{Fourth Part 3}
THE FOURTH PART
OF THE
Christian-Quaker
Distinguished from the
Apostate and Innovator, &c.
This small Treatise is chiefly designed to be Communicated unto those, who profess the Appearance of Christ Jesus, the Son of the Eternal God, by his Light in the Consciences of the Sons and Daughters of Men, to be sufficient Guide unto the Father of Life: The Faith of such is, That those who receive this Appearance, (or Gift of God) so as to Live and Walk according to the Divine Motions and Dicatates thereof, shall come to know the Salvation of God, through Christ Jesus, their Law-giver, Lord, and Saviour.
‘Tis publickly known, that this Principle of Truth hath been held forth, and owned by those, who (in Derision) have been called QUAKERS; of whom it may be now said, (to the great Grief, and Exercise of the Spirit of the Faithful Followers of Christ amongst them) That though the Principle, in which such of them, who have received from God a Divine and Spiritual Knowledge, have believed, is Unchangeable; yet the Enemy hath so prevailed, {Fourth Part 4} as that the Seeds of Dissention and Discord sown amongst them, have taken so deep Root, as that their publick Meetings for Worship, in several Parts of this Nation, have become the Stages of Contention, to the Dishonour of God, his Truth and People. And in divers Parts of this Nation, 'tis reputed, that George Fox is (at least) one of the Chief Abettors of one Party, and John Story of another: But how far that Report may (with respect to G.F.) have Credit with others, besides my self, I shall leave to the Sense and Savour of the understanding, impartial Reader, when he hath throughly perused this Treatise.
And though, from their Names mentioned in the Title-Page, some may be in Expectation, that the Difference between the People called QUAKERS, with respect to the present Separation, in some Parts of this nation, may be Treated on at large; yet that’s not my present Design, or Purpose: Though I must confess, that Matter is at Large collected, and impartially Stated, and lies ready by me for the Press; and in Probability, may come forth, or (at least) a Part thereof, more than what is in this Fourth Part contained, in its proper Time and Season; unless the Lord shall be pleased to change the Hearts of the Persecuting opposers of John Wilkinson, and John Story, and other Servants of the Lord, unto whom the Truth is as dear as ever: and that the Door may be opened again, in our Publick Assemblies, for Worship of God; whereby those who have the Word of the Lord to Publish in the Demonstration of his Power and Spirit, may not be so frequently obstructed by the airy, imaginary, and empty Discourses of such, as have pretended to have the Word of the Lord to declare, when it hath evidently appeared, The Lord hath not spoken by them, if so be the Tree may at this Day be known by its Fruit, as well as in {Fourth Part 5} Dayes past: But rather, that the Words of the Prophet_are fulfilling, if not fulfilled in them, when he said; The Prophet is a Fool, the Spiritual Man is Mad, for the Multitude of thine Iniquity, and great Hatred_, Hos. 9. 7.
For I am a living Witness, that Imagination hath so possessed the Heads and Hearts of many, that Travel under the Notion of Ministering Friends, as that instead of manifesting a Divine Understanding in the Things of God, or speaking the Word of Truth in season, that have brought forth Fruits of an unsound Mind; shewing forth no better Resemblance, or Evidence of being Ministers of the Gospel of Christ, (that divide the Word aright) than the Confused Chaos, before the Creation of God, was of the Beauty and Order that now is in it. And for my own part, I am well satisfied, (and that on sufficient Ground, too large to insert) that either the Mulitude of Iniquity or Great Hatred, through the Influence of G.F. possessing the Hearts of such, is the Occasion thereof.
But notwithstanding, my Design is not (as I said before) to treat at large on the present Difference, between the People called QUAKERS, with respect to the present Separation, in some Parts of this Nation; yet since I am also satisfied, (and that on sufficient Ground) that G.F. hath been one of those very Persons, occasioning the Differences to arise unto the Height they now are, or (at least) a Countenancer thereof, at a large Rate: I purpose to Treat a little thereon, and partly as relating to G.F. that so the Impartial Reader may consider, whether if G.F. had contented himself (in Reality and Truth) with the Place of a Servant of Christ, that sought not Dominion over his Brethren’s Faith, and Consciences; nor yet to expect Submission to his outward Precepts, Prescriptions, or Orders, further than every Friend to Truth was, or might be, by the Light of Christ in the Conscience, led, and guided therein; {Fourth Part 6} The differences now amongst Friends, touching which some seem ready to bite and devour others, might never have been._
For my own part, I in no wise question, but that G.F. is one chief Instrument, that a destroying and devouring Spirit hath entred into some amongst the Flock; and that many a Simple, Honest-hearted Friend to Truth and Righteousness, have received and believed Lyes, and slanderous, false Reports against many Brethren undeservedly; to the betraying of their Simplicity, and Love to the Turth, and filling their Hearts with Hatred, Enmity, and Prejudice. And of this am I as well satisfied, as I am that there is a God in Heaven, before whom both He, and all the Sons of Men, must come to Judgement; and that the Blood of many such, if they perish (before true Repentance) will be laid at G.F’s Door: Otherwise, I should not have appeared to discover the said G. F. as in Conscience I am now constrain’d to do.
And therefore, a Warning is now now proclaimed unto all such That they Redeem their Time, because the Dayes are Evil; and proceed no further to receive and believe Lies, and Scandalous Reports against such, (whom they have once accounted Honourable) on the Credit of G.F. as a Man that for several Years past, hath not Erred: For many are this day Witnesses, that his Actions have rendered him an Erroneous Man. And for as much as he hath refused to give Satisfaction for his Errours, as in the like Cases he hath prescribed for others, it hath encreas’d the Concern of my Conscience to discover the same, and that also for the sakes of the Simple, and Honest-hearted; and that those Innocent, and Tender Children, that are growing up from the Loynes of Believing Parents, &c. may, in their tender Years, be awakened and warned, that they may not be Captivated in the like Snare; and so bred up in a meer Form, and affected with Airy {Fourth Part 7} Imaginations, which have no Tendency to open their Understandings; thereby to give unto them the Knowledge of those Principles of Truth, which the Faithful, by the Spirit, have been led to own, and hold forth; not yet the Way of the Kingdom of God, that so their Foot-steps may be directed into the Path of Peace, and they come to know a lively Seeing and Sense of that Immortal Power and Spirit, by which the Everlasting God, (whose Wayes are Unchangeable) reached unto many in the Beginning, when the very Thoughts of being Embondaged against with the Beggarly Elements and Rudiments of this World, or of having our Eye or Dependency on any Mortal Man, was loathsome.
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