Sect. III.
An Answer to the Second Position (deducible from an Objection raised toward the Conclusion of the first Section) viz. That Monthly and Quarterly Meetings are called the Church, and ought to be submitted to.
Tis well remembered, that that one Man G.F. went some years past into many parts of this Nation, advising Friends to hold such Meetings, viz. Monthly, and Quarterly; and in many places his Counsel was readily embraced: but for our parts, we understood not at that day, that it was designed by him, or any else, that those Meetings should not only be accounted the Church, but also such as professed the Truth, ought to believe as this Church believes; had he so expressed himself, Testimonies would have arisen as a Flood against {First Part 12} such Darkness; for this would have plainly appeared to us, to have opened a Door, whereby that Babylonish Rubbish, which we had been long testifying against, might have been exalted in one day. And to be very plain, we cannot but now declare, that we are fully satisfied in our Consciences, that by this very Door, a Body of Strife, Contention, Emulation, Malice, and Envy, together with a Rending, Dividing Separate Spirit from the Truth, is entred amongst many hundreds, who before walked together with us in an Heavenly Union and Fellowship, in the Life of Righteousness; which doubtless may (if it hath not already) occasion many Honest Simple-hearted Friends this in their Hearts to say; [Where are the People whom we shall now follow?] But if such retire into the Sanctuary of the Lord, there in stillness to wait what God will say, they will undoubtedly have this answer; [You have a Teacher with you, which cannot be removed into a Corner; follow that Teacher, lest peradventure your Feet do slip, by going from your Inward Guide, and following the Footsteps and Dictates of Man.]
But to return, ‘Tis now our Concern , as to the second Position thus further to declare, That whosoever hath or shall testifie, that all those Meetings (as usually held) were the Church of God, hath and will appear to be such, as know not whereof they affirm: for such a Testimony carries with it neither inward, nor outward Evidence (though we dare not conclude, that none in those Meetings were Members of the Church) for the *1 Church of God consists properly of such as are by one Spirit baptized into one Body; and so are in the Possession as well as Profession of Truth: But yet whoever they were, that did not but so much as profess the Truth, were admitted to be Members of such Meetings, whilst they appeared in the outward Form thereof, and were not then of Scandalous Conversations: All which might appear in such as were far remote from witnessing the Circumcision of the Heart, and the Answer of a good {First Part 13} Conscience towards God, which must be witnessed as the proper Product of the Baptism of the Spirit, before a Possession of the Truth be known: And whether Mens Meetings have not often consisted of such Members, and are like so to do, whilst the Door is open for any under the aforesaid Qualifications to sit there (as it yet is) we recommend to the Serious Consideration of the Impartial Readers; and if so, we desire them further to weigh and Consider:
First, Whether it can be agreeable to the Truth, to account every thing acted and done by every such Meeting, to be the Product of the Church of Christ, and accordingly to be submitted to.
Secondly, Whether the Judging of some (conscientiously refusing to submit) to be dark, leavened, rending dividing or separate Spirits, because they refuse, be not the fruit of that Spirit that would remove us from that Teacher that cannot be removed into a Corner, to follow the Dictates of Fallible Men.
Thirdly, Whether a Plea for Obedience to the Orders of such Meetings, from Persons Conscientiously Refusing to Obey, hath not a tendency to Justify Usurpation; since they have never evidenced to the Consciences of those, from whom they have seemed to expect Obedience, any other Call to that Service, than their own.
Fourthly, Whether a Plea for such Meetings, to Govern in matters relating to Conscience, hath not a tendency to Justify Confusion; since according to the reputed Order of such Meetings, None that are to be Ruled, are excluded from being Rulers?
Let those who cannot believe this our last Assertion, peruse Robert Barclay’s Book of Government, approved by such as have been accounted Ministring Friends, at the second Days Meeting in London, wherein ‘tis said, Page. 33. “We are not so foolish, as to concern our selves with those who are not of us:” none of which are (according to the Import of the said Book of Government, as we take it) excluded from {First Part 14} such Meetings, nor yet to give Judgement therein (witness Page 79, and 82. of the said book) and since we are not treating of those Meetings, we are not without a sense, but that some may be ready thus to query, viz.
What Order is either prescribed or used, whereby the sense of such Meetings is collected?
To this we say;
An eminent Person Professing Truth being at Bristol, did take occasion to signify, at a Mens-Meeting held in that City, to this effect; That in London, and other parts of this Nation, where such Meetings were usually held, the sense of the generality hath been taken for the sense of such Meetings; Comparing this with this Doctrine frequently of late publisht amongst us, That the Apostasy shall never enter the generality more, doth give us Just occasion to be Jealous, that our opposers, for the carrying on of their designs against us, have contrived this method of carrying all things by the generality, or major number of voices; which Limitation, we know hath been heretofore (and by the faithfull to this day) utterly disowned, as contrary to the Truth; and also by the approvers of R.B’s. Book of Government, as in Page 81. and though the counsel of that one man, who first advised to the aforesaid Meetings in some parts, was on this wise, Choose from amongst you the faithfull; yet such a limitation we have cause to believe, will not now be born by some; ‘tis well if the ground thereof in our opposers be not to bring in the multitude, if they can, and that under a pretence, that all Friends in Truth may have free access, that so the Generality may be on their side: for of late Mens Meeting are known to consist of many such, who, if any ought to be Governed, are much fitter to be Governed, then appear as Governours, and who (we are well satisfied in our Consciences) would of themselves be more modest than to appear in such Meetings, as Governours, were they not prompted to be {First Part 15} there; The secret end thereof (as we have cause to doubt) is for the carying on that which we believe Truth will never own.
And as to the Apostasy never entering the generality more, we say; may the Lord preserve us all so stayd in his Unchangable Truth, as that we may never apostatise from it, nor be drawn away from the hope of the Gospel, by false Prophets and seducing Spirit; for we do firmly believe that as many of those, who formerly were in the Truth, and do now account us Dark Spirits, because we cannot be at Unity with them, in such actions as we account Persecution against antient Brethern, are already Apostatized: and doubtless they with their adherents account themselves the generality, yet we hope better things than so.
We now come to say something to these foregoing words, viz. That in London and other part of this Nation, where such Meetings where usually held, the sense of the Generallity hath been taken for the sense of such Meetings. To this we answer, if thereby is intended, that the generality may claim power to declare, that their sense is the sense of the Meeting, it opens a Door whereby the Reputation and Honour of Truth , as Profest, owned and practiced amongst the Friends thereof, may fall in one day; For when these Meetings were assented unto (we cannot say established by man) we lookt upon our selves all Servants one unto another, and not Masters and Rulers over one another; and so had then no occasion given us to discourse of Authority, but when there was, we well Remember, that we, ascribed all Authority unto the appearance of the invisible Power of God; and so no encouragement was given by us, that any one Man or Men should take upon him or them, to Rule and Govern in such Meetings; but our expectations were, that every Member should there appear in subjection of Christ, the Head and higher Power, unto which as Members of his Body we owe Obedience: In this sense we readily embraced the Counsel, to Meet together to Serve, {First Part 16} but not to Bear Rule over one another’s Consciences: and matters intended by us to be transacted in those Meetings, and by others also (as far as we understood) were chiefly, To take care of the poor, the fatherless and the widdow. And that if any professed the Truth, and dishonour’d the same by prophane and evil Conversation, we might by such ways and meanes, as the Lord on every occasion might direct, (not then thinking that the day would ever come, wherein an Outward Directory should be placed as a Judg over our Consciences) Indeavor to reclaim such from the Evil of their Ways; and for these Services we are sensible, that Meetings are proper, and therefore to continue in the services thereof: yet never thought we should have seen the Day, wherein any professing the Truth would have attempted to treat on such a Subject as this viz. [How far doth this Government extend in matters Spiritual, and purely conscientious?] and not only so but be approved (as the aforesaid Book of Government, wherein the said sentence is written, hath been) by a Meeting that takes upon them to take Care (as they pretend) that nothing be Printed whereby the Truth may be dishonour’d.
Alas, Friends, can such appear to us as men staid in the Unchangable Truth, who have suffered and highly contended for Liberty of Conscience, and the Christ alone is Lord over it; and is its only Lawgiver; and yet now reckon that Mens-Meetings (which we, or least several of us, do know, having been much conversant Therein, even from the begining, to this day, have most usually consisted of Men Uncertain in Numbers as well as to Qualifications and Persons) may assume a Power over Conscience, under the Notion of the Church of Christ. Truly Friends, we cannot but testify, that our Souls have no Unity with such things; and cannot but look upon the Promoters thereof, as Lovers of Preheminence, more than Lovers of God; having let in a dark, separate, rending, dividing Spirit from the Truth, and opened a Door, whereby as great Darkness may be brought over the People, {First Part 17} As ever was in any Age under the profession of Christian Religion.
Objection, But perhaps some persons may thus Object, We cannot but have more Charity for some, at least, of those who are concerned in these things you strike at, and cannot believe they intend an imposition on any of our Consciences; for when we have been in Meetings with them, we have been Witnesses that the Life hath been raised, and our Souls have been refreshed through their Ministry; and in their Epistles they tell us, how eminently the Lord appears amongst them, unto which we cannot but give Credit, because when they are with us, the Life in us answers to the Life in them, as Face answers Face in a Glass; but when those whom they oppose, do speak, then Darkness, Dryness, and Barrenness appears: besides, many of the Ministring Friends have exhorted us (and as they say) in the Name of the Lord, that we ought to shut out Jealousies, the Reasoning, and the Wisdom; telling us (as before hinted) That the Apostasy shall never enter the generality more, and that we ought to have an eye to the Brethren.
Answ. This Objection may seem very weighty with some, especially such who may conclude, that if they are of the true Brotherhood, the Lord will give them an inward sense, when they wait upon him, whereby a Testimony according to the Truth may arise from them in every Case, wherein they may Concern their thoughts; but alas! ’tis either the fruit of Weakness or Presumption so to conclude, with respect to every Brother, in what estate soever, which hath been sufficiently evidenced to us by the Fruits of those, who have taken upon them to Judge the Merit of a Cause, without hearing of both Parties, (of which more anon) Besides, if we do but consider, that the Scriptures of Truth do testify, there are diversities of Gifts, diversities of Administration, and Operations, and yet by the same Spirit, it were sufficient to prompt us to be {First Part 18} so Serious, and weighty in this day of Tryal, as to be found waiting every one in his own Gift, that so all may preserved, and not meddle with things that are too high for them.
He that is not sensible of the Danger in running beyond his Gift, and is so puft up with Spiritual Pride, as to conclude himself more Faithful, more Holy, more circumspect, more Discerning than his Brother, thinking of himself not only better than of his Brother, but in other things above what is meet, contrary to the Counsel of the Apostle, who exhorted, Not to think of our selves more highly than we ought; may easily run himself on this Rock of Judging those, whom the Lord Judgeth not; especially if such an one give himself liberty to Judge from an apprehended Inward Sense, grounded on no Outward Knowledge, or Evidence.
That now which is with us farther to signify in relation to this matter, is this, we have great cause to doubt that this kind of Weakness, or Presumption hath been, and is yet like to be one meanes, by which the variance amongst such as have been formerly at Unity may continue; because ‘tis well known that when Testimonies have arisen against some persons in publick, as dark, separate, and dividing Spirits, and that some such as have been dissatisfy’d, have desired to know what is the Matter, and what is the Fruit whereby it may be evidenced? The Answer commonly is, Let the Testimonyes of Friends arise: this Word when it springs from such, who have been Instruments to beget into this Faith, that we ought to shut out the Reasoning, the Wisdom, and Jealousy (and that without distinction) and that the Apostasy shall never enter the Generality more; and that we ought to have an eye to the *[^1] Brethren, easily raises the {First Part 19} like Testimony, that such an one is of a dark, separate Spirit and then this comes to be spread abroad, as a Seal to that which cannot be evidenced either by Doctrine or Conversation; as if the Tree were not now to be known by its Fruit, as in daies past, and so whilst they have been in the Exercise of one part of the Counsel, viz. Excluding the Reason and the Wisdom (by which means some have been betrayed to act contrary to all Reason, and all Wisdom) they have acted contrary to the other part of the counsel which was to shut out the Jeaslouy: For had they not entertained Unrighteous Jealousy, we are perswaded, that they would not have testified against such, as have approved themselves unto us no other, then Faithful Ministers of Christ, sound in Doctrine, and as Blamless in Conversation (so far as ever we knew) and any Friends.
And thus the Variance, we fear is but too likely to continue. Now we appeal to the Witness of God, Whether this kind of proceeding be not the Fruit of a Dark, Rending Spirit, that separates from the Truth.
But to come a little nearer to answer other parts of the Objection, viz, When we have been in Meetings with them, we have been Witnesses, that the Life hath been raised, and our soules have been refreshed; and that When those whom they oppose do speak, nothing but Dryness, Deadness, and Barrenness appears.
We desire every one who may thus affirm, seriously to weigh and consider:
First, Whether, if contrary to thine own Principle, thou hast let in Jealousy, this Jealousy may not darken thee, so as to take Light for Darkness, and Darkness for Light; and that to be True Refreshment, which is no: other, but a rejoicing in those imaginary sparks, which thou by a false fire hast kindled: for when the eye is not single to God, and fixt upon that Teacher that cannot be removed into a Corner, but instead thereof, hast an eye unto man, and to things that are without, {First Part 20} (weighing not the matters wherein thy mind is concerned in the equal Ballance of the Sanctuary) it may be Just with the Lord to suffer thee to be overshadowed with a Vail of Darkness, and to become ignorant of the Mysteries of the Kingdom of God, as they who are without are, lest thou see with thine eye, and understand with thy heart, and be converted and saved, even as it was said by Christ himself concerning them who are without, Mark, 4.11,12.
For we know, that when Truth was Preach’t amongst us in the beginning, and the Light of Christ shining in our Conscience magnified as our only Guide (the Gift of the Father) and Appearance of Christ Jesus, the great Ordinance and Power of God unto Salvation) our souls were wonderfully reacht, and affected with the sound thereof; believing, that the day was then come unto us, wherein the Promise of the Father, according to the Words of Christ, was fulfilled unto us, viz. But the Comforter, which is the Spirit of Truth, which the Father will send in my Name, he shall Teach you all things, and Guide you into all Truth: And thus the Eyes of our Understandings came to be opened, that we saw most of the Professours (then in being) to be but in the Gentile nature, and come no further than the Outward Court, which the Angel (as John Testified[^1] ) was not to measure: for was not their Preacher Outward, their Rule Outward, their Order Outward, their Ordinances Outward, and the Tokens, and Marks of Membership in their Church Outward? And when those Outward Things were magnified, and the Preaching of the Light of Christ Jesus, as the Guide to the Father, degraded by our Opposers, we were even ready to fear (on their behalf) that they were of that number, who saw, but did not perceive; did hear, but not understand. Our breathing now unto the Lord is, That none of those who have formerly received the Truth in the Love thereof, may continue so hardened, as to see and not Perceive; to hear and not Understand; and so (in a dark and vailed Estate) {First Part 21} conclude, that [as *2 Heirs of the Gospel, Life and Salvation, they are entered into an Heavenly Possession] (whenas the Possessions they are entered into, are but some outward Observations, which may more properly be accounted to relate to the Outward Court, than to the New Jerusalem, and Heirs of the Kingdom of God) but rather that they may so perceive, and understand the things of God, as to bow to the appearance of Christ Jesus in themselves, as the only Lawgiver, Spiritual Guide, and Teacher, which is infailible, and cannot be removed into a Corner: with confidence then may we conclude, that none such will ever more boast of the possession which they have taken (as Heirs of the Gospel) with respect to things that are without.
Secondly, As to this part of the aforesaid Objection, viz. that nothing but Dryness, Deadness, and Barrenness appears in those, who are opposed by such whom thou art at Unity, we say.
This seems strange unto us; for the Apostle thus Testifies, We are unto God a sweet Savour of Christ in them that are saved, and in them that perish; to the one we are the Savour of Death unto Death, and to the other the Savour of Life unto Life: This give us occasion to put every one that has or may Judge the sound form of words to be Deadness, Dryness & Barrenness (especially when Springing from such whom thou hast known to be in the Life) upon this search; is not the reason thereof, because I am watching for evil, and have let in a Spirit of Prejudice, believing an evil Report, when perhaps it may not be Truth? If this be thy State we must plainly tell thee, they are the very Tokens of a Perishing Condition, and then, though it be the Word of Life that is Preached, yet it {First Part 22} can be no other (according to the Testimony of the Apostle) but the Savour of Death unto thee.
Besides, we have this further Observation to make, that some [at least] of those, thus Testified against, as Dead, Dry and Barren, are chiefly such unto whom God hath given a Portion of Understanding above many of their Brethren, and have, and yet do (as far as ever we know) appear Sound in Doctrine, and as blameless in Life and Conversation as any friends, we have ever known; and so cannot run with the Current of the Times: we desire therefore that every one of the Opposers of, or Judges over such, and in a Godly Jeaslouy over themselves put these queries unto their own hearts, and try things in the equal ballance.
Have not I many times heard unsound Doctrines, and beheld Disorder and Confusion brought forth even in Publick Meetings for worship by those, who cry against Dark, Separate Spirit; and yet not been a Reproof thereto, Concluding notwithstanding that there did a Freshness and Life appear?
Have not I been often affected with an Outward Tone, and strength of Lungs, when there hath been little to the Information and Building up one another in the most Holy Faith?
Have not I been better Contented to hear a Thundering kind of Voice Crying out against a Separate Spirit (though without distinction) when not a word was spoken to shew the Way to the Kingdom, than to hear the Way of Eternal Life Plainly Demonstrated by a soft, and moderate Voice?
We know there is great cause for many to put these questions to their Consciences, and to be cool in Spirit that so they may have an Answer from the Lord, whose appearance is not in the strong winds, but in the still Voice.
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Keyboarder’s Note: A reference to Revelations 11: 1,2 which reads: 1. Then was given me a reede, like unto a rod, and the Angel stood by, saying, Rise and mete the Temple of God, and the alter, and them that worship therein. 2. But the court which is without the temple cast out, and mete it not: for it is given unto the Gentiles, and the holy citie shall they trade under Foote, two and fourtie moneths. Source: Geneva Bible 1560↩
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*Note, This sentence [viz. as Heirs of the Gospel, Life and Salvation to your possessions] hath been of late years frequently expressed by G. F. when speaking to Friends by way of encouragement to continue Mens and Women’s Meetings, distinct from the publick Meetings for Worship; by which meanes ‘tis much doubted, that some ignorant People have concluded, that their frequenting those meetings is an evidence, that they are Heirs of Life and Salvation. ↩
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