houfe, and made them Stewards of His manifold Gifts ; fo they went forth to all Quarters of thefe Na- tions, to' declare to the Inhabitants thereof, what God had done for them 3 what they had found, and " where and how they had found it, 17*2;. The JVay to Peace with God : Inviting all to come, and fee, and tafte, for themfelves, the Truth of what they declared unto them.
And as their Teftimony v/as to the Principle of God i?i Marly the precious Pearl and Leaven of the Kingdom^ as the only bleffed Means appointed of God to quicken, convince and fanctify Man ; fo they opened to them what it v/as in itfelf, and what it was given to them for : How they might know it from their own Spirit, and that of the fubtle Appearance of the evil One : And what it v/ould do for all thofe whofe Minds Ihould be turn- ed ofFfrom^he Vanity ot the World, and itsLife- lefs Ways and Teachers, and adhere to His bleffed Light in themfelves, which difcovers and con- demns Sin in all its Appearances, and fhews how to overcome it, if minded and obeyed in its holy Manifeflations and Conviftions: Giving Power to fuch to avoid and refifl thofe Things that do not pleafe God, and to grovv^ flrong in Love, Faith and good Works : That fo Man, whom Sin hath made as a Wildernefs^ over-run with Briars and Thorns, might become as the Garden of God, cultivated by His divine Power, and replenifh^d with the moft virtuous and beautiful Plants of God's 'own Right Hand plantings to His eternal Praife.
But thefe 'experimental Preachers of glad Tid«.
mgs
1 8 The Rife and Progreft
ings of God's Truth and Kingdom, could not Yxxn when they Ufl, or pray or preach when they pleaf- ed, but as Chrift their Redeemer prepared and moved them by His own blejjed Spirit^ for which they waited in their Services and Meetings, and fpoke as that gave them Utterance ; and which vvas as thofe having Authority, and not like the dream- ing dry and formal Pbarifees. And fo it plainly appeared to the Serious-minded, whofe fpiritual Eye the Lord Jefus had in any Meafure opened : . So that to one was given the Word of Exhortation^ to another the Word of Reproofs to another the j Word of Confolation^ and all by the fame Spirit and in the good Order thereof,, to the convincing and edifying of many.
And truly they waxed ftrong and bold through Faithfulnefs^; and by the Power and Spirit of the Lord Jefus became very fruitful ; Thoufands, in a Ihort Time, being turned to the Truth in the inv/ard Parts through their Teftimony in Minify t'ry and Sufferings : Infomuch as in moft Counties^ and many of the confiderable Towns of E?2g/and'^. Meetings were fettled, and daily there were add- ed fuch as fliould be faved. For they were dili- gent to plant and to icater, and the Lord bleffed their Labours with an exceeding^ great htcreafe ; not- ^ withftanding all the Oppofition made to their blefs- ed Progrefs, by jalfe Rumours^ Calumnies and bit^ ter Per [editions -y not only from the Rowers of the Earth, but from every one that lifted to injure and abuie them : So that they feemed indeed to be as poor Sheep appointed to the Slaughter^ and as a People killed all the Day long.
It were fitter for a Vohune than a Preface^ but fo
much
, Of the People called Quakers. 19
much as to repeat the Contents of their cruel Suf- ferings from ProfeJJbrs as well as from Prophaney and from Magifirates as well as the Rabble : That *it may be faid of this abufed and defpifed People, they went forth weeping and fowed in 'TearSy bear- ing Teftimony to the precious Seed, even the Seed of the Kingdom, which (lands not in Words ; the fineft, the higheft that iMan s Wit can ufe, but in Power : The Power of Chrift Jefus, to whom God the Father hath given all Power in Heaven and in Earth, that He might rule Angels above, and Men below. Who impowered them, as their Work witnefieth, by the many that were turned, through their Miniftry, from Darknefs to the Light, and out of the broad into the narrow Way of Life and Peace ; bringing People to a weighty, ferious and God-like Converfation ; xh^PraMice oi Xh^lDoc- trine Vi^hich they taught.
And as without this kcvzt divi?ie Power there is no quickenifig and regenerating of dead Souls, fo the Want of this generating and begetting Power and Life, is the Caufe of the little Fruit that the many Miniftries, that have been and are in the World, bring forth. O that both Minifters and People were fenfible of this ! My Soul is often troubled for them, and Sorrow and Mourning compafs me about for their Sakes. O that they were wife ! O that they would confider, and lay to Heart the Things that truly and fubftantially make for their lafting Peace !
Two Things are to be confidered, the DoBrine they taught, and the Example they led among all People. I have already touched upon their fun- damental Principle^ which is as the Corner-Stoyie of
their
20 'The Rife andVrogYtis
their Fabrick : And indeed, to fpeak eminently and properly, their CharaBeriftick^ or main di- ftinguifhing Point or Principle, viz. The Light of Chiiik ii'Uhhty as God's Gift for Man's Salvation. This, I fay, is as the Root of the goodly Tree of Doctrines that grew and branched out from it, which I fhall now mention in their natural and ex- perimental Order.
Firft, Repentance from Dead Works to ferve the living' God. Which com.prehends three Opera- tions. Firft, a Sight of Sin. Secondly, a Senfe and Godly Sorrow for Sin. Thirdly, an 'Ame7id7nent for the Time to conie. This was the Repentance they preached and preiTed, and a natural Refult from the Principle they turned all People unto. For of hight came Sight ; and of Sight came Senfe and Sorrow ; and of Senfe and Sorrow came Amendment of Life, Which Do6lrine of Repentance leads to Jufifcation -, that is, Forgivenefs of the Sins that are pa/i^ through Chrift the alone Propitiationy and the San5Iif cation or Purgation of the Soul, from the defiling Nature and Habits of Sin prefent, by the Spirit of Chrift in the Soul ; which is Juftificatioa. ifi the compleat Senfe of that Word : Compre^^ bending both Juftification from the Guilt of th©; Sins that are paft, as if they had never been com- mitted, through the Love and Mercy of God iu, Chrift Jeius ; and the Creature's being made in- wardly juft through the cleanfmg and fanciifying Power and Spirit of Chrift revealed in the Soul ;_ which is commonly called SanBification, But that none can come to know Chrift to be thpir Sa- crifice that rejeft Him as their Sanftifier: The End of His Coming being to fave His People from
the.
Of the People called Quakers. 21
the Nature and Defilement^ as well as Guilt of Sin \ and that therefore thofe that redft His Light and . Spirit, make His Coming and Offering of none Effect to them.
From hence fprang a fecond DoBrhie they were led to declare, as the Mark ofi the Price of the high Calling to all true Chriftians, viz. PerfeBion from Sin, according to the Scriptures of Truth ; which teftify it to be the End of Chrift's Coming, and the Nature of His Kingdom, and for which His Spirit was and is given, viz. To be perfedi as our H'^vefjly Father is perJeB, and &/y, becaiife God is holy. And this the Apofliles laboured for, T'hat the C\\nK\^x\s JJootdd be fanBified throughout in Bo- dy, Sotd and Spirit ; but they never held a Perfect tion in Wifdorn and Glory in this Life, or from na-^ tiiral hifirmities, or Death, as fome have, with a w^eak or ill Mind, imagined and infinuated againfl them.
This they called a redeemed Stah^ Regeneration^ or the nevj Birth : Teaching every where accord- ing to their Foundation, that unlefs this Work was known, there was no inheriting the Kingdom of God.
Thirdly^ This leads to an Acknowledgment of leternal Rewards and Punljhmeiits, as they have good Reafon ; for elfe, of all People, certainly they mufl be mod miferable \ who, for dhovQ forty Years, have been exceeding great Sufferers for their Pro- feffion ; and in iome Cafes, treated worfe than the worft of Men ; yea, as the Refufe and Off scour i fig of all Things.
This was the Support of their Do Bridie and Minify try 5 which, for the mofl Part, is what other Pro-
feiTors
22 . The Rife and Progrefs
fors of Chriflianity pretend to hold in Words and Forms, but not in the Power of Godlinefs ; which, generally fpeaking, has been long loft by Men's departing from that Principle and Seed of Life that is in Man, and which Man has not regarded, but loft the Senie of; and in and by which he can on^ ly be quickened in his Mind to lerve the living God in Newnefs of Life. For as the Life of Religion v/as loft, and the Generahty lived and worfhipped God after their own Wills, and not after the Vv^ill of God, nor the Mind of Chrift, which ftood iu the Works and Fruits of the holy Spirit \ fo that which they preft, was not Notion^ but Experience \ not Formality^ but Godlinefs ; as being fenfible in themfelves, through the Work of God's righteous Judgments, that without Holinefs no Man [hall ever Jee the Lord with Comfort.
Befides thefe general Dodfrines, as the larger Branches, there fprang forth feveral particular Doc-^ trines^ that did exemplify and farther explain the Truth and Efficacy of the general Do5iri?ie before obferved, in their Lives and Examples. As,
L Communion and loving one another. This is a noted Mark in the Mouth of all Sorts of People' concerning them. They will jneet^ they will help and flick one to another. Whence it js common to hear fome fay, Look how the Quakers love and take care of one another. Others lefs moderate, will fay, The Quakers love none hut themfelves : And if loving one another, and if having an intimate Comjnunion in Religion, and conliant Care to meet to worlhip God, and help one another, be any Mark oi pri- mitive ChriHianity, they had it, bleflcd be the Lord, in an ample Manner,
IL To
Of the Feopk called Quakers. 23
II. To love Enemies, This they both taught and fraBifcd, For they did not only ref ufe to be re-
1 venged for Injuries done them, and condemned it as of an unchriftian Spirit ; but they did freely \ forgive^ yea, help and relieve thofe that had been h cruel to them, when it was in their Power to have : been even with them : Of which many and An- gular Inftanees might be given : Endeavouring, through Faith and Patience, to overcome all In- juilice and Oppreffion, and preaching this Doc-* trine 2^ Chriflian, for others to follow.
III. Another was, The Sufficiency of Truth- fpeak- ing, according to Chrift's own Form of found Words, of 2^^, Tea, and A^^y, Nay, among Chriflians, without fwearing j both from Chrift's •exprefs Prohibition, to /wear at all. Mat. y. and for that they being under the Tye and Bond 6f Truth in themfelves, there was no Neceffity for an Oath ; and it would be a Reproach to their Chrifiian Veracity to aflure their Truth by fuch an extraordinary Way of fpeaking ; fimple and un- compound Anfvvers, as Tea and Nay^ (without Afleveration, Atteftation, or fupernatural' Vouch- ers) being moft fuitable to Evangelical Righteouf- nefs.. But offering at the fame Time to be punifli- ed to the full, for Falfe-fpeaking, as otSers for Terjury, if ever guilty of it : And hereby they exclude with all true, all falfe and prophane fwear^ in'g ; for which the Land did and doth mourn, and the great God was, and is not a little offended with it.
IV. Not Fighting, but Suffering, is another Tef- tlmony peculiar to this People : They affirm that Chrijiianity teacheth People to beat their Swords
into
14- The Rik a?7d Progrtfs
irito Plough'fiares, and their Spears into Pruning-' heoh^ and to learn War no more ^ that Jo the Wolj maA lie down with the Lamby and the Lyon, with the Calf:, ' and nothing, that defiroys^ be entertained in We Tleart^ of People : Exhorting them to employ their Zeal againft Sin^ and turn their Anger againft Satan^ and no longer war one againft another ; becasife ^ all Wars and Fightings come of Mens own Hearts Lulisy according to the Apoftle James, and not of the meek Spirit of Chrift JefuS, who is Captain of another Warfare, and which is carried ofi with other Weapons, Thus, as Trtithfpeaking fucceeded Swearing, fo Faith and Patience facceejded Fighting, in the Doftrine and Pra6lice of this People. Nor ought they for this to be obnoxious to Civil Go- vernment, fince if they Z'^rmoX. fight for it, neither': can they fight againft it ; which is no mean Security ; to any State. Nor is it reafonable that People ■ fhould be blamed for not doing more for others ' than they can do for themfelves. And,^ Chri/lia^ . nity let afide, if the Cofts and Fruits of War were well confidered, Peace, wuth all its Inconvenien- ^ cies, is generally preferable. But though they wereinot.for fighting, they were for fubmitti?ig to Government ; and that, not only for Fear, but <* for Confcience-fake ; where Government doth not interfere with Confcience; believing it to be an Ordinance of God, and where it is juftly admini- ftred, a great Benefit to Mankind. Though it has been their Lot, through blind Zeal in fome, and Intereft in others, to have felt \\\t Strokes of it with greater Weight and Rigour than any o- i ther Perfwafion in this Age; whilft they of all others, Religion fet afide, have given the Civil
Magiftrate
Of the People called Quakers. 25
Magiftrate the lead OccaCon of Trouble In the Difcharge of his Office.
V. Another Part of the CharaBer of this Peo- ple was, and is, T.hey refufe to pay Tithes or Main- tenance to a National Miniftry j and that for tvv^o Reafons : The one is, they believe all compelled Maintenance, even to Gofpel-Minifters, to be un- lawful^ becauie exprefsly contrary to Chrlft's Com- mand, who faid. Freely you have received^ freely gv\je : At leaft, that the Maintenance of Goipel- Minifters fhould be free, and not forced. The o- ther Reafon of their Ref ufal is^ becaufe tliofe xMi- nifters are not Gofpel Ones, m that the Holy Ghoft is not their Foundation, but human Arts and Parts, So that it is not Matter of Humour or Sullennefs, but pure Confcience towards God, that they cannot help to fupport l^ational Miniflries where they dwell, which arebut too much and too vifible become Ways of Worldly Advantage and Preferment.
V^I. Net to refpeB Perfons, was, and is another of their Doclrines and Praftices, tor , which they were often hufetted and ahufed. They' affirmed it to be finful to gw'Q flattering Titles^ or to ufe vain Geflures and Compliments of Refpe5l, Though to Virtue and Authority they tvtv made a Difference y but after their plain and homely Manner, yet fin- cere and fubftantial Way : Well remcmbring the Examples of Mordecai and Elihu ; butrnore efpe- ciaily the Command of their Lord and Mailer Je- fus Chrift, who forbad His Followers to call Men 'Rabbi, which implies Lcr// or Mailer -^ alfotheyi?- jldimable Greetings and Salutations of thofe Times; that lb Self 'Love and Honour -^ to which the proud
C Mind
^6 57?^ Rife end Progrefs
Mind of Man is incident, in his fallen Eftate, might not be indulged but rebuked. And though this rendered their Converfation difagreeable, yet they that will remember what Chrift faid to the yews. How can you believe which receive Honour one of another, will abaffe of their Refentment, if His Doftrine has any Credit with them,
VII. They alfo ufed the plain Language of Hhee and ThcUy to a iingle Perfon, whatever was his Degree among Men. And indeed the Wifdom of God was much feen, in bringing forth this People in fo plain an Appearance. For it was a clofe and diflinguipijjg 'Tefi upon the Spirits of thole they came among ; fhewing their Infides, and what predominated, notwithftanding their high and great Profeffion ot Religion. This among the reft founded fo harfli to many of them, and they took it fo ill, that they would fay, nou me, thou my Dog ! If thou ihoujl me. Til thou thy Teeth ^lown thy Throat ', forgetting the Language they life to God in their own Prayers, and the common Stile of the Scriptures, and that it is an abfolute and effential Propriety of Speech. And what good, alas ! had their Religion done them, who were fo fenfibly touched with Indignity for the Ufe of this plain, hone ft and true Speech ?
VIIL They recommended Silence by their Ex- ample, having very few Words upon all Occa- fions. They were at a Word in Dealing : Nor could their Cuftomers, with many Words tempt them from it, having more Regard to Truth thaa Cufiom, to Example than Gain. They fought Soli^r iude ', but when in Company, they would neither ufe, nor willingly hear timweffary or unlawful Dif-
courfes ; ^
Of the People called Quakers. zf
tourfes : Whereby they preferved theu' Minds pure and u?idi /lur bed ixom unprofitable Thoughts/ and Diverfions. Nor could they humour the Cui- torn of Good Night, Good Morrow, God Speed\ foi* they knew the Night was good, and the Day was good, without wilhing of either j and that in the other Exprellion, the holy Name of God was too lightly and unthankfully ufed, and therefore taken in vain. Befides, they were Words and Wifhes of Courfe, and are ;uluaily as little meant, as are Love and Service in the Cuftom of Cap and Knee '^ and Superfluity in thofe, as well as in o- ther Things, was blirthenfome to them ; and therefore they did not only decline to ufe them> but found themfelves often preffed to reprove the Praftice.
IX. For the fame Reafon \S\^y forbore drinking to People, or pledging of them, as the Manner of the World is : A Practice that is not only unneceffa- ry, but they thought Evil in the Tendencies of if, being a Provocation to drink more than did People good, as well as that it was in itfelf vain and Hea-- thenijh,
X. Their Way oi Marriage is peculiar to them ;^ and (hews a diftinguifhing Care, above other So- cieties, profeffing Chriftia?iity, They fay that Marriage is an Ordinance of God, and that God only can rightly join Man and Woman in Marriage z Therefore they ufe neither Prie(l nor Magi Urate i but the Man and Woman concerned, take each other as Hufband and Wife, in the Prefenfce of divers credible Witneifes, promijing to each other^ with Gods Ajjillance, to be loving and faithful in that Relation^ till Death ^'fhall feperate them. But
Q z iintece^
ttS "The Rife cind Progrefs
antecedent to this, they firft prefent th^mfelves to the Monthly Meetings for the Affairs of the Church where they refide ; there declaring their Inten- tions, to take one another as Hufband and Wife^ if the faid Meeting have nothing material to ob- 'jeft againft it. They are conftantly afked the -neceffary Qaeftions, as in cafe of Parents or Gitar^ -dians^ if they have acquainted them with their Intention, and have their Confent, Gfc. The Me- thod of the Meeting is, to take a Minute there- <)f, and to appoint proper Perfons to enquire of their Converfation and Clearnefs from all others, and v/hether they have difcharged their Duty to their Parents or Guardians yznA to make Report thereof to the next Monthly Meetings where the fame Parties are deiired to give their Attendance, In cafe it appears they have proceeded orderly, the Meeting pklfes their Propofal, and fo records it in their Meeting-Book. -And in cafe the Woman be a Widow, and hath Children, due Care is there taken, that Provifion alio be made bv her for the Orphans y before the Meeting pafs the Propofals of Marriage : i\dvifing the Parties concerned, to appoint a convenient Time and Place, and to give fitting Notice to their Relations, and fuch Friends and Neighbours, as they defire fhould be the Witneffes of their Marriage : Where they take one another by the Pland, and by Name promife reciprocally. Love and Fidelity, after the Manner before expreffed. Of all v/hich Proceedings, a Narrative, in Way of Certificate, is made, to which the faid Parties firft let their Hands, there- by confirming it as their Aft and Deed 3 and then >divers Relations, Speftators and Auditors, fet , - " " their
Of the People called Qu a k e R s . I 29
their Names as Witneffes, of what they faid and figned. And this Certificate is afterwards regir" ftred in the Record . belonging . to the Meeting where the Marriage is folemnized. Which regu- lar Method has been, as it deferves, adjudged in, Courts of Law, a good Marriage ; where it has been by crofs and ijl People difputed, and con- tefted, for Want of the accuftomed Formalities of Priefi and Ring^ &c. Ceremonies they have re-, fufed : Not out ot Humour, but Confcience rea- lonably grounded y inafmuch a« no Scripture- Example tells us, that the PriePc had any other • Part of old Time, than that of a Vv^itnefs among the reft, before whom the Jews ufed to. take one, another: And therefore this People look upon it as an Impofition to advance the Power and Pro- fits of the Clergy : And for the Ufe of the Ringy it is enough to fay, that it was an Heatheiiijlj 'a.n^i vain Cuftom, and never in Praflice among the People of God, Jews or primitive Cbriftians : The Words of the ufual Form, as wit/:) my Body I thee worJJjtp, &c. are hardly defenfible. in fliort, they are more careful, exa6l and regular,, than any Form now ufed 5 and it is free of the Inconveni-^ encies, with which other Methods are attended : Their Care and Checks being fo many, and fuch; as that no clandejiine Marriages can be performed .among them.
X, It may not be unfit to fay fomething here of their Births and Burials^ which make up id much of the Pomp of too many called ChrijUanSh For Births, the Parents name their ov/n Children ; which is ufually fome Days after they are born, in the PrQfence of the Midwife, if fhecan be there,
C 3 and
30 The Rife and Progrefs
and thofe that were at the Birth, who afterwards fign a Certificate for that Purpofe prepared, of the Birth and Name of the Child or Children -, which is recorded in a proper Book, in the Monthly MeeU ing to which the Parents belong ; avoiding the ac- cuftomed Ceremonies and Feftivais.
XL Their Burials are performed with the fame Simplicity. If the Body of the Deceafed be near any publick Meeting-Place, it is ulually carried thither, for the more convenient Reception of thofe that accompany it to the Burying-Ground. And it fo falls out fometimes, that while the Meet- ing is gathering for the Burial, fome gr other has a Word of Exhortation, for the Sake of the Peo- ple there met together. After which the Body is borne away by young Men, or elfe thofe that are of their Neighbourhood, or thofe that were moft of the Intimacy of the deceafed Party : The Corps being in a plain Coffin^ without any Covering or Fur- niture upon it. At the Ground, they paufe fome Time before they put the Body into its Grave, that if any there fliould have any Thing upon them to exhort the People, they may not be dif- appointed ; and that the Relations may the more retiredly and folemnly take their laft Leave of the Body of their departed Kindred, and the Specta- tors have a Senfe of Mortality, by the Occafion , then given them, to reflect upon their own latter ^ End. Otherwife, they have no let Rites or Cere- monies on thole Occafions. Neither do the Kindred of the Deceaied ever wear Mourning'^', they looking
upon
+ N. B. Since the Time this Account was firfl publiOied, (Amo 1694) fome of the PoUenty of this People have vifibly degenerated
Of the People Called QuAKERsi^ 3 1
upon It as a Worldly Ceremony and Piece of Pomp ; and that what Mourning is fit for a Chrif- tian to have, at the Departure of a beloved Refla- tion or Friend, fliould be worn in the Mind, which is only (enfible of the Lofs : And the Love they had to them, and Remembrance of them, to be outwardly exprefTed by a Refpeft to their Advice, and Care of thofe they have left behind them, and their Love of that they loved. Which Conduft of theirs, though unmodifh or unfaftiionable, leaves nothing of the Subftance of Things ne- glected or undone : And as they Aim at no more, fo that Simplicity of Life is what they obferve with great Satisfaftion \ though it fometimes hap- pens not to be without the Mockeries of the vain World they live in.
Thefe Things to be fure gave them a rough and difagreeable Appearance with the Generality ; who thought them Turners of the World upfide down^ as indeed, in fome Senfe they were : But in no other than that wherein Paul was fo charged, viz. To bring Things back into their primitive and right Order again. For thefe and fuch like Prac- tices of theirs were not the Refult of Humour, or for Civil Difii^iBiony as fome have fancied, but a Fruit of ijiward Se?2fe, which God, through His holy Fear, had begotten in them. They did not confider how to contradivSl the World, or diftin- guifh themfelves as a Party from others ; it being
C 4 none
/■
from the primitive Phinnefs of their PredecefTors in this Refpeft ; neverthelefs, the colledlive Senfe and Judgment of the Church here- in, remains the fame, as is manifeft by the frequent Advices given forth from their Yearly and other Meetings.
j2 I'he Rife and Progreis
none ot their Bufinefs, as it was not their In- tereft : No, it was not the Refult of Confiiltation OP a framed Defign, by which to declare or re- commend Schifm or Novelty. But God having given them a Sight of themfelves, they faw the whole World in Xhtfrnne G/afs of Truth -, and fen- fibly diicerned the Affeftions and Paflions of Men, and the Rife and Tendency of Things : What it was that gratified the Lifji of the Flefb, the Liifl of the Eye, and the Pride of Life, which are not of the Father, but of the World. And from thence fprang in the Night of Darknefs and Apoftacy which hath been over People through their Degeneration from the Light and Spirit of God, thefe and many o- ther vain Cuftoms, which are feen by the heaven- ly Day of Chrift, that dawns in the Sotd, to be, either wrong in their Original-, br^ by Time and Abufe, hurtful in their PraBice. And though thefe Things feemed trivial to fome, and rendered thefe, People ftingy and conceited in fuch Perfons Opinion , there was and is more in them, than they were, or are aware of.
It was not very eafy to omv primitive Friends to make themfelves Sights and Spe&acles, and the Scorn and Derifon of the World ; which they ea- lily forcfaw muft be the Confequence of fo nn- fafhionable a Converfation in it : But here was the Wifdom of God feen in the Foolifhnefs of thefe Things ; frli. That they difcovered the Satisfac^ tion and Concern that People had in and for the Fafhions of this World, notwithftanding their high Pretences to another; in that any Difappoint- ment about them came fo very near them, as that the greatcft Honefty, Virtue, Wifdom and Abili- ty,
Of the People called Quakers. 33
ty, were unwelcome without them. Secondly^ It fed- fonabh and profitably divided Cofiverfatlor. -, for this making their Society uneafy to their Relations and Acquaintance, it gave them the Opportunity of more Retirement and Solitude -, wherein they met with better Company, even the Lord God their Redeemer -, and grew ftrong in His Love, Power and Wifdom, and were thereby better quahfied for His Service. And the Succefs abundantly fliow'd it : Blejjed be the Name of the Lord.
And though they were not great and learned in the Efteem of this World, (for then they had not wanted Followers upon their own Credit and Authority) yet they were generally of the mqft
fiber of the feveral Perfwafions they were in, and of the moll Repute for Religion ; and many of them of good Capacity^ Suhfance and Recount among Men,
And alfo fome among them wanted not for Parts, Lcajmijig or Eliate \ tlio' then as of old, 7iot fnany Wife, or Noble, &c. were called 5 or at lead received the Heavenly Call, becaufe of the Crols that attended the Profeffion of it in Sinceri- ty. But neither do Parts or Learning make Men the better Chrifiians, though the better Ora- tors and Difputants ; and it is the Ignorance of People about the divine Gift that caufes that vul- gar and mifchievous Miftake. Theory and Prac-
, tice, Specidation and Enjoyment, Whrds and Life^ ^re two Things. O 'tis the Penitent, the Re- formed, the Lowly, the Watchful, the Self-de- nying and holy Soul, that is, the ChriHian ! And that Frame is the Fruit and Work of the Spirit^ \\'hich is the Life of Jefus : Whole Life though
hid
34 ^f^^ Ri^G ^^^ Progrefs
hid in the Fulnels of it in God the Father, is fhed " abroad in the Hearts of themlhat truly beUeve, according to their Capacity. O that People did but know this to cleanfe them, to circumcife them, to quicken them, and to make them ?2ew Creatures indeed ! Recreated or Regenerated after Chrift Jefus unto good V^orks ; that they might live to God, and not to themfelves j and offer tip living Prayers and living PraifeSy to the living Gody through His ow?i living Spirit^ in which He is only to be worfhipped in this Gofpel Day.
O that they that read me could but feel me ! For my Heart is afFefted with this merciful Vijita^ tion of the Father of Lights and Spirits to this poor Nation, and the whole World, through the lame Teftimony. Why fhould the Inhabitants thereof rejeEi it ? Why fliould they lofe the blef- fed Benefit of it ? Why (hould they not turn to the Lord with all their Hearts, and fay from the Heart, fpeak Lord, for now l^hy poor Servants hear ? O that T'hy Will may be done-y 'Thy great y Thy good and holy Willy in Earth as it is in Heaven ! Do it in uSy do it upon uSy do what Thou wilt with us ; for we are Thine y and defire to glorify Thee our Creator, both for thaty and becaufe Thou art our Redeemer ; for Thou art redeeming us from the Earth ; from the Vanities and Pollutions of ity to be a peculiar People unto Thee. O this were a brave Day for Englandy if fo fhe could fay in Truth ! But alas, the Cafe is otherw'Jfe ; for which fome of thine Inhabitants, O Land of m.y Nativity ! have mourned over thee with bitter Wailing and Lamentatign. Th^ir Heads have been indeed as Waters y and their Eyes as Foun- tains of TearSy becaufe of thy Tranfgreffion and
Stiffs
■ Of the People called Quakers. 35
Stiff-neckedhefs ; becaufe thou wilt not hear, and fear, and return to the Rock, even thy Rocky O England! From whence thou art hewn. But be thou warned, O Land of great Profeffion, to re- ceive Him into thy Heart. Behold at that Door it is He hath ftood fb long knocking ! but thou wilt yet have none of Him. O be thou awakened, left Jef'tifalems Judgments do fwiftly overtake thee, becaufe of Jerujalem\ Sins that abound in thee. For fhe abounded in Formality., but made void the weighty Things of God's Law, as thou daily doft.
She withftood the Son of God in the Fle/h, and thou refifteft the Son of God in the Spirit, He would have gathered her as an Hen gathereth her Chickens under her Wings, and fhe would not ; fo would He have gathered thee out of thy Life- lefs ProfeJJlon, and have brought thee to inherit Sub- ftance -, to have known His Power and Kingdom : For which He often knocked within, by His Grace and Spirit ^ and without, by His Servants and Witnejjes : But on the Contrary, as Jeriijalem of old perfecuted the Manifeftation of the Son of God in the Flefh, and crucified Him, and whipt and imprifi)ned His Servants j fo haft thou, O Land ! crucified to thyfelf cifrejh the Lord of Life and Glory, and done Defpite to His Spirit of Grace ; flighting the Fatherly Vifitation, and perfecuting the bleffed Difpenfers of it by thy Laws and Ma- gift rates : Though they have early and late plead- ed with thee in the Pow^r and Spirit of the Lord ; in Love and Meeknefs, that thou mighteft know the Lord, and ferve Him, and become the Glory of all Lands,
But
36 ^he Rife ^/^^Progrefs
But thou hail evilly entreated and requited them, thou had fet at nought all their Counfel, and would' ft have none of their Reproof, as thou fhould'ft have had. Their Appearance v^^as too lirait^ and their Qu^alifications were too mean for thee to receive them ; like the "Jews^ of old, that cried, Is not this the Carpenter's Son, and are not his^.Brethren among us i which of the Scribes^ of the Learned (the Orthodox) believe in Him? Prdphe- fying their Fall in a Year or two, and making and executing of fevere Laws to bring it to pafs : En-, deavouring to terrify them out of their holy Wayy or deflroy them for abiding faithful to it. Bi*it thou haft feen how many Governments that rofe againft them, and determined their downfal, have been overturned and extinguiflied, and that they are ftill preferved, and become a great and confi- derable People, among the middle Sort of thy numerous Inhabitants. And not^ithftanding the many Difficulties without and within, which they have laboured under, fmce the Lord God Eter- nal firft gathered them,' they are. an encreafmg People ; the Lord ftill adding unto them^ in di- vers Parts, fuch as fhall be faved, if t-hey perfe- vere to the End. And to thee, O Eiigland I were they, and are they lifted up as a Standard, and as a City fet upon an Hill, and to the Nations round about thee, that in their Light thou may [I come to jee Lighty even in Chrift Jefus, the Light oj the World, and therefore thy Lights and Life too^ if thou would'ft but turn from thy many evil Ways, and receive and obey it. For in the Light of the Lamb mull the Nations of them that ere faved walk^ as. the Scripture teftifies.
Remfenber,
Of the People called Quakers. 37
Remember, O Nation of great ProfefTion ! how the Lord has waited upon thee fince the Dawning Reformation, and the many Mercies and Judg- ments by which He has pleaded with thee j and a- wakc and arife out of thy deep Sleep, and yet hear his Word in thy Hearty that thou may'ft hve. Let not this thy Day of Vifitation pafs over thy Head, nor negle6l thou fo great Salvation as is this which is come to thy Houle, O England! for why fhould'ft thou die ? O Land that God defires to blefs ! Be affured it is He that has been in the Midft of this People] in the Midft of thee, and not a Delufion, as thy miftaken Teachers have made thee believe. . And this thou fhalt find by their Marks and Fruits, if thou wilt cOnfider them in the Spirit of Moderation.
f CHAP. IIL
Of the Qualifications of their Miniftry.
Eleven Marks that it is Chriftian.
L ' I /^HEY were changed Men thernfelves before j[ they went about to change others. Their Hearts were r^;^/ as well as their Garments ; and they knew the Pov/er and Work of God upon them. And this was feen by the great Alteration it made, and their ftri6ler Courfe of Life, and more Godly Converfation that immediately fol- lowed upon it,
IL They went not forth, or preached in their own Time or Will, but^in \ht Will of God -, and
fpoke
38 T'he Rife and Progrefs
Ipoke not their own ftudied Matters, but as they were opened and moved of His Spirit, with which they were well acquainted in their own Conver- fion : Which cannot be expreffed to carnal Men* fo as to give them any intelligible Account ; for to fuch it is, as Chrift laid, like the blowing of the Wind, which no Man knows, whence it cometh, or whither it goeth : Yet this Proof and Seal went along with their Miniftry, that many were turned from their Lifelefs Profeffions, and the Evil of their Ways, to an inward and experimental Know- ledge of God, and an holy Life, as Thoufands can witnefs. And as they freeh received what they had to fay from the Lord, fo they freely admini^ ftred it to others. ^
IIL The Bent and Strefs of their Miniftry was Converjion to God ; Regeneration and Holiiiefs. Not Schemes of Doctrines and verbal Creeds, or new Forms of Worfliip , but a leaving off in Religion the fuperfluous, and reducing the ceremonious and formal Part, and preffing earneftly t\it fzM an- tiaU the neceffafj and profitable Part to the Soul % as all, upon a ferious Refleftion, muft and do ac- knowledge.
IV. They direfted People to a Principle in them- felves, though not of themfelves, by which all^ that they aflerted, preached and exhorted others to, _. might be wrought in them, and known to them, through Experience, to be true : Which is an high and diftinguifhing Mark of the Truth of their Miniftry, both that they knew what they^ I faid, and were not afraid of coming to tlie Teft. For as they were bold from Certainty, fo they re- quired Conformity upon no human Authority,
but
Of the People called Quakers. 39
but upon CowviBiony and the Conviftion of this Principle^ which they aflerted was in them that they preached unto ; and unto that they direfted them, that they might examine and prove the Re- ality of thofe Things which they had affirmed of it, as to its Manifeftation and Work in Man. And this is more than the many Minifters in the World pretended to. They declare of Religion, fay many Things true, in Words, of God, Chrift, and the Spirit \ of Holinefs and Heaven 3 that all Men fliould repent and amend their Lives, or they will go to Hell, &c. But which of them all pretend to ipeak of their own Knowledge and Experience ? Or ever direfled to a divine Principle, or Agent, placed of God in Man, to help him j and how to knovv it, and wait to feel its Power to work that good and acceptable Will of God in them.
Some of them indeed have fpoke of the Spirit, and the Operations of it to Sanclification, and Performance of Worfhip to God ; but where and how to find it, and wait in it, to perform our Duty to God, was yet as a Myftery to be declared by this farther Degree of Refo7ynation. So that this People did not only in Words, more than e- qually prefs Repefit-ance, Converfion, and Holinefs, but did it knowingly and experimentally \ and dire6led thofe, to whom they preached, to a fuf- ficient Principle ; and told them where it was, and by what Tokens they might knov/ it, arid which Way they might experience the Power and Efficacy of it to their Souls Happinefs. Which is more than theory and Speculation, upon which mofl other Miniflers depend: For here is Certainty \
a Bottom
40 The Rife a?2d Frogrefs
a Bottom upon which Man may boldly appear be- fore God in the great Day of Account.
V. They reached to the inward. State and Con- dition of People, which is an Evidence of the Virtue of their Principle, and of their Miniuring from it, and not from their own Imaginations, Gloffes, or Comments upon Scripture. For no- thing reaches the Heart, but what \sjTG?n the Hearty or pierces the Confcience^ but what comes from a living Confcience : Infomuch as it hath often hap- pened, where People have under Secrecy revealed their State or Condition to fome choice Friends, for Advice or Eafe, they have been fo particularly directed in the Miniftry of this People, that they have challen2:ed their Friends with dilcoverino; their Secrets, and telling their preachers their Ca- fes, to whom a Word had not been fpoken. Yea, the very Thoughts and Purpoies, of the Hearts of many have been fo plainly detected, that they have, hkc Nathaniely cried out, of this inward Appearance of Chrift, Thou art. the Son of Godj Thou art the King of Ifrael. And thofe that have embraced this divine Principle have found ^'this Mark of its Truth and Divinity (that the Woman oi Samaria did of Chrift v/hen in theFlefh, to be the Meffiah) viz. It had told them all that ever^hey had done \ fhown them their Infides, the moft in- ward Secrets of their Hearts, and laid Judgment to .the Line, and Righteoufnefs to the Plummet.; of 'which Thoulands, can. at this .Day, give in their Witnefs. So that nothing has been affirmed by this People, of the Power and Virtue of this Heavenly Principle, that fuch as have turned to it have not found true, and more \ and that one
half
Of the People called Qu A K e r s . 41^
lialf had not been told them ot what they have feen of the Poiver^ Purity^ Wifdom and Goodnefs of God therein.
VI. The Accomplipmefjfs with which this Princi- ple fitted, even fome of the Meaneft of this Peo- ple, for their Work and Service : Furnifliing fome of them with an extraordinary Underftanding in divine Things, and an admirable Fluency and Taking Way of Ex'preffion, which gave Occafion to fome to wonder, faying of them, as of their Mafter, Is not thisfuch a Mechainclis Son^ how came he iy this Learning? As from thence others took Occafion to fufpeft and infinuate they were Jefiiits in Difguife, (who had the Reputation of learned Men for an Age pail:,) tho' therc was not the leaft Ground of Truth for any fuch Reflection. In that their Minifters are known, the Places ot their Abode, their Kindred and Education.
VII. That they came forth low, and defpifcd and hated, as the primitive ChriPiians did, and not by the Help oi Worldly Wifdom or Power, as for- mer Reformations in Part, have done : But in all Things it may be faid, this People were brought forth in the Cj^ofs ; in a ConfradiBion to the Ways^ Worjhips, FaJljio7is arid CiiHoms of this World-, yea, againft IVinddnid Tide, thatfo no Fleih might glo- ry before God.
VIII. They could have 770 Defign to ihenifelves in this Work, thus to expofe themfelves to Scorn and Aimfe ; to fpcnd and be fpent : Leaving Wife and CJjildren, Houfe and Land, and all that can be -ac- counted dear to Men, v/ith their Lives in their Hands, being daily in Jeopardy, to declare this
D primitive
4^ ^he Rife and Progrefs
primitive Mefage, revived in their Spirits, by the
good Spirit and Power of God, viz.
That God is Light and in Him is no Darknefs at all', and that He has fe?it His Son a Light into the Worldy to Enlighten all Men in order to Salvation ; and that they that fay they have Fellowfloip with God, and are his Children and People ^ and yet walk in Darknefsy viz. in Difobedience to the Light in their Co?ifciences, and after the Vanity of this World, they Lie, and do not the Truth. But that all fuch as love the Light, and bring their Deeds to it, and walk in the Light, as God is Light, the Blood of Jefus Chrift His Son^ Jhould cleanfe them from all Sin, Thus John i. 4, 19. Chap iii. 20, 21. i Johnu S> 6, 7.
IX. Their known great Conftancy and Patience in fuftering for their Teftimony, in all the Branches of it -, and that fometimes unto Death, by Beatings, Briiifings, long and crowded Jmpri [on- ments, and noifome Dimgeons : Four of them in New^ Engla7id dying by the Hands of the Executioner, purely for Preaching amongft that People : Befides Banilhmmts^ and excejjive Plunders and Sequefira- tion.'oi their Goods and Eftates^ almoft in all Parts, not eafily to be exprefled, and lefs to have been endured, but by thofe that have the Support of a good and glorious Caufe ; refufing Deliverance by any indireft Ways or Means, as often as it was offered unto them.
X. That they did> not only, not fhow any Dif- pofition to Revenge, when it was at any Time in their Powxr, but forgave their cruel Enemies , iheiung Mercy to thofe that had none for the?n,
XL
bf the People called Qitakers. 43
XI. Their Plahinefs with thofe in Authority, like the Ancient Prophets, not fearing to tell them to their Faces, of their private and public Sins ; and their Prophecies to them of their Af- fliftions and Downfal, when in the Top of their Glory. Alfo of fome National Judgments, as of the Plague^ and Fire of London^ in exprefs Terms ; and likewife particular ones to divers Perfecutors, which accordingly overtook thern 3 and were very remarkable in the Places where they dwelt, which in Time may be made publick for the Glory of God;
Thus, Reader^ thou feeft this People in their Pijey Prificiples^ Mi?2iflry and Progrefs, both their general and particular i'e/limony ; by which thou may 'ft be informed how, and upon what Foot they /prang, and beca7ne fo cbnfiderable a People, It remains next, that I fhew alfo their Care^ CondiiSl and Difcipline, as a Chriflian and reformed Societyy that they might be found living up to their owii Principles and Profeffion. And this, the rather, be- caufe they have hardly fuffered more in their Cha-- raBer from the unjuft Charge of Error, than by the falfe Imputation of piforder ; Which Caiumnj indeed has not failed to follow all the tnce Steps that were ever made to Reformation, and under which Reproach none fuffered more than the pri?ni- five Chri/iia?2s themfelves, that were the Honour of ChriHia?iityy and the great Lights and Examples of their own and fucceeding Ages.
D 2 CHAPc
A^ ^he Rife and Progrefs
CHAP. IV.
Of the Dilclpline and Praftice of this PEOPLE, as a Religwus Society, The Church Power they own and exercife, and that which they rejeB and condemn : IVith the Metliod of their Procee<!i?igs againii erring and diforderly Ferfons.
■^ H I S People Increafing daily both in Town and Country, an holy Care fell upon fome of "the Elders among them, tor the Benefit and Ser- vice of the Church. And the firft Bufmefs in their View, after the Example of the primitive Saints, was the Exercife of Charity -, to fupply the Necef- fities of the Poor, and aniwer the like Occafions. Wherefore CoUediions were early and liberally made for that and divers other Services in the Church, and intruded with faithful IVIen, fearing God, and ' of good Report, who were not weary in Well- \ -doing; adding often of their own^ in large Pro* portions, vvhich they never brought to Account*, 1 or deiired Ihould be known, much lefs reftored to them, that none might want, or any Service be retarded or difappointcd.
They were alfo very careful that every one that belonged to them anfwercd their Profeffioa in their Behaviour among Men, upon all Occafi- ons y that they lived peaceably ^ and were in all j mKmgs good Examples. They found themfelves en- j gaged to record their Sufferings and Services : And : ViX the Cafe of Marriage, which they could not
- - -• perform
Of the People called Qu a k e r s . 45
perform in the ufual Methods of the Nation, but among themfelves,; they took Care that all Things were clear between the Parties and all others: And it was then rare, that any one entertain 'd an In- clination to a Perfon on that Account, till he or flie had communicated it fecretly to fome very weighty and eminent Fi;iends among them,, that they might have a Senfe of the Matter j looking to the Council and Unity of their Brethren as of great Moment to them. But becaufe the Charge of the Poor, the Number of Orphans, Marriages^ Sufferings, and other Matters, multiplied -^ and that it was good that the Churches were in fome Way and Method of proceeding in fuch Affairs a^. mong them, to the End they might the better cor- refpond upon Occafion, where ^ Mem.ber of one Meeting might have to do with one of another ;^ it pleafed the Lord in his Wifdom and Goodnefs, to open the Underftanding of thtjirfl hiflrument- of this Difpenfation of Lfe^ about a good and. orderly Way of proceeding 5 who felt an holy Concern to vifit the Churches in Perion through- out this Nation, to begin and eflablifh it among them : And by his Epillks, the like was done iit other Nations and Provinces abroad ; which bie alfo afterwards vifited, and helped in that Service,, which fliall be obferved when 1 come to fpeak of him.
' Now the Care, Conduci and Difcipli72e, I have been fpeaking of, andvvhich are now praftifed^- mong this People^ is as followeth.
This Godly Elder, in every County where he travelled, exhorted them, th^it Jime out; pf every Meeting of Worfllipj fliouid meet: together once
4^ 7he Rife ajid Progrels
in the Month, to confer about the Wants and Occafions of the Church. And as the Cafe re- quired, fo thofe Monthly Meetings were fewer or more in Number in every refpective County : Four or Six Meetings of Worflriip, ufually making one Monthly Meeting of Bufinefi, And according- ly the Brethren met him from Place to Place, and began the faid Meetings, viz. For the Poor, Or- phans^ orderly Walking, Integrity to their Profef^ Jion, Births, Marriages, Burials, Sufferings, &c. And that thefe Monthly Meetings (hould, in each County, make up one ^larterly Meeting, where the moft zealous and eminent Friends of the Coun- ty fhould Affemble to commuriicate, advife and help one another, efpecially when any Bufinefs feemed difficult, or a Monthly Meeting was tender of de- termining a Matter.
Alfo that thefe feveral ^larterly Meetings fhould digeft the Reports of their Mo?ithly Meetings, and prepare Qne for each refpeftive County, againft the Tearly Meeting, in which all ^larterly Meetings re- folve ; which is held \x\London .-Where the Church- es in this Nation, and other Nations, and Provin- ces, meet by chofen Members of their refpective Counties, both mutually to communicate their Church' Affairs, and to advife, and be advifed, in any depending Cafe to Edification. Alfo to pro- vide a requi/ite Stock for the Difcharge of general Expences for general Services in the Church, not needful to be here particularized.
At thefe Meetings any of the Members of the Churches may come, if they pleafe, and fpeak their Minds freely, in the Fear of God, to any Matter ^ but the Mind of each ^larterly MeeU?ig,
therein
Of the People called Qu^akers. 47
therein reprefented, is chiefly underftood, as to particular Cafes, in the Senle delivered by the Per- fons deputed, or chofen for that Service by the faid Meeting.
During their Yearly Meeting, to which their o- ther Meetings refer in their Order, and naturally refolve theni-felves, Care is taken by 2ifeleB Number for that Service, chofen by the general Affembly, to draw up the Miimtes of the faid Meeting, up- on the feveral Matters that have been under Con- fideration therein, to the End that the lelpeftive ^larterly and Monthly Meetings may be informed of all Proceedings; together with a general Ex- hortation to Holinefs, Unity and Charity. Of all which Proceedings in the Yearly , Monthly and^^r- terly Meetings, due Record is kgpt by fome One ap- pointed for that Service, or that hath voluntarily undertaken it. Thefe Meetings are opened, and ufually concluded in their folemn Waiting upon God, who is fometimes gracioufly pleafed to an- iwer them with as fignal Evidences of His Love and Prefence^ as in any of their Meetings of Wor-. fhip.
It is further to be notedv, that in thefe folemrt AJjemblies, for the Churches Service, there is no One prefides among them after the Manner of the Aflemblies of other People ; Chrift only being -their Pre/ident, as He is pleafed to appear in Life and Wifdom in any One or more of them, to whom, whatever be their Capacity or Degree, the reft adhere with a firm Unity, not of Autho- rity but ConviBion, which is the divine Authority and Way of Chrift's Power and Spirit in His Peo- ple : Making good his blefled Promife, That He
D 4 "would
48 ^'/&^ Riie and Progref^ '
^widd be in the Midd of llisy where and whenev.en they were met together in His Name^ even to the End; of the World. So be it.
Now it may be expefted, I fhouM here fet down what Sort of Authority is exerciled by this People, upon fuch Members of their Society as correfpond not in their Lives with their Profejfion, and that are Rejra&ory to this good and wholelome Order fettled among them ; and the rather, becaufe they have not wanted their Reproach and Sufferings from fome Tongues and Pens^ upon this Occafion, in a plentiful Manner.
The Power they exercile, is fach as Chrift haa given to His own People, to the End of the World, in the Perfons of His Difciples, viz» To, ever fee ^ exhort^ reprove^ and after hng fir^ering and waiting upon the Difobedient and RefraBory^ to dif- <^wn theniy as any niore of their Communion^ or that they will any longer ftand charged in the Sight and Judgment of God or Men, with their Convert Jation or Behaviour as any oj thetn^ until they re-^. pent. The fubject Matter about which this Au- thority, in any of the foregoing Branches of it,, is exercifed, is Jir/i, in Relation to r^;*;?;;?'^;^ and^^- neralPraBice, And, fecondly, about thofe Things^ that more ftriftly refer to their own Charafter and^ Trojejjion^ and which diflinguifh, them from all o- ther ProfefTors of Chridianity ^ avoiding two Ex- treams upon which many fplit, viz. Perfecutiomnd:^ Libertinifm^ that is, a Coercive Power, to whip. People into the Temple -, that fuch as vyill not conform, though againfl Faith and Confcience, fhall bepu- nifh'd in their Perfons or Efiates : Or leaving all loofe md at large, as to PraBice -, and fo unac- countable
Of the People called Quakers.' 49
eollntable to all but God and the Magiftrate. To which hurtful Extream, nothing has more con- tributed than the Abufe of Cknrch Fewer, by fuch as fuffer their Paffions and private Interefts to pre- vail with them to carry it to outward Force and Corporal Punifhment. A Practice they have been taught to diflike, by their extream Sufferings, as well as their known Principle for an unherfal Li^ berty of Ccyjfcience,
On the other Hand, they equally diflike an hide-- tendency in Society ; an Vnac count ablenefi in Vrac^ Uce and Counter latimi to the Rules and Therms of their own Communion, and tothofe that are the Mem- bers of it. They diftinguifh between impofing any Praftice that immediately regards Faith or Worft:ip, (which is never to be done or fuffered, or lubmitted unto) and requiring Chrillian Com- pliance with thofe Methods that only relpeft Church-Bufinefs in its more Civil Part and Con- cern ; and that regard the difcreet and orderly MaiJi^. tenance oi the Clitaracler of the Society as ^ fiber and religious Community, In fhort, v/hat is for the Promotion of Holinejs and Charity, that Men may pra6tife what they profefs, live up to their own FrincipleSy and not be at Liberty to give the Lye to their own ProfeiTion without Rebuke, is their Vfe and Limit of Church Power. They compel none to join them, but oblige thofe that are of them to ^^\yfuitable, or they are denied by them : That is all the Mark they fet upon them, and the Fower- they exercife, or judge a Chrillian Society can ex-, ercife, upon thofe that are Members of it.
The Way of their Proceeding againft fuch as Iiave lapfed or tranfgreifed, is this* He^ is vidted
by.
50 The Rife and Progrefs
by fome of them, and the Matter of Faft is laid home to him, be it any evil Practice againft known and general Virtue, or any Branch of their parti- cular Teftimony, which he, in common, profef- feth with them. They labour with him in much Love and Zeal, for the Good of his Soul, the Ho- nour ot God, and Reputation of their Profefiion, to own his Fault and condemn it, in as ample a Manner as the Evil or Scandal was given by him -, which for the moft Part is performed by fome written Teftimony under the Party's Hand : And if it fo happen, that the Party prove RefraBoryy and is not willing to clear the Truth, theyprofefs, from the Reproach of his or her evil Doing or Unfaithf ulnefs, they, after repeated Entreaties and due waiting for a Token of Repentance, give forth a Paper to difawn fuch a Fa6t, aftd the Party of- fending : Recording the fame as a Teftimony of their Care for the Honour of the Truth they pro- fefs.
And if he or flie fliall clear their Rrofejjion and themfelv^, by fmcere Acknowledgment of their Fault, and Godly Sorrow for fo doing, they are received and looked upon again as Members of their Communion. For as God, fo his true People, up- braid no Man after Repentance.
This is the Account 1 had to give of the Peo- ple of God called ^lakers^ as to their Rife^ Ap- pearance^ Principles and PraSices in this Age of \ the World, both with Refpecl ta their Faith and ' WoK-fhip, Difcipline and Converfafion, And 1 judge . it very proper in this Place, becaufe it is to pre-* \ face the Journal of the Jirfi bleffed and glorious. \ Inftrument of this Work, and for a Teftimony
to
Of the "People called Quakers. 51
to him in his fingular ^lalijications and Services^ in v^\{\c\\hQ abundantly excelled m this Day, and are worthy to be fet forth as an Example to ^Wfiic- ceedhig Times, to the Glory of the Mo/i High God, and for 2iju/i Memorial to that worthy and excellent Many \\\s faithful Servajit and Apoltleio this Gene- ration of the World.
CHAP. V.
Of the firfl Inftrument or Perfon by whom God was plea fed to gather this People into the V/ay they pro^ fefs. His Name George Fox : His many excel- lent Salifications -, fljewing a divine, and not an human Power to have been their Original in him. His Troubles and Sufferings both jrom without and within. His End and Triumph.
I Am now come to the third Head or Branch of my Preface y VIZ, ThQ in/irumefit a I Author. For it is natural for fome to fay. Well, here is the People and Work, but where and who was the Man, the JnJ{mme?2t? Pie that in this Age was fent to begin this Work and People ? 1 (hall, as God fliall enable me, declare who and what he was ; not only by Report of others, but from my own lone; and moft inward Converfe, and intimate Knowledge of him ; for which my Soul blefjeth God, as it hath often done : And I doubt not, but by that Time I have difcharged myfelf of this Part of my Preface, my ferious Readers will believe I had good Caufe fo to do.
The bleffed Inftrument of, and in this Day of God, and of whom I am now about to write, was
George
52 T'he Rife ^WProgrefs
George Fox, diftinguiflied from another of that Name, by that other's Addition of younger to his Name, in all his Writings ; not that he was fo in Years, but that he was fo in the Truth : But he w^as alfo a worthy Man, Witnefs and Servant of God in his Time.
But this George Fox was born in LeicelierJIjirCy about the Year 1624. He defcended of honeft and fufficient Parents, v/ho endeavoured to bring him up, as they did the Reft of their Children, in the Way and Worfhip of the Nation :■ Efpecially his Mother, who was a Woman accomplifhed above i moft of her Degree in the Place where fhe lived. But from a Child he appeared of another Frame^ of Mind than the Reft of his Brethren ; being more religions^ inward^ (iill^ folid,^ and obfervijtg be- \:077dhis TearSy as the Anfwers he would give, and. theQueftions he would put, upon Occafion, mani- fefted, to the Aftoniftiment of thole that heard him, efpecially in divine Things »
His Mother taking Notice of his ftngular Tem^ per^ and the Gravity, Wifdom and Fiety, that very early fliined thro' him, refuling Childtjh and vain Sports and Company, when very youiig : She was tender and indulgent over him, fo that from her he met with little Difficulty. As to his Employ?ne?it, he was brought up in Country Bufmefs, and as he took moft Delight in Sheep^ fo he was very fkiliul in them y an Employment that very well fuited his Mind in feveral Refpecls, both for its Innocency and Solitude', and wasay'^//i Emblem of his- after Mini-^ jhy and Service. . - .
I ftiall not break in upon his (J)wn Account, which is by much the beft that can be given, and
therefore
Of the People called Quakers* 53
therefore defire, what I can to avoid foying any Thing of what is fald already, as to the par- ticuiar Paflages ot his coming forth : But, in general, when he was fomewhat above Twenty, he left his Friends, and vifited the moll retired and religious People in thofe Parts : And fome there were, in this Nation, who waited for the Confolation of Ifrael, Night and Day, as ZachariaSy Anna., and good old Simeon did of old Time. To thefe he w^.s fent, and thefe he fought out in the neighbouring Counties, and among them he fojourned, till his more ample Miniftry came upon ,him. At this Time he taught, and was an Example of Silence, endeavouring to bring them from Self-performances : Teftifying of, and turning them to the Light of Chxi^ within them ^ and encouraging them to wait in Patience^ and to feel the Power of it to flir in their Hearts, that their Knowledge and Worfhip of God might ftand in the Power of an endlefs Life, which was to be found in the Light as it was obeyed in the Manifeflation of it in Man. For inthe Word was Life, and that Life is the Light of Men, Life in the Word, Light in Men, and Life in Men too, as the Light is obey'd : The Children of the Light living by the Life of the Word, by which the Word begets them again to God, which is the ' 'Regeneration and New Birth, without which there is no comine: into the Kins'dom of God : And to which whoever comes, is greater than fohn \ that is, than fohii^ Difpenfation, which was not that of the Kingdom, but the Confumraation of the Legal, and Fore-running of the Gofpel-HUmes, the Time of the Kingdom, Accordingly feveral
Meetings
^4 ^'^^^ Rifs '^^^ Progrefs
Meetings were gathered in thofe Parts -, and thus
his Time was employ 'd for fome Years.
In 1652, he being in his nfual Pvetir^ment, his Mind exercifed towards the Lord, upon a very high Mountain, in lome of the hither Parts of TorkJJjire, as I take it, he had a Vijio?? of the great IVork of God in the Earth, and of the Way that he was to go forth in a publick Minijlry, to begin it. He faw People as thick as Motes in the Sun^ that fhould in Time be brought home to the Lord, that there might be but one Shepherd and one Sheepfold in all the Earth. There his Eye was directed Nortkwa?'dy beholding a great People that fliould receive hiiaa and his Meflage in thofe Parts. Upon this Mountain he was mov'd of the Lord to found out His great and notable Day\ as if he had been in a great Auditory ; and from thence went North, as the Lord had fliewn him* And in every rtace where he came, if not before he came to it, he had his particular Exereife and Service /7j^i£;4^tq him, fo that the Lord was his Leader indeed. For it was not in vain that he •travelled -, God in moft Fl^ces fea/hig his Commif- fion with the Convhicement of fome of all Sorts, as well Publicans as fober Profeffors of Religion. Some of the firft and moft eminent of thofe that came forth in a publick Minifiry, and which are now at Reft, were Rickard Farrip- worth, James Naylor, William DewJ^erry^- T^hotnas Aldam, Francis Howgil, Edward burroughs, John Camm, yohn Aiidland, Ki chard Huh ber thorn, Tl Tay^ lor, T, Holmes, Alexa?ider Parker, William Simfon, William Caton, 'John Stu-bbs, Robert Withers, Thomas Loe^ Jofiah Coale, John Biirnyeat^ Robert Lodge ^
„ 'L'homas
Of the People called Quakers. 55
Thomas SalthGufe, and many more Worthies, that cannot be well here nam'd ; together with divers yet living of the firft and great Convincement, who, after the 'Knowledge of God's purging Judg- ment in themfelves, and fometime of waiting in Sile?2ce upon Him, to feel and receive Power from on high, to fpeak in His Name, (which none elfe rightly can, though they may ufe the fame Words) They felt its divine Motions, and were frequently drawn forth, efpecially to vifit \htpublick Affemblies, to reprove, inform, and exhort them : Sometimes in Markets^ Fairs, Streets, and by the Highway- fide, calling People to Repentance, and to turn ta the Lord with their Hearts as v/ell as their Mouths ; direfting them to the Light of Chrift within them, to lee, examine, and confider their Ways by, and to efchew Evil, and do the good and acceptable Will of God. And they fuiFered great jHardfhips for this their Love and Good-will ; be- ing often liockt, [toned, beaten, whipt and imprifo7ted ; though honeft Men, and of good Report where they liv'd; that had left Wives, Children, and Houfes, and Lands, to vifit them with a living pall to Repentance. And though the Prie/ls generally fet themfelves to oppofe them, and writ againft them, and infinuated mod falfe and fcan- dalous Stories to defame them ; ftirring up the Magiftrates to fupprefs them, efpecially in thofe NortherenP^rts y yet God was pleafed fo to fill them with His living Power, and give them fuch an o- pen Door of Utterance in His Service, that there ivas a mighty Convincement over thofe Parts.
And through the tender and fingular Indul- gence of Judge Brad/haw and Judge Fell, and Co- I loncl
56 The Rife a?id Progrefs
lonel Weft, in the Infancy of Things, the Trieh were never able to gain the Point they laboured for, which was to have proceeded, i'^ 5/W; and, if poffible, Herod hke, by a cruel Exercife of the Civil Power, to have cut them off, and rooted them out of the Country. But efpecially Judge Fell, who was not only a Check to their Rage in the Courfe of legal Proceedings, but otherwife, upon Occafion y and finally countenanced this People. For his Wife receiving the Truth with . the firfl, it had that Influence upon his Spirit, be- itTg a jujl and njDtje Man, and leeing" in his own Wife and Family a full Confutation of all the po- pular Clamours againfl the Way of Truth, that he covered them what he could, and freely open- ed his Doors, and gave up his Houfc to his Wife and her Friends : not valuing the Reproach of ig-^ norant or Evil-minded People 5 which I here men- tion to his and her Honour, and which will be^. I believe an Honour and a Blejjing to fuch of their Name and Family, as fhall be found in that Ten-^ dernejs^ Humility^ Love and Zeal for the Truth and People of the Lord.
That Houfe was for fome Years, at firft efpeci- ally, 'till the Truth had opened its Way into the; Southern Parts of this Ifland, an eminent Recep-' tacle of this People. Others, of good Note and Subftance in thofe Northern Countries, had alfo opened their Houfes, together with their Hearts, to the many Puhlijhers, that, in a fhort Time, the Lord had raifed to declare his Salvation to the People J and where Meetings of the Lord's Mef^, fengers were frequently held, to communicate their
Services],
Of the People called Quakers. kJ
Services and Exercifes, and comfort and edify one another in their blefjed Miniflry,
But left this may be thought a DigreJJion, ha- ving touched upon this before, I return to this ex- 'cellent Mzn : And for his Perfonal QiiaHties, both "natural^ moral and divine^ as they appeared in his Converfe with the Brethren 3 and in the Church of God, take as follows :
I. He was a Man that God endued with a clear and wonderfid Depth : A Difcerncr of other's Spi- rits, and very much a Mailer of his own. And tho* that Side of his Underflanding which lay next to the World, and eipecially the Expreflioii of it, might found uncouth and unfajhionable to nice Ears, his Matter was neverthelcfs very profound ; and Would liot only bear to be often confider'd, but the more it was fo, the more weighty and inftruc- ting it appear'd. And as abruptly and brokenly as fometimes his Sentences would feem to fall frorri him, about divine Things^ it is well known they were often as "Texts to many fairer Declarations. And indeed, it fliev/ed, beyond all Contradifti- d:i, that God fent him 5 in that no Art ox Tarts had any Share in the Matter or Manner of his Minillry ^ and that fo many greats excellent^ ^LViAnecejrary Truths as he came forth to preach to Mankind, had there- Fore nothing of Man's Wit or Wifdom to recom- rnend them. So that as to Man he was an Original^ being no Man^ Copy. And his Miniftry and Wri- tings fliew they are from one that was not taught of Man, nor had learned v/hat he faid by Study. Nor were they notional or fpeculative, hwt fenjible ^ndpra^ical Truths^ tending to Converjion and i?d'- gencraiiouj and the letting up of the Kingdom of
E God
58 T^he Rife and Progrefs
, God in the Hearts of Men : Kr\A the Way of It was his Work. So that I have many Times been overcome in myfelf, and been made to fay, with my Lord and Mafter, upon the Uke Occafion, I thank thee^ O Father^ Lord of Heaven and Earthy that Thou hall hid theje Things from the Wije and Frudent of this Worlds and revealed them to Babes : For many Times hath my Soul bo^ivedin an humble Thankfiilnefs to the Lord, that He did not choofe any of the Wile and Learned of this World to be the jirll Meffenger in our Age, of His blefjed Truth to Men ; but tiiat He took one that was not of high Degree^ or elegant Speech^ or learned after the Way of this World, thaft, His Meflage and Work, He fent him to do, might come with lefs Sufpicion^ or Jealoufy of human Wifdom and In- tereft, and with more Force and Clearnefs upon the Confciences of thofe that fmcerely fought the Way of Truth in the Love of it, .'J fay, beholding with the Eye of my Mind, which the God of Heaven had opened in me, the Marks of God's Finger and Hand vijibly in this Teftimony, from the Clearnefs of the Principle, the Power and Efficacy of it, in the exemplary Sobriety, Plainnefs, Zeal, Steadinefs, Hu- mility, Gravity, Punctuality, Charity, and circum- fpeB Care in the Government of Church-i^fFairs, w^hich fliined in his and their Life and Teflimony ! that God employed in this Work, it greatly con- firmed me that it was of God, and engaged my . Soul in a deep Love^ Fear^ Reverence and ThaJikfuU nefs for His Love and Mercy therein to Mankind : In which Mind I remain, and fhall, I hope, through the Lord's Strength, to the End of my Days. 11. In his Teliimpny or Mini/iry^ he much labour- ed
t
Of the People called Quakers. 59
ed to open Truth to the People's Underftandings, and to bottom them upon the Principh and Pri?2- cipal, Chrift Jefus the Light of the World; that by- bringing them to fomething that was from God in themfelves, they might the better know and judge of Him and themfeh^es.
III. He had an extraordinary Gift in Openhg the Scriptures. He would go to the Marrow of Things, and fhew the Mind, Harmony and fulfil- ing of them with much Plainnefs, and to great Comfort and Edification.
IV. The Myftcry of the firll and fecond Adam^ of the Fall and Relioration, of the Law and Gof pely of Shadows and Sub fiance^ of the Servant' t and Sons State^ and the fulfilling of the Scriptures in Chrift and by Chrift the true Light, in all that are His, through the Obedience of Faith, were much of the SubHance and D^ift of his Teftimo- nies. In all which he was witneffed to be of God > being fenfibly felt to fpeak that which he had re- ceived of Chrift, and was his own Experience, in that which never errs nor fails*
V. But above all, he excelled in Prayer, The Inivardnefi and Weight of his Spirit, the Reverence and Solemnity of his Addrefs and Behaviour, and the Fewnefs and Fulncjs of his Words, have often ftruck even Strangers with Admiration, as they ufed to reach others with Confolation, The moft awful, living, reverent Frame, I ever felt or beheld, 1 muft fay, was his in Prayer, And truly it was a Teftimony he knew and lived nearer to the Lord than other Men ; for they that know Him moft, will fee moft Reafon to approach Him with Re^
\./Uerence and Fear.
E 2 VL
6o "The Rife and Progrefs
VI. He was of an innocent Life^ no Biify-body^ nor Self-feeker -, neither touchy nor critical : What fell from him was very im^enfive^ if not very edi- fying. So meek^ contented^ modefl, eafy^ Heady ^ ten- der ', it was a Pleafure to be in his Company. He exercifed no Authority but over Evil, and that every where, and in all -, but with Love^ Compaf- fion^ and Long-fufering, A moft mercirul Man, as ready to forgive, as unapt to take or give an Of- fence. Thoufands can truly fay he was of an ex-- celknt Spirit and Savour among them, and becaufe thereof, the moft excellent Spirits loved him v/ith an unfeigned 2iViA unfading Love,
VII. He was an incejfant Labourer: For in his younger Time, before his many, great and deep Sufferings and Travels had enfeebled his Body for Itinerant Services, he laboured much in the Word and DoBrine^ and Difcipli?2e, in England, Scotland^ and Ireland', turni?jg many to God, and confirrning thofe that were convinced of the Truths and fet- tling good Order^ as to Church Affairs, among them. And towards the Conclufion of his tra- velling Service, between the. Years Seventy -one 2iX\A Seventy 'f even ^ he vifited the Churches of Chrift in the Plantations in y^/;2mr^, and in t\it united Pro^ vinces, and Germa^iy, as his Journal relates ; to the Convincement and Confolation of many. After that Time he chiefly redded in and about the City of London : And befides his Labour in the Miniftry, vi^hich was frequent and fervieable, he writ muchy both to them that are within, and thofe that are without the Communion. But the Care he took of the Affairs of the Church in general was very great.
VIII,
Of the People called Quakers. 6 r
VIII. He was often where the Records of the Bufinefs of the Church are kept, and where the Letters from the many Meetings of God's People over all the World ufe to come : Which Letters he had read to him, and communicated them to the Meeting, that is weekly held, for fuch Ser- vices ; and he would be fare to ftir them up to anfwer them, efpecially in fufiering Cafes : Show- ing great Sympathy, and Companion upon all fuch Occafions ; carefully looking into the refpcftive Cafes, and endeavouring fpeedy Relief, according to the Nature of them. So that the Churches, or any of the fufFering Members thereof, were fure not to be forgotten or delayed in their Defires, if he was there.
IX. As he was unwearied, io he was undaunted in his Services for God and his People ; he was no more to be moved to Fear than to Wrath, His Behaviour at Derby^ Litchfield, Appleh)\ before Oliver Cromwell^ Launceflony Scarborough, Worceller, and Weftmififter-Hall, with many other Places and Exercifes, did abundantly evidence it, to his Ene- mies as well as his Friends.
But as, in the primitive Times, fome rcfe up a- gainft the blejjed Apoflles of our Lord Jefus Chrift. even from among thofe that they had turned to the Hope of the Golj>el, and they became their greateft trouble ; fo this Man of God had his Share of Suffering from fome that were convinced by him, who, thro' Prejudice or Miftake, ran a- gainft him, as one that fought Dominion over Confcience, becaufe he'prefl, by his Preience or Epiftles, . a ready and zealous CompHance with fqch good aiid wholefonie Things as tended to an
E 3 orderly
62 ^he Rife and Progrefs
orderly Ccnverfation about the Affairs of the Church, and in their walking before Men. That which contributed much to this ill Work was, in fomc, a begrudging of this meek Man the Love and Efteem he had and deferved in the Hearts of the People, and Weaknefs in others, that were ta- ken with their groundlefs Suggeftions of Impoji^. it on and blind Obedience,
They would have had every Man independent^ that as he had the Principle in himfelf, he fhould only ftand and fall to that, and no Body elfe : Not confidering that the Principle is 072e in all ; and though the Meafure of Light or Grace might differ^ yet the Nature of it was the fan7e -, and be-r ing fo, they ftruck at the Spiritual tfnity^ which a People, guided by the fame Principle, are natu- rally led into : So that what is an Evjl to one, is fo to ^//, and what is virtuous, honeft, and of good Repute to ojie, is fo to ^//, from the Senfe and Savour of the one univerfalFi^inciple which is common to all, and which the DifaffedleddMio profefs to be the Root of all true Chriflian Fellowfhip, and that Spirit into which the People of God drink^ and come to be Spiritually-minded, and of one Heart and ofie Soul.
Some weakly miflook good Order in the Go-? vernraent of Church-Affairs, for Difcipline m Worjlnp^ and that it was fo prefl or recommended by him and other Brethren. And thereupon they were ready to reflect the fame Things that Dif- fef2ters had very reafonably objefted upon the Na- tional Churches^ that have coercively prefTed Con- formity to their refpeclive Creeds and Worpmps. Whereas thefe Things related wholly to Converfationy and the Outivard (and as 1 may fay) Cin^il Part of
the
^
Of the People called Quakers. 63
the Church ; that Men fliould walk up to the Prin- ciples of their Behef, and not be wanting in Care and Charity. But though fome have ftambled and fallen through Miftakes, and an unreafona- ble Obftinacy even to a Pre}udice ; yet blefled be God, the GeneraUty have returned to their firjl Love^ and k^n the Work of the Enemy, that lofes no Opportunity or Advantage by v/hich he may check or hinder the Work of God, and difquiet the Peace of his Church, and chill the Love of His People to the Truth, and one to another -, and there is Hope of divers of the few that yet are at a Diftance.
In all thefe Occafions, though there was na Perfon the Di [contented ftruck fo lliarply at, as this good Mail, he bore all their Weaknefs and Preju- dice, and returned not Refleftion for Refleftion ^ but forgave them their weak and bitter Speeches, praying for them, that they might have a Senfe of their Hurt, and fee the Subtilty of the Ene-- my to rend and divide, and return into, their firft Love that thought no 111.
And truly I muft lay, that though God had vl- fibly clothed him with a divine Preference 2^uA Au- thority^ and indeed his very Prefence expreft a re^ ligious Majefly -, yet he never abufed it ; but held his Place in the Church of God with great Meek- nefs, and a moft engaging Humility ^ aiid Moderation., For upon all Occafions, like his blefled Mafter, he was a Servant to all , holding and exercifmg his Elderfliipin the invifible Power that had gathered them, with Reverence to the Head and Care ovtv , the Body : And was received, only in that Spirit a^d Power of Chrift, as the firjl and chiej Elder ^
E 4 ia
64 5"/6(? Rife dnd Progrefs
in this Age: Who, as he was therefore worthy of double Honour, fo for the fame Reafon it was given by the Faithful of this Day ; becaufe his Authority was inward and not outward, and that he got it and kept it by the Love of God, and I Power ot an endlefs Life. I write my Know- \ ledge, and not Report, and my IVitnefs is true ; . having been with him for Weeks and Months to- gether on divers Occafions, and thofe of the near- eft and moftexercifing Nature; and that by Night and by Day, by Sea and by Land ; in this and in foreign Countries : And I can fay, I never faw \\\m out cf his Place, or not a Match for every Service or Occafion.
For in all Things he acquitted himfelf like a Man, yea, a ftrong Man, a new and Heavenly- minded Man, a Divine and a Natiiralifl, and all of ' God Almighty's making. I have been furprifed : at his Queftions and Aniwers in natural Things : I That whilft he was ignorant of ulelels and So- phiftical Science, he had in him the Grounds of ufeful and commendable Knowledge, and che- rifhed it every where Civil, beyond all Forms of' Breeding, \\\ his Behaviour : Very Temperate, Eating little, and Sleeping lefs, though a bulky Perfon.
Thus he lived and fojourned among us : xAnd as he lived io he died ; feeling the fame eternal Power, that had raifed and preferved him, in his laft Moments. So full oi Affurance was he, ' that he triumphed over Death -, and fo even in his Spirit to the laft, as if Death were hardly worth iNotice, or a Mention : Recommending to fome cf us with him, the Difpatqh and Difperfion of
an
Of the People called Qu a k e r s . 65
an Epmie juft before given forth by him to the Churches of Chrift throughout the World, and his own Books : But above all. Friends ; and of all Friendsy thofe in Ireland and America, twice over, faying, Mind Poor Friends in Ireland ii?id America. v
And to fome that came in and enquired how he found himfelf, he anfwered, Ne^ver heed, the Lord's Power is over all Weaknefs a?2d Death ; the Seed Yt\gx\s, blejjed be the hovdi \ Which was about four or five Hours before his Departure out of this World. He was at the great Meeting near Lombard-Ureet, on the Fifft Day of the Week, and it was the third following about Ten at Night when he left us ; being at the Houfe of Henry Goldney in the fame Court. In a good old Age he went, after, having lived to fee his Childrens Children in the 'Truth to many Generations. He had the Comfort of a fhort Illnefs, and the Bleffingof a clear Senfe to the laft : And we may truly fay, with a Man of God of old, That being dead, he yet (peaketh ; And though now abfent in Body, he is prefent in Spirit : Neither Time nor Place being able to interrupt the Communion of Saints, or diflblve the Fellowfhip of the Spirits of the Juft. His Works praife him, becaufe they are to the Praife of Him that v^rought by him ; for which his Memorial is and fhall be blefled. I have done, ' ^s to this Part of my Preface, when I have left this fhort Epitaph to his Name, Many Sons have done virtuoufly in this Day \ but dear George, thou excelled them alL
CHAP.
66 ^he Rife and Progrefs
CHAP. VI.
Containing Jive feveral Exhortations. Firjly gene-, ral, reminding this People of their primitive In- tegrity and Simplicity. Secondk^ in particular^ to the Miniftry. Thirdly^ to the Young Convinc- ed. Fourthly^ to the Children oj Friends. Fijth- lyy to fhofe that are yet Strangers to this People and Way, to whom, this Book, (a?id that it was Preface to in its forjner Edition) may come. All //'^y£"u<?r^/ Exhortations accommodated to their fe-. veral States and Conditions ; that all may anfwer the End of God'i Glory, and their own Salvation.
AN D now, Friends, you that profefs to walk in the Way that this blefled Man was. fent of God to turn us into, fuffer, I befeech you, the Word of Exhortation, as well Fathers as ChiU dren, and Elders 2iS young Men. The Glory of this Day, and Fowtdation of the Hope that has not made us afhamed fince we were a People, you know, is that blefled Principle of Light and Life of Chrift which we profefs, and diredl all People to, as the great and divine Infirument and Agent of Man's Converfion to God. It was by this that wc were firft touched, and effeftually enlightened, as to our inward State ; which put us upon the Con- fideration of our latter End, caufmg us to fet the Lord before our Eyes, and to number our Days, that we might apply our Hearts to Wifdom. In that Day we judged not after the Sight of the Eye,
or
Of the People called Quakers. 67
)r after the Hearing of the Ear^ but according to he Light and Setife this blejjed Principle gave us, fo ive Judged and a^ted in Reference to Things and Perfons, ourfelves and others -, yea, towards God Dur Maker. For being quick'ned by it in our /w- ward Man^ we could eafily difcern the Difference 3f Things, and feel what was right, and what was wrong, and what was fit, and what not, both in Reference to Religious and Civil Concerns, That being the Ground of the Fellowfliip of all Saints, it was in that our Fellowfliip flood. In this we defired to have a Senfe of one another, acted to- wards one another, and all Men ; in Love^ Faiths fiilnefs and Fear,
In feeling of the Stirrings and Motions of this Principle in our Hearts, we drew near to the Lord, and waited to be prepared by it, that we might feel Drawi72gs and Movi?2gs before we approached the Lord in Prayer, or open'd our Mouths in MiniHry, And in our Beginning and Ending with this flood our Comfort^ Service and Edijication. And as we ran fafler or fell fhort, in our Services, we made Burthens for ourfelves to bear ; finding in our- felves a Rebuke inflead of an Acceptance -, and in Lieu of w^ell-done, Who has required this at your Hands ? In that Day we were an exercifed People, our very Countenances and Deportment declared it.
Care for others was then much upon us, as well as for ourfelves^ t^-^zzYS^-^ Qi\\\zyou7igConvinced. Of- ' ten had we the Burthen of the Word of the Lord to our Neighbours, Relations and Acquai?itance ; and fometimes Strangers alfo. We were in Travail likewife tor one another's Prefervation \ not feek-
ing,
68 The Rife and Progrefs
ing, but fliuning Occafions of any Coldnefs or Mifunderftanding : Treating one another as thole that believed and felt God prefent : Which kept our Converfation innocent, ferioiis and weighty ; guarding ourfelves againft the Cares and Fricnd- fhips of the World.
We held the Truth in the Spirit of it, and not in. our own Spirits, or after our own Wills and Affec- tions : They were bowed and brought mloJubjeBiony, infomuch that it was vifible to them that knew us y we did not think ourfelves at our own Difpofal, to go where we lift, or lay or do v/hat we lift or when we lift. Our Liberty flood in the Liberty of the Spirit of Truth -, and no Pleafure, no Profit, no Fear, no Favour could draw us frorn this re- tired, ftricl and watchful Frame. We were fo far from feeking Occafions of Company, that we a- voided them what we could -, purfuing our own Bufinefs, with Moderation, inftead of meddling with other Peopled Unnecejfarily,
Our Words were few and Savoury, ourLook? compofed and weighty, and our whole Deport- ment very obfervable. True it is, that this re- tired and ftrift Sort of Life from the Liberty of the Converfation of the World, expofed us to the Cenfures of many as Humouri/is, conceited and Self- righteous Perfons, &c> But it was our Prefervati- on from many Snares, to which others were con- tinually expoled, by the Prevalency of the Luft of the Eye, the Luft of the Flefti, and the Pride of Life, that wanted no Occafions or Temptations to excite them abroad in the Converfe of the'* World.
I can-
Of the People called Quakers. 69
I cannot forget the Humility and chafle Zeal of that Day. O, how coiiHant at Meetings, how re^ tired in them, how firm to ^riitfos Life^ as well as Truth's Principles I And how entire and united in our Communion, as indeed became thole that profefs one Head even Chrift Jefus the Lord.
This being the Teftimony and Example the Man of God, before-mentioned, was fent to de- clare and leave amongft us, and we having embra- ced the fame, as the merciful VifJation of God to us, the Word of Exhortation at this Time isj That we continue to be found in the Way of this Telii" mony^ with all Zeal and Integrity^ and fo much the more^ by how much the Day draweth near.
And firjl^ as to you my beloved and much ho- nored Brethren in Chrift, that are in the Exercife of the Miniflry : O, feel Life in your Miniflry I Let Life be your Commiffion, your Well-fpring and Treafury on all fuch Occafions 3 elfe, you well know, there can h^x\o begetting to God, fince no- thing can quicken or make people alive to God, but the Life of God : And it muft be a Miniftry in and from Life, that enlivens any People to God. We have leen the Fruit of all other Miniftries, by the few that are turned from the Evil of their Ways. It is notour Paints, or Memory, or the Repeti- tion Q^ former Opejiings, in our own Will and Time, that will do God's Work. A dry Doftrinal Mi- niftry, however found in Words, can reach but the Ear, and is but a Dream at the beft : There is another Soundnefs, that is foundeft of all, vi'z. Chrift the Power of God. This is the Key of Z>^-» vid, that opens and none fhuts, afid (Imts, and none can open ; As the Oil to the Lamp, and the Soul, to
♦ the
■\
70 The Rife and Progrefs
the Body, fo is that to the heft of Words, Which' made Chrift to fay, My IVordsy they are Spirit, and] they are Life ; that is, they ai^e from Lite, and therefore they make you aUve, that receive them If the Difciples, that had lived with Jefus, were to flay at Jerufalem, till they received it ; much, more mufl we wait to receive before we minilier^ \ we will turn People from Darknefs to Light, an from Satan's Power to God.
I fervently bow my Knees to the God and Fea- ther of our Lord Jefus Chrifl:, that you may al- ways be like minded, that you may ever wait re-^ verently^ for the Coming and Opening of the Word of Life, and attend upon it in your Miniftry and! Service, that you may ferve God in His Spirit. And be it little or be it much, it is well ; for much is not too much, and the leaft is enough, it from the Motion of God's Spirit ; and with- out it, verily, never fo little is too much, becaufe to no Profit.
For it is the Spirit of the Lord immediately or through the MiiiiHry of His Servants, that teach ^ eth His People to profit ; and to be fure, fo far as we take Him along with us in our Services, foj far we are profitable and no farther. For if it be the Lord that muft work all Things in us for our Salvationy much more is it the Lord that mufl work in us for the Converfion of others. If there* fore it was once a Crofs to us to fpeak^ though the Lord required it at our Hands 5 let it never be fo to htjilent^ when he does not.
It is one of the mofl dreadful Sayings in the Book of God, "That he that adds, to the IVords of the Vrophecy oj this Book^ God will add to him the ,
plagues
Of the People called QuAK-EKs, 71
Tlagites written in this Bo&k, To keep back the Counfel of God, is as terrible ; for he that takes away from the Words of the Book of this Prophecy ^ God fJjall take away his Part out of the Book of Life. And truly, it has great Caution in it, to thofe that ufe the Name of the Lord, to be well afTiired the Lord [peaks, that they may not be found of the Number of thofe that add to the Words of the Teftimony of Prophecy, which the Lord giveth them to bear ; nor yet to mince or dipinifh the lame, both being fo very offenfive to God.
Wherefore, Brethren, let us be careful neither to out'go our Guide, nor yet loiter behind him \ (ince he that makes Hafte, may mifs his Way, and he that flays behind, lofe his Guide. For evea thofe that have received the Word of the Lord, had need wait for Wifdom, that they may feg how to divide the Word aright : Which plainly implieth that it is poffible for one, that hath re- ceived the Word of the Lord, to mifs in the di- viding and Application of it, which mufl come from an Impatiency of Spirit, and a Self-working, which makes an unfound and dangerous Mixture ; and will hardly beget a right-minded living Peo- ple to God.
I am earned in this above all other Confidera- tions, as to publick Brethren ; well knowing how much it concerns the prefent and future State, and Prefervation of the Church of Chrift Jefus, that has been gathered and built up by a living and powerfid Mini/try, that the Miniflry be held, prcferved, and continued in the Manifeftations, Motions and Supplies of thQ fame Life and Power, from Time to Time.
And
72 "The Rile a?id Prdgrefs
And vvhere-ever it is oblerved, that any do mi- nifter more from Gifts, and Parts^ than Life and Powery tho' they have an enlightned and doctri- nal Underitanding, let them in Time be advifed and admoniftied for their Prefervation, becaufe infenfibly fuch will come to depend upon a Self fiifficiency -, to for fake Chrift the living Fountain, and hew out unto themfelves Cillerns that will hold no living Waters : And by Degrees, fuch will come to draw others from waitiiig upon the Gift of God in themfelves, and to feel it iii others, in order to their Strength and RefreJJjmenty to wait upon them, and to turn from God to Man again, and fo make Shipwreck of the Faith once delivered j to the Saints, and of a good Confcience tovi^ards ! God ', which are only kept by that divine Gift of | Lite, that begat the one, and awaken'd and fancli- fied the other in the Beginning. j
Nor is it enough, that we have known the divine Gift, and in it have reached to the Spirits in Pri- ^ fon, and been the Inftruments of the Convincing | of others of the Way of God, if we keep not as j low and poor in ourlelves, and as depending upon 1 the Lord as ever : Since no Memory ^ no Repetitions ^ oi former Openings, Revelations or Enjoyments, will bring a Soul to God, or afford Bread to the Hun- gry, or V/ater to the Thirfty, unlefs Life go with , what we fay, and that muil be waited fr,
O that we may have 720 other Fountain^ Treafure or Dependence ! That none may prefume at any Rate to aft of themfelves for God, becaufe they have long afled from God ; that we may not fup- ply Want of waiting with our own Wifdom, or think that we may take lefs Care and more Liberty
in
Of the People called Quakers.' y^
la fpeaking than formerly -, and that where we do not feel the Lord by His Power ^ to open us and enlarge us, whatever be the Expectation of the People, or has been our cuftomary Supply and Chara6ler, we may not exceed or fill up the Time with our own*
I hope we fhall ever remember, who it was that faid, Of yotirfelves you ca?i do nothing: Our Suffi- ciency is in Him. And if we are not to fpeakour own IVords^ or take Thought what we fliould fay to Men in our Defence, when expofed for our Tefti- mony, furely we ought to fpeak none of our own Wordsy or take Thought what we fliall fay in our Teflimony and Miniftry, in the Name of our Lord, to the Souls of the People ; for then of all Times, and of all other Occafions, fhould it be fulfilled in us, for it is not you that fpeak, but the Spirit of my Father that fpeaketh in you*
And indeed, the Miniliry of the Spirit mujft, and does keep its Analogy and Agreement with the Birth of the Spirit^ that as no Man can inherit the Kingdom of God, unlefs he be born of the Spi-- rit^ fo no Miniftry can beget a Soul to God, but that which is from the Spirit, For this, as I laid before, the Difciples waited before they went forth ; and in this, our Elder Brethren^ and Meffen- gers of God in our Day, waited, "vifitedy and reached to us , and having begun in the Spirit, let none ever hope or feek to be made pcrfeB in the Flejh : For what is the Flejlo to the Spirit, or the Chaff to the Wheat ? And if we keep in the Spi- rit, we fliall keep in the Unity of it, which is the Ground of true Fellowfoip. For by drinking into that one Spirit ^^ we are made one People to God, and
F by
74 ^^^^ Rife ^f^d Progrefs
by it w.e are continued in the Unity of the Faith, and the Bond of Peace. No envying^ no Bitter- nefs^ no Strife^ can have Place with us. We fhall watch always for Good, and not for Evil, one over another, and rejoice exceedingly, and not be- grudge at one ajiothers Increafe in the Riches of the j Grace with which God replenifheth His faithful ^ Servants.
And Brethren^ as to you is committed the T>if^ \ fenjation of the Oracles of God, which give you i frequent Opportunities, and great Place with the People among whom you travel, I befeech you that you would not think it fufhcient, to declare the Word of Life, in their Ajj'emhlies ^ however ^ edifying and comfortable fuch Opportunities may be to vou and them : But, as was the Pra5lice of the Man of God before mentioned, m great Mea- fure, v/hen among us, inquire the State of the feveral Churches you vifit; who among them are /iffliBed or fick^ who are tempted, and if any are , unfaithful or cbfiinate ; and endeavour to ifTue . thofe Things in the Wifdom and P(nver of God, i which will be a glorious Crown upon your Mini/iry, As that prepares your Way in the Hearts of the People, to receive you as Men of God, lo it gives \ you Credit with them to do them Good by your Advice in other Refpecls ; the AfjiiBei will be comforted by you, the Tempted flrengthened, the Sick refrefhed, the U?ifaithful convifted and re- ftorcd, and fuch as are obflinate, foftned and fitted for Reconciliation, which is clinching the Nail,i and applying and faflning the general Teflimony, by this particular Care of the feveral Branches of
V^ it, I
Of the People called Quakers. y^
It, in Reference to them more immediately con- cerned in it.
For though good and wife Men^ and Elders too^ may refide in fuch Places, Vv^ho are of Worth and Importance in the general, and in other Places ; yet it does not always follow, that they may have the Rdom they deferve in the Hearts of the Peo- ple they live among ; or fome particular Occa- fion may make it unfit for him or them to ufe that Authority. But you that travel as God's Meffen- gersy if they receive you in the greater, fliall they refufe you in the lefs ? And if they ov/n the gene- ral Teftimony, can they withf^^nd tiiQ particular Application of it, in their own Cafes ? Thus ye will fhew yourfelves Workman indeed, and carry your Bufinefs before you, to the Praife of his Name, that hath called you from Darknefs to Light, that you might turn others from Satan's Power unto God and his Kingdom, which is with- in. And O that there vv^ere more of fuch faith- ful Labourers in the Vineyard of the Lord ! Never more Need fince the Day of God.
Wherefore I cannot but cry and call aloud to you^ that have been long Profefjors of the Truth, and know the Truth in the convincing Power of it, and have had a fober Converlation among Men, yet con- tent yourfelves only to know Truth for yourfelves, to go to Meetings, and exercife an ordinary Charity in the Church, and an honeil Behaviour in the \Vorld, and limit yourfelves within thofs Bounds \ feeling little or no Concern upon your Spi- rits for the Glory of the Lord in the Profperity of His Truth in the Earth, more than to be glad that others fucceed in fuch Service. Arife ye in the
F 2 ^ame
76 The Rile and Progrefs
Name and Power of the Lord Jefus : Behold how white the Fields are unto Harveft, in this and other Nations, and how few able and faithful Labourers there are to work therein ! Your Coun- try-Folks, Neighbours and Kindred want to know the Lord and his Truth, and to walk in it. Does nothing lie at your Door upon their Account ? Search and fee, and lofe no Time, I befeech you^ for the Lord is at hand.
I do not judge you, there is one that judgeth all Men, and His Judgment is true. You have mightily increafed in your outward Subftance : May you equally increafe in your inward Riches, and do good with both, while you have a Day to do Good. Your Enemies would once have taken what you had from you, for His Name Sake^ in whom you have believed ; wherefore He has given you much of the World, in the Face of your Enemies. But O let it be your Servant^ and not your Mailer I Your Diver/ion rather than your Bufmefs ! Let the Lord be chiefly in your Eye, and ponder your Ways, and fee if God has no- thing more for you to do : And if you find your- felves fhort in your Account with him, then wait for his Preparation, and be ready to receive the Word of Commandy and be not weary of well-doings when you have put your Hand to the Plough 5 and afluredly you fhall reap^ if you faint not, the Fruit of your Heavenly Laboiir in God's ever- lafting Kingdom.
And you young conmnced OneSy be you intreated and exhorted to a diligent and chalie Waiting up?*, on God, in the Way of his blefled Maniteftation
and Appearance of Himfelf to you. Look n*
out
Of the "People called Quakers. J J
out but within : Let not another's Liberty be your Snare : Neither acl by Imitation, but Sen/e and Feeling of God's Power in yourfelves : Crufh not the tender Buddings of it in your Souls, nor over- ru72, in your Defires and Warmnels of Affeftions^ the holy and gentle Motions of it. Remember it is a ///// Foice, that fpeaks to us in this Day, and that it is not to be heard in the Noifes ^nd Hurries of the Mind -, but is diftinftly underftood in a retired Frame, Jefus loved znA chofe Solitudes s of- ten going to Mountains^ Gardens and S ea- fides ^ to avoid Crouds and Hurries, to fhew His Difciples it was good to be Solitary, and fit loofe to the World. Two Enemies lie near your States, Ima- gination and Liberty -, but the plain, pra6lical, liv- ing, holy Truth, that has convinced you, will preferve you, if you mind it in yourfelves, and bring all Thoughts, Inclinations and Affe6lions, to the Tell of it, to fee if they are wrought in God, or ot the Enemy, or of your ownfelves : fo will a true Talley Difcer?ii72g and "Judgment^ be preferved to you, of what you fliould do and leave undone. And in your Diligence and Faith- f ulnefs in this Way you will come to inherit Sub- ftance ; and Chrift, the eternal Wifdom, will fill your Treafury, And when you are converted, as well as convinced, then confirm your Brethren ; and be ready to Q.vtYj good Word and Work, that the Lord fhall call you to ; that you may be to His Praife, who has chofen you to be Partakers, with the Saints in Light, of a Kingdom that cannot be fnaken, an Inheritance incorruptible in eternal Habitations.
And now, as for you, that are the Children of
God's
78 The Rife and Progrefs
God's People, a great Concern is upon n>y Spirit for your Good : And often are my Knees bowed ta the God of your Fathers, for you, that you may come to be Partakers of the lame divine Life and Power, that have been the Glory of this Day > that a Generation you may be to God, an holy Na- -tion, and a peculiar People, zealous of good Works, when all our Heads are laid in the Bull. O ! you young Men and Women I let it not fufRce you, that you are the Children of the People of the Lord -, you muft alfo be born again, if you will inherit the Kingdom of God. Your Fathers are but fuch af- ter the Flefli, and could but beget you into the L'kenefs of the firfl Adam ; but you muft be be- gotten in the Likenefs of the fecojid Adam, by a Spiritual Generation, or you will not, you cannot be of His Children or Offspring. And therefore look carefully about you, O ye Children of, the Chil- dren of God ! Confider your Standing, and fee what you are in Relation to this divine Kindred, Family and Birth. H^lvq you obeyed the Light, and received and walked in the Spirit, which is the in- corruptible Seed of the Word and Kingdom of j God, of which you muil be born again, God is ' 310 Refpefter of Perfons, The Father cannot fave . or anlwer for the Child, or the Child for the Fa- ] ther, but in the Sin thou fmnefl thou fhalt die ; and in the Righteoufnels thou dofl, through Chrifl I Jefus, thou fnalt live -, for it is the Willing and 0- bedient that fhall eat the Good of the Land. Be vof deceived, God is not mocked -, fuch as all Nations end People fow, fuch they fhall reap at the Hand of thejuft God, And then your many and great Pri- vileges, above the Children of other People, will
add
Of the People called Quakers. 79
^dd Weight in the Scale againft you, if you choofe not the Way of the Lord. For you have had Line upon Line^ and Precept upon Precept , and not only good Dodlrine^ but good Bocample -, and which, is more, you have been turned to, and acquaint- ed with, a Principle in yourfelves, which others too generally, have been ignorant of: And you know you may be as good as you pleafe, without .the Fear of Frowm and Blows, or being turned out of DoorSy and forfaken. of Father and Mother, for. God's Sake and Plis holy Religion, as has been the Cafe of fome of your Fathers, in the Day they firfl. entered. i?2to his holy Path, And if you, after hear- ing and feeing the V/onders that God has wrought- in the Deliverance and Prefervation of them, through a Sea of "Troubles, and the manifold tem- poral, as well as fpiritual Bleffings that He has fill- ed them with, in the Sight of their Enemies, ihould negleft and turn your Backs M^on fo great and near a Salvation, you would not only be moft ungrateful Children to God and them, but muft? expeft that God will call the Children of thofe that knew him not, to take the Crown out of your. Hands, and that your Lot will be a dreadful Judge- ment at the Hand of the Lord : But O that it may never be fo with any of you, The hovA forbid, faith my Soul.
Wherefore, O ye young Men zndWomen,- look tO- the Rock of your Fathers : There is no other God but Him^ no other Light but His, no other. Grsice but His, nor Spirit but Hisy to convince you, quicken and comfort you ; to lead, guide and preferve you ta God's everlafting Kingdom. So, will you be Pof- feflfors as well as ProfefTors of the Truth, embrac- ing
So The Rife dnd Progrefs
ing it, not only by Education, but "Judgment and ConviBion ; from a Senle begotten in your Souls, through the Operation of the eternal Spirit and Tower of God -, by which you may come to be the Seed of Abraham, through Faith, and the Circumcifion not made with Hands -, and fo Heirs of the Promife made to the Fathers, of an incorrupt iible Cro^wn : That, as I faid before, a Generation you may be to God, holding up the Profeflion of the blefled Truth in the Life and Power of it. For Formality in Religion is naufeous to God and good; Men ; and the more fo, where any Form or Ap- pearance has been new and peculiar, and begun and praftiled, upon a Principle, with an uncom- mon Zeal and Stri6tnefs. Therefore I fay, for you to fall flat and formal, and continue the Profef- fion, without that Salt and Savour, by which it is come to obtain a good Report among Men, is not to anfwer God's Love, or your Parents Care, or the Mind of Truth in yourfelves, or in thofe that are without : Who, tho' they will not obey the Truth, have Sight and Senfe enough to fee, if they do that make a Profeflion of it. For where the divine Virtue of it is not felt in the Soul, and waited for, and lived in, Imperfeftions will quick- ly break out, and fhew themfelves, and detect the Unf aithf-ulnefs of fuch Perfons -, and that their Irjides are not feafoned with the Nature of that holy Principle which they profefs.
Wherefore, dear Children, let me intreat you to fljut your Eyes at the Temptations and Allure- ments of this low and perifliing World, and not fuffer your Affeftions to be captivated by thofe Lufls and Vanities that your Fathers, /6>r the Truth's
SakCi
Of the People called Quakers. 8r
Sake^ long fince turned their Backs upon : But as you believe it to be the Truth, receive it into your Hearts^ that you may become the Children of God : So that it may never be faid of you, as the Evangeli/i writes of the Jews in his Time, That Chrift, the true Light came to His own^ but His own received Him not \ but to as mariy as received Him^ to them He gave Power to become the Children of God^ which were born, not of Blood, 7ior of the Will of the Flefid, Jior of the Will of Man, but of God. A moft clofe and comprehenfiye Paffage to this Occafion, You e^:a^ly and peculiarly anfvver to thofe profefs- ing Jews, in that you bear the Name of God's People, by being the Children, and wearing of the Form of God's People: And He, by His Light in you, may be very well faid to come to His own, and if you obey it not, but turn your back upon, it, and walk after the Vanities of your Minds, you ^\\\ be of thofe that received Him not, which I pray God may never be your Cafe and Judgment : But that you may be throughly fenfible of the many and great Obligations you lie under to the Lord for His Love, and to your Parents for their Care : And with all your Heart, and all your Soul, and all your Strength, turn to the Lord, to His Gift and Spi" tit in you, and hear His Voice and obey it, that you may feal to the Teflimony of your Fathers, by the Truth and Evidence of your own Experience-, that your Children's Children mz^y blef you, and the ho^A. for you, as thofe that delivered a faithful Example, as v/ell as Record of the Truth of God unto them. So will tht grey Hairs of your dear Parents, yet alive, go down to the Grave with Joy, to fee you the Pofteri- ty of Truth, as well as theirs, and that not on-
■ ly
82 7he Rife aiid Progrefi
only their Nature but Spirit fhall live in you when^
they are gone.
I fliall conclude this Account with a few Words to thofe that are not of our Communion, into whofe Hands this may come j efpecially thofe of our own Nation.
Friends, as you are the Sons and Daughters of Adam^ and my Brethren after the Flefli, often and earnell have been my Defires and Prayers to God' on your Behalf, that you may come to know, your Creator to be your Redeemer and Reliorer to» the holy Image, that through Sin you have loft, by the Power and Spirit of His Son Jefus Chrift,i whom He hath given for the Light and Life of the. World. And O, that you, who are called Chrifti-. ans^ would receive him into your Hearts ! For there,^ it is you want Him^ and at that Door He ftands. knocking that you might let Him in, but you da not open to Him : You are full of other Guefts, fa that a Manger is His Lot among you now, as well as of old. Yet you are full of ProfefTion, as were the Jews when he came among them, who kneW; him not, but rejeBed and evilly entreated him. Sa that if you come not to the Poffeffion and Expe- rience of what you profefs, all your FormaUty in. Rehgion will ftand you in no Stead in the Day of God's Judgment,
I befeech yow ponder with yourfelves your eter-. nal Condition, and lee what Title^ what Ground and Foundation you have for your Chrifiianity :- If more than a Profeffion^ and an Hiliorical Belief of the Gofpel ? Have you known the Baptifm of Fire, and the H^/y G/j^y?, and the Fan of Cbrift. that winnows away the Chaff in your Minds, the-
carnal
Of the- People called Quakers.' 83
carnal LiiUs and AffeBiojis ? That d2vh7e Leaven of the Kingdom, that, being received, leavens the wbok Lump of Man, fanftifying him throughout in [Body, Soul and Spirit ? If this be not the Ground bf your Confidence, you are in a miferable Eftatc.
You will fay, perhaps, lihat though you are Sin- ners^ and live in daily CornmiJJion of Sin^ and are not fa?i£fijied, as. I have been fpeaking, yet you have paith in Chrifl, ivho has borne the Curfe for you^ and in Him you are cojnpleat by Faith, His Right eoufnefs being imputed to you.
But, my Friends, let me intreat you not to de- ceive yourfelves, in io important a Point, as is that of your immortal Souls. If you have true Faith in Chrift, your Faith will make you clean ; it will fanftify you : For the Saints Faith was their Victory of old : By this they overcame Sin with^ in, ^nA finful Men without. And if thou art in Chrift, thou walkeft not after the Flefh, but ajter the Spirit, whole Fruits are manifeft. Yea, thou art a 72ew Creature : New made, new fafliioned ; after God's Will and Mould. Old Things are done away, and behold, all Things are become new : New Love, Dejires, Will, Affeciions and Prac-^ tices. It is not any longer thou that liveft^ thou difobedient, carnal, Worldly One 3 but it is Chrift that liveth in thee ; and to live is Chrift, and to die is thy eternal Gain : Becaufe thpu art afllired, that thy Corruptible fhall put on Incorruption, and thy Mortal, Immortality, and that thou haft a glorious Houfe eternal in the Heavens that will never wax old or pafs away. All this follows be- ing in Chrift, as Heat follows Fire 2X\A Light the Sun.
Therefore
84 TX^- Rife a?2d FrogrtCs
Therefore have a Care how you prefume to re- ly upon fuch a Notion, as that you are in Chrift, whil/l in your old fallen Nature, For what Com- munion hath Light with Darknefs, or Chrift with Belial? Hear what the beloved Difciple tells you ; If we fay we have Fellowjhip with God and walk in Darknefs, we lie, and do not the Truth. That is, if we go on in a finful Way, are captivated by our carnal Affeflions, and are not converted to God, we walk in Darknefs, and cannot foffibly in that State have any Fellowfiip with God. Chrift clothes them with His Righteoufnefsy that receive His Grace in their Hearts, and deny themfelves, and take up His Crofs daily, and follow Him. Chrift's Righteouf- nefs makes Men inivardly holy ; of holy Minds, Wills and Praftices. It is neverthelefs Chrift's, becaufe we have it ; for it is ours, not by Nature, but by Faith and Adoption : It is the Gift of God. But ftill, though not ours, as of or from ourfelves, for in that Senfe it is Chrift's, for it is of and frora Him y yet it is ours, and muft be ours in PoJfeJJiony Efficacy and Enjoyment y to do us any Goody or Chrift^s Righteoufnefs will profit us nothing. It was after this Manner that He was made, to the Primitive ChriftianSy Right eoifnefs, SanBifcationy Nullification and Redemption , and if ever you will have the Comfort, Kernel and Marrow of the Chri" 0ian Religion, thus you muft come to learn and €)btain it.
Now, my Friejids, by what you have read, you. pay perceive that God has vifited a poor People a- mong you with this faving Knowledge and Tefti- xnony : Whom He has upheld and encreafed to.
this-
I Of the People called Quakers. ^^
tills Day, notwithftanding the fierce Oppofition they have met withal. Defpife not the Meanneis of this Appearance: It was, and yet is (we know) a Day of fmall Things, and of Imall Account with ^oo many 3 and many hard and ill Names are giv- en to it : But it is of God, it came from Him be- Caufe it leads to Him. This we know, but wc cannot make another to know it, unlefs he will take the fame Way to know it that we took. The World talks of God, but what do they do ? They pray for Power, but rejeB the Principle in which it is. If you would know God, and worfhip and ferve God as you fhould do, you muft come to the Means he has ordained and given for that Pur- 3ofe. Some feek it in Booksy fome in learned Meriy Dut what they look for, is in themfeheSy though not of themlelves, but they overlook it. The Voice is too ftill, the Seed too fmall, and the Light fhin- pth in Darknefs ; they are abroad, and fo cannot divide the Spoil : But the Woman that loft her Silver, found it at Home, after fhe had lighted her Candle and fwept her Houfe. Do you fo too, and you fliall find what Pilate wanted to know, viz. Truth. Truth in the i?iward Parts, fo valu- able in the Sight of God.
The Light of Chrift within, who is the Light of the World, (and fo a Light to you, that tells yoai the Truth of your Condition) leads all, that take Heed unto it, out of Darknefs into God's mar- vellous Light. For Light grows upon the Obedi- ent : It is [own for the Righteous ^ and their Way is a (hining Light y that (hines forth more and more to the perfeB Day,
Wherefore, 0 Friends^ turn in, turn in, I be-
feech
86 T^he Rife and Progrefs
feech you : Where is the Poifon, there \s the Anti^ dote. There you want Chrift, and there you muft find him 3 and, bleded h^ God, there you may find, Him. Seek and you pall find, I teftify for God. I But then you muft feek aright, with your whole \ Hearty as Men that feek for their Lives, yea, fori their eternal Lives : DiHgently, humbly, patient- ly, as thofe that can tafte no Pleafure, Comfort or Satisfa6lion in any Thing elfe, unlefs you find Him whom your Souls want to know and love a^ hove all, O it is a Travail, a fpiritual Travail / let' the carnal, profane World, think and fay as it will. And through this Path you muft walk to- the City of God, that has eternal Foundations^ if!, ever you will come there. i
Well ! and what does this blefl'ed Light do fori you ? Why, firfl. It fets all your Sins in Order be-i fore you : It detefts the Spirit of this World in all<i its Baits and Allurements, and fhews how Man came to fall from God, and the fallen Eftate he is> in. Secondly, It begets a Senfe and Sorrow, m fuch; as believe in it, for this fearful Lapfe. You will then fee him diftinclly whom you have pierced, and all the Blows and Wounds you have given Him by- vour Dijobedience, and how you have made him: to lerve with your Sins ; and you will weep and mourn for it, and your Sorrow will be a Godly\ Sorrow. Thirdly, After this it will bring you to the holy Watch, to take Care that you do fp no more, and that the Enemy furprife you not again. Then Thoughts, as well as Words and Works, v^^ilL come to Judgment, which is the Way ' of Holi- nefs, in which the Redeemed of the Lord do walk.' Here you will come to love God above all, and
your^
Of the People called Quakers. 87
your Neighbours ^s your/elves. Nothing hurts, no- thing harmsy nothing makes afraid on this holy Mountain. Now you come to be Chrift's indeed ; for you are His in Nature and Spirit, and not your own. And Mmyou are thus Chrift's then Chrift is yours, and -n|fe before. And here Communion with the Fathgjf/and with the Son you will know, and the Efficacy of the Blood of Cleanfing, even the Blood of Jefus Chrift, that immaculate Lamb^ which fpeaks better Things than the Blood of A^ beh, and which cleanfeth from all Sin the Confci- ences of thofe that thro' the living Faith come to ht fprinkled With it from dead Works to ferve theliv^ ing God.
To conclude, behold the Tellimony and DoBrine of the People called ^takers I Behold their Prac^ tice and Di/cipline I And behold the bleffed Man and Men (at leaftmany of them) that were yj;2/ of God in this excellent Work and Service ! All which is more particularly exprefjed in the Annals of that Man of God : Which I do heartily recommend to my Rea- ders moQ: ferious Perifal, and befeech Almighty God, that His BleJJing may go along with both, to the Convincement of many, as yet Strangers to this holy Difpenfation, and alfo to the Edification of God'g Church in general : Who for His ?nanifold afid re- peated Mercies and Eleffngs to His People in this 13 ay of His great L ove, is worthy ever to have the Glory ^ Honour, Thankfgivi?2g and Kenown -, and be it rendered and afcribed, with Fear and Reverence, thro' Him in whom He is wellpleafedy His belov- ed Son and Lamb, our Zight and Life, that fits with Him upon the Throne, World without End. Amen,
Says
§8 The Rife and Progrefs
is ays one that God has longfmce mercifitlly Javotir^ y^ ed with His Fatherly Vifitatlon, and who was not difobedient to the Heavenly Vifion and Call -j to whom the Way of 'Truth is more lovely and precious than ever^ and that knowing the Beau^ ty and Benefit of it above all Worldy Treafures, has chofen it for his chief eft Joy > and therefore recommends it to thy Love and Choice^ becaufe he is with great Sincerity and Aff'e^ion^
Thy Soul's Friend,
WILLIAM TENN.-
FINIS.
THE
ANARCHY
^ O F T H E
RANTERS,
And other LIBERTINES}
THE
HIERARCHY
OF THE
ROMANISTS,
AND OTHER
Pretended Churches, equally refufed and refut- ed, in a two-fold Apology for the Church and People of God, called in Derifion, ^lakers.
WHEREIN
»
They are vindicated T^rom thofe that accufe them of Diforder and Cou' fujion on the one Hand, and from fuch as calumniate them with Ty- ranny and hyipojition on the other ; fhewing, that as the true and pure Principles of the Goi'pel are reftored by their Teftimony ; ^o is alfo the antient Apojidic ORDER of the Church of Chrift re-eita- blifhed among them, and fettled upon its right Balis and Foundation.
By Robert Barclay.
Thil. 2. 3. Let nothing be done through Strife or 'vain Glory ; hut in
Lonviinejs of Mtnd let each ejieem other better than themjtlves. Heb. 13. 7. Remember them that ha-ve the Rule o^er you, 'who hava fpoken unto you the Word of Godt <whoJe Faith follo^v,
W I L M I N G 1' 0 N, Re-printcd by JAMES ADAMS,
M,DCC,LXXXIII.
t iil ]
THE
R E F A C E
TO THE
READER.
U C H is the Malignity of Mans Nature in his fallen State, and fo averfe is he from walking in the ftraight and even Path of Truth, that at eve- ry Turn he is inclinable to lean either to the Right-hand cr to the Left 3 yea^ fuch as by the Work of God's Grace in their Hearts^ and powerful Operation of his Spirit^ have obtained an Entrance in this Way^ are daily moleliedy and fet upon^ on all Hands \ fome flrtv- ing to draw them the one Way^ fome the other : j4nd if through the Power of God they be kept faithful and^z- ble, then are they calumniated 07i both Sides; each like- ning or comparing them to the Worft of their Ejtemtes, Thofethat are acquainted with the Ho\y Scriptures, may obferve this fo be the Lot of the Saints in all Ages ; but efpe daily thofe^ whofe Place it hath been to reform and reftore the Rui?2s of the Houfe of God, when de- cayed : He?2ce thofe that fet about repairing of the Walls c/ Jerufalem, were necejfitated to work with thi one Handf and defend with the other. ' Chrill is accufed of the Jews as a Samaritan ; and by the Samaritans quarrelled with for being a Jew* ^he Apolile Paul is whipped and ifnprifoned by the Gentiles, and upbraided with being a Jew, andteach^ ing their Cufl'Oms \ the fame Paulis hawled, and ready to be killed by the Jews, for breaking the Law^ ajidc}^- ,fi^^ Temple with the Gentiles. The like hath
L G 2 ' alfo
iv The PREFACE to the Reader.
alCo befallen thefe faithful Witneffes ^/^^Meflengersj whom God has raifed up in this Day to witnefs for his Truth y which hath long been in a great Meafure hid ; hut now is again revealed^ and many brought to be Witnejjes of it^ who thereby are come to walk in the Light of the Lord.
This People thus gathered^ have not wanted thofe Trials, that ufually accompany the Church of ChriU, both on the Right-hand and on the Left, each cha- raBerizing them in fuch Terms, as they have judged would prove jnofl to their T)if advantage. From whence (as the Teiiimony of the falfe WitJiefjes againli our Lord did 770t agree, neither do thefe again fi us) Come will have us to ^^ fooUfh mad Creatures ; others to be deep, fubtil Pohticians -, * fome to be ilHterate, ig- norant Fellows ; others to be learned, * John On.ven cunninsf Tefuits, under a meer Vizard :
charges us with ,-,, . ^-^ f n- .7; , ' , 7
fo much iono- L)tvers rrojejjors wtll have us to be only ranee, that Penfioners of the Pope, undoubtedly I^''^5V't• fl. Papifts; but the PapiUs abhor us as
writes agsnnit \. ^ ' ^ i
us in Latin, he Hereticks : Sometimes we are a difor- fears we will derlv, confufed Rabble, leaving every
not underftand •' , , ,.^ ' n n /
it. And 7 ho- ^^^^ i^ ^0 as they lilt, againlt all good mas Danfon a- Order and Government ; at other
bout the fame rr" r i r r\ J
Time accufes Limes we are \o much jor Vrder, as we us q{ being admit not Men to exercife the Liberty of yefuits, lent floeir own ^udg-ments. Thus are our Re-
from abroad . J itt
under this Vi- putations toffed by the E?ivy of our Adver- ^^'"^- faries ; which yet cannot but have this
Effe6i upon fober tnifided People, as to fee what MALICE works againli us ; and how thefe Men, by their contradiBory Affertions concerning us, fave us the Pains, while they refute one another. True it is, we have laboured to walk a?7iidfi thefe Extremities ^ and upon our appearing for the Truth y,
we
The PRE FAC E to the Reader. y
we have found Thwgs good in themf elves abufed on both Hands : for fuch hath always been the Work of an Apoftacy, to keep up the Shadow of certain Truths ; that there -through they might JJjeltcr other Evils. T^hus the Jews made life of the Law and the Prophets to vindicate their Abufes ^ yea^ and to cru^ cify Chrift : And how much many Chriftians ahufe the Scriptures and the Traditions of the Apoflles^ to uphold "Things quite contrary to themy will in the general be readily acknowledged by mojl.
But to defend more particularly ; There be two Things efpecially^ both of which in their primitive life were appointed , and did very much contribute towards the Edification of the Church : The one isy
The Power and Authority, which the Apoftles had given them of Chrift, for I. the gathering,, building up, and govern- ing of his Church ; by Virtue of which Power and Authority they alfo wrote the Holy Scriptures.
The other is. That Privilege given to every Chriftian under the Gofpel, to II, be led and guided by the Spirit of Chrift, and to be taught thereof in all Things.
Now, both thefe in the Primitive-Church wrought effe&ually towards the fame End 5/ Edification ; and did (as in their Nature they may, and in their Ufe they ought to do) in a good Harmony very well conji/i together : But by the Workings of Satan, 4znd Per- verfenefs of Men, they are made to fight again fl and deliroy one a?wther. For on the one Hand the Autho- rity and Power, that refided in the Apoftles, while it IS annexed and entailed to an outward Ordination, and SucceJJion of Teachers^ is made Ufe of to cloak and cover all Manner of Abujes, even the Height of Idolatry and Superftition. For by Virtue of this
Succejfion
VI The P RE FACE to the Reacf^r.
Succejjion thefe Men claiming the like Infallibility, that was in the ApoCtlcs (though they he Strangers to any- inward Work or Manifefiation of the Spirit in their Hearts) will nee4s oblige all others to acqiiiefoe ani agree to their Conclufions, however different from, or contrary to, the Truths of the Gofpel , an4 yet for any to call fiich Conclufions in ^leflion, or examine them, is no lefs than a henious Herefy, jeferving Death, &c. Or while the Revelation of Go(f's Min4 is wholly bcun^ up to thefe Things alreatiy Relive re4 in., the Scriptures (as ifGoQ hdi fpoke his laft Words there to his People *} we are put with our * So^ith ^r^^y^ natural Underftandings to Rebate hamy a noted about the Meanings of them, an4 forced to • Man among interpret them, not as they plainly fpeak, \ns in hiriEx- ^^^ accor^-ing to the Analogy of a certain pofition upon Faith fnadc by Men, not fo much con-' the Reve.ati' trivei to anfwcr the Scriptures, as the Sc7^iptures are Jlrainecf to vindicate it 3 which to 4oubt of, is alfo counted Here- fy, ^eferving no lefs than EjeBion out of our native. Country, ani to be-rohbei of the common Aii ourNati^- vity eiititles us to. An4on this IIan4^ we may bol4ly fay^ both Papifts aj24 Pioteftants have greatly g07ie afi4e. On the other IIan4, fonie are fo great Preten4ers to inward Motions and Revelations of the Spirit, that there are no Extravagancies fo wiH-, which they will not cloak with them ; an4 fo much are they for every Ones following their own Min4, as can a4mit of no Chriftian Fellowfhip ^;z(/ Community, nor of that ^cc</ Order an4 Difcipline, which the Church oj Chri/i never was, nor can be without. This gives an open Door to all Libertinilm, an4 briiigs great Reproach to the Chriftian Faith. An4 on this Han4 have foully fallen the German Anabaptifts, Jo calle4y John of
Leyden,.
ne PREFACE to the Reader. vli
Leyden, Knipperdolling, &c. (hi Cafe thefe mon- /irons Things committed by them: befiich as they are re- lated) and fome more moderate of that Kind have been joiind among the People in England, called Ranters : As it is trite ^ the People called Quakers have been branded with both of thefe Extr earns y it is as true^ it hath been and is their Work to avoid them ; and to be found in that even and good Path of the Primitive- Church, where all were (no Doubt) led and aBed by the Holy Spirit y and might all have prophefied one, by one ; and yet there was a Subjection of the Pro- phets to the Spirits of the Prophets. There was an K\x\hon!cj fome had in the Churchy and yet it was for, Edification, and not.Jor Deftruftion : There was an Obedience in the Lord to fuch as were fet over-, and a being taught by fuch^ and yet a knowing of the in- ward Anointing, by which each Individual was to be led into all Truth. The Work andTefiimony the Lord hath given us^ is to re (lore this again, and to fet botk thefe in their right Place^ without caufing them to de^ liroy one another. To manifefl how this is accomplifh^ ed, andaccofnplifloing a^mong us, is the Bufif^^fe of this Treatife ; which, I hope, will give fome SatisjaBion to Men of fober judgments, and impartial and u?jpre^ judicate Spirits ; and may be made ufeful in the good Hand of the Lord, to confirm and edablifo Frie?ids a- gainli their prefent Oppofers -, which is mainly intend-* edy a,nd ear ne lily prayed for, by
Robert Barclay.
The 157th of the 8th Month, 1674.
THE
THE
CONTENTS
«
Seftioii I. ^" "I "^ HE Introdu6tion and Method of j this Treatife.
Seftlon II. Concerning the Ground and Caufe oj:
this Controverfy.
Seclion III. Whether there be any Order (?r Govern-- ment in the Church of Chrift.
Seftion IV. Of the Order and Government we
plead for.
Seclion V. In what Cafes, and how far^ this Go- vernment extends.
Section VL How far this Government extends inr Matters fpiritual, and purely confcientious.
Se6lion VII. Concerning the Tower of Decifion,
Seftion VIII. How this Goveritment altogether dij- fereth from the Oppr effing a7id Perfecuting Frinci.^ pality of the Church of Rome, and other anti-^ chridian AJJemblies.
The CONCLUSION.
THE
ANARCH
Q F THE
RANTERS, &c.
S E G T I O N I.
"The Inirodii5tion and Method of this Treatife.
AFTER that the Lord God in his own appointed Time The End of the had feen meet to put an End to Law and Begin.
. A ningottheGof-
the Difpeniation or the Law, which pel DirpenfatU was dehvered to the Children o£ o^* recited. \ Ifrael^ by the Miniftry of Mofes -,
through and by whom he did communicate unto them in the Wildernefs from Mount S/- naiy divers Commandments, Ordinances, Ap- pointments and Obfervations, according as they are teftified in the Writings of the Law ; it pleafed him to fend his own Son the Lord Je- fus Chrift in the Fulnefs of Time -y who hav- ing perfectly fulfilled the Law, and the Righ-. teoufnefs thereof, gave Witnefs to the Difpen- fation of the GofpeL And having approved . himfelf, and the Excellency of his Poclrine, by
2 Tihe Anarchy of the "Ranter s^ &c. Se6l. L
many great and wonderful Signs and Miracles, he fealed it with his Blood ; and triumphing over Death (of which it was impoffible for him to be held) He cherifhed and encouraged his defpifed Witneffes, who had believed in him, in that he appeared to them, after he was raifed from the Dead \ comforting them with the Hope and Aflurance of the pouring forth oflois Spi?^it:, by which they were to be led and ordered in all Things y in and by which, He was to be with them to the End of the World, not fuffering the Gates of Hell to prevail againft them. By which Spirit come upon them, they being filled, wtvt emboldned to preach the Gofpel without Fear ; and, in a (hort Time, Thoufands were add- ed to the Church -, and the Multitude of them that believed, were of one Heart, and of one Soul, and great Love and Zeal prevailed, and there was nothing lacking for a Seafon.
But all that were caught in the Net, did not
prove good and wholefome Fifli ;
The divers Sorts fome Were again to be caft into
of them that j^ Qceau, from whence they were
were called in r y r i
the Apofties drawn : Of thole many that were Days. called, all proved not chofen Vel-
fels, fit for the Mafler's Ufe ; and of all that were brought into the great Supper and Marriage of the King's Son, there were that were found without the Wedding-Garment.-.— Some made a fhew for a Seafon, and afterwards fell away ; there- were that drew back ; there were that made Shipwreck of Faith, and of a good Conlcience : There were not only fuch as did backflidp themfelves, but fought to draw- others
' IntroduBion cind Method. 3
others into the iame Perdition with themfelves, feeking to overturn their Faith alio ; yea, there were that brought in damnable Herefies, even denying the Lord that bought them. And alfo of thofe Members that became not wholly cor-
I' rupt (for fome were never again reftored by Re- pentance) there were that were weak, and fickly, and young ; lome were to be fed with Milk, and not with rtrong Meat ; lome were to be purged, when the old Leaven received any Place 3 and fome to be cut off for a Seafon, to be fliut out (as it were) of the Camp for a Time, until their Leprofy was healed, and then to be received in again.
Moreover, as to Oiifwai'ds, there w^as the Care of the Poor, of the WidovNT, of the Fatherlefs, of the Strangers, &c. Therefore the Lord Jefus Chrift, who is the Head '^^^ ^'jf^^/j^ ^"l of the Body, the Church (for the gq^j ia'^the^ Church is the Body of Chrifl, and Outward, the Saints are the feveral Members of that Body) knowing, in his infinite Wifdom, what w^as needful for the good ordering and dif- pofmg all Things in their proper Place, and for preferving and keeping all Things in their right Station, did, in the Difpenfation and Commu- nication of his Holy Spirit, minifter unto every " Member, a Meafure of the fame Spirit, yet diverfe according to Operation, for the Edification of the Body; fome Apoftles, fome Teachers, fome Paftors, fome Elders : There are old Men, there are young Men, there are Babes. For all are not Apoflles, neither are all Elders, neither are all Babes ; yet are all Members : And as fuch,
all
4 ^he Anarchy of the RanferSy &c. Seft. I, all have a Senfe and Feeling of the Life ot the Body, which from the Head, flows unto all the Body, as the Ointment of Aaron'5 Beard, unto the Skirts of his Garment : And every Member has its Place and Station in the Body, fo long as it keeps in the Life of the Body ; and all have Need one of another -, yet is no Member to aflame another Place in the Body than God has given it ; nor yet to grudge or repine its Fellow Mem- ber's Place ; but to be content with its own : For the uncomely Parts are no lefs needful than the comely ^ and the lefs honourable than the more honourable -, which the Apoftle Paul holds forth in i Cor* 12. from Verfe 13 to 30. Now the Ground of all Schifms^ The Ground Divifious or Reuts in the Body is, Divifions!*"' when as any Member aflumes ano- ther Place than is allotted it -, or teing gone from the Life and Unity of the Body, and lofmg the Senfe of it, lets in the Murmur- er, the Eye that watches for Evil, and not in holy Care over its Fellow Members : And then, inftead of coming down to Judgment in itfelf will fl:and up and judge its Fellow Members, yea, the whole Body, or thofe whom God has fet ia a more honourable and eminent Place in the Body than itfelf. Such fufler not the Word of Ex- hortation 5 and term the Reproofs of Infl:ruc- tion (which is the Way of Life) Impojition and Opprejjiony and are not aware how far they are in the Things they condemn others for ; while they fpare not to reprove and revile all their Fellow Members : Yet if they be but admo-
niflied
Intro diiBien and Method. 5
nifhed themfelves, they cry out, as if their great Charter of Gofpel Liberty were broken.
Now though fuch, and the Spirit by which they are afted, be fufhcient- The Subtihy ly leen and felt by Thoufands, whofe j^/ ^' ^^^ Hearts God has fo eftabhfhed, as they are out of Danger of being intangled in that Snare, and who have Power and Strength in themfelves to judge that Spirit, even in its moft fubtil Appearances j yet there are, who can- not fo well withftand the Subtilty, and feeming Sincerity fome fuch pretend to, though in Mea- fure they have a Sight of them ; and others, that cannot fo rightly diftinguifli between the Preci- ous and the Vile ; and fome there are that through Weaknefs, and Want of true Difcerning, may be deceived, and the Simplicity in them betrayed for a Seafon ; as it is written. With fair Speeches and fmooth Words ^ they deceive the Hearts of the Simple,
Therefore having, according to my Meafure, received an Opening in my Underftanding as to thele Things, from the Light of the Lord, and having been for fome Time under the weighty Senfe of them, I find at this Inftant a Freedom to commit them to Writing, for the more uni- verfal Benefit and Edification of the Church of - Chrifl.
Now for the more plain and clear Opening and Underftanding of thefe 'The Heads Things, it is fit to fum up this Trea- "^^|^ ° * life in thefe following general Heads, to be confidered of ;
Fifft,
6 ihe Anarchy of the Ranters, &c. Se£l. 1I«
I. Firft, From whence the Ground and Caufe of this Controverfy iSy the Rife and Root of it ?
II. Secondly, Whether there be now any Order and Government in the Church of Chrili ?
IIL Thirdly, What is the Order and
Govermnent which we plead for ? In what Cafes i and how far it may exteiid ? In whom the Power decifive is, and how it differeth ? And is wholly another, than the opprefjing and perfecuting Trincipality of the Church of Rome, and other An^ tichrijiian A-^emblies.
S E C T I O N II.
Concerning the Ground and Caufe of this C O N- TROVERS Y.
WH E N as the Lord God by his mighty Power began to
eTiv^oly^oTfhe ^^^^ ^^c Nations with the Dawn- Lord defcribed, ing of his heavenly Day (for thus I
write unto thofe that have received and believed the Truth) and that he fent forth his Inftruments, whom he had fitted and prepared for his Work, having fafhioned them not according to the Wifdom and Will of: Man, but to his own heavenly Wifdom and Counfel, they went forth
and preached the Gofpel in the Evi- And breaking dcuce and Demonftration of the
Spirit : Not in the enticing Words
of Man's Wifdom 3 but in Appear- ance
T'he Controverfy Stated. y
anceas Fools and Mad, to thofe that judged ac- cording to Man. But their Words and Tefti- mony pierced through into the inner Man in the Heart, and reached to that ot God in the Con- fcience -, vv^hereby as many as were fimple-hearted^ and waited for the Redemption of their Souls, received them as the MefTengers of the mofl: high God ', and their Words were unto them, not as the Words of Men, but as the Words of God ; for in the receiving and embracing the Teftimo- ny of Truth through them, they felt their Souls eafed, and the acceptable Day began to dawn in and upon them.
Now what Evidence brought thefe Men to make their Teftimony to be received ? Did they entice ? Did they flatter ? Did they daub up ? Did they preach Liberty to the Flefh or Will of Man ? Nay verily, they ufed no fuch Method : Their Words were as Thunder-Bolts, knocking down all that flood in their Way, and pouring down the Judgment of God upon the Head of the Tranf- greflbr every where. Did they fpare the zealous Profeflor more than the open Profane ? Nay veri- ly, they condemned equally the Hypocrify of the one, as well as the Profanity of the other ; yet wanted they not Regard to the tender Seed and Plant of God in either. Did they give way ? Did they yield to the Wifdom of Man ? To the Deceitfulnefs of the Serpent, that^ would reafon Truth for themfelves, faying, Ifnufl Jiay until I be convinced of this^ and that^ and the other Thing ; I fee not yet this to be wrongs or the other '^hing to be my Duty ? How did they knock down this Man- ner of Reafoning by the Spirit of God, which
wrought
S T^he Anarchy of the Ranters^ &c. Seel. 11* wrought mightily in them, fhevving and holding forth, that this is the Day of the Lord that is dawned ; that all are invited to come ; that none ought to tarry behmd 3 that that which fo plead- eth is the fame Spirit which of old Time faid in thofe that v/ere invited, / cannot come yet ^ I mujl jirji marry a V/ije ; I muft go prove my Toke of Oxen j / mud go vifit my Pojfeffioits 3 let me firH bury my dead Father, Did not the Lord through them teftify and declare againft thefe Things ? And is there not a Cloud of Witneffes, who felt the Enemy thus reafoning to keep us in the FormSj Fellowfhips, falfe Worfhips, and foolifli Fafhions of this World ? But we felt, as we were obedi- ent, all thele Things to be for CondernxUation ; and that, as we obeyed the pure Manifeftation of the Light of Jefus in our Hearts, there was no Hefi^ tation. We might and fhould have parted with all thofe Things at the Firft -, and what occafion- ed fuch Scruples, was but that which drew back, through being unwilling to give pure Obedience to the Crofs of Chrift : For as many as gave Obe- dience and believed in the Light, found no Oc- cafion of ftumbling ; but fuch as believed not were condemned already, becaufe they believed not in him that appeared. Now the The Courage Bolducfs, and Couragc, and Effica-*
fen ers ^'^' ^y ^^ ^^^^^ Mcflengcrs Teftimony, wrought fuch Aftonilhment, Fear and Amazement in the Hearts of Inch as were ingenuous, that many began to be inwardly pricked, as -in the Days of old, and the Foundations of many began to be fhaken y and fome that were afleep were av^akened, and fnany
that
The Cofitroverfy Stated. p
that v/ere dead and buried in the Graves of Sin, and Formality, and Superftition, and Idolatry of all Sorts, were alarmed 3 and many were brought in from the Hedges, and the High-Ways, and the Truth was received by Thoufands with great Cheerfulnefs, and a Readinefs of Mind : And the Feet of thofe were beheld to be beautiful upon the Mountains, that brought the glad Tidings of thefe good Things. And great Lowlinefs and Simplicity of Heart was upon fuch that were newly convinced of the Truth, and deep Humi- liation of Spirit, and Subjection to the Power, both in themlelves, and in thofe who were over them in the Lord, and had gathered them into the Truth. But as it was in the Gatherings of old, fo it alfo fell out in this Day ; all kept not their {irfl: Love : As among thofe Thoufands, which Mofes led out of Egypt ^ and carried through the Read Sea, v/ho had fung Praifes to God upon the Banks of Salvation, many Carcafes fell in the Wildernefs ; fome who murmured and longed to return again to the Flefh- Pots 01 Egypt \ and fome for oppofmg and contradicting the Servant, and Oppontion Servants of the Lord, whom the Lord ^° had made Ufe of to lead them out of Bondage, in faying, Te take too much upon you ; Hath the Lord indeed only fpoken by Mofes ? Hath he not fpo^ "ken alfo by us ? And as among thefe Multitudes which were gathered by the Apoftles, there were many who continued not faithful to the fend -, fome re- turned back again with the Sow to the Puddle after they were wafhed; fome embraced the prefent World ; fome again feparated them- -.separation felves, l3eing fenfual, and without the entering.
H Spirit^
'JO The Anarchy of the Ranters, &c. Se£l. II.
Spirit J defpifing Dominion Sy aiid fpeakiiig 'Evil of Digni^ ties-, their Mouths fpeaking great Iwelling Words, being puffed up, and not abiding in theie Things, which they were taught of the Apoftles : So it is to be lamented, that among thefe many Thoufands, whom the Apoftles and Evangelifts whom God raif- ed up in this Day (for the gathering of his Seed and People out of fpiritual Egypt and Babylon into his pure Light and Life) did bring forth and gather, there are that have fallen upon the Right-hand and the Left. Some are turned back again into Egypt, running into the fame Excefs of Luft and Kiot, from whence they were once purified and redeemed: Some could not bear the Reproach of the Crofs of Chrift ; and were by and anon of-- fended in him : Some could not bear the Tribu- lations, Sufferings and Perfecutions, which came for the Truth's Sake -, and the Seed in them was foon fcorched with the Heat of the Day. And fome not abiding in Subjeftion to the Truth in themfelves, were riot contented with that Place and Station in the Body, which God had placed them in ; but became vainly puffed up in their flefhly Minds, intruding into thofe Things which they had not k^n i And would needs be Innovators,
given to Change, and introducing innpvatQrs j^ew Do6lrines and Praflices, not onlv^ vificns. dirrermg, but contrary to what was
already delivered in the Beginning; making Parties, caufing Divifions and Rents, ftumbling the Weak, and denying, defpifmg and reviling the Apoftles and Meffengers of Chrift, the Elders of the Church, who loved not their Lives uato Death, but through much Care, and
Travel,
T'he Controverfy Stated. j j
Travel, and Watchings, and Whippings, and Bonds, and Beatings, in daily Jeopardy, gathered us by the mighty Power of God into the moll precious Truth. Yet in all this there hath no^ thing befallen us, but that, which hath been the antient Lot of the Church of Chrift in the primi- tive Times.
Now He, that was careful for his .j-he good shep- Church and People in old Times, herd of i/raePs hath not been wanting to us in our ch^f^cr^nd ^^ Day ; but as he has again reftored people, the Truth unto its primitive Integri- ty and Simplicity, and as he has delivered our Underftandings from thefe falfe Doftrines and Principles, w^hich prevailed in the Apoftacy ; fo he hath not gathered us to be As Sheep jcattered without a Shepherd^ that every one may run his own Way, and every one follow his own Will, and fo to be as a confufed Mafs or Chaos, without any Order ; but He, even the LORD hath alfo gathered, and is gathering us into the good Or^ der^ DifcipUne^ and Government of his own Son^ the Lord Jefus Chriji : Thereforth he hath laid Car^ upon fome beyoad others, who watch for the Souk of their Brethren^ as they that muft give Account*
There are then Fathers, that have ^ begotten us unto Chrift Jefus through '^^« Several the Gofpel, of whom, we ought to be fhfcharTh. Followers, and to remember their iCor.4 i^^ Ways, which be in Chrift. There '^* ^7- are then Fathers and Children, In- ftruftors and Inftrufted, Elders and young Men, yea, and Babes ; there are that connot ceafe, but muft exhort, inftruct, reprove, condemn, judge 5
H 2 or
12 The Anarchy of the Ranters^ &c. Se6l;II.,
or elfe, for what End gave Chrift the Gifts rnen- tioned, Epkef, 4. 11, 12 ? And how are the Saints perfected, and the Body of Chrift edified of thofe, who came under the Cognizance, and, as it were, the Teft of this Order and Government ? I may chiefly fum them up in three Sorts (though there be divers other httle fubdivided Species of them.)
The Firft is Thofe that turn openhj }' \^^^)'^^'^ hack to the World aQ-ain, throu^-h find- iipofiates. ^"g the Way or Truth too narrow.
Thele have not been capable to do us any confiderable Hurt ; for being a Salt, that has loft its Savour, they moftly prove a Stink a- mong thofe to whom they go. And I never knew any of them, that proved any v/ays fteady among thofe to whom they go. I find other Profefibrs make but fmall Boaft of any Profelytes they got out from among us : I hear httle of their proving Champions for the Principles of others againft us. And, indeed, for the moft Part they lofe all Religion with the Truth : For I have heard fome of them fay ; That if ever they took 07i them to be religious^ they ivculd come back again to the Quakers, &c,
V'^ Secondly y Thofe, who through Un-
^entYn"'*sin '^" '^^^^^^f'^^^^cfs, the fccrct Corruption of jiers."^ ^"' their own Hearts, and the myfterious.
or hidden Temptations of the Enemy, have fallen into his Snares ^ and lo have come under the Power of fome Temptation or other, either of flefhly Lufts, or of fpiritual Wickefl- nefs : Who being feafonably warned by thofe that keep their Habitation, and faithful Over-
feers
^he Confroverjy S fated, i^^
feers in the Church ; have been again reftored by unfeigned Repentance: Not kicking againft the Pricks -, but have rejoiced, that others watch- ed over them for their Good, and are become Monuments of God's Mercy unto this Day.
Thirdly, Such, who being depart- J. Self Separat- ed from their firft Love and antient OppTrs!'''""' Zeal for the Truth, become cold and lukewarm -, and yet arc afliamed to make open Apoftacy, and to turn back again, fo as to deny all the Principles of Truth, they having had already fuch Evidence of Clearneis upon their Underftanding : Yet not keeping low in their own Habitations, but being puifed up, arid giving v/ay to the reftlefs imaginations of* their exalted arid v/andering Minds, fall out with their Brethren x caufe Divifions ; beein to find fault with every Thing, and to look at others more than at themfelves ; with fwelling Words to talk of, and preach up, a higher Diipenlation, whil^ they are far from living up to the Life and Per- , feftion of this prcfent j like unto fuch who faid. We will 7iQt have this Man to ride over us : Cry out of Formality and Apoftacy, becaufe they are not followed in all Things 3 and if they be reproved for their Unrulinefs, according to the good Order of the Church of Chrift, then they
. cry out. Breach of Liberty, Opprejjlon, Perfecu--
tton I we will have none of your Order and Govern-^
ment -, we are taught to follow the Light in our Co7i-
fciences, and not the Orders of Men, Well, of this
hereafter ; but this gave the Rife of this Contro-
^verfy : Which leads me to that which I propofed
|;in the fecond Place.
' / Section
[ H ] Section III.
Whether there be now to be any Order or Go- vernment in the Church of Chrift.
TN Anfwer to this Fropofition^ I meddle not at this Time with thofe that deny any fuch Thing as a Church of Chrift ; I have referved their Plea to another Place. Neither need I to be at much Pains to prove the Affir- Church Or- mative, to v^it, "^hat there ought to vernment ' ^^ Government and Order in the Church granted. cf ChriH unto the Generality of our
Oppofers, both Papi/is and ProtejU ants 5 who readily confels and acknowledge it, and have heretofore blamed us for Want of it. Tho' now fome of them, and that of the higheft Pretenders, are become fo unreafonable, as to accufe us for the Ufe of it; improving it, fo far as they can, to our Difadvantage : For fuch is the Blindnefs of partial Envy, that whereas the fuppofed Want of it was once reckoned heritical, now the prefent Performance of it is counted criminal.
Thefe, then, to whom I come to prove this Thing, are fuch, v/ho having caft off the Yoke of the Crofs of Chrift in themfelves, refufe all Sub^ je5iion or Governmejit : Denying that any fuch Thing ought to be, as difagreeing with the Tefti- mony of Truth : Or thofe, who not being lo wilful and obftinate in their Minds, yet are fear- ful or fcrupulous in the Matter, in refpect of the dangerous Confequences, they may apprehend, fuch a Thing may draw after it.
For
Chiirch^Order %jd Government AJferfed* 15
For the clearing then as well the Miftakes of the one, as anfwering the Cavils of the other, I judge the Truth of thefe following AfTertions will fufficiently prove the Matter ; which I fhall make no great Difficulty to evidence.
Firft, That Jejits Chri/i, the Ki?ig and Reafon I.
Head of the Church, did appoint and or- dain^ that there fJjould be Order and Governme?it in it 4
Secondly, That the Apoflles, and primitive *j ChriliianSy when they were filled with the Holy G holly and immediately led by the Spij^it oj God^ did praBife and commend it.
Thirdly, That the fa7ne Occafion and Ne- y,^, cej/lty now occurring^ which gave them Op- portiinity to exercife that Authority ^ the Church of Chri/l hath the fame Power now as ever^ and are led by the fame Spirit into the fame PraBices,
As to the Firll, I know there are fome, that the very Name of a Church, and the very Words, Order and Government they are a- fraid of. Now this I /uppofe hath ,^
proceeded, becaufe of the great Hy- ^^\^^^ n"t^ pocrify, Deceit and Oppreffion, that void the true hath been cloaked with the Pretence ^^^* of thefe Things ; but why fhould the Truth be neglefted, becaufe Hypocrites have pre- tended to it? The right Inftitution of thele Things, -which have been appointed and ordained of God, muft not, nor ought not to be delpifed, becaufe corrupt Men have abufed and perverted them. I know not any Thing that hath been more abuf- ed and perverted in the whole World, than the Name of a Chriftian ; fliall we then renounce that honourable Title, becaufe fb many Thou-
fands
1 6 The Anarchy of the Ranters, &c. Seft. III. lands of wicked Men, yea, xA^ntichrifls have talfly affumed it to themfelves ? The Man of Sin hath taken upon him to fit in the Temple of God, as God ; yet we nTiuft not therefore deny, that God is in this Temple, If the Synagogue of Satan affumed the Name of the Church of Chrift, and hath termed her Oppreffion and Violence, the Power and Authority thereof ; therefore mufl not the Church of Chrift, and its Authority, be exercifed, where it truly is according to his Mind ? This I prefix to warn all to beware of flumbling at Things which are innocent in themfelves ; and that we may labour to hold the lieady even Path of Truth, without running into either of the Ex- tremes. For that Jefus Chrift did appoint Order and Government to be in the Church, is very clear from his plain Words, Matt. T''''^\^'t' C/j^/>.. 18. Ver. 15. Moreover, if Chriil! & the ^h ^'^other Jl:all trefpafs againjl Form thereof, thee, go tell him his Fault between thee and him alone % if he foall hear thee, thou had gained thy Brother, Ver. 16. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee cne or two 7nore, that i?i the Moiith of two or three ¥/itnejjes, every Word may be ejiablified, Ver. 17, And if he foall negleB to hear them, tell it unto the Church : But if he negleB to hear the Church let him be unto thee as an Heathen- Man, and a Publicany Ver. 18. Verily, I Jay unto you, whatjoever ye foall bind on Earth, fhall be bound in Heaven ; und whatfoever ye foall loofe on Ea?'th, foall be
loofd in Heaven. From which Scripture it I. doth manifeftly and evidently follow,
Firll^ That Jelus Chrift intended there fliould
be
Church 'Order and Government AJferted. 17
be certain Order and Method in his Church,
in the Procedure towards fuch as tranf-
grefs. Secondly y That he that refufeth to II.
hear two, is become more guilty (as
hardned) than inrefufingto hear him
that firftreproved alone. Thirdly, That III.
refufing to hear the Judgment of the Church, or
whole Aflcmbly, he doth thereby exclude himfelf,
and fhut out himfelf from being a Member ; and
is juflly judged, by his Brethren, as an Heathen
and a Publican.
And Laftly, that the Church, Gather- IV.
ing or Affembly of God's People, has Power to examine and call to Account fuch as, ap- pearing to be among them, or owning the fame Faith with them, do tranfgrefs 5 and in cafe of their refufing to hear, or repent, to exclude them from their Fellowfhip : And that God hath a fpecial Regard to the Judgment and Senfe of his People thus orderly proceeding, fo as to hold fuch bound in Heaven, whom they bind on Earth, and fuch loofed in Heaven, whom they loofe on Earth. I am partly confident, that no rational Man will deny, but that thefe naturally follow from the a- bove-mentioned Scripture ^ and if there fhould be any found fo unreafonable as to deny it, I could prove it by neceffary and unevitable Con- fequences ; which at prefent, as taking it for granted, I forbear to do. If it be reckoned fo great a Crime to offend one of the little Ones, that it were better for him, that fo do, that a Mill/lone isoere hanged about his Neck, and he were drowned in^ the Depth of the Sea ; without Queftion, to end and gainlay the whole Flock, muft be more
criminal J
1 8 ^e Anarchy of the Ra?iters, Sec, Se6l. III. ! criminal, and muft draw after it a far deeper judgment.
Now if there were no Order nor Government
in the Church, what fnoiild become The End of of thofe that tranfgrefs ? How fhould Church Order, ^j^^y be again reftored ? Would not
this make all Reproving, all In- ftrufting^ all Caring ior, and Watching over one another, void and null ? Why fhould Chrift have defired them to proceed after this Method ? Why doth he place fo much Weight upon the Judgment of the Church, as to make the refufing of hearing it, to draw fo deep a Cen- fure after it ^ which he will not have to follow the refufing to hear one or two apart, though the Matter be one and the fame ? And fo, as to the fubftantial and intrinfick Truth of the Thing, there lies the fame Obligation upon the Tranfgreffor to hear that one, as well as all ; for that one advifeth him to that which is right and good, as well as the. Whole ; and they do but homologate or confirm that which that one hath already afl^erted : Yet Jefus Chrift, who is the Author of Order, and not of Confufion, will not have a Brother cut off, or reputed a Fiiblican^ for refufing to hear one or two, but for refufing
to hear the Church. And if it be Objeaion. objeftcd, That the Church of Rome,
and all other falfe Churches^ make life of this Scripture^ and cover their Perfecution^ and Cruelty^ and Opprefion by it y and thou fayeji no more than they fay, I anfwer; I luppofe no Man will be fo unreafonable as to affirm, that the Church of Rome abufing this Scripture, will^
make
Church-Order a-nd Government AJJerted. 19
make it falfe in itfelf ^ but how we differ in our Application of this Scripture, fliall be fpoken of hereafter. I am not now claiming Right to this Power, as due to us (that is referved for another Place 3) but this, I fay, is that which I now aver to be manifeft from the Scripture- Teilirnony, and to be in itfelf an unqueftionable Truth, ibat Jefus Chrili intended there Jhoiild be Order and Government in his Church ; which is the Thing at prefent in Hand to be proved : Which if it be fo really true (as it cannot be, de- nied) then I hope it will alfo necelfarily follow, that fuch who really and truly are the Church of Chrift, have Right to exercife this Order and Government.
Secondly, That the Apoftles and Pri- mitive-Chriftians, did practife Or- Reafon 11. der and Government, we need but p^^aS^itd^lnhe read the Hiftory of the ABs, ot Apofiies& pri- which I fliall mention a few preg- ^s^^^j^eJ^^' nant and undeniable Teftimonies, tions. as we may obferve in the very firft Chapter of the Adls, from Verfe 13. to the End, where at the very firfl Meeting the Apoftles and Brethren held together after the Afcenfion of Chrift, they began orderly to ap- poiiit one to fupply the Place of Judas y it may be thought, this was a needlefs Ceremony y yet we fee how the Lord countenanced it. I hope none will fay, that the Apoftles appointing of thefe two Men, or him, upon whom the Lot did not fall, contradifled their inward Freedom, or impofed upon it ; but both agreed very well
tether i the one in the Will and Movings of God
20 The Anarchy of the Ranters, &c. Sect. lIL God in appointing, and the other in the fame, in fubmitting to their Appointment.
Moi-eover, after they had received the Holy Ghoil, you may read, ABs 6. fo (oon as there was an Opportunity, how they wife- -..in Diftnbu- ly gave Order, concerning the Di- Poor. ^^ ^ " ftribution for the Poor, and appoint- ed fome Men for that Purpofe. So here was Order and Government, according to the prefent NecefTity of the Cafe : And the Lord God was well pleafed with it, and the Word of God increafed, and the Number of the Difciples multiplied in Jerufakm greatly. Might they not have faid then, as fome fay now ^ We will give our Charity to whom we fee Caife 5 and we will take no Notice of your Appointments and Orders : Whe- ther would God have approved of luch, yea, of nay?
Thirdly, When that the Bufinefs of Circum- cifion fell in, whether it was fit or not to cir- cumcife the Gentiles ? We fee, the Apoftles faw not meet, To fuffer every one to follow w. M. in his f/jeir own Minds and H'ills : They did Queries. ^^^ judge, as one confufedly iuppol-
eth, That this Difference in aji oiit^ ward Exercife, would commend the Unity of the true Faith : Nay, they took another Method. It is faid exprefsly, A^s 15. 6. A?2d the Apo files and Elders came together, to confider of this -in DiiFerences Matter ; aiid after there load been occuring. much difputing about it, (no Doubt
then there were here Diverfities of Opinions and Judgments) the Apoftles and El- ders told their Judgments, and came alfo to
pofitive
Chtirch-Order and; Government AJferted. 21
poUtive Conclufion. Sure fome behoved to fub- piitj elfe they fhould :never have agreed. So thofe that were the Elders, gave a politive Judgment; and they were bold to fay, That it pkafed not only t^-em but the Holy Gho/L By all which it doth undeniably appear, that the Apoftles, and primitive Saints, praclifed a Holy Order and Go- vernment among themfelves : And I hope none will be fo bold as to fay, they did thefe Things without the Leadings of the Spirit of God, and his Power and Authority coucurring, and going along with them.
And that thefe Things were not only Angular Practices, but that ^^^ Apoftles they held it doarinally^ that is to e^r'mngor" lay, it was Doftrine which they der in the preached; that there ought to be ^^^^^ch. Order and Government in the Church, is mani-. feft from thefe following Teftimonies, J Cor. 4. 15, 16, 17. (15 J For though you have Ten Thoufand hiliruBors in i Cor. 4. 15, Chrin ', yet have ye not many Fathers ; ^^' '7- For in Chriti JefuSy I have begotten you through the GofpeL ( I b.) Wherefore I bejeech you^ be ye Follow-- ers of me, (ij.} For this Caufe have I fent imto. you Timotheus, who is my beloved Son, and faiths Jul in the Lord -, who fjall bring you into Remem^ brance oj my Waysy which be in Chrilly as I teach every where in every Church. Here the Apoftle Paul is very abfolute : Firfl^ In that he defires them to be Followers of him. Secondly, In that he fends a Teacher, yea, a Minifter, and eminent Bifhop,. or Overfeer of the Church, for to put them in Mind of his Ways^ w^hich be in Chri/l^
as
22 7/6^ Anarchy of the Ranters, &c. Sc^l. III. as he taught in every Church, No Doubt there were Apoftates, and diflcnting Spirits in the Church of Corinth^ that gave Paul Occafion thus to ^ write, as he teflifies in the Beginning of the Chapter, how he \^d.% judged by fome cf themy he fhews, how they were grown high ; Verfe 8. Now ye are full, 7tow ye are rich, ye have reigned as Ki77gs without us, Sec. Might not thefe Diflenters of the Church of Diilenting Rea- Corinth, have reafoned thus againft Churfh-Go-" Paul? Did not this Paul teach us, vernment. at firft, to mind the Meafure cf Grace
in our f elves, and follow that ? (for no Doubt that was Paul\ Doftrine) But now he begins to lord it over us, and tells us, wq mufl be Followers of him. Might they not have judg- ed the* beloved 'Timothy to be far out of his Place? might they not have faid, It feems it is not God that moved thee, and fent thee here by his Spirit ; but lordly Paul, that feeks Do- minion over our Faith : It feems thou comeft not here to preach Chrift, and wifh us to be Followers of him, and of his Grace in our Hearts ; but to mind us "to folio v/ Paul's Ways, and take Notice, how he teaches in every Church : We are not concerned with him, nor with his Meffenger, nor with any of your Orders, and fo forth. Doth not this run very plaufible ? I queftion not but there was, fuch a Reafoning> among the A}^o^dXQ Corinthians ^ let fuch as are of the fame Kind among us examine ferioufly, and meafure their Spirits truly hereby. Yea, he goes yet further in the following Chapter,
Verfes
Chtirch'Order and Government AJJertei. 23 Verfes 3, 4. Verfe 3. As abfent ^ in Body, hut prejent in Spirit^ I have )^J'^^^'^^^K judged already, as though I were pre- giving. Judg- Jej7t, concerning him that hath fo done n^ent in the the Deed. Verfe 4. In the