A Lamentation for the Fall of ſo many, once Worthies, in Spiritual Iſrael.

OH!The Author's Sorrow. what ſhall I ſay, or write unto you, that once run to and fro on Foot from place to place, ſpending your Time and Strength to turn Peoples Minds into the Centre of their Souls, to Chriſt's Inward and Spiritual Grace, to be their Teacher and Leader into all Truth.

But now, that you ſhould contradict your former Advice, by ſetting up VVomen and Men Guides over an Innocent People, is greatly to be lamented.

How are you fallen, what Lamentation ſhall I take up for you?

Oh! that mine Eyes were as a Fountain of Water, that I might weep Day and Night for the Fall of ſo many, once Worthies in Spiritual Iſrael; who were once in that Spirit and Love of Jeſus, that they could lay down their Lives to win Souls to God; loved their very Enemies, yea, could forgive the Treſpaſſes of a Brother, Matth. 18.22. ſeventy times ſeven.

But alas, this true Love, or Lamb's Patience is not now to be found on Earth,O Truth, art thou fled to Heaven again? Is Man's Souls too ſtraight to contain thee? except amongſt a few upright Hearts, that has choſen Christ's Inward and Spiritual Grace for their Guide, ſuch can waſh the Feet of their Enemies.

Deceive not your ſelves, for you cannot ſave your ſelves; by ſaying you are in the Light, when you envy any Man; for whoever doth, is in Darkneſs, even until now, 1 Joh. 1.9.

Now let me a little reaſon with you, Was there not true Love and Charity in general amongſt the Profeſſors of the Truth (when all thought themſelves Poor and Low in their own EyesHave you not forgotten that good Day.) before Ambitious Women, and Ambitious Men, crept in among you, ſuch I mean that thirſted for Honour and Rule over an Innocent People, Abſolon like, ſaying in Heart, O that I was a Judge in Iſrael, when alas, moſt of ſuch Judges,The Heart of Man is deceitful; none can know it, but by the Grace of God. What is not of Faith is Sin. have and do buſie themſelves in judging others for the Moats in their Eyes, when the Beam is ſtill in their own Eyes.

Theſe Lordly Spirits in Women's-Meetings, and Men's Meetings, would have an Innocent People ſubmit to their Rules, Orders and Ceremonies, whither the Parties ſee it their Duty to obey, or not.

Holding thoſe Meetings Monthly and Quarterly in private Rooms (where ſometimes there are not above four Perſons that take upon themſelves to RuleAnd alas moſt of them Ignorant ones, not knowing who gave them their uſurped Power, yet will be as angry as a Woman, if you obey not their Wills, when you come before them.) and there diſpoſe of ſuch Monies as they collect at the end of Religious Meetings (where the moſt Givers are) where they ought alſo to give a publick Account how they diſpoſed of the Money unto the general Givers; but this I never ſee them do, except the Collection was for a Fire, &c.

It's true, Monies for the Poor were at firſt (that is) when firſt God raiſed us to be a People, (who diſcovered more of his Love to us, than too many before us in this latter Age.) I ſay, then Moneys were collected, or freely given always at the end of a Monthly Religious Meeting, where alſo Marriages was propoſed, and there finiſhed in time.

Then why do you (in many places) ſtill hold up the one, and leave the other to the Judgment of Women's Meetings, &c.

Whence ſprung all the Diviſions, Controverſies, and ſeparate Meetings for Worſhip among you.

If not from the ſeverity, acted in the ſaid Meetings for Government, The Root from whence Conteſt riſes among you. whereby have you not attained to ſuch an outward Power and Authority over Innocent People, as to caſt a good Man, (that confirms not) out of the favour of your People, and to ſlight his Teſtimony for God, and can retain a bad Man (a Conformiſt to your Womens Meetings) in favour with your People, yea, and to preach too, tho' a Caſt-away.

To bring Preſidents, for this would ſpend too much Time and Paper, (I thank God he has hitherto kept me from bowing to any ſort of Image of Man's making.)

But did St. Paul's Enemies ſay,Would you not have him ſo, by calling before you more than twelve times, to anſwer at your Court in London. See his Tryals in Penſilvania, Sold by R. Baldwin. The moſt hidden way to defame a Nonconformiſt, as has been yet heard of. that much Learning had made him mad? Did not the Pope ſay ſo by John Parrot (when you owned him in the Priſon of mad Men at Rome) and did not one of your Preachers ſay to me, that much Learning has made Geo. Kieth mad.

Will you take up thoſe envious Peoples Arguments, to render whom you pleaſe odious in the Minds of the Innocent.

But his Works and Service for the Truth, as it is in Jeſus, will out live your Malice againſt him.

Oh! That he, and every one, that truly fears God, may ſo keep to the meaſure of Grace,In what may • an be pre •• rved from • nemies, that 〈◊〉 ſhall not be •• rt. • e that dwells 〈◊〉 Love to all, • wells in God. given them of God, that no Tryals, of what nature ſoever, may ever ſeparate them from the Love of God; (if ſo) then I am ſure they will envy none, tho' a great Enemy; I ſay, God has kept me in the Spirit of Love to all (praiſed be his Name for it) tho' I have been convinced about forty Years, that the Quaker's Fundamental Principle of Chriſt's Light and Grace, being the chief Leader and Guide into all Truth, is a Truth, which will abide for ever.

And no Man, either by Converſation or Preaching, made me joyn with them; it was God alone that ſhewed me that they were in the right way then, for I often prayed to GodBeing young, ••… d then dwelt 〈◊〉 Holdenly, in Northampton • hire, knowing • f none, call'd Quaker. to diſcover to me which was the right way to Heaven, and he directed me to them, when I knew nothing of them, but the name Quaker, whom I ſought outBy enquiring • f Labourers, 〈21 letters〉 at I ſet to work, who • old me there was none fol • owed them but poor Men, • s Weavers, &c. The Author could never • oyn with their outward Government. , and found them, and ſuffered many Buffittings and Stonings, and Impriſonments with them, which was Joy unſpeakable unto me, that I had found a People, whoſe Truſt was alone in God. Oh! how my Soul was knit unto them; I could have died at a Stake with them then, if it had been the Will of God. Oh! my Heart is broken, as into Tears, that this People ſhould ſo ſoon let go their true Guide, Chriſt's Inward and Spiritual Grace, and ſet themſelves up as Guides.

I muſt confeſs, I have been at two of theſe Meetings of Government, but it was accidentally; the one was in Huntington ſhire, the other in Bedfordſhire; in both which, I ſaw ſo much of the Imperiouſneſs òf thoſe that made themſelves Judges, that I could never after find Freedom in Spirit to go to any more, and did largely write a Teſtimony againſt it, but never had an Anſwer, and reſted in the Will of God; but now I am conſtrained to write, in hopes the Innocent may ſee to the beginning, and the danger of any People, that ſwerves from their firſt Inſtitution.See the Ep. of J. Crook. and Tho. Green, to the Young, convinced, and Truth's Progreſs. By J. Crook.

Again, From whence ariſe all the publick Claſhings of one Miniſter againſt another, if not from thoſe Lordly Spirits, that will rule in ſuch Meetings, too publickly known, both to Profeſs or Prophane? that a Prieſt once writ to me, That the Light was not new the Quaker's Guide, it's their Meeting at Devonſhire Houſe, the Riſe too of thoſe Arbitrary Meetings in the Country.

Oh! Ye degenerate from your firſt Inſtitution; you I ſay, that are reſolved to govern Arbitrarily, and not leave the honeſt Souls among you, Arbitrary Government. to be ruled by Chriſt's Inward and Spiritual Grace, to which you have ſo often adviſed them to follow, as a moſt ſure Guide, and will not ſuffer them, by the Leadings of that, to chooſe who ſhall be their Arbitrators, for them in Marriage, if you can hinder them.

If you reſolve to carry it by a Ruling Hand over the Innocent, (contrary to your Principles.)

Take no more upon you the Name of Children of the Light, For that leads to Peace on Earth, and Good-will to all Men. as G. F. and E. H. calls you in their Primmer, ſeeing you are fallen into the ſame Snare (in Church-Government) as others before you, whom you did condemn for ſuch things.

Oh! How dare you the poſitive Judgment againſt any perſon (in things, not ſinful againſt God) ſeeing that one of the greateſt Writers,He that is without ſin let him caſt the firſt Stone. to promote your Authority, (otherwiſe was a very worthy Man,) had not yet attained to infallibility or Perfection, ſaying, Others may perhaps ſpeak more certainly of this State (Perfection) as have arrived to it; for me, I ſhall ſpeak modeſtly, as acknowledging my ſelf not to have arrived to it. See R. B.'s Works. p. 389.Perfection is attainable in this Life, thro •… Obedience to God's Grace.

Oh! Will you continue to be ſo Cenſorious to Judge all People, not to be of God, that take not Counſel of Women's Meetings, before Marriage.

My Soul has often mourned for you, and often deſired of God, That he would be pleaſed to diſcover to me, Whether or no,☞ I am to blame in thus writing to you, and have found nothing but peace therein, and good Will to all Men, and can (through God's Mercy) give my Bread freely to mine Enemy, and ſerve all mine Enemies,The Author is conſtrained to write, having borne long. (if I have any) in what I can, GOD knows I • ye not; for I truly Love all the Works of his Hand, and am very ſenſible, that thoſe that do envy any Man, (let his Tranſgreſſions be never ſo great) is not of God, profeſs what they will in Religion.Gods Love is unto all the Works of His Hand.

Had not our dear Saviour Love and Mercy for one that had Seven Devils? And ſhall not thoſe that profeſs to be his Diſciples have the ſame Love to all? Becauſe no Man dwell in God, no longer than he dwells in Love to all; overcoming Evil by the good Grace of Chriſt Jeſu • .

But to come ſomewhat 〈…〉 not God 〈…〉 your 〈…〉 Then why do you ſet Self-Exaltation before it? For the Love you have to Rule, by your means over Innocent Hearts.

But I ſtill hope that the young Convinced will 〈◊〉 (by 〈…〉 Gods Grace, he has given them) to the beginning 〈…〉 a harmleſs and Innocent People, and was not for 〈…〉

Oh! ye arbitrary Judges, what think you? Was not 〈…〉 Man, W. P. aſhamed to mention this 〈…〉 in Page 31. of his Key? Wherein he 〈◊〉 not your 〈…〉 Government (to pleaſe you that Love Dominion) 〈…〉 wiſe in that, fearing (I ſuppoſe) the World 〈…〉 •• deed well they might, having never heard before 〈…〉 Women muſt be adviſed with, before Marriage, 〈…〉 of Men and Women together, and the Reſui ••… to be 〈…〉 Devil.

And the greateſt wonder of all is, That ſuch a Government ſhould be practiſed amongſt a People that profeſs,Do not you yet ſee your Apoſtane. that every Individual Man and Woman ſhould have no other Guide, beſides Chriſt's Inward and Spiritual Grace.

But if you now ſay to me, as G. F. ſaid to me and T. H. in a Diſcourſe with him, till near Mid-night, about the ſaid Arbitrary Government, You do not deſerve to have Wives, (ſaith he)The beſt Argument that ever they could give for Womens Meetings. you ſpeak ſo much againſt Women. To ſay the Truth, this was the beſt Argument he could give us, for his unſcriptural Female Government.

Though its well known, we love our Wives as true Chriſtians ought to do.

Nor are we againſt a Woman's Declaring in a Religious Meeting, what God has done for her Soul, by ſilently waiting at the Feet of Jeſus, as Mary did, (that is) in his Inward and Spiritual Grace.

Nor are we againſt Women meeting by themſelves, upon a particular occaſion, but not monthly for Government.

Nor are we againſt Men's Meetings upon urgent Occaſion, between themſelves, ſo as they Judge no other Perſon or Perſons, who has not choſen them Judges or Arbitrators.

Seeing God has placed the Civil Magiſtrates over us,The Civil Magiſtrates are not to be reiected, who indeavour to preſerve us in Peace. to whom we are to ſubmit in all things, that's not contrary to the Conſcience, which is Rectified by God's Grace, Rom. 13.

Oh! Call to mind the Severity of that Spirit, that has, and ſtill doth act in too many of you.

How many Souls have you, as it were, ſlain by Judging, and thereby driven into the troubled Sea of Man's Wrath,You create Oppoſers, by your unfaithfullneſs. and being ſo driven by you thither (you laying aſide Chriſt's Love) can do no other than oppoſe you, then you do truly call them Apoſtates, when you were the Cauſe for want of Love.

Though the Truth is,None can no longer ſtand faithful, than their Ever to God's Grace. Your A ••• gs have barr'd many Souls from owning the Truth, and has given ſtrength to the Atheiſts. The preſent Civil Magiſtrates have out done you in Love to all, The 〈…〉 imposing Spirit. they were to blame alſo themſelves, becauſe they let go the Strength they had in God's Grace, and ſo ſuffered Man's Wrath and Envy to ſeparate them, from the Love of God in Chriſt Jeſus, through your Cenſors.

Likewiſe, how many Souls, by your Imperious Government, have you barr'd from Inquiring after the Truth, is too well known to ſome.

Oh! unnatural, not to give that Liberty to ſome, called with you Quakers, (in things not ſinful) as the preſent Civil Magiſtrates gives us all. This is not doing as you would be delt by. Think you, that God will not Judge you for theſe things? Let Self-Intereſt no longer blind your Eyes.

Oh! the Cruelty of this impoſing Spirit (when God does not chain it down) how many Thouſands of Souls and Bodies has it deſtroyed, which no Man can number; being yet lodged in the hearts of Ambitious Women, and Ambitious Men: the ſame Spirit it is, that now judges 〈◊〉 of the Devil, that conforms not to their Wills, Orders, Ceremonies, 〈◊〉

Will you not yet ſay, that ſuch Prieſts are more to be commended, than you, who do not impoſe upon a Couple (that are about to marry) any Ceremonies againſt their Conſciences.ſome Prieſts out-do you in Love.

How often have you troubled a Couple, for refuſing to ſubmit to a Female Government in Marriage, and enjoyning ſome, ſcarce of Ability to travel many Miles, and often (at their own charge) to your private Women's Meetings, and Men's Meetings, which have been ſo wearied with Journeys, and needleſs Delays, (tho' Relations were ſatisfied) who to rid themſelves of the trouble of waiting upon you any longer,Judging all not of God, as conform not to Women's Meetings in Marriage; when the Scriptures enjoyns not your Ceremony. have gone to a Prieſt upon the account of Marriage.

Then have you not preſently judged them gone from the Truth, having recorded ſome (as I am inform'd) Apoſtates to Generations to come, for ſo doing, that obeyed not your Wills in Men's Meetings, (when you were the cauſe for their ſo doing) and will not own them of the Truth, until ſuch time as they condemn themſelves for ſo doing.

Oh! what a mighty Streſs you lay upon the Ceremony of Women's Meetings in Marriage, as to account all that oppoſe, or approve not of it, fallen from God.

When ſome of you will ſometimes ſay, why do you ſcruple ſuch an indifferent thing, as to propoſe your Intention of Marriage to a Woman's Meeting, and a Man's Meeting, Jeſus did not hate his Brethren that did not believe in him. Joh. 7.5. without Women.

And ſome again do ſay, That the Scriptures leaves all People free, as to the manner of their Marriage, ſo as they enter into that Eſtate in the fear of God, before ſufficient Witneſſes.

I do remember, that a Perſon, one of the greateſt Sticklers for the promoting of your Government of Women and Men's Meetings, once ſaid to me, It was the everlaſting Government, of which there would be no end; Were you not blind, to ſay your Government would ſtand for ever. but ſince (thro' God's Mercy) his Eyes are opened, and now plainly ſees it has been the Root, from whence ſo many Diviſions has ſprung among you the ſaid Perſon, has not yet loſt, being call'd a Quaker.

I have asked ſome Couples, newly married, why they did propoſe their Intention of Marriage to a Meeting of Women, and then to a Meeting of Men, knowing the trouble that others have gone through, by ſo doing, ſeeing you knew you were clear from all Engagements to any other in this Kind, and that your Relations and Friends had been long ſatisfied?The weakneſs of ſuch Couples as go to marry at a private Women's Meeting, and Mens Meeting. Did not you know it was Friend's Practiſe in the beginning, to mention their Intentions at the end of ſeveral Religious Meetings, and if none oppoſe juſtly, then might enter into that State, by ſpeaking fit Words at the end of another Publick Religious Meeting.

There Anſwer was always to me to this effect:

We thought it a very hard Tryal,For fear of diſpleaſing you, how many Couples has conformed againſt Conſcience. that after all things was agreed on for Marriage, to begin again to mention it to a Woman's Meeting; (moſt Strangers) and after they were ſatisfied, then to go to a Man's Meeting, to wait for the 〈…〉 But this we did, contrary to our Freedom, that they might not think ill of us.

You can 〈…〉 one Couple among you, but will give an Anſwer much to the ſame effect; Your own Bigots ſee the trouble of waiting upon you. which by this may eaſily be ſeen what Dominion you exerciſe over the Innocent, that to keep favour with you, muſt leave their Inward Guide to pleaſe you.

But to plead for your new Arbitrary Government, ſome of you do ſay, A frivilous Argument. That in the beginning, a Couple has come rudely into a Meeting, and ſaid they took each other as Man and Wife, and ſo brought a Scandal upon us.

What then? Is there never a wiſe Man among you, or Woman, in a Religious Meeting, that can ſay to ſuch a Couple, you ought to give the Meeting time to make inquiry whether you are clear from all Engagements in this Kind to any other Perſon or Perſons, and we ſhall do our Endeavour to reſolve you next firſt day;See the true Chriſtians Rules, as to Church-Government in the 4th. Edi •… of The Young Man's Companion, not written to enjoyn others to obey, but left to the witneſs of God in all People. for here's none that deſire; to put you off from time to time, by needleſs Delays; and as ſoon as w • find you are honeſt, and are for coming together in the fear of the Lord, we ſhall freely ſet our Hands to a Certificate of the Lawfulneſs of your Marriage; at the end of a Religious Meeting, the more publick the better, nor will we ſend you many Miles to a Meeting of a few Women, (who may be ſtrangers to you) and they to ſend you, when they think Good to a private Man's Meeting, who may tell you, that if you will not ſubmit to our Orders, we ſhall not ſtand by you in Tryals, &c. but ſhall begin and end your Marriage at the neareſt Religious Meeting, where you are beſt known, which was the innocent Practice of our dear deceaſed friends at reſt? I was married ſo,☞ without any Oppoſition; for then,How I was married, and many others. neither Woman-Judges, nor Men-Judges in private Rooms was ſet up.

Now, becauſe ſome may be ready to ſay, we know of no ſuch Law or Decree that injoyns a Couple to go twice to propound their Marriage to a private Women's Meetings, and twice to a private Men's Meeting, here folllows the Copies of two of them.

From a Yearly Meeting in London, the 27th. of the 3d. Mon. 1675.

IT is our Judgment,Two new Laws eſtabliſhed. that for better Satisfaction to all Parcies, that there may be due time for Inquiry of clearneſs of the Perſons concerned, it is convenient that Marriage be at twice propounded to the Meetings that are to take care therein, both to the Men's and Women's Meetings, where both are eſtabliſhed before they are accompliſhed; and when things are cleared, that the Marriage be accompliſhed in a Grave, and publick Aſſembly of Friends and Relations.

An • ther Decree upon Record.

THat for Time to come, no Friends may permit, or ſuffer Marriages, without the Cons;ent of Friends at two Men's, and two Women's Meetings, being 〈◊〉 , and apart each from other. To mention more Decrees to this purpoſe, is needleſſ.

But the Women in London you may be ſure w ••• glad of their Exaltation (in finding that the Men had pre ••••• d 〈◊◊◊◊◊◊〉 upon the account of Marriage.)

And finding the ſweetneſs of Ruling did (together with Men) judge all in the Country as Libertines, that conformed not to the Deeree, and do judge ſuch to this day, as one of their 〈◊〉 Preachers, T. R. One of late G. F.'s Prieſt-Threſhers ſaid to me; I w ••• this Country are of a Libertine Spirit, and an indifferent 〈◊〉 only becauſe (for good Conſcience like) we did not ſet up Womens Meetings. (Our Women are wiſer here.)

Tho' it is true, ſome of this County has ſo far conform'd to the Decrees, as to ſet up Men's Meetings, Monthly and Quarterly for Government, (which is one in Nature, to the other 〈…〉

Yet thoDid not • a •… lament, that the Dames of Rome became Governors of their huſbands. It is ſtrange (ſaith he) that theſe •… ks commanded the World 〈…〉 to 〈◊〉 to Women. See 〈…〉 P. 〈…〉 . ſome ſay ſuch Meetings are very 〈◊〉 in the City (where the Women dwell near together) tho' not ſo 〈◊〉 in the Country, dwelling ſo far aſunder.

I ſay, they are needful nowhere to be obſerved Monthly, becauſe thereby they become proud of the Authority.W • men's Meet ••• Monthly no where 〈◊◊〉 . Which is the 〈◊〉 of the Ambitious that 〈…〉 .

For if a Marriage is intended to be propounded at the end of a Religious Meeting, (to prevent Lordſhip • ) and the Meeting happen to be a great one, (as is commonly in London, the Man him ſelf, or he may d • ſire a Friend to declare at the end of the Meeting, that here is one that deſires to publiſh his Intention of Marriage; and if the People are 〈◊〉 going away, you may call as many People aſ are free to draw into the next Room, and there publiſh it, both Men and Women being together. This done, ſome of the Meeting may tell the Man, that if he 〈…〉 next firſt Day, they will reſolve him according to what Inquiry they have made, and as ſoon as we find you are clear from all Engagements of this Kind to any other Perſon or Perſons you may take each other as Man and Wife, before as many Witneſſes as you please, the more, the better; for ſuch Concerns cannot be too publick, &c.

This I write from the Innocency of my Soul, (not as a Law for others) but this way may prevent the Inſulting 〈◊〉 Ambitious Men and Women, (who do pretend better things in Words) who delight in Dominion, and are ſo confident as to ſay, We diſpiſe Dignities or Government, in not ſubmitting to theſe unſcriptural Government of Woman and Men's Meetings.

Obſ. Some may ſay, What art thou alſo againſt our Men's meeting Monthly for Government; for did not the Apoſtles adviſe to chooſe Elders? &c.

Anſ. I am not againſt the Meetings of ſuch Elders, for the innocent to adviſe with, as the Apoſtle would have choſen; that is, ſuch as are Meek in Heart,What an Elder is, and how to be qualified. Lowly in Spirit, Chaſte in Life, Virtuous in all Converſation, full of Self denial, Long-Suffering, and Patient, not only forgiving, but loving their very Enemies; one that rules his Children, and his own Houſe well; his Wife (if any) grave, (not proud, nor ſlanderous) ſober and faithful in all things, 1 Tim. 3.4. 2 Tim. 2.24.

Now I appeal to every Conſcience that is cleanſed by God's Grace, whither if any Man take upon himſelf to be an Elder, or Teacher in a Meeting, Good Morality is more acceptable to God than Formaliſts. See P. 58. in the fourth Edition of my Young Man's Companion. Alſo ſee a Character of a True Chriſtian, P. 74. and is not qualified as aforeſaid, be not a Uſurper.

God, in Mercy to the Innocent, has often curb'd the ſaid Impoſing Spirit, and will more and more, I doubt not, chain it down for ever; which he has already (in Mercy) done out of many Souls, praiſed be his Name for it.

God is a zealous God, he will not give his Honour to a Meeting of VVomen, or Men Judges, (having committed all Judgment in things relating to a good Conſcience unto his Son Chriſt Jeſus) and ſo fas has begun to open the Eyes of his faithful People, People will not much longer be blinded by Man; for a great Aſſembly may err as well as a little one.that they ſhall not be ſo blind to believe that a very large Meeting of VVomen or Men, can give an Infallible Judgment in things that others ſhall be bound to believe and obey, as to a Ceremony, or the Judging of a Man, Not to be of God, when they have not proved he has ſinned againſt God.

For if the greatneſs of the Aſſembly muſt carry it (as one of your Preachers ſaid to me, how could ſuch a number be miſtaken?) Then the Turks or Papiſts cannot number you in Aſſemblies.

But have you not a way beyond all others to exerciſe your Authority, moſt hiddenly,A hidden Power to blow up a Man's Reputation. or in the Dark, by ſending abroad your Formal Preachers,Who you ignorantly think all is Goſpel they utter, though it is true in public, they declare good Words. that do whiſper (where they think they can be credited) into the Ears of poor innocent People, that ſuch a Man or Men is not right, he doth not own our VVomen's Meetings, &c. then Prejudice enters.

So that Man or Men, however Juſt, cannot have their Teſtimonies for God enter into thoſe prejudiced Spirits, or ſcarce entertained friendly in ſome places, upon their travel for poor Soul's ſake. Oh! the Ignorance of thoſe People, that has not choſen Chriſt Grace in them for their Guide, but Man.

So that by this Secret way of whiſpering, how ſoon can you blow up an honeſt Man's Reputation.Report, and we will report it.

Good God! How long, I pray thee, will it be before the Profeſſors of the Grace that came by thy Son Jeſus Chriſt, be obeyed by them, which teaches true Love to all thy Creation?A Prayer for the Innocent that we love one an other, as God loves us all. And as thy Love is to all People, (tho' Sinners) ſo are thy Followers. Lord, give them to ſee that they dwell not in the Light, when they envy any People; and alſo that they may ſee, that Man is no more to be rely'd on for a Guide, but only thy Inward and Spiritual Grace; this I beg of thee, for thy dear Son's 〈◊〉 is to whom be given all Honour, Rule and Dominion, now, and for ever, Amen.

If God withdraws from ſuch as cloath themſelves with his Gifts, to ſerve Self Intereſt, how much more doth he withdraw his Love from ſuch Miniſters, as ſordidly conform (againſt their Conſciences) to a Female Government, Such a Teſt, to try Miniſters by, as was never heard of before. that you the Judges might not inſcence their Hearers againſt them, when they travel to win Souls to Righteouſneſs; that the Scriptures might be fulfilled in this Age, (in this) The Leaders of the People cauſe them to err.

I ſay, Such Conforming MiniſtersConforming Miniſters (that is) ſuch a one that deſigns to take up the whole time of a Meeting, in Speaking, and is offended it another Perſon takes up ſome of the time in Speaking; by which the firſt manifeſts himſelf to be out of the Apoſtle's Practice, 1 Cor. 14.3 • . If any thing be revealed, &c. G. Whi •• s ſaw much of an Impoſing Spirit in 〈…〉 . againſt good Conſcience, may poſſibly win ſome Souls (by their Preachings) to the Form, but not to the Power of Godlineſs, which Power all do deny, that believe that Chriſt's Inward and Spiritual Grace is not a ſufficient Guide to all, without VVomen's Meetings and Men's Meetings, to guide the People by, except the Civil Magiſirates.

Oh! what do you adviſe People to this Grace for, if it muſt not be their only Teacher; then if the Grace of Chriſt in them teaches them not conform to your VVomens Meetings, &c. Can you blame them then?

To draw towards a Concluſion, being it is in vain to ſpend too much Time and Paper, to diſcover the Vanity of a Female Government, and the Impoſing Spirit that now Rules and Reigns in ſuch oſ you as ſet up your ſelves Judges over Innocent People; which thing you condemned in Profeſſors before you.

What was the Reaſon think you that cauſed our English Poetical Prophet J. Wither, from joyning to any Religious Society being asked by a Friend of mine, he ſaid, Why 〈…〉 Minds and Conſciences of their Brethren.

Then it ſeems 〈◊◊〉 ſeveral ſorts of Profeſſors before (ſince the Reformation) were 〈◊〉 Impoſing, upon their Brethren's Conſcience, yet it 〈…〉

Therefore,All ye that • ove Righteouſneſs, Chriſt has given you, (and all men) Talent of his Grace to lead you into all Truth, ſo need not give Gifts to Men to teach you. Tit. 2.11 O ye honeſt and upright Hearts (where-ever diſperſed upon the Face of the Earth) who hunger and thirſt after Righteouſneſs, that ye might be filled therewith, and that it might fill the Earth, I ſay, let it be your Cry, as of Old, To thy Tents, O Iſrael! Truſt no more in Women or Men as Guides, truſt only to that Talent of Chriſt's Grace in you, that will never deceive you, its always ſtirring up the mind to good. That will truly teach you your Duty both to God and Man, and to love thoſe that hate you; It brings Salvation, Tit. 2.11. unto all that obey its Reproofs.

Oh! truſt not Man, whatever he whiſpers into your Ears, to prejudice your Minds againſt any Perſon upon the Earth.

The Mind going abroad from watching in this Inward an • Spiritual Grace, Let no Man beget Prejudice in thee againſt another. is the cauſe that the Devil gets into the Heart to raiſe hatred one againſt another.

But he that keeps his Mind upon the Watch, in this Tent, or ſtrong Tower, the Name of the Lord, Wherein thy ſtrength lies, O Man, 2 Cor. 12. 9. As it was for Paul when buffeted by Satan. neither Men nor Devils can deceive him; and he will truly Love all People, though they are of a different Perſuaſion to him in points of Religion.

And will the truly Faithful to the Grace of God in themſelves, be adviſing People to obey the ſame Grace in their own Souls, and will not ſeek by any means to draw their Minds from the Obedience thereof; fearing they may fall as the young Prophet did, which obeyed the old Prophet, contrary to his own Gift from God, or Meſſage, 1 K. 13.18.

Theſe honeſt Souls, that has choſen the good part, God's Grace for their Guide,Oh! the Love of an honeſt Heart to all People is to be praiſed above Rubies, &c. will envy no couple, that do from a free and willing Mind propound their Intention of Marriage twice to a Woman's Meeting, and twice at leaſt to a Man's Meeting.

Nor will envy a Couple that does, and thinks is more agreeable to Truth, to propoſe their Intentions at the end of ſeveral Religious Meetings, where Men and Women are met together, ſeeing the more publick the better ſatisfaction to all People; that a Judge did once acknowledge, that ſuch publick Marriages was lawful.

Oh!Oh! that all Impoſers might obey God's Grace, and no longer preach from Head-knowledge, making People believe it is as God's Spirit gives utterance. that you Impoſers would obey, as well as preach up God's Grace, for Peoples Guide; then would you come into the Lamb's patience, into that Love, that overcomes Anger, and forgive your Brethren's Treſpaſſes, as you hope God will forgive yours. Preach no more of ſuch Love until you witneſs it.

I am your Friend, and God knows my heart, I write in love to you: Though ſome of you, no doubt, will account me your Enemy, for thus telling (in part) how you are fallen from your firſt Inſtitution.

If I am to blame, pray blame no body elſe,If the Au •••• deſerves Blame, he 〈◊〉 take all to ••• ſelf; for 〈◊〉 Eyes are 〈◊〉 come Di • 〈◊〉 weeping f •• you with true broken Heart, and contrite Sp • rit, God o ••• knows, no 〈◊〉 elſe at this time. for no perſon dictated any thing to me, or put me upon this Work; I do not ſee that I Err therein.

Yet have I long ſeen and known, that many honeſt Hearts have been much grieved to ſee ſuch an alteration in the Profeſſors of the Truth, to what they were in the beginning, when Innocence and true Love to each other had dominion in the Souls of God's People (that is) beaore Women and Men ſet themſelves up as Judges in the Meetings • foreſaid.

That you mayſee your Error, and return to the Truth, as in the beginning, is the deſire of your Loving Friend, William Mather. I do not take you to be mine Enemies, becauſe I am no Man's Enemy, (praiſed be God for it,) and that I continue as I have hither been, a Friend to all, a Foe to none.

To conclude, If you ſay I have been ſome-what too ſharp upon you,I write n •• theſe things becauſe I think you ha •• me, but becauſe I love you, ſo do no • hate you. If 〈◊〉 want love, then let me loſe life, if i • be the Will of God. I ſay I have not been ſo ſharp as the Matter of Fact requires.

Have you not trampled under your Feet many Epiſtles of Love, ſent to you, ſcorning to bait an inch of your Authority, where you can overrule.

Therefore, If you are deſigned to Anſwer me, then I deſire you to let ſome Ancient Honeſt Friend do it, from the Gift of God in himſelf; and go not down to AEgypt for help. That is, go not to the Logicians, whoſe cunning Sophiſtry can make a good Cauſe ſeem bad, and a bad Cauſe ſeem good; I mean ſuch an one as T. E. one skilled in the Art of Reaſoning or Diſputing. who can by Sophiſtry ſo multiply Words, as to darken his innocent Readers, who is too often made to believe, his Cauſe muſt needs be good, his Matter is ſo long. Alas! How are men deceived in that? The fewer Words, the more Truth. And if he, or ſuch as ſay, I have Tautologies a repeating the ſame thing in other words herein, (a thing moſt of the Formal Preachers are guilty of, if it be a fault)The Author deſires that a Friend in the Truth may Anſwer his Writing, but no Sophiſter: blame me not for that. For I do not profeſs my ſelf a Schollar in the Languages, and therefore moſt fit, that ſuch a Schollar as I ſhould anſwer me. But if its come to that with you, that Scholarſhip, Man's Wiſdom and Reaſon muſt be Judge over ſuch Conſciences, as are rectified by God's Spirit, never more blame thoſe cunning Men, that drown'd the Text, in the Comment.

Likewiſe, Have you not often declared to the People, and do daily,Man muſt lay down their Crowns at the feet of Jeſus. that this is the day that — The loftineſs of Man ſhall be bowed down, and the Haughtineſs of Man ſhall be made low, and the Lord alone ſhall be exalted, Iſa. 2.17.

What Eyes thou read'ſt with, Reader, know I not, Mine were not dry, when I theſe Failings wrote.

Take ye heed every one of his Neighbour, and truſt ye not in any Brother; for every Brother will utterly ſupplant, and every Neighbour will walk with Slanders, Jer. 9.4.

Was this Jeremiah's Complaint in his day, the ſame may be taken up this day. Read his 9th. Chapter. Oh! that all may fear before the Lord, by obeying his Grace, or Gifts in themſelves, that we may all ſay with Holy David, Mercy and Truth are met together, Righteouſneſs and Peac • have kiſſed each other. Truth ſhall ſpring out of the Earth, and Righteouſneſs ſhall look down from Heaven, Pſal. 85.10, 11. Amen.