{First Part 1}
The FIRST PART
OF THE
Christian-Quaker
Distinguished from the
Apostate and Innovator, &c.
Section I
The Introduction
Wherein the Case is stated, manifesting, That there was an Union; and the Wayes and Meanes by which it came to be broken.
To all the faithful People of God (called Quakers) throughout this Nation of England, or else where we your Brethren do send greeting in the Lord; breathing unto the God of our Lives, that the same Everlasting Arm and Power, whereby we have been gathered unto God, and into an heavenly Fellowship and Union one with another in the Life of Righteousness, may preserve us all to the End of our Days, in the Bond of perfect Love each toward the other, establisht upon that sure Rock of Ages (Christ Jesus) against which the Gates of Hell never did, can or shall , prevail: And in this Love, our Desires are, that the Faithful (unto whom this Treatise is directed) may communicate the same unto others, as, in the Wisdom, and Love of God, they may see a Service thereof.
{First Part 2}
Dear Friends and Bretheren;
We are truly sensible, that all those, who keep their Place and Habitation in the unchangeable Truth, have with us a Sence of the many Snares, and Temptations, whereby Satan hath endeavoured to betray the Innocent, whose Faces have been Zion-ward: And that this most subtil Invention hath been, to appear as an Angel of Light, thereby to turn those, whose Hearts have been inclined to follow the Lord, out of the way of Truth.
And now Friends, that which in the Grief of our Hearts, we have to signifie to you, is this; We are sensible that the Evil Seeds-man is crept in amongst many of those called Quakers, who (as we believe) have in Days past walkt together in true Fellowship each with other, and that in the sensible Feeling of that Immortal Life, whereby we with them were knit and united together, as Bone of one another’s Bone, and Flesh of one another’s Flesh, having the Evidence of such our heavenly Union, springing from that, which neither the Carnal Eye, nor the Carnal Ear, could be Witnesses of.
In order hereunto, we have this following Observation to make.
That the day was, wherein those very Persons amongst the People called Quakers, who now are at great varience, and out of Unity each with other, were once in Unity, and therefore we think necessary to lay down, Viz.
First, Some part of those things touching which the Faithful were at UNITY.
Secondly, By what Wayes and Means the UNITY came to be broken.
And so leave the Consideration thereof to the Consciences of all, who profess the Truth; that so in the Light of Christ Jesus they may weigh and consider, Whether their Unity stood in the unchangable Truth, and which of these Parties now at variance deviated therefrom.
[First Part 3}
The Consideration of this Observation doth lead us in relation to the first perticular, thus to testify, Viz.
That about Twenty Six Years past, it pleased the Lord to send forth many faithful Labourers of the Gospel of Christ Jesus, who in his Name, Dread, and Power testified, that their CALL was not of MAN, but of GOD; and that their Message was both to the Professour, and to the Prophane. To the Prophane crying on this wise, [Turn from the Evil of your Wayes, and Doings, and meet the Lord by sudden Repentance of your open Transgressions] To the Professours (who were not in the Common Pollutions of the World) on this wise, [Your Outward Forms, your Outward Ordinances, and Outward Church Fellowships, they are even but as Rudiments of this World, and the Lord hath no Regard thereto] and to both of them, [Turn in your Minds to the Light of Christ Jesus, that shines in your Consciences.] exalting the Measure thereof (as given to every man to profit withal) to be that Law, that Order, the Rule of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus, unto which every one respectively ought to be subject, and yield Obedience; not by Constraint, but a willing Mind, and that for Conscience sake: And as we were so subject, we became Members of that Body against which the Gates of Hell never did, or can prevail; not yet against any one Member thereof, while at abiding on the Rock Christ, which is that Body the unworthy Eaters discerned not.
And thus for many Years it continued amongst the Friends of Truth (or Children of Light (for so were we called in the beginning) magnifying by their Testimonies, Obedience unto the Light of Christ Jesus (which as the Scripture Testifies, lighteth every man that cometh into the World) as the only RULE and GOVERNOUR in the Church of God, unto which whosoever took heed, and was obedient, was esteemed to live under the Government of Christ; knowing and believing, that as Christ’s coming is to be waited for in the Hearts of the Sons and Daughters of Men, so there his {First Part 4} Governments to be exalted, and that whosoever should endeavour by outward Ways and Means, to establish an Outward Government, and Outward Rules, Orders, Laws, or Prescriptions over the Heritage of God, under the Notion or Pretence of Christ’s Government, would be found invaders of Christs Prerogative, and building the things which in the Light of Christ Jesus had been often testifyed against, as more agreable to the First Covenant than the Second, under which we are; and touching which ‘tis thus said, by the Prophet, I will put my Law in their inward Parts, and write it in their Hearts, and they shall teach no more every man his Neighbor, 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. Jer. 31.33.34.
In these things we with many others were at Unity. We now recommend the same to every Conscience in the Sight of God, whether this our Unity was not (and yet is) consisting with, and agreeable to the unchangable Truth
The next thing we are to treat upon, is, By what ways and means this Unity came to be broken.
In order to the Discovery thereof, we think it necessary to answer one Question, which (probably) may be asked by some Persons, who may not be sensible of such a Variance hinted at, Viz.
How doth it appear that there is such a great Difference, and Dis-union?
To this we say; The publick Testimoneis of many Persons in those publick Meetings for Worship, where we have been conversant (and that when many others, not under the same Professions with us, have been present) against dark, bad, leavened, rendering, dividing, or separate Spirits, with Application {First Part 5} to such who are under the Profession of Truth, and (as we believe) have born the Brunt and Heat of the Day, and do yet continue unchanged, as to the Principle of Truth, and as blameless in Life and Conversation as ever they were in dayes past, when their Opposers were at unity with them (so far as we know) doth evidently demonstrate, that the Breach is not only very wide, built so publick, as it cannot but concern some of the wrongfully scandalized Party (whereof we are a part) as Men, and as Christians (for our Reputations, or at least the Reputation of some of us, in both respects, have been struck at) to appear thus publick in the Vindication of Truth; and therefore having long born the Reproach and Scandal of Scandalous Tongues, hoping that those who have so persecuted us, and others our Brethren (for whose sakes we also are the more concerned) would have come to see their Error, and repented, do now think our selves oblieged for the Honour of Truth, and Information of all Friends thereof, as well as for the sakes of such as have been betrayed and led from the Simplicity of the Gospel of Christ, to proceed to manifest, for what Cause both we and many other our Brethren in the Unchangable Truth, are accounted such dark, leavened, rending, dividing, and separate Spirits; which being truly stated, the impartial Reader will easily discover, by what ways and means the aforesaid Unity came to be broken, and at whose Door that will lie, and which of those divided Parities do yet stand in and for the unchangable Truth.
That the aforesaid Cause, whereof we and others are accounted dark, leavened, rending, dividing, or separate Spirits, may be the more clearly manifested, ‘tis needfull to consider, that some enquiring Reader may be ready to ask this Question, What do you believe is meant by the words dark, leavened, rendering, dividing, or separate Spirits?
{First Part 6}
To this we answer, that many signal and outward Demonstrations, both by Words and Writings (too large here to insert) have been given us to believe, that the Publishers of such Reflecting Expressions on many ancient and honorable Brethren (who we believe have approved themselves to this day, Faithful Labourers in the Gospel of Christ) do intend, that if anyone who hath been convinced of the Truth, as preached amongst us in the beginning, doth scruple (though conscientiously) to put in practice the Outward Orders, and Prescriptions of some Person, or Persons, taking upon him or them, to give forth the same, such an one may justly be accounted of a dark, leaven’d, rending, dividing, or separate Spirit.
And though of our certain knowledge we can declare, that the understandings of many are so enlightened by the Truth, as clearly to discern a deceivable Spirit, entring in by this Door; yet we are sensible that there are many Honest-hearted Friends, who being ignorant of many things that are come to our Knowledge, may have a Dread upon them, lest they Err in taking part either with one or, tother Party, until they have further enquired and satisfyed themselves; and these peradventure may be ready thus to object and tell us.
Objection, That they are informed, that some of those whom we term some Persons, taking upon them to give forth outward Orders and Priscriptions, are such as usually frequent in the General Meeting, and have been ancient Labourers in the Gospel and have been Instruments to gather us from the Lo here’s, and Lo there’s, to follow that Teacher that cannot be removed into a Corner; and that the General Meeting is an Established Meeting, and that they have Power to Command, Govern, and Rule over others; and that ‘tis the Duty of others to Obey, for we find (as they may say) Robert Barclay, in his Book of Government, which Friends ought not to Judge, because ‘twas {First Part 7} approved by the Second Days Meeting in London (which is a Meeting of Ministring Friends) to inform us, Page 27, 28.
[“That the Apostles and Primitive Christians, practiced Order and Government in the Church; that some did appoint and ordain certain things, condemn and approve certain Practices, as well as Doctrines, by the Spirit of God; that there lay an Obligation in point of Duty upon some others to obey, and submit; and that such as are in the true Feeling and Sense, will find it their places to obey, and be one with the Church in such like cases; and that its such that have lost their sense and feeling of the Life of the Body, that discent, and are disobedient under the false pretence of Liberty.”
To this we answer: First, that General Meeting doth usually consist only of such Persons, as pretend a Freedom in their Spirits to go thither, or have Outward Business calling them to the place where it is usually held: and though it hath been accounted a Meeting of Ministering Friends, yet of late Years we are certain, it hath consisted (and so for the Future may) of some other Persons, professing the Truth, that will take upon them to assemble amongst them; and to be very plain, we cannot but appeal to the Consciences of all such Honourable Friends, who are both intelligent and impartial, whether some, who have usually there assembled, or may pretend right to be Members thereof, have not been false Accusers, and Man-pleasers, and many of them a sort of Persons who being Lovers of Preheminence, and Time-servers, take that as an Opportunity to appear unto others, that which they are not in themselves?
On the whole matter ‘tis evident to us, that some Persons uncertain in number, as well as to Persons, and Qualifications, do take upon them to call themselves a General Meeting, and though such when met, may on that foot take them to ordain and appoint certain things; condemn some Friends, as Rending Separate Spirits; and approve of others, as Faithfull Bretheren, and that (as they may say) in the Name of the Lord; {First Part 8} yet it is not likely to have any more place with us, on that account, than if they spoke in their Own Name, since ‘twas never evidenced to our Consciences, that they had any Call from God to act, and give forth all those things which they have taken upon them.
Objection, But suppose some Persons in their respective Countries, should undertake to Meet together Quarterly, and at such Quarterly Meetings choose two Persons to go to the said General Meeting, as was endeavoured the last Year.
To this we answer, We deny, that it can be agreeable to Truth for such to assert, that from thence they are invested with Power to Ordain and Appoint certain things, unto which others (as Members of Christs Body) ought therefore to yield Obedience, whilst not perswaded by Christs Light in the Consciences of their Duty therein.
First, Because though such Quarterly meetings (as men) may be capable to choose Persons; yet they are not capable to invest them with a suitable Power, since ‘tis taken for granted, that the Authority of all those Meetings ought to be the Power of God, which man is not capable to confer, neither have those Meetings affirmed they are.
Secondly, Because no Outward Order, Counsel, or Advice, is sufficient Ground for any man to Practice this, or t’other thing, so as thereby to find Acceptance with the Lord, until the Conscience of such an one, by the Light of Christ Jesus, be convinced thereof: For every action in relation to the things of God, that springs not from an enlightened convinced Conscience, is but the fruit of a lifeless Form without the Power, and seems not to square with this Doctrine, draw water out of your own Wells; let it be your own, and not anothers: nor yet with that Doctrine which hath often been sounded in our Ears, to gather us from the Lo Here’s, and the Lo there’s.
But yet we are sensible that this further Objection may be raised, viz.
{First Part 9} Obj. *1 ‘Tis true, Friends in the Beginnings were turned to the Light in their own Consciences, as their Guide; but when it pleased the Lord to gather so great a Number into the Knowledge and Belief of the Truth, as were in few Years, gathered, that the Heavenly Motion came upon G.F. as the Lords Anointed, and Chosen; having the Care of the Churches, as being the great Apostle of Christ Jesus (and as one whom the Lord had ordained to be in that place amongst the Children of Light in this our Day, as Moses was amongst the Children of Israel in his Day) to set forth Methods, and Forms of Church Government, and to establish Monthly, and Quarterly Meetings of Men and Women distinct from Men; and these Meetings since are called the Church, whose Counsel, Advice, and Judgement (was Occasion should offer) is to be submitted unto by every one who professes himself as a Member of the Church of Christ; and that we ought to believe, as the Church believes; else why should an Eminent Friend in the sixteenth Page of his Book thus say, “I affirm, that the true Church is the true Faith that is in God, and we must either believe thus, as the true Church believes, or else it were but a Folly, and Hypocrisie to profess our selves Members thereof. [And so in the same Page proceeds to manifest] that he who seems to own the Church of Christ, as a Member of her, and yet tells the World, that it is a most dangerous position, that we are to believe as the Church believes, is a treacherous Enemy to the Church of Christ.”
From this Objection these three Positions seem to be deducible.
First, That the Lord hath ordained G.F. to be in that Place amongst the Children of Light in this our Day, as Moses was amongst the Children of Israel in his Day.
{First Part 10} Secondly, That monthly and quarterly Meetings are called the Church, and ought to be submitted to.
Thirdly, That ‘tis Folly and Hypocrisy, to profess our selves Members of the true Church, and yet not believe thus as the true Church believes.
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* Note in the manuscript made mention of in the Preface, the Ground of this Objection, from the Words and Writings of divers Persons, is cited out of the second part of the said Manuscript, but their Names for the reasons in the Preface are omitted here.↩
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