AN Exalted Diotrephes REPREHENDED, Or the Spirit of Error and Envy IN William Rogers against the TRUTH And many of the Antient and Faithful Friends thereof, Manifested in his late Monstrous Birth, or Work of Darkness, (viz.) his False and Scandalous Book, Intituled, The Christian Quaker-Distinguished, &c. Wherein he hath discovered himself to be an Apo­state, and not the True Christian Quaker; but as one driven out from the Presence of the Lord, and Unity with His Chosen People.

Also a Comparison between his said Book, and many Exhortations and Reproofs, Contained in an Epistle, given forth under his Hand against that Spirit, and work of Division, he is now fallen under; whereby his Apostacy, Self Contradiction, and Confu­sion may appear.

To be dispersed only among Friends, unless his Book is made more Publick.

Out of thy own Mouth will I Judge thee, thou Wicked Servant, Luk. 19.22.
But Evil Men and Seducers shall Wax worse and worse, Deceiving and being Deceived, 2 Tim. 3.13, 14.
But continue thou in the things which thou hast Learned, and been Assu­red of, knowing of whom thou hast Learned them, vers. 14.
In vers. 9, 10. But Diotrephes, who Loveth to have the Preheminence, prating against Ʋs with malicious Words, &c.

London, Printed for John Bringhurst, Printer and Stationer, at the Sign of the Book in Grace-Church-Street. 1681.

LEt it not seem strange to any, As though some new thing had happened unto Ʋs, that We have Occasion thus publickly to Appear against One that hath made Pro­fession of the Truth with Us, but is gone out from Us; according to that of 1 John 4.2. & 1.9. They went out from Ʋs, but they were not of Ʋs; for if they had been of Ʋs, they would no doubt have Continued with Ʋs: But they went out, that they might be made Manifest, that they were not all of Ʋs.

THE PREFACE.

AMongst the many Exercises and Perils, the Lords People in this Age, as in all Ages have met with, they have not been un­acquainted with Perils by False Brethren, ac­cording to what the Apostle Paul Testified, Acts 20.30. Also of your own selves, shall Men Arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away Disciples after them; whose Qualifications are at Large spoken of by the said Apostle, in his Second Epistle to Timothy, and Third, (viz.) Without natural Affection, Truce-Breakers, false Accusers, Incontinent, fierce Despisers of those that are Good, Traitors, Heady, High-Minded, &c. as the certain Fruits, by which they should be known.

To the Great Exercise, Grief, and Sorrow of the Faithful, there hath not been wanting divers of the like Instances of such Men, who since we have been a People, have Arisen from amongst our selves (as this Man William Rogers now doth) under the Profession of the Truth, to oppose and gain-say the Blessed Order and Government thereof, whereby the loose Conversations of the Wicked are Restrained or Judged, and the Truth cleared from the Reproach thereof. And these have not been without the like specious pretences with William Rogers, as standing up for the Ancient Testimony, and Principle of the Light, and against Aposta­cy, setting up Mans Prescriptions, Im­positions, Innovations, Persecutions, &c. but their Fruits withering: And their End hath made them Manifest, as this Mans also doth, and will do, to be the Men Apostatized them­selves, Led, and Acted by a Spirit that would open a Gap, and break down the Hedge, that e­very Man may do as he List, whilst under the [Page]Profession of the same Truth, without being cal­led to Account, and dealt with in a Gospel-Church-Order for it.

This small Treatise is not Intended for a full Answer to William Rogers's Voluminous Book, which requires a considerable time for Inspection into divers Matters and Papers; for such a Reply to trace him in all his False Insinuations, grievous Per­versions, and notorious false Charges of many Inno­cent Men, and Faithful and Eminent Labou­rers in the Work of the Gospel amongst Us, already Manifest to Us by their Answers and Certificates in Writing; wherein they have Largely Vindicated their Innocency, in most, if not all those things relating to matter of Fact, alledged against them, especially G. F. and have caused Copies thereof to be Delivered to Willi­am Rogers many Months since, and long before his Book was in the Press: Such more full An­swer more publickly to be made, we Refer to some other Hand or Hands, who are Emi­nently concerned to do it. In the mean time, [Page]we thought it not Amiss, to give the Reader some short discovery of the Subject, and Occa­sion of the Differences William Rogers Writeth about; and of His Work in General; and that by Comparing his former Exhortations and Re­proofs, with his late Printed Book, and Beha­viour amongst Us; the Reader may have some Taste of his Spirit of Errour and Envy, and be cautioned in himself thereby, how he gives Cre­dit to his many, and false Accusations against the Innocent.

An Exalted Diotrephes Reprehended.

WHen the Unclean Spirit is gone out of a Man, he walk­eth through dry Places seeking Rest, and finding none.

Then he saith, I will Return into mine House, from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it Swept and Garnisht.

Then Goeth he, and taketh with himself Seven other Spirits, more Wicked than himself, and they Enter in, and Dwell there; and the last State of that Man is worse than the first, even so shall it be to this Wicked Generation,

Mat. 12. vers. 43, 44, 45.

THat this is the Case of this miserable Man William Rogers, manifested by his late Fruits, is past doubt with us, whom, through Un­watchfulness, Disobedience, and Rebellion a­gainst God (which is as the Sin of Witch­craft) the unclean Spirit and Adversary of Mans Soul, the old Accuser of the Brethren, hath thus Entred, and Exalted upon the Pinnacle of his own conceited Abili­ties; and having now the Rule in him, and over him, makes War through him, against the Lamb and His fol­lowers; and having fitted him for his Service, now sets him about that which hath been all along his Work (viz.) To Reproach the faithful People of God, the whole Pro­fession, and the good Order and Government of the Truth, which the Lord hath brought forth amongst them (as that which striketh at the downfal of his Kingdom) [Page 8]with many false and opprobrious Accusations, as of being Apostatized, and Guilty of Imposition, Persecution, In­novation, Gentilian-Lordship, Blind Obedience, &c. whereby William Rogers hath not only Rankt himself a­mong a Number of those Apostates, who from the begin­ning in a Spirit of Enmity and Prejudice have risen up like Core (saying) You take too much upon you, against the Heavenly Care and Order of such as truely Fear and Love God, and in whom, as he himself hath confessed, God hath opened Councel for that End (viz.) To be as Helps and Governments in the Church, which are not to be Despised, being in Subjection to Christ, the one Head, and Law-giver. But as may appear in the following Epistle, with this Aggravation, That which he formerly Approved and Exhorted to, he is now found smiting against, and what he then severely detested and reproved in others, He is now found heinously Guilty of himself (viz) of Representing such as Aiming at other Ends and Interests, in such their Religious Care, and Heavenly Order and Govern­ment, than Christ's Interest and Government over All; whereby out of his own Mouth he is Condemned.

And now for as much as he hath so publickly, and injuriously appeared in his late Book, to the great Scan­dal of our Profession, as an open Enemy to the Truth, we are concerned for the Honour of the Lord's Name, which is dear unto us, publickly to make him manifest (A work otherwise not pleasing to Us) that he may proceed no further, but that his Folly may appear to all Men, and that the Ignominy and Reproach, he hath as much as in him lieth, brought upon the Lords People, and faithful Labourers, and their Holy Profession, may be Rouled and Washed away.

But before we proceed to make William Rogers mani­fest by his late Fruits among us, we think it requisite to give some short Account of the Subject, Occasion, [Page 9]and present state of the Divisions mentioned in his Book, and how William Rogers is concerned therein.

Many of the antient and faithful Brethren of the Nor­thern parts, as we are credibly informed, being under an Exercise in their Spirits, by reason of the Unfaithfulness of some that walk amongst them, with Respect to divers things, amongst whom J. S. J. W. &c. were Interested, they had a godly care upon their Spirits, to make a nar­row search and inspection thereinto, which the Guilty could not bear, but set themselves to oppose their pro­ceedings; by which means a great difference arose: so that the Friends who were zealous against such as were Back­sliding from the Truth, and its Heavenly way and Testi­monies, remained some time under a burthen and exer­cise because thereof. At length, as we are credibly infor­formed, the Friends of the Quarterly Meeting at Kendal, made known their Exercise to divers other Brethren, desiring a meeting with J. S. and J. W. before them, in order to the composing the Difference, which was Re­jected by them. However, those Friends and Brethren sent to them again, and also some of them went to them, and appointed a Meeting, near the place where they were, desiring them to come, but they would not, as holding themselves not obliged to submit to them in that case, and leaving things under this state of Dis-reconciliation, came into the South, making their complaints, and spread­ing their differences, particularly amongst us at Bristol, where they met with some that adhered to them, streng­thened them, and set them up, too forwardly Espousing the Cause upon the alone hearing of their Complaints against the Friends of the other Party, who were far distant from us; a­mongst the rest, William Rogers was an early Proselite, and so great a Devotee to these mens Interest, that he in­dustriously laboured to Proselite others there-unto, upon [Page 10]the Credit of his pretended knowledge of the ground of those Differences: what an evil Instrument this man was, from the beginning thereof, in this City and else­where, is not easily to be Related, how he forstering up J. S. and J. W. laboured to stave off the early endeavours and expedients for reconciliation, as being not altoge­ther suited to his mind, who was now become as a Master of this Faction, with which some of this City were like to be led aside, whose Souls the Lord in his Mercy hath Rescued out of the Snare.

The Intelligence of those Differences, spreading through divers Parts of the Nation, especially where J. S. and J. W. Travelled and Resorted; a Concern under the Ap­prehension of the evil consequences thereof, came upon some Antient Brethren, to endeavour a speedy stop there­to, moved for a new Hearing, which at length was agreed to on all hands. Accordingly a meeting was appoint­ed, and held at Drawel in York-shire, Anno 1676. to which resorted several of the Ancient Friends and Bre­thren, leaving all Occasions and Relations in love to God, and earnest desires for the preservation of the Church's Peace.

After their great Travel, and tender Endeavours, then for Reconciliation and Peace, J. S. and J. W. being bow­ed into some Degree of Submission, at length produce a Paper Containing a Condemnation against themselves.

It may not be amiss here to Relate out of W. R. his Narrative, the Character he hath given of the Temper and Frame of the Spirits of those Brethren at the Mee­ting at Drawel, when they gave forth their Sence, and Account, concerning the Difference relating to J. S. and J. W. which doth not a little confirm the Integrity and Soundness of it, being from the Pen of so great an Op­poser and Villifier, as he hath Manifested himself to be.

The words of W. Rogers on the aforesaid account are, that,

In all friends there appeared as far as I could per­ceive, a spirit inclined to peace and unity in the Cruth, many hearts being bowed down, in the earnest desires of their souls breathing unto God, and that in great Zeal, and sincerity for the gathering them into nearer Vnion and fellowship with their brethren therein.

Again, in his account of the Fourth days Travel, he saith as follows.

The matter so gone through, and ended, the brethren waited, and great was the exercise that was upon their spirits, for a very considerable time; after some silence the brethren chosen at London, and many other Friends, that were not of the six last chosen, spoke their sense and Iudgment upon the whole matter, not only relating to the fact before them, but also to that spirit, which according to their inward sense, caused a separa­tion to this effect:

That they (viz.) [I. S. and] I. W. had not kept in V­nity with their brethren, as they ought to have done; but had let in jealousies, doubts and scruples, whereby they had given way to a spirit of division and separa­tion; which spirit they did condemn and judge, yet so as there appeared amongst the brethren, a Travelling Love and Life beyond what I can now declare, that they might not be cut off from them, but brought into perfect Vnity with them: so that at length, the two ac­cused brethren, being, as I was perfectly sensible, ready to condescend to their brethren, therein, so far as their understandings were opened, brought forth this Insuing Paper of satisfaction to their Travelling brethren, and the Churches of Christ. Thus far R. W.

Here follows their Paper of Condemnation.

VVE are sensible, that in the hour of Temp­tation, that hath appeared through us, which hath given an occasion of offence to the Churches of God, unto whom the knowledge of the Northern differences hath come, and since the in­ward sense of our brethren, who we are sensible, have a Travel on their spirits, for preservation of peace and Vnity in the Church of God, concerning us is such, That Iealousies have entred us, and that we have been at somtimes exercised in things, tending to oppose Friends in the practice of those things, that they testi­fie, are commendable in the Church of God; we are sorry that any weakness should appear in us to give occa­sion for such offence, and as How comes it to pass, that there is now nothing in all this, and that it is no better than a Rattle to please Children? is not this manifest deceit and hypocri­sie? satisfaction to our brethren, and the Church of God in ge­neral, we do from the very bot­tom of our hearts condemn that spirit, whether it hath ap­peared in us or any, that hath given offence to the Church of God in general, or that oppose the order of the Gospel, or any faithful Brethren in the practice of those things they believe are their Duty.

This paper being sent to some Friends in divers parts of the Nation, for the satisfaction of such to whom-the knowledge of the differences had come; the end for which it was given forth J. S. and J. VV. were offended at it, set themselves to extenuate (or take off) the weight of it; not owning it according to the common acceptation of A condemnation of themselves therein; confessing, they owned the Paper, but in another sence, than against themselves. Notwithstanding, what it plainly imports, and they [Page 13]knew the Brethren took it for; and William Rogers, who confessed he drew it for J. S. and J. W. Reported, there was nothing in it; and that the most innocent man a­mongst us might own it, and never hurt himself; and that it was no better than a Rattle to please Children: implying, those Friends and Brethren Assembled at Drawel, he hath, as before Recited out of his own Narative, given such a Character of: and these things we have proved al­ready by sufficient Witnesses, out of his own mouth, in­stead of bringing forth Fruits of Peace and Humiliation, the said J. S. and J. W. having dealt thus un-sincerely with the Brethren, began a new Quarrel with them that were concerned in the hearing and declaring the judgment of the Spirit of Truth, at Drawel, concerning the differen­ces, &c. calling their Account, a lying Narrative, and charging them with doing wickedly by them, both by word and writing; W. R. also joining with them, who by this time began to be desperate, and warmly to engage in their Quarrel; and in defence of their pretended Inno­cency, they set themselves to oppose and Exclaim against the proceedings of the Brethren at Drawel-Meeting, with many opprobrious terms, in perfect contraries to the Cha­racter W. R. had before given thereof; all which things have been made appear at large. And instead of break­ing up their separate-Meeting, or clearing themselves of them (which is a publick Ensign of Division; and Re­proach to the Truth) and instead of making void their Subscription, tending to a separation, both are continued with J. S. and J. W's names thereto, whereby some have been encouraged in the Divisions: and so far have they made void (as to themselves) the benefit of all the Trans­actions of that Meeting at Drawel. And now because the Friends of Truth, cannot be at Peace and Unity with them in their work of Separation and Division; but keep the Spirit of sound judgment upon that dividing Spirit, [Page 14]and are at a distance from them, until they Repent, and be Reconciled, therefore are they disquieted.

And as for William Rogers their furious Warrier, and whom they have permitted to fight their Battells for them against the Lamb's followers, we have look'd upon him of late, as A Man Tormented in Spirit, under the disap­pointments he hath met with in his way on the one Hand,Note, his Articles have not on­ly Demonstrated this to be his Design, but his words also very frequently to be what he would have accomplished amongst us. in not being able to Ef­fect that Mischief of Division and Separation, which both publick­ly, and privately he hath La­boured to bring to pass in this City, about those Men; and on the other Hand, finding the Cause of his Party, whom under pretence of Crying down Man, he hath industriously Laboured to Exalt Man or Men above, as well as against their Brethren, not­withstanding all his Endeavours, Manifestly to Decline, not only in the General, but in the Consciences of some from amongst themselves, as by divers Testimonies un­der many of their Hands, shewing how they were Be­trayed, and Led aside from the Antient Unity, to joyn in a Subscription of Party with J. Story, and J. Wilkin­son, may be made appear.

And now, as to the utmost Mischief, W. R. is able to do, he hath in the Bitterness and Envy of his Spirit and Power of Darkness, with which of late he hath been Act­ing, Printed his most scandalous and abusive Book, which he had long threatned to bring forth, and which is now come Abroad; and so Wicked, that we must needs say, though we knew the Mans lofty Spirit, and expected no other than bad from him; yet we are sorry for his sake, at what he hath brought forth, it being so Monstrous, and Confused, and abundantly supplyed with most grie­vous Falsehood, wicked Perversions, and Mis-repre­sentations of many Faithful and Innocent Men, who tru­ly [Page 15]fear God, though he hath for the most part omitted their Names, which we take not to be out of any Fa­vour or Kindness in him towards such; but rather un­der Apprehension, that the Eminency of divers of them, together with the Credit of their Integrity in the Consci­ences of persons of all Qualities and Degrees, would have but worsted and disserted his Cause: and for as much as it is Evident to us, that the Generallity of the People called Quakers in this Nation (some few here and there, in some Countries excepted) are at Unity with those Brethren in their Testimony against this Spirit and Work of Division, William Rogers is now principally con­cerned in, and for which those Brethren are so villified and abused in William Rogers his Book, we cannot but look upon such his Injuries and Reproaches, to extend through them to the Body of the People called Quakers in this Nation, and their Holy Profession, thereby prostrated to the publick Ignominy and Contempt of the open and secret Enemies of the Truth, who may be too apt to be­lieve what he Writeth: which being duely considered, let all that have the Fear of God before their Eyes, Judge whether the Man, that is Guilty of these things, can be rightly Esteemed a True Christian Quaker. We ha­ving thus given a short, but true Account of the Occasion, Subject, Proceedings, and Continuance of the present Dif­ferences, shall proceed to say something of William Ro­gers his late behaviour amongst us, in this City.

His Qualifications (with Respect to his Profession) of be­ing a True Christian Quaker, is that we are concerned about; and to lay him open, as they have been plentifully Manifested to us, by his behaviour of late Years, amongst us in this City, to our Great Grief and Exercise. Know then, that whatever William Rogers hath formerly been, or whate­ver he is yet accounted to be, by any that taketh part with him, & hath made him as a Head & Captain in this late work [Page 16]of Strife and Division, from the Antient Unity and Fel­lowship in the Truth; which the Lord through his Good­ness and Mercy, hath put a great stop unto, and Hedged up their Way; and is now causing the Rebellious Instru­ments thereof to Wither and Blast, and become as Unsavo­ry Salt, fit for nothing, but to be trodden under the Feet of Men.

And for such who have any Tenderness and Sinceri­ty remaining in them towards the Lord and his People; such the Lord hath Gathered, and is Gathering out from amongst them; especially in some of the Northern Parts, where this Division first Sprang and Arose. We say, whatever William Rogers may be accounted of, by such as take part with him:

We, whose Names are Subscribed to this small Trea­tise (being his Neighbours) have by frequent Experience, known many times to our Grief and Sorrow; and there­fore in Truth and Righteousness, and in Sincerity of Heart, we declare, that he is a Man of a Heady, Willful, high-Minded, Unruly, Passionate, and Furious Spirit; and therefore cannot be Justified: For the Sway of his Fury shall be his Destruction, if he Repent not.

We have known him upon frequent Occasions, to be so very Extravagant with his Tongue, as well as his Pen (which we doubt not but in time will be unde­niably Manifested in his Book) insomuch, that his ma­ny slanderous Assertions have long since been but of lit­tle Credit with us: and therefore, we conclude with the Apostle, His Religion is vain, and whatever his talk of Religion and Christianity is, it is Manifest to us, it consists more in his Head, than in his Heart; and so indeed is a Stranger to the Life of it, he being alive in the contrary Nature. And truely, he hath long been a Burthen, not only to us (but as we have too much Cause to believe) to some Hundreds in this City, by his ve­ry rude and clamorous Behaviour, at our Mens Meet­ings, [Page 17]as well as publick Meetings, wherein we account he hath been the chief Instrument of the great Distur­bance and Disorder, that hath been at sometimes therein Manifested; though with no small Impudence he now makes mention of it in his Book, without taking Shame to himself; but Assigning to others what himself was Guilty of, as one chief cause of the present Publishing the Things contained in his Book; and having thus diligently, both sought, caused, and took occasion, he now vents the Bit­terness that is in his Heart, which we believe is Nauci­ous and Offensive to them that truely Fear God amongst us.

We think it not necessary, particularly here to Recite the many Abuses of his lavish Tongue, together with his Frequent, Rude, Insolent, and Imperious Behaviour, at our Mens Meetings, as the Natural Effects of those his Qua­lifications before Mentioned, wherein, and whereby he hath from time to time, Industriously Laboured to cause a Separation amongst us.

Neither do we think it necessary at present, to parti­cularize his Profane Speaking concerning the Power of God, no more than we have already done, concer­ning his Horrible unsincere Dealing with the Brethren at Dra­well, both proved out of his own Mouth, unless requi­red thereto; and the Reason why we so think it not ne­cessary at Present, is not only for that it would Render us much the Larger, and the Credit of our Testimony, not strictly Requiring it; but because some of us have already, both by Word and Writing, Charged him home with divers of these things; so that he is not Ignorant of them, for which we could never have any Satisfaction, either publick or private, to this day; in such Cases of Charge against him, his way and manner hath been, and we Judge it is according to his Principles, To Refuse the Submitting such matters to the Hearing, Judgement, and [Page 18]Determination of Friends of the Meeting, indefinitely Assem­bled in a Church-Way and Method, as is Establish't amongst us, for the strengthning the Good, & Reproof, & Discourage­ment of the Evil and loose Walkers. But his Manner is in such Cases to urge, The Choosing so many Men on each Part, like as if the Case were about an Horse or Cow; a sub­tle Method of his, to shelter the Head of the Transgres­sor from the stroke of Righteous Judgement: A practice he hath been of late too Eminently Guilty of in our Mee­tings, to the Grief of the Upright: For the Transgressor will be sure to Chuse such, as are like himself, and of party with him, to stand by him to the Uttermost; and this ef­fects but Confusion. Thus it appears, it was not with­out Cause, that William Rogers hath stood up so Zealous­ly for Liberty, and some of his Adherents against Month­ly and Quarterly Meetings, which called them in Que­stion for their back-sliding: seeing they, if they should submit to such Meetings, are likely to have their Flesh­ly Liberty Restrained, or to be publickly Judged, and Disowned for it; and this is the Reason in the Ground and Bottom whatever contrary Pretences they make that W. R. &c. are so disquieted, & of his Exclaiming in his book against the Godly Care and Zeal, of the faithful, under the black Characters of persecution, imposition, and the like.

These things considered, we cannot but admire at the confidence of W. Rogers in the 27th. page of his Preface, wherein he saith, He blesseth God, that hath so preserved him, by the Arm of his power, as that none of his Opposers have, so far as he knew, laid any thing to his charge, but for things wherein he hath acted (though misrepresented by them) to keep a Conscience void of offence towards God.

We whose names are hereunto subseribed, having heard the foregoing relation of W. Rogers, his being of a heady, self-will'd, unruly, and passionate spirit, of his Lavish, and [Page 19] abusive tongue, rude Carriage, and behaviour in meet­ings of late years amongst us, do hereby certifie, that to our knowledge, the Character given of him therein is true, and that we also have many times, to our great grief and exercise, been eye, and ear witnesses of his being notoriously guilty therein, to the great shame of his profession, witness our hands. Dated in Bristol, the 16th of the 6th Month, 1681.

  • Lawrence Steel,
  • John Moone,
  • John Bainton,
  • Henry Diddicott,
  • Paul Moone,
  • Charles Jones,
  • Samps. Coysgarne,
  • John Cowlinge,
  • John Higgins,
  • John Barnes,
  • William Minor,
  • Peter Young,
  • James Sturridg, Jun.
  • William Rouch,
  • Thomas Bayley,
  • Richard Philips,

Here follows the Epistle before mentioned under W. Rogers & Arther Eastmeads hands; together with di­vers brethren, who still keep their habitations in the U­nity of the Spirit and power of God, given forth from the yearly Meeting, since the beginning of the Divisions, in the North, as W. Rogers confesseth by the date thereof, in the second page of his preface, and is a ma­nifest Reproof to that Spirit of Strif and Division, then at work; as also a discovery against whom, and what the instruments thereof did then, and do still oppose themselves, into the mischief of which spirit, and work, W. R. himself is of late fallen, so that he must bear his own judgement, and condemnation.

Thou art inexcusable O man! whosoever thou art, that judgest. For wherein thou judgeth another, thou condemnest thy self. For thou that judgest, dost the same things. But we are sure, that the judgement of God is according to Truth a­gainst them which commit such things,

Rom. 2.1.28.

The Epistle, with the following Marginal observations, is here commended to the Conscience of the impartia [...] reader.

Dear Friends and Brethren,

THe Lord our God having by his Eternal Power, raised up, and preserved many faithful, and living Witnesses of his blessed Truth, until this Day; both for the Conversion of many from Darkness to Light, and for the building up, Establishment and Com­fort therein by his own Living Word of Life and Recon­ciliation. And having also sig­nally BlessedThis was at the yearly, or general Meeting; which Meet­ing, was then Approved by W. R. but now Smitten at by W. R. and the Members thereof, as con­sisting of an uncertain Number of uncertain qualified Persons p. 1. p. 7. and yet in the same page, undertakes to Assign some of the following Qualifications, viz. False Accusers, Men-pleasers, and many of them Lovers of Prehe­minence, and time Servers, that take that as an opportunity to appear unto others, that which they are not in themselves; and do take upon them, to call themselves a general Meeting. See his Confusion, and Self-contradiction, both in word and practice. this precious Op­portunity of our assembling to­gether, with his glorious pre­sence, power and Majesty, ma­nifest amongst us, which ma­ny were, and are Eye witnesses of, and in the unspeakable sense thereof, many have been as melted, and their hearts ex­ceedingly broken, and their souls overcome, and deeply affected with Gods unspeakable goodness and power, love and life, so plentifully shed abroad amongst us, and in our hearts, in the sense whereof our hearts are open, and affected towards you all, even in the same dear, and tender love and life, that is abundantly shed forth unto us, and from which our salutation is to all our dear Friends, brethren, and Sisters, in this, and other nations: having the General State of the Churches, and people of God o­pened unto us, with a tender care upon our hearts, [Page 21]and breathing of our souls, that they all may grow, prosper, and be preserved in Unity, Peace, and good or­der, that divine life and vertue may Reign, and abun­dantly flow over and through all, to the Replenishment, and unspeakable comfort, that you may keep out the Enemy in all his appearances, that would make di­visions, and disturbances in the Churches; for at this time the Enemie is busie, and secretly at work for that end, to makeNote, the end and occasion of this Epistle, against the Rents and Divisions then on Foot: and now Espoused by William Rogers, to the Gratifying the Enemy, and bringing the open Oppo­sers, and Adversaries of Truth over us, formerly judged, but now practised by Willam Ro­gers, witness his whole Book, made publick to the view of the World. rents, endeavouring thereby to bring the open opposers, and adversaries of Truth over; it is that strife, & division may be stir­red amongst our selves, that they desire and watch for; and there­fore where any are instruments thereof, they serve not the Lord Iesus Christ: but the E­nemy.Mark, the very Character of William Rogers his Work and Spi­rit, and his Judgment against all such as are Guilty of these things, which now includes him­self in chief, Witness not only his Offence against such like Ex­hortations, as excluding of Jea­lousies, and having an Eye to the Brethren, Preface, p. 6. but also his own evil Surmizes, and hard Speeches in this Book, a­gainst many of these very Bre­thren, with whom he joyned in the Epistle; and many other faithful Labourers in the Lord's Work, though most of them are not particularly Nominated, whom he terms Up starts, In­novaters, Adherents to G. F. pag. 3. of his Preface; Insinua­ting most grievous and faise Charges against them, as the main Design of his Book, ren­dring them Apostates, false Accu­sers, Imposers, Persecutors, Exer­cising Gentilian Lordship, blind Obedience, Setting up an out­ward Directory, Orders, Innova­tions, Prescriptions, Decrees, and what not; seeking thereby to Undermine, and to beget a dis­esteem, and slight of their Testi­mony. See how this Man is now found in the very Practice of those things he once Condemn'd; whereby, out of his own Mouth he is Judged; being like the Dog, returned to the Vomit; and the Sow that was Washed, to her Wallowing in the Mire. They that make divi­sions, and cause offences, con­trary to the Gospel, and that seek to sow discord amongst bre­thren, are not only to be mark­ed, but the Lord will make them manifest, and his power will bring them under, and debase them, as it hath done (and will do) that spirit that is guil­ty of jealousies, Evil-surmi­sings, whisperings, and hard speeches against the brethren, and faithful. Labourers in the Lords work; it is the accuser of the brethren that strikes at their Testimony, and seeks to un­dermine [Page 22]to beget a disesteem and slight of them in it, which ad­versary must be watch't against, and forever cast down and out: and we are assured from the Lord, that all sowers of discord, accusers of the faithful brethren, slighters and undervaluers of their Testimony and gifts, self-seekers, Whisperers, Back-bi­ters, and all self-willed and self-exalted spirits, God will abase them, his eternal power will work them under, and all that which offends, shall be removed, Gods pure power is at work, refining, throughly purging his floor, and sanctifying his Church and people, that there may be no rent, nor schism; but that the Lord may be one, and his name one, amongst us; and blessed are you, that keep to your first love, and retain your integrity to the end.Had William Rogers been of this Spirit, and continued, we had never seen his contrary Work of Darkness and Confusi­on; but this he is far from; now having approved himself an ut­ter Enemy, Villifier, and Op­poser of Christ's Rule and Go­vernment in his Members; in­somuch, that the very Term it self (viz.) Church-Government is become an Offence unto him, as may appear in Divers parts of his Book, particularly Pag. 45. of part the First. Oh, dear friends and brethren, watch in the light a­gainst all the enemies wiles, and pray for the peace of Ierusalem, that she may be seen in her beauty and splendor, or as a City without breaches, that peace may remain within her walls, and prosperity within her pallaces: Oh! let it be the ge­neral care of all our brethren, to whom the Lord hath committed an oversight in the Churches, to keep things quiet, and in good order by the power and wisdom of God, who is not the Author of con­fusion, but of peace; and that the publick affairs of Truth [Page 23]be managed, and carried on in the same power and wis­dom, which is pure, and peaceable that all in Humility may submit to Christs Rule and Government in a spirit of meekness & condescension; keep out all roughness, harsh­ness, one towards another, and all self rule, and domini­on, that is not of the life, but in the will of the flesh, and let all this be kept down for ever, and no strange fire be kindled among you, nor in your meetings: and elders, and Overseers, must not beThis is the very Temper and Spirit he is fallen under, as is al­ready Observed at Large. self willed, nor soon angry, nor given to haste or passion, nor any shortness or britleness; for such keep not in a sound mind, nor in dis­cerning, either of true judgment or mercy, which are both to be exercised, among you, as the spirit of life o­peneth to you the conditions and states, to which they properly belong; for as all looseness, disorderly walking, and scandalous conversations and practices, must be severely reproved, and judged out, especially amongst them that are convinced of the precious Truth, and the guilty to bear their own judgment, and burthen; so likewise mercy and forgiveness, must be extended to such as having been over-taken with a fault, comes to feel a true tenderness in their hearts through judg­ment, and to receive counsel that they may be preserved in fear and watchfulness: and let not Iudgments, and Testimonies against miscarriages and offences be madeIf the Matters alledged in W. R. his Book against G. F. and others by Name, were true, How doth it agree with this Ex­hortation, in making of them so publick as he hath done? See how he condemns that in others, which he alloweth in himself. more publick, than the miscar­riages are, to harden those that miscarry, and give the adversa­ries of Truth advantage to throw dirt upon friends; but be careful and tender for the truth and friends in that mat­ter, and endeavour to save the [Page 24]souls even of those that are tempted, and drawn aside: as also that private differences that may happen amongst any friends or brethren, be ended by some few in the wisdom and counsel of God, with as much pri­vacy as may be, without troubling or disturbing the publick meetings, or Churches with them, and without publick reflections upon persons, where the difference or offence on either hand, is not notorious or publickly ma­nifest, but best to be ended privately, both for the pre­servation of them who are concerned therein, and the preventing of such occasions, as may either stumble the weak, cause confusion, or give the world occasion toIt's a very little matter what becomes of the Honour of Truth, and the Holy Profession thereof, with W. R. now, who hath set himself in defiance of the Friends thereof, under the Notion of Apostates and Innovators. re­proach friends and Truth. And friends, we do desire that all differences may be ended, in the several Counties, where they do arise; and that the honour of God, and the peace of the Church, may be minded both by those who cause it to be defamed, and those who are to determine, and that none joyn with such a singular spirit as would lead him to beThis W. R. is not a little guil­ty of, in frequently Refusing to refer his Matters, and Acqui­esce in the Judgement of a free Meeting of Friends; and when he hath upon Occasion agreed to such a Meeting, he hath made it his business to Quarrel with the Judgement and Determina­tion thereof, as in the Case of Robert Barclay, more particular­ly observed hereafter: See his Back-slidings, and Condemning himself now, in that which he Allowed not formerly. sole judge in his own cause, but in the restoring and healing spirit of Christ, both the offended, and the offender may for the truths sake submit to the pow­er of God in his people, in those Citys, place, or Countrys, with such friends, as the par­ties concerned shall call to their Assistance.

And Friends, let the Autho­rity of Gods power, heavenly and peaceable Wisdom, [Page 25]be Eyed in all your Assemblies, that the Government of the Truth and Righteousness may be Exalted over All, that true Iudgement and Mercy may have the place: And although a general Care be not laid uponThis Testimony in behalf of the good Order and Government in the Church of Christ; and G. F. as one more particularly Instru­mental therein, as that which Answered God's Witness in All, compared with the Character of him and it, in W. R. his Book, would require large Observati­ons; to which, we give general Reference, but may instance a few Passages in pag. 45. of the first part, he saith, We are Jea­lous (but who that we is, he doth not say) the Corruption, Usurpation, and Injustice may creep in by such, who contend so much for Church-Government, with Respect to outward Forms of Government, since the Form some take to Govern, is in some Respect, worse than the Forms of divers Apostate Christians; this is a wicked Abuse of many Faithful Friends, concerned in his Charge, in the said page. every Member, touching the good Order and Government in the Churches Affairs; nor hath many Tra­vessed therein: yet the Lord hath said it more upon some, in whom he hath opened Coun­sel for that End; and particu­larly in our dear Brother, God's Faithful Labourer, G. F. for the Help of many. And God hath in His Wisdome, afforded those Helps and Governments in the Churches, which are not to be Despised, being in Sub­jection to Christ, the one Head, and Lawgiver, Answering, his Witness in all, and so all ne­cessary Counsel, Admonitions, or TestimoniesHow doth this agree with his Advice in the Epistle? and, What is the matter now? Is the Constitution of the Government owned amongst the People cal­led Quakers, and the helps af­forded thereby, which he so much Commended formerly, as having a Service in a Subten­dency to the Light, and as pro­ceeding from it, now become al­tered, or ceased, and worse than the Apostate Christians (God forbid) and Rebuke his lying Spirit? what were those Digni­ties and Governments that W. R. with others gave such a Judge­ment upon the Despisers of, but the same he now poureth out so much Contempt up­on? And is the Encoura­ging of the People of God to be Diligent and Faithful therein, and to Judge all contrary, exalted, and oppo­sing Spirits; now become do­ting on outward Orders, and a neglect of God's Teaching, as he Insinuateth in his Pre­face, pag. 30. or justly be termed Imposition, Persecu­tion, or Setting up another thing than Christ Jesus, to be King and Lawgiver; no such matter: It appears by this Epistle, he thought it not so formerly; or are the said Helps and Governments Christ hath so afforded in his Church, as he confesseth, be­come the promoting a Zealous Observation of other Men's Lines, made ready to their Hands; or the pretended Dictates of the Spirit, through others, or at best through that one Man George Fox, as is Contained in pag. 40. of his Preface. No sure, the Change is in himself; see his Prevarication, and how he is become Degenerated, and found by his Writing and Opposition, pulling down and Destroying what he once Built up. What is the matter that he had so much Unity with George Fox, and adhered to him in these things formerly, and now so bitterly Smiteth, and Inveighs against him? Is he (viz.) George Fox, a Chan­ged Man? No, Thousands can Witness to the contrary whose Consci­ences he hath Answered, and doth Answer in the Power and Wis­dom of God; and is A sweet Savour of Christ in them that are Saved, and in them that Perish: For the Apostle saith, Ʋnto one, We are the savour of Death unto Death; and unto the other, the Savour of Life unto Life, 2 Cor. 2.15, 16. or are the principal Matters of Fact, which William Rogers alledgeth against him, said to be of late Years, since he so nighly owned him: No, no, but many of them long before; from which, as also what he Chargeth him with of later Times, he hath already Answered, what seemed worth taking Notice of; and Vindicated his Innocency, and Manifested William Rogers his malicious Abuses of him. that have been given Forth, and Received in the Universal Spirit of Life and Vnity, have their Service for God, in subjection to his Light and Subservency to, and in or­der to Answer the great Rule and Law of the Spirit of Life, as proceeding from it: And they that are Spiritual, will acknow­ledge those things spoken or [Page 26]written from this Spirit: and for this end, to be the Requi­rings of the Lord; and many in divers Places have Recei­ved Help and Encouragement from Him; through those Helps and Governments, that he hath Afforded in the Church, the True and Living Body, which we are Members of; in which (as all keep their Habitations) there is a Sweetness, & Harmony of Life, Vnity, and Subjection, one to a-another, and a preserving one of another, in the Lord. Yet every Man in his own proper Order; for every Member of the body is [Page 27]notNote, it is not Intended, or Understood hereby, That some of the Members of Christ's Bo­dy, should be without his Di­vine Light in their own inward Parts: for Christ the Head of the Body, is One in the Male, and in the Female (as the Apo­stle saith) who gives Light un­to them all; which as they a­bide in it, gives them to see, and have Unity one with another, and with the Doctrine, Counsel, and Instruction, which he Im­mediately opens, & gives forth, in, & by, his Faithful Servants, in whom he more fully o­pens his Divine Counsel; unto whom, he hath committed a Dispensation of the Everlasting Gospel of Peace, who faithfully Labour in the Life and Doctrine of Christianity; and therein are good instrumental Helps in Go­vernment. an Eye; and yet each Member hath its proper place, and Service, and all in Subjec­tion to the one Life, Power, and Head, which is Christ; & it hath been observed by us, that that Spirit which despiseth Government and Dominion, and speaks Evil of Dignities; is either a Singular, or a Self-Righteous, Self-Separating Spi­rit, that would (it self) bear Rule, and be Iudge over all; which also Works to stumble and darken the simple, or a Loose, Disobedient, Careless Spirit, that would not be Re­formed, but altogether live at Ease in the Flesh, and fleshly Liberty, which the Power of God will Rebuke;It had been well for W. R. if he ever had this Dominion, that he had kept it; for it is the same, and no other, that the Brethren seek, and are Exercised in, for no other End or Interest, as they have Declared; God is their Witness, who knoweth the Se­crets of all Hearts, and will plead with W. R. in his Righte­ous Judgements, for being found in the wrong Spirit, that doth surmize or insinuate Jealousies, to the contrary, as these Lines Import. but though he hath given us Dominion o­ver that Spirit, and its perverse Wayes, which opposeth the Power, and would work Di­vision, and lead into corrupt Liberty; yet 'tis no Domini­on over your Faith, that we seek, but that we may be Help­ers of your Ioy in the Lord; and you as diligent Co-workers, together in the Faith and Love of God, wherein we may be all a mutual Com­fort, Ioy, and Crown of Rejoycing, one to another, as having one Master, and we all Brethren in Him, who is the Lord of the Houshold, and God of Glory; [Page 28]whose Glorious presence is with us; and it is a wrong Spirit that would surmise, or insinuate Iealousies, or beget prejudice against the Faithful Labourers in the Gospel, and Helpers in Government, to Mis-represent such, as aiming at any other Ends and Interests than Christ's Interest and Government over all, which God is Record, we are clear from seeking or claiming at a­ny other. And in hisHow came W. R. by this Au­thority and Power, to give Judgement against such Works, and Workers, and deny, and quarrel with it now? Is it not Manifest to be, because he him­self is fallen into the same Snare, not only of being Secret, but now as an open Enemy to the Truth, and Heavenly Society therein. And we are perswa­ded, if he Repent not, the time will come, when he will find his own Judgement, as it is already seen by the Faithful, to be Ve­rified in his own particular. Autho­rity and Power, we stand Wit­nesses against that Spirit fore­ver, both in our open and se­cret Enemies, which either Smites at our Heavenly So­ciety, or would break our Vni­ty with the Prince of Peace, who is our Head and Lawgi­ver, unto whom Thrones, Do­minions, Principallities, and Powers are jubject, be Glo­ry for ever, unto whose Power and Government we commit you all, and in true, and endeared Love, Rest

Your Dear Brethren William Rogers. Authur Eastmead.
  • William Penn,
  • James Hall,
  • George Coal,
  • Charles Marshal,
  • William Gibson,
  • John Moone,
  • John Langstaff,
  • Samuel Thornton,
  • Edward Brown,
  • James Claypoole,
  • Robert Barclay,
  • John Cox,
  • James Merrick,
  • Thomas Briggs,
  • Morgan Watkins,
  • John Rauce,
  • Charles Lloyd,
  • Richard Almond,
  • Robert Cary,
  • Thomas Green,
  • John Anderdon,
  • Alexander Parker,
  • John Whitehead,
  • William Brend,
  • [Page 29]John Bauldren,
  • Will. Fallowfield,
  • Samuel Cater,
  • James Adamson,
  • Stephen Crisp,
  • John Grave,
  • George Whitehead,
  • Jasper Batt,
  • Thomas Salthouse,
  • Samuel Wattson,
  • Luke Howard,

We desire the true Copies hereof may be Communi­cated to, and Read in the several Quarterly, Monethly, and other Meetings, of Friends and Brethren throughout England, and elsewhere.

Now if it be queried How cometh it to pass, that William Rogers is so Metamorphosed or Changed in a few Years, as to appear thus in perfect Contradiction to himself, in judgment about the same things; either he must be in the right then, and wrong now; or contrarywise, in the right now, and wrong then?

The Answer according to the Witness of the Spirit of Truth in our hearts, and experience we have had of him by his late Fruits, that Evil (viz. Pride and Envy) hath altered his Understanding, and Deceit beguil'd his Soul, and Prejudice against the Lords Work, and many of his faithful Labourers hath Eaten as a Canker until the Love that was once raised in him, came to be destroy'd: And now his Soul is fill'd with Bitterness, in which the En­mity lodgeth, and though his pretences are high, as all his Predecessors in this Work were, in whom Satan was Transformed, and wrought in a Mystery; yet with the Light he is seen, & judged to be as they also were, in the My­stery of Iniquity: And what, though in his fallen Wisdom, which is Accurst, he lifts up himself on High, and would have the World believe, as though God had raised him up as the great Reformer of our Age; yet do we know, and are assured with many hundreds more of the Flock and Fami­ly of God in this City, and in the Counties adjacent, to whom he is personally known, That He is not of God; [Page 30]for, we have not only try'd his Spirit, but his Works also have made him manifest. And albeit, he begins and makes use of these Words of Christ in his abusive Book (As I hear, I judg) we know he is a man Uncircumci­sed in Heart and Ears, and therefore his judgment is un­just, & he hath no right to take up the words of Christ, & apply them to himself; for, he hath judged many he hath never heard. Christ said, judge not according to outward Ap­pearance, but judge Righteous judgment: But how void William Rogers is, either of the true hearing or judg­ment, hath been by his Un-Christian behaviour amongst us, and by his manifold abuses in his Book (grounded upon Reports and Conjectures) of many innocent men, and by his self Contradiction, as by the foregoing Epistle, is abundantly manifest. And, truly we are sorry for him, that he should so backslide, as he hath done, and fall from the right way of the Lord, and foot-steps of his Flock and Family, which he once rejoyced in. And it's ve­ry remarkable; to see how directly William Rogers hath troden in the same foot-steps with the several A­postates that have arisen up from among our selves, in that, like Saul against David, he hath so malitiously le­vel'd his Arrows, and cast his Javlin against that one Man, G. F. above all others; loading him as hitherto hath been done with manifold Calumnies and Reproa­ches, which the Lord hath, and we doubt not, but still will blast, and make his Innocency to appear over all his wicked Designs, to the confusion of his, and Truths Adversaries, whatsoever they are, or may pretend to the contrary. And, the cause thereof, we conclude to be from the Enmity of the wicked one, the Son of Perdition, that hath entred the heart of this man, William Rogers, as he hath other Instruments formerly, where he sits, and is Exalted, in a high Profession, to the end that he may the better deceive, and draw from the Blessed Uni­ty, [Page 31]& fellowship in the Truth and heavenly Guidance of the Light it self, into a Selfish, Disorderly, Looss, Libertine Spirit, from God, and unsubmission, & unsubjection one unto another, according to the Gospel-Order in the Churches of Christ; That by how much the more God hath made use of our dear Friend, G. F. and honoured him with the first Mes­sage of the Light and Truth, as reveal'd in our day and age, whereby the Hearts of many Thousands have been gathered from the Evil of their wayes, and converted un­to God, and remain living Witnesses of the Appearance, Blessing and Presence of God with him, and bear the Seal of his Ministry, and continued faithfulness unto God therein, who hath also indued him with Understand­ing, and Wisdom, in the openings of his Council, where­in he hath been, and is instrumental in the hand of the Lord; For the settlement of good Order and Discipline in the Church of Christ, as Helps and Governments; for its Esta­blishment and Comfort in him, who is its sure Foundation and Rock forever. By so much the more abundantly, hath the Enemy wrought by his Instruments against that faithful Servant of the Lord, viz. G. F. to hinder the Lords Work, and to Obscure his blessed appearance in him, and through him, and among his Chosen People, to their joy and Com­fort in their Heavenly Society, they are gathered into: But the Lord hath hitherto blasted their Designs, and made their Folly manifest, as he doth, and is doing at this day, Blessed be his Name for ever.

We shall now proceed to take some notice of a few more passages in his Book, and first, that, in the 2d. and 3d. pages of his Preface, wherein he saith, That so great a Concern of Conscience lieth on many, to encourage the pub­lication of his Book, as we can no longer forbear, lest it should be reputed, that the Doctrine and Life of Christianity were whol­ly extinct amongst the aforesaid People.

Here, as in divers other places of his Book, we cannot but Observe, that, he claims many to be concern'd in Conscience with him, in the publishing thereof, there­by magnifying his Number; But, who or where those many are, we know not; William Rogers might (if he had pleas'd) or may yet, tell us by what Name they are call'd, and we would have him know, we expect it; that so, we may be able to satisfly our selves, upon a due Con­sideration of their example in Life and Doctrine, whether they are men more fitly qualified than himself, for such an undertaking; especially if any of them live in this City, because upon enquiry hitherto we have not been able to find them out. It seems to us, if W. R. had so many bright, and shining lights in the Doctrine and Life of Christianity, above the rest of their Neighbours, (viz.) the people call'd Quakers, to whom it was become such a Concern of Conscience, as he writes, they should be as a City, set on a hill, and come forth, and own it publickly in the face of all people: but this we are doubtful is too plain and open for him, to talk of many in the dark to father a work of darkness, seems to car­ry more credit with it than to particularize a few as Rash, Self-will'd, and Injurious as himself, that doth own it.

Alas, Alas! To what a height of Folly and Pinacle of Conceitedness is this man arriv'd. The Prodigy of our Age, as it should seem by his Book and Bullwork against Apostacy, now shewing himself as an Ensign to the Nation, lest it should be reputed, that the Doctrine and Life of Christianity were wholly Extinct among the People call'd Quakers.

As to the Life of Christianity, we have already mani­fested how much he is a stranger to it, through his per­verse Practices among us, and corrupt Nature Ruling in him, and consequently, a very unfit man to be set up as [Page 33]so great a Reformer, or, to concern himself so much a­bout the miscarriages of others, as he accounts them, Mat. 7.5. Thou Hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own Eye, & then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy Brothers Eye.

And as to the Doctrines of Christianity, not to insist upon his saying and unsaying again, (viz. in that he hath one while confessed they are publikely own'd, another while charging an Apostacy therein, We refer to the many prin­ted Testimonies written by divers eminent Brethren, still living, in the Defence of the Gospel-Truths; and how much in perspecuity and clearness, they are beyond any thing in William Rogers his Book, is left to the impar­tial Reader to judge; as a Reproof to his strange conceit­ed Confidence, as well as false and ungodly insinuations a­gainst them and the People call'd Quakers in general, as though the Doctrin and Life of Christianity were in danger of being reputed to be wholly Extinct among them, unlesse he and a few others (in comparison of the People call'd Quakers; however he is pleased to magnify their number) who are of party with him, had discharg'd that concern of Conscience, he pretends lay on many, to incourage the publication of his Book, designing thereby, no doubt, being the natural Con­sequence of his Lynes, to obviate the Universality of such a Reputation, by rendring themselves the men that kept their primitive Station in the Life of Truth, and retain'd the ancient Doctrines thereof, whil'st they undertook so generally to detect so many of the most publick, and most reputed Quakers (so call'd) and their Adherents, who are People in general who have Unity with them in the Truth and blessed order thereof (and which makes up the other part) of Degeneracy therefrom into an Apostacy and Innovation.

It still seemes strange to us, that such men (if such they be whom W. R. intends) should lye so hidden and con­ceal'd, [Page 34]as not to be found, and no less strange, that they should make use of, and encourage W. R. to be their mouth to speak to the world by, who hath known so little of the sanctification of his Nature, and consequent­ly very unlike what his lines bespeak them to be. This adds no Credit to their matter, but gives just occasion of jealousie, and will do, unless they disprove it, by a disco­very of themselves, That what ever is pretended, they are but too much like him; for if it be otherwise, and that they really are such as excel in the Doctrine and Life of Christianity, let them come forth, and shew themselves: What though they are but as one of a City, and two of a Tribe, yet if they have the Truth on their sides, that is stronger than all, and shall prevail.

It is likewise to be observed, after what an injurious as well as disingenuous a rate William Rogers, hath dealt with the People call'd Quakers, in often gathering up the words of some person or persons, we know not who, neither doth he tell us, nor when, if ever spoken by any, particularly the Doctrine in the sixth page of his Pre­face which he makes so much adoe about in several parts of his Book, as one of his great Marks of Aposta­cy, wherewith he reflects upon the Brethren, (viz.) Let us exclude Reasoning, the Wisdome, and the jealousie, and let us have an Eye to the Brethren. But who seeth not the unrighteousness of such dealing, which together with many pieces and scraps of matter collected out of divers Papers and Epistles, he hath not only quoted in such a confused manner, that no Reader, unless before acquaint­ed with the grounds and occasion thereof, can rightly understand, and consequently, not in a capacity to make a sound judgment therefrom: But to extort a judgment, as it were, from the inconsiderate and prejudiced, he hath so paraphrased upon such Words and Doctrines, such scraps and pieces of matter, so collected by him, and [Page 35]framed such notorious false insinuations, and perversions therefrom, and vilifications of many faithful and emi­nent Labourers, and through them the generallity of the People call'd Quakers that adhear to them, as guilty of such things as their Souls abhor, and is particularly men­tioned in the beginning of this Treatise, which the Righ­teous God of Heaven and Earth sees and beholds, and will plead with him, and recompence him for it in his due time, if he Repent not.

The next thing we have to notice of, is his unjust Charges and Reflections on those Sixty-Six Friends and Brethren, that subscribed the Epistle dated from Ellis Hooks his Chamber, the 12th. of the 7th. month, 1677. and more particularly with relation to his manifest abuse of the four Friends of Bristol, that were concern'd therein.

On this Epistle it is (to take little notice of his Objections a­gainst the Constitution of the Meeting it came from, more than to tell him, that what he would not have it to be, that it is, (viz. from the Yearly-Meeting) we observe William Rogers grounds another of his great Marks of A­postacy he chargeth those Brethren with, viz. judging of the Merits of the Cause without hearing the same, Preface, page the Sixth; and for proof thereof, saith, That John Story and John Wilkinson have been judg'd by many of the Subscri­bers thereof, if not all, without a hearing of either Party; for, that the Epistle doth not import, that the judgment given was on the hearing either of one or both Parties, Convened before them, 2d. part page 77. But the fallaciousness of this Insinuation will easily appear by what follows.

We have already given an Account of the Meeting, that many Friends and Brethren had with Iohn Story, and Iohn Wilkinson at Drawell in Yorkshire, and the Result of that Meeting.

We have also signified, how J. S. and J. W. have be­haved [Page 36]themselves since, to the grief of those very Friends, abusing them both by word and writing, with many op­probrious Terms, disowning their Judgement, as Unjust, and Unrighteous, &c. Extenuating Their Paper of Con­demnation, not owning it as such against themselves, continuing their former Subscriptions to a Paper tending to a Separation, upheld and maintained in some part of Westmoreland, &c. whereby they made void, as to themselves, the Benefit of all those Transactions at the Meeting aforesaid, and which would have Succeeded, had they behaved themselves as they ought to have done: But forasmuch as they have continued in the same Spi­rit of Division and Separation, Contemning the Coun­sel and Advice of those Brethren, they still stand justly Chargeable with those things they were before found Guilty of.

Those things consider'd, the Sixty Six Friends and Bre­thren, who Subscribed that Epistle, some of them being the same that were personally present, & concerned at the Meeting at Drawell, before mentioned; and many o­ther approved Travelling Brethren in the Work of the Ministry (however now termed, Vpuarts, Apostates, and Innovators) having received satisfactory Knowledge, upon the undoubted Credit and Testimony of many Brethren of their Proceedings at Drawell. And likewise, many of them being abundantly sensible; and divers having certain Knowledge of their persisting in the same. Spirit of Division and Separation, had a Concern upon their Spirits, under the Apprehension of the dangerous Consequence of such Men's Travelling up and down in a disreconcil'd Estate (sowing, and spreading their Dis­contents and Divisions, being forewarn'd thereof) with a renewed Admonition against that Spirit of Division, and causion to Friends to beware thereof, which was the cause of their giving forth that Testimony; which how­ever [Page 37]they (William Rogers, and some others) are Disquie­ted at, is Just and Righteous in the Sight of God, and stands good upon their Heads, and will do, untill they Repent, and be humbled under the sence of their great Offences.

Friends having this Sense, as abundantly appears in their Epistle, That they still persisted in the same Spirit of Opposition and Separation, as before; What Merits of the Cause were here to judge of more, than was alrea­dy Determined, unless it were Their persisting in the same Work of sowing and spreading their Divisions, and offering their Gifts, whilst disreconciled to the Brethren? Which was Evident to the Friends of that Meeting, in their re­jecting the Advice and Counsel before given them, by Epistle from the Yearly-Meeting, to the contrary.

We having thus open'd the Ground of this Matter, do Commend it, with the following Queries, to the Con­science of the Impartial Reader, to Judge, Whether such a Charge, as William Rogers hath given, against no less than above Sixty Friends and Brethren, at once, as no small Mark of their Apostacy, viz. of being Guilty of judging the Merits of a Cause, without hearing the same, or of Dis­owning J. S. & J. W. though they could not justly Charge them of Evil, be rightly imputable to those Brethren, upon signing their Epistle, to whom the knowledge of Matters transacted at Drawell, were so Transmitted, as is before Related.

  • First, Whether? Since it was not feazible, that the Church, or every Friend concerned, for the understan­ding of the Truth of the Matter, relating to J. S. and J. W. could go down into the North, to hear the pro­bation thereof, the Testimony given in a Narrative, from so many faithful, approved Men, upon inward Sense, and plain external Evidences of Witnesses, be not sufficient proof against the said Men?
  • [Page 38]Secondly, And if this be not, What can be? Matters considered, with those Circumstances abovesaid, amongst the Societies and Transactions of Men, either in things Temporal or Spiritual, wherein Men many times trans­act Matters upon the unquestioned Credit one of ano­ther, whilst under necessity of great Remoteness one from another?
  • Thirdly, Whether to give Credit to one or two Men, in his or their own Cause, against more than twenty Eye and Ear Witnesses, who are Conscientiously con­cerned to hear and search into the Truth of Matters, be consistent with Reason, Christianity, and true Wisdom?
  • Fourthly, Whether not only the Refusal of such Te­stimony, Evidence, and Judgement, as was given from the Meeting at Drawell, upon Examination, and Proof of Matters, John Story and John Wilkinson being pre­sent, but the Invalidating thereof, and Reflecting on those Meetings and Friends (as False Accusers, and Judges of the Merits of a Cause, before they Hear it) who do Re­ceive it, and joyn with it, and unto whom the Truth hath been so evidently Transmitted, carrieth not with it an unavoidable Tendency to over-throw the Authori­ty, Credit, Service, and frequent Practice of Friends of Truth, in their Meetings throughout the Nation, in any Case; and thereby to Strengthen the Hand of Transgres­sors, and their Abettors in their Insolency against the Truth, and the Friends thereof in General?

Let all Persons of Sobriety Judge, Whether the Con­sequence of this, which hath been, and is William Rogers's Practise, be not to open a wide Door for A­postacy and Licentiousness, by which means, A Man may be proved The Worst of Men in one Country, and come into another, and stand upon his Iustification, and be Abetted therein, notwithstanding the Testimony of such as heard Matters prov'd against him? And, Whe­ther [Page 39]this doth not Manifestly De­stroy the Faith and Credit one of another, the Ground, both of Christian and Civil Society.Had not that, the Conse­quence of this, had it been the Practice of the People called Quakers, as it Manifestly hath been of W. R. and his party, given the World just Cause to Judge, as W. R. by many Sup­positions, and false Premises doth insinuate, That the Doctrine and Life of Christianity, were in danger to be wholly Exstinct amongst them.

And now, as to William Rogers his several Charges a­gainst the Four Friends of Bristol, of being False Accu­sers, and refusing to admit a Meeting to Prove the Mat­ters in Charge, in the aforementioned Epistle against John Story and John Wilkinson, before an equal number of Friends, Chosen on each Part, part 2. pag. 10.

To this we Answer, It's no wonder William Rogers hath termed those friends False Accusers, seeing he hath not stuck to say the like, or worse, concerning many other Faithful Brethren. How Unrighteous this Charge is against the Four Friends of Bristol, or any of the rest that Signed the Epistle, may appear by what is already Written: Neither do they nor we remember, That e­ver we refused a Meeting upon those Terms, provided, they should agree, what should be taken for Evidence; although, if they had refused such a Meeting, we cannot see how that could deserve any just Reflection, seeing Experi­ence teacheth us; That when the Guilty, or any of party for them, hath equal Liberty to chuse, without whose Concur­rence, no dicisive Judgement must be given: The Consequence thereof, is like to effect nothing but Controversy, and a shel­ter to the Offender, as is before hinted, which Leadeth us to make this Query; That

Whether the admitting of no Meeting to be equal for the decision of spiritual matters in Controversy, but what is made up of a certain number of chosen men of each side to judge (the offender having an equal Choice) [Page 40]be not wrong and inconsistent with the practice of the Friends of Truth; and hath not a tendency to make void the Authority of our Meetings, in which the Power of the Lord, in its free Exercise, is to be Guide and Iudge?

But, whatever William Rogers pretends, The Ob­struction to a Meeting by consent, principally lay in the disagreement, as to the reflection of this Question, viz.

What should be sufficient Evidence for proof of those se­veral Charges contained in the Epistle? which lead the four Friends, and others in their behalf, to insist upon the Narrative of Friends from Drawell, with the Examinations and proofs of matters there, which they had in Custody, to­gether with John Story and John Wilknsons Writings, to which their hands were; but this would not be accep­ted of by W. R.

And, as to the other abusive passage in the same page of his Book, viz. Whether will they (meaning the four Friends of Bristol) as yet admit a Hearing before any Meet­ing, wherein the Witnesses to the Accusations, should be ex­cluded from being judges.

Both they and we say, Its utterly false; most of us then, being present at the Meeting, which was on the 16th. day of the 5th. month, 1677. where these things were discoursed, do declare, that we never heard them so express themselves, but do look upon it as one of William Rogers's ungodly Charges, and grievous Per­versions of their words; what was spoken, from whence it is supposed William Rogers hath falsly drawn the a­fore-mentioned Conclusion, was, That they could not have any of the several Brethren excluded from being present, and to be concern'd in judgment, that had given forth the Ac­count from Drawell (whom William Rogers indeed hath call'd false Accusers) but who were faithful Witnesses to the [Page 41]proof of the Accusations, and not Accusers themselves, as his Charge seems to insinuate: All which things they have manifested more at large, in a partiular Answer long since. And although, William Rogers is pleased to say, in his Book, That a Reply thereto hath manifested their noto­rious Weakness, if Charity may excuse them from wil­ful Wickedness; But how, nor wherein, neither they, nor we know. As for his expression of notorious Weak­ness, we esteem it as the Fruit of an over-fond conceit of his own Abillities, above others: And if he hath Cha­rity to excuse those Friends from the Imputation of wil­ful Wickedness, we should be glad of the like, were not our Eyes and Ears witnesses of such Fruits from him, on di­vers occasions, as almost leaves us void of room, or any just pretence for so much Charity, in many respects, concern­ing him.

And as for the Bristol Certificate, subscribed by twen­ty seven Friends on behalf of G. F. his Innocency, to the best of their knowledge As a man remote in Spirit and Ex­ample, from any such Practice, either in Bristol or else where, as Flying in times of Persecution, though often charged therewith by Apostates and bad Spirits, and now imply'd in William Rogers's Charge against him: To which they not only oppose their Observation of him in Bristol, but their Experience, and confirmed since to the contrary, by his large Travells, Sufferings, and Imprisonments in many Iales, in which They never knew that he hath flinch­ed, but endured patiently, &c.

Which Testimony of those Friends of Bristol stands clear, and unspotted over all W. R. his Cavils, and inju­rious Reflections in the 69th. and 70th. pages of his fifth part, wherein he compares them to Perjured Iuformers, suggesting, That their Evidence must needs be false, as though they undertook to prove a Negative, which was impos­sible for them to do, because they conjectured the time [Page 42]of G. F.'s being in Bristol, then about fifteen years past (being a time of Persecution) to which they supposed it must needs be, that W. R. should Assign that fact of G. F. his departing out of the Meeting, and going down a back pair of stairs, to avoid the Persecutors, ad­ding thereto, That they never knew, or could remember, any such thing by him; They being generally all, or the most part of them, at all the Meetings G. F. was at here, and yet they do not limit or restrain their Testimony to that time only; but extend it to all others, to the best of their knowledge, having never seen any just occasion for such a Charge: But William Rogers taking advantage in that he had not nominated any time for his Charge, maketh use thereof, endeavouring thereby to baffle their Evi­dence, though in truth it renders his the weaker; hence it is, that he chargeth them with Undertaking to prove what was impossible for them to do, unless they had been at all the Mettings in Bristol with G. F. that ever he was at with him, which is not unlikely, but that most of them might: But what juggling is here? and how doth this man fence and dodge, not only to extenuate the Credit of those Friends Testimony, but to stave off the impu­tation of a false Accusation from himself, in saying, he had affix­ed no time; and yet doth not deny, but that the time they mention, was the time intended by him, which should in reason render their Testimony of more Credit with the Considerate.

Neither doth he say any thing to the Objection made a­gainst his mentioning a back pair of Stairs that G. F. should go down, &c. for indeed there was none such, both pair of stairs being equally publick, and common for Friends constantly to go up and down at, out or into the street, as he and others well knew. More might be said, but this we judge sufficient to every impartial Reader, who shall have the sight of that Certificate on behalf of G. F. [Page 43]and William Rogers's Objections thereto, to manifest how unrighteously he hath done, by comparing the Subscri­bers thereof to Perjured Informers, who are many of them both men and women, anciently and publickly known in this City, & approved for their Truth and Faith­fulness in the Consciences of honest People of all sorts therein; The Consideration as well as knowledge where­of in W. R. we cannot but apprehend was the Cause why he omitted all their Names, except One, viz Iohn Ware, a man less publickly known in the City, then most, if not any one of the rest, whereby his disingenuity and unfaithfulness doth not a little appear.

Thus it may be seen, how William Rogers takes upon him to abuse the People call'd Quakers by whole-sale (as we use to say) having so learnt the habit of impudence, as somtimes upon his bare single Credit or say so, and that in his own Cause too, not only to oppose the Truth of the Testimony of many Brethren; but to abuse them with approbrious Reflections, whom he hath therefore termed false Accusers and Persecutors, and no less than above sixty Friends and Brethren at once, whom he renders Up­starts, Apostates, and Innovators, for signing the afore­said Epistle.

And at another time, Charles Marshall and thirty six Brethren more, are by him, as sole judge in his own Cause, charged of being guilty of signing an unrighteous Paper, because of their decisive judgment given against him there­in, upon a free hearing of the Difference betwixt him and Robert Barclay, as may be more particularly taken notice of ere we have done.

And many of the Ancient and faithful Friends, and In­habitants of the City of Bristol, are wickedly compared by him to Perjured Informers, because of their Christian Testimony in behalf of G. F's Innocency, in that matter W. R. Chargeth him with, and against whom his Enmi­ty [Page 44]and Rage is great. But let him consider, that the time hastneth, that for all these things he must come to judge­ment.

And now as to the many & personal Injuries, & Misre­presentations of Robert Barclay, and George Fox, the one with respect to Doctrine, the other to Life and Conversati­on, wherewith great part of William Rogers's Book is sup­ply'd, we refer to their own, or some other hand, for par­ticular Replies thereto; only noting first, as to the business of Robert Barclay, that it is an Argument to us of no small Impudence in William Rogers, to continue his Cavils against His own meanings, and misconstructions of Robert Barclay's Doctrin in his Book intituled, The Anarchy of the Ranters, &c. and perfectly savors of his being led, and Acted by a Spirit that will be sole judge in his own Cause, a thing he hath formerly Condemn'd in others, as may appear in the afore-recited Epistle, to which his Name was: And the rea­son of this Observation is, because his Unchristian dealing with Robert Barclay, and slender ground he had for his large Objections against some passages in his Book, was so clearly Evidenced in the Consciences of many weighty Friends at London, with whom he had a Meeting by con­sent (Robert Barclay being present) for the hearing, and re­solving his Objections, which was effectually done, and by his own Confession he most Christianly dealt with therein, & the Truths asserted by Robert Barclay, were vin­dicated and cleared, from the Misconstructions of William Ro­gers, whereof some of us were both Eye and Ear Witnesses, as at large appears, as well by the Testimony of that Meet­ing, subscribed by thirty seven Brethren, as from VVilliam Rogers his Letter under his own hand-writing, which he drew up as satisfaction for the wrong he had done Robert Barclay; wherein William Rogers doth not only acknowledge, That he hath not done according to Gospel order by Robert Barclay, but was justly worthy of blame, in what [Page 45]he did; But also, that he is perswaded, that Robert Barclay is not principled as he and some others, by some passages in his Book, took him to be. Notwithstand­ing all this, William Rogers hath gone about in his Book, to undo, or unsay, what he hath said in his Letter, and to publish his Objections against his own meanings and mis­constructions of what Robert Barclay hath written in his said Book, like a man fighting with his own shadow; thereby making void as much as in him lieth, the deter­mination of that Meeting, reflecting on the Friends, as guilty of signing an Unrighteous Paper.

What shall we say, or think concerning this Man, whom nothing will serve, but to be sole Iudge and Vmpire in his own Cause; and unless this be granted him, he ap­pears to us resolved to be Contentious, though it be to his own Ruin.

The other thing we have to take notice of, with Re­lation to VVilliam Rogers's Charges against G. F. is (not only considering VVilliam Rogers, a man of such a Tem­per as is before implyed) to hear how little reason G. F. had to take notice of his pretended Dissatisfactions against him, though indeed restlesness, turmoile and enmity, of Spirit against him, manifest by his rude and un-chri­stian method he hath taken, too large here to recite; but also as a Reproof to his false Insinuations against G. F. in his Book, as though he shunned the Test, and as being unwil­ling to submit to justice; to manifest the contrary, how G. F. called William Rogers to account at a Meeting here in Bristol, for proof of divers Charges and Insinuati­ons, contain'd in a Letter under William Rogers his own hand against him, and now made publick in William Rogers his Book, and what the Result of the Meeting was, as it appears by the following Certificate.

[Page 46]

VVE under-written, being at a Meeting at Richard Sneads, the 15th. of the 12th. month 1677. to hear a Letter read, that was writ by William Rogers to G. F. containing several Accusati­ons, Charges, and Insinuations against him, do hereby de­clare, that it was read, and that William Rogers own'd it, and when he was call'd upon by G. F. William Penn, George Whitehead, Lawrence Steel, William Gibson, and others, to prove his Accusations and Charges against G. F. and others, he refused so to do; and notwithstand­ing he was intreated, and urged long thereto, yet said, it shall not be, I will not proceed, unless G. F. will under his hand Charge me, and give me his Charge in Writing. Thus he shuffled with the Meeting: And though we told him, that the Letter was his, and consequently, the Accusa­tions and Charges were his, and therefore, that it lay at his Door to prove them, yet he persisted Obstinately to give us no Proof, and so went his way.

  • William Penn,
  • Charles Jones,
  • John Moone,
  • Richard Snead,
  • Richard Vickris,
  • James Merrick,
  • Charles Jones, Jun.
  • Peter Walter,
  • Stephen Smith,
  • Erasmus Dole, &c.

These things consider'd, and William Rogers his apparent shifting and shuffling herein Manifested: What Reason had G. F. or any other, to take any more Notice of his Letters, than of Waste-Paper? or to Regard his impertinent Rambling, Clamours, and Railing up and down in divers Parts of the Nation, a­gainst him (about Matters whereof he had already Clear'd him­self in Writing) and that whilst G. F. was far remote in the North; and yet when he was near the City of London, and William Rogers in the City, he would not, (as we are credibly inform'd) go to him. We say, What Reason had G. F. [Page 47]or others, to Regard William Rogers in these practices, any more than they would any other Apostates or open Adversaries? What hopes could G. F. or any other, have to satisfy such a Man, whose Prejudice and Enmity was so great, that he was in Travel to give Vent thereto; and yet thus Manifestly de­priv'd of common Modesty and Equity, usual amongst Men, in case of Difference; insomuch, that he either will not Acquiesce in the Determination of a Matter, when Heard and given Judge­ment upon; but instead thereof, make it his business to inlarge his Abuses against the concern'd therein; or otherwise shift and shuffle, and at length, utterly refuse to make proof of his Char­ges, when call'd thereunto?

There is one thing more, we cannot omit to make men­tion of, viz. the manner of William Rogers his abusive Insinua­tions and Charges, not only against many Eminent and Faith­ful Brethren; but (through them) against the generality of the People call'd Quakers, as Apostatized, &c. chiefly with Respect to the blessed Order and Government they are Exercised in, and is Established among them, viz. That it is most frequently to be observ'd in his Book, that his Method is to draw positive, and scandalous Conclusions, and wicked Perversions, from not only uncertain, but most false Premises and Conjectures, salving him­self, as well as he can, with these and such like Expressions (which are his usual best Reasons for his many foul Accusa­tions against them) viz. If Reports be true, we take it to be thus; we have cause to Believe; I cannot but be full of Jealousies, &c. like the wicked, that said, Report, and we will Report; And af­ter the Example of Thomas Hicks, and John Faldo; when by his Suppositions, Jealousies, Doubts, Reports, Meanings, and Mis­constructions, he hath made up his Man of Straw, as we may Term it, or Apostate-Innovator, and call'd him a Quaker, he then bestirs himself, and as yet retaining some Notions of Truth in his Head, he doth bring them forth as Arguments to Fence with against his own Work, whilst the Enemy of his Soul keeps him in Blindness, that he cannot see himself to be the Man. How much this is his manifest Practice throughout his whole Book, and how wretchedly bad such Courses are, is left to the impartial Reader to judge.

We having thus (for the Truth's sake) discovered William Rogers his Spirit and Behaviour amongst us, and something of [Page 48]his many Abuses in his Book, more particularly with Relation to some Friends, and Passages in this City; we Commend what we have Written to the Witness of God in every Conscience, not doubting, but the judicious Reader, when he hath duely weighed the Management of William Rogers, with reference to the Matters herein treated of, will see Cause, as well from the Matters themselves, as the slenderness of the Credit, wherewith the Abuses therein manifested are attended, both to detest and loath such extravagant Courses as he hath taken, to Reproach the People call'd Quakers, and their Holy Profession, and to sus­pend his Belief of other things deliver'd in his Book, against some particulars, no less Injurious, until time, by some other Hands so Manifest them.

  • Richard Snead,
  • Charles Harford,
  • Richard Vickris,
  • Charles Jones,
THE END.

LONDON, Printed for John Bringhurst, Printer and Bookseller, at the Sign of the Book in Grace-Church-Street, near Cornhil, 1681.

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