{Third Part 3}
The THIRD PART
OF THE
Christian-Quaker
Distinguished from the
Apostate and Innovator, &c.
There are but two sorts of Government which become every Christian to own; The one is Outward, the other Inward.
The Outward Government is represented by Visible Persons, invested with Power to execute Outward laws, visible by our carnal Eyes, and is suffered by Almightly God, to be executed under variety of Forms, and diversitie of Laws, and for divers ends, which we do not now pretend to be reveal’d to us; but yet we believe it to be our duty either actively or passively to submit unto the Outward Government, under which we live, without designing to work our own deliverance (from under such Laws which we have or may account oppressive) by outward force or Violence, which is as much as is with us to say on this occasion, with respect of Outward Government.
The Inward Government chiefly designed to be treated upon is, the Government of Christ, which we do not believe to be represented by visible persons, certainly known by outward Names, distinguish’d by outward marks and tokens, and {Third Part 4} invested with Power from him to execute Outward Laws, in an Outward Form of Government, visible by our Carnal Eyes, as aforesaid.
That the Government of Christ is an Inward Government, is evident from the words of the Prophet Jeremiah; Jer. 31. 31, 32, 33. I will make a New Covenant with the house of _ Israel, &c. _ not according to the Covenant that I made with your Fathers; but this shall be the Covenant that I will make , &c. _ After those days, I will put my Law in their Inward Parts, and write it in their Hearts, and will be their God, and they shall be my People; and they shall teach no more every man his Neighbour, and every man his Brother saying, know the Lord; for they shall all know me from the least of them to the greatest of them, saith the Lord. This we believe was spoken with respect to the Reign of Christ, by his Spirit in the Hearts of the Sons and Daughters of Men, and clearly shews, that the Laws of Christ’s Government, under the new Covenent, are written in the Hearts of his People, and therefore an Inward Government_.
Objection, But if any shall object, That the words of the Prophet relate not to those, who are of the Gentile Stock, of which Stock, according to the Flesh, it may be said, that we are.
We thereto say, That the words of Paul do effectually answer that Objection, Rom. 10. 12. There is no difference between the Jew and the Gentile; for the same Lord over all, is rich unto all that call upon him, Col. 3. 9, 10, 11. Lie not one to another, seeing that you have put off the Old Man with his deeds, and have put on the New Man, which is renewed in Knowledge after the Image of him that created him, where there is neither, Gentile nor Jew, Circumcision nor Uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, Bond nor Free; but Christ is all, and in all. Many other Scriptures, both out of the Prophets and Apostles Writings, might be quoted to evidence the matter intended.
{Third Part 5 } We are yet sensible that this further Objection may be raised, Viz.
Objection, That neither the word of the Prophet, nor of the Apostle cited by us, make mention of Government over Jew or Gentile, but doth shew (as from the scope of the Scripture appears) that the Apostle so writ to convince the Jews of the difference between the Righteousness of the Law, and that of Faith, and to shew unto Believers (whether Jews or Gentiles) that though some might appear in a Voluntary Humility Worship Angels, intrude into those things they had not seen, and be vainly puffed up in their fleshly minds, and not give all Obedience unto the Head Christ, through whom alone there is an increase in the increases of God; yet they were therein reproveable, as not being risen with Christ; and further also to shew that those who were dead with Christ from the Rudiments of the world, ought not to be subject to (nor yet to touch, taste or handle) such Ordinances, as were after the Commandments and Doctrines of Men.
To this Objection we answer, That though the word Government, is not expressly mentioned; yet there are words in what is cited out of the Prophet Jeremiah, importing the three material Objects of Government, viz. A Lawgiver, the Place where the Law is to be found written, and the People fore whom it is given. Besides, from the words of Paul, viz. Christ Jesus our Lord, and so consequently, a Government over that All. And from what hereafter follows, it will appear that the End of this Government is to lead into all Truth.
Moreover, it leads us to observe, That there are divers true Marks, whereby the Opposers of Christ’s Government may be distinguisht.
First, They are such as are in a Voluntary Humility.
Secondly, Such as Worship Angels, which may reasonably {Third Part 6} be taken to be a Worshipping of some Messengers, whom God Hath sent, because the signification of the word Angel, is a Messenger.
Thirdly, Such as intrude into those things they have not seen.
Fourthly, Such as are puft up in their fleshly minds.
Fifthly, Such as give not all Obedience unto the head Christ.
And lastly, Such as are Subject to Ordinances after the Commandments and Doctrines of Men. And to be very plain for the clearing the Truth, we must give this our Testimony; that we are really perswaded from what our Eyes & Ears have been witnesses, that many of those amongst the People called Quakers, who have Zealously contended for the Observation of Outward Rules and Orders, given forth by One Man, bear all the aforesaid Marks: For whosoever they are that pretend Zeal to promote, submit unto, and exercise themselves in other mans lines made ready to their hands, and that on a pretended religious score, when thorow the word of true Faith, they see it not their duty, or if they shall pretend they do, and thereupon strive to enforce others to submit thereto (there being no ground from the Scripture of Truth, or Light of Christ so to strive) it naturally follows, that the aforesaid Marks accompany such: and this we confidently aver, that thorough the whole Scriptures of Truth there is not one word from whence we may rationally expect, (and that according to the meaning of the Spirit) that Christ hath or will Commissionate any One Man, or Men, to prescribe Outward Rules and Orders, relating to Faith or Discipline in the Church, to be binding on the Consciences of the Subjects, of his Kingdom; whether they should see it to be their duty, from the Law written in their hearts, or no.
Besides, if we consider the nature of Christ’s Kingdom and Government, it will appear to be such unto which outward written Laws, visible by our carnal eyes, and to be executed by perishing objects, according to an outward Magistratical, or {Third Part 7} Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction, are wholly unsutable; becaus Christs Kingdom is not of this world, but is an Everlasting Kingdom; and therefor ‘tis said, That of the encrease of his Government there shall be no end, and though John in the Revelations, Chap. 11. V. 15. gives this Testimony, That there were great voices in heaven, saying, the Kingdoms of the World are become the Kingdomes of our Lord, and of his Christ. And he shall Reign forever and ever (Isa. 61. 11) yet there is nothing said to signify that the manner of his Reign was or should be otherwise then as before described.
Moreover, if any Man or Men have or may pretend him, or themselves to be such on Earth, on whom the weight of Christs Government (which is Spiritual) is laid, it is not like to have any Evidence in our Consciences.
First, Not only because we find no such Prophecy, or Promise in the Scriptures of Truth; but also for that we rather find the contrary; for in Isa. 9. 6. ‘tis thus said, and the Government shall be upon his shoulders, and his Name shall be called wonderful Councellor, &c.
Secondly, Because ‘tis wholly repugnant to the Light of Christ in our Consciences, that the weight of a Government that is Spiritual and Everlasting (the Laws whereof are written in the Heart) and wherein nothing but true Judgment and Justice hath been, is, and shall be executed for evermore, should rest upon any Man or Men, as Governour or Governours over others; since there is no Man, nor Men but are subject through Temptation to Err, if they watch not; and therefore we may well say, much less on any such one man (though termed by some the great Apostle of Christ) whose Actions towards his Brethren have been found injurious to them undeservedly, and reproachful to the Truth: nor yet upon any such Asssemblies, as the usual General Meeting (so termed though improperly) of the people Called Quakers is, because the Meeters have usually consisted of Uncertain Numbers, of Uncertain Qualifyed Persons, that take upon {Third Part 8} them so to assemble, whilst others beholding the Ill Consequences of their Meeting, conscientiously forbear to joyn with them.
Thirdly, Because it is evident that the Disciples of Christ had their Eye so much on his outward and bodily appearance as that Christ their Lord and Master saw it meet to tell them these words; Joh. 16. 7. It is expedient for you, that I go away; and when he said so, he did not tell them (nor yet any time before or after) I will comissionate some Man, or Assembly of Men in my Stead, that so you may have your Eye unto (and expect Written Orders from) him, or them to walk by, and to lead you into all Truth; but John gives them a Reason for his so saying (in these words; Joh. 16. 7.) For if I go not away, the Comforter will not come, but if I depart, I will send him unto you (meaning the Spirit of Truth) which (as he promised) should abide with them for ever, and should be in them; which undoubtedly was in order to the Exaltation of his Government in the Heart, and that they might have their whole Dependency on the Spirit of truth, which (as before is signifyed) Christ promised should abide with them forever. And so this may truly be termed that Everlasting, Unerring, Unchangeable Governour, unto which the Subjects of Christ’s Kingdom owe Obedience; And, why so? But because under it the Promise of Christ was, That they should be guided into all Truth, according as is plainly signifyed from these following words spoken by Christ himself; Joh. 16. 13. I have yet many things to say unto you, but you cannot bear them now; Howbeit when the Spirit of Truth is come, he will guide you into all Truth; for he shall not speak of himself: But whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak. Here is no room left for the Church of Christ to contend about Forms of Government, or who shall be Governours, under Christ’s Government; for if the Spirit that is in us, and that is to remain with us forever shall guide is into all Truth, that our Dependency ought to be thereon; that so thereby we may be led into all Truth, or {Third Part 9} else we cannot manifest our selves to be obedient Subjects unto Christ, under his Government, that he is exalting in the Hearts of the Sons and Daughters of Men. The consideration of these things leads us to give this Testimony; That there is no ground either from the Scriptures of Truth without us, or the Light of Christ within us, to believe that any Christian Professour can in Truth affirm; That there are Outward Prescriptions and Orders given forth by the Spirit of God through any one or more Mortal Men in this our Day, which others ought to obey, and follow (of which more anon in answer to R.B.’s Book of Government) whether they see it their Duty or no; and if they do not, may therefore come under the Curse, and partake of the same Judgements from God, which happened to Corah, Dathen and Abiram, for their Rebellion against Moses; and though the sin of Corah, &c. hath frequently in our Publick Meetings for Worship, been spoken of and intended (as we have taken it) to be as a proper Citation to describe the state of such as on a Conscientious score cannot submit unto the outward Orders of one man, yet we testify, that such sort of insinuating and threatening language seems much more agreeable to the first Covenant then the second, under which we are; and when countenanced, or spoken by any, expecting such a sdubmission, it then seems to favour of a spirit that speaketh of himself, and not what he hath heard from the great Lord and Master Jesus Christ; and so consequently from another spirit than that which Christ promised he would send, for Christ’s own words signify, He shall not speak of himself.
Moreover, ‘tis evident that Corah and his Company rebelled against Moses, who was King in Jesuran and a Leader of Israel, and thorough whom the Lord gave forth his Law to the People; but we know that none can according to truth, at this Day, pretend that any other Governour is raised up amongst the Children of Light, to be like unto Moses, whom we ought to hear in all things, save Christ Jesus, who by his Spirit manifested in every Subject of his Kingdom, is thereby become their Lawgiver, and whilest they are obedient thereunto, they may in truth be reckoned to be of the {Third Part 10} number of those, that are in Christ Jesus; because they may then truly be termed such as walk not after the flesh, but the spirit, and to such (according to the Apostles Doctrine) there is no Condemnation.
Objection. This Discourse touching Government, may occasion some to raise this Objection; We understand that many called Quakers, do hold Monthly and Quarterly Meetings of Men, and also of Women, distinct from Men, about their Church Affairs; and that these Meetings are reputed to be Established (on certain dayes that ought not to be altered) by one man amongst them, that hath pretended, he was moved of God so to do; and that the same person hath by his Paper spread abroad divers parts of the Nation signified, that none but loose spirits, and such as tend to looseness, pretend to set up a better way, or to alter them to another day, for fear of Corruption in Observing a Day; and that it is but from a corrupt spirit of darkness, which God will blast; and that some call these Meetings the Government of Christ set up amongst them, and establish’t by the power of God, to take care of the Churches affairs; and that true Judgement and Justice, which are the fruits of Christ’s Government, may be executed.
To this we answer, we confess there have been and yet may be such Meetings; but if any think they have been, or are establish’t by any one man, or that therein the Government of Christ is set up, any otherwise than as any Member or Members of the Church may be Witness thereof in their Own Hearts, we are sorry for such weakness.
However, it gives us occasion to add this Testimony, That if we consult the Scriptures of Truth, and the Light of Christ, we have no Ground to believe, that under the dispensation of the second Covenant, God hath, or ever will move by his Spirit in any Mortal Man or Men, to take upon him or them, so to appoint certain dayes, for others to meet upon, to manage the outward Affairs of a Christian society, as that if {Third Part 11} any of that Society assent not thereto, or endeavour to alter them to another day, then such may be Justly censured as men of loose Spirits, or led by a corrupt Spirit of Darkness; for every Member of such a Society, ought first to be fully perswaded in their own minds, in all things relating to Faith or Discipline; and not to be Judging one another about any thing wherein they differ, when the matter it self springs from a Conscientious Scruple, and not Obstinacy contrary of Knowledge; for from the Holy Scriptures we learn, that that which is not of faith is sin; and that there was the day of Ignorance accompanyed some, at which the Lord Winked. And yet (to our Grief) we may say, that such a Day of gloominess and thick darkness, hath overtaken some amongst the People called Quakers, who appear zealous for some Outward Forms of Disciple, which they (as we take it) foolishly imagin are establih’t as by a Decree from Heaven, that they seem to make void the Law of Charity and humane Society; and as if their Religion was most Effectually demonstrated, by appearing in such a kind of Spirit, that Christ reproved in his disciples, when they asked him on this wise, Wilt thou that we Command Fire to come down from Heaven and consume them, meaning the Samaritans, that did not receive Christ, because his Face was, as though he would go to Jerusalem.
To return again, we farther say, That whoever hath given Occasion for such an Objection to be raised, as aforesaid, ‘tis to be doubted it sprang from one that aspires to give Rules to others whilest he will not be subject to the same himself; for if it were not so, its very probable we might have escaped the severe judgement of being guilty to Corahs sin, and that only because we have endeavoured to convince some, that that one1 Person intended in the Objection, hath acted contrary to the outward Rules and Orders that he himself hath prescribed for others to walk by.
{Third Part 12} As to the word Establish’t, we further add, That the word (as used in the Objection) is disowned by us; for though the Children of God may be Instruments in the hand of the Lord, to establish one another in the Faith of God’s Elect, yet ‘tis not in their power, or of any one of them, positively and without exception, to establish what ought to be believed and practiced, whether it respect Doctrine, or Discipline: and if any one or more have attempted so to do, it may Justly be said of such that he or they have endeavoured to invade Christ’s Prerogative.
Besides, we observed That the Objection is made with respect to one man, which to us seems as if in the Objectors sense, that one man amongst the People called Quakers, had Power given him of God to establish an Outward Form, wherein all God’s People ought to walk (or else severely to censured for Rebellion) whether they see it their Christian Duty or not: but this we deny, as that which may Justly be termed an Abomination, either so to endeavour, or so to submit. Secondly, If we enquirer, what is establish’t? we know, if any Answer be given to what by the Question we intend, it will be on this wise, Certain Meetings to be held by the People called Quakers, or at least some of them, on certain prefixt dayes. But if was ask, Who are the Meeters, that are to make up the establish’t Meetings? none can give such a certain Description, as, that the Meeters may be certainly known; and therefore the use of the word Establish’t, applicable to outward Societies of People, so uncertain to be known, or outwardly describable, seems to us vain and ridiculous.
By this discourse the Reader may gather, that we are remote from owning those Meetings (mentioned in the last Objection, to be establish’d) as a part of Christ’s Government, and as to their having any share as a Church in Church Government, ‘twill be time enough for us to answer when any shall pretend, that they have manifested, that those uncertain qualifyed Persons, usually Assembled in such Meetings, were then {Third Part 13} Members of the Church of Christ, and that as Member thereof, they had right to stile themselves, Church-Governours. However, we think it needful to signify, That the chief Ends (as we understood) wherefore the said Meetings were assented to by many Friends were to relieve the Poor, and to perform other necessary Services relating to the truth, and Friends concerned therein, in which we thought our selves (and doubtless all the Faithful with us) Servants one unto another, and not Masters, Governours, or Rulers over one another; for that did not so much as enter into our Hearts: But when we perceived that some Upstarts (that to us seemed to love Preheminence, as Diotrephes2 did) lookt upon themselves, as somebody, from their appearing (and being encouraged to appear) Members in such Meetings, and to lay a stress on the prefixt Dayes for Meeting; affirming, that they were Established by the Power of God, that Friends who were Heirs of the Power, might come and take their Possessions therein; (a sort of Language not well understood by such as are Indued with Wisdom from above) then many Friends began to startle thereat, fearing that some (through Weakness and Blind Zeal) would idolize the same, and run into an indispensable Form, and endeavour to bite and devour one another about outward Things; and so at length some Friends in Truth moved to alter the Days of Meeting in some places, but others not assenting thereto, Contention arose, and a Fire hath been kindled about Church-Government, at so high a rate, as that Publick Meeting places, for the Worship of God, have sometimes become meer Stages of Contention; and other times the keeping on of Hats in Prayer by some, whilest others have been uncovered, hath become as an Ensign of divisions; the knowledge whereof being no longer to be hid, hath more vigorously occasioned the bringing forth of our Treatise, intituled the Christian-Quaker, distinguished from the Apostate and innovator, in five Parts (whereof this Treatise touching Government, is one) that so all may now know, that {Third Part 14} Darkness is not so overshadowed, but the Lord hath preserved a Remnant amongst the People called Quakers, that cannot bow their Knee to any image or Image-Maker; nor yet to acknowledge, that Salvation is attainable through Faith in any other Name, than the Name of Jesus, who is given of the Father to be Salvation to the Ends of the Earth.
I now come to give the Reader a perticular Account of some Assertions and Scripture Quotation, relating to Government, amongst one part of the People called Quakers, published in Print by Robert Barclay, together with Answers thereto, contained in a Manuscript given forth by my self, who was concerned in my Conscience so to do, for the sakes of such, as being weak, are apt to be precipitated into a Zealous Observation of other mens Lines made ready to their hands, when not led thereunto by a Measure of Gods Gift and Grace in themselves; and so may justly be termed like unto those, who render for Doctrine the Tradition of Men.
The aforesaid Assertions, Quotations, and particular Answers thereto (some Years past, sent to Steven Crisp and another publick Person, as well as the Author of the said Book) doth follow, as proper in relation to this Treatise, touching Government; and if the Reader shall find any thing therein, which hath been herein already treated upon, or in the first part of the Christian-Quaker, distinguished from the Apostate and Innovator, I hope he will not be offended thereat, since the ensuing Lines were written on a Particular Occasion, though of a General Concern, relating to the People called Quakers; and that also before it was designed, that the said first part should be prepared, much less committed to Press: However, that which may well plead my Excuse for the Readers Expence of Time on such an Occasion, is this, There is very little Discourse of which hath been mentioned before, and that which is, is very material to be observed, as a proper Looking-Glass in some respect, to distinguish the true Christian (termed in Derision, Quaker) from the Apostate and Innovator.
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